Exerbabble for 10-14-6

Today’s Workout:

High Pull:
5 @ 45 lbs
5×5 @ 105 lbs

BB Snatch-Grip Deadlift:
5 @ 205 lbs
F @ 245 lbs
F @ 225 lbs
5 @ 205 lbs
5 @ 205 lbs
5 @ 205 lbs
5 @ 185 lbs

Close-Grip Chin-up:
4, 3, 3, 2, 1 @ BW (+0, +1, +1, +0, +0 reps)

Low-To-High Woodchopper:
5, 5 @ 60 lbs
5, 5, 5 @ 50 lbs

current bodyweight: 154.4 (-1.8 lbs, weekly average of 154.8 lbs)

High pulls were good.

Okay, couple things about deadlifts. One, I moved my grip out beyond the notch, so it was a truer “snatch-grip”. Two, I forced myself to do the first rep from the floor, rather than racking it after each set. I have issues on the first rep, but after that I tend to be able to knock out reps a little easier. If I can get it up above the first few inches, I’ll make it up to lockout. By moving my grip out, I’m forced to get down a little lower, and have less leverage. Thus, when my grip is moved back in, I should be able to haul a little more.

I felt good after the first set, so I ambitiously thought I’d try to do my previous PR for reps. Couldn’t budge it off the ground. Okay, that’s fine, scaled back 20 lbs. I got 225 a few inches off the ground, but couldn’t get it beyond that. That pissed me off, as well as got me slightly lightheaded. Hey, I was trying. I paused to collect my wounded ego. Hey, I expect more from myself. I told myself to just do as much as I could, and if not, lower the weight. At the very least, I own 185 lbs.

First rep of fourth set was the slowest deadlift known to man. Ha ha, I’m sure we’ve all gotten those. After that, the rest of the reps went at relatively normal speed – for a deadlift. I unvoluntarily let out an “…Ow!” after the set, causing a nearby female to tell me not to hurt myself. *smirks* Ever have your glutes scream a little after pulling? That’s all. My lower back feels fine. Lowered the weight for the fifth set to avoid killing myself on the first rep. Maybe I just need to work on getting ready for the set faster. I’m really OCD about making sure my grip is “just right”.

Small progress with chin-ups. At least it’s something.

Lowered the weight for woodchoppers when I noticed I couldn’t keep my arms straight. Have to really focus on pulling with my torso, rather than pushing the weight out with my arms.

I’d just like to say that I like this workout. Upgrade high pull to clean&press and I’d be hitting pretty much everything I’d want to. Also, I’ve reflected that a workout like this might wipe out an unconditioned person. Not so much the absolute weight I’m using, but. Well, I feel awesome after I lift, rather than feeling like I got hit by a truck (think beginning of Phase I).

Adjustments: Bump my high pulls to 115. I’ll be officially high pulling more than I bench, which means I can easily be one of those guys who can clean more than he can bench. I’m still trying to get myself to explode all the way through the movement, but I think I can handle it. Hopefully will have better luck with deadlifts next week. I’ll start with 205 again, but I’ll try only 225 for the second set, and see how long I use the weight. I’ll keep my woodchopper weight at 60 lbs and use it until my form falters. It’s a plan.

Oh, and to anybody that actually has noticed my slowly falling weight, I intend to stay on top of that. I wasn’t able to make chili last week in part because I was too busy/stressed to do so, and because my parents used the meat I intended to use for chili. I try to feed myself as much as possible on campus, but as soon as I’m home, there isn’t much shit to eat. I’ve even resorted to my reserve of cottage cheese to keep my protein levels up. I don’t need to constantly gorge myself, but I have to have enough food around that I have a relative surplus on the days I lift. It’ll even out, and I should just maintain my weight. As I type, I’m knocking out 1/3 of a gallon of milk. Because we just got three more gallons. Mmm. Milk.