Ben2285's never ending quest of self-improvement

[Commander]

Originally Posted by Ben2285

[b]
Went in feeling great today, I just felt like tearing **** up... I Warmed up benching and started my work sets with 270. The plan was to get 4 sets of 4 but after the first two sets not going as planned I got pissed off, and impatient. I also wanted to see where I stand as of right now (with only 2 weeks left in the RV) so I put 315 on there and gave it a go. The negative went fine but right as I got it off my chest it just stuck... That was all I needed to fuel the rest of the abuse for the workout. It is so disheartening though to have my one lift just stagnate so bad when everything else progresses at a normal pace. Honestly it makes me feel worthless sometimes to put so much into something and not see it play out as planned, especially when 315 isn't even that much weight to be pressing for just a single at my weight. I guess that is life.. but it will definitely make it worth it when I do hit it. Sorry I just had to vent there a little. Anyway I did hit a pr with pullovers today that I was pretty happy about and that was my aim... to make something positive out of the disappointment.

Hey man, you did all you could, which is make the best of the situation. We all have lifts we struggle with. My squat sucks bigtime, but I am not letting it drap me down, I am gonna plug away at it. I'm glad to see you funnelled the emotions of disappointment into a way to focus on progressing in the future.

Looking foward to the video!

[Ben2285]

Originally Posted by Commander

Hey man, you did all you could, which is make the best of the situation. We all have lifts we struggle with. My squat sucks bigtime, but I am not letting it drap me down, I am gonna plug away at it. I'm glad to see you funnelled the emotions of disappointment into a way to focus on progressing in the future.

Looking foward to the video!

thanks man I appreciate the support !

[Ben2285]

Friday - Legs Hypertrophy

Machine Front Squat
3 sets 500 x 10

BB Deadlift
425 x 8
315 x 10
315 x 10

Leg Extension
stack x 12
stack x 11
stack x 9

Glute Ham Raise
3 sets bw x 10

Standing CR
stack x 6
250 x 6

Seated CR
135 x 11
135 x 9

The vid is of the first set of deadlifts. I was trying to get a set of 10 with good form since I am trying to improve my form a bit. I will still post the vid but I don't really think its that impressive.

[Ben2285]

Saturday - RV Bench and some auxiliary work

BB Bench
225 x 10 PR
240 x 2
240 x 2
240 x 2
240 x 2
240 x 2

DB Floor Press
110 x 7 PR
120 x 4 PR
120 x 4 PR

BB Curl
115 x 10, 8 , 8

Single Arm Machine Preacher
55 x 8
45 x 10
35 x 12

I Ended up doing a little more than planned today but I just felt good. Again I strayed a bit from the RV outline by repping out 225 but I did it to assess my progress since I started the routine. My previous best was 225 x 8 so according to 1 RM calculators thats a 21 lb increase in my max! I have also never even budged 120's off the ground for floor presses and I got 2 sets of 4 today so I am really happy about that. Even if I don't hit 315 this week I know that this has been a good investment of my time since I have made good progress on the routine. Once I do hit 315 for a single I will be making radical changes in my routine so be on the lookout for that.

[Ben2285]

Monday - Upper Power 90%

BB Bench (Day 12 RV)
285 x 2
285 x 1
285 x 1

Rack Pullups
bw + 100 3 sets of 5

Machine Lat Pulldown
270 x 10, 9, 8

Camber Curl
3 sets 140 x 5

Single Arm Cable Curls def. a lighter than normal stack
70 x 10
80 x 8
60 x 10

Skullcrushers
120 x 10 PR
130 x 6 PR
120 x 8

Another disappointing day of benching.... Goal was 285 for 3 sets of 3 but to be honest I would have been happy with just one set of 3. The upside of this disappointment is that when I fail in bench it pisses me off so much it is nearly impossible to have a bad workout from that point on. My tricep strength has also notably improved as I am setting pr's every time I do tricep specific exercises, and while that is nice it does not fill the void of this missing link. I know it is just a matter of time.. I am just waiting for my body to catch up to my mind.

[President Wilson]

Way to go on all the PRs brother you rock!

[Ben2285]

thanks buddy!

[Ben2285]

Tuesday - Lower Power 90%

Machine Front Squat
990 x 5
990 x 5
990 x 4

Leg Extensions w/ occlusion
150 x 30
150 x 13
150 x 12
120 x 11

Glute Ham Raise
bw + 35 x 5
"" x 5
"" x 5

Standing Calf Raise
225 x 11
225 x 9

Cable Straight Leg Kickback (for hamstring)
60 x 10
50 x 10

Seated Calf Raise
145 x 12
145 x 10
145 x 9

Good day, 990 felt prettty heavy i'm not going to lie I even got buried on the last rep of the last set but I definitely think I will be able to hit the 1100 for a nice vid!

Thursday - Upper Hypertrophy

BB Bench (Day 13 Russian Volume)
245 x 2
245 x 2
245 x 2
245 x 2
245 x 2
315 x 1 (negative)
315 x 1 ! full

DB Incline
120 x 5
100 x 9
90 x 9

Rack Pullups
3 sets 60 x 10

Plate Loaded Machine Lat Pulldown superset exercise #1
180 x 10
200 x 7
180 x 8

Single Arm Low Cable Row superset exercise #2
150 x 8
130 x 10
120 x 8

DB pullover very slow controlled
90 x 15
80 x 15

DB Side Cable Lateral Raises very slow controlled
30 x 15
30 x 15
30 x 12

Preacher Curls
90 x 9
80 x 10
70 x 10

Hammer Side Curls
60 x 10
65 x 9
70 x 7
80 x 6

Rope Tri Extensions
140 x 11
120 x 9
120 x 8

Well... Again I just felt like I could get 315 today so I did my work sets and then hit a negative. It was so easy and I was with one of my buddies at the gym so I said the hell with it I'll go for it again. And I got it! Now my buddy was spotting me and he put his fingers on the bar. He tells me he didn't even push it but to me the lift doesn't count until I do it all myself with no one else touching because he knows how much I wanted this lift and I don't know if I believe that I pressed it so easy and he didn't give me a nudge. I get to find out if this is the real deal this coming thursday. It will definitely be camcorded so keep an eye out because this is just a big big mental and I guess physical barrier I will be conquering.

Friday - Lower Hypertrophy

Machine Front Squat
690 x 10
690 x 10
690 x 10

BB Front Squats
245 x 8
225 x 8
185 x 12

Seated Good Mornings
Layne Squat Bar + 90 x 10
"" x 9
"" x 9

SLDL very slow and controlled
145 x 12
185 x 12
185 x 10

Glute Ham Raise
bw x 8
bw x 8

Went in feeling a bit queasy in the stomach but I ended up having a great workout. I love days like this, the ones that seem to drag where you aren't all there mentally but you fight through them and they test how bad you really want something. There are no buts about it, I want a pro card and I will attain my ideal image in my head.

[President Wilson]

Your bench keeps going up brother! And your leg strength is inhuman!

I definately am confident in your goal for a pro card brother! Thats awesome!

[will-work4andro]

wow...what a solid bench brotha...that's called strength right there...you are putting up MONSTER numbers