No.13's training.

****. Don't say that, I hate hospitals as it is! I do not need the added worry of accidently losing my todger!

I'm having a bastard of skin graft on my arm. I was burnt when I was 10months old and apart from an operation when I was 2, I've had no work done to it and needs tidying up basically. So graft from my groin (eek) to my arm. So no weights, no cardio or any form of exercise for 6weeks.

Are you considering the shapeup then ak?

Journal

Sort of. I'm in three minds with where i want to go at the moment;

1) Do a 12-16 week cut and strip right down the base and build back up. But my main worry would be dieting too hard and losing too much muscle.

2) Continue as i am and worry about condition another time because my strength is still going up week by week.

3) Take a much longer approach to a body recomp by factoring in cardio (i'm currently doing it EOD from weights at the moment) and reigning in the carbs a bit. The ideal world i would be able to slowly improve my body composition whilst being able to continue pushing on with my strength progress.

If i do decide to cut i want to start it in the new year because it  gives me the whole of january to get everything in place before my MSc starts and the work piles up!

Journal

Youtube Channel

With 2), as you say, your strength is increasing... "if it ain't broke" etc etc.
It just depends if you want to mix things up for the sake of keeping things interesting. I've followed your journal for a fair while and don't remember seeing a proper 'cut' at any point.

IMO, you've got 6-7weeks to go all out mass+strength (and enjoy the xmas festivities) feed your body and binge (within reason) then come 4th Jan 2010 you'd be dying for a cut and there's no better time to cut than a MT shapeup. It kept me going over summer, moreso than if i was doing it by myself. Then you've got 12weeks to get into condition and hold as much muscle as possible... and if you do a good job (you seem yo know your stuff so why not), you get £100 at the end of it too, win/win.

Convinced?

edit: plus it might actually mean you post some damn progress pictures for once

Journal

Yeah the last cut i did was back from April to August 2008. August 07 to April 08 was pretty sh1t in terms of mass gains. I didn't really add a great deal in the way of lean mass and it wasn't until after i'd cut that it really hit me i'd got nowhere other than filled out with far too much fat.

I'm confident i've gained mass this time around (my legs are ~2" bigger i think for starters!) but theres always the paranoia that i could still end up not looking a great deal different when all the blub is shifted. The longer term idea suits me a bit more because it means i don't have to bollocks about with real cutting LOL, but realistically i'm unsure how feasible it is. Will have to ponder on it some more!

Journal

Youtube Channel

Sorry to hear about the barf/poo illness AND the upcoming op. Will be frustrating not lifting but at least it will be done and out of the way. GL mate!

Ak, do it! It's all in the mind!

Cheers Flynn, yeah it will be frustrating to say the least but hey ho. Hope you've fully recovered now bud.

Journal

Shame about being out of training for a while. Im sure you will get back on it as good as before dude. 

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

Cheers ste, it's still 12weeks+ away yet though, so plenty of time to make progress. And then recovery is only 6weeks supposedly, so not the end of the world.

Journal

**** it, just train through it!

Sorry to hear Josh; here's to a quick recovery eh

cricket_fire


**** it, just train through it!

As much as I love your canadian badass powerlifter mentality,... sad matter of fact is if I do, the chunk of skin being grafted to my arm may slide off and I'm left with an open, gaping wound....... I think I'll rest up

Sorry to hear Josh; here's to a quick recovery eh

Cheers big guy!

Today's session. Not a total write-off, but not as easy as I thought. I picked 120kg for my squat starting point, and 70kg for overhead press. Considering I'm meant to be easing myself back into things, this was a little pick optimistic.

18/11

Squat
20 x 5
50 x 5
70 x 5
90 x 3
110 x 3
120 x 5
120 x 5
120 x 5
90 x 8

Strict Press
20 x 10
40 x 5
50 x 3
60 x 3
60 x 3 ....miscalculated, forgot I'd already done 60
70 x 4 ....a little bit too optimistic
65 x 5
65 x 5
65 x 5

DB Row
30 x 10
30 x 10
30 x 10
30 x 10


Took 1hr 10mins. Too long for my liking. Squats were a total killer, every set felt hard. But every set I felt as though I was going ridiculously deep too, my body just doesn't understand how to do parallel!!



Forgive the poor quality (again)... but you get the idea.
I should have a new phone next week though, so you'll all be treated to crisp, sharp videos

Journal

nice work..surprised you wasn't sick after that much squatting. 

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

Nice work, good volume on the squat. But of you can do 70x4 then 3 lots of 65x5 then you CAN do 70x5!!!! Now act like you've got a pair next time and nail the fcuker! Do 5 on 60 then 5 on 70..... do it.... DO IT...


 

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

Yes, but Mr. Vest, the question is if I can do 70x5 3 times

Next week will be a different story after some more R+R+food.

Weight is still well under 15stone, but I look a fair bit leaner and strength is only 5-7kg off on most lifts.

Ste... Ill see how i feel in the morning!

Journal

It won't matter, you don't need to ...
 
Or do 67.5!

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

Yes sir! Don't worry, I've got bases covered.

Plan for friday:
Bench: 105 x3x3

Plan for next week:
session 1:
Squat: 125 x3x3
OH Press: 70 x3x3

session 2:
Bench: 102.5 x3x5

session 3:
Squat: 122.5 x3x5
OH Press: 67.5 x3x5


Impressed by my forward planning?
If I keep going like that I should get pb's in squat and OH press by Xmas.

Journal

Very impressed, I can barely remember what I lifted yesterday let alone lan the next 3 sessions in advance..... I'm getting old tho

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

Fcuk all this strict bollocks, be a man and throw it up with a Push press!

