The road to Tough Guy 2010 (Pics page 4) The start of the cut

OK, so i was starting a fresh in my old journal, but that thing is the amalgamation of about 5 seperate journals over a few years so thought i'd start a new one. (one i'm going to stick to, for reasons i will state).
 
I've entered toughguy 2010, which is a physically gruelling run and obstacle course.
http://www.toughguy.co.uk/
 
My gf's dad has done it the last few years, and so i've decided to give it ago. I was going to do it last year, but i broke my hand, which stopped my training e.t.c.
 
I'll update this journal with posts from my new start about a month ago.
 
I'm also working towards playing rugby again, and putting on some decent LBM.
 
I'll update with pics and stats tonight.

12TH JANUARY

I went to the gym yesterday for my 2nd chest session back.

DB Press - 22.5kg - 7/7/7
Inc DB Press - 17.5kg - 8/8/8
Military Press - 32.kg - 8/8/8
DB Flys - 12.5kg - 8/8/8

The db's were a bit shakey, but pleased i got them up for all sets, as i only used them for one set last session.
Incline dumbells i'm quite new too, so didn't go too hard on them.
Military felt fine. Upto 35kg for all sets next week.

18TH JANUARY

Had a back session on thursday last week. Was going to do an extra leg session, but i realised that theres no way i could squat after my first deadlift session back. So decided to throw in a bit of both, until i'm back to full intensity.

Wasn't the greatest of sessions actually. Power rack was being used, the only other spare bar was being used.

So i grabbed a premade bar and did a few fast deadlifts with that.

Deads - 40kg - 12/12/12
Chins - BW - 6
Assisted Chins - 6
Lat Pulldown - 56kg - 8/8
DB Curls - 15kg - 8/8/8

Did a few sets of leg press, and a few leg extensions.

5mins HIIT on the rower afterwards.

Not a good session really. Not used to not being able to do 3 sets of chins. So tried some assisted, but the machine was poor. So reverted to some wide grip pulldowns,
Curls went well though, and it was nice to get a bit of HIIT on the rower done, for extra back workout.


Anyway, went gym again on saturday to do abs and cardio.

Did a few different sets of ab work. Then did 2.6k on the rower in about 12minutes.

Then a few more sets of abs, then 10minutes on the treadmill at a fast pace. Felt good doing cardio again.

Eating quite well at the moment, which is good. Keeping my life quite structured with work et al.

18TH JANUARY

Went gym again today to do chest/tri.

Overall a good session.

DB Press - 25kg - 6/6 - 22.5kg - 8
Inc DB Press - 20kg - 7 - 17.5kg - 7/7
Military Press - 35kg - 6/6/6
Dips - BW - 6/4
Flys - 12.5kg - 8/8/7

Good session. Pleased i got the 25's up for two sets. Incline dumbell was better as well.
Military was hard. I'm used to doing military straight after db press, so my weight isn't what it should be. 35kg was a struggle, considering i was doing sitting for 47.5kg before i broke my hand.
My chest needs the work anyway.

Did a few dips as well for the triceps, but they're still getting hit hard from the other exercises at the moment. Still glad i got them done bodyweight fine.

Re-flamed the twinge in my neck again. Strange after 6months. Must be a real problem. Maybe a trapped nerve or something.

Definately need to go to the physio to get it sorted.

22ND JANUARY

Had my back session on wed, even with a sore neck. I'm pleased to say my neck didn't hurt much at all during the set, and is feeling a lot better.

I think i've deduced that it's flys that antagonise it. Might leave them out on my next session, we shall see.

So wednesdays back went quite well.

Deads - 70kg - 5/5/5
Chins - BW - 6
Lat Pulldown - 66kg - 7 - 59kg - 8/8
BO Row - 50kg - 12/12/14
DB Curls - 15kg - 8/8/7

Followed by 10mins intense bike cardio.

Not a bad session. Deads felt heavy,  but it's first time in over a year i've done heavyish deads so quite enjoyed that.
Chins were poor again. So reverted to lat pulldown.
BO Rows went well. Good strength for those, up next week for sure.
My biceps were pumped to hell at the end of the session, so a nice burn with them.

