Struggle

so today was a struggle mentally and physically. the mental part kicked in before i ever thought about training.
life has been tough the last few years for me. some highs and a lot of lows. i would love to change that but it seems the universe just likes to kick me when i am down. i stress about money because i barely have enough to survive. i get my bills paid but that is it....means there is no money to compete or just get myself  supplements. then i stuggle with my job...happy to be employed but i have still not heard if i am fulltime yet. would also be nice to get a raise. don't get me started on healthcare or 401k's...like i have any money for that. next in line is my kids, i miss them...nuff said!
all this wells up inside and drives me the edge, honestly there are days i wish i wasn't here. somehow i persist thinking there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. but i have not come close to the end of it yet. my friends and family have been priceless to me in all this.
so instead of wallowing and throwing a pity party i went to the gym! and then i squatted...

Squats 295x5, 335x4, 405x2, 465x1...this sucked!! Low back was not feeling it. A lot of discomfort in my low back just above the tailbone. Went down barely to parallel and thought I was not coming back up. Have the energy but no strength at all.

Seated press 140x5, 160x4, 190x2x2, 220x3x8...added extra sets to punish the shoulders. Regular push press wasn't happening with  back tweaked.

so that's it. managed to make it home and to the store to pickup some food. that was no fun carrying the bags up the stairs. hopefully the chicken tastes good...

Pushing the limits

was definitely feeling all my previous training this week along with the hour of riding yesterday. but today was a true test of how much i could take. lot of volume just for pressing. made some small adjustments to the weights on the way down but it was still more than enough. opted to use the squat machine which was a perfect addition.


Push press 1x5x135, 1x5x165, 1x4x190, 1x2x205, 1x2x225, 1x2x205, 1x3x185, 1x5x165, 1x8x135

Squat machine- facing in  5X10X360

Treadmill 30 minutes

satisfied with this week. the pressing was easy but my legs need some work. think next week i will go with more volume on leg training along with more cardio. i need to find some inexpensive supplements or maybe a sponsor...any takers out there?

how bout some etiquette lessons?

no it is not about which fork to use or the proper use of pronouns....this is about the gym. too many people have no clue how to act when the gym. one thing that is amazing is the people that misuse the equipment or just hog it up for an exercise that can be done elswhere. in other words, CURLS IN THE FREAKING SQUAT RACK!! what in god's name makes these insane people do this? but that's not the worst...lately the skinny fitness freaks have taken over doing pushups in the rack! please oh dear god of iron would you make the bar snap next time one of these morons does this....
amazing that people lack the common courtesy to just get out of the way and give you space. it is respect, if you see someone lifting heavy or working hard stay out of the way....my learning experience was when i was a dumb teen and in a hardcore gym. i made the mistake of walking in front of a mirror while 2 meatheads were inclining 405...on my way back they stopped me and tld me if i ever did that again i would walk out with a bar stuffed up my ass. they let me slide on the iron prostate check because i was new...after that i gave my respect to everyone and in turn i got some respect too.
now onto the douchebags that prefer to "look" hard, make fun of people and yet do absolutely nothing but breathe out CO2...there are places for you, please try planet fitness.

now onto the lifting...

Deadlift to Knees 1x3x275, 1x3x335, 2x3x395, 4x2x425

Pushdowns 5x8x100
Rolling Extensions 6x4x35

Romanian DL 1x4x315, 1x4x365, 2x2x425, 4x1x480

Treadmill 20 minutes

was a good day. really felt the deads in my lower back. hands are shredded from the bar.

exorcising

somedays you just have to let out the demons. today was one of those....thanks to a certain person who doesn't know their stupidity and selfishness helped me through todays workout. if anyone know me they know i am very protective of two important people in my life. i would kill and die for them. i was put i a very pissed off mood after hearing about something going on in one of their lives. thanks to a good friend i was calmed down, but there was that demon lurking, it kept poking its head out and i needed to exorcise it.

