No I have done it before. I said I felt like it helped my deadlift go from 415 to 585. It really helps build your upper back for the deadlift. I personally like it but some people don't so I posted it in case he wanted to try it out.
MESO-Rx
Anabolic Steroids
A cry for help... and my powerlifting log
- Thread starter BigBaldBeardGuy
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No I have done it before. I said I felt like it helped my deadlift go from 415 to 585. It really helps build your upper back for the deadlift. I personally like it but some people don't so I posted it in case he wanted to try it out.
Sworder
Member
Ah okay, you don't have problems breathing while doing it?
I can't do those types of rows with a pad on my chest, if I am going to do it I will use one arm at a time.
No. If you move forward a little so your face is past the bench it helps a lot. If your face is pressing into the bench it is hard to breathe. I also do the one arm DB rows you mention and they are a good exercise. It is just a matter of personal preference I think.
I have a bench only competition in March so I’m building that up right now. Did 5 weeks of Smolov Jr. to focus on it. That’s the primary reason, the other is my IT band is feeling aggravated so I’m trying to let that get back to normal.
But when I start Sheiko I’ll do all three lifts. I’ll probably do the Advanced High Load or Medium Load. I’ve previously alternated back and forth between Sheiko #31 and #33 (off the top of my head).
Then 5 or 6 weeks out from the bench competition I’ll probably hop back to Smolov Jr. We’ll see. It’ll be my first competition so I’m really looking forward to it and I’m really enjoying benchpress right now.
NovaFlex
Well-known Member
I used to despise benching. But after getting my form down and learning the intricacies, I’ve come to really enjoy it as well.
Ok... ok... I’ve been absent WAY to long. I was focused on my benchpress meet. I felt great going into it, shoulders, elbows, everything was solid.
8 weeks solid prep on Test E at 500 and Test prop at 600 for 1100 mg/week of testosterone. Final 2 weeks I lowered test prop to 400 (900 mg/week testosterone) and added 250 mg/week of Tren Ace and 75 mg/day anadrol.
I learned a lot from peaking though. Primarily, I started too early. Looking back, I probably peaked 3 1/2 weeks before the meet. The training numbers looked great, volume was way up for the right amount of time, but the accumulated fatigue got to me too soon.
I was running a program my buddy recommended. It’s Russian and written by some guy named Mauravyov. There’s an app for it so it made it easy. I was in love with it but I got to a point where I KILLED a workout, moving good weight that I never did before, feeling great and strong. Then next workout, two days later totally bonked out. Waited 3 days to repeat, same result. So tried a deload week, which worked but I never got back to that same level again during the final 3 weeks of prep. I took one week off right before the meet. I feel like I had detrained slightly during those final 3 weeks.
Meet day: I took too much caffeine (150 mgs and 25 mg of DMAA). Dumb. I was shaky and jittery and couldn’t tell nervous excitement from caffeine. Literally vibrating in place while I waited.
Made weight. Then had to wait about 2 hours. I also took 100 mg of anadrol about an hour and half before my flight.
Warmups for a meet are slightly different than warmups during training. I did A LOT less at the meet to conserve strength/energy and that seemed to work fine.
Opened with 395 which moved fast. Good opening selection for a first meet. It flew.
2nd lift DQ’d at 415 because I spaced out and didn’t wait for the “press” command. I got it but it was touch and go. Imma retard.
I was planning for 430 for a 3rd lift but I took it conservative and elected to repeat the 415.
3rd lift got 415 cleanly. 3 white lights.
Finished with first place in my weight and age division (I turned 45 the week before the meet). Not bad but the two other guys in my weight/age weren’t even close to me.
I learned A LOT. I will be working a lot more paused lifts into my training now. I’m also going to go more explosive during training with anything less than 80% of my max. My sticking point is almost exactly the midpoint. I might start using chains again too. Lastly, stims are highly over-rated. I feel I would have done much better without them.
There’s also a lot of strong muthafuckers out there. Dude 5 years younger than me at my same weight opened with 500, pressed it easy. Did 535 pretty easy. And missed on 550. God damn. Granted, he was fucking purple from start to the finish of the meet. I gotta find out what these guys take but it’s not like I can just walk up and ask them directly. I need my tiny Irish friend with the gift of gab to start competing. That ain’t going to happen though.
Anyone that hasn’t done a competition. DO IT. It was a little surreal, I was too focused to enjoy it in the moment but grabbing lunch with my wife on the way home, I just uncontrollably started smiling. It was that much fun. Highly recommend it to anyone. I’ll be doing more in the future.
8 weeks solid prep on Test E at 500 and Test prop at 600 for 1100 mg/week of testosterone. Final 2 weeks I lowered test prop to 400 (900 mg/week testosterone) and added 250 mg/week of Tren Ace and 75 mg/day anadrol.
I learned a lot from peaking though. Primarily, I started too early. Looking back, I probably peaked 3 1/2 weeks before the meet. The training numbers looked great, volume was way up for the right amount of time, but the accumulated fatigue got to me too soon.
I was running a program my buddy recommended. It’s Russian and written by some guy named Mauravyov. There’s an app for it so it made it easy. I was in love with it but I got to a point where I KILLED a workout, moving good weight that I never did before, feeling great and strong. Then next workout, two days later totally bonked out. Waited 3 days to repeat, same result. So tried a deload week, which worked but I never got back to that same level again during the final 3 weeks of prep. I took one week off right before the meet. I feel like I had detrained slightly during those final 3 weeks.
