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

^No worries mate.

Was in town earlier and stopped in for a sneaky sunbed. I got lulled into taking a Weemuscle type 'don't I look ripped under the bright lights' update pic. On review it looks like a skellyngton is waiting to board a spaceship
Luckily my telephone refuses to talk to my pomputer so you are spared the unedifying spectacle.

Team "Show Pony"

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

^lol, come on lets see it !

Hello my friend, I see you're back again.

Seriously, if I could persuade the two pieces of technology to talk to each other I would post it as it looks like a still from a very poor sci-fi film. Or alternatively that I am getting my kit off in a Japanese launderette
...wouldn't be the first time

Will try again later.

Have to make mental preparation for squats now with the threat of there being people watching tonight which is not ordinarily the case. My claims to be back to parallel will be put to the jury I can't help feeling

Team "Show Pony"

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

Who knows why but there was a brief window of co-operation between phone and pc so I managed to retrieve my skeleton astronaut photo. Of course it now becomes apparent that my phone is sh!t in many ways other than not talking to my pc.
i.e. it also takes cr@p photos;



Squats:
short story
..disast.

Much the same as last week for reps but a whole lot worse in terms of feeling rubbish. This all down to going a tiny bit below parallel rather than a tiny bit above. I just DO NOT have the make up for it. The sooner I accept this and deal with it the less likely I am to do some kind of dread injury to my back or pelvis. They will have to be a teeny tiny bit high and that's that. I felt as though I was going to break in half doing the 140. I checked this was due to the extra depth by squatting it again to the bench which at 18" leaves my stubby little legs just above parallel and the difference is vast. Everything feels rock solid and I have the leg strength to definitely do reasonable reps or even manage more weight. I am just going to have to wear an I can't squat for sh1t t-shirt and do the best I can.

Did some other leg stuff.
Sulking.

Team "Show Pony"

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

the resemblance is uncanny.
do you juice?

SQ:230 BP:162.5 DL:250 OHP:120

There is definitely a resemblance.
I am getting close to that sort of condition now but hopefully with a bit more size.

Or did you mean, the vacant gaze, the inability to engage fully with the world, the feeling that, somehow you can't quite put your finger on,
...none of this is quite real?
To be fair I try to find authenticity and meaning in slightly different ways.

I'm not much of a one for the old plastic sheeting and chainsaws in the front room.

Team "Show Pony"

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

I beg to differ but I digress.........
 
 
See, I manage to find YOUR journal Mr Jedi!!!
 
Oh and mucho thankies for the Capricorn One heads up.....absolute refusal to refer to google but put in sneaky request to font of useless info scuppered by aforementioned font's inability to respond QUICKLY....
 
 
Yes, we are CRAP at being ill, us medics.  We get GRUMPY..... just a viral infection my ar$e Mr Lab Path Geek. 
 
Cough, hack, splutter....
 

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

ChrissieG

I beg to differ but I digress.........

In the sense that you think I do deck the front room out in plastic sheets and set to with the chainsaw?

Of course had I known I was on phone-a-friend duty I may have been able to rejig my evening to be available for Mr. Tarrant's call. I mean, maybe skip the plastic sheeting and just go with the raincoat and fire-axe

Are you sure it isn't swine flu? Although to be fair I have given up wondering if and taken to thinking when on that score. In fact I might be better getting it now before it mutates and increases virulence. So I resolve to make full use of the gym water fountain, making special effort to follow any sneezing Mexican types.

I see you have a sig. link to the journal, I will now attempt to click it and see if it really does exist.

Team "Show Pony"

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

Ahhhhh.....point....good...made....well
 
Sig link may not work seeing as I haven't updated it since I first graced the stage looking like a bag lady at NABBA 2008.....you are probably bleaching your eyeballs right about.....NOW.
 
The thing is, you aren't supposed to KNOW when you're needed, just be there....sigh....boys.  Never understood them.....bike, crashing into leg scenario.
 
