Montreal Barbell The PR GYM

It will be two weeks this wednesday since I lasted lifted.  My mouth is finally starting to feel normal again.  I had some trouble with the right side of my mouth (dry socket) and had to go back in last Monday but it's feeling better and better each day.  I think I'll try and bench tomorrow night to see how the pressure in my mouth is and if all goes well then I'll try to deadlift Wednesday, too. 

Last week was really rough for me.  A combination of a lot of things (pain, not eating enough, not sleeping well, not training) and unfortunately it got the better of me.  Training isn't just about the physical gains, it's just as important my mental state.  I get overwhelmed with anxiety/stress, I get more impatient, easily frustrated, and start to feel depressed when I don't train for a while.  It's not a good look!  So hopefully this is the week I can start pushing myself again! 

Heavy Bench & Deadlift Training

Bar x reps

95 x 5

115 x 2

165 x 1 (Shirt on)

200 x 1

225 x miss

230 x miss

240 x miss

250 x miss x 2

What a crap bench night.  My legs were spent, felt like I couldn't hold my arch at the bottom.  And I couldn't set my shoulders back at the start of the lift either.  Ross and Cheryl both said "you're just as strong as you were last week" and "push through it".  I tightened the sleeves just a bit on my shirt and I was having a hard time adjusting to the changes, then on the 240 I heard a seem rip but kept on with the lift.  Then again on one of the 250 attempts I heard the seem rip, told myself to not pay attention to it, then it ripped again and I let it get into my head.  I'll get it right, eventually.

Deadlift

135 x 5 conventional

185 x 5 Sumo from here on, w/ briefs and belt

225 x 3 Suit no belt

275 x 1 suit, belt

300 x 1

315 x 1

330 x miss

330 x miss

330 x 1 PR

Focused more on the top part of the lift this week.  Wanted to rip the weights off the floor so I would have enough momemtum to get my shoulders back at the top of the lift, something I struggled with last week.  It worked.  I am still having issues with the bar being out in front of me I tried rolling the bar at the start but that worked up to 275 then wasn't working for me anymore.  I tried to pull back right away at the start but I am still using my legs so much to get the weight off the floor that I only start to pull back once its mid-shin area.  The technique is getting closer and closer to where it should be and I am very pleased with that, and that i didn't give up on the 330!

So this morning I went and got my wisdom teeth removed.  I'm hurting for certain right now.  The numbness is starting to wear off and my mouth is very achy, and I'm hungry but can't eat anything yet. I also can't lift for 2-3 weeks which is why I went over board last night.  I wouldn't usually bench heavy twice in 4 days.  Now its time to get better, let my body recover, and let that 250 bench haunt me! 

Light Bench

Bar x reps

75 x 10

95 x 10

105 x 8

95 x 13

95 x 15 (5 rep PR)

Boards: 4 board

95 x 5

135 x 5

Easy night for me, just got some blood flowing.  Tomorrow is deadlift training and I'm looking forward to it.  The form clicked for me a few weeks ago and then I lost it, but I watched Willie Albert's deadlift videos again and I think I know where I went wrong now.  Anxious to get in there tomorrow and try it out.   

Squat

Bar x reps

105 x 5

Briefs on, belt on

145 x 4

Suit on

195 x 3  (straps down)

235 x 3  (straps up)

285 x 3

325 x 3  (knee wraps)  PR - first two felt great, third one was a little off

350 x 2 (knee wraps) PR - first one felt great, second one was sloppy

375 x 1 x 3 (knee wraps) PR

The big number today was 375, first time I've ever held it on my back.  The first two times my legs were shaky and I was scared, so my knees were forward and I was really slow going down and came up way too soon.  Got annoyed with myself for being scared and making it harder on myself by not sticking with my form.  Decided to try it again this time focusing on not being scared.  Stand up was much better the third time, went faster and tried to stick with my form.  Felt a lot better but I still hit that point were my head took over and I came back up sooner than I should have; got lower than the first two times, though so I am pleased with that.  Need to handle it a couple more times and then I think I'll get it right. 

Great day in the gym!  Mike came in and was strong as an ox, Carmine was much more aggressive, Cheryl was on a mission, Joanick was fearless as usual, Ross hit a great squat and Melanie squatted for the first time with the team and did amazing! I always look forward to Sundays and this Sunday was exactly the reason why!

Heavy Bench

Bar x reps

95 x 4

115 x 3

Shirt on

165 x 1

195 x 1

215 x 1

225 x 1

235 x 1

245 x miss

Let the sleeves out on my bench shirt and everything felt great.  The last time I benched the shirt threw me off.  All the weights felt good, form felt solid.  Struggled a little bit with 215 but finished it, 225 went up better than 215, 235 was even better and 245 I just missed at lock out.  I had my left arm locked out just couldn't lock out my right arm; whenever I have an issue locking out its always the right arm that gives me trouble and I'm not sure why, but I'll figure it out.

Big group tonight at the gym.  Everybody is very supportive and encouraging and that makes you want to try even harder!  I love it.  Another great night at Montreal Barbell, really excited for Sunday!

Deadlift

135 x 5 conventional

Briefs on, Suit on, belt on - sumo lifts

185 x 2

225 x 1

275 x 1

305 x 1

325 x miss x 2

After a week off I made it back in to the gym to deadlift. My suit was a little tighter in the hips this week than I remembered it being so I got a really great pop off the floor; the weights were up before I even knew it!  I'm playing around with my warm ups to see how big of a jump I can take and 225 felt terrific, 275 felt good but I could feel it more and 305 felt heavier than I wanted it to, Ross said to me, "At a certain point it all starts to feel heavy.  You gotta just keep on pulling."!  With the 325 I wasn't as aggressive as I have been the last few weeks and it felt like my hips had nothing left in them.  Ross suggested next week we do "more work" and leave the PR's alone for a bit, so that's what we'll do.

Glad to be home and back in the gym!