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

Ahem.
Well that could've gone better.
I was concentrating so much on making the drive on my 170 squat I kind, sorta, forgot to make proper depth.
A mix of last week's buried fail and this weeks high success would be spot on next week.

Had a really nice 130 on the bench. Very pleasing, no shoulder pain at all; back to a moderate to narrow grip and elbows out but trying to get a bit of an arch in my lower back. Felt good. I mean, no strength to speak of but errr nice and smooth. I'm going to try reps of this next week, hopefully 3x, even if it is 3 singles.

Deadlift errr no, not so much.
Deadlifting twice a week just doesn't seem to agree with me really especially if am squatting twice as well. Something will have to give and it is going to have to be deads. I need the leg work, I don't feel as though I need the back work really.

I was gutted to have posted another disappointing performance last night, just felt hollow all the way through. But. I have had a rotten cold which, in truth, is still lingering and I am still training so wont have lost too much. Just need to ride out the storm and wait for the next wave heading in the forward direction.

I was chatting in the week about not nec. making the best of my bulking time. On the one hand I am pretty lean for saying I am supposed to be bulking so maybe need to increase the food intake. On the other hand I was 11-9 at the end of summer so have put on the 3/4 of a stone without gaining too much fat. So, hard to tell whether intake is about right to be gaining muscle with little fat or whether I need to up it a fair bit to make better gains. I think I am definitely a bit shy when it comes to eating but have definitely stalled at around 12-6/7 for the last couple of weeks so it could be that I will just have to bite the bullet (probably not too many carbs in a bullet anyway).

Bullets are fine.

What's your diet looking like then, mr jedi? Do you follow anything strict or just play it by ear?

Don't get too down-hearted about the session, as you said you've been recovering from a cold and your game face went AWOL. You may have not smashed it, but a nice controlled 130 must have cracked it a little

Diet is played by a fairly strict ear.
I would say that I am naturally more suited to a maintenance/cutting regime than a bulking one. Which is why it is a shame that the whey is not really working out too well; it would've been a really convenient whey to increase my cals with some protein.
I need to find myself a nice butcher's daughter who is keen to feed me up on fillet steak

Last night's debacle was somewhat explained by the cold flaring up again today. Felt sniffly again and generally as though I was wading through water. Getting a bit fed up with it now. Didn't really fancy it tonight but thought I'd better make the effort. Was glad I did as I got more done than I thought.

Squat
60-60-100 x10
120 x 12-12-10
80 x 15

Leg Ext
77kg x 15-12-10

Bench
100 x 10/8/6 (plus assists to make 12/10/8)

Incline 'Bells
34 x 14.5/12/11

Decline Flying + partial pressing
20kg x 15/12/10 

Cable Flying
? x 15/12/10

V-Bar Pushdown
Stack x 12/12/8

Skull/Closegrip
30kg x 12each - 10 each - 10/8

plus calves

Not bad in that I got the volume I was looking for on chest. Bit disappointed with the 100reps which turned out to be same as last week but on the other hand was better everywhere else so am thinking maybe a bit more warmup on bench or even just not really pay it too much attention. This is difficult given that Jackman is pressing ahead both literally and metaphorically.

You need to try and get yourself a membership card for a wholesalers mate.  I'm saving a fortune on my meat since joining COSTCO.

Okay will broaden the search from butcher's daughter to include single mothers with wholesale access.

Woke up with a feeling of dread appointment looming.
You know the kind of thing; dentists at 11, or told to report to the headmaster after assembly, or the bully behind the bike sheds after school.

In this instance I have a deadlifting date with 210kg booked for about 6.30pm
I can't see the point of lifting 205 again so 210 it must be.
I'm not sure why, what with my technique in tatters, my back a bit sore from work and still feeling weakened by this cold
...but I am reasonably optimistic
I really am barking mental.

Get that Deadlift slain my friend, im sure that it is yours if you want it bad enough.  

Do not admit mental defeat. You know what to do, get it done.

Let battle commence.

I am pinning my optimism on the fact that I have done 205 basically not knowing what the fkk is going on I  have one or two things to work on re technique and will put my faith in that
...and a mighty roar of powaaaa.

Good man!

now head over to my journal and pick up your free complementary "Deadlift Wallpaper".

Done in the style of an 80's Metal album cover. Retro!

