EB68's workout journal

[MooseTequila]

Your deadz look so strong AND with great form Eric, bummer about the MF but I like that you gave it a 2nd shot... and nice arm blasting today, pumps FTW!

[SteveWright1]

great deadlift Vid Eric
I could feel your dissapointment after the 425 attempt
but triples and then single up to 4 plates per side is an awesome session in my opinion
and you had achieved a good double with 315 lb on squats recently and that may have accounted for those toasted legs on deadlift day (well that and the sheer volume of deadlifts leading up to the 425 attempt)

great vascularity still showing on the arms Eric
seems the increased calories are being utilised fully in your training anyway

[EB68]

That was a huge workout for the bis and tris with the killer supersets and trisets. High reps so would have had a massive pump! Loads of flexing in the mirror afterwards?

Thanks Andrew. I had a great pump in my arms afterward, so much so that flexing was painful.

Huge arm day Eric! Love the trisets, no doubt you had a massive pump!

Thanks Shawn. I wish the pump would stay around longer.

Your deadz look so strong AND with great form Eric, bummer about the MF but I like that you gave it a 2nd shot... and nice arm blasting today, pumps FTW!

Thanks Moose. I should have gotten that 425 pull, I was pissed at myself for having so much doubt. I felt really confident right after the 405 pull, but somehow lost all of that right before the 425 attempt.

great deadlift Vid Eric
I could feel your dissapointment after the 425 attempt
but triples and then single up to 4 plates per side is an awesome session in my opinion
and you had achieved a good double with 315 lb on squats recently and that may have accounted for those toasted legs on deadlift day (well that and the sheer volume of deadlifts leading up to the 425 attempt)

great vascularity still showing on the arms Eric
seems the increased calories are being utilised fully in your training anyway

Thanks Steve. I was completely frustrated after missing 425 twice, then not being able to pull 405 again after having an easy time with it just before. I think I expect too much from myself from time to time though. A severe lack of sleep and pushing too hard session after session may not be the best way to go about it, but I am so ready to make some increases in Size and Strength that I want to push myself as far as possible. I have been so stagnant for so long it gets frustrating to the point that I wonder what I am doing wrong and if it is all worth the effort. My Arms and Legs are smaller than they were 2 years ago, and I am weaker as well.

[EB68]

Yesterday was Leg/Chest day and here is how poorly it went.

Squats
135x12
225x10
245x8
275x2
225x10
225x10

Shoulder rehab work and bench warm-up
Barx15
95x12
115x10

SLDL/BB Benchpress supersets
135x12/135x8
155x10/155x4
175x8/165x2

That was it for yesterday. My Hams and Glutes were so sore from the deadlifts that Squatting was painful as hell. I thought the high rep low weight sets would get me loosened up, but I kept getting tighter with every set. The 245/275 sets were less than parallel. On the bench I just had zero strength, 95 felt like 155 yesterday.
I got a couple new items for the Gym yesterday and before lifting I had moved every weight I own twice for cleaning and relocating. I bought some weight hangers for my rack to put all of the 45's on and get them off the tree. I also moved all of the Dumbbells over away from the rack so I wouldn't have to stand on them to load the bar anymore.
Hopefully the next purchase will be a DB rack to get them off the floor.
I hope I can recover some before tomorrow evening and get a decent week in this coming week.
My weight has been weird lately, even though I have been eating like a mad man I have lost two pounds in two weeks. I was up to 170, but weighed 168 this morning.
I don't want to get fat, but may have to up the cals to a consistent 4200/4300 daily.

[conoutlook]

Jelly of those squat numbers dude

[fittofattofit]

Nothing to feel bad about with that session ... you'd been doing farmer's walks back and forth with the plates so you already had a good workout in before you got to the squats. I find that shifting things around really tires out my core and when my core is fatigued my squats go to sh!te. I'm sure that's why you started to 'tighten' up after the 225 squats
Amazing to think that you've got to bump the cals to well over 4000 per day to gain weight .... just goes to show how much work you do Eric!

[raynerd]

First off, great efforts for even trying to squat after all that deadlift DOMS. When I push hard on deads (and have never pushed as hard as you...ever) I get real damn sore and squatting can be nearly impossible.
Strange about the weight Eric. Only thing I can think of is the sleep deprivation. That causes a ton of cortisol production and can really mess with the gains. I know when my body gets stressed either emotionally or run down physically, weight just falls off me.
Maybe you are putting in too much effort in the gym
These are just random thoughts FWIW, but ever think lower volume, lower rep straight up strength training might be a thing to change up? You are such a busy dood and wondering if your hyooge volume sessions are taxing you into the negatives to try to keep up.
Sorry for blabbing just throwing some stuff out there as you said you were getting frustrated

[EB68]

Jelly of those squat numbers dude

Thanks. I am hoping to hit 335 again soon and then progress from there.

