Home gym chronicles, part 1; the great bulk

[BendtheBar]

Fingers crossed. Smash the deads.

[Soldier]

HELL YEAH. Smashing done.

Hey everybody, I'd like to introduce you to someone. 385lb. He's my bitch now. I know what you're saying. "But Soldier, 385lb made you HIS bitch less than a year ago. He mocked you mightily from the floor, where he stayed, figuratively glued to the floor like Roseanne Barr's favorite chair."

Yes, it's true. But what difference a year can make.

What difference, indeed.

Deadlift-
135x5
225x5
295x3
345x3
385x3
385x3
385x3
385x3
385x3

Sumo Deadlift-
295x3

The sumo deads were out of a vain attempt to get some quad work in. Whatever, I feel great about the deads. My goal for the day was 385x3x5, and I did it.

Tomorrow, bench. Another day, another set.

[BendtheBar]

Killed it. Owned it. Destroyed it.

[Soldier]

More destruction. The good kind. Tonight I benched more than I've ever benched before, and I didn't just survive it. I destroyed it. Unfortunately, it's still not the kind of impressive number I want, but it's a step on the road, and I'll take any ounce I can get.

I worked my way up to a 10lb PR of 295 on bench tonight, then finished up with 4 sets of partial close grip benches to get some good tricep work in.

It's paying off. It's so nice to FEEL a real difference when I put heavy weight in my hands.

Tomorrow night the work continues. Squats.

[Soldier]

The wife hit up some bench too tonight. We mostly worked on her form, maintaining a good back arch and using it to access the lats. She was starting to feel it towards the end. I think the reason I was able to set my PR was getting my lats more involved via good form.

Bench press-
45x5
55x5
65x5
75x3
75x3
75x3
75x3

I wish she would do more. The sets weren't very hard for her, and I know she's got more in her. But inproving her form will help. It'll make her feel better, which should make her more willing to do more work. I'm proud of her, and excited about the work she's put in.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Soldier

More destruction. The good kind. Tonight I benched more than I've ever benched before, and I didn't just survive it. I destroyed it.

Good step forward hombre.

[Soldier]

The wife discovered the beauty of box squats today. I went first.

Box squats (14" box)-
135x5
225x5
255x3
275x3
295x2
295x2
295x2
295x2
295x2

Lunge walk-
17 steps with 95lb.

After a little face timing with the parents, it was my wife's turn.

Box squats (14" box)-
45x3
65x3
85x3
95x3
105x3
115x3 (failed on 3)
95x6

Lunge walk-
45xI don't know how many she did, I was trying to distract our baby. It was a good amount though.

She had plenty left in the tank on her last sset of box squats, but her shoulders started to hurt. She's still not used to holding real weight, but she's putting in the work. She's gonna get a hell of a lot stronger, quick.

I'm still really tired from my deadlift session only 2 days ago. Glutes and hamstrings are absolutely fried, but I still felt strong on my box squats. I'll keep pushing myself for a few more days and reasses the possibility of taking a few days off to rest. Oh, the beauties of instinctive training.

[Soldier]

I just ate 1 1/2 Tbone steaks, and 2 1/2 baked potatoes with cheese and butter. I can feel myself getting stronger as we SPEAK.

Also, sleepy.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Soldier

I just ate 1 1/2 Tbone steaks, and 2 1/2 baked potatoes with cheese and butter. I can feel myself getting stronger as we SPEAK.

Also, sleepy.

Good combo. Smash on!

[Soldier]

Shoulders and abs tonight. Then pizza.

BTN overhead press-
45x12
65x12
85x8
100x8
115x8
115x8
115x8
115x8

Weighted decline crunches-
10x20
25x20+5
25x20

It looks like my rotator cuff issues from a few months ago are pretty much gone. Overhead presses were messing me up back then, and no way in hell would I have been able to do any behind the neck.

This was a good session, not too tough. I'm leading my platoon in PT tomorrow morning, and we are going to do legs in the gym. I'm actually doing a deadlift session, but first I'm going to teach everyone how to squat and deadlift, then let them get to it. It should be fun, and I always love spreading the gospel of the iron.