Martin's odyssey to become not as weak.

[martin_mathers]

Chin-ups, pull-ups...pretty much the same. I personally like hammer-grip pull-ups best.

Just saying, if you overhead press and do rows/clean-and-pressing you will use your upper back more and train your press simultaneously. At the moment you are benching 3x weekly with little to no upper back work.

Hope you have a fast recovery though, bro.

oh yea i meant hammer-grip chinups lol.
thanks man cant wait to see you in sept no homo

I've touched that poster before IRL

Jelly?

[el67ko]

Daniel your advice may be a bit off as far as someone training sheiko may be concerned. Sheiko -squat -bench =/= sheiko.

Martin if you are still planning on going sheiko you have done enough of it now to know what level of fatigue you should be at. You should be able to mimic it to some extent using other excercises. I am not sure that doing deads without some level of leg work would work since all of the lifts play off of each other as far as fatigue goes.

Just throwing stuff out...maybe try hack squats or smith machine squats? They may be a bit easier on you.

[martin_mathers]

Daniel your advice may be a bit off as far as someone training sheiko may be concerned. Sheiko -squat -bench =/= sheiko.

Martin if you are still planning on going sheiko you have done enough of it now to know what level of fatigue you should be at. You should be able to mimic it to some extent using other excercises. I am not sure that doing deads without some level of leg work would work since all of the lifts play off of each other as far as fatigue goes.

Just throwing stuff out...maybe try hack squats or smith machine squats? They may be a bit easier on you.

oh im definitely gonna do leg work. we dont have a hack squat machine lol and regarding smith machine squats i basically cant put anything on my back now
im replacing 1st round squats with front squats and 2nd round squats with leg press. im also gonna do abs 3x a week to strengthen my core.

[martin_mathers]

just talked to my mom over skype who lives in Hong Kong. i told her i weighed around 230 now and shes like "wahhhhh how did you get so heavy? you're not a white guy you're chinese! chinese people are not supposed to be that heavy!" and shes shocked that i could lift 1119 pounds. lol moms...

[B1GinNY82307]

^^ lulz

If I may ask, why is your mom not with you? Are you studying abroad?

[martin_mathers]

^^ lulz

If I may ask, why is your mom not with you? Are you studying abroad?

yea i live in canada with my uncle and aunt cause i never liked hong kong lol. my parents lived here way before i was born but i guess they like hong kong more than i do...

[B1GinNY82307]

yea i live in canada with my uncle and aunt cause i never liked hong kong lol. my parents lived here way before i was born but i guess they like hong kong more than i do...

ahhh...makes sense. Big of you to be without your parents (though I'm sure your Aunt & Uncle are just as supportive )

[martin_mathers]

ahhh...makes sense. Big of you to be without your parents (though I'm sure your Aunt & Uncle are just as supportive )

oh yea they are. they think im representing Canada to compete in the 2012 Olympics lol


Sheiko 29 Week 4 Day 1 (first day of training cycle, 12 weeks out from 100% RAW Eastern Nationals)

Front Squat
barx10
135x2x5
185x2x3
205x2x3
225x2x1
all these were as easy as back squats, the hardest part was to keep the bar on my shoulders. and they really beat up my shoulders.

Paused Bench
barx20
135x2x5
165x5
205x5
230x5x4

DB flys
20 reps

Dips
2 sets of 20

Leg Press
5pps x10
6pps x10
7pps x10

Back Raises
3 sets of 10

Decline situps
2 sets of 15


The front squats destroyed my shoulders and that affected the benching. from now on front squats will be done after paused bench. my back didnt feel anything on the front squats which means its getting better. slowly but surely. i think i'll stick to front squats for 2 weeks then i'll see how my back responds to back squats. also, after 2 weeks of deload my conditioning level has definitely gone down.

my gym is giving out free memberships to high school kids for the summer but not members. these worthless fuktards just piss me off. they walk into the gym, looking like skinny *******s, and just wander around and stare at people. they do some curls and sit on the bench and chat like little pussies. what the fuk are you doing here? i wanna lock them in the sauna room and strangle each one of them slowly to death.

[iLiftNoodBrah]

I know that feel marty my friends are all lie that in the gym...

