No.13's training.

22/12

DB Push Press
(3 warmup sets)
40kg x 1
45kg x 1
50kg x 1

Strict DB Press
25kg x 10
25kg x 10

DB Squat
25kg x 5
35kg x 5
40kg x 8
40kg x 8
40kg x 8

DB Lunges
25kg x 6
20kg x 6
15kg x 8


Happy with the push press. The 50 took a couple attempts to get it up on the left arm, right was fine. **** knows how tony managed 80kg. I have no chalk at the moment so confidence is abit shaky too.
Lacking co-ordination for lunges but I'll persevere. The bottom of the movement is pretty uncomfortable, feels like my coccyx is about to snap

Back tomorrow.

Journal

Well done for sticking with it and nailing it

Limits, like fear, are often just an illusion: MJ 12/9/09
My journal

How're you doing your lunges? I'd imagine if you're training at home it's not a walking variant?

The coordination comes in time though, if you're feeling pressure on your back you might need to lengthen your stance a bit - knees shouldn't come over your toes.

Cheers DV... my own personal motivator coach person.

AK, it's not walking no. One leg, back up, other leg, back up and so on. Cheers for the advice, I'll try it next time and report back to you
Legs actually feel like jelly now, not had this feeling for a while.

Journal

Legs actually feel like jelly now, not had this feeling for a while.

Yeah, but that's a night we're all trying to forget about

Limits, like fear, are often just an illusion: MJ 12/9/09
My journal

...that's not what you were saying at the time, Diiirrttehh.

Journal

Nice work overhead mate! 

20kg to go.

Thanks dave, ideally  in about 3-4weeks time I'd like to do it with a 60kg db. Though I'm not sure how realistic a goal that is.

Journal

Smash it up there mate. Lots of technique in there I reckon in stabilizing it so hammer away at the practice. Why not ask tony how he trains it (heavy singles id imagine lol)

20kg to go.

Heh heh, I may do, but think you hit the nail on the head there! Just gotta' keep at it.

My technique varied so much everytime I did almost, just experimenting as you say. I always need to try and find some chalk... I resorted to raiding my little brothers box of crayons and stickers earlier in an attempt to find some, but no such luck.

Journal

Climbing shop or tinternet mate, cheap as you like and a vital part of training

20kg to go.

There's a climbing shop about 3minutes walk from my flat in manchester, £1.99 for a chalk ball. Home for Xmas now and has been a nightmare finding anything, I'll sort it though, don't worry

Journal

Nice one. You ever considered doing a comp? Either PL or Strongman?

20kg to go.

Definately yeah. Either or really, but probably more chance of PL. I turn 22 in Februrary, but have also got a 6week lay-off with the op. But I'd like to enter something while still being able to compete as a Junior.

Journal

Nice press on that dumbbell.
Do you do both arms or are you happy to cultivate one Popeye and one Olive Oyl?

Team "Show Pony"

"...those aren't the roids you're looking for..."
"...those aren't the roids I'm looking for..."

Hello stranger!

As much as I love Olive, db presses are done on each arm. Last week I only managed upto 40kg on the left arm, failing on 45. Whilst my right arm got 45kg first time. Now I begin with my weakest arm first and managed 50kg on each

 

Journal

No.13


Definately yeah. Either or really, but probably more chance of PL. I turn 22 in Februrary, but have also got a 6week lay-off with the op. But I'd like to enter something while still being able to compete as a Junior.

Good option mate. You could always do your first comp as bench only? Still got a good amount of time left as a junior too. Where are you located at home?

20kg to go.

Yeah it's a possibility mate. 'Home' is Nantwich, Cheshire. But also spend abit of time in Worcester too.

In the summer though I'll be moving just south of Manchester, should hopefully have use of a car by then meaning I'll be able to get out and about abit.

Journal

I cant recommend it highly enough mate. Its given my training a concrete focus for the first time.

20kg to go.

Good push pressing fella.. Will be interesting to see how your MP fares.

I think my (and perhaps your?) biggest issue is going to be keeping the bodyweight down over xmas and new year lol.

At this rate I may have to strict press 95kg to make bodyweight!

Ditto the guys comments about competing, when I was an active competitor I made some wicked gains..

If you want to get strong: compete. You would do very well anyway.

I hate how much stronger your shoulders are then mine strong pressing dude

Cheers for the kind words guys MT is such a warm fuzzy place.

SC, bodyweight is very much an issue! I will have to be aiming for 95kg without a doubt, whether I do it or not is another matter.

Haha, Keenan, they're my only saving grace at the moment. Your ridiculous squat and deadlifting should be more than a consolation!

I feel rough as a badgers arse today, met up with an old mate last night who I'd not seen for a year. But on the plus side, my bands arrived today! So will see what I can do with them. I think some db rows/band pull aparts are on the cards for tonight. Then it's 3days off from training.

edit: I've been having abit of a think, if I aim going to try and compete somewhere down the line, is it worth investing in a proper pair of shoes? Does the hell make a major difference? I usually squat for example in flat-soled trainers.

Journal

Cheapest option a solid flat soled shoe like a converse for squatting, maybe some slippers for pulling but not totally necessary.

20kg to go.

So is there little point investing in something with a heel then?

