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Thread: Vanilla Gorilla

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    36

    Default Vanilla Gorilla

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    I saw this name as a user for someone on another forum and liked it a lot - it think it represents my whiteness and hairyness quite well - although I'm as bald as a coot, hair seems to be compensating elsewhere as i drift dangerously into middle age - your first white nose hair is a moment that many younger lifters have yet to fully appreciate.

    Enough about me, let's talk about me .

    I'm 37 - 38 in 2010 weigh a fat-ish 250lbs (115kg - 18 stones) stand 6 feet one. I've been lifting since I was a young teenager and have managed to learn very little.

    I work shifts, that vary wildly, in a stressful, sometimes physical job - I have a wife and 3 lovely kids the youngest of whom is 21 months.

    My best lifts in competition are a 440lb squat a 286lb bench and a 484 deadlift. This was armed only with a belt and a really old set of wrist wraps. I compete in the British IPF affiliate in raw competition. My total is about 100lbs off where it needs to be to qualify for the nationals - either that or lose 50lbs bodyweight !

    The only lift I didnt equal my best in the competition was the bench where I've paused 330lbs before.

    I think I got to 340lbs for my 5 x 5 sets as my previous best on the squats, I stalled at the 350 mark or thereabouts.

    I've powercleaned 220lbs for a triple, push pressed the same weight for a single and pressed from standing 198lbs.

    A review of my progress in 2009 led me to the realisation that the Texas method was by far my most successful routine and in 2009 I followed every routine known to man (Sheiko,Westside, 531 etc)

    So I'm back trying out Texas just North of London, England.

    Weights will be in kilos - I'll adjust for a while and add poundages, but that novelty will wear off at some point.

    Two days ago (29/12/09) I did a very tentative return to Texas-ness after a previous tweak of the lower back - it went something like

    Squat
    Warm Ups then 120kg (264lbs) 5 x 5

    Bench
    Warm Ups then 100kg (220) 5 x 5

    Good Mornings
    One warm up with bar then 40 (88) 3 x 10 (sets x reps)

    One Arm Rows
    45 (100) x 20 (each side)

    Then some Ab Roller - 3 sets of 5


    Today (31/12/09) went like this:

    Front Squat
    Warm Ups then 100 (220) 3 x 3

    Standing Press
    Warm Ups then 70 (154) 3 x 3

    Chin Ups
    3 sets of 5 with bodyweight - then a set of 5 with a mini-band (around my shoulders, attached to a dumbell on the floor)

    These were alternated between sets of presses

    Dips
    Same mini band set up x 10 reps

    Then three sets of 5 leg raises


    Neither sessions were terribly difficult - I intend to up the weights and intensity as time goes by.

    Thanks for reading.


    Phil
    Last edited by 1369phil; 01-08-2010 at 10:39 AM. Reason: Tidying up

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    2,150

    Default

    Always a pleasure to have another older gentleman on the site. Welcome.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    36

    Default

    04/01/10

    Squat

    60 x 5
    80 x 5
    100 x 5
    120 x 3
    140 x 1
    160 x 1
    180 x 1
    190 x 1 (10kg off my PR - slow and tough but it didnt kill me - 418lbs)

    Bench

    Bar x 12
    60 x 5
    80 x 3
    100 x 3
    120 x 1
    140 x 1 (touch and go - 10kg off my best - 308lbs)

    Deads

    60 x 5 (power cleans)
    100 x 3 (high pulls)
    140 x 3
    160 x 1
    180 x 5 (was going to be my work set, but it felt easy)
    200 x 1
    220 x 1 (equal PR - 484lbs)



    Tried some 60kg snatches for a double (super easy), some side bends and one set of arm stuff for 15+ reps

    All in all, quite pleased, near my best on everything and I've not been training as much as I should - looking forward to moving my PRs upwards in the next few months.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    36

    Default

    Today's efforts went ok (06/01/10)

    Power Cleans
    Bar x 5
    60 x 5
    80 x 3
    100 (220lbs)x 3 (2 sets) - this equals my best ever (a single set of 100 x 3) so I'm pleased with this

    Squats
    60 x 5
    100 x 5
    140 (308lbs) x 5 (5 sets) with a belt

    Standing Press
    Bar x 5
    40 x 6
    70 (154lbs) x 5 (5 sets) no belt

    Hanging Leg Raises
    2 sets of 5 or 6

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    36

    Default

    Not too bad today - not feeling super-strong but progressing slowly

    08/01/10

    Front Squats

    Bar x 10
    60 x 5
    80 x 3
    90 x 2
    105 x 3 (3 sets)

    Bench Press

    Bar x 20
    60 x 5
    80 x 3 (3 sets)


    Chins

    x 5
    5 x 5
    10 x 4
    10 x 3

    Dips

    10 x 12

    Rear Lateral Raise

    10 x 10

    Ab Roller

    3 sets of 6

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