Willbenchforcupcakes Member

None. Usually. I finish a training cycle on a Friday or Saturday and go into the next one Monday or Tuesday. Not every cycle is hard and heavy. There are tapers and recovery weeks plus lighter hypertrophy cycles which can be a refreshing mental break from constantly getting under heavy weight.

Absolute best, peanut butter and jam topped protein pancakes about a hour before. Favorite before squat or deadlift days is two donuts about 45 minutes before.

Hamstring cramps while benching is just a thing. Tends to just mean you're getting enough leg drive so it's not always a bad thing. Ab cramps. Can't say I've ever done them.

Slowly build into it and stay consistent. I rarely ever have to deal with doms anymore. A couple days when my rep scheme massively changes and that's about it.

Awesome! Hope you really like stronglifts

Massive post injury pr! While there is work to be done (hello keeping upper back tighter), how well this moved blows me away. This was my fourth double at 85%, 125/275. Haven't had this weight on my back in 15 months. I was supposed to do three stop squats after these and my legs went haha nope.…

When I was just going to the gym for general fitness, it was an hour a day, 5 days a week. These days, I'm a competitive powerlifter and easily spend over 12 hours a week in the gym.

A bad day is when I've been undereating a few days in a row and start missing lifts I should have in my sleep.

I train at a private gym and it's amazing. Love the equipment, atmosphere, everything. The only downside is that it's pretty far from everything else I do, but that doesn't stop me from getting there five days a week. The extra commute is just built into my day. I'm not sure I even know how to behave in a commercial gym…

When I'm lifting, I'm typically so focused internally that there is no voice. When I'm setting up, the routine is so familiar that it drives everything out. Between sets, my voice usually goes from "this is awesome" to "oh my word, he expects me to do what?!?!?" It wasn't always like that, but time and dedication have…

I've done too many ac separations to count. Gotta love being hypermobile! What works for me is a very wide grip, coupled with a decently aggressive arch and a low touch point (it's just below the band of my bra). I have very little shoulder instability these days because of that and building up all the muscles around my…

Whatever tempo is in my programming. Typically controlled explosiveness, at least on the big three.

85% was feeling like 70% today. Put conventional and sumo head to head to see what feels better and they both feel the same. It's looking like it's going to be a warmup room decision on which form I use on the platform. 145kg/319lb for easy doubles. This was set three and four. https://instagram.com/p/BHuwf4AhosY/

@McCloud33 - they are at 40%. Two sets to get as many reps as possible. I think the top one got around 250 reps between the two sets.

I'm in commissioned sales - it can get unbelievably catty at times. At least they know for the most part to leave me alone - I don't bore them with lifting talk and they don't bore me with talk about tv shows that I've never seen. We all do ooh and ahh over each others food a lot - most of us bring lunch instead of eating…

Awesome advice. Assisted reps perhaps?

I have coworkers who think that have any level of visible muscle is gross and disgusting and masculine. Also that anyone who does have visible definition must be on steroids. I simply tell them to keep their judgements on anyone else's bodies to themselves unless they want to be subject to the same shaming.

Nailed my squats this morning! I will forever find it crazy how well my strength held up while doing minimal volume at low loads. 80%, 117.5/259.04 for triples. (The hockey guys are doing their max rep squat challenge. They were 60-80 reps into their second set. Yes, they are crazy) https://instagram.com/p/BHnAJO5B_se/

Lifting is my fun. The occasional run here and there, but lifting is so fun that I never have to drag myself to the gym.

Normally prop mine up where I need it. Sometimes I'll get someone to hold it but that's pretty rare

I film almost every set of my main three lifts, and most of my variations on the lifts. Reviewed between sets for tiny little corrections, and at least one set shared with my coach so he can see where I need to improve.

Private gym. Competition grade equipment, no mirrors, and awesome teammates. The only thing it's missing is being convenient to the rest of my life, but that doesn't stop me from showing up 5 days a week to train, and every other powerlifting gym is even less convenient for me. I don't think I could even behave in a…

From lifting? 2 a week. But I'm usually still fairly active on those days. Running around, playing with my girls, doing prehab/correctives. Maybe once a month I'll be able to have a super lazy do nothing day.

@arditarose - beautiful! It's amazing the difference that a lifting shoe can make. I know I adore mine.

Al - that video still makes me laugh! @fatfudgery @DeadliftsandDonuts - niiiiiiiice! Gave you a follow on insta

As everyone else has said, a good one is more than worth it. My old trainer got me back into lifting slowly and safely after my youngest was born. My coach? Worth far more than what he charges. He manages to give me the best version of what I want month after month and the difference in my lifting with him is night and day.

Yeah, it's going to be 18 months to the day between full power meets. I'm just reminding myself that I picked this meet for a reason. And it's looking like my squat and deadlift openers are at least going to be where they were that long ago. I still have zero clue on how I've retained this much of my top end without having…

Yes. I know exactly where I want to be in two years and what it's going to take to get there. Every single day of training is building towards that goal.

Whatever I feel like/the gym is playing. Recently I've just been chilling out to Starset's Transmissions album.

Nice Matt! @nakedraygun So I'm in the odd ball position of being 4 weeks and 5 days out from my meet, and I haven't even touched likely squat and deadlift openers yet. Or for that matter, in a year. I'll be hitting my likely squat opener on Friday, and what I'm holding out hope will be my deadlift opener just 9 days out…