Looking at the GBPF qualifying totals for unequipped bench (junior) 100kg class, it's only 105kg.

If I can practise some paused benching successfully, I'd like to be aiming for a 140kg lift in 12months time. While 140 is no record breaker, looking at past results I wouldn't be disgracing myself either.

Journal

I squat in oly shoes but its by no means necessary. I like them a lot but I know Iain didnt get on so well with them. Id advise trying them before you buy them if you can find a pair to borrow/test out. You re welcome to borrow mine if you ever come down this way!

You wont disgrace yourself with whatever you do mate. It really isnt like that at all at a comp. Youd be surprised how many benches around 100 there are anyway at a regional comp.

As an aside, what made my bench go from 130 to 140 was pausing it. I now pause everything. Pausing is good ****.

20kg to go.

Heh, cheers for the offer bud. Your Bournemouth way aren't you? Uncle and Auntie live in Poole so may take you up on the offer if ever our paths cross.

Yeah I think it's more my squat that would let me down if I were after a decent total. Can't comment on deads as its been so long now. You were right though, knowing that I've got upto a year to make progress has/will inspire me to knuckle down.

I'll give pausing a go next time I'm back using my barbell. You had good success with bands too if I recall?

Journal

Proper shoes are very important imo. I'm liking my OL boots for raw squatting recently, but if you've got decent ankle flexibility they're not needed imo, but atleast invest in a pair of chucks

I like mine for squatting too. Really good solid feel. 

Benching wise, id advise starting light and working up. Its a very different feel. I very rarely do a full bench vs bands, i tend to use reverse bands with a blue (light) band choked around the top of the rack.

If I did full bench vs bands, it would be as an ME rather than a DE lift and it switch then out every 2-3 weeks to save shoulders/elbows.

20kg to go.

The bands I have are #2's, aka "monster-mini's" apparently. The way I'm hoping to use them is shown below, reverse band benching;



To setup them up so your pushing 'against' or vs the band I won't be able to do due to the way my racks built.

Journal

edit - double post

Journal

Should work fine mate. My lights choked at the top of the rack take 35kg at the chest and probably 10-15kg a lockout.

20kg to go.

Nice little session tonight.

24/12

Warmed with playing with my new bands, resistant pushups, few light reps DB benching,  band pushdowns.

DB Bench
40 x 12 ...rep PB
40 x 10

DB Row
40 x 8
40 x 8
40 x 8
40 x 8

Band Pull aparts
x 20
x 20
x 20

DB Curl
15 x 10
15 x 10
15 x 10


Felt reasonably good. Done and dusted within 45mins. Band pull aparts were evil, tired my shoulders out by the 10th rep. DB rows werent much fun without chalk.

I wasn't expecting much today as I was drinking last night (first time in ages) and as a result ate nothing but junk today, one of the worst days of eating all year I reckon. I suppose it is Xmas afterall.

Journal

And what a merry Xmas it was. Hope everyone enjoyed themselves as equally as much. Well and truely over indulged and almost cried off tonights session after spendign 4hours in the car in post-boxing day traffic. But nonetheless I went for it anyway. Getting abit of a sweat on felt good after 3days stuffing my face.

27/12

DB Bench
15 x 10
25 x 8
35 x 6
45 x 5
50 x 5 pb
35 x 10
25 x 10
25 x 10

DB Pullovers
15kg x 10
15kg x 10
15kg x 10

Band Pushdowns
100 reps

2x15 pushups, arms turned to jelly.

Weighted situps
10kg x 12x3

Done within 50mins. Happy to finally be able to lift the 50's

Journal

Nice pressing mate. If we ve learnt anything here, its that eating a ****load and getting fat as **** makes you cool!

20kg to go.

Great session pal, pressing the 50kg DB's is serious! Well done!

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

Great work on getting the 50kgs up.. One of my aims is to press the 50s next year.

How on earth did you lose weight over xmas?! You clearly weren't trying hard enough with the mince pies lol.

Haha, cheers guys! I'm not actually a fan of mince pies as it happens! From 4pm Xmas day I barely ate anything as we were out and about visiting people. Boxing day was great, lots of beer and lots of food. Then yesterday we were stuck in a car most of the day and didn't get chance to eat, apart from drinking 4pints of milk.... which then lead to the big poo I had > = minus bodyweight.

Journal

Nice work on the DBs mate. We're still working our way thru the left over junk food offerings.... still got my biirthday and New Year to come yet - help me, well help my waistline anyway

Limits, like fear, are often just an illusion: MJ 12/9/09
My journal

My stomach is disgusting DV! Another mammoth eating session today. Not junk, just high volume...

28/12

DB Row
25 x 12
35 x 10
45 x 5
45 x 5
45 x 5
45 x 5
45 x 5
45 x 5

DB Shrug (hold at top)
25kg x 15
25kg x 15
25kg x 15

Band Pull-Apart
x 15, 15, 15

DB Curls
10 x 10
10 x 10
120s rest
10 x 10
10 x 10
120s rest
10 x 10
10 x 10


Under 50minutes. Grip was failing me on the rows, the knurling on one DB handle is poor and I was too lazy to switch over. Chalk will be bought in the next couple of days!

Journal

I really advise strapping up for DB row's mate. 

20kg to go.