Fire 36's quest to succeed

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Fire36

Ok I have a question for you guys, on my max outs? How do I find my max when i primarily am in the gym at a time with no other lifters in the "iron" room?
And I do not have workout partner

If you have a rack, you can set the pins at a height that allows you to perform squats or bench, but also allows you to "drop" the weight an inch and get out of the attempt without killing yourself. Practice before doing this though.

This is the method I use at home. If I miss a bench rep, I can lower the bar and set it on the pins and wiggle out.

[Fire36]

Just finished up my workout for today a little while ago. I can definately say I'm pumped about how it went today.
It was my A workout, on my A/B schedule, Squats, Bench( had to substitute with military press today) Rows( doing them on the Hammer IsoRow machine) Push ups and reverse crunch.
Squat was alot better today than last workout 155,155,165,165,170 with 5 reps each. I was "jacked" at 170 and probably had a few more in the tank. I know that dont seem like much to alot of you guys but for me its a huge accomplishment. Just because when I started the 5x5 workout last august i was doing 115 just to get my form down. Now I actually can see that I might get to 200 by may( small goal).
Military Press was ok different because I hadnt done it before but I can feel it, and the row was another achievement for me, as I believe that is one exercise that is gonna help me for sure on my weakest area on the "challenge" course and that is the hose lift. But I was doing 80 plus the machine starting weight per side. ANd I could REALLY feel it today( maybe I been doing too light of work) nonetheless I'm feeling good about the workout.

It also helped me seeing a couple guys in the gym doing multiple chest and arm exercises, bench, db bench, military press, bench with a curl bar, skull crushers, shoulder presses, and i dont know what all else, just made me feel good knowing I was lifting smarter. Thanks for the encouragment guys.

[Fire36]

Another day in the gym and felt really good about this workout, B workout consists of Squats (5x5), Overhead Press(5x5), Deadlift (5x1), pull up( 3 x F) and prone bridges ( 3 x 45seconds)

Felt good about the squats again today, last time i did ohp i had to "deload" weight due to poor form but was able to get weight back on today. Deadlift I am able to increase my weight but am still going lighter so that i can keep my form perfect.

Also doing some good conditioning work on cardio days. Still need to work on my diet as far as eating more regularly but that has always been a struggle for me.
All in all not a bad day.

[BendtheBar]

That looks like a hardcore workout Fire. Not sure I could survive that one. Great effort.

[Fire36]

Thanks, BTB I am trying like hell to put on some strength now and working on conditioning a little later. Got July 18th on my calendar as the first chance I can run the challenge and I WANT to not look like a fool this time.

[Mombow111]

Originally Posted by Fire36

Thanks, BTB I am trying like hell to put on some strength now and working on conditioning a little later. Got July 18th on my calendar as the first chance I can run the challenge and I WANT to not look like a fool this time.

July 18th is still plenty of ways away, I'd be surprised if you didn't kick some ass after 3-4 months of training ^^.
Nice workouts btw, and full body workouts are probably in some respects really good conditioning for you overall.

[BendtheBar]

It's amazing how fast the body can adapt to hard training. Basic Training in the Army taught me that.

[Fire36]

Oh yea that is for sure, the PT in Basic was killer, I thought I'd die the first week but by the time I was done I loved it.

[Fire36]

Out of town for the weekend and crazy busy and havent been able to update. Just finished a GREAT workout. I know its a lot later in the day than i wanted to get it done but running calls takes precedence at work over training.

My only complaint is today is a training day I normally do rows, well the station don';t have a hammer machine that I really like so had to make do with barbell rows and was really different and didnt feel as right.
Diet is coming along great, and I am really eating alot better. I am down to 2 cups of coffee in the am, then water all day or green tea. Also drinking my fair share of milk but have cut out all " energy drinks" and soda. I'm sure AMP will be calling to ask if I died after their sales dropped. But my grocery bill is going up like crazy LOL.

Will get a better update later in the week i need sleep now and hope like hell the public leaves me alone so I can sleep.

[Fire36]

Just to add something I forgot to put in last night. I can definately tell I'm doing something right now when I'm hitting the iron. As my total weight lifted during each training day increases. Its nice to see that progress in the journal, pushups are good example. Last week, during my 3 sets to failure was only able to push out sets of 20,15,12. Last nights went 3 sets of 20 each. Ok so maybe not much to you guys but thats after doing bench and rows. I am still in the mindset that its a big deal to me because its a long ways from where I started.