The Beast's Training Journal!

[cwick0]

GET BETTER GOD DAMN IT!

Im curious as to what the hell is hurting your upper spine, i havent heard a lot of those, always lumbar.

Anyways, MORE PRs tonight.

BENCH PR, HIGHEST REP TOTAL EVER!

flat barbell:
135x20
225x10
275x6
315x6
365x6
405x6
455x3
315x20 (cool down, i think this may be a PR too)

incline dbs:
100x10
120x10
120x8

pushups: 1 set of 30, real shitty after last weeks set of 50.

 

[JohnnyCoho]

ThanX alot brother!! Alot of fuckin inspiration!! Do you still feel constant pain and discomfort? I havent done those beast lifts in a while. Leaning back with 730lbs always felt dangerous. The addiction grabbed hold of me though. Are the disks still bulging? Always thought disk damage was permanent. I may not have the benefit of going to someone for rehab. What did you do to rehab your back? ThanX again for all the feedback and inspiration!! KILL THAT SHIT!!

Beast, no, I no longer feel the constant pain or discomfort I once did. (every now and then though I do feel muscle fatigue in my back)

What I have I is called "Chronic Degenerative Disc Disease" which basically means I have a back of an old man. When MRI was originally done my Orthopedic Surgeon had up on the wall My MRI, The MRI of a healthy 36 year old's and one of a 75-80 yr old man. On the healthy 36 yr olds you could see good spacing and the fluid between the discs. Mine looked like the old mans and looked black where fluid should be and vertibrae were very close together. Not pretty, herinated discs, bulging discs and very little fluid in the discs. I wasn't about to let it beat me!!! I was gonna KILL THAT SHIT!!! (Trust me & InTraining when we tell ya, Ya dont wanna have shots in yer spine!!!)

Only meds I was taking, after having and epideral and a series of steroid shots in my spine was two Aleeve a day as prescribed by the Doc. They did help some with pain and discomfort.

I started slow working with a physical therapist who introduced me to the Swiss Ball. Like you I couldn't afford the physical therapist twice a week and set out on my own. Bought myself a Swiss Ball (probably one of the best investments I've ever made in my life) and some books on working out with a Swiss Ball and building back up my core. (Thought I originally had a strong core,...NOT... been a Wrestler most of my life and always kept in shape) The Swiss Ball humbled me quite a bit. When I started I couldn't even bend over far enough to get just below my knees. After working with the Swiss Ball on flexibility and building my core back up my back was feeling a ton better with very little pain. Core is rock solid now!!

Doc told me that since this is a degenerative disease that eventually my muscles will be what is supporting my back; So once my core was strong and the pain and discomfort had subsided I set out to build my muscles back up. After a ton of research went and bought myself some "Jump Stretch Power Bands" and worked with them for awhile and slowly worked myself into weights. Got into a Westside Routine for quite awhile.

Now I'm in the best shape of my life!! Doc never thought I'd be able to Squat or Deadlift but as ya saw a few weeks ago I set new PR's for myself in both and will be shooting for that 500lb Deadlfit soon.

Back problems will always be there for me and the gym is not just an addiction now, its a way of life. KEY IS TO LIFT SMART!!! And it cant be said enough, FORM IS EVERYTHING!!! Currently I'm on an HST program and feelin great and current goal is to see just wat my genetic limits are and to see how big I can get naturally. After that I'll most likely go back on a modified Westside type routine for good,..and for over-all general health.

WHOAAAA,...dam that was long,..sorry Brotha!! KEEP KILLIN THAT SHIT,...JUST DO IT SMART!!!

