Training Log December 2014 – 9th February 2015
Been a while! Training going well again, no new injuries and my shoulder seems to be pretty much healed now so started getting my Bench back to previous levels.
I spent December practicing wider squats and sumo deadlifts, but to no avail as yet, wide squats are giving me pain in the hips so gone back to orthodox for now. Still practicing the Sumo Deadlifts to warm-up, and then again back to conventional for my maxes and at comps. I’m not confident enough yet to compete in Sumo style (that and the fact I can only pull about 90% of what I can with conventional pulls). I also tried out a new Bench Shirt as Coach doesn’t think I’m getting much out of the old one – I can’t get it on on my own so have only been able to use it a couple of times and couldn’t even touch my chest with 175kg on the bar! A bit more use and breaking in and I should get 180kg out of it 🙂
Vids:
Wide Squat 140kg x8, 160kg x2, 160 x5
Bench 150kg (equipped) old shirt, 160kg breaking in new shirt, 175kg still no touch!
January has been a great month training-wise, although a bit of weight gain over christmas! Starting to get more from the equipment (suit & shirt) as I get used to it. My Bench is now back where it was pre-shoulder issues and I have pressed a 145kg RAW and 160kg in the old shirt so feeling confident for the upcoming Welsh Open Championships in February. Squat has held, worked up to a solid 200kg x3 and tried for the 500lb club (227.5kg) just after but I feel I was about a half inch high so will have to go for it again soon – I hit 230kg in January so confident I should hit it in comp after decent rest!. Deadlift remaining stagnant (as always!) and I will be happy to just pull my PR of 200kg at the upcoming meet.
Vids:
Bench 145kg, Bench 160kg (equipped)
Squats multi ply 260kg x2, single ply 200kg x3 and 227.5kg
February – Current weight 85kg so a little over at the moment, I’m water loading again as I did for the UK’s to make weight. Worked out my openers last week and aiming to try and total more than I did at the world’s last year (565kg). I’m opening at 185/140/185 and going from there, hopefully around 220/160/195 or more which would make 575kg total. I’m hoping to hit the 600’s by the end of the year and plan to squat a quarter tonne in the Europeans in July. Well, that’s the goal anyway 😉 Hit an easy 150kg Bench for 2 reps and 140kg for 4 last week, Squats up to 210kg comfortably and Deadlifts up to 150kg for speed work.
Vids:
Bench 140kg x4 (equipped) and 150 x2 (equipped)
Sorry, it’s been a crazy couple of months so I haven’t been posting recently. It will be back to usual again now with a weekly training log and some new articles on their way.
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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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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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Wednesday 27th November 2013
Bench 120kg x5x4x6, then 100kg x9 (90s rest)
Superset with DB Preacher Curls 12.5kg x12, 10kg x20
DB Decline 25kg x18x12 (60s rest), then back to the bar 100kg x4 (60s)
Machine Incline Lever Bench 30kg 15×12 (60s)
Sumo Deadlift Practice 150kg x2x2, 140kg x5
Lever Deadlift 200kg x10
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Wednesday 20th November 2013
Bench 120kg x4x4x5, followed up with 100kg x12 (2 mins rest)
DB Decline Bench 20kg’s x20x20 (90s)
Incline Lever Bench 40kg x12x8x7 (60s)
DB Hammer Curls 17.5kg x12x10 (between first two bench sets)
Sumo Deadlift 140kg x3x3x7
Disappointing bench session today, felt really heavy, little twinge in my shoulder on rep 6, so stopped and did some lower weight volume training instead. Sumo deadlift today instead of conventional as thinking of entering a powerlifting competition and need the practice!
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Wednesday 26th December 2012
Had few internet issues over Christmas so haven’t posted in a while. Managed to get down the gym on boxing day to burn off some of the alcohol over last few days!
Seated Press 52.5kg x5, 60kg x3, 66kg x9, 52.5kg x12+4+3 RP
Weighted chins (PF) 15kg x7+3+2 RP
Bicep Curls 30kg x5, 37.5kg x6+3+” RP
Stiff-Legged Deadlift 65kg x5, 80kg x17
Sumo Deadlift 95kg x5, 107.5kg x3, 120kg x9
Weighted Dips 20kg x12+6+4 RP
‘V’ pulldown (12) x11+5+3 RP
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Sunday 16th December 2012
Felt really lethargic this Sunday (hangover!!), so just worked through exercises, didn’t push for PR’s for once!