[Torrtrefireto]

just talked to my mom over skype who lives in Hong Kong. i told her i weighed around 230 now and shes like "wahhhhh how did you get so heavy? you're not a white guy you're chinese! chinese people are not supposed to be that heavy!" and shes shocked that i could lift 1119 pounds. lol moms...

I never knew you were a real Chinese... always assumed you were ABC (or I guess, CanBC)


Good work on the front squats... I hope they don't **** up your backsquat like they did mine... just gotta realize they are 2 different moves not just a variation of the same

[martin_mathers]

I know that feel marty my friends are all lie that in the gym...

one of them was doing pullups in my squat rack.

I never knew you were a real Chinese... always assumed you were ABC (or I guess, CanBC)


Good work on the front squats... I hope they don't **** up your backsquat like they did mine... just gotta realize they are 2 different moves not just a variation of the same

oh yea you scared. i know kung fu mother****er!
i was born in HK but im canadian...lol


i think front squats have more carryover to the deadlift than the squat. they destroy my core and quads. but how did they **** up your back squat?

[Torrtrefireto]

i think front squats have more carryover to the deadlift than the squat. they destroy my core and quads. but how did they **** up your back squat?

Just changed the way the squat worked for me... I stopped sitting back and started sitting down with it. For me if I do anything other than the actual lift I get messed up. Inclines throw off my bench, ect. I just lack the mental abilities to differentiate them I guess

[martin_mathers]

Sheiko 29 Week 4 Day 2

Paused Bench
barx30
135x5
155x5
185x4
215x2x3
245x2x3
260x3x2

Deadlift
135x2x5
185x3
225x3
265x3
305x2x3
350x2x3
370x3x2
350x3x2

Paused Bench
135x5
155x5
185x5
215x4x5

DB flys
2 sets of 15

Decline Situps
2 sets of 15


Bench was easy. cant believe 260 is my 85% now. 3 months ago it was my 1RM. Deadlifts were easy too but my back hurt a little bit. i just trained through it, shouldnt be a big deal. this workout somehow took me 3 hours i didnt even rest that much.
i wish every day was a summer holiday. theres absolutely nothing to do other than training, eating and sleeping.

[DanielBeauchamp]

Good call on those front squats, Martin. Strong benching, as usual...

[martin_mathers]

Good call on those front squats, Martin. Strong benching, as usual...

thanks man. i still hope to get back to regular squatting sometime next week though

[el67ko]

Looking good martin, glad to see sheiko back up and running. Hopefully the squats start up soon too.

Tortre do you really think it is all mental? It seems like fronts should have good carry over. In your opinion which squat variation has the best carryover? The reason I ask is that I was going to use variants for the 2nd round on double squat days and I assumed fronts would be the best.

[martin_mathers]

Looking good martin, glad to see sheiko back up and running. Hopefully the squats start up soon too.

Tortre do you really think it is all mental? It seems like fronts should have good carry over. In your opinion which squat variation has the best carryover? The reason I ask is that I was going to use variants for the 2nd round on double squat days and I assumed fronts would be the best.

thanks!

a very detailed description of the difference between the squat and the front squat by rippetoe:
http://startingstrength.com/index.ph...he_front_squat

[Torrtrefireto]

Looking good martin, glad to see sheiko back up and running. Hopefully the squats start up soon too.

Tortre do you really think it is all mental? It seems like fronts should have good carry over. In your opinion which squat variation has the best carryover? The reason I ask is that I was going to use variants for the 2nd round on double squat days and I assumed fronts would be the best.

I think front squats would be the best squat assistance move. Them or good mornings, its just for me I couldn't really handle doing both. I think its great for strength and muscles, just not great for the technique side

[DanielBeauchamp]

I personally found that front squats helped my back squat a lot. Good carryover to deadlfits too because of the closer stance+ weight shifted forward.

[B1GinNY82307]

Bench was easy. cant believe 260 is my 85% now. 3 months ago it was my 1RM. Deadlifts were easy too but my back hurt a little bit. i just trained through it, shouldnt be a big deal. this workout somehow took me 3 hours i didnt even rest that much.
i wish every day was a summer holiday. theres absolutely nothing to do other than training, eating and sleeping.

fcuking A!

