J's Upper/Lower Training Log

[_J_]

I recently switched from Madcow's 5x5 to a 4 day upper/lower split. Thanks to the Bearded One and mab54 for their input. Since i've added some volume from what I'm used to, I'm trying to ease into this new workout. I used the MAB 20 rep goal format for much of the workout.

Started on 3-5-12. March 5, 6, 8, and 9.

Monday
Squat, 245 (7,7,6). 20 rep goal met.
Calf Raise (3x8), 240, 260, 280(7)
Cleans (5x3), 95.
Weighted Situps (3x10), 45, 55, 65
Side Bends (3x8), 45.

I could defnitely tell that my body is not used to squatting more than 5 reps at a time. 245 was my 5 rep max when I started Madcow in October 2011, so being able to use it as a working weight feels great.

Cleans. Even though I'm moving up next week, I'm gonna stick with lower weight until I get the form down.

Tuesday
Bench, 225 (8,7,7). 20 rep goal met.
Db Row (3x10-15), 60 (11,12,11).
Weighted Dips, 45 (9,7,6). 20 rep goal met.
Chinups, bodyweight. (6,5,3).

Getting back into the groove of doing db rows at higher reps was eye-opening. My back was surprisingly sore.

Chinups were humbling. My hands/arms felt awkward getting into the chinup position. Like I was stretching or rotating my joints in a way I wasn't used to.

Thursday
Deadlift (3x5), 225, 285, 335.
Squat (1x20), 175.
OH Press, 135 (7,7,7). 20 rep goal met.
Bent Clf Raise (3x8) 90, 135, 135
Cable crunches 3x10-15) 18(15), 19(15), 20

Trying to tightly focus on form on deadlifting. Since I've been going so heavy on deadlifts in the last few weeks, my lower back has been feeling odd and I've noticed that at the start of the lift, I've been pulling my legs away from the bar. So, getting back to great form.

A set of 20 rep squats, even at hte very light weight I used was shockingly hard. I was dying by rep 15. Having said that, I really liked it, so it'll be 185 next week.

Friday
Bb Row, 155 (8,7,6). 20 rep goal met.
Inc.DbBench, 70 (8,7,7). 20 rep goal met.
Pullups, bodyweight, (7,7,6). 20 rep goal met.
Incl.Db Curls (3x8-10). 30 (8,8,8)
1-arm Overhead Db Ext. (3x8-10). 20 (10,8,8)

I haven't done incline db bench in a long time and it showed. I'll be moving up slowly.

I could do more pullups than I could chinups!?! What is up with that?

[BendtheBar]

I could defnitely tell that my body is not used to squatting more than 5 reps at a time.

Man do I know how that feels.

I could do more pullups than I could chinups!?! What is up with that?

That does seem odd, to me at least. I guess back dominant.

Nice work J.

[big_swede]

Good stuff J!

[_J_]

Monday, 3-12-12
Squat 250 (7,7,6). 20 rep goal met..
Calf Raise 3x8, 240, 260, 280.
Cleans 5x3, 115.
Weighted Situps 3x10, 45, 65, 65
Side Bends 3x8, 45

You know it's a great workout when you're out of breath after nearly every set.

Squats were 5 pounds heavier than last week. The last few squat reps weren't pretty, but the volume is feeling better this week. I may widen my stance a bit to help me keep my chest high.

Finally got all my calf reps.

Cleans were 20 pounds heavier than last week. I need more explosion, more pop. Cleans continue to be more thinking than moving. I'm thinking of the individual stages of the lift. It still doesn't feel natural.

[BendtheBar]

You know it's a great workout when you're out of breath after nearly every set.

Squats were 5 pounds heavier than last week.

Excellent J. One good thing about auto-regulated progression like this. You can really get on a good roll at time, and even on bad days you can still add a rep and come out a winner.

[mab54]

Some great squating J, and at first cleans feel weird but after awhile they will start to feel much more natural.

[_J_]

Tuesday, 3-13-12
Bench 235 (8,7,6). 20 rep goal met.
Db Row, 3x10-15, 65 (12, 12, 11)
Dips 55 (8,7,6). 20 rep goal met.
Chinups BW (7,5,4). 2 more reps than last week.

All is progressing well. Still amazed that my chinups are so poor. On chins, I'm not exactly sure how far apart my hands should be. I've had them about 8-10 inches apart.

[BendtheBar]

Congrats on the progress. Are you doing pullups (palms away) or chin ups (palms towards face)?

[mab54]

Chin ups are a slow beast, but they will take off soon just keep pushing it J.

[wesrman]

Upper/Lower is my fav.

GL with it.