The Code of Bushido is Harsh and Relentless: TS's Grind to the Stage

[TakedaShingen]

Hyper Upper:

I was up and ready all morning. 1030 couldn't come soon enough.


Incline DB:
65x12
70x12
75x8

That last set didn't feel right from the first rep. Then, when I tried to reset a couple reps in, that made it worse. I know better than to adjust mid lift, but it felt wrong.


Decline Smith:
1pps +10 x 15
1pps +25 x 15
1pps +35 x 15


Incline DB Flies:
37.5 x 20
37.5 x 18

Superset/
T-Bar Rows/Rear Delt Band Pulls
2plates +25 x 12 /30 band pulls
3plates x 12 /30 band pulls
3plates +25 x12 /30 band pulls

T-Bar with 3 plates...Good reps.



1 Arm DB Rows:
75x12
85x12
110x8

No straps. Just my busted ass hands and the DBs.


Wide Gripped 1.5 Low Cable Rows:
80x20
90x12
90x12


( I'm out of playroom time for my little guy...gotta get movin.)

Triple-Set:
DB Curls/1.5 DB Hammers/Medial Delt Overhead Band Pulls

30x10/15x15/30 band pulls
30x10/15x40!!!/100 band pulls

PUMP CITY!!!

Weight: 191lbs

Feelin good. Lookin good. Doin work!!!

[The Solution]

up to 191 huh? Damn son! Gett big.

[TakedaShingen]

up to 191 huh? Damn son! Gett big.

That's the plan ; )

I'm certainly filling out. I feel like a fata$$, but I know that's just the old fat kid mentality comin back.

My arms, delts, traps, and chest have never looked better. My legs, well, they're their own entity. They probably account for 3/4 of my Bodyweight lol. They're monsters.

[TakedaShingen]

Mattress fuuuuuuked my back up last night! My ish was feelin rough.
Planned on laying back on weight today from the moment I opened my eyes.

Luckily, as I type this, I am lying on my NEW kick ass mattress!!! I have a feeling my back is going to feel a whole lot better henceforth.


Hyper Lower:

Sumo Deads:
185x12
225x15
225x17


DB SLDLs:
60x12
60x15
60x15


1.5 Seated Leg Curl:
180x15
195x15
210x15

My hams are RAPED!!! They weren't even healed from Tuesday yet. They are not pleased : )


Front Squats:
155x10
155x12
155x20

Wasn't trying to push a ton of weight. Lower back was on fire as it was.


Close Stance Hacks:

Damn gym moved my Hack Machine to another location, and the other one SUCKS dick! Will be subbing something else next week. Probably Leg Press with a drop set or something.


1.5 Leg Extensions:
130x15
150x15
150x20
170x15

My quads are on fire right about here. Jesus.


Weight: Holding at 191lbs.

Feelin great still. Mindset is focused. On my damn sh*t.

[The Solution]

225x17? damn thats cardio alone!

[TakedaShingen]

225x17? damn thats cardio alone!

I had more, but I thought it best to save some for the rest of the day. I'm glad I did. Cuz those 1.5s have me fuuuuked up in the game.

[TakedaShingen]

Power Upper:


Bent BB Rows:
185x10
245x5
205x10


Weighted Close Grip Pull-ups:
BW+45 x 6
BW+45 x 6


Wide Grip Pulldowns:
130x8
120x10
120x10


Flat BB Bench:
195x5
205x5
215x4


Weighted Dips:
BW+70 x9
BW+90 x5

So close to locking that 6th rep on the +90. I grinded that f*cker for like 10sec before I couldn't hold myself up any longer.


Standing Military:
95x10
105x10
120x7


Triple Set:
BB Hammers/Single Arm DB Overheads/Rear Band Pulls
35x10/35x10/30
35x10/35x10/40
40x10/40x9/85!!!

That last band pull set was because my partner was talking ish. He regretted it : )


Weight: 192.0

Feelin full. Feelin strong. Feeling great.

[TakedaShingen]

Been a rough few days. I was up for literally 3 days straight. My son was in the hospital with mild pneumonia. So, naturally I stayed with him. His mother came and visited a couple times which was nice, cuz it allowed me to get out of a hospital room for a couple hours.

So, Monday I got my upper workout in. Not that I was concerned with lifting, but with a few hrs to myself, and after sitting in a room for dozens of hours on end, the gym seemed like a logical place to go to stretch out and stay sane.

