Ruckin's dbol/test/eq log

[ruckin]

Sorry for all the typos in that last post. I'm embarassed


So I feel like this log is getting pretty boring. Probably because I haven't hit any PRs in almost a month, which is pretty pathetic imo. So, I'm gonna spice things up a little and take 80 mg of tne before I lift tomorrow. Gonna put it in with the 1.2 cc eq and 1 cc test I usually pin to make it an even 3 cc total. So hopefully I'll have something interesting to report about that.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

We all have ups and downs. Might as well make the most of the end of your cycle though.

 

[ruckin]

We all have ups and downs. Might as well make the most of the end of your cycle though.

Yeah you're right. The first 14ish weeks couldn't have gone much better, so I guess a sub-par 4 weeks isn't the end of the world. I'm just about back up to my strength levels pre-vacation too, so I have high expectations for these last few weeks.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

TNE pre workout results?

 

[ruckin]

I didn't "feel" anything from the tne this time either. I took 80 mg. kinda disappointed. I guess I'll try 100 next time.

power clean: 225x1x6
Push press: 260x5x4
Paused parallel Squat: 380x5x4
Bench: 295x8,7,5 this pissed me off a lot
Deadlift: 495x5
Chins: BW (forgot to weigh myself) x6,1,0 (rp)


This was a meh workout. It was weird, I just didn't feel good or strong at all, but I hit all my goal numbers on everything... Except bench. I have no idea what went wrong on bench. I did have to do it at a different gym than I usually go to, but I certainly can't blame 4 missed reps on that.

Edit: this was yesterday's workout

 

[Perrin Aybara]

That's disappointing. I'm toying with the idea of picking up some TNE for PR attempts next cycle.

Push press still looking monstrous.

 

[ruckin]

That's disappointing. I'm toying with the idea of picking up some TNE for PR attempts next cycle.

Push press still looking monstrous.

Thank you, I'm glad at least that's still progressing somehow.

Maybe 100 mg is the magic number that I need to take to notice an effect. I might try it tomorrow or if not then another day this coming week. I have over 8 ml of it left so I might as well use it.

 

[ruckin]

It just occurred to me that just maybe I've simply squeezed about all I'm going to get out of my current program. Even the best programs out there don't work forever. I'm gonna keep at it for a few more workouts and if I keep having sub-par results, I'll be switching to low-volume bill starr-type training. I ran his 5x5 a few years ago when I was natty and had great results, so I strongly believe in that type of training.

Here's what I'm thinking for if/when I switch (feel free everyone to critique and provide constructive criticism):

full body 3 days/wk (as if I do anything else lol)

workout A:
squat: ramp up to 1 top 5-8 rep set
push press: same
deadlift: same
incline bench: ramp up to 1 top 6-10 rep set (slightly higher reps seem to be better for my elbows on bench/incline bench)
chins: ramp up to 1 top 6-10 rep set

workout B:
power clean: ramp up to a weight I can do 3-5 clean singles with
squat: ramp up to 1 top 5-8 rep set
push press: same
bench press: ramp up to 1 top 6-10 rep set
chins: ramp up to 1 top 6-10 rep set

I'll do my best to limit myself to RPE 9 on every top set, and as for progression, I'll just add reps when I can and when I reach the top end of the rep range I listed for whatever exercise, I'll add weight and go back down to the lower end of that rep range. The two workouts will be alternated back and forth.


obviously this isn't the bill starr 5x5. I'm just utilizing his ideas to program for my specific sport/needs.

any input is greatly appreciated!

Edit: once I transition into my cruise, I'll switch to a more intermediate-type of system.

 

[Perrin Aybara]

I don't know, at this level volume is crucial. I would think the next step would be employing periodization, more volume at lower intensities, adding an extra day and splitting one of the days up, prioritising different lifts on different days, etc. Is that what you mean by intermediate system?

How much time do you have left on your cycle?

 

[ruckin]

I don't know, at this level volume is crucial. I would think the next step would be employing periodization, more volume at lower intensities, adding an extra day and splitting one of the days up, prioritising different lifts on different days, etc. Is that what you mean by intermediate system?

How much time do you have left on your cycle?

My last pin is this friday so a little under 2 weeks, and then the few weeks it will take for the eq to ween down.

I know that volume is important, but I've been doing this high volume for 19 weeks now. Also, once I'm just cruising, I obviously won't be able to recover as well from this high of a workload that I'm currently doing, hence the thought to change to a low volume approach.

