Ukdude's training log

[sifaan]

Workout A today, it's taken me a while to actually be able to get to the gym. Still haven't located our video camera >_<

Most modern digital still cameras today have good enough video recording functionality - plus they're easier to transfer to a computer for editing.

[ukdudeinuk]

Our digital camera just broke, so I can't use that. It's what I was GOING to do, however.

[ukdudeinuk]

So we bought a camera today. I will now post 2 pictures, one from around March 10th, a week or 2 after I started this program, and one from today, which is May 24th. Note that I have been lazy, and haven't really eaten any better than before, although I try to eat fruits more often as opposed to snacking on junk food, and I typically have a sub at lunch (I work in a food court) instead of something like Taco Bell or pizza slices, so I guess that's a start.





I guess neither of these pictures is great, but I can see some change. I can't decide if it's good or bad though, I can't really tell if I'm bigger or if I just weigh more, in all seriousness.

[ukdudeinuk]

Squats 160 5/5/5/5/5 Felt my hamstrings and glutes working today, good stuff. It lets me know I'm going low enough, which makes me happy.

Bench 105 5/5/5/5/5 I realized after my last set that I did the math wrong, and didn't increase from last workout, FUCK. It was way easier this time, however.

Rows 100 5/5/5/5/5 Still fairly easy...

Dips bw+8lb dumbbell between my feet 5/5/4 I was only supposed to do 7.5 lbs, but they quit checking out dip belts when its less than an hour to closing, apparently.

My triceps are going to HURT tomorrow

[ukdudeinuk]

Squats 165 5/5/5/5/5 These are starting to get heavy, and I like it. One the second set, I think the bar shifted on my back, and my shoulder felt weird afterwards. I do high bar squats, btw. It's how I learned them a long time ago, and I want to get into Olympic lifting when I get to college, so I might as well practice the high bar squat. I predict a stall within 2 weeks, MAYBE 3.

Press 75 5/5/5/5/4 A marked improvement from last workout, which was 5/5/5/4/3 with the same weight. Next time, I've GOT this, and I can't wait.

Deadlifts 135x2 warmup, 165x5 For some reason, these 3 dudes in there were looking at me funny while I did these, I happened to catch them while I was regripping and getting my breath back in between reps. Maybe I was doing something incredibly wrong, but it didn't feel as such. My hamstrings and glutes were screaming, so I figured all was well

Chinups 4/2/2 I think I was just tired out, and I don't like the chinup grip anyway. I think I will just do pullups from now on, I don't really care about my biceps at this point.

Pushups 3x15 Last set was difficult. Added these because I am considering the military as an employment option after college.

Good workout, wish I could do these workouts every day haha

[ukdudeinuk]

Squat 170 5/5/5/5/5 Actually, on rep 2 of the first work set, I lost my balance and fell backward, and the bar fell about an inch to the squat rack. Some guy helped me rerack the bar, and he said somethin like "You're going really low on those squats" "Yeah, that's the goal." "It just takes a lot more balance, be careful."

I was amazed, he didn't tell me it's bad for me

Bench 110 5/4/4+1 (didnt lockout) /3/1 (dumbass spotter helped with reps 2 and 3, I racked after that. This is my stalling point, I won't be able to get past this, I don't think. Not without a deload.

Rows 105 5/5/5/5/5 Somehow, I am stronger on these than on bench. It makes no sense to me.

Dips bw + 8lb dumbbell 5/5/4 Again, couldn't get the dip belt, but apparently now it's broken. Second time in a row failing that weight. Will get it next time, for sure.

Comments-Don't take 4 fucking days off anymore, unless I max in every lift LOL

[mackanno]

Checking your post for the first time, good progress there. Watch out your posture on the squats. Inhale on the top, tighten your abs and go down, exhale once you are up again keeping the abs tight. Looking good!

[ukdudeinuk]

So I bitch about having taken days off, then we go up to Pennsylvania to see a Nascar race, and get to take more days off, not cool. Hopefully I can get up there today.

