Bluebirds, Butterflies, and Barbells - A Starting Strength Journal

[jshaw5]

Good stuff man. Even that 5th rep on bench didn't look too tough. Awesome to see you squatting heavier again.

LOL at that video, is your son controlling everything? I gotta get a power wheels for my son.

[MatTheCur]

Fantastic!

Man am I glad that I'm squatting almost as much as you right now :P

[PeterGibbons316]

Good stuff man. Even that 5th rep on bench didn't look too tough. Awesome to see you squatting heavier again.

LOL at that video, is your son controlling everything? I gotta get a power wheels for my son.

Yeah, there was no question about that 5th rep, but there was definitely no 6th in the tank.

And yes, just this week he started to understand the concept of steering. Up until now he would just get in, push the pedal to the floor, and drive until he got stuck in the grass or ran in to something. Now all of a sudden he is driving like a champ.

Fantastic!

Man am I glad that I'm squatting almost as much as you right now :P

Hehe, I'm just happy to be squatting again period.

[MatTheCur]

Yeah, there was no question about that 5th rep, but there was definitely no 6th in the tank.

And yes, just this week he started to understand the concept of steering. Up until now he would just get in, push the pedal to the floor, and drive until he got stuck in the grass or ran in to something. Now all of a sudden he is driving like a champ.


Hehe, I'm just happy to be squatting again period.

All of this made me laugh with joy. Especially the driving part, 'cause I did that too in my new car. Minus the not steering part Give him a high-five for me!

[dk240t]

You are going to be soooooore from those squats. And you are going to love it.

[PeterGibbons316]

You are going to be soooooore from those squats. And you are going to love it.

Ugh. Yes and yes. Gym is closed tomorrow, might do some jump training tomorrow night.....might play video games instead - we will see.



BW at 201.8 this morning. Just a couple more pounds!!!

[PeterGibbons316]

Conditioning - Week 33 ME Day
BW: 203.6

Color code:
Estimated 1RM PR (weight + 0.033 x weight x reps)
PR for reps/weight

Squat
45x5
45x5
135x5
135x5
185x5
225x5
275x3
325x5

Up 10 lbs from last week, not too bad.

Bench Press
45x5
45x5
135x5
185x3
255x4

Last rep was a bit of a grinder, but there was no doubt. Still one more rep than what I have been doing most of the rest of this year which is hard to explain.

Deadlift
205x5
295x3
385x3

Didn't really feel like doing any more than this.

Vid:

No vids.

Notes:
Actually played frisbee yesterday and dominated. I'm starting a softball league on Monday which should be interesting - I haven't played in probably 5 years, and even then I was just subbing for a couple games. I went to a batting cage today and it's amazing how natural it is for me. I need to find a softball and someone to throw with before we play, but I should be fine.

Decided to watch football instead of doing anything else tonight.

[PeterGibbons316]

Conditioning - Week 34 ME Day
BW: 201.6

Color code:
Estimated 1RM PR (weight + 0.033 x weight x reps)
PR for reps/weight

Bench Press
45x5
45x5
135x5
185x3
255x3

Tougher than the past couple weeks.

Row
95x5
95x5
185x5
225x5
225x5
225x5

Felt good. Had been scared to do these after tweaking my bad a few weeks ago, but no issues.

Vid:

No vids.

Notes:
I joined a softball league on Monday nights and actually meant to update last Monday, but have been busy trying to keep up with family duties. Last week I played basketball Saturday, had softball practice Sunday, a softball game Monday, and then played Frisbee on Tuesday. After the 'heavy' squats on Thursday it was too much for my knee - which is lingering around 95%. I've decided not to do any squats/deads for a couple weeks and hopefully I can get back to 100%.

Softball game tonight, then tomorrow we have a company outing at a new park in the area. I've been recruited for the Tug-o-war and Ultimate Frisbee dream teams, so that should be fun. Hoping to get some kickball in as well.

