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

CLASS!

Vision without action is a daydream.

Action with without vision is a nightmare

Dear Diary.....

The cape you have to include some kind of shoulder strapping of course! Not entire 'invincible'

Get yourself a roller, that may help the legs recover. Torid looking session, I bet if you took a few breaths you could have got that 20th...

...

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

Yeah I would deffo be a bit of a 'special needs' superhero

I dunno, freeman wants me to buy a zimmer and now you want me to have a (st)roller
I wouldn't mind either or both if it got me into the disabled parking at the gym
As for the manning up, I felt the same afterwards, at the time I had manned about as far up as I go
...which is 19 apparently.

Just remembered these calf pics from the weekend.

They are not exactly a stand out feature (especially my gimpy left leg) but they are getting there. Another half-inch per side and I will be able to wear my heels this summer after all shorts I meant shorts.

Team "Show Pony"

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

Those calves aren't anywhere near as shameful as you make out matey.

Journal

As my calves are next to non-existant I am on no position to critisise.
 
Nice use of the door for balancing however

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

There seems to be a major occurence of clenching in those pics too.

Journal

It's not the clenching I'm worried about it's the munching....

Bloody good going on the 19 though mate! That is fookin hard going, DV I'm sure you been there but manning up late teens in the squats... I can see where Jedi's coming from.

Vision without action is a daydream.

Action with without vision is a nightmare

Dear Diary.....

(between you and me I don't do 20 reps in total on squats)

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

Fair do's mate, I just got roped in and now am finding it hard to shake off

Vision without action is a daydream.

Action with without vision is a nightmare

Dear Diary.....

My butt cheeks are permanently clenched; granite, like a drill-sargeant's jaw.
I am actually reasonably pleased with the way the calves have come onwhich in turn is motivation to carry on the hard work.

Last night's powerlifting.
I wasn't 100% fired up for the session to be fair. I'm still not really rid of the last cold and had to force the food down during the day. Once you're there it never seems as bad.

Squat
Jackman was ill which basically left me training with North Mids Masters4 record holder Vic.
Asking Vic for a tight spot on squats is very much like asking him for a dry bumming
i.e. not really something he is keen on.
Ergo squats were going to have to be performed with no spotter.
60-60-90-120-150
Curses the 150 feels heavy destroying my confidence re heavy efforts.
Magic wraps go on though and I get a bit of chutzpah and think fkkit lets get 180 done.
So load 180 -then have chutzpah failure and get Vic and Neil to spot eithr side of the bar. I walk the bar out reasonably well for me and am just getting ready to squat when I notice...yep Neil on one side and err Vic where's Vic? He's on the other side yes...but on one knee ready to check my depth
Right then knee trembler of a brown trouser no spotting whatsoever 180 it is then.
Quite pleased actually as it was fairly comfortable
...and passed for depth.

Bench
Forgot to tape my shoulder so didn't have much confidence on this one but did a fairly easy 120 to round my squat up to 300 basically.
Then felt guilty for not going heavier and did 8 x 110. Which was a bit pointless/stupid.

Deadlift
*sigh
60-100-150
200 not too bad at all
220 epic fail
Trouble is and why I'm getting so frustrated is that I can't really commit to the heavier lifts. If they don't come off the floor fairly comfortably there is only a certain level I will let my back work to before basically chickening out. Annoying really.
150 x 15 by way of self-flagellation.
Quite pleased with that though.

Genuine on the night 500 total too.

Team "Show Pony"

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

You say 150x15 as if  'yeah that'll sort me' you make it sound like a breeze lol I'm dreading the 130 on monday!

Vision without action is a daydream.

Action with without vision is a nightmare

Dear Diary.....

I didn't mean to sound blase about the 150 x 15; I was extremely pleased to hit that number and can say it was pretty much a maximum effort. I was going to sneak in yesterday for another top secret deadlifting session and another epic fail at 220 but felt a bit off so didn't. Good job I didn't as my back is in pieces Bordering on the fullyfkked.
I was logging in to say it was all a bit of a mystery to me but I'm now thinking that 150 x 15 might've done a bit more damage than I'd given it credit for at the time.

Team "Show Pony"

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

Mate your a bloody nightmare, you should give it a rest for a week, I know you'll ignore this but sometimes when I take an 'enforced' break with josh the 1st week back is hard but then I move on up stronger...Apart from the Bench of course

Vision without action is a daydream.

