The Beast's Training Journal!

[WalkingBeast]

Beast, without reading the entire thread, it sure seems like you blast the shit out of your chest - going to a max - almost every workout. When's the last time you took a week off? Not sure if you are training natural or not but that routine and workload can sure get you into a stalemate quickly. Have you been consistently gaining or is 335 x 1 old news for you?

And where are the squats man? haha

ThanX for the feedback brother!! Yes, I give full intensity and effort each session. That means testing myself to the maximum on each set. A few days off did me good when I was at my peak in strength. Maybe 4-5 days on occasion. Ever since the injury in december though, I need to put in all the work and effort I can, otherwise my work goes to shit. Its unfortunate, but I lose my chest size and strength VERY quickly. Even when I rest, I always have to hit chest atleast once a week just to maintain the strength and size level. Id still consider myself natural as far as steroids go. I just started this M1T supplement and not sure how powerful it really is, though Ive heard great results from it, on the boards. 335 is very old news for me haha. Even on my weakest days I can always get 335. Weakest days when Im at this general strength level anyway. When I got off the injury 335 took some time to get back too. Not as long as I expected though. I never have a problem hitting 335 even at the end of my bench workouts. 350 is never a threat either, even towards the end. I usually jump up to atleast 360 when Im messing around with the one rep max, after my main workout is already done on the bench anyway. My gains are never really consistent, especially these days. They come in jumps it seems. Out of nowhere a lot of times. I was squatting the last few weeks, but that movement is very unnatural for me. I get clicking in my tailbone even with 135lbs, if I try to go to bench depth. So I can only get a few inches above the bench. Im more of a deadlifter these days. I may be focusing more on some intense leg presses on the machines for a while along with heavy leg extentions and some hamstring and calf work. Im always looking for the what works best for me, and squats dont seem to be on that list right now. ThanX again brother!!

 

[WalkingBeast]

I also thought of this. Beast, I am pretty sure from your posts that you will NOT like this idea but maybe you need a week off. then come back and start off with high reps lower weight.... Just an idea but I think the rest and deconditioning will suit you at the point you are at. Maybe try something like HST. Also, the training you do is high volume like GVT and I know with GVT 8 weeks max is recommended before going back to something less hardcore otherwise injury as well as a platue are around the corner.
I know you are used to this training so maybe you are not a high risk but in any case, there is a point where resting is the best way to progress.

ThanX for the suggestions brother!! I addressed a similiar suggestion in response to BBU's post. A few days off will probabally do me some good when Im in peak condition again. That might take some time. Alot of its mental, but Ill have a good idea when Im in that strong mode again. haha I think Im "deconditioned" enough at the moment. The injury gave me plenty of "deconditioning" time. Im not one to adopt an entire routine. What I do is take parts of routines that make sense to me and incorporate them into my total routine. Im not familiar with HST, though Ive heard plenty about it on the boards. I dont believe in magic routines or anything like that though. So I dont really seek specific routines out. I liked some of the principles of the 5X5, so I used the progression as a small part of my chest routine to regain my strength. It seems the 5X5 wont bring me much farther though, as my chest is still flat and I believe my old routine (free-for-all instinct training) was better for my chest overall. The 5X5 gave me good satisfaction though and kept me from getting depressed over being so weak after the injury. It gave me goals. But now I feel its time to go back to the old routine for a little while and feel it out. Keep in mind Im still not training at any one consistent gym. Im in 3 different gyms at the moment, since my old gym closed down to expand. Three gyms Im totally unaccustomed to. Changing benches and bars, ALWAYS throws me off. Eventually Ill have access to one consistent bench again, but until then things wont be perfect. Never is, but atleast its consistent. haha 8 weeks? Its been 9 years!! But I see what your saying. I just keep perservering and pushing myself and eventually I start to see results. They accumulate over the years, but it takes alot of time. I agree with the rest though. Im sure Ill know when its time. My body lets me know! Possibly in the next 6 months to a year from now. ThanX again for the suggestions!

 

[WalkingBeast]

7-16-04 Friday Legs, Calves and Lower Back

Was still sore from last leg workout it seems. Energy levels were very low. I decided to do some squat presses on a Cybex machine as the main exercise for legs today. I may or may not resume squatting since it never feels right for me. Lower back/tailbone area starts clicking with 135 when I try to go down to bench depth. Seems Im better built for deadlifting. Im sure I can get good growth in any heavy leg press aslong as I give good intensity and hit it hard. (Im writing this the next day, and it didnt get me sore AT ALL. My legs need to be torn to shit, to get ANY soreness it seems) Heres the routine:

Leg Extentions:

90x15
150x15
190x15
190x15

Cybex Squat Press (plate loaded): (Tried to get good depth on each rep) (PL = 45lb Plates)

