Cody's "Second Entry:" Back With A Vengeance! Starting Strength and Beyond...

[cody333]

I have over 50 days on MW2 now. And something like 158k kills.

I was just in a match, kicking ass, called my harrier, was holding my Pave Low till later, was 11-0...got the screen and kicked back to lobby. Found anotehr match...got the same match, opposite team.

Are. You. Fukking. Kidding. Me.

Yeah, I totally deserved to "lose" that match.

(I was like 13-5 after coming back on the otherr team)

Just saw this. I expect nothing lose, nothing more from that game. lol.

EDIT: Less, not lose

[Farley1324]

170!

[cody333]

170!

Yes, now to get it up 10 more lbs!

[cody333]

Tuesday October 23 2012

Squat:
45x10
95x5
135x3
165x5
165x5

The first set with 165 was actually really uncomfortable. I could not find a good place to put the bar.

Bench (5 min):
45x10
95x5
135x3
155x2
175x1

195x5
195x5
195x5

Said I would microload this time. I lied. Unsure about next bench workout.

Curls:
50x10
60x10
70x6

Usually do these but dont post them, as they are an afterthought.

AM BW: 170.8

[cody333]

Thursday October 25 2012

Squat (7-8 min): belt 255+, PR for sets
45x10 95x5 135x4 165x3 195x2 225x1 255x1

275x5
275x5
275x5

Nice! Actually had one of the trainers there tell me my last warm up rep with 255 looked good. Which made me wonder because I have seen him train people who are half squatting. Weird. I also has someone come up to me and mention how much lifting shoes help when squatting. Indeed they do.

Also, I am going to transition to TM next week. Want to end SS on a good note. 165-275 without missing a rep. Not too shabby. I am thinking of starting 225 volume and 250? for intensity. See how that goes. Any suggestions? Anyone?

Press (5 min): belt 120+
45x5 95x3 120x1

132.5 x5
132.5 x5
132.5 x5

These were a grind. 135 next time!

Powercleans (2-4 min):
135x1

155 x3,3,3,3,3

AM BW: 171.8 at 8 AM. Went back to sleep, 172.4 at 11 AM. Weird.

[cody333]

Sunday October 28 2012

Volume Squat (5 min): belt 225
45x10 95x5 135x4 165x3 195x2

225x5
225x5
225x5
225x5
225x5

Switched over to TM setup for squats. These went well. Deep. 250 on Thursday for intensity day.

Bench (5 min):
45x10 95x5 135x3 155x2 175x1 195x1

200x5
200x5
200x6

The third set seemed to be the easiest. Have been using a rosin bag to help keep my hands dry, but forgot it today. Need to invest in some chalk.

Deadlift: belt 235
135x3

235x5

Curls:
50x10
60x10
70x8

AM BW: 172.0

[cody333]

Tuesday October 30 2012

Recovery Squat:
45x10
95x5
135x3
165x5

Was going to do another set but my wife came with me and I actually got her to start SS. Well, squatting, pressing, benching, and chin ups. She did 3 sets with the bar and 3 sets of press with the bar. She tells me she is going to go with me from now on. I converted her!

Press (5-6 min): belt 135
45x5 95x3 120x1

135x5
135x5
135x4

Just could not muster the 5th rep on the last set.

Chins:
BW x10

AM BW: 171.6

Not sure why this is not going up faster.

[Farley1324]

Come on now, eating more food is the easy part!

Press with the bar, as in the real 44 lb bar, is often too much for untrained females to handle.

[cody333]

Come on now, eating more food is the easy part!

Press with the bar, as in the real 44 lb bar, is often too much for untrained females to handle.

I have been eating. More than usual. It should go up here soon.

I figured it would be too much as well, but she seemed to have an okay time with it.

[Farley1324]

I have been eating. More than usual. It should go up here soon.

I figured it would be too much as well, but she seemed to have an okay time with it.

Microload

[cody333]

Thursday November 1 2012

Intensity Squat: belt 250
45x10 95x5 135x4 165x3 195x2 230x1

250 x10

I did not do 10 because it was easy. I decided before I got to the gym I wanted double digits and double digits I did. I knew after the first rep they would not be easy. Halfway through I was thinking 7, but I kept on trucking. I have not been that worn out after squats in a while.

Wife did 3x5 with 50 lbs. Very short rest periods. No warm up sets.

Bench (5-6 min, closer to 5):
45x10 95x5 135x3 155x2 175x1 195x1

205x5
205x5
205x5

These were a struggle. Used regular benching bench since I had a spotter. Spotter helps when the spotter knows when not to help and is still there when you need it.