Meet day: I took too much caffeine (150 mgs and 25 mg of DMAA). Dumb. I was shaky and jittery and couldn’t tell nervous excitement from caffeine. Literally vibrating in place while I waited.
Made weight. Then had to wait about 2 hours. I also took 100 mg of anadrol about an hour and half before my flight.
Warmups for a meet are slightly different than warmups during training. I did A LOT less at the meet to conserve strength/energy and that seemed to work fine.
Opened with 395 which moved fast. Good opening selection for a first meet. It flew.
2nd lift DQ’d at 415 because I spaced out and didn’t wait for the “press” command. I got it but it was touch and go. Imma retard.
I was planning for 430 for a 3rd lift but I took it conservative and elected to repeat the 415.
3rd lift got 415 cleanly. 3 white lights.
Finished with first place in my weight and age division (I turned 45 the week before the meet). Not bad but the two other guys in my weight/age weren’t even close to me.
I learned A LOT. I will be working a lot more paused lifts into my training now. I’m also going to go more explosive during training with anything less than 80% of my max. My sticking point is almost exactly the midpoint. I might start using chains again too. Lastly, stims are highly over-rated. I feel I would have done much better without them.
There’s also a lot of strong muthafuckers out there. Dude 5 years younger than me at my same weight opened with 500, pressed it easy. Did 535 pretty easy. And missed on 550. God damn. Granted, he was fucking purple from start to the finish of the meet. I gotta find out what these guys take but it’s not like I can just walk up and ask them directly. I need my tiny Irish friend with the gift of gab to start competing. That ain’t going to happen though.
Anyone that hasn’t done a competition. DO IT. It was a little surreal, I was too focused to enjoy it in the moment but grabbing lunch with my wife on the way home, I just uncontrollably started smiling. It was that much fun. Highly recommend it to anyone. I’ll be doing more in the future.
Oldschool
Member
Congratulations bro. Nice numbers too man.
Congrats on being top dog in your division, and your experience will help you do even better at future meets. Keep fighting the good fight!
Worf
Elite
What’s your training frequency and programming for bench look like now. I had a similar experience before my meet about a month out. I lowered frequency From 3x a week to e5d and increased intensity. I stalled out quick within about 9 days my bench was fuckin trash. I took the volume/ frequency back up. Put speed work back in and played with some higher rep accessories and was fine at the meet.
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Perrin Aybara
Master
Congrats!
I agree with fuck stims, I don't see how anyone could have a good workout all jittery. 1-2 cups of black coffee or a small can of Red Bull is plenty for lifting purposes. Peaking is fickle bitch too.
I agree with fuck stims, I don't see how anyone could have a good workout all jittery. 1-2 cups of black coffee or a small can of Red Bull is plenty for lifting purposes. Peaking is fickle bitch too.
NovaFlex
Well-known Member
Congrats bro. That’s awesome. I’m trying to work out my benching right now too. I wanna hit at least 335-350 this year.
I jammed myself. Since it was bench only and on a decent cycle I was doing it EOD so some weeks were 3x and other weeks were 4x. For 8 weeks. [emoji2369] I know. I know. I wanted to kill it though.
I’m going with twice a week frequency right now. I might do another bench only meet in mid-June but not sure. Definitely doing a full meet in August though.
I got some work to do. I’ve been deadlifting with straps for about 2 years since I strained a bicep bad. So need to get the grip back or learn a hook grip [emoji51] My squat should be ok though. I’ve taken off from that for a while (PR was 525) and I was able to do 485 pretty easy.
I’ve just really been enjoying bench press this past year.
Worf
Elite
I like dropping caffeine back 3-4 weeks out from the meet to re sensitize the body/cns. I’ve had pretty good luck in my peaks just from following the basic guidelines. Last heavy deadlift-18-21 days out, last heavy squat 10-14 days out, last heavy Bench 7-10 days out. Meet week deload and just do busy work at the gym, no lifting 2 days prior to meet.
Perrin Aybara
Master
I do the same with caffeine except I drop it two weeks out. Then I drink a small, sugar free Red Bull before my first deadlift attempt.
Thanks.
Dude, when it clicks for you, it’ll takeoff. A few years ago I was stuck at 315-330 for a long while and thought that was all I had. It was frustrating. Then as my technique improved and I was able to put the cues together without thinking, it shot up to where it is now in about a 2 year period.
Caffeine is hit or miss. I’ve had some amazing workouts that I attribute to it and I’ve had shitty ones also because of it. When it’s GOOD I feel like a god. Unfortunately this one wasn’t so good so lesson learned. No place for it on meet day. I need to be relaxed to focus rather than amped and like a squirrel.
NovaFlex
Well-known Member
That gives me hope. It makes sense also, because that’s exactly how my deadlift came together.
LeoTC
Member
Right on, nothing to scoff at with that kind if performance.
Did you run through mock meets prior to competition? If not, I'd recommend it. Definitely helps with the spacing out, warming up and staying warm, etc.
Did you run through mock meets prior to competition? If not, I'd recommend it. Definitely helps with the spacing out, warming up and staying warm, etc.
No mock meets. This was my first powerlifting competition of any kind so although I kind of knew what to expect from talking to my friend, it was still a lot to take in and learn from. It’s addictive though.
I also had my wife get a video of my lifts as well as the top lifters so I’m able to review all that. It was something watching the one dude warm up with a set of 5 at 405 lbs. [emoji2956]
Perrin Aybara
Master
It's humbling seeing true monsters warming up with your max and more like that. My last meet the biggest guy there was casually warming up with 700+ on deadlift and opened with 765-775lbs.
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