GIFt us your lifts! (or other achievements!)

So kind of a hammer/neutral grip? Interesting...

KickassAmazon76 wrote: »

This gif is from last night. My face pulls are at the end and it shows how I hold the rope. Not sure if it's "right", but it seems to work ok!

Great gif. That grip on your face-pulls looks good to me.

KickassAmazon76 wrote: »

This gif is from last night. My face pulls are at the end and it shows how I hold the rope. Not sure if it's "right", but it seems to work ok!

Yep, that seems to be the correct grip and form for face pulls Sandy.
Really targeting those rear delts

nossmf wrote: »

Today I increased the weight on my bench press, last week was simply hoping I'd get 4 reps each set. Nah, felt great today, got 5-5-6-6-7. Some combination of being more prepared than I realized, plus the additional energy from having started a slow bulk and getting extra calories. But at this rate, I'll be looking to increase the weight again in time for the new year, if not sooner!

Still will never reach the dude using the bench before me, though. He knocked 3 reps at 365, and rebuffed my compliment by grumbling he should be doing 405 by now. 😲

Sounds like you’re ready to bump the weight up just a tad now.

kinetixtrainer2 wrote: »

Sounds like you’re ready to bump the weight up just a tad now.

I could probably handle a little heavier load right away, agreed. However, I want to ensure my joints have sufficient time to become accustomed to a given weight before I increase and risk injury. (That's how I blew out both shoulders the first time I tried to max my bench PR.) The method I've been using says I wait to increase until I can do all sets at goal reps +2. In this case, when I can take my bench weight and lift it, not the goal of 5x5, but 5x7. Then I know I'm ready to increase. It's slower gainz, but I never wanna go back to injuring myself and losing gym time in the name of "progress."

What's the criteria you use to know when to increase weight, just for purpose of discussion?

Gotcha, we're similar, except you view the 5x5 as a ceiling (if you can do more, you're not heavy enough), where I see it as a floor (if you can't get at least this many, you're too heavy).

kinetixtrainer2 wrote: »

nossmf wrote: »

kinetixtrainer2 wrote: »

Sounds like you’re ready to bump the weight up just a tad now.

I could probably handle a little heavier load right away, agreed. However, I want to ensure my joints have sufficient time to become accustomed to a given weight before I increase and risk injury. (That's how I blew out both shoulders the first time I tried to max my bench PR.) The method I've been using says I wait to increase until I can do all sets at goal reps +2. In this case, when I can take my bench weight and lift it, not the goal of 5x5, but 5x7. Then I know I'm ready to increase. It's slower gainz, but I never wanna go back to injuring myself and losing gym time in the name of "progress."

What's the criteria you use to know when to increase weight, just for purpose of discussion?

When doing a 5x5 it’s as simple as once I’m hitting all 5 sets of 5 reps with good form I’ll bump the weight. Typically just a 5 lbs bump. I also use an app that tracks my progression on more traditional sets and reps and it’s typically the same. Once I’m hitting all sets and reps with good form for two consecutive workouts I’ll bump the weight. I’ll also use pause reps, slow negatives, cluster sets and dead reps to add intensity. Just depends on how I write the program. I will normally run a program for 8 to 12 weeks depending.

Same

nossmf wrote: »

Gotcha, we're similar, except you view the 5x5 as a ceiling (if you can do more, you're not heavy enough), where I see it as a floor (if you can't get at least this many, you're too heavy).

I like this approach