By an intermediate approach I'm refering more to the bill starr 5x5 program the way it's written, rotating through a heavy, light and medium day each week.

 

[ruckin]

Push press: 260x5x4
Paused parallel Squat: 315x5x2 (left knee hurts a tiny bit)
Incline press: 245x8x3
Deadlift: - (bottom tip of right lat is still hurting)
Chin ups: 280x8,1,1 (rp)


So as you all can see, upper body stuff went well, squats and deads did not. I don't know what to do, this is so frustrating... I mean for fuck sake I just took 10 days completely off from lifting 2 weeks ago. I don't understand how I'm accumulating these little nagging injuries already. Fuck me.

Edit: and now that I'm apparently at 280, i'm now frustrated at how weak I am for my weight. This whole last month has just sucked.

 

[RodgerThat]

Consider trying a couple days of just mobility work and stretching? Maybe it can alleviate some issues. Or yoga... Plus I'd want to see a man of your stature do yoga lol

 

[ruckin]

Consider trying a couple days of just mobility work and stretching? Maybe it can alleviate some issues. Or yoga... Plus I'd want to see a man of your stature do yoga lol

Lol I wouldn't mind doing yoga but I feel like just straight up stretching and mobility work is much more time efficient. Correct me if I'm wrong please.

Yeah I was thinking maybe I need a short 2-workout deload, but I don't want to just because of the long 10 day break I just finished. I don't get how I could need a deload already... Idk...

 

[RodgerThat]

Lol I wouldn't mind doing yoga but I feel like just straight up stretching and mobility work is much more time efficient. Correct me if I'm wrong please.

Yeah I was thinking maybe I need a short 2-workout deload, but I don't want to just because of the long 10 day break I just finished. I don't get how I could need a deload already... Idk...

Yoga is different then just stretching and mobility and it's usually movements you probably don't do in your stretching routine so could learn something. Stretching and mobility is just as addiquate but just different. sometimes the lifting gods just throw shit at you and make you do Deloads when you just don't want to. 2 workouts ain't too bad to take off though. I know the end of your blast is near and you want to take full advantage but 4 good workouts is better then 6 workouts where you can't do some of it

 

[Seven]

Yoga is different then just stretching and mobility and it's usually movements you probably don't do in your stretching routine so could learn something. Stretching and mobility is just as addiquate but just different. sometimes the lifting gods just throw shit at you and make you do Deloads when you just don't want to. 2 workouts ain't too bad to take off though. I know the end of your blast is near and you want to take full advantage but 4 good workouts is better then 6 workouts where you can't do some of it

You got me wanting to try yoga. [emoji15] [emoji23]

 

[Seven]

Push press: 260x5x4
Paused parallel Squat: 315x5x2 (left knee hurts a tiny bit)
Incline press: 245x8x3
Deadlift: - (bottom tip of right lat is still hurting)
Chin ups: 280x8,1,1 (rp)


So as you all can see, upper body stuff went well, squats and deads did not. I don't know what to do, this is so frustrating... I mean for fuck sake I just took 10 days completely off from lifting 2 weeks ago. I don't understand how I'm accumulating these little nagging injuries already. Fuck me.

Edit: and now that I'm apparently at 280, i'm now frustrated at how weak I am for my weight. This whole last month has just sucked.

Suck it up!!! [emoji34]

 

[ruckin]

@RodgerThat yeah you're probably right man, I just want to make the most out of a shitty situation that I don't understand why I'm in in the first place.

edit:

@Seven Dog makes a good point also

 

[Seven]

I'm not trying to be rude....are you carrying too much weight?? I don't recall you weighing this much before, correct me if I'm wrong.

Could be time to donate again as well.

 

[ruckin]

I'm not trying to be rude....are you carrying too much weight?? I don't recall you weighing this much before, correct me if I'm wrong.

Could be time to donate again as well.

not rude at all brother. Yeah maybe I am a little too fat right now. I'm gonna start cutting in a month and I'll be looking to lose 15-20 lbs and then I'll be starting the tren after that so I'm hoping to become much leaner over the next few months.

Also I ate a ton of food last night so that's why I was so heavy today, but even on a normal day I'm usually around 275 or so in the gym.

edit: Also I just donated a week ago.

 

[ruckin]

Easy, short deload workout tonight. I decided to make a small change from my usual deload protocol though and do power cleans at my normal workload. I figure I'm pulling less than half of my deadlift max so 6 singles isn't taxing at all, and I could use the power clean work. I did 245x1x6 and all 6 felt very good. It made me very confident in moving up 5 lbs to 250 for next week.