Gonna push deads up 5kg. Do all sets on lat pulldown on 66kg. 55kg BO rows, and potentially one set on 17.5kg db curls.

I'm going gym today for legs/abs/cardio. First squat session in a VERY long time. My back doms arn't that bad so should be ok. Gonna start easy on squats, as it's been a while!

23RD JANUARY

Went to the gym yesterday. Didn't have that much time, so couldn't throw in any cardio. Going to do go for a few jogs, and hit the rower more next week though.

First leg session in goodness knows how long. Went alright

Squats - 50kg - 8/8/8
Leg Press - 78kg - 8/8/8
Calf Raise - 80kg - 12/12/12
Abs

Squats were fine. Good starting weight, and my doms arn't that bad at all. Threw in some leg press for extra burn. Calf raises felt quite awkward, but probably the machine, and the fact i was in plimsoles.

Did some abs afterwards. I really have a weak core. So i'm going to try and do two sessions of ab work a week. Really need to bring it up to scratch.

Eatinng pretty well. Looking forward to chest on monday, 25's all sets!

For once i'm glad my chest has caught up with the rest of my body, as it was always a lagger. Doing a few sporadic work outs on it before i properly started again really helped.

25TH JANUARY

Chest again today. Not a bad session at all. However, still dissapointed with the strength in my shoulders.

DB press - 25kg - 6/7/7
Inc DB Press - 20kg - 8/7/6
Military Press - 35kg - 8/6 - 30kg - 8
DB Flys - 12.5kg - 8/8/8
Dips - BW - 6/6/5
Abs

Was stronger than i thought on the db press, so really pleased i got all sets out with them. Probably go for 8/8/8 next week, though i'm toying with the idea of doing the first set with 27.5's.

Incline dumbell felt good. Nice burn.

Military was weak again. I reckon my military has suffered a bit ever since i started doing incline db press before it. Had to drop the weight, nightmare. All sets on 8 next week.

Flys were good. I had nice form throughout the sets, so will push them upto 15's next time round.

Cranked out a few bodyweight dips to finish off the triceps. Arms were knackered at this point, but surprised how many i did considering it was my last exercise.

No niggles or pulls, so very happy

Not sure how much i weigh at the moment, as our scales have run out of battery. I reckon around 12st 13. Ill try and get the battery fixed soon as.

Eating quite well. Mainly well during the week. Slack a bit at the weekend, when i spend most of it with my gf.

I look forward to back on wed.

27TH JANUARY

Went for a 3 mile jog after work yesterday, felt quite good after it. Not that out of breath. My achilles is a little tight though, so i've been stretching it out over the day.

Went and did Back/Bi

Deads - 80kg - 6/6/6
Lat Pulldown - 71kg - 6 - 66kg - 8/7
BO Rows - 60kg - 10/10/11
DB Curls - 17.5kg - 6/6 - 12.5kg - 10
Abs

Quite a good session. Pleased with the deads, up to 85kg next week.
Lat Pulldowns were quite a strain. Might try chins again next week.
BO Rows were a lot heavier this week, finding my weight on that. 65kg next week.
DB Curls were good. Was gonna drop to 15 for last set, but they were being used, so repped out on the 12.5's. All sets on 17.5 next week.

Overall happy with that. Going to do some more abs on friday with legs. Going for a jog tomorrow, and going gym again on saturday for some cardio.

Trying to keep the cals and protein up. Not doing a bad job.

Went gym yesterday and did legs and abs. Went quite well.

Squats - 55kg - 8/8/8
Leg press - 85kg - 10/10/10
Calf Raises - 100kg - 12/12/12
Abs

Squats were fine, up again next week. Nice and deep, pleased with that.
Hit leg press for extra leg burn.
Not added in hamstring exercise yet, as they're getting worked quite hard by deads at the mo.
Ab work is coming on, much better than a month ago.

I also went for an 8k jog this morning with some of my gf's dad's mates. Did quite well, around 40mins. Actually the furthest i've run before, so pleased i made it all the way round.