Action with without vision is a nightmare

Dear Diary.....

Jackman is off ski-ing (fkkin jetsetter) next week so it is probable that the intensity will get dialled down for a couple of weeks.

Team "Show Pony"

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

Good squat, a tidy bench considering and the DL is certainly respectable... Is there a weak point on your DL that you feel you need to work thru then?

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

dirtyvest
Is there a weak point on your DL that you feel you need to work thru then?

Yes, the stoppinandgivinupwhenitgetsabithard point.

Chest Tri's
Flat Bench
60-60-80
110 x 9 +2
110 x 6 +2
110 x 4() + 2
100 x 6 + 80 x 4 + 60 x 3 -paused rep drop set
Pleased with the first set on 110, tried to push hard for the 10th and it cost me a bit on the other sets due to burnout. Creeping back up though, mostly due to the shoulder not being quite so fkked. Timing was out a tad though as wasn't getting as much drive off the chest as I did with the paused reps.

Incline D'bell
34kg x 12-10-6
Not exactly record breaking there either

Dips
20-15-12
Pretty good normally drop about 50% each set

Skulls
40kg x 12ish-10ish-8ish
Hard after the dips -doubly so as it was with a straight bar

Cable Pushdown/pulldown to finish

Good pump.

Back didn't bother me much in the gym apart from flat bench but was killing me all night No real idea what's causing it particularly, seems worse lying down
...tonight's squatathon should sort it

Team "Show Pony"

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

Sorry mate, not been in for a while.  Trying to catch up now.

Calves don't look as bad as you think

Current avi 246lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

LOL I think many of us have issues with 'that' point.
 
There's a lot of forced reps on your benching, how does the shoulder like that?

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

dirtyvest

There's a lot of forced reps on your benching, how does the shoulder like that?

Fair point, I do get a lot of forced reps on the bench but think the shoulder suffers less under these than without. For instance, training without a spotter (or one briefed just for failure rescue) I would probably have tried a lot harder for that tenth rep on 110, five minute grinder fashion, the shoulder would probably suffer more during that than the extra spotted reps.
Which isn't to say it might not be more sensible all round to have called it a day at 9
...or even 8.


Last nights leg debacle
Pre-exhaust leg ext
stack + drops of 3 plates
still improving on the stack reps
still hating the burrrrrn
tried a set of going the other way so 10 x medium weight and then drop to heavy
I did 8 x and dropped to medium heavy but it still destroyed me

Trouble with giving youngsters helpful advice about improving their squats is that you can turn up and find four of 'em in residence on the squat rack
(was good to see actually)
This left us with the smith machine for fronts
...which I hate
Various sets of 10 then a heavy set with 50 per side. I think, my attention wandered due to the massive sulk I was in.

Back Squat
Just in time to have nothing left in the legs
Worked up to 100 and that felt ridiculously heavy so we opted for one killer set of BW on the bar.
I got 80kg x 30

Not the greatest session really but will probably leave me a bit in my legs for attempts at PB Thursday. I'm lining up a shot at 185, which I think I might make
...or do I shoot for the moon and go for a 190 which I think I might fail.

In other news my back is nowhere near as bad as it was before the session. This is about the third time following Vic's advice that, a bit more of what put it out might put it back again has proved useful.
I will work up a paper for The Lancet.

Team "Show Pony"

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

Calves
High rep warm up
88kg x 10 - 151kg x 6 + 4 drops back up the stack -three sets
70kg x 6 drop 2plates 6 reps x 4drops and then repeat back up the stack
various foot positions.

Biceps
EZ bar curls (inc 10kg for bar)
40kg x 15
50kg x 12-10-8
Pleased with that its pretty much a training weight now. This exercise is supposed to be a bit of a power based pre-exhaust so the weight should go up in theory. Not sure my wrists and elbows think it is a good idea, also my form is fairly strict on these, more weight would probably see that worsen so will stay at this weight on balance.

Incline D'bells
20kg x 11
18kg x 10
18kg x 9
Sold myself a bit for that first set, strength was now on the wane

Seated Straight Bar
35kg x 15 (very nearly burst and only did it because Jackman did)
35kg x 15 (think my biceps grew half an inch during the last 3 reps)
35kg x hilarious fail -couldn't make the first rep
reload now that everyone is watching
35kg x 7 deffo worked hard on the first two sets though.

