Andalite's PowerBuilding Journal Part 1

[Andalite]

hi everyone

i posted my injuries on here a while ago. incase y'all missed the thread, here is the link: http://www.bodybuilding.net/open-conversation/bye-bye-everyone-4518.html

now, i started my training today...

this is the basic routine outline. special thanks to Eric for guiding me once again. of course as a DISCLAIMER: everything here is mine and i have chosen what to do so no bashing Eric. not that he cant handle it, but i dont want it.

moving on, this is the program:

Monday - Heavy Day
Squats 5x5
Bench 5x5
Rows 5x5

Wednesday - Light Day
Squats 2-3x5 @ 75% of Monday
Military Press 3x5
Deadlift 1x5

Friday - Medium Day
Squats - work upto a heavy 5 rep set which may or may not be a PR
Bench - work upto a heavy 3 rep set which may or may not be a PR
Pull-Ups 3 sets to failure

this is the program..

i will officially begin this program come Monday the 15th of January.

i have not worked out for the last month and i am noticibly weaker than before. also, because of my shoulder injury my hand position on the squat needs to be worked on so as to have my elbows pointed straight down.

therefore, i plan on starting really light on squats and working my way up.

i hope by the end of 4 months i am able to reach where i used to be. i know the path before me is going to test my mental strength and my determination and with your help i hope i can achieve my goals.

peace

 

[Andalite]

Re: Andalite's Rehab Journal for Strength

Week 1 - Monday - HEAVY Day

The Basic Lifts:

Olympic Squats 5 x 5
TT --->>> 185 lbs

Flat Bench Press 5 x 5
TT --->>> 140 lbs

JS Rows 5 x 5
TT --->>> 135 lbs

TOTAL POUNDAGE
TT --->>> 11,500 lbs​

The Accessory Lifts:

Standing situps with lat machine
TT --->>> 40 lbs @ 5 x 15

Reverse Hyperextensions
TT --->>> 25 lbs @ 1 x 15​

Diet:

10:40 am --->>> BBQ Chicken
2:00 pm --->>> Sushi
4:00 pm --->>> 3 scoops weightgainer
6:30 pm --->>> 2 scoops whey (pre-workout)
8:00 pm --->>> 2 scoops weightgainer
9:00 pm --->>> grilled chicken sandwich w/ large fries + coke
11:30 pm --->>> salad​

Overall Impression:

good workout. felt pretty strong. woke up because of a nightmare last night at 5:30 am and i havent been able to sleep since. im gonna crash early tonight (that means before 2:00 am).

its like 28F out here and for someone like me who is used to Bombay's 85s this is FREEEZING cold...damn depressing really...

as for the workout: it was decent. im still new to the benching but i guess ill get better with practice. js rows were a little difficult but i think ill manage.

on the whole it was a good day - except for the nightmare​

 

[Andalite]

Re: Andalite's Rehab Journal for Strength

Week 1 - Wednesday - LIGHT Day

The Basic Lifts:

Olympic Squats 3 x 5
TT --->>> 145 lbs

Military Press 2 x 5, 1 x 10
TT --->>> 105 lbs , 65 lbs

Deadlifts 1 x 5
TT --->>> 225 lbs

TOTAL POUNDAGE
TT --->>> 5000 lbs​

The Accessory Lifts:

Plate Side Bends
TT --->>> 25 lbs per hand @ 2 sets x 15 reps

Sit-Ups
TT --->>> BW @ 2 sets x 25 reps

Flat Leg Raises
TT --->>> BW @ 1 set x 15 reps​

Diet:

10:40 am --->>> 1 scoop weightgainer + 1/2 hershey's chocolate (i couldnt resist)
2:00 pm --->>> HUGE amounts of nachos with cheese, black beans and jalapeneos
5:00 pm --->>> 1 scoops weightgainer (pre-workout) with banana
5:10 pm --->>> 3 BCAA pills
7:15 pm --->>> 2 sccops whey + 1 BCAA pill
8:00 pm --->>> sushi
9:30 pm --->>> sushi
11:30 pm --->>> salad​

Overall Impression:

im happy. it was a good workout. im glad im focussing more on abs and lower back. im also doing all my rehab work as planned and after my workout im doing stretches for quads, hams and back dc style. because of my shoulder i cant do fascia stretches for my chest so im doing dynamic stretches instead. i still need to get that approved by my doc because i forgot to ask her about the stretching so im a bit cautious with these at the moment...

