Project Improvement 2012: A 3DMJ Production.

[arian11]

in, any thread that makes arian look like a bish is for me.

So you like 98% of the threads in this section?

The 2% is his own training log, lol.

I rounded my back on a max attempt, apparently that's not allowed.

You are talking to the master of extreme rounded back deadlifting.

[devinh]

Better half, checking in.

so i was down there at SBB and didn't even get to meet the better half. guess i'll plan another trip, maybe i'll be able to lift something next time. sounded like you were at a gym somewhere else, i kept hearing E going over what to do next in between his set on the phone, lol.

On a side note E, next time i'm down there, i'll more than likely be moving some respectable weight again. i was able to squat and deadlift with no pain this week. a little soreness from lack of use over the past few months, but ~45% previous max on deads was flying, haha.
oh yeah, and i hope everything works out with your quad. not being able to squat really sucks

[L The Pirate]

Good luck bro, hope everything is ok with the quad

[adamsz]

Good luck on your MRI man hope it isn't anything serious

[KelseaMarie]

so i was down there at SBB and didn't even get to meet the better half. guess i'll plan another trip, maybe i'll be able to lift something next time. sounded like you were at a gym somewhere else, i kept hearing E going over what to do next in between his set on the phone, lol.

On a side note E, next time i'm down there, i'll more than likely be moving some respectable weight again. i was able to squat and deadlift with no pain this week. a little soreness from lack of use over the past few months, but ~45% previous max on deads was flying, haha.
oh yeah, and i hope everything works out with your quad. not being able to squat really sucks

Yea I was in Chicago, we worked out at Quads Gym while we were there. It was bomb!

[wrkoutfrq]

aw man, hope all turns out well E.... what kind of ache is it? like super tightness, injury, or what? just curious...

[ErickStevens]

It feels like growing pains in my quads. A dull, persistent ache.

[ErickStevens]

Bodyweight

215.2

Day 23 of USAPL Florida State Open Championships Prep

Block Pull (Mid-Shin, Stiff Bar, w/ Belt)
515 x 2 @ 7
565 2 @ 8
585 x 2 @ 9
565 x 2 @ 9

3 Count Pause Bench
225 x 2 @ 5
245 x 2 @ 7
255 x 2 @ 8
265 x 2 @ 9
255 x 2 @ 9

Romanian Deadlift (No Belt)
275 x 5 @ 5
315 x 5 @ 7.5
365 x 5 @ 9
315 x 5 @ 9

Rows, curls, abs.

Notes

My leg pain flared up again after deadlifts and it was really bad today. Went to the doc and talked over my issues. He doesn't think it's anything spinal so he thinks I should hold off on the MRI for now. I'm going to give it a week and follow through on the doctors advice (ice, heat, lots of ibuprofin, and deep tissue massage) but if it keeps hurting I'm going to have to go see a specialist.

[zmcdole]

Hope you get that stuff worked out man.

[ErickStevens]

Thanks guys. I've been pretty bummed about it, hopefully it just goes away eventually.

[Frankdaddy]

These places must lose money with MRI because they never want to initially do an MRI for anything unless you had an x-ray and let it heal for 6 months first. Everybody That tells me they went for an MRI has been turned away or put through other tests to make sure they didnt have to do it first. I mean it's not like I am dumb but when I just strained my back or quad I know if it happened within a muscle or bone to determine if I need an x-ray or MRI or not. Just pisses me off when I pay for insurance and they take forever to do anything.

[devinh]

These places must lose money with MRI because they never want to initially do an MRI for anything unless you had an x-ray and let it heal for 6 months first. Everybody That tells me they went for an MRI has been turned away or put through other tests to make sure they didnt have to do it first. I mean it's not like I am dumb but when I just strained my back or quad I know if it happened within a muscle or bone to determine if I need an x-ray or MRI or not. Just pisses me off when I pay for insurance and they take forever to do anything.

when i messed up my back recently i went in for an MRI, and they made me do an xray first, she said she'd be able to tell if it was a herniated disk from xray, whether the vertebrae had enough gap or not. I asked her why not just go straight to the MRI and not waste anyones time. She told me insurance companies are a real big pain to deal with on MRI's. They hate to pay out if there was not an xray done first, and I guess they think 90% of problems can be determined through xray, so they would rather not pay out the larger amount. I had to tell her to do the MRI also, because that's what I came for. She was cool with me and just did everything I asked for. Without the xray though, I wouldn't be so confused as to where I got a fractured vertebrae from. She said it's pretty much healed up, but just makes me think back to when in the last 30 years I could have possibly done that. Oh well

[arian11]

That's sucks dude. I wish I could give you my unbreakable genes.

