Week of September 9th

So I thought I had updated this more recently, but apparently not. I'll try to catch up...

9/9

Deadlift
135 x 5
225 x 3
315 x 1
345 x 5
370 x 5

Deficit Deadlift
315 x 3
325 x 3
335 x 3

DB Row
60 x 8
70 x 8 x 2

Up 10 lbs, so progress continues. I was hoping for a bigger jump, but I'm still happy with that. Managed to have extra time for more assistance so that was good. A ton of people in the gym today though so I had to share the platform...

9/11

Bench Press
Bar x 8 x 2
95 x 5
115 x 3
135 x 1
155 x 5
165 x 5
170 x 4

Bench w/ Green band
125 x 3
135 x 3
145 x 1

Laying DB Skull Crushers
25 x 8 x 3

Sore as hell today from Monday still. Also tried narrowing the grip a bit, which I think helped somewhat. Still missed that 5th rep, but it was barely a fail. I think I was just spent on that last set of banded bench though as it felt way harder than it should have.

9/13 AM

Seated Shoulder Press
Bar x 8 x 2
75 x 3
95 x 1
115 x 5
120 x 5
125 x 5

Bench Press
95 x 8
115 x 10
135 x 10

Face Pulls
50 x 10
60 x 10 x 2

Inverted Rows on Rings
BW x 8 x 3

Hammer Curls (for the gunz yo!)
30 x 8 x 3

9/13 PM

Squat
Bar x 8 x 2
135 x 5
225 x 2
255 x 5
285 x 5
295 x 5

Box Squats
225 x 3
245 x 3

GHD
BW x 10 x 2

Up 20 lbs from last round of 5s. Shoulder press earlier in the day was up as well, so good progress all around. Hoping I can get the bench moving again next week!

Week of August 26th

A bit late on the update here, but I was gone all last week. The trip to California was fun and it was great to see family. It definitely felt good to come home to the Pacific Northwest though. There's nothing else like it. Prior to that, it was a great lifting week with PRs all around!

8/26

Deadlift
135 x 5
225 x 3
275 x 2
325 x 1
395 x 1
425 x 1 (20# PR)
440 x f
440 x 1 (35# PR)

T-Bar Row
45 x 8
90 x 8
115 x 8

Not quite 450, but I'll take it! So the first attempt I was stuck just shy of lockout. Coach told me to tip my head up once I got past my knees to help get the hips through. Second attempt I started to get stuck at about the same place, but tipped my head up. Didn't quite feel like my shoulders were back all the way, but everyone yelled to lock my knees, so I did and finished the lift. Must have been holding it for a good 4-5 seconds before lockout though.

8/28

Bench Press
Bar x 8 x 2
95 x 5
115 x 2
135 x 1
165 x 1
185 x 1
195 x 1 (10# PR)
200 x f

Pause Bench
175 x 2 x 2

A bit of progress, so I'm happy with that. 200 got stuck in my usual spot (2 boards), so I've just got to keep hammering that.

8/30

Squat
Bar x 8 x 2
135 x 5
225 x 2
265 x 1
295 x 1
325 x 1 (11 # PR)
340 x 1 (26# PR)
350 x 1 (36# PR)

Pause Squat
275 x 3 x 2

And done! Great week of PRs. Brings my gym total up to 985 which is more than 100lbs up from at the meet!

I'm hoping progress continues at this pace. I realize that eventually it will slow down, but I feel like I'm on a roll. I really want to get my bench up before December's meet though as that has been lagging much farther behind. With these new numbers though I'm setting my sights on a 500 lb deadlift and a 400 lb squat. A lot of work ahead of me.

In other vegan news, Patrik Baboumian set the world record for the yoke carry at 550 kg. Incredibly impressive and that will put him in the Guinness Book of World Records. A great day for vegans everywhere!