the exorcism started with a bike ride in the cold, okay it was 50 but the windchill made it feel like 30. it was nice to get out and test the new bike. the ride was fast and got me to the gym. at the gym i started my first day of a sheiko plan...wtf is that? well check this out... http://www.elitefts.com/sheiko/
decided to go with this plan and focus on my pressing. instead of bench i am doing push press. will also work the numbers to bring up my deadlift and squat.

so the first day went like this...

push press 1x5x135, 2x4x165, 2x3x190, 5x2x205
squat 1x5x290, 2x5x350, 5x3x405
seated HS press 1x5x140, 1x5x160, 4x4x190
good mornings 5x5x225

treadmill 25 minutes --- cut this short because i was going to pee myself!

i adjusted the reps and the first 2 exercises and changed to a seated press for the second press exercise because i don't want to burn myself out or get hurt. felt pretty good after this, definitely will be sore later...

zee doctor iz een...

the only monster i hope to create is me... so i am playing around with an olympic ladder scheme or for you bodybuilders, a pyramid. why? hopefully to increase my conditioning and my performance in the lifts.
and it goes something like this...
power clean, front squat, split press  3,2,1 reps
warmed up and then did the lifts. i added 10lbs each set then went down 10lbs. on the way down i did only 1 rep per set but tried to make the lift in one move.

started with the bar then 95, 115, and 135 lbs. work sets were 155, 165, 175, 165, 155, 135. felt easy and light. but that was my intention. after that i did some wrist curls 185 for 6 sets of 10 reps, then 2 sets of 15 with 135lbs.

i certainly enjoy the strange looks i get when doing this stuff. or maybe it was the stench from my rehband...some people are so stuck in their ways, glued to the same machine, and slaves to every "new" workout published in a magazine. if only they would try something different, even a small change! but i think some people are afraid to be challenged and grow. the box they live in is too comfortable...step outside the box.

i am a sinner!!!

today's lesson in the church of iron is about neglect....dear believers i have sinned. a mortal sin in the church of iron. i have neglected my deadlift. please forgive me!! the neglect of the deadlift is the worst kind, it takes so much from you when you do....manhood, ego, pride! i think there was a woman in the church today that could outdo me. the skinny gym rats looked at me with shame, as if i was doing crossfit or worse men's physique! will the gods of iron, stone and chalk shine a light and bestow forgiveness on me, a sinner?


so here is what i did...
deadlifts 135x5 from floor, 225x2, 315x1, 405x1 from 2" box
then i put on 495 and tried oh lord i tried! 2 times to be exact! at least i broke it from the floor.
redemption was in my soul...i removed the box and pulled it from the floor...once! oh my sins have come back to haunt me. this was tough!
dropped the weight and proceeded to rep out 315...20 rest pause reps

punishment enough for today. time for some lunch with mom and dad, then some relaxing

the machine is hungry...

i am back. was not going to blog anymore but something said "do it"
no comps until september but i still push on. my goals this year are to deadlift 600, squat 600, and push press 300. got a plan in place for that and it really began today....

squat 335x20---hit 13 and thought i was going to die, but i went and finished one rep at a time!

push press 225 5 singles---had a few more reps in the tank.

standing leg curl 110x15 2 sets---this was supposed to be rdl's but i forgot

HS iso row 360x6 2 sets----strapped in for these brutal sets

pushdowns and cable curls 100x8 3 sets----gotta keep the arms strong

ab pulldowns 100x25 2 sets----these burned

elliptical 10 minutes HIIT---this was dumb! not good to do after squatting like i did. think i will keep this up!

now to the personal stuff....work has been rough, for some reason i can't get my head wrappedaround some of the calls i take. i want to help but the policies we have don't give me the leeway to help. just pisses me off!
next is my computer, damn thing cost me 2 hours yesterday and got me an ass reaming...thanks microsoft!
throw in everything else breaking and i think i might forget technology all together! headphones, bike, phone, cars....i am somehow cursed! now don't get me started on women...

anyhoo...dear readers let people know about this blog! i have plans to relaunch my other one and give some insights to strongman and life there!