[Frankdaddy]

when i messed up my back recently i went in for an MRI, and they made me do an xray first, she said she'd be able to tell if it was a herniated disk from xray, whether the vertebrae had enough gap or not. I asked her why not just go straight to the MRI and not waste anyones time. She told me insurance companies are a real big pain to deal with on MRI's. They hate to pay out if there was not an xray done first, and I guess they think 90% of problems can be determined through xray, so they would rather not pay out the larger amount. I had to tell her to do the MRI also, because that's what I came for. She was cool with me and just did everything I asked for. Without the xray though, I wouldn't be so confused as to where I got a fractured vertebrae from. She said it's pretty much healed up, but just makes me think back to when in the last 30 years I could have possibly done that. Oh well

I understand this, but I will push an MRI so they just wasted a bunch more on an x-ray lol. Oh well. Any idea on what might have caused a fractured vertebrea?

I had an MRI once and one physician said I had an impaction fracture, and another opinion said he had no idea where they saw a fracture. Just goes to show a good reason I try not to frequent a doctor. People dont understand why these pros do not get issues fixed instantly when they have no realization how hard it is just to get an x-ray, gaurantea a 4hr visit for a 20 minute procedure. I do not understand how Branch Warren flew from georgia to texas to have immediate surgery a few days later. He must have some major connections, lol. I would not have such a huge issue with injuries if we had more knowledgable health care system.

[devinh]

I understand this, but I will push an MRI so they just wasted a bunch more on an x-ray lol. Oh well. Any idea on what might have caused a fractured vertebrea?

I had an MRI once and one physician said I had an impaction fracture, and another opinion said he had no idea where they saw a fracture. Just goes to show a good reason I try not to frequent a doctor. People dont understand why these pros do not get issues fixed instantly when they have no realization how hard it is just to get an x-ray, gaurantea a 4hr visit for a 20 minute procedure. I do not understand how Branch Warren flew from georgia to texas to have immediate surgery a few days later. He must have some major connections, lol. I would not have such a huge issue with injuries if we had more knowledgable health care system.

no idea how i did it. it's clearly a fracture though, but it's not like i broke it in half or anything, a corner broke off, but seems to have grown back together, just not in the most perfect way.
yeah, i stay away from the doctor as much as possible, unless it seems extremely serious.

[ErickStevens]

Day 24 of USAPL Florida State Open Championships Prep

Squat
230 x 5, 320 x 5, 370 x 3
+ Belt
410 x 2 @ 6
420 x 2 @ 7
430 x 2 @ 7.5
440 x 2 @ 8
450 x 2 @ 8.5
460 x 2 @ 9
430 x 2 @ 9

2 Board Bench (Light Touch)
225 x 4 @ 5
245 x 4 @ 6.5
265 x 4 @ 7.5
285 x 4 @ 9
275 x 4 @ 9

3 Board Close Grip Bench (Light Touch)
225 x 7 @ 8
235 x 7 @ 9
225 x 7 @ 9

Rows, delts, triceps, abs.

Notes

Squats felt a lot better today and my leg aches were a little more manageable. I don't know if it was a coincidence or due to my very thorough warm up but either way I'm not complaining.

[B-Neva]

leg hurts a lot, deadlift 500lbs
leg pain is manageable, squat 460lbs

isthisreallife.jpg

[ErickStevens]

leg hurts a lot, deadlift 500lbs
leg pain is manageable, squat 460lbs

isthisreallife.jpg

It's all relative brah!

