The Gym Rat thread

1356

Replies

  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    In the spirit of hoping other people learn from my mistakes...
    I always wait too long before taking a deload week (partly as I have an ad hoc routine but mostly due to being pig-headed).

    So as usual I push through the increasing fatigue stage, convince myself soreness means I'm working hard enough, ignore the warning signs of losing reps off my top weights and wait until I suddenly crash and lose a whole stack of weight off my lifts.

    Bench press from the "crash" workout was 3 reps @ 176lbs and far too close to being pinned to the bench. Bench press after deload week was 12 reps @ 220lbs.
    Confirmation I needed that deload!

    Been doing this 40 years and still learning. :blush:

  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    In the spirit of hoping other people learn from my mistakes...
    I always wait too long before taking a deload week (partly as I have an ad hoc routine but mostly due to being pig-headed).

    So as usual I push through the increasing fatigue stage, convince myself soreness means I'm working hard enough, ignore the warning signs of losing reps off my top weights and wait until I suddenly crash and lose a whole stack of weight off my lifts.

    Bench press from the "crash" workout was 3 reps @ 176lbs and far too close to being pinned to the bench. Bench press after deload week was 12 reps @ 220lbs.
    Confirmation I needed that deload!

    Been doing this 40 years and still learning. :blush:

    I would say that the deload worked out nicely! =)
  • indianarose2
    indianarose2 Posts: 469 Member
    Yes Sara at home! Just works out better for me as I homeschool my kids. Thanks for your inspiring story btw! It was a big motivator for me to start heavy lifting. And thanks to the info in stickies in this group I've finally been steadily losing 1#/wk. So thank you to you and sidesteel!!!
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    In the spirit of hoping other people learn from my mistakes...
    I always wait too long before taking a deload week (partly as I have an ad hoc routine but mostly due to being pig-headed).

    So as usual I push through the increasing fatigue stage, convince myself soreness means I'm working hard enough, ignore the warning signs of losing reps off my top weights and wait until I suddenly crash and lose a whole stack of weight off my lifts.

    Bench press from the "crash" workout was 3 reps @ 176lbs and far too close to being pinned to the bench. Bench press after deload week was 12 reps @ 220lbs.
    Confirmation I needed that deload!

    Been doing this 40 years and still learning. :blush:

    Now that's some supercompensation.
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 12,283 Member
    Looks like swapping from conventional to sumo deadlifts is going to work wonders for me. I haven't pulled above 365 for months, and even there my lower back was extremely grumpy.

    Today, only the second time I've done sumo DL, I pulled 375 for two singles, and my back is NOT angry at me. Still got some cleaning up of my form to do as I get used to the new style, but I'd say it's off to a sparkling start!
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Compilation vid from this week, narrated.

    I didn't include all sets so the total is 5 minutes.

    Tuesday workout was hypertrophy. Squat 335x8 (vol PR, probably 2 reps in the tank), 305x8,8,8,8,8 (total volume PR here). Bench: 225x8, 210x8,8,8,8,8 (total vol PR), Deads 410x5 (rep PR), 375x5.

    Today was a recovery day and I needed it, I was sore as hell yesterday and today and I'm in the middle of a training block so typically soreness isn't that bad since I'm adapted. Tuesday's volume killed me.

    Squat: 325x3,3,3,3,3,3 Bench 235x3,3,3,3,3,3, Front Squat 225x8,8 Face Pulls 3x a bunch.

    Here are a few clips:
    http://youtu.be/qonsHVSrMuE
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    LOL. Just realized that the first rep of the deadlift was cut out. Going to re-format and re-up.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Gotta admit, for a brief moment I panicked going "*kitten* did I only get four reps?!". Was definitely editing error.
  • mizzzc
    mizzzc Posts: 346 Member
    I am on week one of stronglifts (did it a few months back and stopped - Dont ask me why I am unreasonable!!LOL)

    I am perfecting my form much better than last time and all your videos are extremely helpful!!! :)

    Maybe I can post some of my own soon...
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    SideStreet, do you have really short arms or a really tall torso? I notice that even with sumo that you have a pretty sharp back angle, sharper than I think I've ever seen. Sharper than my own, and I have a really tall torso (have to conventional deadlift with an almost-horizontal back).