as for the workout: im happy with squats. legs are sore, but 145 was not too difficult at all. military was a bit hard. probably because of my shoulder problem. deadlifts are ok. i know its a huge step down from 315, but i plan on increasing these by 20 lbs till i hit 315 after which the good old 5 lbs increments

good session i think​

 

[Andalite]

Re: Andalite's Rehab Journal for Strength

Week 1 - Friday - MEDIUM Day

The Basic Lifts:

Olympic Squats

Warm-Ups:
free-hand front squats: BW x 25
regular squats: barbell x 15, 135x5, 185x1, 225x1​

Work Sets:
245 lbs x 1 rep
265 lbs x 1 rep
275 lbs x 1 rep
185 lbs x 10 reps​

Flat Bench Press

Warm-Ups:
bar x 15
135 x 5
155 x 2

Work Sets:
185 lbs x 2 reps
165 lbs x 1 rep x 5 sets
135 lbs x 6 reps​

Pull-Ups 3 x failure
TT --->>> 5 + 4 + 3 = 12
LT --->>> 3 + 3 + 3 = 9

TOTAL POUNDAGE
TT --->>> 6615 lbs
LT --->>> 4400 lbs​

The Accessory Lifts:

Sit-Ups
TT --->>> BW @ 3 sets x 15 reps

Cable Pull-Throughs
TT --->>> 17.5 @ 1 sets x 15 reps

Reverse Hyperextensions
TT --->>> 25 lbs @ 1 set x 10 reps​

Diet:

9:40 am --->>> 1 scoop weightgainer + 1/2 hershey's chocolate (i couldnt resist again)
2:00 pm --->>> LOTS of chineese. my stomach was bloated.
5:15 pm --->>> 1 scoops weightgainer (pre-workout) with banana
5:45 pm --->>> 3 BCAA pills
7:15 pm --->>> 2 sccops whey + 1 BCAA pill
8:00 pm --->>> large chicken grilled sanwhich with lots of fries and coke​

Overall Impression:

ok today was a good session. my oly squats were fantastic and i am so damn happy to know that my strength is returning. 275 x 1 was a masterpiece. i wish my gym wasnt so crowdned with the frat boys and the football team that i could have taken a video...i met an interesting dude today (i knwo that sounds gay but ill explain later)

diet was ok....im just trying to eat as much as i economically can....my weight however has gone from 182 to 180...thats ok really...im just making an observation...im not here to bulk/cut on this program. i dont want to confuse goals: i am eating to lift heavy. period. what happens happens.

ok so i met this dude today at the gym.....ive seen him plenty of times before and we usually just nod to each other a hi...he's like 5'10 200+ lbs and im 5'7 @ 180...so yeah: he's massive compared to me....well, he was doing safey bar low box squats with 4 plates on each side (aka 425 lbs) for reps and i happened to notice because apart from him and me everyone was ebnch pressing with 135 lbs (yes thats why Trinity has a D3 football team) and i needed a spot for my bench....so i ask him to help me out coz he seems to know what he's doing....

ok so he walks over and helps me with the 185. then we begin talking (coz im a really friendsly guy - and thats not meant in a gay way) and i learn that he's been lifting for the last 9 years (he's 26 years old) and he just graduated with a degree in weightlifting/exercise (put some technically correct word here coz i don remember his exact words) and he's a certified powerlifting coach who works with UT SA....well, he asked me if i wanted any tips in bench pressing and i was like hell yeah coz my bench sucks balls.

so he gave me the following tips:
1.) lower back MUST be tight (i knew this one)
2.) he likes to press against the sides of the powercage while he's lying down so that his shoulder blades retract fully (i didnt know this part)
3.) when he grips the bar his goal is to pull it apart. this is difficult to explain i words but ill try. the deal is to push outwards while gripping the bar tight.
4.) not to descend after clearing it right away (i read this right now in kethnaab's rippetoe FAQ)

well, these tips were just great and i am so fucking happy that i have finally learnt how to bench correctly. so i used his princples and i did the 5 singles on the flat bench with 165...easy as hell....i could have easily pulled off a 3x5 with that weight but i refrained because i have no intention of increasing my poundage today and reduce it next week lol...

so i know this is anti-climatic for some of u who would have loved to rib me on this but bottom line is: i learnt how to bench press correctly and that is something pretty big for me considering i have a 1RM of less than 200 with a Deadlift 1rm of 365 and oly squat of 300.