Seated Press 48.5kg x3, 55kg x3, 62.5kg x7+2+1RP
Weighted Chins 15kg x7+2+1RP
Bicep Curls 23.5kg x5, 32.5kg x10+5+4RP
Stiff-Legged Deadlifts 50kg x5, 70kg x15
Sumo Deadlift 91kg x3, 105kg x3, 117.5kg x13
Hamstring curls (6) x12+4+2RP
Dips 20kg x10+4+4RP
Taking an unscheduled week off, starting a new job this week and just generally busy leading up to Crimbo. I’ll do some body weight stuff here and there where I can .. Maybe even some frequency chins through the week, but mainly it’s a rest – I’ll continue where I left off this weekend 🙂
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Tuesday 11th December 2012
Really good session today,despite covering Spin yesterday I felt full of energy! I put it down to getting a good nights sleep and plenty to eat (ate dinner about an hour before teaching, and had a big meal when I got home :)).
Seated Press 46kg x5, 52.5kg x5, 58.5kg x9+3+2RP
Weighted Pull-ups 10kg x8+2+2RP
Bicep Curls 23.5kg x5, 28.5kg x12+5+4RP
Stiff-Legged Deadlift 50kg x5, 60kg x20 (dropped weight on these to focus on form, also using as a warm-up for deadlifts, so staying shy of failure)
Sumo Deadlift 85kg x5, 97.5kg x5, 110kg x15, 85kg x10 then Hamstring curls (6) x10+4+3RP
Decided to add in some ‘V’ pulldown to chest (level 11) x12+6+4 and weighted dips 10kg x18+8+4RP
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Friday 7th December 2012
Struggled to get going today, taught 3 SPIN classes in last two days so a bit stiff!
Seated Press 50kg x5, 57.5kg x3, 63.5kg x7 then 50kg x10+4+3RP
Weighted Chins (palms facing) 10kg x9+4+3RP
Bicep Curls 30kg x5, 36kg x7+3+3RP
Stiff-Legged Deadlift 97.5kg x5, 120kg x5 – Going to lower weight on these, started too heavy and not feeling it much in the hamstrings, it’s more of a Romanian Deadlift
Sumo Deadlift 95kg x5, 107.5kg x3, 120kg x8 then 95kg x10
Lying Hamstring Curls (5) x14+5+4RP
Threw in some ‘V’ grip pulldowns (11) x11+5+4RP
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Sunday 2nd December 2012
Seated Press 47.5kg x3, 53.5kg x3, 61kg x9+2+2RP
Sumo Deadlift 90kg x3, 100kg x3, 113.5kg x13 then 90kg x10 – Still working on the technique for these, definitely easier on the lower back, but still not feeling right – I’m adjusting feet position each session till I can work out the best for me and practicing as part of my warm-ups every session.
Chin-ups x11+4+3RP
Bicep Curls 22.5kg x5, 31kg x10+4+3RP
Stiff-Legged Deadlifts 105kg x9+2+1RP – Lower back was killing me so I know the form is definitely an issue on these, especially after doing the Sumo-Deadlifts – I’m thinking about swapping them out for Good Mornings or Pull-Throughs ..
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Tuesday 27th November 2012
Slight alteration to yesterdays layout – I’m going to do Seated Press and Sumo Deadlifts for now and return to the conventional lifts once I’ve lessened my Hyperlordosis (hopefully!).
Seated Press 43.5kg x5, 50kg x5, 57.5kg x9+2+1
Sumo Deadlift 107.5kg x5, 125kg x5, 140kg x7 – followed up with 107.5kg x10. Form a bit ugly on the heavier sets so going to drop the weight and focus on technique.
Pull-ups x10+3+2
Bicep Curls 22.5kg x5, 27.5kg x12+5+5
Stiff-Legged Deadlifts 75kg x5, 90kg x12
BE HENCH 