This Mouse will ROAR

by **Mouse** on Mon Jan 14, 2008 5:37 pm

Stats:
Age - 34 Weight - 200lbs Height - 5'11"
Goals:
Wanting to lose the fat and tone up - oh and get stronger. Hoping as an initial goal to get over 100kg in my squatting, 140 for deads with bench and press weights getting up to a respectable amount as well.

I've been training more off than on for a few years, with the occasional venture into 20 rep 'squats and milk' sessions (so not quite a squatting virgin!!), but feel this programme is one I can get stuck into and keep going at.
I'm substituting chins and pull ups for bicep curls and skulls until my squat rack arrives next week, but when it arrives and i've got it together it will all be as per the programme!!

Love the site, it's nice and simple without all the extra unnecessary bells and whistles other forums have - pretty much like the programme itself I guess - simple, effective and straight to the point!
Started w/c 7 Jan 08 (Week 1):
Monday
Squat 50kg - 5x5
Press 20kg - 5x5
Row 40kg - 5x5
Curls 20kg - 5x5

Wednesday
Squat 55kg - 5x5
Bench 35kg - 5x5
Deads 60kg - 5x5
Skulls 25kg - 5x5

Friday
Squat 60kg - 5x5
Press 25kg - 5x5
Row 45kg - 5x5
Curls 22.5kg - 5x5

Looking forward to tonight

by **Mehdi** on Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:59 pm

Welcome Mouse. Make sure you don't start to high, better to start too low, than too high. Also why the curls/skullcrushers?

by **Mouse** on Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:40 pm

Thanks Mehdi.
Curls and skulls just to keep me going until the power rack arrives and I can replace them with chins/pull ups.
I figure they may help, if only to get me used to doing a few more sets after the main core exercises.

by **Mehdi** on Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:31 pm

Ok you've got an excuse

Make sure to switch back to "real" exercises once you have your rack

by **Young Athlete** on Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:08 am

What are skull crushers? Goodluck reaching your goals I started stronglifts 5x5 recently also. I think you may have started your squats to high to continue adding 5lbs a weak without stalling soon. We can only wait and see.

by **Mouse** on Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:57 am

Skulls are basically a tricep extension exercise - a picture paints a thousand words so have a look at the below page for an example
http://www.coopersguns.com/videos/exercise-encyclopedia/triceps/skull-crusher/
(Mehdi - hope that link doesn't break any of your site rules - if it does feel free to remove and apologies)
Anyway, can't wait to get back to the "real" exercises Mehdi when my rack arrives - although I was never any good at chins/pull ups it will be a good challenge.
(Young Athlete, I took your advice re adding 5Kg per session to my squats and only upped it by 2.5Kg this time!!)
W/C 14 Jan 08(Week 2):
Monday
Squat 62.5kg - 5x5
Bench 37.5kg - 5x5
Deads 70kg - 5x5
Skulls 27.5kg - 5x5

by **Mehdi** on Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:37 am

@Mouse
It doesn't break any rules no, it's on topic, so it's ok.

by **Mouse** on Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:55 am

Wednesday:
Squat 65kg - 5x5
Press 27.5kg - 5x5
Row 47.5kg - 5x5
Curls 25kg - 5x5

Squats felt good once i'd got the weight on my back - can't wait for my rack to arrive as getting the bar onto my shoulders from the waist high uprights i'm using at the moment is a pain.
Press was good also. I could get extra reps on the last set; it's a struggle not to bump the weight up too quickly and just to stick to the 2.5kg increments - note to self - Rome was NOT built in one day!!!............

by **Mouse** on Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:09 am

Jumped on the scales this morning - lost 2lbs from starting weight on 7 Jan.
Action:
1.Maintain same calorie intake until weekend of 2/3 Feb
2.Weigh again / photograph
3.Compare photo with starting photo
4.Dependant on results up calorie intake

by **Mouse** on Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:29 am

Friday:
Squat 67.5kg - 5x5
Bench 40kg - 5x5
Deads 75kg - 5x5
Skulls 30kg - 5x5

Good squats. Bench is going well. Deads also - still plenty in the tank for 5kg increases at the moment.
7' bar and Squat rack comes next week - Wednesday - should have it assembled on Saturday ready for use in week 4 (assuming I survive week 3!!!)
Planning on using the 7' for squatting, my current 5' for deads/rows and i'm liking the EZ bar for presses.

by **Mehdi** on Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:31 pm

Post some pics when you have everything :-)

by **Mouse** on Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:45 pm

Thought you might say that.
The only problem being my choice of rather fetching white briefs I happened to be wearing when the initial photo was taken.
Do I continue wearing them for future photos for purposes of continuity or change to a pair of shorts?
Anyway I'll post the pics when February comes - no laughing though!!!!!

by **Mehdi** on Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:59 pm

Mouse:
Do I continue wearing them for future photos for purposes of continuity or change to a pair of shorts?
Anyway I'll post the pics when February comes - no laughing though!!!!!

If you got hairy legs switch to shorts
Doesn't matter really

No laughing promessed.

by **Mouse** on Sat Jan 19, 2008 1:23 pm

Hairy legs? err yes
Shorts it is then.........or I could wax

by **Mehdi** on Sat Jan 19, 2008 1:28 pm

Mouse:
Hairy legs? err yes
Shorts it is then.........or I could wax

:)