Anyhoo, wouldn't be told even if it was Swine flu seing as I'm the designated swine flu keeper upper of parliament (the hobby one in Edinburgh, not the REAL one) which requires my keepy upping of numbers at precisely 0930hrs (zulu time) every sodding day......I am indispensable.....allegedly.
 
It's not. it's viral.
 
 

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

ChrissieG

I'm the designated swine flu keeper upper of parliament

Ah! It all makes sense now.
I think you'll find you are not so much ill, as possessed by a spirit
..similar to Sigourney and Zuul the Gatekeeper in Ghostbusters;

I do hope the uniform is similar.

Team "Show Pony"

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

Looking really well mate, sorry to ehar about the squatting issues though.

Current avi 208lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

RACK


Looking really well mate, sorry to ehar about the squatting issues though.

I looked pretty cut at the time but you can't really tell from that pic.
I need a couple of quality weeks to get in really tip-top shape and then I'll take some proper pics for posterity. At the minute that two weeks of quality work is eluding me due to 'stuff' but I live in hope.

The squatting really p!sses me off at times but am learning to live with it.
Sort of.

Team "Show Pony"

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

Definately looking very lean mate. Good work!

Hello my friend, I see you're back again.

^Cheers ste.

Chestntri's

Flat bench
100kg x 11*PB
100kg x 7
100kg x 5
90kg x 4 + 80kg x 4 + 60kg x 5

Incline Dumbbells
34kg x 10/9/7

Incline Flies (paused)
20kg x 12/10/8

Chest Dips
15/12/10

Skull/Close-grip
40kg on bar x 7each x 3 sets(-ish) -had to press this off the bench myself

some pulldowns/pushdowns.

some abs

15min cycle

As Al Pacino would say "Hoo-Hah".
I might even stretch to a Lee from the apprentice "Thaswoddeyemtaorkinbowt".

Had much more oomph available than last week, think this is because I didn't overdo it with the heavy last week re reps. So I will keep that balance going for a bit, the above looks much more like 12/10/8 is do-able on the 100, which would please me no end.
Once again I pumped up like a big fat sossij for some reason during the workout and ever since have been left with that feeling that all of my muscles are on a hair-trigger for cramp. Think my electrolytes may be out of whack so will try and increase water and bananas today.

*spotter's fingers flickered on the bar at rep11 but he swears he did not help and it was a five minute grinder so I am counting it. So "ner".

Team "Show Pony"

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

top bencing man! well done!
looking very nice and shinny in your sci fi pics!!

on the squat front have you thought about say taking 20kgs off, going just past parallel and then slowly adding the weight back on? or have you already ordered the Tshirt? in which case you'll just have to stick as you are!  

my journal, come say hello - I need all the help I can get! 
http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/tm.aspx?high=&m=3731999&mpage=1#3731999

Yeah, it's not really a question of the weight, I have the exact same issues just warming up with the bar. I'm really going to have to just put it behind me and do them a bit above parallel. It's not like we're talking partials here, they aren't that bad just not very good compared to ass-to-grass merchants.
It's got to be better than nothing.

Team "Show Pony"

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

fair enough! as you were then!

my journal, come say hello - I need all the help I can get! 
http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/tm.aspx?high=&m=3731999&mpage=1#3731999

Chins
Wide
15/12/
Side to side
4 each side/3 each side

Hammer Strength High Pulldown
110kg x 12/ 10/ 8

Close Grip Lat Pulldown
70kg x 12/10/8

Seated Row
49kg x 12/10/8

E-Z Curls
40kg x 10 (not bad but oooyabugga my elbows -warmup weight req'd)
40kg x 8
40kg x 7

Inc. Bench Curls
14kg x 12/ 10/ 8

Seated barbell Curl
30kg x 12/10/8 = arms looking mahoosive
Chap estimates my BW at "..a couple of stone more than me and I'm about 14st"

15min cycle

Abs

Bought some full fat milk by mistake and although it tastes v.good it is murdering with wicked bellyaches Won't be making that mistake again in a hurry.

Team "Show Pony"

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

...and another thing.