4 PLx20
6 PLx20
8 PLx20
10 PLx20
12 PLx20
16 PLx30
18 PLx30
20 PLx9 (900lbs in plates, plus machine)

Leg Curl Machine: (hamstrings were still sore)

90x15
130x8
110x12

Leg Extentions:

150x15
210x15
250x15

Calves:

Seated Calf Raises:

90x20
90x20
90x20
90x20

Rotary Calf Machine:

150x15
210x15
270x15

Lower Back:

Hyper Extentions:

15
45x15
90x15 (2 45's at arm's length)

 

[WalkingBeast]

7-18-04 Sunday Upper Chest,Speed Bench, Shoulders and Triceps

I did some more strict inclines again today. Back is basically flat against the bench and bench is also different then Im used to. I definately had to cut the weight and reps down, but still managed 315 for close to 3 reps, and 275 for nearly 8. Definately feel it though. Its more shoulders and upper chest then the way I usually do them. I had to cut triceps short since the gym closed earlier then expected. Heres the routine:

Strict Incline Press:

135x20
225x12
275x7.5
315x2.5
315x2
275x7.5
225x12

Speed Bench: (30 seconds rest between sets, done as quickly and explosively as possible)

160x3
160x3
160x3
160x3
160x3
160x3
160x3
160x3
160x3
160x3

Cable Flies:

70 (per side)x15
90x15
100x15
110x15
120x11

Cybex Plate Loaded Incline Press:

90x(warm-up, lost count)
180x15
270x15
360x9
410x4.5

Shoulders

Cybex Plate Loaded Shoulder Press:

90x15
180x15
230x8
200x11

Dumbell Lateral Raise Dropset: (No rest between sets)

40x15
30x15
20x15

Cable Laterals:

50x15
60x15
60x15

Triceps:

Rope Pressdown:

70x15
90x15
110x15
120x15
130x15

V-Bar Pressdown:

130x15
140x15
160x15
170x9
160x12

Then gym closed.

 

[WalkingBeast]

7-19-04 Monday Back,Abs and Lower Back

I got a decent workout today, but the deadlift portion of the routine was shit. Adjusting to the new power racks is definately throwing me off. It was also my first time deadlifting in a month. I usually start on the rack, max out, then go back to the floor and the weight is much lighter. I couldnt get the adjustment right at all. I started on the floor, but it wasnt feeling right for some reason. Ill be in this transition phase for a while until I get a stable gym. I did hit a PR with the dumbell rows, 150'sx30 on each arm. Still need to find a way to add weight to those dumbells, without buying a specialized pair. Heres the routine:


Deadlifts:

135x15
225x12
315x1
*********
20 wide-grip chin-ups
*********
405x1
455x1
495 (fail)
********
15 wide-grip chin-ups
********
495 (fail)

Partial Deadlifts: (Set at 3 notches from the bottom, I believe...Didnt feel right at all. Higher then I usually pull also.)

405x1 (Then ditched them)

Dumbell Rows: (On each arm)

150'sx30 (PR by 3-5 reps)
150x23
150x17

*********
13 wide-grip chin-ups
*********

Lat Pulldowns:

165x15
195x15
255x15
300x10

CybeX Eagle Row (pin loaded):

130x15
170x15
210x12

Cybex Eagle Incline Pull (pin loaded):

130x15
170x15
210x15

Abs:

Kneeling Rope Crunches:

190x15
190x15
190x15
190x15

Lower Back:

Hyper Extentions:

15
15
15

 

[Tweakle]

serious rowing

thats a lot of chins too! your back must be getting hooj bro

 

[cwick0]

Hey buddy,
Did 315 for 5x5 on incline again yesterday. I wanted to go up, but hadnt trained in 3 days, plus i was off a day with chest. Next week i might try and nail 335, we shall see.

 

[WalkingBeast]

serious rowing

thats a lot of chins too! your back must be getting hooj bro

haha ThanX brother!! Your my FUCKING inspiration on those deads now!! Amazing lift!! Looking HUGE as fuck too!! Honored to post with you!! KILL that shit!!

 

[WalkingBeast]

Hey buddy,
Did 315 for 5x5 on incline again yesterday. I wanted to go up, but hadnt trained in 3 days, plus i was off a day with chest. Next week i might try and nail 335, we shall see.

Awesome brother!! A 20lb jump, FUCKING nice!! KILL that shit!! My inclines are going to be real strict for a little while I think. I like the change, its a challenge. Keep me updated!!

 

[cwick0]

come on walking...you know me well enough that i am not going up 5 or 10lbs at a time, a minimum of 20lbs on any large muscle, especially chest.
ive done 335 in the past for 6, but number 6 was a little shaky. However, after destroying flat for the past 3 or 4 weeks, i should be able to handle it.