Welcome to my training log!
With gym’s re-opening again tomorrow (in the UK) after months of no training I thought it would be best to use the internet for good and create an online log to keep myself accountable and also get office when I stall and need input.
I have been lifting weights on and off for the past 10 years but honestly must of that time has been a complete waste… Time spent eating LOW LOW calories to stay at a certain weight (I use to be an amature boxer with same day weigh ins), high volume workouts and just spinning my wheels.
Currently I am training MMA ( Love It!) and strength/ performance gains are my main goal (as opposed to focusing on mass gain) but I have a much better relationship with food and now I am actively looking to gain weight.
Also worth adding over the last couple of months during lockdown due to lack of equipment I have focused A LOT on cardio (sprints, long runs), bodyweight circuits etc with a goal of having my base cardio sorted and once gyms re-open I can focus on gaining strength and technical work without worrying about this.
Basic info about me:
Age: 28
Weight: 123lb as of this morning ( I did say I focused a lot on cardio!)
Deadlift before lockdown: 150kg/330lb
Squat before lockdown: 130kg/ 286lb
Bench before lockdown: 80kg/ 176lb
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The Plan:
I will be running Juggernaut method by Chad Wesley Smith as I feel a programme designed to go with an athletes sport training would be best suited to fit in with my MMA training, I enjoyed running it before lockdown and also the progression scheme will let me progress at a good rate once I get into the grove again. Will be using roughly 85% of my last max for the programme and main accessory work will be using 5/3/1 % (except no Max rep at last set)
So today’s workout is in the bag
Deadlifts 10 waves Accumulation week
4x10 and 1x 13 with 80kg/ 176lbs
Had a bit more left in the tank but programme says to leave 2 reps in and with today being the first workout in 6ish months didn’t want to force it
Deficit Deadlifts
5x 67.5kg/ 149lb
5x 80kg/ 176lb
5x 90kg/ 198lb
Pause squats
3x5 ( 7 second pause) with 55kg/ 121lb
Lets hope the doms tomorow aren’t a thing.
I also will keep this just about the weights and not update with the MMA workouts
Another day another workout!
Bench 10 waves Accumulation week
4x10 and 1x 12 with 42.5kg/ 93lbs
Disappointed with the MR set as when I saw the weight I needed to hit I expected to get more. However, new gym means new benches and these benches are ridiculously low so need to work on technique. Non the less no reps missed so can’t complain
3x5 Close Grip Bench Press
10x5 Barbell Rows
5x4 Weighted pull ups
4x6 Incline DB Press
3x seated shoulder press
3x super set of neutral grip pull ups and T-bar row machine
3 bicep curls
3x Rolling DB extensions
Squat 10 waves Accumulation week
4x10 and 1x 12 with 65kg/ 143lbs
Squats felt… Really good… until the last two sets when my quads starting aching. But got the sets out. Have high hopes for the MR set at the end of the 10s waves!
Sumo deadlift (5/3/1%): 75kg/165lbs x 5, 87.5kg/193lbs x 5 and 100kg/220lbs x 5
3x6 RDL and then a few core exercises
Incline Bench (instead of Military Press) 10 waves Accumulation week
Incline Bench: 4x10 and 1x12 with 30g/ 66lbs
Paused Bench: 40kg/88lbs, 47.5kg/ 105lb and 55kg/121lb all for 5 reps
10 Barbell Rows
5x Weighted pull ups
4x DB Bench Press
4x Seated Shoulder DB press
3x bicep curls
3x tricep extensions
Nothing special to report. My incline bench sucks so the numbers are pathetic but slowly trucking away!
Friday AM Speed/ Plyo session
6x3 Jumping Hex deadlifts
6x3 triple jumps over 1x small hurdle, 1x medium hurdle, 1x 26 inch Box
6x3 Box jumps
3x3 Bulgarian Split Squat jumps
3x Ladder footwork drill
10 Kicks on the bag each leg. (As fast and hard as possible)
3x Max effort push on the Tank M4 all surface sled
Really fun session today!
Deadlifts 10 waves Intensification week
The prescribed warm up sets + 2x10 and 1x 12 with 87.5kg/ 193lbs
Deficit Deadlifts
2x3 with 83kg/183lbs
3x 95kg/ 209lb
Pause squats
3x4 ( 5 second pause) with 67.5kg/ 149lb
Nothing speciial. Just trucking away.
Bench 10 waves Intensification week
The prescribed warm up sets + 2x10 and 1x 11 with 47.5kg/ 105lbs
3x5 Close Grip Bench Press
10x5 Barbell Rows
5x4 Weighted pull ups
4x6 Incline DB Press
3x seated shoulder press
3x super set of neutral grip pull ups and T-bar row machine
3 bicep curls
3x Rolling DB extensions
Really disappointed with my MR set. I feel like I’m not recovering enough due to lack of sleep. Work is being a ***** at the moment and have to do a decent amount out of hours, add MMA training to that and I average about 4 hours of sleep a night at the moment
Squat 10 waves Intensification week
The prescribed warm up sets+ 2x10 and 1x 12 with 75kg/ 165lbs
Again feeling like my body is craving more sleep and is a tad beat up. Not happy with the 12 reps but guess next week is the only week these MR sets matter
7x1 pin squats with 75kg/ 165lbs
Sumo deadlift (5/3/1%): 82.5kg/182lbs x 3, 95kg/209lbs x 3 and 105kg/231lbs x 3
3x6 RDL and then a few core exercises
Incline Bench (instead of Military Press) 10 waves Intensification week
The prescribed warm up sets+ 2x10 and 1x 13 with 35kg/ 77lbs
Paused Bench: 45kg/99lbs, 50kg/ 110lb and 57.5kg/127lb all for 3 reps
10 Barbell Rows
5x Weighted pull ups
4x DB Bench Press
4x Seated Shoulder DB press
3x bicep curls
3x tricep extensions
Friday AM Speed/ Plyo session
6x3 Jumping Hex deadlifts
6x3 triple jumps over 1x small hurdle, 1x medium hurdle, 1x 26 inch Box
6x3 Box jumps
3x3 Bulgarian Split Squat jumps
3x Ladder footwork drill
10 Kicks on the bag each leg. (As fast and hard as possible)
3x Max effort push on the Tank M4 all surface sled
Today’s upper body Plyo Session
6x3 plyo push ups ground to box
6x3 plyo push ups with feet elevated
3x3 single arm ball throws
3x3 each side rotating ball throws
6x3 ball throws lying on a bench
3x3 heavy medicine ball throws
3x Max effort weighted sled rope pulls
3x Flat db press
3x Neutral grip incline db press
3x shoulder raises
5x rows
3x MR pull ups
3x Iso lateral row machine
And finished of with some arms
Yesterday’s deadlift session got 15 reps on the MR adding 10kg/22lb to my working max and today’s bench session got 13 reps adding 2.5kg/ 5lb to my max.