Also, for not playing in like 7 years I'm actually pretty decent at softball. Went 2 for 4 last week with no errors. Hit one to the fence but it was caught

[Woody-5]

Good choice tO take a break from te squats n deads and let the body heal up. Sounds like you're getting in plenty of activity with all the sports

You still running in a calOrie deficit?

[PeterGibbons316]

You still running in a calOrie deficit?

Trying to. But I suck at not eating things that are delicious.

Still holding just over 200, maybe this will be the week that I make that final push to get under 200.

[PeterGibbons316]

So I took the past two days off work to turn this:



Into this:






I was completely exhausted last night and skipped lifting.

[MatTheCur]

That's pretty awesome dude!

[Woody-5]

Nice construction work dude!

[Farley1324]

al qaeda assassinate plutonium attack bomb subway Iran anthrax President Obama government uranium hydrogen Iraq attack nuclear dirty

























































penis

[jshaw5]

Damn, I thought there was actually some lifting going on in here

[dk240t]

We should just cross-post our workout logs in here, jshaw. Hehe

[PeterGibbons316]

So after 4 months with no updates I think I am officially done with the journal, and I just wanted to take some time to thank everyone for all of your love, support, guidance, and feedback. I am a much different person now from when I started this journal, and all of you were a big part of that transformation. I really appreciate it.

Thank you all so much!
-Jason

[PeterGibbons316]

After my last update I decided that I wasn't going to do any leg work until my knee felt 100%, and now 4 months later I think I am there - I did some squats on Wednesday night and managed to get sets of 5 with 225, 245, 265, and 285 without much effort - so I'm feeling good. I finally got down to 199.6 lbs sometime around October/November, and started "bulking" again. And by that I mean I stopped caring about my diet. Goals going forward are to focus on strength and conditioning - I want to be strong, I want to be a great athlete.

I think I will probably still drop by and update with progress going forward, but logging all my workouts is just too much for me right now.

[MatTheCur]

You'd best keep us updated with what's going on from time to time!

Awesome to hear that you're doing well, Jason. It's been a pleasure watching you become a complete monster!

[Woody-5]

Good to see an update!
Glad to hear the knee is DOing better

Grats breaking under the 200 mark

[jshaw5]

Damn, this is not the update I've been waiting for. I would always get a little sad when I saw this log at the very bottom of my subs Like Matt said, it was amazing to watch your progress, especially when you were killing it on Texas Method.

How is everything going outside of lifting? How's the little guy (probably not so little anymore) doing? How's he new house?

Glad the knee is feeling better and I hope your training goes well, even if you don't share it with us haha. I'll keep the log in my subs on the chance you have a change of heart, but don't be a stranger.

[dk240t]

Take it easy. Good to hear from you.

[PeterGibbons316]

You'd best keep us updated with what's going on from time to time!

Awesome to hear that you're doing well, Jason. It's been a pleasure watching you become a complete monster!

I appreciate it.

Good to see an update!
Glad to hear the knee is DOing better

Grats breaking under the 200 mark

Thanks man, and damn you are looking good! (full homo)

Damn, this is not the update I've been waiting for. I would always get a little sad when I saw this log at the very bottom of my subs Like Matt said, it was amazing to watch your progress, especially when you were killing it on Texas Method.

How is everything going outside of lifting? How's the little guy (probably not so little anymore) doing? How's he new house?

Glad the knee is feeling better and I hope your training goes well, even if you don't share it with us haha. I'll keep the log in my subs on the chance you have a change of heart, but don't be a stranger.

Life is great right now. The little guy is definitely not so little anymore. He is active and I'm feeding him tons of protein so he can be strong like dad. Nine times out of ten if I ask him what he did at daycare he says "jumping," which is hilarious. Going through potty training which is a challenge, but he is starting to get it. The new house is awesome. I got a small Christmas bonus that I want to use on either a lat tower or lat tower attachment to my rack. Wanting to be able to do some constant tension cable stuff that you just can't do effectively with DBs/barbells.