[martin_mathers]

I personally found that front squats helped my back squat a lot. Good carryover to deadlfits too because of the closer stance+ weight shifted forward.

i thought front squats were easier on the upper back but they are actually very hard on the upper back...in a good way though.

fcuking A!

thanks man you're A!

[martin_mathers]

new foam roller finally came in! $55.88 including shipping and tax.
old ($15):


new:


the old one didnt even last a month. the new one is a high density one and its rather rigid. i was crying when i was rolling my lower back...cant imagine how people use PVC pipes...

[martin_mathers]

Sheiko 29 Week 4 Day 3 (It's Canada Day!)

Squat
barx10
135x2x5
185x5
235x4
275x3 <- back started to hurt so i stopped

Paused Bench
barx20
135x2x5
155x6
185x5
215x2x4
245x2x3
260x2x2
245x3
235x3
205x4
185x6
155x8

Dips
3 sets of 15

Decline Situps
3 sets of 15


not happy with the squats. my back still hurt and i was thinking of going back to regular squatting next week. i guess i'll still squat but i'll stop whenever i feel pain in my back. i ****ing hate injuries.
Benching was kinda tough my shoulders were so sore from wednesday's benching.

Im starting Sheiko #30 next week. 1st round squats will be done as regular squats until i feel pain. i'll replace 2nd round squats with leg presses. all the goodmornings will be replaced by back raises.

[B1GinNY82307]

EliteFTS foam roller? If so, I have the same one

And I believe I missed it, but what's up w/ the back?

[martin_mathers]

EliteFTS foam roller? If so, I have the same one

And I believe I missed it, but what's up w/ the back?

nah i bought it from some canadian online sports store. i think its the same material though.

i injured my back way before i even started powerlifting. i was squatting but i had no idea what i was doing. i dont even know how i injured it but it got better. then 3 weeks ago at the meet i injured it again and its worse than before. i still dont know whats wrong but when i put weight on my back and squat it hurts. very frustrating

[B1GinNY82307]

intend on getting it checked?

[martin_mathers]

intend on getting it checked?

unfortunately no lol...they're gonna tell me what i already know anyways..."you need rest" "dont squat for now" that kinda bullcrap.

[martin_mathers]

Upper Back Rehab Day + Cardio + Biceps

bodyweight: 231 with an empty stomach

Fat Boy On An Elliptical
15 minutes <- i did this for you Jamie i almost passed out <3

Chest Supported Incline Flys
4 sets of 12

Facepulls
4 sets of 15

Reverse Flys On Pec Dec Machine
4 sets of 12

DB curls
3 sets of 10

Hammer curls
3 sets of 10

lovin' the facepulls.


Inspired by Jim Wendler's article: http://www.t-nation.com/strength-training-topics/1229 ,
I decided to write my own training rules.

1. Training will always be your top priority.

2. No matter what program you're on, stick to it for AT LEAST one year.

3. Programs don't matter, attitude and consistency do.

4. Do not major in the minor. If you want to squat more, squat. If you want to bench more, bench. If you want to pull more, pull.

5. You're in the gym to train and that's it.

6. Prehab work, rehab work and stretching will be part of your training.

7. The Squat will be performed below parallel, the Bench Press will be done paused and the Deadlift will be executed violently.

8. No straps will be used regardless of how ****ed up your grip is.

9. You will not take advice from people just because they are stronger than you.

10. You will not need motivation to train. Powerlifting is not a hobby, it's a lifestyle.

inb4a year from now you probably won't even lift anymore.

[iLiftNoodBrah]

Lold at fat boy on elliptical. Keep doing it, I love sprints

Also, I agree wit all of those accept the one with where u have to be on he same routine for a year, I've been lifting 6 months and been on 3 different ones, lol.

[martin_mathers]

Lold at fat boy on elliptical. Keep doing it, I love sprints

Also, I agree wit all of those accept the one with where u have to be on he same routine for a year, I've been lifting 6 months and been on 3 different ones, lol.

lol those are just my rules. whatever you're doing is obviously working though. so start doing more updates im refreshing your log as frequently as i refresh my ******** homepage.