Monday 17th November 2014 – Saturday 29th November 2014
Took a week off after the World’s and have been easing back in since. I’m going to change from conventional squats and deadlifts to wide stance/sumo as recommended by my coach in order to increase weight lifted, which means dropping the weight down and practicing over and over!! I’m also throwing in a back workout every other session and reducing Bench sessions as it helps my shoulder and you can’t go wrong by increasing back size/strength!
17th Nov – 22nd Nov
Back session – DB Pullovers, Pulldowns (V Grip and wide), T Bar Rows, Straight Arm Pulldowns, Single Arm Lever Rows and Rack Pulls up to 140kg x10
Squats – Wide practice with Pembrokeshire Powerlifters up to 140kg for 5 sets of 3 – Gorila chins and Captains Chair knee Raises
Back session – As above, Rack Pulls 160kg for 3 sets of 8
Deadlifts – Sumo practice up to 140kg for 3 sets of 5, biceps (DeFrancos 3-6-12 routine) & ab slings
23rd Nov – 29th Nov
Back session – As above, Rack Pulls up to 180kg for 3 sets of 3, biceps (3-6-12)
Squats – Wide practice up to 140kg x8 with loose wraps, Leg Press & Ab Wheel
Back session – As above with Rack Pulls up to 180kg for 3 sets of 5, biceps (3-6-12)
Bench/Deadlifts with Pembs Powerlifters – Bench up to 150kg, Sumo Deadlifts up to 180kg, Ab work
Vids:
Squat 140kg x3, Squat 140kg x8, Rack Pull 180kg x5, Bench 150kg, Sumo Deadlift 180kg
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Sunday 19th October – Saturday 25th October 2014
3 Weeks to the World’s
Week 6 – Back to normal now and looking to get as much quality workouts in this week as I can, they will be my last heavy sessions before the meet. Weight is holding nicely at around 83kg so I will not need to cut this time which should hopefully translate to some better numbers on the platform. Just finalising all the details this week and looking forward to getting out there 🙂
Deadlift – Did some speed work with sets of 2 @ 157.5kg and minimal rest, assistance was some Defecit Deadlifts, Rack Pulls, Pulldowns, Barbell Shrugs, Farmers Walks and Chin-ups
Bench – Up to 125kg x2, then singles at 130kg and 135kg. Put on bench shirt and hit 150kg, 160kg and 165kg (?) chased it up with Pulldowns, DB Rear Raises & Chin-ups
Back/Shoulder Session – Pullovers, Viking Press, Chest Supported Plate Lever Rows, Wide Grip Pulldowns and Cable Reverse Flyes
Squat – Working out our openers and attempts. I worked up to 220kg again, much more comfortable in my suit now. I’ll be opening at 195kg, then 215kg, then 220kg+ depending how the last 2 felt!
Bench I’ll open at 155kg, then 160kg, then 165kg+ and Deadlift 190kg, 202.5kg and then 210kg+ – It’s only really my openers that will remain constant. The succeeding lifts will depend on how I’m feeling on the day but I’m hoping to get 9/9 lifts this time 😉
Vids:
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Saturday 4th October – Saturday 11th October 2014
5 Weeks to the Worlds!
Week 4 – Rather than deload with only 4 weeks of training left, I’m going to revert to the Mendelson routine I followed leading to the UK’s and whatever coach puts me through when we meet up! I wouldn’t normally advocate changing routines especially leading up to a meet, however it was successful for me and I need to work at certain parts of my lifts (i.e. lockout strength), which were included in this.
Deadlift – Worked up to 170kg x5, assistance was some Defecit Deadlifts, Rack Pulls, Pulldowns, Farmers Walks and Chin-ups.
Bench – Up to 110kg x8, then Close-Grip Bench, Pause Bench, Pulldowns, Lat Raises and Chin-ups
Squat – Up to 142.5kg x5, then a single at 150kg, 160kg and 170kg, then Front Squats, Pause Squats, Leg Press and Captains Chair Knee Raises
Back Session – Pullovers, V Grip Pulldowns, T Bar Rows, Wide Grip Pulldowns, Straight Arm Pulldowns, Power Cleans and DB Rows
A hard week this time, kids have been ill from early in the week so not slept as much as I’d like! Struggled a little on the heavy squats, although blasted the assistance work. It was also my weekend to work so couldn’t meet up with the Pembrokeshire Powerlifters for usual Saturday session so did a back session after work instead. Fell ill myself on Sunday so will see how I fare this week, it’s getting far too close to take time off!