OK, so i had chest again yesterday. Pretty pleased with the session

DB Press - 25kg - 8/8/7
Inc DB Press - 20kg - 8/8/7
Military Press - 35kg - 8/8/6
Flys - 15kg - 6/6/5
Dips - BW - 8/7/6

Good progress there.

DB Press felt good, going to do a couple of sets on 27.5kg next week.
Incline dumbell was shakey, bit of a weird exercise, but up next week.
Military Presses were weak again. Must be due to incline before it, as my shoulders used to be my strongest muscle.
Flys up weight, going to be stricter on form next week.
Dips were good again.

Good session, pleased with that. Think i'm going to go for another jog after work today, keep up the fitness.
Still don't know what i weigh at the moment, but my gf has agreed to do a couple of pictures tonight as well

Some of my colleagues are talking about entering Toughguy, though they're looking at the winter one, so 2011. Guess you're looking at the summer one with the stinging nettles?

Yeah, i'm starting with the summer one.

You go round the course twice on the summer one, but it's not as bad as the winter one.

My mrs dad has done the winter one as well, and he says it's really really hard. He'll only do it again if he does it with someone else.

I'm new to any of that kind of stuff, so going to do the summer one, then see how i feel about the winter one.

Had my back bi session yesterday. Was a bit short on time.

Deads - 80kg - 6/6/6
Chins - BW - 6
Lat Pulldowns - 73kg - 9/7
BO Rows - 65kg - 8/7/6
DB Curls - 17.5kg - 6/6/7

Not a bad session. Still dissapointed with the chins really. Used to be able to crank out 3 sets of 10 easily. Still progress all round.

The deads were sore on my back. Might drop reps next week to 5, what you think?
Lat Pulldown was fine.
BO Rows i've hit my weight on these. Going to stay at 65kg next week and really work on form.
Curls felt good. Definately 3x8 next week!

Didn't really have time to do any abs. So i stretched a bit then caught the train.

Want to go for a jog tonight, but it's really icy. Not sure whether to risk it. If it clears up by 6 when i get home, i'll do it.

Can't do legs on friday as i'm out on the lash after work, and don't wanna be all sweaty, so going to do legs on saturday.

Hi, why are you doing military press on your chest day? I looked at the tough guy event, couldn't believe the price of it!

£117.50

Don't want to put a downer on it , but wouldn't you be better off doing more endurance and cardio based training rather than bodybuilding style training with a few jogs thrown in?

My sole goal of training isn't specifically for tough guy. I've trained a lot over the past in bursts, and this time i'm in a position to keep some consistancy.

Tough is just one thing i am aiming at the moment.

My cardio training will step up as the months go by. I'm just getting back to a decent level of fitness, before i start training with my mrs dad.

I will keep on doing a mass routine until then, as i'd like to put on muscle.

I do military on my chest day, as my chest day is chest/tri/shoulders. Bit of a push day really.

Replaced the battery in my scales this morning and weighed in at 13st6lb.

Heaviest i've ever been. I'm also carrying more fat than i have before, but it's good to see steady progress.

Probably going to bulk to 14st 7, then cut some fat. Otherwise i won't be able to fit into my suits.

Bets of luck matey

OK so i had a week off last week. Was a really **** week altogether, and really didn't feel like training. Had a good weekend, and now i'm back on the wagon.
I ate poorly last week, and went down to 13st 2lb.

Did a 5k run on saturday morning, and ran it in 25min 40seconds, up and down hills. Not too shabby.

I hit the gym today, to see if i hadn't lost any strength.

DB Press - 25kg - 8/8/7
Inc DB Press - 20kg - 8/8/8
Military Press - 35kg - 7/7/7
DB Flys - 15kf - 6/6 - 12.5kg - 8
Dips - BW - 7/5/5

Abs

Only a marginally worse session than of 2 weeks ago, so pleased. Going to put my weights up next week, and make sure my diet is spot on this week.

Going for a  jog tomorrow, around the 7k mark i think.

Will weigh myself tomorrow morning to see where i'm at. Glad last week is over, and i can get back to consistant training, like i have been doing the last 2 months