From Fatass to Badass - A Journal of Change

[Big_Turtle]

You should not be failing a lift in week 2 of a 5x5, the goals of starrs 5x5 is making small progress each week, he recommends 2.5% increase to the lifts. Your 5 rep max when you started the program on day 1 shouldnt have even happened until week 3.

That's what was called for on the spreadsheet. I blame myself for that, really. I wasn't feeling very good and my focus was nowhere near the gym.

 

[Big_Turtle]

Turtle,on that fireman's carry I think you'd do a lot better using a sandbag. You can make one using an army/navy bag. It'd be more realistic as it would be similar to the action of carrying a human, irregularly shaped with the weight moving around as you carry it. This technique is common in strongman training because their feats require lifting and moving unusual objects. Another way you could do it would be to use a beer keg half-filled with water. As the water sloshes around you have to build balance and strength in your stabilizing muscle while you are carrying the object forward.
Same with the hose. Go to the hardware store and get some chains. Same principle.
I know some gyms are fussy about this stuff but they might cut you a break if you tell them you're training to be a fireman. You can always work outside on 'Cardio' days.
There's a short article I like over at elitefts.com called Blue Collar Strongman Training. It's a no b.s. approach to this type of training w/o using alot of specialized equipment. You may not want to use the entire program but it'll give you some ideas you can use. Here's the link:
http://www.elitefts.com/documents/blue_collar.htm

Great suggestions, thanks. I hadn't even thought of using a bag with sand like that, but it would definitely be more realistic. Thanks for the link, too. I am thinking of working outside on cardio days when I'm working on the fireman training. My apt. complex has a nice stretch of parking lot that isn't used too often, so I may measure off some distances and work out there.

 

[Big_Turtle]

Today felt great. I put in a half hour on the stair master yesterday, which really kicked my ass, but I woke up feeling pretty good.

Week 2 Day 3

Squat
135 x 5
175 x 5
205 x 5
225 x 5
245 x 3
185 x 8

Bench
75 x 5
135 x 5
155 x 5
185 x 5
215 x 4 (1 to grow on )
155 x 8

Row
75 x 5
105 x 5
135 x 5
155 x 5
185 x 3
135 x 8

Everything went well today. Solid, heavy (for me) lifts.

 

[SquirrelGirl]

Big Turtle...You're my HERO!!! Smashed up green Turtlemobile and all!

 

[ZGzaZ]

That's what was called for on the spreadsheet. I blame myself for that, really. I wasn't feeling very good and my focus was nowhere near the gym.

You must have just estimated your 5 rep maxes then? and not actually tested them? I don't see how you could fail on 2.5% below your 5RM unless this was the case.

 

[Big_Turtle]

You must have just estimated your 5 rep maxes then? and not actually tested them? I don't see how you could fail on 2.5% below your 5RM unless this was the case.

No, actually before I started the 5x5 program I did a 1 rep max of 315. I put that in the spreadsheet and changed the rep range to 1, just like it says to. Like I said, I wasn't feeling good physically, and I wasn't really into the lift mentally. I beat myself more than the weight beat me. My sinuses were giving me a lot of trouble that morning and all I really wanted to do was go home and rest for a while before I had to go to work.

 

[Big_Turtle]

Another 30 butt whipping minutes on the stairmaster this morning. Something like 2.15 miles. Not too bad for a fat guy. I really thought I was going to puke after about 25 minutes or so. And my stomach was pretty upset for a solid half hour afterwards too. Gotta love tough workouts.

 

[Big_Turtle]

Current Stats

Weight: 372 lbs, down 14 pounds
Bodyfat percentage: 36.4%, down by 1.4%
Bodyfat pounds: 135.5 lbs, down 10.5 lbs
Lean Body Mass: 236.5, down by 3.5 lbs

Not bad, overall, I guess. Wish I hadn't lost the LBM, but it's really not too surprising. I think I may not be getting enough protein in my daily diet. I'm going to head over to fitday or something like it and see if I can figure out a rough idea of what I'm getting each day as far as protein, carbs, and fat are concerned.

 

[Big_Turtle]

Week 3 Day 1

Squats
5 x 135
5 x 165
5 x 205
5 x 225
5 x 255

Felt good. Heavy, but good.


Bench
5 x 105
5 x 135
5 x 165
5 x 195
5 x 225

Came sooo close to not getting the last rep on the last set. I honestly thought I was gonna get stapled. Somehow, it rose.

Rows
5 x 105
5 x 125
5 x 145
5 x 165
5 x 185

Always fun.


My energy levels were rock bottom for this workout. My wife and I usually go fairly late on Saturdays when we workout, but this time was the latest and I can't wait this late again. Normally, we go around 10 p.m., this time we didn't get over there until midnight, and then I sort of acted like a personal trainer and helped her through her workout with the weights. I didn't start my lifts until almost 1 a.m. Definitely not going to do this again. Never before have I actually felt sleepy while doing squats.

 

[Big_Turtle]

Week 3 Day 2

Squats
5 x 105
5 x 145
5 x 185
5 x 185

No prob. Went slow, stayed in the hole for about two to three seconds, ATF as always.

Military Press
5 x 60
5 x 75
5 x 95
5 x 110

These actually felt easier than last week.

Deadlift
5 x 145
5 x 185
5 x 225
5 x 275 YEAH!!!

I have to admit, after missing before with the 265, I was a little nervous before I started lifting. But the first set, as you should expect, felt extremely light. The second felt good. By the end of the third set I knew that I had this. After the last set I felt so pumped that I wanted to slap another twenty pounds on and do another set. F-ing A!!!!