Take it easy. Good to hear from you.

Thanks.



And my legs are more sore than they have ever been. Got my 315x5 on squat on Saturday and then did some deadlift singles with 405 - DOH, no chalk, no straps . I really surprised myself with that one....but forearms are still sore from it. Hopefully the DOMS dies down after a few consistent weeks, this is rough!

[Farley1324]

DOMS should be down within the week, I'll wager.

[jshaw5]

Doesn't lift for months, still stronger than me

Potty training is fun, we're going through that as well. We actually started before the holidays, we had him running around all day with no pants on, he was getting the hang of it. Then between the holidays and being busy, it was tough to stay on top of it when we were in and out of the house a lot. We fell out of the habit, and then he refused to try for a while, would kick and scream any time we tried. Finally got him going again, now he's getting the hang of walking around in underwear and letting us know when he has to go.

[MatTheCur]

And my legs are more sore than they have ever been. Got my 315x5 on squat on Saturday and then did some deadlift singles with 405 - DOH, no chalk, no straps . I really surprised myself with that one....but forearms are still sore from it. Hopefully the DOMS dies down after a few consistent weeks, this is rough!

I'll be pulling 405 for the first time ever this Friday, and still haven't gotten back up to 315 for squats.

When does the mothership come back to pick you up, you genetic mutation of a hunky man? Sheesh!

[PeterGibbons316]

Doesn't lift for months, still stronger than me

Potty training is fun, we're going through that as well. We actually started before the holidays, we had him running around all day with no pants on, he was getting the hang of it. Then between the holidays and being busy, it was tough to stay on top of it when we were in and out of the house a lot. We fell out of the habit, and then he refused to try for a while, would kick and scream any time we tried. Finally got him going again, now he's getting the hang of walking around in underwear and letting us know when he has to go.

Hmmm, we need to try the no pants thing. I need to read up on that one.

When does the mothership come back to pick you up, you genetic mutation of a hunky man? Sheesh!

Actually they just dropped me back off. Was home for a couple months Earth-time. It was nice to see the extended family again.

Good luck on your 4-plate pull!

[jshaw5]

Hmmm, we need to try the no pants thing. I need to read up on that one.

Yeah when he has nothing on, it's easier for him to understand that he doesn't have a diaper to go in. I'd be lying if I said it didn't result in a few puddles on the floor, and probably the biggest poop to ever come out of a 2 year old butt, though luckily that one was on the tile for easy cleanup, but he picked it up pretty quick. Another trick that I've heard about is to take him outside and teach him to pee on a tree or in the bushes, my friend did that with his son and he picked it up real quick. Unfortunately for us is cold as hell up here these days, plus we live in a condo. I doubt the other condo owners want to look out their window and see a little boy peeing all over the place, and I'm certain they don't want to see a grown man showing a little boy how to pee all over the place lol. Obviously some kind of reward system helps, we give him some m&m's or a lollipop.

[dk240t]

Yeah when he has nothing on, it's easier for him to understand that he doesn't have a diaper to go in. I'd be lying if I said it didn't result in a few puddles on the floor, and probably the biggest poop to ever come out of a 2 year old butt, though luckily that one was on the tile for easy cleanup, but he picked it up pretty quick. Another trick that I've heard about is to take him outside and teach him to pee on a tree or in the bushes, my friend did that with his son and he picked it up real quick. Unfortunately for us is cold as hell up here these days, plus we live in a condo. I doubt the other condo owners want to look out their window and see a little boy peeing all over the place, and I'm certain they don't want to see a grown man showing a little boy how to pee all over the place lol. Obviously some kind of reward system helps, we give him some m&m's or a lollipop.

Like training a dog. Just make sure you give him the treat right after he does what you want to treat him...otherwise he'll think it's the going out back that he gets rewarded for and want to go out back randomly. :-D