Posts Tagged ‘Lifting Straps’

Week: 4

Date: Wednesday 7/13/16

Time: 10:45 am

Location: Heavy Hammer Gym
         
Training Partner: None

Working Sets:

Front Squat – 220x2x1/fail, 10/10 reps, 0 rating

Block Pull - 400x2x1/fail, 8/8 reps, 0 rating

DB Lateral Raise - 2-x3x1/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Planks - Bodyweightx2x1/fail, 45/45 sec

Accessories:

Preacher Curl/French Press superset – 40x80x3x3/fail, 10/10/10 reps

Shrugs w/Straps - 255x3x3/fail - 12/12/12

Daily "Selfie" - 

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This is one of my Jesup Gym T-shirts I got while I was on my #liftingtour on vacation.  Jesup Gym in Jesup, IA only costs $1.00 to enter for the day.  I was able to workout here after purchasing some new equipment for Heavy Hammer Gym at the Jesup Gym Equipment store next door. Very friendly staff.  Basically a mom and pop store that has been in business for a little over 32 years. I will write more about them later.

Today's Front Squats weren't awful, but I could only do 10 reps with this weight. (thats ok as long as I am in the 6-10 rep range) Block Pulls felt good as well, even though I only got 8 there.  I feel like my deadlift setup is finally clicking.  Hopefully I can translate this to pulling from the floor in my next strength cycle.


Video Coming Soon!!!
Sorry it has been a little over a week since I have posted.  My wife and I took our daughter on a little vacation.  We went to Des Moines, IA (Polk City) and stayed with my in-laws.  While we were there we went to an Iowa Cubs game and visited the Blank Park Zoo and Living History Farms while spending a lot of time with my wife's family. It was a fun 10 day vacation.  The best part about it was not missing a day of training.  The owner of 22nd Street Barbell in Des Moines was kind enough to let me train at their gym while I was on vacation.  It was a great place and I will do a post about their gym later.  On to my Training Journal:

Week: 2

Date: Friday 7/2/16

Time: 9:00 am

Location: Jesup Gym Equipment, Jesup, IA
         
Training Partner: None

Working Sets:

High Bar Squat – 375x3x3/fail, 6/6/6 reps, -1 rating

Wide Grip Bench Press – 185x2x6, 6/6 reps, +1 rating

One Arm DB Row - 80x2x3/fail, 12/12 reps

Barbell Upright Row - 95x2x3/fail, 12/12

Accessories:

Preacher Curl/French Press superset – 30/80x3x3/fail, 10/12/12 reps

Barbell Wrist Curl/Ext. - 50x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Calf Press - 300x3x3/fail - 30/30/30 reps

Daily "Selfie" - 

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This is a picture of me in my Jesup Gym Cut-off, however, I took this one day while training at 22nd Street Barbell, hence the 22BB hat.
Week: 3

Date: Monday 7/4/16

Time: 5:00 pm

Location: 22nd Street Barbell, Des Moines, IA
         
Training Partner: None

Working Sets:

Wide Grip Bench Press – 210x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps, +1 rating

Underhand EZ Bar Row - 135x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Accessories:

Hammer Curl/Tricep Ext. superset – 35x70x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Barbell Wrist Curl/Ext. - 60x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Calf Raise - 315x3x3/fail - 20/20/20 reps



Week: 3

Date: Wednesday 7/6/16

Time: 3:00 pm

Location: 22nd Street Barbell, Des Moines, IA
Training Partner: None

Working Sets:

Front Squat – 215x3x2/fail, 9/10/10 reps, 0 rating

Block Pull – 390x2x2/fail, 8/10 reps, 0 rating

DB Lateral Raise - 20x3x2/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Accessories:

Preacher Curl/French Press superset – 35/85x3x3/fail, 12/12/10 reps

Shrugs w/Straps - 245x3x3/fail - 12/12/12 reps

Week: 3

Date: Thursday 7/7/16

Time: 6:45 pm

Location: 22nd Street Barbell, Des Moines, IA
Training Partner: Tank the Bulldog

Working Sets:

Overhead Press – 155x7x2/fail, 10,10,9,8,8,8,8 reps, 0 rating

Underhand EZ Bar Row – 335x2x2/fail, 12/12 reps, 0 rating

DB Lateral Raise - 20x3x2/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Accessories:

EZ Bar Curl/Overhead Machine Ext. superset – 85/65x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Barbell Wrist Curl/Ext. - 60x3x3/fail - 12/12/12 reps

Calf Raise - 315x3x3/fail - 20/20/20 reps

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Week: 3

Date: Friday 7/8/16

Time: 5:30 pm

Location: 22nd Street Barbell, Des Moines, IA
Training Partner: None

Working Sets:

Block Pull – 390x3x2/fail, 8/8/8 reps, 0 rating
Low Bar Good Morning - 95x2x2/fail - 12/12 reps
Barbell Upright Row - 95x3x2/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Accessories:

Hammer Curl/Tricep Ext. superset – 35/65x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Shrugs w/Straps - 245x3x3/fail - 12/12/12 reps

Week: 3

Date: Saturday 7/9/16

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: 22nd Street Barbell, Des Moines, IA
Training Partner: None

Working Sets:

High Bar Squat – 380x3x2/fail, 6/6/6 reps, -1 rating

Wide Grip Bench Press - 190x2x6 - 6/6 reps, +1 rating

One Arm DB Row – 80x3x2/fail, 12/12/12 reps, 0 rating

Barbell Upright Row - 95x3x2/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Accessories:

Preacher Curl/French Press superset – 35/85x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

This week of training seemed to go pretty well.  I am finding that the volume I have been doing for quads is too much.  The program is giving me less and less Front Squats to try to recover better.  I don't mind the extra rest. I really think it does help me.  I just have never really training with this much volume before.  It is interesting to note that the volume for my shoulders/chest has been going up.  Apparently my upper body is fine with more volume, but my lower body isn't.  At least I am learning to ready my body better.  My hips were very sore this week.  I had to stretch them out in between every set.  My back didn't bother me too much.  My biceps started hurting a bit due to the fact that I have never really trained my biceps much.  Now I am doing them 5 days a week.  I have noticed huge gains in size in just 3 weeks or so.  Oh those Noob Gainz.  No videos this week...sorry.
Week: 2

Date: Tuesday 6/28/16

Time: 10:30 am

Location: Heavy Hammer Gym

Training Partner: Nick Bennigsdorf

Working Sets:

Front Squat – 210x4x3/fail, 9/9/9/9 reps, 0 rating

Block Pull – 385x2x3/fail, 7/10 reps, 0 rating

DB Lateral Raise - 20x2x3/fail, 12/12 reps

Planks – bodyweightx3x35sec

Accessories:

Preacher Curl/French Press superset – 30/80x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Shrugs w/ Straps – 230x3x3/fail (used Pro-Versa Wraps)

Daily "Selfie":

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Mt. Avengers. Mt.Rushmore of Avengers T-Shirt. It has Avengers superheroes instead of the presidents on Mt.Rushmore. I hope you have that clearly now. I am pretty sure I got this shirt at Wal-Mart. Flip-Flops...

I watched out for my back on Front squats and especially on Block Pulls.  I used a belt on Block Pulls and I only tightened it enough so that I could still fit my hand through it.  This allowed me to get into a good position while still giving me enough back protection.  (I know that the belt, especially being loose, doesn't help much with actual back support, but is more for intra-abdominal pressure. It is a psychological thing for me.)

Here is a link to the video of my training on my YouTube channel:
Heavy Hammer Gym - Hypertrophy Mesocycle: Week 2: 6/28/16
Week: 1

Date: Thursday 6/23/16

Time: 1:30 pm

Location: Heavy Hammer Gym

Training Partner: Nick Bennigsdorf

Working Sets:

Block Pull – 365x3x3/fail, 8/7/6 reps, 0 rating ( I totally strained my back between 2nd and 3rd sets, i.e. the belt being put on)

Low Bar Good Morning – 90x2x3/fail, 12/12 reps, 1 rating

BB Upright Row – 90x2x3/fail, 12/12 reps

Crunches – bodyweightx3x3/fail, 20/20 reps

Accessories:

Hammer Curl/Tri Ext superset – 25/55x3x3/fail, 12/12/12 reps

Shrugs w/Straps – 225x3x3/fail

Daily "Selfie":

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My Pudzianowski Poland T-shirt.  POLISH POWER!!! Maruisz Pudzianowski is one of my favorite professional strongmen.  Nike elbow sleeves used to protect my shins during deadlifts. And, apparently at the time, no shoes.

Back felt terrible after 2nd set on Block Pulls.  I pushed my way through the rest of the workout, but I don't know if that was a good idea.  I will be hitting the chiropractor tomorrow and maybe a massage next week.  

Here is a link to the video of my training on my YouTube channel:
Heavy Hammer Gym - Hypertrophy Mesocycle: Week 1: 6/23/16

wp-1466558794478.jpgI recently received a pair of Matt Wenning’s Lifting Straps.  The craftsmanship on these straps is amazing.  They stitching is impeccable.  The materials used are of great quality and held up to some testing.  These straps are very effective for the purpose of strapping your hands to a barbell or dumbbell.  They are even long enough to use for axle bars.  I would definitely recommend these straps to anyone.  They will become a staple of my training programs.  You can find them soon at http://www.wenningstrength.com.  I believe they will be $14.99 plus S&H.