That's my little man. He's the coolest cat I know. Certainly my favorite person to hang with. He's doing well now. He's home and relaxing. He wanted to hang out with PaPa today (my dad), so I figured I could get legs in while they played Legos and are a bunch of food we don't have at my house : )

Here we go...

My back is a little beat up from sleeping in a hospital chair, so I kept the squats light and skipped deads after my first set, because it just didn't feel right. Not an injured pain, but not a, "Hey, I'm ready to deadlift" feeling either. So, as much as I was displeased to skip 2 sets of my favorite exercise, Dan and I decided it would be for the best.


Squats:
185x10
185x5 (x2)
235x6
255x5


Incline Leg Press:
7pps x 12
8pps x 11
9pps x 7


Leg Extension:
250x10
270x10
290x10

I'm out of plates : ) Time to add reps or come up with something new. Any ideas? Just squat more perhaps?


Deadlifts:
275x10 - EASY!!!

Skipped last two sets. Read above.
I locked out 315 on the second set and put it right back down.


RDL:
L110 x 20
110 x 25
110 x 30

Decided to follow suit after those bailed deads and lower the weight. Last week, I pulled 205x12 on my closing set. I found it was probably a better decision to go this route. Once again, playing it smart and being a little bitch, feel eerily similar lol.

Superset:
Lying Leg Curls/Standing Calves (3sec hold at top of calf motion.)

130x10/200x20
150x6/240x12
110x15/180x25 -I was feeling pretty drained on this last set. I'm ready to eat right about here.

Weight: 191

Nutrition was monitored, but not my highest priority over the last few days. On Monday, I cooked 2lbs of chicken, 1/2 box of white rice, some broccoli. Then, took some cinnamon toast crunch, a few bagels, sugar free jelly, and chex mix, and took it to the hospital. I am glad I had it, cuz I was just sitting around playin Legos with my boy watchin movies in the room. We weren't able to be very mobile due to the constant breathing treatments.

As I sat in Children's Hospital in Buffalo, and looked around me, I became really grateful. Yeah, this was a mild setback to our week, but we are ok. We are relatively healthy and happy, and we should be perpetually grateful for this fact.

The best part about the entire trip was...A High School Special Ed Class runs a fundraiser twice a year, then they take that money and go to the Build-A-Bear Workshop and build a couple dozen bears and dress em and whatnot. Then, they take the bears and bring them to the hospital and give them to all the kids in there that day. The young gentleman, Donald I believe, was one of the nicest, friendliest, most polite, and kind individuals I have ever met. He made my son laugh and he made me smile. Donald is the kind of guy I strive to be every day, but man, he's got me beat ; )

[The Solution]

Hope all is well with the little one man, taking care of your family first and foremost = Key!
Lol at getting in legs while they played with leggo's

[Ccm644]

Been a rough few days. I was up for literally 3 days straight. My son was in the hospital with mild pneumonia. So, naturally I stayed with him. His mother came and visited a couple times which was nice, cuz it allowed me to get out of a hospital room for a couple hours.

So, Monday I got my upper workout in. Not that I was concerned with lifting, but with a few hrs to myself, and after sitting in a room for dozens of hours on end, the gym seemed like a logical place to go to stretch out and stay sane.

That's my little man. He's the coolest cat I know. Certainly my favorite person to hang with. He's doing well now. He's home and relaxing. He wanted to hang out with PaPa today (my dad), so I figured I could get legs in while they played Legos and are a bunch of food we don't have at my house : )



As I sat in Children's Hospital in Buffalo, and looked around me, I became really grateful. Yeah, this was a mild setback to our week, but we are ok. We are relatively healthy and happy, and we should be perpetually grateful for this fact.

The best part about the entire trip was...A High School Special Ed Class runs a fundraiser twice a year, then they take that money and go to the Build-A-Bear Workshop and build a couple dozen bears and dress em and whatnot. Then, they take the bears and bring them to the hospital and give them to all the kids in there that day. The young gentleman, Donald I believe, was one of the nicest, friendliest, most polite, and kind individuals I have ever met. He made my son laugh and he made me smile. Donald is the kind of guy I strive to be every day, but man, he's got me beat ; )

Sorry to hear about the rough days!

Not good news with pneumonia

Glad hes doing well and home relaxing so he gets fully better very soon


About the fundraiser twice a year is really good and i bet it means the world to the children there

Sounds like even though you was at hospital for a reason which was not good, you did meet a very nice individual who made you and your son smile

Have a nice recovery little man

[jpfaherty]

Glad your boy is doing better man!