 

[WalkingBeast]

12-11-04 Saturday Biceps,Lower Back and COC Gripper PR

Was good to get in the gym and do something today. I just did some seated biceps work to keep stress off my upper and lower back. Still have some pain in those areas. So I have to work around it for now. I had some decent strength. Fucked around with the grippers afterwards a little too. KILL THAT SHIT!!:


Biceps:

Alternating Dumbbell Curls:

35x15 (warm-up)

Seated Alternating Dumbbell Curls:

45x15
55x10
55x13
60x10
50x10

Dumbbell Hammer Curls: (Lots of shooting pain from rear delt area, so stopped)

45x15

Double Biceps Style Cable Curls:

70 (per side)x15
90x15
100x15
110x11
120x4

Lower Back:

Hyper Extentions:

BWx15
45x15 (45lb plate at arm's length)
90x15 (2 45's)
135x15 (3 45's)
160x12 (3 45's and 1 25lb plate)

COC Grippers:

Did a few sets throughout the day. Hit a PR on the #1 COC with 30 reps in my right hand. Only got the #2 for 3 reps.

 

[WalkingBeast]

GET BETTER GOD DAMN IT!

Im curious as to what the hell is hurting your upper spine, i havent heard a lot of those, always lumbar.

Anyways, MORE PRs tonight.

BENCH PR, HIGHEST REP TOTAL EVER!

flat barbell:
135x20
225x10
275x6
315x6
365x6
405x6
455x3
315x20 (cool down, i think this may be a PR too)

incline dbs:
100x10
120x10
120x8

pushups: 1 set of 30, real shitty after last weeks set of 50.

Awesome shhit!! FUCKING strong!! Good to see you suck at push-ups too. My best is 60 and thats fresh. Cant do a 1000 like that old fuck on TV. But I can press my hands through his chest and rip out the fuckers spine!! KEEP KILLING THAT SHIT!!

 

[WalkingBeast]

Beast, no, I no longer feel the constant pain or discomfort I once did. (every now and then though I do feel muscle fatigue in my back)

What I have I is called "Chronic Degenerative Disc Disease" which basically means I have a back of an old man. When MRI was originally done my Orthopedic Surgeon had up on the wall My MRI, The MRI of a healthy 36 year old's and one of a 75-80 yr old man. On the healthy 36 yr olds you could see good spacing and the fluid between the discs. Mine looked like the old mans and looked black where fluid should be and vertibrae were very close together. Not pretty, herinated discs, bulging discs and very little fluid in the discs. I wasn't about to let it beat me!!! I was gonna KILL THAT SHIT!!! (Trust me & InTraining when we tell ya, Ya dont wanna have shots in yer spine!!!)

Only meds I was taking, after having and epideral and a series of steroid shots in my spine was two Aleeve a day as prescribed by the Doc. They did help some with pain and discomfort.

I started slow working with a physical therapist who introduced me to the Swiss Ball. Like you I couldn't afford the physical therapist twice a week and set out on my own. Bought myself a Swiss Ball (probably one of the best investments I've ever made in my life) and some books on working out with a Swiss Ball and building back up my core. (Thought I originally had a strong core,...NOT... been a Wrestler most of my life and always kept in shape) The Swiss Ball humbled me quite a bit. When I started I couldn't even bend over far enough to get just below my knees. After working with the Swiss Ball on flexibility and building my core back up my back was feeling a ton better with very little pain. Core is rock solid now!!

Doc told me that since this is a degenerative disease that eventually my muscles will be what is supporting my back; So once my core was strong and the pain and discomfort had subsided I set out to build my muscles back up. After a ton of research went and bought myself some "Jump Stretch Power Bands" and worked with them for awhile and slowly worked myself into weights. Got into a Westside Routine for quite awhile.

Now I'm in the best shape of my life!! Doc never thought I'd be able to Squat or Deadlift but as ya saw a few weeks ago I set new PR's for myself in both and will be shooting for that 500lb Deadlfit soon.

Back problems will always be there for me and the gym is not just an addiction now, its a way of life. KEY IS TO LIFT SMART!!! And it cant be said enough, FORM IS EVERYTHING!!! Currently I'm on an HST program and feelin great and current goal is to see just wat my genetic limits are and to see how big I can get naturally. After that I'll most likely go back on a modified Westside type routine for good,..and for over-all general health.