Journal

Youtube Channel

we only have his word that it's strict mind!

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

Haha, AK, I don't have enough weight for push press

Journal

When you going hit bodyweight strict overhead then fella?

Strict OHP is better than PP for pure strength IMO, great deal of technique to push press.

I read of a legendary oly lifter who was 'only' strict pressing 120kg, whilst push pressing 165kg+.

Dips are pretty good to help OHP, and paused close grip benches...

Well, at the rate at which my bodyweight was decreasing, not too long!
I reckon a 92.5kg strict press will be doable before my 22nd birthday (february), depends how Xmas training goes.

I would do dips, but can't with my setup unfortauntely. Usually do them 6ft up in the air using my rack, but low ceiling prevents that!

How you diong anyway matey?

Journal

I am now down to 90kg from 93kg, and my strength seems to have remained, as I am a lot leaner.

Neck is still 17" taped which is usually a good sign.

I expect a strict OHP exceeding bodyweight before the NY!

Hmm... that's going to be a close one matey, I'll be going home on the 18th Decemeber, so depends on whether I take my weights with me or if i have a surge of strength by then!

Journal

Squat depth looked deeeep and form in general looks good on that still.
150 for sure.

Team "Show Pony"

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

jedi


  Squat depth looked deeeep and form in general looks good on that still.
150 for sure.

Check page 19, towards the bottom

Journal

Excellent.
Not sure why I missed that
...there was deffo another one there though

Team "Show Pony"

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

...there was deffo another one there though

Ab-sow-looooot-ley no chance. Did you not hear the squeel?


Good session tonight, wanted to be done in 45mins and I was.
Bench felt a little tough, but not sure if that's down to me still recovering or the fact I've not eaten much today (had a big presentation early afternoon which I was slightly anxious about!)..... More than likely both!

20/11

Bench
40 x 5
60 x 5
80 x 5
95 x 3
105 x 3
105 x 3
105 x 3
105 x 3
105 x 3 ... added two extra sets

Weighted Chins
+10kg x 5
+10kg x 5
+10kg x 5
+5kg x 5
+5kg x 4
+5kg x 3
(27 in total)

Single Leg Calf Raise
+5kg x 10
+5kg x 10
+5kg x 10

BB Curl
32.5 x 12
32.5 x 12
32.5 x 12


Happy days. Next session won't be until tuesday, possibly wednesday so threw in a couple extra sets on the bench.

Journal

If you were capable of those extra 2 sets then next time you need to up the KG!!

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

No.13

jedi
...there was deffo another one there though

Ab-sow-looooot-ley no chance. Did you not hear the squeel?

Hmmmm maybe I just want to see you test those catchers

Team "Show Pony"

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

DV, the whole point of me training the way I am is so I can bench + mp a total of three times a week, maybe even four. I'm aiming to get 3 or 4 sessions in a week, whole body, 40mins or so first thing in the morning. This may be total bollocks but something I'm going to try for another 3-4weeks. More sessions, moderate weight, = ?? Just an experiment atm

Jedi, I've dropped 130kg onto them before (from a reasonable height), just a couple months ago. First proper test for them and they survived... allbeit with a small dent!!

Journal

And training in abit after a nice lay off.

125kg squats
70kg MP
35kg DB Rows

Looking forward to it.

Journal

24/11

Squat
20 x 10
50 x 3
70 x 3
90 x 3
110 x 3
125 x 3
125 x 3
125 x 3
90 x 5

OH Press
20 x 8
40 x 5
50 x 3
60 x 3
70 x 3
70 x 3
70 x 3
70 x 5

DB Row
35 x 10
35 x 10
35 x 10


Squats felt v. difficult today. Lack of kcals today and yesterday won't have helped. After first and second set I was seeing stars.
Overhead press on the other hand felt rather good. Pleased with 70x5 after the 3x3 and bodes well for the next couple of weeks.
Seeing as though AK and DV were disputing the legitimacy of my pressing last week I recorded a 70kg set which I'll post up in abit... should make a nice change instead of all the squatting videos!

Journal

C'mon then, I'm still waiting for this fabled video LOL

Nice work, regarding my last comment..... sounds fine and a worthwhile plan/experiment. Can't push the limit on multiple sessions PW

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

Nice volume today bro

Quality will get better with new phone!

For those who can't see the weight:


1x bar, 2x10kg, 6x5kg.


Cheers CF
Looking forward to deadlifting again, T-minus 7months or so.

Journal

Love the use of the cushions PMSL.... the joys of training at home

Good reps, right down to the chest too, fair dos.

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

Yup! Thats far better than my 70kg press will be (hopefully) by the end of new year LOL, good job!

Journal

Youtube Channel

Cheers boys

Journal

Todays session

25/11

Bench
20 x 10
50 x 5
70 x 5
90 x 5
105 x 5
105 x 5
105 x 5
70 x 18

Chins
50 reps over 9 sets

BB Curls
30 x 12
30 x 12
30 x 12



Took 65mins today as I seemed to be busy organising my social life inbetween sets.... joys of training at home
Bench felt pretty hard, which is abit gutting seeing as though its a 5kg decrease from my pb just 4weeks ago.
Chins seemed to take an age, forearms totally pumped to the point of being completely numb. They felt as though I had zero back strength too... ah well, gotta' keep plodding along.

One or two days rest now, then another squat/ohp session on friday/sat.

Journal

TBH I 'feel' the weight on BP more than any other exercise, and it always kills my performance if I'm not 110% there mentally, nothing else suffers that way, so I feel your anguish.

Good work tho, 9 sets of chins AND curls, no wonder your forearms hurt!

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