Nothing to feel bad about with that session ... you'd been doing farmer's walks back and forth with the plates so you already had a good workout in before you got to the squats. I find that shifting things around really tires out my core and when my core is fatigued my squats go to sh!te. I'm sure that's why you started to 'tighten' up after the 225 squats
Amazing to think that you've got to bump the cals to well over 4000 per day to gain weight .... just goes to show how much work you do Eric!

Thanks Andrew. My Hams were so sore yesterday that it was painful to reach parallel on the squats, then starting back up was tough, even with 225. Hopefully by Tuesday they will be better and I can get some heavy Squatting done.
I feel like I am eating for two people lately, but I guess I have been burning more calories than usual. I want to keep the weight increase slow and controlled, but I do want it to increase. I may try to stay around 4100 for a couple of weeks and see how that goes.
lately it has been tough getting all of the calories in daily, but I will get it done.

First off, great efforts for even trying to squat after all that deadlift DOMS. When I push hard on deads (and have never pushed as hard as you...ever) I get real damn sore and squatting can be nearly impossible.
Strange about the weight Eric. Only thing I can think of is the sleep deprivation. That causes a ton of cortisol production and can really mess with the gains. I know when my body gets stressed either emotionally or run down physically, weight just falls off me.
Maybe you are putting in too much effort in the gym
These are just random thoughts FWIW, but ever think lower volume, lower rep straight up strength training might be a thing to change up? You are such a busy dood and wondering if your hyooge volume sessions are taxing you into the negatives to try to keep up.
Sorry for blabbing just throwing some stuff out there as you said you were getting frustrated

Thanks Shawn. I probably should have just skipped lifting yesterday anyway, but felt like missing a session would put me further behind.
I know my cortisol levels are high, they were up a good bit with the last bloodwork, but surprisingly my test levels were up as well. I was around 270 previously and last time it was 420. I assume eating better and lifting consistently helped that number out. If I could get some consistent sleep I may be able to get it up in the 600's someday.
I have been trying to sleep more, but there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day lately. I always plan to get in bed earlier, but it always seems that by the time I am done with everything I only have a couple of hours left before time to wake up.
I have been experimenting lately with working my Back once per week, Legs and Arms twice per week and chest 3 times. I want to see if there is any difference in strength and size gains between them. I know it will take a few months to see a difference if any though.


Off today. Went to the hunting land and put up a couple of more stands and a couple of cameras, other than that I haven't done much. Hope to be rested well for tomorrow's Chest/Arm session.
Today's food

[raynerd]

Sweet! Glad you had a chill day Eric! Good job on the cals too, should be a good workout tomorrow for ya!

[EB68]

Sweet! Glad you had a chill day Eric! Good job on the cals too, should be a good workout tomorrow for ya!

Thanks Shawn. Didn't get to lift yesterday and today was a crappy session, but I did what I could.

Today was Chest and Arms and here it is.

BB Bench/Preacher Curl supersets
Barx15/45x15
95x12/55x10
115x10/65x8
135x8/75x6
155x3/85x3
165x3/95x1
175x1/85x3
155x5/85x2
135x5/85x1

Incline Flyes/DB OTP supersets
35'sx15/50x15
40'sx12/55x12
45'sx10/60x10
45'sx10/60x10
45'sx10/60x10

That was it for today, I was weak as crap today and 175 felt like 225. Not sure why after 2 days off from lifting I thought today would go well. I didn't get to lift yesterday, I was having some electrical issues in the house. One outlet in the bathroom stopped working, then the outlet outside by the basement door stopped. It took all afternoon and half of this afternoon to track down the issue and fix it.
Hopefully tomorrow will go better with Squats.
Today's food

[raynerd]

Got some work in anyway Eric, just sounds like an off day, but you still plugged a ton of volume in the bank for later. Great job on the super sets!

[doughnutgut]

Superset of death right there.

I think you get a better workout in with only 40mins of sleep and 27 hours straight of work. J/K

I dunno how you manage.

[Plateauplower]

Still got work done. I go through those phases too, it's frustrating to want to train hard and not be able to push yourself, or at least feel like your pushing yourself. I think consistency is more important anyway. When I have off days/weeks I just think of it as a forced deload. Deer season is coming. I havnt scouted or done anything. Still need to get duck blinds dressed. Weekends are too short and week nights I don't feel like going and doing that stuff would have to fight traffic to get out to my lakes etc. Keep doing what you can, it's like an arms session Judy shoveling in 4200 cals/day .

