Archives For deadlift

I hung up a 100lbs heavy bag on the rafters in my basement this week, and after a couple of workouts kicking the bag, my shins are quite tender.

It's probably going to take a while to get accustomed to heavy bag work again, especially at my current body weight of 200+lbs. I think the last time I hit a heavy bag was when I was 10lbs lighter, and even then I felt sluggish.

Also, I'm going to have to make some adjustments to my current training. Lately I've been missing a lot of 1RM attempts, so I'm going to dial down and work on 5RM, 3RM and 2RM. I'm also going to start alternating high bar and low bar squat every other workout (the main days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday). This way, I'll finally get some volume work (on Mondays) on low bar squats after months of primarily high bar squatting.

Recovery days I'm planning on doing paused squats, either high bar or low bar depending on the week. And aim for 5RM, 3RM or 2RM on Fridays.

It should look like this:

Week A

  • Monday (Volume): high bar squat 10x3 (10 sets, 3 reps)
    • Maybe switch to 5x5 once I start missing the prescribed sets and reps. Load for Monday is 410lbs.
  • Wednesday (Recovery): paused low bar squat
  • Friday (Intensity): high bar squat 5RM, 3RM or 2RM

Week B

  • Monday (Volume): low bar squat 10x3 (10 sets, 3 reps)
    • I think I'll start off with a lower weight (~370lbs), simply because I haven't done a lot of volume for low bar squats for a long time.
  • Wednesday (Recovery): paused high bar squat
  • Friday (Intensity): low bar squat 5RM, 3RM or 2RM

Reverse grip bench presses will be done twice a week (Mondays and Fridays) and work on OHP Wednesdays.

That's the game plan, so let's see how it works out!

Anyways, here's a few articles you should check out:

  1. The Dependance on Science by Kirksman
  2. All Deadlifts Should Be Touch & Go by Emevas
  3. Round Back Deadlifts by Mike Robertson

Texas Method intensity day.

Foam Rolling

  • 10 minutes

High Bar Squat

  • 45lbs: 20
  • 140lbs: 10
  • 230lbs: 5
  • 320lbs: 3
  • 390lbs: 2
  • 450lbs: 2
    • 2nd rep was a real struggle.
  • 440lbs: 1
    • Failed on 2nd rep.
  • 410lbs: 2
    • Failed on 2nd rep.

Overhead Press

  • 45lbs: 10
  • 75lbs: 5
  • 100lbs: 4
  • 140lbs: 3
  • 165lbs: 2
  • 190lbs: 1
  • 210lbs: 1
  • 232.5lbs: 1
  • 235lbs: 1
  • 237.5lbs: X
  • 220lbs: 2

Deadlift

Thumbs still feel sore from last Friday.

  • 140lbs: 10
  • 230lbs: 5
  • 320lbs: 3
  • 410lbs: 1
  • 460lbs: 1
  • 505lbs: X,X,1
    • Failed twice using hook grip. Success using straps
  • 515lbs: 1
    • Straps.
  • 480lbs: 3
    • Straps

Well, looks seems like my lower back is healed after I strained some muscle back there.

I managed to do a measly 500lbs hook grip deadlift (video) last Friday. Haven't deadlifted 500lbs since over 1 year ago!

Journey to a 3x bodyweight, 600lbs deadlift begins now!

Anyways, check these out:

  1. Unstable Surfaces for Stability Training (aka Clown School) by John Kiefer
  2. Obesity and Fitness Are Revolutionized By Reddit, Not Doctorsby Dick Talens
  3. Overtraining by Layne Norton
  4. Kinesio Taping - The Latest Sports Fad by Dr. Steven Novella
  5. Arnold Doesn't Come In A Bottle by Paul Carter

Texas Method intensity day.

Glutes sore from paused squats on Wednesday.

Foam Rolling

  • 10 minutes

High Bar Squat

  • 45lbs: 20
  • 140lbs: 10
  • 230lbs: 5
  • 320lbs: 3
  • 390lbs: 2
  • 440lbs: 2,2,1
    • Failed on 1st set, 3rd rep.
    • Failed on 3rd set, 2nd rep.

Face Pull

  • 60lbs: 12
  • 82 lbs: 8

Bench Press

  • 140lbs: 5
  • 190lb: 3
  • 230lbs: 2
  • 280lbs: 1
  • 320lbs: 2,2,2,2,1
    • Failed on last set, last rep.

Deadlift

  • 140lbs: 10
  • 230lbs: 5
  • 320lbs: 3
  • 370lbs: 1
  • 460lbs: 1,1
  • 480lbs: 1
  • 500lbs: X, 1
    • Wasn't committed the first set. And probably a little bit paranoid that I was going to rip my thumbnail off. 2nd set I threw that thought out the window and lifted it. First time deadlifting 500lbs in over a year.
  • 410lbs: 3,3

A few posts you might have missed:

  1. Friends Don't Let Friends Skip Leg Day
  2. How To Watch The 2012 London Olympics Online

And a few solid articles I've come across this past week:

  1. Get Your Press Up! By Mark Rippetoe
  2. What If I Don’t Want to, or Can’t, Lift Heavy? By Nia Shanks
  3. Hyperlordosis by Justin Lascek
  4. I Will Pick Up Heavy Things Off The Floor by Paul Carter
  5. Everything You Need To Know About The Hip Thrust by Bret Contreras
  6. Is A Calorie Truly Just A Calorie? By Layne Norton