Had a dream about Ms. Cleopatra last night.
She was a panellist on Dragon's Den and although I showed great resilience by climbing the steps not once but several times, everything I came in with was met with the response;
"Just so you know where I am, I think it's a terrible idea and won't be investing. I'm OUT."

I don't think I need much help from Mssrs. Freud or Jung to work that one out
Back to the drawing board.

Team "Show Pony"

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

Have you spoke to the girl at the gym yet them mate?

Current avi 208lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

^As the churchill dog would say, "Ohhhhh Yes."

I get the impression that she quite likes me but I also get the impression that she is certainly not short of choice. Which is understandable
She's probably used to determined foxhunter types but that's not really me. It's hard for me to maintain that level of focus as my mind wanders off on all sorts of tangents.
She will probably
1. not even notice (odds on)
2. find it interesting (rank outsider)
3. assume I'm gay (2nd favourite)

Team "Show Pony"

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

At least you've got her attention which is the hardest bit.

Find out which nightclub she goes to, bump into her at the bar, crack a joke and get her a drink.  Works everytime mate.

Current avi 208lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

Nightclub?
Drink?
Joke?
Woah, woah woah, we need to slow this sh!t down baby
...I can't breeeaaaathe!

Team "Show Pony"

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

PMSL!  if all this fails get her on facebook.

Current avi 208lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

I'm thinking I might just push her over in the playground.
That used to work.


Cardio Completed
15min cycle
15min X-trainer
break for ab work
15min cycle
20min X-trainer

Cardio not quite so bad last night, especially the second stint where I got talking to someone which was going so well I even ventured into 'overtime'. Seriously, I think that's the first time I've done over 15min on one station since the interminable efforts on my own X-trainer Chez-Jez
...which were a lot less fun.

Gymnast type abs were a bit different in that I had to perform the Dragon Flags to a small audience that gathered round to watch me make an eejit of myself
Eeeek

Team "Show Pony"

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

65mins of cardio work good work that man! can you give a break down of your ab work? and what the feck are dragon flags????

my journal, come say hello - I need all the help I can get! 
http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/tm.aspx?high=&m=3731999&mpage=1#3731999

Well done on the cardio mate.

Current avi 208lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

I do all sorts of ab work really. I tend to do a bit after every session maybe just some work on the crunch roller or kneeling crunches with a rope, or have started to doing them seated on the lat. pulldown machine which are even better. Then on Wednesdays I do a bit of gymnastic type work which is usually some tuck rollouts with a stab. ball then hanging pikes(leg raises) all the way to touch the bar. Then I did some half levers seated on a bench (sit sideways on bench with legs out in front of you arms at sides and lift the whole thing so butt is off bench and legs straight out) then the dragon flags which are a.ka. 'Rocky situps'.
Like this;

I'm going to have to try and get a vid of mine as I think I hold a better line than that^

Sadly I seem to be cursed with broad, flat abs rather than the six-stacked-bricks variety
So although I am doing some decent work for them...they still don't look very good.

Team "Show Pony"

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

Had already done most of the shoulder workout before last night's heavy benching commmenced. Got talked into trying a more elbows tucked in type of style and have to say I liked it more than I thought I would. Felt very easy on 100 and 110 but then panicked a bit and reverted halfway through the 120 to the older elbows out style. As a result I made a bit of a pigs ear of that which didn't set me up for 130 very well. Managed to hold the elbows in technique together on the 130 and brought it down much better
...the bringing it back up went less well
Feel a bit gutted to be honest as I think it was there for the taking but messed my confidence up with the scrappy 120. Hey ho, try harder next week I guess.

Shoulders
Hammer front raise
16kg x 12/10/8

Palms forward lat. raise
14kg x 12/10/8

Hammer grip rear raise
12kg x 12/10/8

Arnold press/ V-press
24kg/14kg x 10/10/8

Up on the pressing superset and oh my the burnfullness was terrific.

 

Team "Show Pony"

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

Jesus mate, 130kg bench..... massive well done.  I better get my finger out big time now!

Current avi 208lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx

RACK


Jesus mate, 130kg bench..... massive well done.  I better get my finger out big time now!