Now get that back better and start demolishing sht again!

[demonwareltd]

Glad your son is on the road to recovery - seeing children sick in the hospital is the most heart wrenching thing in the world...

[Gym God]

I'm just catching up in here. Best in health to your little man and way to take care of him. These are the moments we don't like to see, but they are the moments that mean so much to him, as well as to us, as parents.

[TakedaShingen]

Glad your boy is doing better man!

Now get that back better and start demolishing sht again!

I'm workin on that back, Bro. Trust me...the mind is fkn willing!!!

[TakedaShingen]

Thanks Stan, Chris, Bob, JP, Dean...all you guys.

My little guy is doing well. He's home as using ruckus as we speak.

[TakedaShingen]

Woke up ready for war today!!!




I've been gettin really excited for upper days lately. My presses are feeling stronger than ever. This is of course in direct correlation to having exponentially better form.

My approach to progression today, was to use the second set of last week as my first set of this week. This setup went great, and I felt solid all the way through. Not one did I feel gassed.


Hyper Upper:

Incline DB:
65x12
75x10
80x8.5 (I racked 9, but Dan helped a little on that last one.)


Decline Smith:
1pps +25 x15
1pps +35 x15
2pps x12

Feeling pretty good about these benches movin up and feelin better overall. I know these numbers don't look like much, but man...they feel GREAT!!!


Pec Deck: (Felt like a little change from DB flies)
The added number at the end of each set is the number of claps I did with each weight. That tension from just doing a 6-8" range of motion and keeping constant focus on the pec, is mean.

140x15 +15
180x15 +15
200x12 +12


Quad-Set:
-Forward Shoulder Press w/T-Bar
-Landmines w/T-Bar
-Overhead Medial Band Pulls
-Standing Oblique Side Raises

1st Set:
25x15 each arm/25x12/40/45x25 each side

2nd Set:
35x15 each arm/35x12/75/45x25 each side

Jesus, landmines with that much weight are beastly. My sides are going to be on fire tomorrow...For Sure.


STRICT Form T-Bar Rows:
3 plates x 12
3 plates +25 x 12
4 plates x8

No bounce, no jerk, and no throwing the weight. I wanted 10 with 4 plates, but it was not going to happen without breaking solid form, so, I did not do the reps.


One Arm DB Rows:
85x12
95x12
110x8


Close Grip 1.5 Cable Low Rows:
90x12
100x12
120x9


Triple Set:
-DB Curls
-DB 1.5 Hammers
-Two Hand Overhead Tri Extension F'd Up Set

1st Set:
Curls-30x12
1.5 Hammers-15x15
Tris-50x12-drop set
55x12
60x12
55x12

2nd Set:
Curls-35x12
1.5 Hammers- 15x15
Tris- 45x12-drop set
47.5x12
50x10
55x10
60x10

3rd Set:
Curls- 35x10
1.5 Hammers- 15x15
Single Arm Tri- 25x20


Great session today.

[The Solution]

Someone is racking up big volume!

[TakedaShingen]

Someone is racking up big volume!

Tryin to blow this frame up, Bob. My body responds to frequency and volume. So, that's what it's getting.

[jpfaherty]

hulk smash!

[TakedaShingen]

My hams were still a fkn wreck from Wednesday lol. Time to do work!

Hyper Legs:

This is BY FAR, the most painful day of the week.

Sumos:
Deciding to give that lower back a rest seemed like a good idea. It still needs time. I could've sumoed and pull some good lifts, and then my back would've need til Monday to heal, at which point I would just obliterate it again. So...I subbed...

Superset:
Hyperextensions/BB SLDL 10 sec Holds/1.5 Upright BB Rows

BW+25 x 12/40x10/40x12
BW+25 x15/40x10/40x12
BW+25 x15/40x10/40x15


DB RDL's:
65x15
65x15
70x15

I need to go up in weight with these. These are far too easy.


1.5 Seated Ham Curls:
195x15
210x15
225x15

Runnin out of plates on this machine as well : ) Not even mad.


Front Skwatz:
135x15
150x15
170x15

I decided to not go crazy on these as well. Keep the weight relatively light and pushed strong, good reps. I just let Dan pick the weight for his sets and pushed 15 with each.