Abs
Paused dragon flags
pausing at 45degrees and at the bottom of the movement.
5reps x 3sets
Brutal

Floor Sits
L-sit to V-sit and then 5 knee to chest tucks - 3 sets
Agony

Hanging Raises
Slow raise feet to bar without rocking back too much 5 reps - 3 sets

Wipers
Slower and with decent form 5 reps -3 sets

Team "Show Pony"

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

Very impressive on the EZ mate.  I know what you mean about wrist and elbow issues too.  I'm cursed with the wrists of a 9 yr old so the strain can be a bit much on them.

As for the wipers......  I'd kill just to be able to do 1 lol!

Current avi 246lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

Another volumisious session. Strong going on the arms, not suprised that your wrists and elbows are cursing somewhat .

I'm impressed that you had a crowd gathered for your seated curls, mind.

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

Powerlifting

Squat
60-90-110 -not feeling great so far
150 not too much worse
wraps on
170 -pretty decent, a good pass
Jackman makes a solid 185 and, well,  it was on the bar....
185PB
not absolutely my finest moment depth wise but I reckon it may have passed. It was there or thereabouts. Pleased because the lift went a lot better than I thought it would re strength in the legs. The worst bit was the walkout which I continue to be truly sh!te at, combined with the fear. I should be a bit more confident next time.

Bench
60-80-105
125 paused
The 125 was okay strength wise but my shoulder was starting to give me grief so I called it a day. There would be another 5 to 10 available if I was pushing with both shoulders I reckon.

Deadlift
60-110-140
180 -ripped it up to try and inspire some confidence-worked
200 full mental jacket concentration extra aggression etc -worked
220 UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAA PB
Was fkkin buzzing, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up
...if I had some on my head they might've stood up too.
Absolutely stoked to pull that after making it into 'a bit of a thing'.
Five plates.................nice


Then, as if that wasn't enough, I get in the car and this is playing
I am Iron Man....come on ...it doesn't get much better than that.

The gym can be a great place at times.

Team "Show Pony"

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

A squat and DL PB in the same session. I'm impressed. Now tho, you must have more in the DL if you were to do it fresh!?!?

Solid work tho, dude. Funnily enough, I commented today on my own issues with 'fear', concerning how apprehensive I get with my PP work. I concur, it is hugely frustrating.

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

Haha, well done bud. Good to see you come back satisfied from a session A 530kg is pretty damn good going.

On a side note, and abit of trivia. My nan actually used to be one of the PA's to Black Sabbath, before giving it all up to work in a car dealership.

Journal

Nice one mate, well chuffed for yah, maybe your coming over the other side of the few niggles you've had lately!

Vision without action is a daydream.

Action with without vision is a nightmare

Dear Diary.....

crying freeman

Nice one mate, well chuffed for yah, maybe your coming over the other side of the few niggles you've had lately!

Nope. The niggles are still present and I think it really is time to listen to all the voices of reason suggesting a brief period of not trying to break PB's in every session.

dirtyvest


A squat and DL PB in the same session. I'm impressed. Now tho, you must have more in the DL if you were to do it fresh!?!?
Solid work tho, dude. Funnily enough, I commented today on my own issues with 'fear', concerning how apprehensive I get with my PP work. I concur, it is hugely frustrating.

One factor in my favour tonight was that we had to wait a bit longer between bench and deadlifting so my legs had recovered a bit. On the one hand a pure deadlift sesh would say I had more from the legs. On the other hand i don't think it should be under-estimated that this was very much a surf the momentum seize the day type of effort. I got a boost from the squat and used that to fuel the deadlift. That is a massive factor I reckon, not easy to generate from scratch. That is where the fear creeps in and takes hold whereas tonight I just wasn't giving in to it on the deadlift after the decent performance on the squat. Really subtle stuff that actually does add up to increased performance.

No.13

Haha, well done bud. Good to see you come back satisfied from a session A 530kg is pretty damn good going.
On a side note, and abit of trivia. My nan actually used to be one of the PA's to Black Sabbath, before giving it all up to work in a car dealership.

530 - dammit that doesn't sound so good, it doesn't seem very symmetrical or anything like errr I dunno 550 or something
I can see how being a PA to Black Sabbath might drive you toward a nice job in a car dealership. There's probably only so many times you want to carry a sh!tload of coke through customs in your hand luggage

Team "Show Pony"

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

SQ:230 BP:160:) DL:250 OHP:120

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn what a day to check in on things! Congrats Jedi! PB squat and dead ~ not too shabby at all!