[L The Pirate]

Day 24 of USAPL Florida State Open Championships Prep

Squat
230 x 5, 320 x 5, 370 x 3
+ Belt
410 x 2 @ 6
420 x 2 @ 7
430 x 2 @ 7.5
440 x 2 @ 8
450 x 2 @ 8.5
460 x 2 @ 9
430 x 2 @ 9

2 Board Bench (Light Touch)
225 x 4 @ 5
245 x 4 @ 6.5
265 x 4 @ 7.5
285 x 4 @ 9
275 x 4 @ 9

3 Board Close Grip Bench (Light Touch)
225 x 7 @ 8
235 x 7 @ 9
225 x 7 @ 9

Rows, delts, triceps, abs.

Notes

Squats felt a lot better today and my leg aches were a little more manageable. I don't know if it was a coincidence or due to my very thorough warm up but either way I'm not complaining.

[ErickStevens]

Day 25 of USAPL Florida State Open Championships Prep

Deadlift (w/ Belt, Stiff bar)
495 x 2 @ 5
515 x 2 @ 6
545 x 2 @ 7
565 x 2 @ 8
585 x 2 @ 9
545 x 2 @ 9

Bench vs Doubled Minis (Paused)
185 x 2 @ 6
225 x 2 @ 8.5
230 x 2 @ 9
225 x 2 @ 8
225 x 2 @ 9

BB Lunge
140 x 5 @ 7
150 x 5 @ 9
140 x 5 @ 9

Pulldowns, shrugs, curls.

Conditioning

Tabata Squats, Push Ups, and Crunches.

Notes

I've really been refining my setup and technique with DLs since my trap injury and today it felt like all that work started to pay off. I grade my DLs on a curve since I'm in no hurry to re-injure my trap but the true RPE on the 585 was more like an 8. The leg aches were there but definitely not as persistent or painful as before. All in all a good day!

[hcoyle545]

Lifting through an injury, at those poundages, is hardcore as fawk.

Hope it turns out to be minor bud.

[Big Sexy J]

Your deadlift is getting sexy.

[ErickStevens]

Your deadlift is getting sexy.

By the time March rolls around it's level is going to be over 9000.

[ErickStevens]

[The Solution]

Thats a manly beard your growing there E. Looking thicker in every video you post, its clear your putting in big time work man. Lets just hope the injury front clears up.

How far are your hands on your grip? About shoulder width? i see you do a sumo/conventional hybrid setup which has yielded you great success.

[Frankdaddy]

Great deadlifts. Form was tight all the way through!!! I do hope the injuries clear up, I am excited to see what you can do in March.

[ErickStevens]

Day 26 of USAPL Florida State Open Championships Prep

Pause Bench
225 x 2 @ 5
245 x 2 @ 6
265 x 2 @ 7
285 x 2 @ 8
295 x 2 @ 9 PR
275 x 2 @ 8
275 x 2 @ 9

Squat vs Average Bands
280 x 4 @ 5
320 x 4 @ 6
370 x 4 @ 7
390 x 4 @ 7.5
410 x 4 @ 9
370 x 4 @ 9

JM Press
185 x 7 @ 8
195 x 7 @ 9
185 x 7 @ 9

Rows, delts, triceps, abs.

Notes

Oh yeah, a bench PR! I like it. Squats felt a lot better, I think I'm getting my groove back.

[tenacious707]

Made those deads look straight easy money E. Always mirin the work in here!

[ErickStevens]

Day 27 of USAPL Florida State Open Championships Prep

Deadlifts vs Mini Bands
405 x 4 @ 5
455 x 4 @ 7
500 x 4 @ 9
475 x 4 @ 9

1.5 Board Press
225 x 4 @ 5
245 x 4 @ 6.5
265 x 4 @ 7.5
275 x 4 @ 9
265 x 4 @ 9

Romanian Deadlift
315 x 7 @ 5
405 x 7 @ 9
365 x 7 @ 9

Face pulls, shrugs, curls, and abs.

Conditioning

300lb Tire Flip x 20 ft + 150lb Prowler Push x 20 ft + 220lb Reverse Sled Drag (A few times)

Notes

Pretty fun session today. Deadlifts felt good even though my leg soreness flared up again. Time to relax and reload for next week!

[The Solution]

Deadlifts with bands, 4 plate RDL's and then the conditioning.. That workout has BRUTAL all over it.