The Return of the jedi-This is not Sparta. This. Is. Madness.(now incl. Race to 100kg OHP)

Seriously, I can't even think of 'Rack Pulls' without seeing a nightclub, cardigan, gun show
My deadlifts are woeful.
Truly, truly awful.
I try hard though

Last night's battling did come at some cost, I've pretty much lost 4 of my best calouses. Should've used straps really for the rack pulls, not sure why they seemed to take such a toll on everyone's hands, more so than full deadlifts; although in my case it was probably just sheer white knuckle fear.

In other news my pre-Xmas bulk continues to gain momentum
...in the wrong direction
I've now lost 3lb's since starting to eat more and am down to 12-4 after last night's session. Kin-hopeless.

Sorry to hear about the calouses. I don't know where I'd be without mine

BTW, is this the first time you've done rack pulls then?

Yes mate first time ever on the rack pulls.
I'd have to say I quite liked them, sort of deadlift for the country gentleman. On the downside, it made lifting from the floor seem like a longgggggg way down.

I think the callouses were about ready to go as they have fallen off but it already looks like old skin underneath as opposed to red raw meat. I do feel a sense of loss though, hands feel as naked as a nude Bournmouth babe.

What if you deadlifted (conventionally) first, say upto 200kg, then switch over to rack pulls? Or would that not appeal to you guys?

Can't understand the weight loss mate, must be frustrating for you.  Have you thought about getting a meal plan drawn up by someone (James for example)

RACK

Can't understand the weight loss mate, must be frustrating for you.  Have you thought about getting a meal plan drawn up by someone (James for example)

It is very frustrating more so for having made the effort and got worse than no return. Not sure I should bother James or anyone. I could single-handedly destroy their confidence in their subject and turn them nto a gibbering wreck

No.13

What if you deadlifted (conventionally) first, say upto 200kg, then switch over to rack pulls? Or would that not appeal to you guys?

That would probably make a lot more sense.
Not our strong point.

Seated Dumbbell Press
Wasn't looking forward to these with my buggered back and hands but they got done
34kg x 10(+1)-7(+2)-6(+1)
Pretty good but now need to work these deeper

Lateral Raise Superset
20kg-18kg-14kg-12kg(I think)
2 sets of hilarity.
It was like a mobility class at the old folks home as crippled backs tried to prise 'bells from floor

Seated Rear Delt Fly
14kg x 12-10-8

Arnold Press/V-Press Superset
24kg/16kg
12/12
11/10
10/8

Back is even tighter this morning.
Powerlifting tonight.....

That would probably make a lot more sense.
Not our strong point.

That's similar to what they do at Big Iron Gym sometimes; deadlifts from the floor, then they roll the bar onto boards of different heights

Had a day off Friday which was just as well as felt grim throughout the day and did some spewing all that night. Felt better Saturday and feel pretty good/rested now. Looking forward to making the most of the last few weeks of bulking, hoping to hit 13st. Oh yes, not sure if i mentioned it but my mystery weight loss problem has been solved. Turns out the scales at the gym are buggered. Switched to their digital and cross ref'd against my home digital I am 12-9 maybe a bit more. That was a relief.Would like to hit the 13st and then kick Rack's @rse in the shape-up

Also, found this white board analysis of the deadlift, it sums my fault up perfectly as an illustration of the 'how not to do it' version.

So now I just have to work on that feeling of driving with the legs but pulling with the back at the same time. The best thing I've come up with so far is imagining the feeling of being 15years old again and doing emergency trousers up on hearing your girlfriend's parents' car arriving back unexpectedly.

I wish my weight problem was dodgy scales mate hahahaha

Looking forward to the shape up

jedi

Also, found this white board analysis of the deadlift, it sums my fault up perfectly as an illustration of the 'how not to do it' version.

So now I just have to work on that feeling of driving with the legs but pulling with the back at the same time. The best thing I've come up with so far is imagining the feeling of being 15years old again and doing emergency trousers up on hearing your girlfriend's parents' car arriving back unexpectedly.

LOL Very good mate. I remember doing a runner from some girls parents who lived in a school! Them gates were bloody high!
 
Have you always had trouble putting on weight?

crying freeman

Have you always had trouble putting on weight?

Mmmmm yeah, I guess I have actually. I got to 14st 2lb within about a year of taking up the weights seriously but it was 14st 2lb of this;

This was also without the aid of whey or any other supplements just eating anything and everything that didn't move out of reach quickly enough. I prefer where I am now, I guess it is adding quality lean mass that I find difficult. Not unusual when training natural I guess.

looking bigger mate but watch out for the waist.
arms look mighty meaty

That's not me now.
Notice the lack of humungous cutlass-slash appendix scar.

That was how I looked when I thought adding ''muscle'' was a doddle. I got to 14st and took stook in comparison to the guy that owned the gym;
14st - check
17in arms -check
6pack abs - oh bugger
cuts and definition - errr no not really
I'm fat aren't I - Yip
How did that happen?
Cue a sea change and working for a more athletic kind of look.

As I said above, I much prefer where I am now. Lean bulking may be hard and a bit frustrating but I've managed to get to nearly 13st with decent definition this time and I think I should be able to build on my previous conditioning when I start to cut after Xmas. It's all a bit subtle but again, I do not want to return to the look above.

I think you've done it right mate.  You went to usual bulking way to get to the above pic.  Now you've got far more of an idea how to work things and get the results you're after.
Ok say after each bulk and cut you only add 3-4lb, after 4 of thoses that's a stone of lean mass.
 
Just look at how much progress you've made from that pic, that should be testament at how well you're training.

Sucks to hear you were spewing mate, thought it had been pretty quiet in here last couple of days.

Doing the shapeup you say ey?? It's great motivation, shame I can't do it this time round, although the field looks pretty strong, so maybe not such a bad thing.

You looked massive in the 14st pic, fat or no fat, what height are you?

I'm 5-9 mate.
Shape-up should be a laugh as I am basically only doing it to heap humiliation on the Rackster.
Clash of the Titans.


Great sesh last night, think the extra day off over the weekend had recharged the batteries.
Flat Bench
110kg x 9 +3spotted
110kg x 6 +2spotted
110kg x 5 +2spotted


Incline Oly
90kg x 9
90kg x 8
90kg x 7


Pin Presses
60-90-110
120 ffs made that look heavy
130 ditto
140PB

Cable X-Over
pin? x 12 x 3


Skulls
40kg x 14 -? -? (last 2 sets pushed to failure spotter's call)
 

+some cables and great calves session finishing on the powerplate which pumped my calves to the point that they didn't really work that much anymore.

Was actually a bit disappoint. with the flat bench but looking in the journal I think that's about the best I've ever pushed. I am just measuring myself against Jackman's 12easy reps at 110 and the fact he is now matching my 110reps at 120. I was stoked to get that 140 off the pins, it never moved a mm last week. It may have been one of the slowest movements ever recorded, it is my new 'harnessing the power of the glacier' approach

what height are you doing the pin presses from Jeri?

I think it the lean mass everyone struggles with mate. I don't think you looked particularly bad in that pic, but then I'm new to all this and would never dream of competing so I guess my goals are a little different, although, I see what your saying about definition. I think I put on a lot of my weight when I started eating oats, but time will tell if any of its good lean mass lol.

You cut me deep my friend, you cut me deep lol