First cycle log and meet prep

Great work That first pull was good for 600+. Really good speed off the floor. It looked like you got a little forward on 585 trying to get it moving a bit too quickly and were just a little off balance after that. You did a good job grinding it out to lockout.

Congrats on the PR's all week. Training looks very solid.

Thanks! Based on how 570x2 looked and felt I should have gotten 585x2. Still being new to it I guess I'm just not consistent with sumo form yet.

Very happy with this training cycle. I borrowed heavily from several programs and pieced them together, but I think it's went very well.
 
Mostly a light pump and stretching day today besides heavy weighted chin ups.

Weight was 231
Warmed up to do some light leg press, but didn't like how my knee felt, so did 3x15 hamstring curls instead. I think I used 40.
In between sets I did some hamstring stretches with bands.
Arnold press 50's 3x10
Did some shoulder mobility work in between, shout out to @RodgerThat and @Masters Power for the ideas on that.
Weighted chin ups bodyweight plus 35 5x7
Lying dumbbell triceps extensions 30 3x15
Hammer curls 35's 5x10
Face pulls 60 3x15
Fifteen minutes of stationary bicycle
 
I think I've pretty well got my training for the next month planned out all the way to the meet. I've filled in what I believe the weights used will be, but of course that might go up or down as time goes on. I may end up feeling like a massive beast or may have a bad week, you never really know. Any thoughts, critique or suggestions welcome.

Tuesday 12/22
Squat 3x6 330
Bench press 3x6 295
Sumo deadlift 3x6 475
Two count paused bench press 5x3 275 (haven't done these in awhile, may need to adjust the weight)
Chest supported rows 3x10-15
Standing cable crunches 3x10

Thursday 12/24
Squat 4x4 345
Two count paused squats 5x3 315 (haven't done these in awhile, may need to adjust weight)
Bench press 4x4 315
Close grip bench press 3x8 255
Chin ups 3x13
Neutral grip lat pull downs 3x10-15
Hammer curls 5x10

Saturday 12/26
Squat with wraps 435 2x2
Paused bench press 330 2x2
Sumo deadlift 540 2x2
Chest supported rows 3x10-15
Standing cable crunches 3x10

Sunday 12/27
Stretches
Dumbbell overhead press 75's 3x10
Weighted chin ups +40 5x7
Lying dumbbell triceps extensions 3x10-15
Hammer curls 5x10
Face pulls 3x15

Tuesday 12/29
Squat 3x6 340
Bench press 3x6 300
Sumo deadlift 3x6 485
Three count count paused bench press 5x3 275
Chest supported rows 3x10-15
Standing cable crunches 3x10

Thursday 12/31
Squat 4x4 355
Three count paused squats 5x3 315
Bench press 4x4 320
Close grip bench press 3x8 260
Chin ups 3x14
Neutral grip lat pull downs 3x10-15
Hammer curls 5x10

Saturday 1/2
Squat with wraps 435 5x2+
Paused bench press 330 5x2+
Sumo deadlift 540 5x2+
Chest supported rows 3x10-15
Standing cable crunches 3x10

Sunday 1/3
Stretches
Dumbbell overhead press 75's 3x10
Weighted chin ups +40 5x7
Lying dumbbell triceps extensions 3x10-15
Hammer curls 5x10
Face pulls 3x15

Tuesday 1/5
Squat 3x5 360
Bench press 3x5 315
Sumo deadlift 3x5 510

Thursday 1/7
Squat 4x3 375
Bench press 4x3 330
Chin ups 3x15
Neutral grip lat pull downs 3x10-15

Saturday 1/9
Squat with wraps x2 @RPE 9
Paused bench press x2 @RPE 9
Sumo deadlift x2 @RPE 9
Will be based on the plus sets from the previous week. Ideally will be 475, 345 and 565 to be on track for my goals.

Sunday 1/10
Just stretches and recovery work

Tuesday 1/12
Not sure here, probably a bunch of light singles at 50-70%, stretches and recovery work

Thursday 1/14
More light singles, closer to 50-60%, stretches and recovery work

Saturday 1/16
Meet day
Hopefully will nail 500, 365 and 600. After my last bench session I've decided to shoot for 365 rather than 350.
 
