February 2015 – 6th March 2015
Took a week off after the Welsh Championships and now started the next 8 weeks training leading to the BPO British. Still trying to train with The Pembrokeshire Powerlifters where I can as I get more from the sessions than when I’m on my own, but training almost always has to fit around my work & family commitments. For the next 8 weeks at least I’m loosely following Wendlers 5/3/1 for Powerlifting, with the last deload week leading to the British.
Got in a couple of sessions before starting the 8 week plan, Deadlifts with the Pembs boys with Chiropractors Nightmares, Bench session up to 120kg x5 and 140kg x4 (equipped) and Squats up to 200kg x3 (equipped), then backed off to 180 x6 (equipped, straps down). Then began with 3’s week + equipped singles.
Deadlift up to 170kg x3, then a single at 182.5kg – Was supposed to pull 197.5kg as well, but just wasn’t up to it and form was breaking down so left it and chased up with Good Mornings, Bent Over Rows and some abs
Bench up to 125kg x4 (raw), then equipped 140kg x4, and 152.5kg x3 (Was only supposed to be a single but was feeling strong so went for it!) – followed up with DB Bench, Press-ups, Chest Supported Rows and Rear Raises
Squats up to 170kg x3, then equipped 195kg and 215kg – Then Leg Press, Glute/Ham Raises and Captains Chair Knee Raises
Vids:
Chiropractors Nightmares 180kg x4
Squat 200kg x3, Squat 180kg x6, Squat 215kg
Bench 140kg x4, Bench 152.5kg x3
Share this:
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
Share this:
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:
Share this:
Saturday 20th September – Friday 26th September 2014
7 Weeks to the World’s
Week 2 – 5’s week
Deadlift – worked up to 152.5kg. Assistance was some Good Mornings, Ab sling knee raises, DB Rows and pulldowns
Bench – Up to 105kg, then Close-Grip Bench, Pause Bench, DB Bench, Chin-ups, Face pulls and pushdowns
Squat – Up to 142.5kg, then Front Squats, Pause Squats, Leg Press and Captains Chair Knee Raises
Bench/Board Press – Machine Lever Bench, Pendlay Rows, Dips, Curls and Rear Raises
Not a bad weeks training, as per Wendler’s method pushed last set of all 5’s for max reps. Next week is 531 week and I’m hoping to push on the heavy singles for some PR’s.
Share this:
Wednesday 18th June 2014
Squat 120kg x5, 137.5kg x3, 152.5kg x8 – Happy with that 7.5kg increase from last week with same reps 🙂
45 Degree Leg Press 260kg x10x10x10x13 (60s rest)
Weighted GHR 10kg on chest x10x10x10x10x10 (30s rest)
Captains Chair Knee Raise (5kg plate between knees) x10x10x10x10x10 (30s)
Share this:
Wednesday 11th June 2014
Squat 115kg x3, 130kg x3, 145kg x8
45 Degree Leg Press 250kg x10x10x10x12
Glute/Ham Raise x10x10x10x10x10 (30s rest)
Captains Chair Knee Raise x10x10x10x10x10 (30s)
Share this:
Wednesday 4th June 2014
Squat 105kg x5, 120kg x5, 137.5kg x10
Leg Press 240kg x10x10x10x12 (60s rest)
Glute/Ham Raise x10x10x10x10x10x10 (Superset with Knee Raises)
Hanging Knee Raise x10x10x10x10x10 (Superset with GHR)
Share this:
Friday 18th April 2014
Bench 130kg x4, 100kg x11 (60s rest)
EZ Curls 30kg x15x13x11x10 (30s)
Viking Press 80kg x9, 40kg x14 (60s), Then DB Lat Raise 10kg x10
Squat up to 160kg – Hip was very tight and pulling so called it a day and did Leg Press instead
45 Degree Leg Press 400kg x5x4 (2 mins)
Share this:
Wednesday 2nd April 2014
Bench 122.5kg x5, then 100kg x10 (60s rest) – Went for 6 on the bench but couldn’t lock it out! See vid for why you should always Bench in a cage 😉
EZ Curls 30kg x12x12x11x10 (30s)
Viking Press 72.5kg x9, 40kg x12 (60s), then DB Lat Raise 7.5kg x20
Squat 152.5kg – Fail – Just didn’t feel right today, couldn’t get in the right position under the bar so finished off with:
45 Degree Leg Press 360kg x9
Standing 1-Arm DB External Rotation 7.5kg x15x13 (rest each side as long as it took to perform the set on opposite side)
Cuban Rotation 10kg EZ Bar x13x13 (60s)
Share this:
Saturday 15th March 2014
Bench 110kg x8x6x5, 100kgx6+2+2 RP (90 secs rest) – Dropped to 100kg on last set, wanted to keep reps up
Cable Row 70kg x12x10x9x7 (90s)
DB Incline Flye 12.5kg x12x11x8x6 (60s)
Straight Arm Lat Pulldown (4) x12x12x11x10 (60s)
45 Degree Leg Press 120kg x10, 160kg x8, 200kg x4, 240kg x4, 280kg x4, 320kg x2, 360kg x8
Share this:
Saturday 9th November 2013
Seated Press 67.5kg x5x5x7
V Grip Pulldown (11) x15x13x11 (between press sets)
Dips x20x20x14 (60s)
Squat 120kg x5, 140kg x3, 160kg x2, 170kg x1, 180kg x1 🙂
45 Degree Leg Press 200kg x10, 300kg 5, 400kg x5
Share this:
Thursday 31st October 2013
Seated Shoulder Press 65kg x5x5x8
V Grip Pulldown (10) x15x15x15 (between press sets)
