Getting Back on the Wagon: A Lifting Journal

[xblitz44x]

I've had some time away from the weight room over the last year or so. I got married, and knocked my wife up soon after so things have been hectic. I've lifted during that time fairly consistently but made some mistakes and my goals were all over the place.

I went from a decent 405x3 ATF squat to 225x3.

Over the past month or so I've began the journey towards working back up to where I was. I'm in the middle of a single-factor 5x5'ish plan; one that I've had good success with in the past. My diet isn't squeeky clean, I'm more concerned with eating enough (and minimizing my drinking days).

After the baby is born I have no idea how I'm going to balance my time between family/a new job/and lifting. I created this journal because the board has been slow, and also so that I have a place to relieve some of the stress that goes along with being a young father/husband.

Disclaimer: I assure you that I love my wife regardless of the things I write in this journal.

 

[xblitz44x]

The weekend was looking to be a bit of a wash in the weight-lifting department. I was supposed to go at it on Saturday but wound up having too much to drink of Friday. I need to cut that back.

On Sunday I got the sudden urge to squat, and since it was on the schedule for Saturdays' (missed) work-out, squat I did. I did 8 sets of squats:

135x10
155x8
175x5
205x5
225x5
270x3
245x8
225x10

I finished it up with a few sets of power-shrugs.

225x8
245x8
275x8

More to follow...

 

[skullcrushin22]

Good Luck bro. Its always hard to get into the swing of things again but after a week or two your right back in it.

 

[xblitz44x]

I had the night off last night, even thought I had the urge to train. I also ate quite a bit:

Meal 1: 7:30 am
-3 eggs, 3 whites
-rye toast
-turkey bacon
-8 oz milk

Meal 2: 10:30 am
-1 quart of 1% milk
-3 teaspoons natural peanut butter

Meal 3: 12:30 pm
-Grilled chicken sandwich from Panera Bread

Meal 4: 4:00 pm
-Grilled chicken topped with crab meat
-Asparagus

Meal 5: 6:30 pm
-2 spicy tuna rolls
-1 spicy salmon roll

*What an incredible meal this was.

Meal 6: 10:30 pm
-8 oz milk
-3 scoops of natural peanut butter

Hitting the weights tonight and trying to make up for some light eating. My lovely wife is preparing hamburger helper with taco sauce, cheese, and crushed tortilla chips as we speak!

 

[xblitz44x]

Not a bad workout yesterday...

Flat Bench:
145x8
170x5
190x5
225x5
250x5

*So far so good. 255 for 3 reps shouldn't be too much of a problem tomorrow.

Row:
135x8
165x5
175x5
190x5
210x5


Seated Behind the Neck Press
105x8
115x8
135x8

*My shoulders felt a bit weird with these. I think I'm going to stick with a moderate weight and it for 3 sets, instead or ramping. Each week I'll increment slightly.

Chins:
Bodyweightx7
Bodyweightx7
Bodyweightx7

*I train at my brother's house and we have a chin bar between a doorway. I'd like to start chaining weight to myself but I don't want to destroy his house.


Diet was ok yesterday. I didn't eat quite as much as I've been but that's not always a bad thing.

Meal 1: 7:30 am
-Cheese omelet
-Turkey bacon
-8oz milk

Meal 2: 10:30 pm
-quart of 1% milk
-3 scoops natural peanut butter

Meal 3: 1:30 pm
-Low-fat cottage cheese

Meal 4: 2:45 pm
-Ham and cheese sandwich on rye bread

Meal 5: 5:45 pm
-Lean hamburger helper with cheese, rice, and tortilla chips

Meal 6: 8:30 pm
-16oz milk
-Met-RX shake

Meal 7: 11:00 pm
-8 oz milk
-3 scoops peanut butter