Wife did 1x5 with 45 and then 3x5 with 55. All short rest. Did them all before I even started my warm up sets.

Powerclean (2ish min):
115x1 135x1

165x3
165x1 (could not muster another rep)
135 x3,3,3

Had wife do deadlift with 95 lbs. There was no good way to elevate the bar more for a regular height so I put a rubber 45 lb weight under the 95 to make it higher. Good enough I suppose.
Also, I am not sure what to do with deadlift and powerclean. I was toying with the idea of putting deadlift on Wednesdays but that leaves no good day for daedlift. After volume or intensity squat? I also wanted deadlift and powerclean to be as far apart as possible, which means neither could be on recovery day. Unsure what to do. Any suggestions? I will probably just leave it the way it is.

Curls:
50x10
60x10
70x9

Use the EZ-curl bars for these. I would use a straight bar but they tend to bother my wrists with these. The pre loaded bars are also more convenient.

AM BW: 173.8

[cody333]

+10 on both squat days next week. +2.5 on bench for Tuesday.

[cody333]

Sunday November 4 2012

Volume Squat (5ish min): belt 235
45x10 95x5 135x4 165x3 195x2 225x1

235x5
235x5
235x5
235x5
235x6

Not exactly easy. Not exactly terrible. +10 one more time.

Press (5 min): belt 135
45x5 95x3 120x1

135x5
135x5
135x5

Not pretty but it will due. +2.5 next time.

Deadlift: belt 245, no shoes, DOH
135x1 225x1

245x6

Technically a PR. But still certainly nothing to write home about, especially with my other lifts where they are. But I will take it.

Curls:
50x10
60x10
70x10
40x10

AM BW: 173


Wife did:

Squat: 3x5 55 lbs

Press: 3x5 50lbs. Microloading next time.

Assisted Chin ups: 3x5

All short rests. She was done with her workout after I had done one working set of squats.

[Farley1324]

Sounds good

What supplements are in play now?

Creatine and protein powder I assume. Multi/joint maybe. Anything else? Pre? Intra? Whatever?

[cody333]

Sounds good

What supplements are in play now?

Creatine and protein powder I assume. Multi/joint maybe. Anything else? Pre? Intra? Whatever?

Creatine, little bit every other day in my protein drink in the morning. Have a scoop myofusion in the morning, at night, and after workouts. Do not currently have a multi I am taking, don't feel like spending the money on it ATM. I also have craze I have been taking before volume and intensity days. Occasionally I remember to take fish oil, 2 per day if I remember.

[cody333]

Tuesday November 6 2012

Recovery Squat:
45x10
95x5
135x3
165x5
195x5

No matter the weight, squats are never easy.

Bench (5 min):
45x10 95x5 135x3 155x2 175x2 195x1

207.5 x5
207.5 x5
207.5 x5

All sets felt about the same. Which is good because the first set was hard.

Rows: feel like I should start doing something for my upper back
110 x10
110 x10
110 x10

110 is the weight the plate says.

AM BW: 175.2

Really did not feel like working out at all today. I was thus pretty happy about getting all the reps on bench. Really was not feeling confident about it going in.

Wife:

Squat 3x5 @ 60 lbs
Bench 3x5 @ 57.5 lbs
That's all folks

[cody333]

Thursday November 8 2012

Intensity Squat: belt 235+
45x10 95x5 135x4 165x3 195x2 235x1

260 x8

Intensity day, a combination of intense cardio and strength training. Especially when you are doing more than 5 reps. I think next week I will go +5 on volume day and +10 on intensity day. I will also be out of town on intensity day, but still plan to make it to a gym.

Press (5-6 min): belt worksets
45x5 95x3 120x1

137.5 x5
137.5 x5
137.5 x5

Surprised I got these, was still tired from squats.

Powerclean (3-4 min):

160 x3,3,3,3,3

Hard. Especially when the bar started to get slippery and I had no chalk. Going to stay at this weight until I can get all sets with 2 min rest.

AM BW: 174.8

The ladies workout:

Squat:
45x3
70x5
70x5
70x5

Press:
45x2
52.5 x5
52.5 x5
52.5 x5

Chins:
CW 72 lbs x5
CW 72 lbs x5
CW 72 lbs x6

[Farley1324]

Good pressing.

Makes me nervous.

[cody333]

Good pressing.

Makes me nervous.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[cody333]

Story: **** My Life

As some of you know, not sure who actually reads my posts, but I have had back problems for right about 5 years now. Been to many doctors and never truly got good answers about what was wrong and what would help. Along the way there were several that told me I should never squat for various reason. Obviously I ignored them and did it anyway. I have been strength training, in the form of SS and TM pretty consistently for the last two years now. If you ask me my back has slightly improved during that time.