WHOAAAA,...dam that was long,..sorry Brotha!! KEEP KILLIN THAT SHIT,...JUST DO IT SMART!!!

ThanX for all the feedback brother!! Much appreciated!! Good to know there may be a way out of this! Thats an awesome fucking recovery brother! Is a pinched nerve fixable? Might be what I have. I wont know until I get the MRI. Im hoping its nothing major. I may have to PM you with some questions once I get an idea of whats going on. Trying to exercise some constraint! KEEP KILLING THAT SHIT!!

 

[Ulcasterdropout]

315x20

nice!

 

[WalkingBeast]

12-12-04 Sunday Chest and Lower Back (COC #1 Gripper PR. TRAINED THAT SHIT!!)


Was going to skip chest this week, but ended up doing some light low volume benching. Still having pain in my upper spine area, and lower back as well. I only went up to 315 today. All sets too failure, technique wasnt as ballistic as usual. Strength wasnt too bad considering. I hit a worthless PR with 300lbs also, since Ive never done it more then 8 times. That exact weight. Ive done 315 for 10 reps. Volume was low also. Should be getting some tests done shortly on my back. Heres the routine:

(199lbs on gym scale after 2 meals and some water) (one "Speed Stack")

Flat Bench:

135x20
225x12 (warm-ups)
275x14.5
315x7.5 (spotter touched one of the reps without my consent!)
315x5.75
300x9.5 (1.5 rep PR, only on this weight, Ive done 315x10)
250x15

Seated Machine Flies:

150x15
195x15
225x9

Hyper Extentions:

15
15
15


COC Gripper #1:

31 reps in right hand. (one rep PR)

 

[TRUEsoldier]

awesome shit beast, hopefully they just say your back is tight and a lil time off will be good for ya, and then you can get back to kiling shit again!!!

Peace

 

[cwick0]

Once again it's chest day...

flat bench:
135x20
225x10
315x6
365x6
405x6
455x4 (1 rep PR)
cooldown
315x21 (1 rep PR)

incline dbs:
100x10
120x10

pushups:
1x40

tricep pushdowns:
120x10
150x10
180x10

A decent workoug but nothing great.

 

[Allon]

Hey Beast, haven't checked your journal for a while but all seems as normal here, you bouncing around incredible weights with stupendous amount of reps!

Anyway, first of all I am sorry to hear about your back, I thought you had overcome it.

In my experience bulging disks can be fixed almost completely.

I must hand it to JohnnyCoho with his amazing post, great advice there. I have a bulging disk myself and once I thought I would never overcome it but I have.
Physiotherapy can really help. Basically, what I found was that the best thing for me was to stretch the muscles lightly, and regain flexibility and to stimulate the muscle and nerves in that area in as many ways as possible.
However, when working out that back, which is what helped me, I had to be carefull and never pull max weight around. A few easy sets of 8-12 reps per exersize, is what works best. 3 exersizes for the back. For me cable seated rows + pulldowns + easy deadlifts are the trick. Never get to the point where my back feels pumped like my other muscles can.
I think you are at a point where your brute strength is so high that you can easily lift weights that maybe you shouldn't be lifting for the back. Like for instance your back muscles may not be as strong as your lifts but your overall strength is letting you shift the weight anyhow... this can cause major damage. So maybe do deads but lift half the weight you can for 2 sets of 6 reps, just to stimulate the muscles.

I don't know if you feel pain apart from when working out, but if you do then whenever I feel the pain coming on during the day I will try to flex the muscle in that area, it really helps.
Also, now this may sound strange, but I scratch the area around the pain, the whole area around it for a few good minutes, this causes a reaction in the nerve and it really tingles but after doing this I feel a lot better.
Anyway, I hope you recover soon, JohnnyCoHo really gave some great advice there so I am just adding in my advice from my experience.

Keep killing that shit man!!! (and take it easy on the back )