    Also, I like your winter hat but shorts and t-shirt on.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    SideStreet, do you have really short arms or a really tall torso? I notice that even with sumo that you have a pretty sharp back angle, sharper than I think I've ever seen. Sharper than my own, and I have a really tall torso (have to conventional deadlift with an almost-horizontal back).

    Also, I like your winter hat but shorts and t-shirt on.

    I'm guessing it's the combination of slightly short arms and long torso but I'm honestly not sure.

    This is an example though of why I had to go away from conventional, I was damn near parallel to the floor when the bar was over midfoot and under scapula.

    And sadly what you're seeing in the video regarding spine angle is good for me relatively speaking.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    SideSteel wrote: »
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    SideStreet, do you have really short arms or a really tall torso? I notice that even with sumo that you have a pretty sharp back angle, sharper than I think I've ever seen. Sharper than my own, and I have a really tall torso (have to conventional deadlift with an almost-horizontal back).

    Also, I like your winter hat but shorts and t-shirt on.

    I'm guessing it's the combination of slightly short arms and long torso but I'm honestly not sure.

    This is an example though of why I had to go away from conventional, I was damn near parallel to the floor when the bar was over midfoot and under scapula.

    And sadly what you're seeing in the video regarding spine angle is good for me relatively speaking.

    Hip mobility issues I take it? I made leaps and bounds when I started getting my feet way out there (along with a bunch of hip mobility work to make it possible). Like, toes touching the plates - I use a deadlift bar to prevent my toes from getting accidentally smashed in fact. Really got my back at a better angle than it was and let me comfortably pull bigger weights.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    edited April 2015
    As I am pretty much sidelined from heavy squats and deads at the moment due to my knee issue I am trying to take solace in getting better at my worse lift - bench. I feel it is so far behind my other 2 main lifts. Anyhoo, I did manage to get a PR at the weekend with paused bench of 120lb x 9 (followed by 120lb x 8,8,7,7). The pause is a bit abbreviated at the beginning, which I realized partway through so made it a bit longer - but its not the most comfortable position to be in for over a minute and you kind of want to get it over with lol.

    It's not that exciting but I thought I would throw a vid in for some female representation =). Hopefully I can get back at it with squats and deads not too soon and post lifts that are a bit more 'up there'

    https://youtu.be/Pgc2x7jA1-s
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Yes Sara at home! Just works out better for me as I homeschool my kids. Thanks for your inspiring story btw! It was a big motivator for me to start heavy lifting. And thanks to the info in stickies in this group I've finally been steadily losing 1#/wk. So thank you to you and sidesteel!!!

    Thank you :flowerforyou:

    Are you planning on doing barbell squats? They are a bit problematic without a cage/rack (both from just getting the bar on your back and for safety reasons).
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    SideSteel wrote: »
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    SideStreet, do you have really short arms or a really tall torso? I notice that even with sumo that you have a pretty sharp back angle, sharper than I think I've ever seen. Sharper than my own, and I have a really tall torso (have to conventional deadlift with an almost-horizontal back).

    Also, I like your winter hat but shorts and t-shirt on.

    I'm guessing it's the combination of slightly short arms and long torso but I'm honestly not sure.

    This is an example though of why I had to go away from conventional, I was damn near parallel to the floor when the bar was over midfoot and under scapula.

    And sadly what you're seeing in the video regarding spine angle is good for me relatively speaking.

    Hip mobility issues I take it? I made leaps and bounds when I started getting my feet way out there (along with a bunch of hip mobility work to make it possible). Like, toes touching the plates - I use a deadlift bar to prevent my toes from getting accidentally smashed in fact. Really got my back at a better angle than it was and let me comfortably pull bigger weights.

    I came in here to post tonight's DL session to illustrate but apparently I overestimated the vertical-ness of my back, lol.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HiCKqsdcHg

    That's with my toes as far out as they can go. I'm 6'3" with a 32" inseam and only a 74" wingspan. Short arms, really tall torso. My head hits the ceiling of every vehicle on the planet. I guess I just have a strongish posterior chain.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Sarauk2sf wrote: »
    As I am pretty much sidelined from heavy squats and deads at the moment due to my knee issue I am trying to take solace in getting better at my worse lift - bench. I feel it is so far behind my other 2 main lifts. Anyhoo, I did manage to get a PR at the weekend with paused bench of 120lb x 9 (followed by 120lb x 8,8,7,7). The pause is a bit abbreviated at the beginning, which I realized partway through so made it a bit longer - but its not the most comfortable position to be in for over a minute and you kind of want to get it over with lol.

