Puttering along

[codger]

You've had a tough run these past few weeks, oldster--strep, dentist, neck...and you still keep powering on.

[Oldster]

I don't care for the alternative, Yoda.

[Oldster]

Ten days off, needed a break. Came back at a pretty good starting point, I believe.

Close grip bench
140x12
240x10
280x5 sets of 5
Military Press
115x5
135x3 sets of 5
Hammer curls
45sx10
65sx3 sets of 10
Ab wheel
15 kneeling
2 standing

Can't complain, 280 was about the right place to restart. Military was new feeling after a few months away from them, Hammers were fine and easy. Ab wheel was most surprising. Have done almost none standing since elbow surgery. Two were easy! Probably had ten in me, but my elbow needs to be babied!

[codger]

Impressive as ever, Oldster. And standing ab wheels! I'm working on the kneeling version; not sure I'll ever manage the standing version.

[Oldster]

Yoda, someone once sent me a video of a little Japanese guy doing twelve reps. His last three were difficult for him, his entire body shaking. At the time I still thought standing was impossible. Until I saw him. My goal from then on was to beat his record, even weighing perhaps double his BW...or more. It took a bit of work, but once I could do the first single rep, the sky was the limit. My best was a fifteen continuous reps on a day when I should have done more. It was right before my surgery and well, now I'm on the comeback trail!

Thanks!

[hector_garza]

Oldster, do you ever use a weight lifting belt?

It seems to met that once you can do as many reps of standing ab wheel as you can that a weight lifting belt wouldn't be necessary.

I don't use a belt. I operate on the assumption that if my core isn't a weak link, then I don't need the WL belt. But many disagree.

[Eric K]

Always awesome, oldster. Couple surgeries, extended layoff, and come back and CG more than most of us can do with the regular bench!

[Oldster]

Thanks, Eric. I am a driven soul when it comes to lifting, especially any particular movement I'm passionate about. Close grip is that movement right now!

Hector, I have a little different situation than most. At 14, I fractures L-4 and L-5 in a fall from a boyhood prank. I've lifted with and without a belt and over the decades learned I have less low back problems with a belt. Even then, I tend to use it only with my heaviest sets. Back in the day when I was squatting very heavily, I tended to only to belt-up when I went over 455 or so. Now with the FS, I tend to belt up when I go over 225.

My abs have always been very strong, and the stronger they become, the less low back pain I deal with in daily life, but it doesn't seem to help with squatting issues. But like I said, my situation is different than most.

[Oldster]

No squatting or rows Wednesday. It was over 100 here and no air conditioning! Today I lifted at about 84.

Close grip bench
140x12
240x10
250x9 sets of 3
335x1
345x1
Military
135x5
145x5
EZ bar curls
70x5
100x5
120x5
Ab wheel
5 kneeling!!!

Benches were fine, military easy too. But man, the bar curls killed my left wrist. Felt like it was about to break. I'll give it a few weeks and see if it gets better. Perhaps I'll search online for a different bar.

Ab wheels! Wow! Still sore from Monday's two standing reps! Did five and called it good.

[Oldster]

Close grip bench
140x12
240x10
290x5 sets of 5
Military Press
115x5
135x5
165x5
Hammer curls
45sx10
65sx3 sets of 10
Ab wheel
15 kneeling
2 standing

Nothing to report, other than my ab soreness finally abated! Shocked, shocked I tell you, at how sore I became after last weeks two standing ab wheel reps.