Errr no.
I had a nearly but not quite. You know..
looking really good then, as if by magic, FAIL appears.



I'm spotting another lad for his heavy bench tonight
..the temptation to have another go will be mighty strong.

Team "Show Pony"

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

Do you have a cylce Mr Jedi?
 
I was going to suggest running into aforementioned gals legs..............
 
 
you know the rest....

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

No need for cycle accidents or Rohypnol
I will just turn the peepers up a notch nearer to full power

Team "Show Pony"

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

Wasn't looking forward to legs after last week's debacle and, to be honest, I was thinking about going back to being a non-squatter. As it turned out I decided to give it one last chance. Worked on a few things in the warm-up and noticed that my feet had been getting wider and wider and more and more turned out \  0 / as per countless squatting articles. 'Course it is my tight hips that cause me the problems though and this doesn't help that at all. When thinking I was giving them up I was going to concentrate much more on lunges and feet together leg-press; so, I thought hang on a sec. why not go back to squatting with feet parallel and much narrower l0l.
Well Bugger Oi down dead if it didn't work.
Was back to feeling rock solid at the bottom again and nice and deep to boot, deffo below parallel.
Result.
Just kept it to 2's and 3's until 140 for a single but it felt so good I had a cheeky single at 150 too then back down to 100 for 12/10/8

Leg ext.
84kg x 12/10/8 plus dropset

Leg Press decided the stack is not enough of a challenge so
97kg x 1 leg at a time x 9/8/7

+ some calves

+ also realised I haven't done hams yet this week
..and didn't do them then either.

Team "Show Pony"

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

good news re squats.

SQ:230 BP:162.5 DL:250 OHP:120

daKensta

good news re squats.

Hmmm, I've been suffering a bit over the weekend though.
Then again, not as much as last week when I didn't have the consolation of lifting well. Hopefully the back/pelvis will sort itself now that I'll be keeping everything parallel.

In other news, managed to increase the resolution of my phone pics and felt pleased with myself. However, the utter misery of having said device connect with computr on a completely ad-hoc basis is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Google reveals lots of Samsung owners suffering in similar vein but precious little in way of reliable cure. Anyway, it once again, finally, connected long enough to retrieve pic but think I'll go back to digital camera in future. I should've taken some more pics after the above debacle as the increase in pump and vascularity would've been marked.
'Kin pointless technology that is difficult/impossible to use

Team "Show Pony"

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

Chestntri's

Flat bench
100kg x 11
100kg x 7 +1spotted
100kg x 5 +1spotted
90kg x 5 + 80kg x 5 + 60kg x 5

Smith Incline
70kg x 10/9/8

Flat Dumbbells
34kg x 12/9/7

Incline Flies (paused)
20kg x 12/10/8

Chest Dips
15/12/10

Close-grip Db
 24kg x 8 x 3 -had to do these as someone had the EZ bar -didn't rate them to be honest

some pulldowns/pushdowns.

some abs

15min cycle
10min X-trainer

Had one of those, "Oh Kerrrist, even the 20's feel heavy" starts to the session, so was quite frankly amazed to manage 11 on the 100 again. I can kind of imagine getting to 12 on the first set over the next few weeks but it's hard to see myself pressing 10 the set after. But we live in hope etc.

Team "Show Pony"

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

Ahem....the 20's ARE heavy Mr Jedi......tsk...boys and numbers....
 
 
It's chestntrisnabbage for me today so am super spurred on by your boy efforts!! 
 
Oh, how I would KILL for tight hips.....

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

I must clarify that I don't mean I have tight hips in terms of looking svelte in hipster jeans
...more of the walks like a car-park attendant variety

Have tracked down a diagnosis for my shoulder injury, which is handy as can now do remedials that may actually help

Team "Show Pony"

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

Jebus!  I feel like I've lost a limb not being allowed on here in work hours!

First off, well done on the squatting mate and looking very good in the pic too!

When I have more time I'll have a proper read through.

Current avi 208lb
Prep Journal http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/RACK-Leeds-UKBFF-2012-m4666355.aspx