Feeling Undiminished, Blut Attempts Restoration

[blut wump]

Squat 20s - W1 D3

Once again I thought the 20-repper was going to be tough but no problems. I took a breather again at 15 but less than last time. Legs felt a little wobbly for the last rep. I was huffing like a steam train but the muscles felt ok within seconds of stopping.

Not much to say about floor press except that again it was harder than I expected. I have no idea how to compare floor press with bench for relative difficulty, though. I'd like to think my flat bench at this weight would be easier than these were. The two close-grip sets had my triceps complaining. I guess I should be saying something like "Wow, what a pump" but I really don't like the feeling.

The BBRow was easier than I expected especially since I couldn't be bothered taking the 15Kg plates off and putting the 20s on so the bar was lower than usual.

Overall, I'm not displeased with my first week back after a month-long layoff. I'm having a long weekend so I should be fresh for next week.

All weight in Kilos, +.5Kg unless just the bar.
Squats
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 80x3, 100x3, 80x20
Floor Press
20x10, 40x10, 60x5, 80x3, 90x5x5, Close Grip 62.5x10 for 2 sets
BB Row
20x10, 50x5, 60x5, 70x5, 80x5, 90x5

 

[Tweakle]

You need a bench, fo'real.. how did you get into position for the floor press?

 

[silver_shadow]

You need a bench, fo'real.. how did you get into position for the floor press?

yea, i was wondering the same thing - how do you get into position at home?

 

[blut wump]

I stacked 2x20Kg plates, a 15 and a 2.5 on the floor on each side and that left the bar just fractions below my bottoming-out point so I could lift off easily.

I don't mind doing floor press another two weeks while I'm doing these squats and getting back from the layoff. I still have a gym membership lasting until October so I'll be back at the gym soon enough. I might even get back to the gym after next week so I have a proper rack in case I need to dump the bar in the final week.

 

[solarclimax]

Nice improvisation, i imagine squatting 80 x 20 after 100 x 3 is tough especially for an old guy You think you can get 100 x 20 ?
I have just finished HST where i finished on 100 x 15 x 2 and it was both mentally and physically tough, but aftwards i felt good and that's what kept me going.

 

[blut wump]

Thanks, I think. No, the 100x3 felt light. It was just to go a little over.

I think I'll be fine up to 110Kg. I expect to get 120Kg. 130 and 140 will be a struggle.

Actually, now that you've gotten me thinking about the numbers, I'm wondering whether to fudge them down slightly:
Make this next week 90, 100, 107.5
Final week 115, 125, 135 or, maybe, 115, 122.5, 130.

I'm going to get booed now.

 

[Jim Ouini]

If you can get 120kg x 20 I will give you all my K.

Of course, you'll have to show me how to do that exactly.

 

[blut wump]

Squat 20s - W2 D1

I'm starting to enjoy the 20-rep squats. As I started the set, I could feel that 90Kg was heavier than last Thursday's 80Kg but the effort of repping didn't seem as great. I didn't pause until after rep 16 and I had neither wobbles nor particular discomfort through finishing. I think I might even have been gasping for air a little less.

The floor press is getting tough already and the last rep was a slow grind to lockout. If I haven't yet dragged myself back to the gym by next week then I'll only bump these by a small amount. My shiny new plates are sticking together less than they did and my two little piles of plates to raise the bar for lift-off were sliding around. I need a better solution.

The Pendlay Rows were fine. Just about right for a second week back into workouts. I never seem to have much to say about rows.

I was half expecting a cruddy workout due to the paucity of sleep from the trip to visit family but the vast amount of eating I did over the weekend probably carried me through. I tend to forget how much cooking my sister does and then, as soon as she suspects that the food might have settled, around come the pastries, ice creams, sweets (candies), fruits, offers of sandwiches just to tide me over to the next meal. A bowl of nuts for nibbling is always available. Luxury!

All weight in Kilos, +.5Kg unless just the bar. Last week in orange
Squats
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 80x3, 90x3, 60x20
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 85x3, 95x3, 70x20
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 80x3, 100x3, 80x20
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 85x3, 110x3, 90x20
Floor Press
20x10, 40x10, 60x5, 75x5, 85x5, 95x5, 105x5, Close Grip 60x10 for 2 sets
20x10, 40x8, 60x5, 75x5, 90x5, 100x5, 110x5, Close Grip 65x10 for 2 sets
BB Row
20x10, 60x5, 75x5x5
20x10, 60x5, 85x5x5

 

[solarclimax]

Good stuff with those squats, the 15's killed me i can imagine how tough those 20's are.

If you have just gotten a brand new bar i'm guessing it is coverd with that thin layer of greece, so you have to use those chunky collars to keep the plates from sliding around. I had to use my collars when i first got my bar but after a while the grease wears away and i don't use collars no more. (i'm 2 lazy to tighten and unfasten them)

If i remember rightly you have a power rack, if so then why not get a bench ? I'm sure you will find a good deal on ebay.

 

[blut wump]

The oily residue is slowly going away. The weights live outside in the stable which should speed the process as the dust gets blown around. The wind blowing through is doing a grand job of taking the pungent aroma from the rubber mats.

I only bought spring collars. They seem to be able to do the job. No rack yet. I went for a squat stand, thinking that I'd be happy with just that and some weights. I'm now wanting a power rack and a bench.

I was amazed at not keeling over on these. I think the 20-rep sets have been easier each time. I can feel that I'm squatting more weight but endurance must be increasing since I'm coping ever better with the set.