Beginning Thoughts:

Not getting much sleep these days...and I think I am overeating...

Workout:

Banded Deadlifts using the Red Bands Double Looped for Doubles:
195 lbs - This was the first struggle set
165 lbs - This was the second struggle set
115 lbs x 2 reps x 2 sets
125 lbs x 2 reps x 2 sets
135 lbs x 2 reps
All in all this was hard but I think I am getting the hang of "ripping" the bar off the floor.

Deadlifts:
315 lbs x 3 reps
365 lbs x 2 reps
405 lbs x 3 reps
The first set with 315 lbs was so easy it felt like 225. I even used a hook grip! But then 365 lbs felt a LOT heavier than I expected. 405 lbs was a true grinder....

Density Training @ 15 minutes:
Reverse Lunges = 65 lbs x 6 reps x 3 sets
Plate Pinches = 25 lbs x 20 seconds x 3 sets
Dragon Fly Sit-ups = BW x 6 reps x 4 sets
Exactly as last time....Arg I hate density work but it is so useful sometimes.

Videos:

Banded Deadlifts & Deadlifts:

YouTube

Overall Impression:

It's Friday finally :)

Way to work it out.

That's the worst bar I've ever seen for deadlifting. Good work. :)

loved your face on the 165.

Thanks

It's a standard Olympic Bar. What's the problem with that?

Good to know.

:p

Beginning Thoughts:

Only got 2 hours of sleep last night....Ugh...

Workout:

Pistols:
Left Leg: 1 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 10 reps
Right Leg: 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 10 reps
Very hard to do this...

Pull-ups:
3 + 4 + 4 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 45 reps
I used the straight bar for this....I like alternating the special bar and the regular straight bar...

Videos:

Nothing special for today.

Overall Impression:

The weekend is here :D

No problem with it. It just doesn't bend. Deadlift bars bend more...it's much more difficult to DL with a bar that stiff. I've seen other standard bars that bent more than that. Kudos to you.

Oh I see what you mean....You're talking about a Texas Deadlift Bar or a Squat Bar, right? I've read up on those.....I misunderstood what you were saying..my bad.

Thanks for the kind words, bro :)

No problema.

Beginning Thoughts:

Body is very sore....I can't figure out why though....Plus, I think I gained back those 8 lbs I lost last month...Fucking zero determination to NOT stuff food in my face...and damn that packet of Oreo cookies sitting on my desk tempting me!!!

Workout:

Pistol Squats:
Left Leg: Assisted, Assisted, 2 reps, 1 rep, 1 rep
Right Leg: Assisted, 1 rep, 1 rep, 1 rep, 1 rep
Not as good as 2 days ago but then again: I didn't feel like doing this...I was too anxious about squats.

Back Squats:
335 lbs x 1 rep
Something is just not right. I am facing a few problems with squats:
1.) I can't get my shoulder alignment right. I am not able to grip the bar as closely as I used to. Therefore, with a wider grip, I am not feeling as "tight" as I normally do. Also, I think with a wider grip I am also not going as deep as I normally do.
2.) I am experiencing a lot of difficulty at about mid-point on my way up. I definitely think this is because of doing Pistol Squats 2x a week.
3.) I am feeling WAY too comfortable when I am in the hole. The weight feels like barely anything. I have a habit of pausing at the bottom and the weight feels like air. But the moment I am coming back up and at mid-point: it hits me really hard.
After doing 335 lbs I felt like shit so I quit this.

Density Training @ 15 minutes:
Glute Ham Raises = BW x 7 reps x 5 sets
Cable Wood Chops = 27.5 lbs x 15 reps x 6 sets

Videos:

Nothing significant

Overall Impression:

Although my squats are "suffering" (I don't think thats the right word here but nonetheless...) my goal is to nail those pistols so I am gonna remove back squats for this mesocycle and instead I am gonna go back to doing overhead squats on this day. I'll add in back squats in the next mesocycle if I have to but right now back squats are out and overhead squats are in. I need to get my comfort back in squatting. All of a sudden front squats seem so much more fun than back squats.