Finding Out that the Iron Never Lies

[bustermonkey2]

Dec 16, 2013

Deadlift @ 505 lbs- 1. PR. This was tough but not terrible. Only a PR by 3 pounds, but a PR nevertheless.
Deadlift @ 395 lbs-4,4,4,5. Last set very tough.

[Róbert Kovács]

Congrats!

[bustermonkey2]

Thanks!

Dec 17, 2013

Press/Push press @ 210 lbs- 1. PR. Tough. This was supposed to be a press but I had a little bit of involuntary leg kick at the bottom which kept it from being a strict press, even though I doubt it made any difference. Either way it was still a pr.
Press @ 167 lbs- 4,4,4,5. Last set very tough.

Chins w/ 10 lbs-10.
Chins w/ 25 lbs- 7.
Chins w/ 45 lbs-5. I hadn't done weighted chins since Sept 16. I wanted to see if switching to unweighted chins had resulted in less strength on the weighted chins. It looks like it really didn't make any difference.

Situps w/ 10 lbs-14,14,14.

[bustermonkey2]

Dec 19, 2013
Bodywt @ 225 lbs

Squat @ 450 lbs- 1. PR (unwrapped). Tough but not terrible.
Squat @ 345 lbs- 4,4,4,4. I probably had another rep or 2 left on last set but I had racked it after 4th rep without thinking.

Paused squats off pins @ 235 lbs- 5,5,5. Tough and tiring.

Hang. Leg Raises- 9,9,8. Exhausted by this point.

This is beginning of 12th and final week of this program cycle. I will try to hit a new PR next week for each lift and then start a new cycle the following week. Although my numbers are still going up, I am feeling very tired by the end of each session. It seems like it's better to be patient then to keep grinding away and risk a total stall or injury.

[Róbert Kovács]

Superb, you're on a roll. You'll do the same routine as your next cycle?

[bustermonkey2]

Thanks. Yes- I'll do the same basic routine except I'm going to add in the accessory of incline press on press day and move the weighted situps to deadlift day. I'm doing that because I don't currently have any press related accessory and I'm hoping incline will help my bench too. I'm reluctantly moving the situps because I really don't want more than 2 accessory lifts per day, even though I do like leaving the deadlifts by themselves. I am just out of space on my other days.

[idlehands]

I know that feeling. I used to really love upside down hanging sit ups with the inversion boots on after deadlift/squat days but I'm just out of time on that day.

[bustermonkey2]

Right now on deadlift day I'm doing a heavy single or double followed by 4 x 4. This is a lot more deadlift volume than I have usually done any a big motivator on the last set was that I leave immediately after. I'm hoping adding situps won't make the 4 x 4 deadlifts unbearable.

Dec 20, 2013

Bench @ 350 lbs- 1. PR. Pretty tough, which was still much better than I would have guessed based on how 345 felt last week..
Bench @ 275 lbs- 4,4,4,6. Tough last set.

Close grip bench @ 200 lbs- 10,10,10. Tough last set.

Dips w/ 45 lbs- 12,13,14. Arms very sore by the end.

[bustermonkey2]

Dec 23, 2013
Bodywt @ 223 lbs

Deadlift @ 515 lbs- 1. PR. Tough and slow but not totally awful. I think I'll make a go for 525 lbs within the next week as this was last deadlift day of the 12 week cycle.

Deadlift @ 400 lbs- 4,4,4,4. This was very tough. I had almost just gone with 405 lbs for ease of loading and I'm glad I didn't as I doubt that I would have made it.

[bustermonkey2]

Dec 24, 2013

Press @ 212 lbs- 0. Fail. Stuck about 2-3 inches above shoulders. I am not really surprised as 210 was a struggle last week. I'll add incline press for the next cycleand see if it helps my press.
Press @ 170 lbs- 4,4,4,4. Tough.

Chins-12
Chins w/ 25 lbs- 7.
Chins w/ 45 lbs- 5.

Situps w/ 10 lbs- 15,15,15.