Vids:
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Friday 23rd May 2014
DB Pullover 40kg x12x12 (2 mins rest)
Weighted Chins 28kg x7 (2 mins), 24kg x7 (60s), Bodyweight x11 followed by Reverse Grip Pulldown (8) x14x12 (60s)
T Bar Row 62.5kg x8x8x8, 40kg x10x9 (30s)
Deadlift & Sumo Deadlift up to 140kg – technique practice
Rack Pull 220kg x5
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Friday 9th May 2014
DB Pullover 40kg x12x12 (2 mins rest)
V Grip Pulldown (15) x9, (11) x12 (60s rest)
Bent Over Row 95kg x12, 80kg x11, 70kg x12x10 (30s)
Rack Pull 205kg x15
Standing 1-Arm DB External Rotation 7.5kg x20x17 (rest each side as long as it took to perform the set on opposite side)
Cuban Rotation 20kg EZ Bar x10, 10kg x15 (60s)
Pullovers feeling much better, slower and more controlled than with the 50’s last time. PR’d on the Rack Pull so a good day all round!
🙂 🙂 🙂
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Sunday 4th May 2014
DB Pullover 50kg x10, 40kg x10 (2 mins rest) – reduced weight as technique suffering. I may drop again and slow reps down some more as still didn’t feel quite right
Weighted Chins 28kg x6, (2 mins) 24kg x7, (60s) BW x12
DB Row To Hip 35kg x15x13 (60s)
Deadlift 155kg x7
Lying Leg Curl (6) x9+4+2 RP
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Sunday 27th April 2014 – Back Focus Week 6
Crazy week! Moved house on Friday so gym sessions been a little sporadic last week/this weekend and have been a bit run down when I have hit the gym. This is where the log book has been a great help – Even though I didn’t feel up to it, I pushed to achieve at least the same reps as previous sessions and found that despite the tiredness I was still able to increase on some of my lifts through sheer willpower. This links back to a post I wrote a while back about intensity link here – Don’t let that little voice in your head control your training!
DB Pullover 50kg x12x10 (2 mins rest)
Weighted Chins 28kg x6 (2 mins), 24kg x6 (60s) Bodyweight x12
DB Row To Hip 35kg x15x12 (60s)
G Row 45kg x5x5 (90s) – Dropped weight back down as this is more about technique than weight
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Monday 21st April 2014 – Back Focus Week 5
DB Pullover 50kg x10x9 (2 mins rest)
Reverse Grip Pulldown (14) x10, (11) x12 (60s rest)
T Bar Row 60kg x8x8x8x8x8 (60s)
Deadlift 145kg x8
Lying Leg Curl (6) x11+4+3 (rest pause)
Leg Raise (captains chair) x15x15x10+5 (30s rest)
GHD sit-ups x10x10 (60s)
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Thursday 17th April 2014
DB Pullover 50kg x10x9 (2 minutes rest)
Weighted Chins 28kg x5, 2 mins rest, then 24kg x6, 60s then Bodyweight x11
Cable Row 70kg x12x12x11x9 (60s)
Deadlift 140kg x10 – Have dropped weight (again) on the deadlift to focus on technique – was getting sloppy again 😉
Didn’t do G Row today, a bit short on time, will be getting in a few extra sessions next few days so can make up for gaps this week!
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Friday 11th April 2014
DB Pullover 45kg x12x12 (2 mins rest)
V Grip Pulldown (14) x9, (11) x11 (60s rest)
Bent Over Row 92.5kg x12, 62.5kg x12x12x12 (30s)
Rack Pull (below knee) 160kg x11 – Felt really heavy again today, I think I’ve been doing too much recently, including my spin I trained 6 days last week. With a focus on back training I think it’s just taking it’s toll, so will ease back a bit and see if that helps.
G Row 47.5kg x5x3 (90s) – Bit weak from rack pulls and lower back was tight as hell so gave up on second set. Will drop back down to 40kg next time and try and focus on technique.
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Monday 7th April 2014 – Back Focus Week 3
DB Pullover 45kg x12x10 (2 mins rest)
Weighted Chins 28kg x5 (2 mins), 24kg x5 (60s) Bodyweight x10
DB Row To Hip 35kg x12x12 (60s)
G Row 45kg x5x5 (90s)
Used the Lever Deadlift Machine as a bit fried from last few days training and lower back was not enjoying the rack pulls today. Also missed rotator cuff work yesterday so threw it on the end of today’s session.