Two days ago I visited a new chiropractor because my upper back has been unusually tight and who doesn't like getting adjusted? Well, I went and told him my story, he adjusted me and I made an appointment for today (Friday). When I woke up yesterday (the day after my first appointment) the upper part of my lower back had two areas that were very sore. Sore to the touch. There one was spot on the left side of the spine and the other in the same area on the right side of the spine. I still worked out yesterday, and actually had a good day in the gym. They did not bother me while I was lifting. It's almost like having two bad bruises. I have been icing my back as the chiropractor said the last couple days, that has not helped.

Now to todays appointment. My back still feels the same as yesterday, I tell the chiropractor and he seems perplexed. He feels around the area and then decided to give me some X-rays. When he looks at the X-rays he tells me that it looks like I used to put heavy loads onto my spine (one of the vertebra has a slight curve inwards to it on one side, which I imagine is not good). He also noticed, which is easy to see, my spine has very little curve to it. I am not sure if my spine had always been this way or what, but he was not impressed with it. I then preceded to tell him I still squat and he then told me to never do any sort of 'compression' lift again, which includes anything that puts a load on the spine. For examples: press, squat, deadlift. He basically said, use machines. He said the pain in my back is coming from my muscles spasming in a way to help combat my ****ty spine. something like that. Basically he said your back carries your weight around all day, why torture it with extra weight. I am not too sure about the curvature thing, if mine has always been like that and how normal it is? Anyways, he told me to do nothing this weekend and just ice it a lot. WTF. This has always been an issue for me, every doctor alive telling me loads on the spine are bad. What arguments are there for it not hurting, or even helping the spine? I am at a loss.

[Farley1324]

That sucks.

Haven't heard anything like that before.

Remind me: What have sports medicine doctors (like, guys with an MD that specialize in sports medicine) said?

I'm no doc but I can't imagine that anything that loads the spine has to be avoided. That's just basic life, even outside of the gym. We are made to lift things up, to lift things over our head, to pick heavy stuff up off the ground.

Machines? What did he about machines? Because if he says you can use machines to do any of those things (squat, press, etc), but not freeweights...I'd say he's just another quack that doesn't know sh.it.

But the "used to put heavy loads onto your spine thing" is disconcerting.

[cody333]

That sucks.

Haven't heard anything like that before.

Remind me: What have sports medicine doctors (like, guys with an MD that specialize in sports medicine) said?

I'm no doc but I can't imagine that anything that loads the spine has to be avoided. That's just basic life, even outside of the gym. We are made to lift things up, to lift things over our head, to pick heavy stuff up off the ground.

Machines? What did he about machines? Because if he says you can use machines to do any of those things (squat, press, etc), but not freeweights...I'd say he's just another quack that doesn't know sh.it.

But the "used to put heavy loads onto your spine thing" is disconcerting.

Yeah, I don't know what to think anymore. I don't recall ever going to an actual sports medicine doctor about this. But yeah, he could tell by the curve in the one vertebra that I at least used to put heavy loads on it. He said to use the machine that is kinda tilted and its strictly a leg thing.

[Farley1324]

Yeah, I don't know what to think anymore. I don't recall ever going to an actual sports medicine doctor about this. But yeah, he could tell by the curve in the one vertebra that I at least used to put heavy loads on it. He said to use the machine that is kinda tilted and its strictly a leg thing.

But what % of your squats have been low bar, vs a high bar position on the traps?

What vertebrae was it he thinks he saw that from?

Had you told him you lifted/squat prior to him saying that?

[cody333]

But what % of your squats have been low bar, vs a high bar position on the traps?

What vertebrae was it he thinks he saw that from?

Had you told him you lifted/squat prior to him saying that?

All my squats have been high bar. Can't recall which vertebrae it was. Not one of the lower ones I don't think though. Might have been a thoracic one. I told him I have been squatting for about 2 years.

[cody333]

I also recall him saying squatting was bad for the knees.

[Farley1324]

All my squats have been high bar. Can't recall which vertebrae it was. Not one of the lower ones I don't think though. Might have been a thoracic one. I told him I have been squatting for about 2 years.

I also recall him saying squatting was bad for the knees.

Chiropractors seem to VERY rarely have a clue.

Less often than doctors, even.

[cody333]

Have been thinking about what happened at the chiropractor the other day, along with what is currently going on with my back.