    It's not that exciting but I thought I would throw a vid in for some female representation =). Hopefully I can get back at it with squats and deads not too soon and post lifts that are a bit more 'up there'

    https://youtu.be/Pgc2x7jA1-s

    Your form is beautiful at least :D
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Yeah you're still more vertical than I am. I suspect one big difference is stance width -- you're right about hip mobility in that I can't (yet) go toes to plates and still keep my knees out. I can barely keep them out as is, but that's something that has been improving over time and so has my deadlift (and they are probably related).

    It's possible that in the future I'll look at trying to gradually widen my stance to try and get the spine angle more upright. I suspect my mobility will keep improving just from deadlifting. Not sure at this point though. Honestly I'm so happy with how things are going right now that all I'm thinking about is adding weight to the bar, but at some point it might be a logical next step.
  • CarlKRobbo
    CarlKRobbo Posts: 390 Member
    For some banter...Angry Man\Woman Deadlifts rock!! I'm currently suspended from work, have ate 3k calories in as many days...

    *Turn the volume down if you have kids asleep\are in work*

    https://youtu.be/1syFavj1p5k

    260KG\573Lbs x 2

    I'll hit some proper numbers soon. I promise...
  • indianarose2
    indianarose2 Posts: 469 Member
    Sarauk2sf wrote: »
    Yes Sara at home! Just works out better for me as I homeschool my kids. Thanks for your inspiring story btw! It was a big motivator for me to start heavy lifting. And thanks to the info in stickies in this group I've finally been steadily losing 1#/wk. So thank you to you and sidesteel!!!

    Thank you :flowerforyou:

    Are you planning on doing barbell squats? They are a bit problematic without a cage/rack (both from just getting the bar on your back and for safety reasons).

    Yes! I am looking now and am wondering about this cool 1/2 rack I saw at Dicks or a cage. If I get the bar before I get the rack/cage I'll either have my son spot me for squats or start split squats. Thanks for asking and making me think ahead!
  • MattBrouse
    MattBrouse Posts: 16 Member
    Do any of you mother *kitten* even lift?
    http://youtu.be/HJscKGDnPS8
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    MattBrouse wrote: »
    Do any of you mother *kitten* even lift?
    http://youtu.be/HJscKGDnPS8

    Ridiculous. And by ridiculous I mean awesome! Also - dat depth.

    I remember Patrick sending me/pointing me to this vid of yours ages ago. I was ...dafuq. This time watching it - still dafuq.


    FWIW and for anyone watching - its a ridiculously hard but completely legit lift.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    MattBrouse wrote: »
    Do any of you mother *kitten* even lift?
    http://youtu.be/HJscKGDnPS8

    giphy.gif

    That's about all I can say about that.
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 12,283 Member
    ...after watching that, I don't wanna ever brag about what I did at the gym again...

    ...for what it's worth, I set a new bench PR at 285 and new leg press PR at 1300 today... nowhere near that level of depth, though...
  • indianarose2
    indianarose2 Posts: 469 Member
    Sarauk2sf wrote: »
    MattBrouse wrote: »
    Do any of you mother *kitten* even lift?
    http://youtu.be/HJscKGDnPS8

    Ridiculous. And by ridiculous I mean awesome! Also - dat depth.

    I remember Patrick sending me/pointing me to this vid of yours ages ago. I was ...dafuq. This time watching it - still dafuq.


    FWIW and for anyone watching - its a ridiculously hard but completely legit lift.

    Maybe I should just learn how to do that and forget the cage...
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Well I can't top any of Brouse's antics but having said that, I hit a massive PR today.

    Previous 1rm squat was 418 set at the USAPL meet in February. Today I hit 420....for a triple. LOL.

    Also pulled a new deadlift max at 460. Was going to pull singles at 440 (which is around 97-98%rm) but my second single went up pretty fast so I decided to get it done.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYuOUSeiS1k&feature=youtu.be
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    What, no sharted hashtags?
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I have never seen anyone so happy about sharting btw
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    No, we would rather the breathing
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    You are doing 'that voice'
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Peen cam next time plz
This discussion has been closed.