strength gains

[pose_n_flex]

Whats up guys. Pretty new here still. I took about 5 months off from lifting last year and have just got back into a pretty good routine again. Been lifting hard again for about 3 months now. Seeing some good increases in strength and size. I've got a cycle coming up I want to do but i was just wondering if its to soon to start or am I good at 3 months in?

 

[AnimalMass]

Well, I only think you should use gear when...

1) you've trained consistantly for 2+ years (unless you've been an experienced gear user already and are coming back from an injury).

2) Are at least 21.

3) You can squat double bodyweight ass to ankles, and bench 1.5 times your bodyweight.

Matt

 

[pose_n_flex]

I've got all that covered. I've trained for 3 years now,am 24,and powerlift. My bench was at 320,squat 455,and dead 350. Yeah dead is weak but I need to work on grip strength. Bodyweight right now is at 138. So what do you think,go for it or hold off another month?

 

[AnimalMass]

Woah, woah woah. Several things jump out at me big time...

1) Do you bench 320 raw at 138? If so, that's a great bench! (If it's in a shirt, what do you bench raw?

2) There is no way in hell you squat 455 and deadlift 350. Not unless you are giving squat numbers in a suit as well. What do you squat raw ass to ankles? No one squats more raw ass to ankles then they pull. It's not possible.

BTW, I'm not making fun of gear. I'm an elite level powerlifter myself. But I bench 600 in a shirt, and 400 raw. Big difference.

3) Unless you are a "little person" or are missing all four of your limbs you have absolutely no business taking steroids at a bodyweight of 138. I didn't even know 138 was possible for a human male.

AM

 

[Bob Smith]

3) Unless you are a "little person" or are missing all four of your limbs you have absolutely no business taking steroids at a bodyweight of 138. I didn't even know 138 was possible for a human male.

LMAO!! Thats gotta be the quote of the month!

 

[pose_n_flex]

Actually I am a short dude or little person if you want to call it that....4'5" to be exact. Help to explain my grip strength? I'm 138 but after my last cycle I was at 152. As for those numbers the bench is raw. I've used a shirt but I don't think its the right size,just doesn't feel right when its on. And this will be my 3rd cycle once I'm on it.

 

[TheBigE]

The first thing I would do to increase grip strength would be to lose your wrist wraps. Far too many lifters over rely on this apparatus causing grip imbalance. I had a buddy with 18" forearms and he got me into grip. We used farmers carry, grip machines, heavy deads, hanging from a chin up bar, carrying 100lb plates by their edges, and heavy wrist curls. Just the other day I almost closed the #3 gripper which is something like 300 some odd pounds, and I can hold onto a barbell loaded to 965lb's for 15 seconds. I accomplished all of this by abandoning my wraps 2 or 3 years ago and doing these various grip excercises.

 

[pose_n_flex]

Yeah I know my wraps have been holding me back so I've been ditching them more and more but my grip is still not where it needs to be. I have been thinking about farmers carry as a part of my routine too.

 

[MANWHORE]

have absolutely no business taking steroids at a bodyweight of 138. I didn't even know 138 was possible for a human male.

AM[/QUOTE] I say at a bodyweight of 138 you have all the business in the world taking Anabolics... I say double the dose while your at it Just kidding... I was 135lbs in bootcamp at a height of 5' 8 1/2" but i was in the best shap of my life. I could have climbed up a mountain with Grizzly on my back
What the hell am i doing up so damn late. late? that doesn't look right. i need sleep. Sorry to intrude on your post dude. goodluck with the training. 320lbs at 138? Damn! I can just picture him walking back into the gym after his layoff with all the new guys looking at him like Hey,look at the little guy until he throws 280 on the bar and asks one of them to spot him on his warmup set

 

[AnimalMass]

Well, don't I feel like a jackass. In all honesty man, I have trained or trained with lots of athletes over the years, and only haven limited experience with one little person. He's just a kid (18-19) and squats a ton (like 500 the first time he ever tried a parallel box squat).

I know that the typical strength numbers we use to see whether a guy is ready or not for the leap won't hold for your bodystyle. What I would do is couple things...

1) Post your training split, weights and reps used, and goals (be it for strength, size, both) - make sure to note when you are using a shirt or suit. Also, for squats, not whether you are squatting ass to ankles, on a parallel box, etc. And for deadlifts, whether you are pulling sumo or conventional.

2) I would try to hunt down Markus Schick as well as some other guys with your same body type in powerlifting. Serveral are very successful and will be able to give you some tips, if nothing else.

I'll give any input I can when I see your training split.

Matt

 

[rob3412]

this guys full of bs lol

 

[pose_n_flex]

Rob can get down on his hands and knees and blow me for all I care lol. Short enough for you? I've heard of Marcus Schick,didn't he hold the record for bench at one point and the dudes only like 5'0 or something. Yeah I'll get my routine up here tonight after I hit legs. I always go raw on training so the only time I use a suit or shirt is usually the week of the contest.

 

[MANWHORE]

this guys full of bs lol

Why would he lie? A 4ft person has much less arm length which means less space to travel in the bench,so why couldn't he bench 320

 

[pose_n_flex]

Quick leg workout tonight. Gym closed at 9 so only had 45 minutes to get it in and it usually takes an hour and a half. So I dropped leg press and SLDL for tonight.

BB Squat
135 x 15 warmup
245 x 10
275 x 8
295 x 6
315 x 4
335 x 4

Hack Squat
315 x 10
335 x 8
345 x 6
365 x 4

DB Lunges
3 sets w/ 40s
Should I count each lunge or just that I went from one end of the room to the other?

Standing Smith Calf Raises
135 x 20
155 x 18
185 x 15
205 x 12

Thats it,pretty short routine tonight but I kept up the intensity and gave myself only about a minute rest between sets.

 

[pose_n_flex]

Ok so took the weekend off but I'm back at it again Monday. Hoping some of you guys could give me some ideas of how to cycle what I've got. I'm looking at doing an 8 week cycle of what I've got: Test Pro 100 20 mL,Sauce 325 10 mL,and Deca 400 10 mL. Any ideas?