Montreal Barbell The PR GYM

My back hurts still.  It feels the best it has felt since I hurt it, but it still isn't quite right.

135 x 10 (5 sumo/ 5 conv) x 2

Briefs on, suit on, belt on

225 x 1

Belt off because it was throwing me off line

225 x 1

Belt back on

275 x 1

315 x 1

365 x miss x 3 (reset 3 times in a row)

335 x miss

315 x miss at lock out

Not the way I hoped it would go but my lower back isn't 100% yet.  I'll open with 145 kg (319.7 lbs) and then go from there. 

I hurt my lower back and right hip/glute two weeks ago and it still isn't healed.  My plan was to squat light.

Bar x reps x 3

Briefs on right away to give my hip/glute more support

145 x 5

195 x 3 (belt on)

235 x 1

285 x 1

Put my canvas suit on

350 x 1

402 x 1 (knee wraps)

I wasn't going to put my suit on because it puts a lot of pressure on my hips taking it off, but my lift with 285 in briefs was the nicest of the lot (I have never been so tight in the squat, I was so scared of something hurting).  The bottom of the squat is when I have the most pain in my hip/glute and back, so I did a quater squat with 350 just to feel the weight on my back; 402 felt good on my back but at the bottom I started to slow down, waiting to see when and where it would hurt, and only got it to parralel, dipped and came up easy with it.  The good news is it is Monday now and my hip/glute and back don't hurt anymore today than they did yesterday, and I have another 2 weeks before the meet.

Feeling optimistic....

I really hurt my back last week and have not been unable to move properly or train since.  Ross told me to try and bench, because worst case scenario I could bench flat on the bench and take the pressure off my back if need be.

Bar x reps x 3

95 x 5

115 x 1

135 x 1

155 x 1

195 x hold for 3 secs

Shirt on

245 x 1 (no touch)

275 x miss

275 x 1

290 x miss

300 x 1 PR

It took a couple of sets before I was stretched out enough to get my legs back without my back killing me.  Even then, I had to hold everything extremely tight. 

My first attempt at 275 took a long time to touch and I thought it was too long, but Ross said everything looked perfect - I just let my air out at the bottom, so I did it again and got it.  I don't remember why 290 didn't go, but next up was 300 and I got it this time.  I have no idea what was different about this 300 and every other time I have attempted it, but it felt great!  I'm so happy to hit this weight finally!

Squat

Bar x reps

105 x 5

Briefs on

135 x 5

Suit on, straps down

225 x 3

Straps up, belt on - from here on

275 x 3

325 x 2

375 x 1 (knee wraps from here on)

415 x 1

445 x 1

415 x 3 (2 rep PR)

My lower back is still sore; there was a "wobble" in the bottom of my squat - something kept letting loose, couldn't fix it all day.  Three reps with 415 was HUGE - it was hard because my form was off but I did all 3 reps! 

Now today, my lower back is killing me.  I must have rounded my tailbone at the bottom of the squat at some point.  I did that once before a long time ago and it feels the same today.  Ouch!  

Heavy Bench

I had to stretch out my shoulders, pecs, legs, quads, glutes, hips and lower back a lot - being sick all week I felt really stiff.

Bar x reps x 2

95 x 5

115 x 3

135 x 1

185 x hold for 3 secs

Shirt on

225 x 1 (no touch)

255 x 1

275 x 1

295 x 1

305 x miss x 2

I got 255 to touch this week; I was more patient at the bottom and pushed up harder to the bar to get it to touch.  

I took 275 down perfectly but pushed straight up at the press call instead of back, then had to tilt it backwards to save the lift.

Last week I did 285 then 295, this week I just wanted the 295 so I jumped right to it.  It felt pretty good in my hands and I felt aggressive (I don't like using that word but I basically really, really wanted the lift - I was determined).  Ross said, and I felt, that I was more in control of the weight and at the press call I sailed it back and up to lock out.

The first attempt at 305 I held it for a while and was surprised that it didn't feel so bad.  I loaded my shirt, touched and pressed - it came off my chest really fast and it scared me so I slowed it down and got stuck.  I knew what I did and wanted to have another try at it.  The second attempt I loaded my shirt but Ross said I hovered about an inch away from my chest, then touched a little too high and didn't get any pop out of my shirt.  I could also feel my feet completely flat on the floor as I was trying to push up harder.  I was done after that.  Really excited to get 295, and really excited that 305 feels "manageable"!  

It was a good bench night, and I needed it!

Leo Tili came in to bench, on his birthday, and tried a bench shirt out for the first time and did a beautiful 625 bench!  Congrats Leo!  Chris Skoda showed some great mental strength on the bench; he failed on his second work set of 475 then came back and finished two more sets with perfect bench form!  Great energy in the gym....as usual. 