Took these first thing and wasn't going to post due to the state of my sleep pants
However, we are all adult scientists here so am sure there will be no jocular remarks.
First up, I think my weight has now officially stalled at between 12-6 and 12-8 (inclusive).
I think I have made some gains my arms and shoulders look bigger and so do my legs. I'm not sure I should be looking this lean on a bulk though? Theere are still watery abs and took the leg shot as there is some feathering on my outer quad although it doesn't show up too well. Think the pecs are lagging a bit but am already adding one or two bits to rectify that. Press on as is or look to up the intake? Thoughts?



edit:
Apparently my sleep pants offended the sensor so picture reloaded to spare their blushes

It looks like you've made some good progress from your last pics mate, you look a lot thicker
Although not in this way

Tickets to the gun show!

Rack - there wasn't that much room for manoeuvre on the increase in that kind of thickness to be fair (I am tempted to retell the story of the 'move the weight down one' debacle).

Valhalla - truly excellent work my friend I will keep the original and may also look into a shrinking it for sig or avatar purposes; you excelled yourself.

However, I wasn't fishing for complimentsmuch I am genuinely looking for opinions re diet. Carry on as I am on the grounds that I do seem to be adding some lean mass albeit slowly or madness you are trying to stay far too lean -send for the big spoon.

Hmmmmm, how about doing something like 8 weeks of eating everything in sight then a 6 week cut?

Say you put 14lb's on and then cut 8lb off you'll have gained a solid 6lbs of lean mass in 14 weeks.

RACK


Hmmmmm, how about doing something like 8 weeks of eating everything in sight then a 6 week cut?

Say you put 14lb's on and then cut 8lb off you'll have gained a solid 6lbs of lean mass in 14 weeks.

I think this is what I'm supposed to be doing bulking to Xmas and then cutting.
I just seem to be having a hard time doing enough eating.
I won't shout that loudly as people will want to punch me in the face but it's true. I think my first step will be to up the egg and milk quota, both of those are fairly easy to eat. For extra carbs it's going to have to be homebake bikkies again.
God help me.

Hey Jedi,

You have a hard time eating enough? in what respects? Physically? Mentally?

Valhalla

You have a hard time eating enough? in what respects? Physically? Mentally?

Both.
Physically, I get reflux and digestive issues.
Mentally, I get fear of the above.

The mentality of eating is horrible mate, I get it a lot so know exactly where you're coming from.  I bet though if you could find a way to get rid of the digestive issues then you'd easily put more food in.  Have you heard anything else from the docs about the issues?

Ahh yes, I remember now that our eating problems are very similar.

If it helps, were in the same boat! You got one oar, Ill get the other.

Ever had the feeling that you’re not quite going to make it?
A bit like when cartoon characters run off the edge of a cliff, there’s a slow realisation that there’s nothing under your feet but fresh air, that no matter how fast you try to run, you are not going to make it to the other side of the canyon. There’s that fraction of a second before the plunge, just enough time to turn to the camera and arrange your features into a look of world-weary resignation. Then down you go, bumps all the way.

The above may as well have been written about last night's deadlifting.
I can tell you that it wasn't for want of trying but 210 did not happen.

70-110-150-190
210x
x is such a cruel summary. It does not record the fact that I did work on my 'pulling back' tip and it did work (a bit) in that it came off the floor which it has never threatened to do previously. In fact, it came off the floor quite a way, certainly above the knee, I hesitate to claim mid-thigh but it felt like I moved it a fair old distance. The worst part about the stall was the fact that my back felt strong and up for continuing the battle but sadly goddam Elvis Palsy arrived and my legs started to do an impromptu riverdance under the bar. It started to make the whole thing look ever so slightly like Fred Flintstone's feet powering his 'car'. Which broke my concentration a bit and down she went.
B@stard.
The more I reasoned that I should be pleased I shifted it, the less pleased I was at not getting it.

Chins -not straightening arms on negative
25-12-10
I experimented with straightening on the last few reps and it definitely does tweak my shoulder so will have to continue doing them like somebody who can't do chins.

1-arm Row on Smith
50kg x 8 - 8
50kg x 8 45kg x 6 35kg x 6

Close Grip Pulldown
70kg x 12-10-8

Oly Curls
40kg warmup
50kg x 7 - 5 - 4

Incline 'Bells (no I wasn't very inclined but did 'em anyway)
14kg x 12-10-8 (barely)

Seated Curl
30kg x 12-10-8

In other news, young Michael informs me of speculation as to my 'assistance'.
Not sure why I'm the one that gets singled out for speculation when I'm the only one of the three that can't lift any-fkkin-thing