[MooseTequila]

Crap dem is strong azz curls Eric... so dayum envious!!!!

[EB68]

Got some work in anyway Eric, just sounds like an off day, but you still plugged a ton of volume in the bank for later. Great job on the super sets!

Thanks Shawn. I was depressed with yesterday's session, but life goes on, today's session went much better.

Superset of death right there.

I think you get a better workout in with only 40mins of sleep and 27 hours straight of work. J/K

I dunno how you manage.

Thanks Leigh. I think you are right about getting better work done on less rest.

Still got work done. I go through those phases too, it's frustrating to want to train hard and not be able to push yourself, or at least feel like your pushing yourself. I think consistency is more important anyway. When I have off days/weeks I just think of it as a forced deload. Deer season is coming. I havnt scouted or done anything. Still need to get duck blinds dressed. Weekends are too short and week nights I don't feel like going and doing that stuff would have to fight traffic to get out to my lakes etc. Keep doing what you can, it's like an arms session Judy shoveling in 4200 cals/day .

Thanks Tim. I have everything ready for deer season, ours opens Saturday for Bow hunting. Went down Sunday to put out a camera at my #1 stand and another member had their 4 wheeler parked in the woods about 40 yards from the stand. Pissed me off because we aren't supposed to get off the road with them and He knew where I had my stand. I guess that is just hunting though, there will always be the Lazy ones who would rather follow someone else than scout their own spot.
Today's session went much better than yesterday, so hopefully the rest of the week will be okay.

Crap dem is strong azz curls Eric... so dayum envious!!!!

Thanks Moose. I have curled more but it doesn't seem to help with my skinny azz arms.

[EB68]

Today was Leg/Shoulder/Ab day and here it is.

Squats/DB Shrug supersets
Barx15/50'sx12
135x12/55'sx10
225x10/60'sx10
245x8/60'sx10
275x5/65'sx10
295x3/65'sx10
315x1/65'sx10
275x3/65'sx10
275x3/65'sx10

Leg Extension/HLR supersets
90x20/x15
125x15/x12
135x15/x11
155x12/x9

That was it for today. Quads were screaming after the extensions. Traps were pumped pretty good too. 315 was a struggle, but it went up anyway.
Diet was Low today, been busy all day and just didn't get enough food in.
Today's food

[RT1957]

Strong WO EB...squats vid looked great....

[raynerd]

Awesome Eric!! Great to see you nailing that 315 consecutively again! Hard work today!

[EB68]

Strong WO EB...squats vid looked great....

Thanks Ron.

Awesome Eric!! Great to see you nailing that 315 consecutively again! Hard work today!

Thanks Shawn. Hope to be consistent with the 315 and eventually move up from there.

I haven't lifted since Last Tuesday until yesterday. I had to replace the lower Ball Joints and Lower control arm bushings in my truck and managed to really aggravate my right shoulder. I decided to take a few days off and let it rest and it was feeling decent yesterday so I worked my Chest. I did take it easy though. Here is how it went.

BB Benchpress
Barx15
95x12
115x10
135x10
155x8
155x7
155x6

Incline Flyes
30'sx20
35'sx15
40'sx12
45'sx10
50'sx8

That was it for yesterday. My shoulder is sore today, but not too bad. I plan to work my Legs and Traps later. I have had a lot going on the last few days and haven't eat as good as I wanted to. I hope to get the diet up and add some weight soon.

[Plateauplower]

That doesnt sound fun, at least you got it done before the crappy weather. I guess in Georgia it doesnt get as bad as here but still, at least you won't be driving down the road and have your wheels decide to face different directions. Getting more into hunting mode myself, havnt done anything for bow hunting (including shooting my bow much) but the cool morning let me know it will be here soon. My dad is all geared up since he didnt get to hunt much late last year due to a surgery. He just installed a torque converter in the Coleman 200ct mini bike I got for him to drag deer out . It will easily pull a sled loaded with 200lbs now with no cluthc slip and goes like 40 mph . I just ordered one for mine (I bought two of them at a Cabelas sale). I better keep the old parts for when I teach the kids to ride it, they wont need wheely popping torque or 40+mph speed....