I haven't trained this week because after Sunday's squat session I started running a fever and haven't been feeling well since.  Even after staying home all week and resting I still have a low grade temperature.  I'll see what Ross thinks, but I'm hoping to bench tomorrow - I need it for my head at this point.

Bar x reps

105 x 5

Briefs on

145 x 5

195 x 3

Suit on, straps down

235 x 2

285 x 2 (straps up, belt on)

325 x 1

375 x 1 (knee wraps from here on)

415 x 1

435 x 1

375 x 3 PR

My lower back is still sore and I felt unstable in the bottom of the squat, but aside from that the weight felt good on my back.  I wasn't sure about the jump from 375 to 415, but after talking with Ross, I'd like to be able to stick with bigger jumps because it gives me more range in a meet (I can open with 375, jump to 415 or 425 then go on from there). The triple with 375 felt solid and was exciting to do; I got a little shaky on the third rep but it forced me to hold my form harder.  

Eating is better, sleep was better last night, stress is still very high and now my sinus' are full and I have a sore throat again....some meds and another goodnights sleep will hopefully have me in better shape tomorrow.

Mike squatted 1180 lbs today - it's absolutely unbelieveable to watch.  I can't imagine somebody standing up with that kind of weight nevermind going down with it and then back up again!  Mike had a great big smile on his face when he was done and you can't help but be happy for him!  Congatulations Mike!

Heavy Bench

Bar x reps x 2

95 x 5

115 x 3

135 x 1

185 x hold for 3 secs

Shirt on

225 x 1 (no touch)

255 x 1 (no touch)

275 x 1 (no touch)

285 x miss

295 x miss x 2

Weights felt ok.  My shirt was really tight and I had a hard time touching.  Ross told me my form was off and that's why I wasn't able to touch - I felt like I was pushing up to the bar but I wasn't getting that extra little push at the bottom.  The first attempt at 295 went half way up, but the bar went crooked on me and I got stuck (Ross told me my legs were not evenly placed).  The second attempt I took it down but I wasn't in control of the weight and asked the spotters to take it at the bottom.  When I came off the bench my shoulder was hurting so I ended it there.

My stress, eating, and sleeping are still out of whack but I'm working on it.  Did some laundry, cleaned up the house a bit, got groceries and cooked clean meals for myself and today I'm going to go clean the gym - the only way I start to feel better is by doing stuff, whether the stress has anything to do with those things or not, it'll let me burn off some energy.

Among a million other things going through my head after the CA State Championships, one thought was to cut my deadlift warm ups down and see if I could handle it.  I also have another pair of briefs, a bit bigger (so I thought), that I wanted to try out in case I ended up in another situation where I couldn't get my briefs on.

Deadlift

135 x 5 conv/5 sumo

135 x 5 conv/5 sumo (w/ belt)

225 x 3 (briefs, suit, no belt)

315 x 1 (briefs, suit, belt)

365 x miss

The briefs that are "bigger" are in fact not bigger; they slid over my hips more easily, but the legs are tight and all the support is in the legs instead of the hips.  Result, it pitched me forward at the start of the lift and I was out of line and ended up having to muscle up the weight.   My max with that combination (those briefs and suit) is something less than 365;  the briefs are taken in though so we can adjust the legs and redistribute the support to the hips - always good to have a back up!  The jump in weights felt fine surprisingly, even without the proper support from the briefs/bad form.

Felt good to have weight in my hands again though, even if it felt heavier than I wanted it to.  I'm waking up with a sore throat in the morning (possible cold, or really dehydrated) and my anxiety is wearing on me so I'm just trying to do enough "gym" to kick my stress but not get me sick.  

Weight is 144, eating is a bit better, sleep was better last night - but it was hard to wake up this morning.  Today is a "day off" so I'll take care of all the things that make me feel better and try to alleviate more of my anxiety.

After a little over a week off I made my way back into the gym tonight for a little benching.

95 x 6 x 4

Pause Bench:

95 x 5,4,3,2,1

105 x 5,4,3,2,1

Bicep Cable Curl

3 plate x 6 x 3

Tricep Cable Extension

4 plate x 6 x 3

The weights felt good and I felt solid, besides my lower back being a little sore.  I'm getting excited for the Pro/Am now; only 5 more training weeks!  My body feels pretty good right now; my shoulder feels good, hip isn't bothering me, tricep isn't killing me, and the tingling in my hand is just about gone (for now anyways!). My head is a little off this week (my anxiety is running really high) so I just need to stay in the gym and work it out there.  

Weight is 144, eating is bad, sleep isn't restful and I'm not drinking enough water - time to get back on track!