Topshelf's Starting Strength Journal - Bodybuilding Discussion on Bodybuilding.net Personal Journals

Topshelf · 07-23-2007, 08:06 PM

Well, after reading through Hunt0r's journal last week I decided I should start my own. Figure it should keep me motivated and hopefully if there's any flaws in my routine someone will comment. I'm 4 weeks into the routine already and have put on exactly 10lbs, but I'm not sure if any of it is muscle. lol I started at 165lbs and now am at 175lbs, but the stomach has increased in size too. But from what I understand I have to eat like a maniac to get bigger, and then I can cut down when I'm at my goal. I'd like to get to a relatively lean 185lbs which should look decent on my lanky 5'11" frame. I've always been VERY thin, so the fact that I'm up 10lbs already is good news. I use the FatTrack digital body fat calipers to keep an eye on things. I don't think they are very accurate, but as long as they are consistent it will do fine. I measured 12.5%bf yesterday which is up from 11.75%, but I don't think that's right as I would think I'd be a lot tighter at either of those numbers. Anyway, I'm doing the basic Rippetoe routine and eating as much as I can handle while trying to keep it clean.

Workout A
3x5 Squat - 135 lbs
3x5 Bench Press - 135 lbs (only 3 reps on 3rd set)
1x5 Deadlift - 155 lbs
Dips - 10/7
Vertical Leg Raise - 15/15

Pretty happy with today's workout as both the Bench and the Dead were the most I've ever done. I think I can move the squat up to 140 Wednesday as well, but I seem to lose form if I bump up too quickly, so we'll see. For some reason I have a tendency to lean forward and push off of my toes, so I've really been trying to focus on staying on my heels. I don't think my numbers are going to be going up very fast as I'm not a big guy to start with, but this is the most I've ever done in the 15 years of off and on pointless workouts, so I'll take what I can get. OK, that's enough for today's entry. lol

hunt0r · 07-24-2007, 01:49 PM

Goodluck on this program and good job starting a journal. Just make sure you stay with this routine and eat a lot of clean food. You should see a good increase in strength and size.

Topshelf · 07-25-2007, 11:44 AM

Thanks man. Trying to eat as much as possible, but I constantly feel full. That's tough for a guy who basically only eats to survive. lol

So I just finished day 2. Things went pretty well actually. I added 10lbs to the squat and got all 3 sets, but man were they tough at the end. Form didn't seem too bad either, so hopefully a week at this level and I can try adding some more weight. One thing I wasn't sure about is if it's OK to use the weight belt during bent over rows? I always felt a little awkward doing them, so today I threw the belt on and it really seemed to help out. Infact, it's the most I've ever done and I think I can easily add more weight next time. Hopefully my pull up numbers will go up as I was a little disappointed there.

Workout B
3x5 Squat - 145 lbs
3x5 Overhead Press - 75 lbs
3x5 Row - 105 lbs
Pull Ups - 4/3

Oh, I think I'm going to look for some kind of workout shoe. I had a problem were I was leaning forward alot during the squat, so I was trying to figure out where I was going wrong yesterday with an empty bar. I did it in my flip flops and noticed an immediate improvement. So I think my sneakers have too much of a heel and are forcing me forward.

hunt0r · 07-25-2007, 03:23 PM

I have always been taught to only use the belts on your heaviest lifts. So you might want to lower the weight to where it doesnt require a belt and then work your way up to a weight where you need to use the belt. That way you dont become dependent on it. As for the shoes, I was having issues of my own due to an ankle surgery I had earlier this year. I bought some shoes made specifically for lifting and they helped out a ton! I bought them off of Amazon.com and here are what they look like:

The brand is called Otomix...go check them out.

Topshelf · 07-25-2007, 06:07 PM

Thanks hunt0r. I was going to check out some wrestling shoes tomorrow since they seemed to be very flat, but those Otomix shoes seem to have a solid sole under them. I guess I could either try to do it half assed, or just buy a pair of shoes designed specifically for lifting. Doesn't look like there's any local stores that sell those either. I'll just order a set up and hope for the best. Thanks for the info.