Cheers dK and CF. Finally, I can deadlift your squat

Some thoughts about last night.
I think the being sh1te at the walkouts stems from a combination of me using a low bar position/being a bit of a short@rse. This means I have to fetch the bar off the hooks with my back quite upright, which isn't ideal with the low bar position as it tends to want to slide, so think I am fighting that at the same time as tottering backwards.

As for the deadlift, I think I have been a bit too static at the start of the lift. Getting down, grip, re-grip, jiggle bar, faff, come to complete standstill, start to think about lifting bar. Chances of success slim. last night was much more stomp, stomp, slap belt, game face on, psych, psych, set feet to bar, bend at waist grip bar,  butt down, shins touch bar, explode.

Straight out the coaching manual

Team "Show Pony"

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

I totally get your reasoning behind the 2 in one session, dude.

I'm also with you regarding the DL approach. Fcuk the ritual side of things, if you spend too long down there pissing about before you pull it's all wasted energy, be it nervous or otherwise.... easier said than done tho when it comes to ditching those habits

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

Shoulders and upper back yesterday.
Nothing much to report other than my dicky shoulder is still dicky.

Managed 10-7-5 on the 34kg seated d'bells although that was deep enough to touch 'bell to shoulder, plus I have never been very good at these. Having said that I also struggled a bit on the arnold press/v-press superset and I used to fkkin rock at that. loads of people do that superset in the gym now which is kind of funny/flattering....not so funny that they will all be doing it better than me though

Team "Show Pony"

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

I love you Jedi

Give me babies nao!

SQ:230 BP:160:) DL:250 OHP:120

daKensta


I love you Jedi

Give me babies nao!

'Kay.
How many would you like?

Love is blind to the bad hair days
...and the people trying to ruin your infatuation for you

Team "Show Pony"

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

jedi's deload week.

I don't really understand the concept of deload weeks so we will all pretend that the set on 110 on the bench kinda sorta didn't really happen

Bench
90kg paused reps 12-10-8
Het hang on I quite liked that. I am having a 'moment of clarity' here. Instead of continuing to struggle under 110 and not really get anywhere with the reps I'm going to build back up from 95-100 but doing paused reps.

Smith Incline
70kg x 12-12-12

Flat Fly
20kg x 12-12-12

Low Cable X-over
12-12-12

Skulls
40kg x 12-12-12

Some cables
Some calves
15min cardio

Team "Show Pony"

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

All that pissing around at the bottom really dulls the stretch reflex too!

I would say "nice workout", but it was a deload, and, ya know, saying "nice workout" would be pretty lame lol

Morning.......

Oooooft...SUCH a lot of catching up reading to be done here.....luckily I had a spare hour on the Stairmaster this morning... ;-)

IMPRESSIVE!!!
on many levels.........

My competition journal: http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/Diamante-Warrior-AmazoniaChoosing-Your-Battles-Wisely-m2398177-p149.aspx

Morning, hope you don't mind me dropping in. Can't offer anything constructive on the training side as I don't know too much really but I read your interview yesterday and it didn't half give me a laugh....but also very interesting to read how you cope with stuff.......have a good day.....

cricket_fire


All that pissing around at the bottom really dulls the stretch reflex too!

I would say "nice workout", but it was a deload, and, ya know, saying "nice workout" would be pretty lame lol

It'll be interesting whether I can remember what I was doing last Thursday by the time this one comes round though. I don't have a great history of success in that department

I don't really get the idea of deload to be honest kept thinking "this is like the longest warmup in the history of training" not my favourite thing at all.

I have less than no idea about what to do for squats later; moderately heavy for a few comfortable reps or light for 20's? Not a clue.

Team "Show Pony"

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

ChrissieG

...luckily I had a spare hour on the Stairmaster this morning... ;-)

Yeah it can be hard to get back into if you miss a few episodes; let me bring you up to date;

Harry fancied the asian girl but she secretly blamed him for killing her ex so spurned his attempts to touch her deeply. This didn't stop Ron being jealous of Harry as the Chinese bird was quite tidy so he took his frustrations out on his mandrake root. Meanwhile Hermione was all; "Wingardium Levi-oh-saaaa" and did something magical with her wand at band-camp.

Team "Show Pony"

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