Standing 1-Arm DB External Rotation 7.5kg x15x15 (rest each side as long as it took to perform the set on opposite side)
Cuban Rotation 10kg EZ Bar x15x15 (60s)
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Thursday 4th April 2014
DB Pullover 45kg x12x9 (2 mins rest)
V Grip Pulldown (13) x9, (11) x11 (60s rest)
Bent Over Row 90kg x10, 60kg x12x12x12 (30s)
Power Cleans up to 100kg
Deadlift – Went for 160kg but it felt really heavy, think I overdid it on the leg press yesterday! dropped to 120kg and did 6 good reps instead.
G Row 42.5kg x5x5 (60s)
Still struggling on both Squat and Deadlift since coming back from illness, Bench is coming back nicely thankfully! This is partly due to lack of sleep recently, got a lot on at home, moving house etc, so I will keep it up best I can for now and just try and get to bed earlier!!!
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Monday 31st March 2014 – Back Focus Week 2
DB Pullover 45kg x9, 40kg x10 (2 minutes rest)
Weighted Chins 24kg x6, 20kg x7, BW x11 (60s rest)
DB Row To Hip 35kg x12x9 (60s)
Power Cleans up to 100kg
Rack Pull (Above Knee) 200kg x10
G Row 42.5kg x5x5 (90s)
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Monday 24th March 2014 – Back Focus Week 1
After my recent article, injuring my shoulder (again DAMMIT!), and watching the ‘Dark Knight Rises’ (also again :-)) I have decided to re-visit a very effective workout phase I went through a couple of years ago whilst following Johnny Pains Greyskull LP. I am going to focus heavily on back training for the next 8 weeks to bring my back up to a decent standard again alongside some specific rotator cuff exercises which I have been neglecting for waaaay too long! I will be using the same basic template as he lays out with a few ‘Hench’ additions (including rotator cuff work). On top of this as the Deadlift is my weakest lift, the next 8 weeks should hopefully help bring that up too!
I never used to suffer from shoulder pains at all until recently, which I put down to no longer teaching BodyPump. Although I am glad I don’t have to go through it twice a week, it seems logical that it has been responsible for keeping my shoulder health as very little else has changed in my workouts, and it has been a slow decline into the old battered shoulder territory ever since I stopped.
Started the week off with:
DB Pullover 40kg x12x11 (2 mins rest)
Weighted Chins 24kg x6, 20kg x6 (2 mins rest), then after 60 seconds Chin-ups x10 – felt much harder after pullovers!
DB Row To Hip 30kg x12x12 (60s)
Power Cleans – heavy singles up to 100kg
Deadlift 140kg x7 – expected this to be lower than usual after that amount of back work and focusing hard on technique
G Row 40kg x5x5 (2 mins)
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Wednesday 11th December 2013
DB Pullover 42.5kg x12, 40kg x12 (2 mins rest)
Weighted Chins 24kg x6+1 (2 mins), 20kg x6+1 then V Grip Pulldown (setting 12) x11, (10) x10, (8) x11 (60s rest)
Deadlift 140kg x9
Cable Row (Cambered D Handle) 70kg x12x10, 60kg x10x8 (60s rest)
Shrugs 120kg x10x10x9 (60s), then 40kg DB’s x20
Prone Incline DB Reverse Flye 7.5kg x18x16x13
Abs
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Wednesday 4th December 2013
DB Pullover 40kg x12x12 (2 mins rest)
Weighted Chins 24kg x6, 20kg x6 (2 mins), followed up with V Grip Pulldowns (12) x10, (11) x9, (10) x9, (9) x8 (60s rest)
Cable Row (V Grip) 70kg x15x10, 60kg x11x10 (60s rest)
DB Row 30kg x20 (each side)
Rack Pull 140kg x14 (Pins at knee height)
Barbell Shrugs 100kg x10x10x10 (60s rest), then 30kg DB Shrugs x25
Reverse Flye (2) x12x10, single arm Rev. Flye (2) x12 each side
Ab work
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Sunday 17th November 2013
DB Pullovers 38kg x12x11 superset with chins x9x6 (30 secs between each exercise)
V Grip Pulldowns 80kg x8, 70kg x9, 60kg x9 (60s rest)
DB Row To Hip 30kg x12x11 (60s)
Cable Rows 50kg x20x15 (90s)
Smith Rack Pull 170kg x5, 130kg x10
BE HENCH 