Sorry for non complete logging running on sub 4 hours rest with work, gym, MMA practice and general life obligations
Ok so had a horrendous week actually getting to training. Feel like I slacked off hard and missed most MMA sessions and a decent amount of Gym sessions. Also been having “bloat issues” since increasing calories but feel like eating 3k calories daily this week and skipping most sessions has resulted in a few lb weight gain.
Finished my main lifts for the programme yesterday and got
Squat
82.5kg/ 182 lbs x 21
Incline press
37.5kg/82lb x 16
I’m very happy overall with the MR results all round BUT there is an issue with squats. With 11 extra reps that puts it as a 55lb/25kg increase in weight and i’m not sure if I should add that. I mean I don’t think that I would be able to hit the predicted 1rm for a single… But the working numbers for the next cycle would be do -able so ::
Deadlifts 8 waves Accumulation week
4x8 and 1x12 with 92.5kg/204lbs
Deficit Deadlifts
5x 72.5kg/ 160lb
5x 85kg/ 187lb
5x 95kg/ 209lb
Pause squats
3x5 ( 7 second pause) with 62.5kg/ 138lb
Also did 10x Rows so I don’t have to do them tomorrow (Bank Holiday here in the UK so had more time today and tomorrow is an early start at work)
Overall not a special day nor a bad day. Just another day logged on the path.
Bench 8 Waves Acumulation week
4x8 and 1x 12 with 47.5kg/ 105lbs
Nothing great to report seeing as it’s the first bench workout of the 8’s cycle. My shoulders have been giving me slight issues and I’m realising that the weighted pull ups done over the year during lockdown and my posture at work has resulted in me having much more rounded shoulders than I use to. Guess I need to find a way of adding mobility work/ band work.
3x5 Close Grip Bench Press
5x Weighted pull ups
4x6 Incline DB Press
3x seated shoulder press
3x super set of neutral grip pull ups and T-bar row machine
3 bicep curls
3x Rolling DB extensions
Squat 8 waves Accumulation week
4x8 and 1x 11 with 82.5kg/ 182lbs
Pin Squats (from dead stop): 10x1 with 78.5kg/173lbs
Sumo deadlift (5/3/1%): 82.5kg/182lbs x 5, 95kg/209lbs x 5 and 107.5kg/237bs x 5
3x6 RDL
Squat 8 waves Accumulation week
4x8 and 1x 11 with 82.5kg/ 182lbs
Pin Squats (from dead stop): 10x1 with 78.5kg/173lbs
Sumo deadlift (5/3/1%): 82.5kg/182lbs x 5, 95kg/209lbs x 5 and 107.5kg/237bs x 5
3x6 RDL
Damn I suck at updating this log …
Thursdays Incline upper Session
4x8 + 1x9 with 35kg/77lb.
Paused Bench: 42.5kg/94lbs, 50kg/ 110lb and 55kg/121lb all for 3 reps
10 Barbell Rows
5x Weighted pull ups
4x DB Bench Press
4x Seated Shoulder DB press
Yesterdays Lower Plyo day
6x3 Jumping Hex deadlifts ( recorded these and felt like the speed and height was good)
6x3 triple jumps over 1x small hurdle, 1x medium hurdle, 1x 26 inch Box
6x3 Box jumps
3x3 Bulgarian Split Squat jumps
3x Ladder footwork drill
10 Kicks on the bag each leg. (As fast and hard as possible)
3x Max effort push on the prowler
3x sprint pushing the prowler
Yesterday’s upper body plyo session
6x3 plyo push ups ground to box
6x3 plyo push ups with feet elevated
3x3 single arm ball throws
3x3 double arm push
3x3 each side rotating ball throws
3x6 ball throws lying on a bench
3x3 heavy medicine ball throws
3x Max effort weighted sled rope pulls
3x Flat db press
3x Neutral grip incline db press
3x shoulder raises
5x rows
3x MR pull ups
3x Iso lateral row machine
Deadlifts 8 waves Intensification week
The prescribed warm up sets + 2x8 and 1x 10 with 102.5kg/ 226lbs
Deficit Deadlifts
3x 80kg/176lbs
3x 90kg/ 198lb
3x 100kg/220lb
Pause squats
3x4 ( 5 second pause) with 75kg/ 165lb
3x Good mornings
I also did bicep curls during the rest period of pause squats and also did 10 sets of rows. I feel like the volume i’m getting on accessory muscles is lacking so going to try and fit them in like so.