[Anthony]

Stop hoping and do it
You can do it, progress is slow and hard to notice but you can do it!
I'll be keeping tabs!

[ukdudeinuk]

Thanks, and the hoping was that I had recovered from the weekend, which I hadn't. I will go tomorrow for sure, I'm gonna do some tennis ball work tonight to loosen up from the massive amounts of time in the car.

Anyone have any comments on the pictures, does everyone else agree with me that there isn't noticeable difference?

[iTrain]

UKdude,
Your pictures are perhaps not the best to judge change because they are not great. They are taken under different lighting conditions and different angles. In the second one your arm is up, which pulls your pec muscle up. They are also very blurry. Here is my advice:

• get a friend/girlfriend/boyfriend or other gym person to take your picture (family members are usually not great at doing it without offering some comment!) barring that ...
• All cameras have a self-timer. Set it up somewhere to take a picture of you automatically.
• If you absolutely cannot take a self-timed pic, Your mirror needs to be absolutelly clean to take a good picture. You camera is focusing on the smudges on the mirror and not your reflection.
• wear briefs, or shorter boxer-briefs. You will see that your legs will show some difference from the squats and ...
• take side view to see your butt too. A side view will also show triceps.
• Pull ups work your back muscles so take a back shot too.
• lighting above you tends to sculpt the muscles more, but you should try to take the pictures in the same place always.

I hope those helps. My pictures are in my signature at the bottom of this post. But they were taken with a semi-pro camera so they are good quality. I don't think I have that much results to show in 3 monts. But I KNOW I am stronger. Yesterday I did 3 sets of 10 dips! which means I am ready to start wearing a weighted belt. The workout log is not up-to-date since I am debating how to continue my workouts.

Let me know what you think.

[ukdudeinuk]

You're completely right, but I took the first one in a dressing room, so I can't exactly duplicate that. We didn't have a house yet, we were living in temporary living facilities (military hotel) and while we were out i went HAY and took the picture. I've seen your pics, I think I pretty much agree with you.

Forgive my lack of updates, I've been a lazy asshole lately. Monday when I can get out I'm going to the gym. The cool thing is this: Last time I tried to max, I did 210 before I stopped for lack of a spotter or safety bars. I last did a 5x5 workout with 170, and it wasn't super difficult, so I think I can do 2 plates now, especially since I know the squat rack allows me to just squat ALL the way down and itll catch the weight

[ukdudeinuk]

finally got back to the gym, damn im lazy >_<

i cant seem to motivate myself to go to the gym after work

anyway deloaded a bunch to try and work on form and flexibility a bit

squats 135 5/5/5/5/5 focused on keeping chest up, less lower back twinges than usual

bench 70 5/5/5/5/5 relearning with the shoulder blades back, ie the proper way...need a different bench or a way to raise myself, the bar sits too high currently with my shoulders back, and when the weight moves up i wont be able to lift without a spotter, which i currently dont have

rows 70 5/5/5/5/5 focused on using my upper back as well as my arms

dips bw 5/5/5 not super hard, but harder than i expectede

[nickh]

I think its tough to go after work depending on what you do, plus too many ppl there after work, I have been good so far waking up at 5am to head to the gym on workoutdays. I don`t know if I`ll be able to keep that up once winter rolls back around
And of course today was quite chilly, middle of june and I needed to swear a sweater

[ukdudeinuk]

workout b today more deloads! WEIGHTS ALWAYS IN POUNDS BTW

squat 140 5/5/5/5/5 i had to use an olympic platform and had no method of spotting, and it seemed not having to worry about bouncing off the bars allowed me to go lower. i also felt more mobile/flexible today than i ever have during squats, it was good. i also performed them a bit faster than usual, as well as resting way less between sets.

press 55 5/5/5/5/5 focused on bar speed, though it slowed down on the last set. was easy for the most part, but again this is fairly close to stall weight. i think right now 75lbs wouldve been the absolute limit for a set of 5, much less 5x5

ddeadlift 135 1x5 ive got a mark on my shin from the bar!! woot battle scars

pullups 2/1/0 wowwww i got way weaker on these in my time off.