Last edited:
After watching your videos, theres no doubt in my mind that you'll hit those number, would t be surprised if you exceed them.
Looking strong brother !!!!

Thanks, brother! Everything's falling into place nicely, the meet should be PR city.

Your first attempts are the only ones you have to turn in ahead of time, second and third attempts you get to decide right after the previous one. I won't get too greedy though, I'd like to go 9/9 this year and get a 500+ squat and 600+ deadlift on the books
 
Quick couple updates before tonight's training:

First, starting today I'm adding 25mg/day of dbol up until the meet. May increase to 50mg/day after a couple weeks, may not. Just depends how it goes. I wanted it to be a full month, it's going to be a couple days less than one, but I'm going with it to keep the gains coming strong.

Second, I've added ghrp-6 as of last Friday at 150mcg 3x/day to help with eating more. May be placebo, but I've been eating more and my weight is up so I'll take it.

Third, I'll be moving close grip bench to Saturday from Thursday. Thursday I lift after work and doing double squat and bench will just take too long. Also, I'm thinking of doing just a standard press rather than dumbbell press on Sundays. Minor details.

Today's session:

Weight was 233lbs today, up a lot from last week. All the eating is paying off.

Squat 3x6 330
Bench press 3x6 295
Sumo deadlift 3x6 475
Two count paused bench press 5x3 275
Chest supported rows 3x15
Standing cable crunches 3x10
Fifteen minutes of cardio

My heart rate was higher than usual on the cardio. Usually is 140's, today was high 150's right away going at a slower pace. I don't know if it's the dbol or just all in my mind. Will have to monitor blood pressure closely to be on the safe side.
 
Might be the dbol it did that for me too but it's okay cause then you just lower the speed on cardio to hit desired heart rate (if that's how you are doing your cardio) I keep my HR at 135-140 for cardio

Ps I want your bench stats so bad your repping my max for 6!
 
Might be the dbol it did that for me too but it's okay cause then you just lower the speed on cardio to hit desired heart rate (if that's how you are doing your cardio) I keep my HR at 135-140 for cardio

Yeah, that's exactly what I do, too. I shoot for 135-145. I couldn't get it down today though while keeping a decent pace. It stayed about 150.
 
Yeah, that's exactly what I do, too. I shoot for 135-145. I couldn't get it down today though while keeping a decent pace. It stayed about 150.

Smart man too many people push too hard for cardio. If you have good dbol 25mg might be a lot so your body is getting use to it. Keep an eye on it.
 
Smart man too many people push too hard for cardio. If you have good dbol 25mg might be a lot so your body is getting use to it. Keep an eye on it.

Definitely will. I'm prone to anxiety, overanalyzing and a little hypochondria at times, so I'm very capable of getting my pulse and blood pressure elevated just thinking about it anyway. I'll probably be good to go in a day or so.
 
Blood pressure was 121/83 last night before bed. So far, so good.

Left shoulder has been feeling achy since the gym yesterday though. I took some ibuprofen and extra fish oil and I'll do some stretches when I can at work today. Four day weekend after today, so I'll hit the gym first thing in the morning tomorrow.
 
Blood pressure was 121/83 last night before bed. So far, so good.

Left shoulder has been feeling achy since the gym yesterday though. I took some ibuprofen and extra fish oil and I'll do some stretches when I can at work today. Four day weekend after today, so I'll hit the gym first thing in the morning tomorrow.

Does the fish oil actually help? And do you take it on a case by case basis or is it an every day thing?
 
Does the fish oil actually help? And do you take it on a case by case basis or is it an every day thing?

I've been taking it daily for quite awhile. I usually take 4-5 grams a day. As far as how much it helps I can't really say for sure, too many different variables between since I've been taking it and before I did, you know? Stretches, foam rolling, more weight now, but better form, etc. For how cheap it is it's worth it to me that it might. Only a like $6 for 200 pills. For serious aches taking more for a few days along with ibuprofen seems to make it get better faster than without though, even more so with icing and heat. I try to avoid ibuprofen when I can though.
 