oh, and after my workout i spoek to him for a few minutes on different techniqes and i took a shot in the dark and told him that by the looks of his exercise selection of today id say he was doing Westside...well, he laughed and said he was on Westside...so guys: i guess reading all those articles on www.westside-barbell.com finally paid off...

the only sad thing about this is that the whole fucking gym was so full today that i couldnt video tape my lifts...oh well, next week and those who will get the pm with the links know urselves so no probs there

peace​

 

[Andalite]

Re: Andalite's Rehab Journal for Strength

ok so i read Kethnaab's Guide to Novice Barbell Training - Starting Strength FAQ and i visited the Westside site and got some awesome info which i will be incorporating into my training:

Reverse Hyperextennsions

At Westside we do a lot of 45-degree reverse hyperextensions. This style hits dramatically not only the lower back but also the hamstrings. They are done very heavy on either squat day or max effort day for the squat and deadlift. Six to ten reps are performed. The number of sets depends on your level of physical preparedness. We do 2-6 reps.

We have been using the Reverse Hyper machine since 1975. It builds not only the lower back, but also the hamstrings and glutes. The real secret of this machine is that it tractions the vertebrae while you use it, so it builds strength and works as restoration at the same time. We do these at least four times a week; twice heavy and twice light. Chuck Vogelpohl and I use the Reverse Hyper machine heavy before and after squatting on Friday mornings. I do them light on Friday evening. This is repeated on Monday, max effort day. On Tuesday evening Eskil Thomasson and I do heavy again because they traction the back so you can do them repeatedly throughout the week. The reps range from 8 to 12 on heavy workouts and 15 to 30 on light workouts.

For the mid to the very lowest part of the back, the Reverse Hyperextension machine is far superior to any back exercise. Not only does it completely work the low back but it will rotate the sacrum. Also, on every rep when the plates are under your face, it opens the disks and allows spinal fluid to enter, thus providing restoration in addition to strength building.

Back Raises or Hyperextensions

These are done on a special bench where the feet are anchored and the torso is supported while lying face down. Lower the upper body until your head is close to the floor. Then raise up to parallel, but no higher, to avoid hyperextending the back. The reps are 3-8. Work up to a new max set whenever possible. The 1968 Olympic weight lifting champ Waldemar Bazanowski was able to do 225 for 4 reps, so get to work.

Abs

The Side Bend
In my opinion the side bend is the most important exercise for the abs. The obliques not only work as stabilizers but are responsible for hip extension when lifting of the floor or out of the bottom of the squat. You must learn to push the abs out, expanding them against your power belt. Side bends with a dumbbell at a time; bend to the side and return to a standing position.

Standing situps with lat machine
Hold a tricep strap around the back of the neck with the two ends held against the chest while facing away from the machine. Now bend over as far as possible while pushing out the abs. Most lifters are very weak when first attempting this exercise, but be patient. The weight will go up and so will your squat and deadlift.

 

[al420]

Re: Andalite's Rehab Journal for Strength

Is Eric related to Bill Star?

 

[Andalite]

Re: Andalite's Rehab Journal for Strength

Is Eric related to Bill Star?

not that i know of

 

[al420]

Re: Andalite's Rehab Journal for Strength

Funny, it is his program that "Eric" came up with.

 

[Andalite]

Re: Andalite's Rehab Journal for Strength

Funny, it is his program that "Eric" came up with.

1.) no eric did not come up with the program. i did. i used him for some helpful advice.

2.) the book i used to design this program is practical programming.

3.) i post on over 14 boards. i know who bill starr is. this is a program similar to his yes, but it is not his. it somewhere between the intermediate and advanced version.

bro, i am not plagerizing or giving wrong credit to anyone in any way. i am not robbing bill starr or madcow of their glory. i used the principles outlined in mark's new book (which i recommend to everyone who wants to become strong) and designed this program taking advice from my friend eric. eric can be found on bb.net if u choose to contact him and he has been running the 5x5 plan for the last 3 years of his life.

i apologize if i came across as a bit strong or rude as a result of which u were sarcastic. im sorry.

 

[SgtSlaughter]

Re: Andalite's Rehab Journal for Strength

cool man. I like your layout of the program, simple... it'll get the job done.

One thing, if I may question or maybe make you think about more... the 15 and 25 rep crunches... You are training squats low reps, for strength, ect. Why not work abs in the same way? 8-10 reps, and add weight? Just a thought.

I fucked my lower back up by not strength training abs while I did the 5x5, so I'm particulary an advocate of ab strength now as you can imagine.