Dips x20x20x13 (60s rest)
45 Degree Leg Press 320kg x20
Share this:
Wednesday 23rd October 2013
Bench Press 127.5kg x4x4x5, then 100kg x6 (60s rest)
Face pulls (13) x20x14 (between bench sets)
DB Hammers 17.5kg x10x8 (between bench sets)
Seated Cable Row 80kg x15x13x10x10 (60s rest)
Squat 165kg x6
45 Degree Leg Press 400kg x3
Share this:
Thursday 3rd October 2013
Seated Press 70kg x3x3x5
V Grip Pulldown(14) x13x10x9 (between press sets)
Dips x27x15x12 (60s rest)
45 Degree Leg Press 380kg x10
Share this:
Thursday 26th September 2013
Bench 125kg x4x3x4, then 102.5kg x9 (60s rest)
Face Pulls (13) x17x12 (between bench sets)
Machine Preacher Curls (between bench sets) 25kg x10 , 20kg x12
Seated Row 80kg x13x11x9x8 (60s rest)
Later in day
SPIN
Neck Harness 16kg x30x30x30x30 (rest as needed)
Share this:
Monday 2nd September 2013
Bench 130kg x3x2x4, followed with 100kg x10 (60s rest)
Face Pulls (12) x17x14 (between bench sets)
DB Hammer Curls 17.5kg x12x10 (between bench sets)
T Bar Row 65kg x15x15x12x9 (60s rest)
Squat 160kg x3
45 Degree Leg Press 380kg x5
Share this:
Friday 23rd August 2013
Bench 127.5kg x3x3x5, followed up with 100kg x8 (approx 60s rest)
Face Pulls (11) x20x16 (between Bench sets)
Machine Preacher Curls 25kg x9, 20kg x11, 15kg x15 (After each Bench set)
T Bar Row 65kg x15x13x12x9 (60s rest)
45 Degree Leg Press 360kg x10
Share this:
Wednesday 14th August 2013
Bench Press 125kg x3x3x5
Face pulls (11) x19x15 (superset with first two bench sets)
Machine Preacher Curls 25kg x8, 20kg x10 (superset with bench & face pulls)
T Bar Row 65kg x15x12x11x8 (60secs rest)
Leg Press 320kg x12
Eased into Benching today, shoulder had a little twinge but was good enough to lift (finally!). Had to drop the squat today, did a few warmup sets but after the bench, shoulder was sore when holding the bar and didn’t want to force it!
Share this:
Friday 26th July 2013
Press 72.5kg x5x5x7, 60 secs rest then 60kg x9 – Belt came undone on rep 3 of last set (you can just about hear it go on video), a little offputting but still managed to grind out 7 reps – think it’s about time I got a new one!
Weighted Chins 27.75kg x7, 26.5 x6 (between first two Press sets)
Weighted Dips 25.25kg x12x10x8x7 (60 secs rest)
Power Cleans up to 110kg x1
Deadlift 147.5kg x8
Neck Harness 12kg x40x40x40x40
Not done Power Cleans in a while so happy to get 110kg up! also deadlift felt better after doing them so going to bring them back in for a while. Good session all round today 🙂
Later in day did a random session with a member:
Leg Press 220kg x10, dropped to 200kg x10
Leg Extension/Leg Curl Superset (no rest between any sets, just long enough to swap machines) 70kg x10x10x10
Leg Press Toe Press 180kg x10x8x8x6 (rest as long as it took other person to complete)
EZ Cable Curl 25kg x10x10, 20kg x10x10x10x10x10x10x10x10 (rest as above)
Dips x10x10x10x10x10, Pushdowns 40kg x10, 30kg x10x10, 25kg x10x10 (rest as above)
Share this:
Saturday 22nd June 2013
Frog Press (Leg Press) 215kg x20
DB Walking Lunges 26kg x2x22 (90s rest)
Pull Throughs 47.5kg x10x10x10x10x10 (90s rest)
Seated Leg Curl 50kg x12x12x12x12 (90s)
Toe Press Calf Raise 100kg x12 (DC style)
Share this:
Friday 22nd March 2013
Heels High Leg Press 210kg x22
Walking Lunge 24kg DB’s x22x22
Pull Through 45kg x10x10x10x10 (60 secs rest)
Seated Leg Curl 45kg x12x12x12, 40kg x12x12 (60 secs rest)
Share this:
Friday 8th March 2013
Paying the price today for the poor form on deadlifts yesterday, my lower back is killing! Managed to Bench ok, but after a few warm-up squats, had to can them and use leg press instead 😦 Not the worst in the world, got 15 reps at 300kg 🙂
Bench 90kg x3, 102.5kg x3, 115kg x9+2+1 RP – Followed up with 12.5kg DB Flyes x18
Face Pulls (9) x20x20 (superset with first two sets of Bench)
Machine Preacher Curls 17.5kg x14x9+3+2 RP
Dips x30x20
45 Degree Leg Press 160kg x10, 200kg x8, 240kg x6, 280kg x4, 300kg x15
Share this:
Saturday 16th February 2013
Not going to get to The Shack till monday, so did a ‘commercial’ session at work during lunch ..
Decline 34kg DB Bench x12x10x8x6 (60s rest), followed up with 8kg DB Flyes x15x15 (60s)
Single Arm 42kg DB Row x12x10x8x6 (60s)
DB Pullover 34kg x12x12, followed up with straight arm pulldown 20kg x20
Leg Press 200kg x20
Seated Leg Curl 30kg x25x25x25
Share this:
Tuesday 12th February 2013
Did a quick leg session as missed squats yesterday – Couldn’t get down the shack so used gym at work (hence Smith Squats)
Smith PL style Box Squat (12″ box) 50kg x10, 90kg x10, 110kg x5, 130kg x5, 150kg x5
Leg Press Frog Press 200kg x20
Seated Hamstring Curl 25kg x25x25x25
BE HENCH 