Eric3237 · 07-26-2007, 07:36 AM

Yeah, if you're going to spend the money may as well get weight lifting shoes. Which Otomix shoe is it you got, Hunter?

hunt0r · 07-26-2007, 07:52 AM

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Train...5465030&sr=8-2

Otomix M/F4444 Ultimate Trainer Fitness, Weight Lifting, Gym & Workout Shoes

Topshelf · 07-26-2007, 11:07 AM

hunt0r, are they right about going a half size larger than normal? Just wanted to know before placing an order.

hunt0r · 07-26-2007, 04:32 PM

Well I normally wear a size 13 shoe and I didnt want to buy a size 14 shoe cause 13's are big enough and I didnt want to look like I was wearing clown shoes in the gym! So I bought the 13s and they fit fine, actually a little loose in the toes.

Eric3237 · 07-27-2007, 06:35 AM

They don't seem to come in half sizes when you get to the larger ones. Perhaps it's not as much of a problem with those sizes. All the different places I've seen advertising them make a point of the half size warning and I've read a couple reviews where the buyer confirmed that the half size larger worked. What Hunter said makes sense, of course, not to by a whole size larger but I would listen to them if you wear a smaller size that have the half sizes available.

07-23-2007, 08:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Topshelf Rank: Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 91	Topshelf's Starting Strength Journal Well, after reading through Hunt0r's journal last week I decided I should start my own. Figure it should keep me motivated and hopefully if there's any flaws in my routine someone will comment. I'm 4 weeks into the routine already and have put on exactly 10lbs, but I'm not sure if any of it is muscle. lol I started at 165lbs and now am at 175lbs, but the stomach has increased in size too. But from what I understand I have to eat like a maniac to get bigger, and then I can cut down when I'm at my goal. I'd like to get to a relatively lean 185lbs which should look decent on my lanky 5'11" frame. I've always been VERY thin, so the fact that I'm up 10lbs already is good news. I use the FatTrack digital body fat calipers to keep an eye on things. I don't think they are very accurate, but as long as they are consistent it will do fine. I measured 12.5%bf yesterday which is up from 11.75%, but I don't think that's right as I would think I'd be a lot tighter at either of those numbers. Anyway, I'm doing the basic Rippetoe routine and eating as much as I can handle while trying to keep it clean. Workout A 3x5 Squat - 135 lbs 3x5 Bench Press - 135 lbs (only 3 reps on 3rd set) 1x5 Deadlift - 155 lbs Dips - 10/7 Vertical Leg Raise - 15/15 Pretty happy with today's workout as both the Bench and the Dead were the most I've ever done. I think I can move the squat up to 140 Wednesday as well, but I seem to lose form if I bump up too quickly, so we'll see. For some reason I have a tendency to lean forward and push off of my toes, so I've really been trying to focus on staying on my heels. I don't think my numbers are going to be going up very fast as I'm not a big guy to start with, but this is the most I've ever done in the 15 years of off and on pointless workouts, so I'll take what I can get. OK, that's enough for today's entry. lol
Topshelf Rank: Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 91

07-24-2007, 01:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
hunt0r Rank: Member Experience: 1-2 Years Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 305 Country: Gender:	Goodluck on this program and good job starting a journal. Just make sure you stay with this routine and eat a lot of clean food. You should see a good increase in strength and size.
	hunt0r's Sig:"You can succeed if nobody else believes it, but you will never succeed if you don't believe in yourself." -William J.H. Boetcker 22 yrs old 6'3 220lbs Goals: Add lean mass and cut body fat.