Incline Leg Press:
3pps x 15 +50calves
4pps x15 +35calves
5pps x15-drop set
-4pps x15
-3pps x15
-2pps x25
-1pps x65 +20calves

It took me a second to stand up out of the leg press. I couldn't get my legs to engage to lift me lol. Pump city!!!
Gotta up one more plate next time. Really make that drop set count!!!

1.5 Leg Extension:
150x15
150x25

That last set was the most pumped my quads have ever been. The last 7reps probably took me almost 2min. I was pushing em one at a time through the most excruciating pain my legs have ever felt.

Weight: 194.8
Hahahahahaha...DAMN RIGHT, SON!!!

[The Solution]

I see you really enjoy those 1.5 reps eh? I love them!

[TakedaShingen]

I see you really enjoy those 1.5 reps eh? I love them!

They hurt so good.

[TakedaShingen]

I ended up doing my cleanup shoulder and lat day yesterday morning, and upon pulling my first set today, immediately regretted it lol.

Feelin good, but certainly worked. Zero back pain today, but I'm still leaving out deads for a week or two and subbing hyperextensions with a held contraction at the top.


Upper Power:

BB Rows:
185x15
205x10
205x10

Dropped the weight on these again today. I feel a much better contraction in that 205-225 range, than when I'm just pullin weight. Felt great.


Weighted Pull-ups:
BW+45 x 7
BW+55 x 4


Wide Grip Pulldowns:
130x10
130x10


Decline BB Bench:
195x5
215x5
230x5

Yeah, SON!!! Finally broke 2 plates for 5. Clean, no assistance...just me and the bar. 3 plates are comin!!!

Told you my pushes have been feelin better.

I know this is nothing to some of you guys, but I am damn pleased.

Weighted Dips:
BW+45 x10
BW+70 x10
BW+45 x10

We were only supposed to do 2 sets, but they felt great, so we added a third.


Strict Standing Military:
105x10
115x10
130x6

My shoulders are feelin it right about now...wooooooo. Yesterday, they got smoked.


Superset:
BB Curls/Single Arm Overhead Tri Extension

90x7/35x10
80x9/40x8
80x10/40x8


Machine Shrugs:
3pps x25 (x3)

Every fifth rep held for a 5 count. Every last rep, held to fail.


Roman Chair Leg Raises:
35x2

So much core happened yesterday, that these were plenty. Smoked.


Weight: 191.8


Really pleased with my pushing lately. Overall, today was a solid session. I certainly feel worked. But feelin great!!!

[xStevenx]

Nice work on the decline press man! I remember when I broke the 2 plate barrier on bench. Top of the world after that lol, you will hit the 3 plate mark!

[TakedaShingen]

Nice work on the decline press man! I remember when I broke the 2 plate barrier on bench. Top of the world after that lol, you will hit the 3 plate mark!

No doubt!

I had to put the 2.5s on for good measure lol. Really, I am fairly certain I had 240x5, but I didn't wanna be greedy. I am staying in positive mindset by never missing a rep. I have found my lifts improving by steering clear of anywhere near failure, and by always setting myself up for success. PR's every week at this point. It's crazy how I hadn't realized this before. It took Jim Wendler and Brandon Lilly to make me realize it.

[obey46]

Still doing a great job in here bro! Been lurking

How long till the show?

[Ccm644]

Going well

Enjoy the new mattress, hope the back gets better

In for 3 plates

[TakedaShingen]

Still doing a great job in here bro! Been lurking

How long till the show?

Doing an October show.

4wks left of bulking. Then, on to a 20 week prep.

Gonna have to find a solid supp stack to run through prep. Hint hint...wink wink... : )

All in all, I'm glad I put off the show to reset my metabolism and build a little on my frame. Gonna come in 100 x's better this fall than I would've in March.

Always glad to have ya, bro.

[TakedaShingen]

Going well

Enjoy the new mattress, hope the back gets better

In for 3 plates

Mattress rocks!!!

Back is still mending.

3 plates is coming soon!

You're the man, Dean.

[obey46]

Doing an October show.

4wks left of bulking. Then, on to a 20 week prep.

Gonna have to find a solid supp stack to run through prep. Hint hint...wink wink... : )

All in all, I'm glad I put off the show to reset my metabolism and build a little on my frame. Gonna come in 100 x's better this fall than I would've in March.

Always glad to have ya, bro.

Sounds like a plan! Haha you know where to go and who to ask bro (/nudge)!

Yeah sorry I haven't posted anything in the past 2 months in here lol