[raynerd]

Sorry about the shoulder Eric, glad you could get a decent session in today. I have been cranking wrenches since 12 years old with my dad, I just hate it now. I usually just bring it in when I have the money, so many bloody knuckles, sore elbow tendons, rust in the eyes....you know the story
Unfortunately most of the time it's too damn expensive

[mirroroferised]

Sorry to hear about the shoulder Eric. Hopefully the rest helps. Feels weird saying rest to you

[MooseTequila]

Bummer on the shoulder Eric, let someone else do the ball joints next time

[conoutlook]

Rest that shoulder and heal up dude

[EB68]

That doesnt sound fun, at least you got it done before the crappy weather. I guess in Georgia it doesnt get as bad as here but still, at least you won't be driving down the road and have your wheels decide to face different directions. Getting more into hunting mode myself, havnt done anything for bow hunting (including shooting my bow much) but the cool morning let me know it will be here soon. My dad is all geared up since he didnt get to hunt much late last year due to a surgery. He just installed a torque converter in the Coleman 200ct mini bike I got for him to drag deer out . It will easily pull a sled loaded with 200lbs now with no cluthc slip and goes like 40 mph . I just ordered one for mine (I bought two of them at a Cabelas sale). I better keep the old parts for when I teach the kids to ride it, they wont need wheely popping torque or 40+mph speed....

Thanks Tim. The weather usually doesn't get too bad here until November, but we will have a few crappy days before then. It sounded like something was about to come apart under my truck every time I hit a bump. The road I live on is pretty tough on suspension parts, it is pretty much a Logging road through the mountains with a few gravels spread over it.
I went hunting Sunday without even knowing if I could draw my bow or not, I didn't see anything though. I am sure with Saturday being opening day that there was plenty of people at the club walking through the woods. Normally after the first couple of weeks the hunting pressure will slow down and the deer will be back on a more normal pattern. I hope to put 3 or 4 in the freezer this year, and be able to eat venison a couple of times a week all year.
The Mini bikes sound like fun with the torque convertor added, hopefully your Dad isn't as crazy as mine was or he will be riding wheelies through the woods

Sorry about the shoulder Eric, glad you could get a decent session in today. I have been cranking wrenches since 12 years old with my dad, I just hate it now. I usually just bring it in when I have the money, so many bloody knuckles, sore elbow tendons, rust in the eyes....you know the story
Unfortunately most of the time it's too damn expensive

Thanks Shawn. The Shoulder is feeling pretty good today, but I still don't want to push it.
I used to love working on Cars, but like you I have lost the love lately. I owned several Hot rods when I was younger and have had several off road Jeeps and trucks that stayed broke as much as they worked, now I just want something I can get in and go when needed with as little maintenance as possible.

Sorry to hear about the shoulder Eric. Hopefully the rest helps. Feels weird saying rest to you

Thanks Dave. I think the Time away from lifting really helped speed up the recovery of my Shoulder. Before I would have just worked through the pain and likely would have limped along for weeks before it felt better.

Bummer on the shoulder Eric, let someone else do the ball joints next time

Thanks Moose. I am too cheap to pay someone else to do it. I always say I am going to pay someone else and when the time comes I never do.

[EB68]

Yesterday was Leg day and here is how it went.

Squats
Barx15
135x12
185x10
225x8
245x8
275x6
275x5
275x3
135x11 (was hoping for 20, but just couldn't do it.)

Leg Extensions
90x20
115x15
135x10
135x10
135x10

Cable Crunches
50x18
50x16
50x15

That was it for yesterday. I took it easy again yesterday with the Legs, but was really gassed out after the Squats. I was tired as hell when I started and fell asleep in the recliner trying to get it logged. I ate Plenty yesterday and hope to keep that up for a while. The weather is getting cooler and that helps with cramming loads of food down. I hate to eat a lot when it is too hot, makes me feel like I am going to explode.
I plan to work my back this evening if I can stay awake long enough.

[EB68]

Rest that shoulder and heal up dude

Thanks. I missed your post somehow, or you Ninja posted me
The shoulder is feeling much better, but I still plan to take it easy on it for a bit.

[raynerd]

Big leg work Eric, 275 is that key weight for me that is still really heavy but a can grind around 5-6 reps full out. 3 sets of that will tire a dood out! Chit ton of volume in there with the added extensions and crunches. Great job!

[EB68]

Big leg work Eric, 275 is that key weight for me that is still really heavy but a can grind around 5-6 reps full out. 3 sets of that will tire a dood out! Chit ton of volume in there with the added extensions and crunches. Great job!

Thanks Shawn. It felt like a much heavier volume session. I think I am going to stay with the same scheme for most sessions for a while, and stick with topping at some 3 to 5 rep sets instead of chasing PR's every session. I think you were right the other day about the recovery issue and the way I have been doing it just takes too much out of me.

[RT1957]

Some impressive weight EB especially at your BW....you and Shawn both amaze with me the weights you guys use...