07-25-2007, 11:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Topshelf Rank: Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 91	Thanks man. Trying to eat as much as possible, but I constantly feel full. That's tough for a guy who basically only eats to survive. lol So I just finished day 2. Things went pretty well actually. I added 10lbs to the squat and got all 3 sets, but man were they tough at the end. Form didn't seem too bad either, so hopefully a week at this level and I can try adding some more weight. One thing I wasn't sure about is if it's OK to use the weight belt during bent over rows? I always felt a little awkward doing them, so today I threw the belt on and it really seemed to help out. Infact, it's the most I've ever done and I think I can easily add more weight next time. Hopefully my pull up numbers will go up as I was a little disappointed there. Workout B 3x5 Squat - 145 lbs 3x5 Overhead Press - 75 lbs 3x5 Row - 105 lbs Pull Ups - 4/3 Oh, I think I'm going to look for some kind of workout shoe. I had a problem were I was leaning forward alot during the squat, so I was trying to figure out where I was going wrong yesterday with an empty bar. I did it in my flip flops and noticed an immediate improvement. So I think my sneakers have too much of a heel and are forcing me forward.
Topshelf Rank: Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 91

07-25-2007, 03:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
hunt0r Rank: Member Experience: 1-2 Years Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 305 Country: Gender:	I have always been taught to only use the belts on your heaviest lifts. So you might want to lower the weight to where it doesnt require a belt and then work your way up to a weight where you need to use the belt. That way you dont become dependent on it. As for the shoes, I was having issues of my own due to an ankle surgery I had earlier this year. I bought some shoes made specifically for lifting and they helped out a ton! I bought them off of Amazon.com and here are what they look like: The brand is called Otomix...go check them out.
	hunt0r's Sig:"You can succeed if nobody else believes it, but you will never succeed if you don't believe in yourself." -William J.H. Boetcker 22 yrs old 6'3 220lbs Goals: Add lean mass and cut body fat.

07-25-2007, 06:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Topshelf Rank: Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 91	Thanks hunt0r. I was going to check out some wrestling shoes tomorrow since they seemed to be very flat, but those Otomix shoes seem to have a solid sole under them. I guess I could either try to do it half assed, or just buy a pair of shoes designed specifically for lifting. Doesn't look like there's any local stores that sell those either. I'll just order a set up and hope for the best. Thanks for the info.
Topshelf Rank: Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 91

07-26-2007, 07:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
Eric3237 Moderator Rank: Heavyweight Experience: 7-10 Years Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,449 Country: Gender:	Yeah, if you're going to spend the money may as well get weight lifting shoes. Which Otomix shoe is it you got, Hunter?
	Eric3237's Sig:Anybody can talk a lot. Smart people listen... -Son's first grade teacher

07-26-2007, 07:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
hunt0r Rank: Member Experience: 1-2 Years Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 305 Country: Gender:	http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Train...5465030&sr=8-2 Otomix M/F4444 Ultimate Trainer Fitness, Weight Lifting, Gym & Workout Shoes
	hunt0r's Sig:"You can succeed if nobody else believes it, but you will never succeed if you don't believe in yourself." -William J.H. Boetcker 22 yrs old 6'3 220lbs Goals: Add lean mass and cut body fat.

07-26-2007, 11:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
Topshelf Rank: Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 91	hunt0r, are they right about going a half size larger than normal? Just wanted to know before placing an order.
Topshelf Rank: Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 91

07-26-2007, 04:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
hunt0r Rank: Member Experience: 1-2 Years Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 305 Country: Gender:	Well I normally wear a size 13 shoe and I didnt want to buy a size 14 shoe cause 13's are big enough and I didnt want to look like I was wearing clown shoes in the gym! So I bought the 13s and they fit fine, actually a little loose in the toes.
	hunt0r's Sig:"You can succeed if nobody else believes it, but you will never succeed if you don't believe in yourself." -William J.H. Boetcker 22 yrs old 6'3 220lbs Goals: Add lean mass and cut body fat.

07-27-2007, 06:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
Eric3237 Moderator Rank: Heavyweight Experience: 7-10 Years Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,449 Country: Gender:	They don't seem to come in half sizes when you get to the larger ones. Perhaps it's not as much of a problem with those sizes. All the different places I've seen advertising them make a point of the half size warning and I've read a couple reviews where the buyer confirmed that the half size larger worked. What Hunter said makes sense, of course, not to by a whole size larger but I would listen to them if you wear a smaller size that have the half sizes available.
	Eric3237's Sig:Anybody can talk a lot. Smart people listen... -Son's first grade teacher

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