Bryan's journal

[skid]

It's interesting how one's life evolves and priorities change. We're in a similar demographic, and I've followed your progress with interest over the past few years. I'll look for your log in General logs if you start posting there. Hope you enjoy your new location and interests!

[Walter Palmer]

It could just be the past few months or it could just be life but I Starting a general log when my life chaos settles down. The entire willingness to invest the time and endure the injuries and pains of continued improvement is waning in me. Could be new job, sold a house, about to move cross country, worried about a loved ones health and other things. Whatever, I don’t want to train hard enough to hit PRs right now. Much less compete.
It has been a worthy venture though!


I still enjoy lifting but may simply lift less frequently as I have been lately. I want to be less specialized and lose 15 pounds. . I will be coastal again soon so the fishing and boats will also take my time. Maybe the fire to compete will rekindle. But it’s ok if it doesn’t.
I have gotten stronger over the years, been through injuries a surgery, recovered from injuries and learned my limitations and capabilities are greater than I would have thought. I will continue to be a barbell user for life and encourage others to pursue it because it is a very good thing to be stronger.

I know this competitive forum has been slow, but I appreciate everyone who has ever commented, helped, troubleshot, encouraged or just followed along to see what I was doing over the years. Thank you all.

I completely get it. Have had a lot of life changes here too but still back to lifting. Not sure if I have another 3-5 years of competition in me or not, but will be asking some of the same questions that you have faced. Best of luck in the new locale!

[codger]

I'll add my good wishes, too, Bryan. Good luck with your new coastal life. Hope to see you posting here once in a while.

[Bryan Dobson]

Hey folks. I tried Galveston and as great as the fishing is my wife and I could not handle the mesquitos, fleas and high water threatening property every hurricane season so I came back inland to New Braunfels and am settled in my new home.

I have been training. Just keeping it moderate and building for the time being. Doing my deadlifts, presses, bench and squats. With more lighter higher volume assistance.
I may start logging again. It’s pretty vanilla. 60-85%range for 6 sets and a couple of building movements afterwards for varied building. So it’s not that exciting. Just slowly building up my work capacity and going. to a local gym around the Block. And the work gym in Mentone.

I can control if I train or not. I can be consistent without being obsessive. And I can compete again when opportunity and timing collide.

[skid]

Good to see you back Bryan!

[Bryan Dobson]

Ok. I am not the best consistent forum logger anymore. Can’t promise any improvements to that.
I got my weight down to about 214. Working rotationally I diet more strictly at work and gain Some back the two weeks I am home. So I end up netting 2 pound net loss every 4 weeks. 205 seems far away.
Lifting continues. I cut some frequency so I can impart more fatigue per session. The pattern is every third day while at work and twice a week while at home. It comes out to 9-10:sessions every 4 weeks. I enjoy hitting it hard and recovering more completely between sessions. It seems more sustainable, health and overall fitness wise. I am 48 now and as much as I enjoy getting stronger, if getting stronger at my age means I am so beat up I cannot go fishing or kayak or enjoy my days off because I am exhausted, then the price is just too high. Rate of return is too low for the trouble. So I continue my masters journey,moderated for longevity.

26 December 2018
Press 125x3,142.5x3,160x6, 175x1@9.5, 125x10

Deadlift
325x3,372.5x3,417.5x8,455x3,495x3,325x8

Incline dumbbell press 4pcx15x3
Last pulldowns 3x10
Fat bar ng bp myo reps 115x12,3,3,2

28 Dec 2018
Bench 175x3,200x3,225x5,245x1,175x10

Squat
307.5x3,350x3,395x4@9,430x1,307.5x8

Lateral shoulder raises 35-5s. Rack set
Hammer curls same as above

January 3 2019
Press 115x5,132.5x5,150x6,115x10

Deadlift
302.5x5,350x5,395x6,302.5x6

January 5, 2019
Squat 285x5,327.5x5,372.5x6,285x10

Bench
162.5,187.5x5,212.5x6,162.5x10
Chins 7x5

9January 2019
Press 132.5x5,150x3,167.5x3,175x1,135x8
Deadlift 350x5,395x3,442.5x5,465x3,350x8

12 January 2019
Squat 327.5x5 372.5x3 415x4, 435x2,455x1, 327.5x8
Bench 187.5x5,212.5x3, 237.5x3,250x1,187.5x9

Chins 3x7

18 January 2019.
Press125x3,142.5x3,160x6,175x2,125x10
Deadlift 330x3,375x3,422.5x8,465x3,505x2
Db rows 45x10x3
Dips 3x15
Good morning 55x10x3
Curls 55x10x3

Monday 21 January 2019
Press 117.5x5,135x5, 152.5x7,

Squat 310x3,355x3,397.5x4,355x7,310x5,310x5
Bench 175x3,200x3,225x4, density set 3 minutes 175x3,3,3,3,3,2,2
Last pulldowns 3x10
GHR 3x15
Dumbbell Rear lats 3x20

Yeah my bench and press have dropped with weight loss. I will have to increase the work set intensity without causing shoulder issues. But it’s not the end of the world.

[Bryan Dobson]

24 January 2019

Press
135x5,152.5x3,170x6,185x1 pressing strength is returning, I am happy with this. Now to get 185 back up to 5+ reps but first 2 reps.
135x8,135x8

Deadlift
305x5,352.5x5,400x8ez,440x5,480x2,530x1

Db row 50x10x3
Dips bwx15x3

Front squats 135x10x3
Bbl curls 65x10x3

Just another beautiful day in Gruene Texas.

[Bryan Dobson]

Monday 28 January 2019

Press
127.5x5,145x3,162.5x5
155x5

Squat
287.5x5,332.5x5,375x5,345x5,345x5,345x5

Pause Bench
162.5x5,187.5x5,212.5x5,197.5x5

Chins 3x10, GHR 3x15

[Bryan Dobson]

Thursday 31 january(already) 2019

I will highlight rep PRs which are PRs for this current workup not 2017 or older stuff what I am doing now.

When I pass all times I will make note of it if I notice. For now I just keep plucking along. Varying higher volume with higher intensity with higher loads sometimes. Bodyweight is down To 214-218 range depending in salt and carb intake. I Will make a run at 212 in the next two weeks. Carb up cycling on training days


Clean and press
72.5x5,90x5,110x3
117.5x5,135x5 155x7
147.5x5 fatigue stop
Deadlift 235x5,282.5x3
352.5x5,400x3,445x6

Dbl rows dips, curls and good mornings a
P 3x10 except for dips which were 3x15plus 1

It was ok. Back at work

[Bryan Dobson]

Sunday 3feb 2019

Press
135x5,155x3,172.5x5

Squat
332.5x5,375x3,420x4

Bench
187.5x5,212.5x3,237.5x4

Good!straight top set PRs two sessions in a row. Losing weight and getting stronger. Using less frequency and not beat up.

Some fluff
Chins 3x10, rear lat raise 3x20x5#
GHR 3x15 (magic ), Db Bench 50sx10x3

Time to eat and watch some secondhand football.

I will alternate between higher load top sets, percent drop sets and or pyramids to accumulate volume. Using the rule of thumb, no progress means need more volume, backwards, need less volume. Progress= keep it the same.
Recently I increased intensity of drop sets by using 5-7% drops and that seems to be helping. But lifting heavy above 90% at least every 3 weeks is helpful for the lifts too. I”LL Just keep plodding along as long as improvements are showing, this is simple and is working.