One thing I forgot to include in this is nutrition. I'll give a quick summary. Right now I'm aiming for 6000 calories a day. I think most days I'm just under or just over that. I used a tracker app for a year, so I'm pretty good with what's in the stuff I eat regularly. If not I'll check labels and do quick math.

I have four meals a day, I go for 1000+ calories on the first three, the last one is more like 500-700. I also drink three shakes a day at around 750 calories each. I take two to work for mid morning and mid afternoon and the third is for post workout or with my fourth meal on off days.

First and fourth meal are pretty much always the same. Breakfast is an omelet made with four eggs, cheese, diced jalapenos, green peppers, onions and mushrooms. Also some diced potatoes on the side, a banana, a large glass of water, a glass of milk and a glass of tea. I also keep a bunch of the big tubs of Greek yogurt and I put down as much as possible after eating the other stuff. This meal does evolve and change over time, when I get tired of it I'll make little changes.

Lunch at work I usually have some kind of wrap. Chicken, tuna and egg, lunchmeat, something. Sometimes lean turkey tacos if I've got meat left over from other stuff. Sometimes just leftovers from dinner. Sometimes just a random assortment of all these things. I always eat a couple servings of frozen, mixed vegetables, a banana and a glass of milk and water with this meal. I keep Greek yogurt here and eat it at the end just like breakfast.

Third meal is different because that's the one I eat with my girlfriend and her daughters. This meal varies. I usually have the vegetables with it and always a banana or apple and the milk. If I feel I'm off the mark of calories or protein I'll drink an extra glass of milk or have Greek yogurt.

Fourth meal is always plain Greek yogurt, I put some grapes in it for flavor and about a serving and a half of Bear Naked granola on top. With milk comes out to about 50g protein.

The three shakes I blend up in the morning. 24oz of milk, three scoops of vanilla whey, one cup of oatmeal, four tablespoons of olive oil, handful of kale, a few pieces of celery, a chunk of ginger, a banana, two apples. Sometimes peanut butter, but not all the time because it makes it hard to get down. I switch the fruit up from time to time as well for variety.

On non workdays I'll drink the shake in two servings instead of three, everything else is about the same.

I think that about covers it for now.
 
I'm still at the gym in between sets, but my right knee started giving out warming up with 135 on squat. I guess I'm taking today and maybe Saturday off squats and hopefully I can pull through until after the meet. I'm afraid I'll be push/pull in the future with the way my right knee is. Will update later.
 
Weight today was 235, definitely up big time there.

Five minute cardio warm-up
Did the bar and then 135 and my knee gave out on squats. Sucks this close to the meet.
Bench press 315 4x4
Close-grip bench press 255 3x8
Chin ups 13, 13, 11 (I tell myself it's because my weight is up that I missed two on the last set)
Neutral-grip lat pull downs 150 3x10
Hammer curls 30's 5x10
Fifteen minutes on stationary bicycle

Bench felt okay today, first set I feel I could have done about six reps with 315. Chin ups are a PR for being as heavy as I am. Weight is moving up again which is nice. Hopefully my knee will get better, if not I'll still do push/pull.
 
Last edited:
id give squats a rest for a week or two then re-access the situation. solid session there! keep your head up and forward!

when you do cardio is it always on the bike?
 
id give squats a rest for a week or two then re-access the situation. solid session there! keep your head up and forward!

when you do cardio is it always on the bike?

Thanks and I guess I'll have to. Sucks being under a month out though. Still, with the way 455x2 looked the other day I'm not far off from 500 as it is. I could still pull this off barring more injuries.

Yeah, I prefer the low impact because of the knee thing. Elliptical and the stair stepper don't bother it, but I'll admit it's a bit of laziness that makes me choose the bicycle over them. Plus I'm already worn out from the lifting most of the time.
 
I'm still at the gym in between sets, but my right knee started giving out warming up with 135 on squat. I guess I'm taking today and maybe Saturday off squats and hopefully I can pull through until after the meet. I'm afraid I'll be push/pull in the future with the way my right knee is. Will update later.
Smart man!!!! Every bad injury ive had started with me ignoring pain that was out of the norm.
 
Back
Top