The more I think about the visit to the chiropractor, the more I realize the chiropractor is a know it all *******. Here's why:

My back has been bad for 5 years, I started lifting 2 years ago. This guy seems to think in his head that lifting weights caused my bad back. The first visit I had he said that "back problems have nothing to do with genetics, if you go to a house of fat people they claim genetics, but really its lifestyle." So basically he is telling me my bad back at the age of 20 (when it started, I actually had a little issue in high school but nothing major) is due to my lifestyle. What the **** kind of lifestyle do I need to have to have a bad back at the age of 20? Seriously.

Also, when I told him I squat heavy (I told him I've done 300 lbs.) He looked at me with the look you give a sibling when they're annoying you (the are you kidding me idiot look). He then asked very sarcasticly, "What do you do that for?" WTF do you mean what do I do it for? Dumb POS. I said "...Strength" He asked, again sarcasticly, "Who told you to do that?" How do I comment on that. Really. I mean come on. Then to tell me to never do it again. Or press even. Press!? I can understand not leaning back like I do sometimes, but that's just form.

I have laid around since then, thinking, watching football, and thinking of all the cross fit stuff on TV. I know for a fact they all squat, deadlift, powerclean, everything else and do just frieken fine. I also realize my situation because my genetics has blessed me with a ****ty spine. Lifestyle. Please. So maybe I need to modify what I do. Try low bar squatting to take some pressure off the low back. Need to get that down, last time I tried it failed. Maybe put my feet on the bench when I bench, I know it's not technically correct but it keeps the pressure again, off my spine. Also try not to lean back so much during press. Which is hard considering the weight is frieken heavy.

As for my current situation with my back, I do not know what to think. It still hurts to the touch, basically the whole back area. I have been icing it and it seems to slowly be getting better. I also have another appointment with said doctor tomorrow. I'm sure he will once again tell me to never do compression lifts, and I will certainly tell him that I won't. Oops. I also want to ask him if its' okay that I wipe my own butt. That should get a good laugh. I am also curious what kind of exercises he has me do. I'm pretty sure he'll give me something to do in place of free weights. I will probably update tomorrow.

It also makes me wonder when he saw that I have lifted heavy weights on the X-ray. That's disconcerting. And not sure.

My wife is friends with a physical therapist, actually with her now. She says since I do not have much curve in my low back (through no fault of my own) I should try low bar squats and keeping the feet on the bench during bench. Basically I force my back to arch more than it naturally does and that irritates it. Makes sense to me. She is also one of the few doctors who has not said "don't do it" so thats encouraging. She also used to be a dancer and has been told not to do a lot of things herself. I still don't plan on working out today and will see how it goes tomorrow. I conclude with, some doctors are know it all jackasses who have it their way or the highway. guess i'll be going on the highway!


RANT

[Farley1324]

I laughed.

Yeah, I don't know.

Not having a curve, then loading it and forcing a curve...ahhh, I don't know

[cody333]

Friday May 31 2013

So it's been a while... I have been working out on and off since I last posted. My back has since gotten worse since then, also. My ENTIRE back has been bothering me for a couple months now. I have, however, been going to two chiropractors lately as well. One of them is not your typical chiropractor. He is very specific and only concentrates on correcting the top 2 vertebrae. He does this using very precise X-rays to see just exactly how much you are off and adjusts accordingly. He then takes post x-rays to see if he obtained the desired results. It's very interesting and makes sense to me (to this point nobody has ever made any sense as to there reason why my back feels the way it does. i.e. tight hamstrings bla bla bla...). I have not necessarily noticed any change but I am hopeful they are coming. If you are interested this is the site for the chiropractor:

http://www.nuccaspokanechiropractor.com/

The "my NUCCA correction" tab is where you can go to put in specific numbers the chiro gives you on your initial x-ray so you can see what is actually going on with your spine and how it is affecting the rest of your body. For example, my numbers are:

Atlas Laterality: left 1.25 degrees
Lower Angle: right 2 degrees
Frontal Plane: left 3 degrees
Atlas Rotation: anterior 3.5 degrees
Axis rotation: left 7 degrees
Short Leg: left

Those numbers are probably different now. I am going back next Friday for another check and am hopeful that I am still like I was today. I basically hope working out this week doesn't change anything.

[cody333]

Friday May 31 2013 Workout

5 min bike

Squat (5-6 min): belt 225+
45x10 95x5 135x4 165x3 195x2 225x1

245x5
245x5
245x5

Left hip has lately been tight, but it loosened up as I went.

Press (3-4 min): belt worksets
45x5 95x3 115x1

120x5
120x5
120x6

Deadlift?
135x5

195x5