No.13's training.

****. Don't say that, I hate hospitals as it is! I do not need the added worry of accidently losing my todger!

I'm having a bastard of skin graft on my arm. I was burnt when I was 10months old and apart from an operation when I was 2, I've had no work done to it and needs tidying up basically. So graft from my groin (eek) to my arm. So no weights, no cardio or any form of exercise for 6weeks.

Are you considering the shapeup then ak?

Sort of. I'm in three minds with where i want to go at the moment;

1) Do a 12-16 week cut and strip right down the base and build back up. But my main worry would be dieting too hard and losing too much muscle.

2) Continue as i am and worry about condition another time because my strength is still going up week by week.

3) Take a much longer approach to a body recomp by factoring in cardio (i'm currently doing it EOD from weights at the moment) and reigning in the carbs a bit. The ideal world i would be able to slowly improve my body composition whilst being able to continue pushing on with my strength progress.

If i do decide to cut i want to start it in the new year because it  gives me the whole of january to get everything in place before my MSc starts and the work piles up!

With 2), as you say, your strength is increasing... "if it ain't broke" etc etc.
It just depends if you want to mix things up for the sake of keeping things interesting. I've followed your journal for a fair while and don't remember seeing a proper 'cut' at any point.

IMO, you've got 6-7weeks to go all out mass+strength (and enjoy the xmas festivities) feed your body and binge (within reason) then come 4th Jan 2010 you'd be dying for a cut and there's no better time to cut than a MT shapeup. It kept me going over summer, moreso than if i was doing it by myself. Then you've got 12weeks to get into condition and hold as much muscle as possible... and if you do a good job (you seem yo know your stuff so why not), you get £100 at the end of it too, win/win.

Convinced?

edit: plus it might actually mean you post some damn progress pictures for once

Yeah the last cut i did was back from April to August 2008. August 07 to April 08 was pretty sh1t in terms of mass gains. I didn't really add a great deal in the way of lean mass and it wasn't until after i'd cut that it really hit me i'd got nowhere other than filled out with far too much fat.

I'm confident i've gained mass this time around (my legs are ~2" bigger i think for starters!) but theres always the paranoia that i could still end up not looking a great deal different when all the blub is shifted. The longer term idea suits me a bit more because it means i don't have to bollocks about with real cutting LOL, but realistically i'm unsure how feasible it is. Will have to ponder on it some more!

Sorry to hear about the barf/poo illness AND the upcoming op. Will be frustrating not lifting but at least it will be done and out of the way. GL mate!

Ak, do it! It's all in the mind!

Cheers Flynn, yeah it will be frustrating to say the least but hey ho. Hope you've fully recovered now bud.

Shame about being out of training for a while. Im sure you will get back on it as good as before dude. 

Cheers ste, it's still 12weeks+ away yet though, so plenty of time to make progress. And then recovery is only 6weeks supposedly, so not the end of the world.

**** it, just train through it!

Sorry to hear Josh; here's to a quick recovery eh

cricket_fire


**** it, just train through it!

As much as I love your canadian badass powerlifter mentality,... sad matter of fact is if I do, the chunk of skin being grafted to my arm may slide off and I'm left with an open, gaping wound....... I think I'll rest up

Sorry to hear Josh; here's to a quick recovery eh

Cheers big guy!

Today's session. Not a total write-off, but not as easy as I thought. I picked 120kg for my squat starting point, and 70kg for overhead press. Considering I'm meant to be easing myself back into things, this was a little pick optimistic.

18/11

Squat
20 x 5
50 x 5
70 x 5
90 x 3
110 x 3
120 x 5
120 x 5
120 x 5
90 x 8

Strict Press
20 x 10
40 x 5
50 x 3
60 x 3
60 x 3 ....miscalculated, forgot I'd already done 60
70 x 4 ....a little bit too optimistic
65 x 5
65 x 5
65 x 5

DB Row
30 x 10
30 x 10
30 x 10
30 x 10


Took 1hr 10mins. Too long for my liking. Squats were a total killer, every set felt hard. But every set I felt as though I was going ridiculously deep too, my body just doesn't understand how to do parallel!!



Forgive the poor quality (again)... but you get the idea.
I should have a new phone next week though, so you'll all be treated to crisp, sharp videos

nice work..surprised you wasn't sick after that much squatting. 

Nice work, good volume on the squat. But of you can do 70x4 then 3 lots of 65x5 then you CAN do 70x5!!!! Now act like you've got a pair next time and nail the fcuker! Do 5 on 60 then 5 on 70..... do it.... DO IT...


 

Yes, but Mr. Vest, the question is if I can do 70x5 3 times

Next week will be a different story after some more R+R+food.

Weight is still well under 15stone, but I look a fair bit leaner and strength is only 5-7kg off on most lifts.

Ste... Ill see how i feel in the morning!

It won't matter, you don't need to ...
 
Or do 67.5!

Yes sir! Don't worry, I've got bases covered.

Plan for friday:
Bench: 105 x3x3

Plan for next week:
session 1:
Squat: 125 x3x3
OH Press: 70 x3x3

session 2:
Bench: 102.5 x3x5

session 3:
Squat: 122.5 x3x5
OH Press: 67.5 x3x5


Impressed by my forward planning?
If I keep going like that I should get pb's in squat and OH press by Xmas.

Very impressed, I can barely remember what I lifted yesterday let alone lan the next 3 sessions in advance..... I'm getting old tho

Fcuk all this strict bollocks, be a man and throw it up with a Push press!

we only have his word that it's strict mind!

Haha, AK, I don't have enough weight for push press

When you going hit bodyweight strict overhead then fella?

Strict OHP is better than PP for pure strength IMO, great deal of technique to push press.

I read of a legendary oly lifter who was 'only' strict pressing 120kg, whilst push pressing 165kg+.

Dips are pretty good to help OHP, and paused close grip benches...