Fin's MAX-OT Carnage

[fin_13]

I've made some terrific gains off 5x5 and it's been a blast.

Gains:
Bench: 130 lb to 170lb (130%)
Squat: 190 lb to 250lb (131%)
Deadlift: 165 lb to 270lb (142%)
Barbell Rows: 110 lb to 150lb (136%)

Will be finishing my Army Service term and begin my Degree at the end of July so that's when my target dates for a good look back will be. Embarked on MAX-OT taking along 3 of my gym buddies and basically i'm tracking all our progress in excel sheets daily. Here's the plan for the first couple of weeks:

Week 1
Mon - Set A
Tue - Set B
Wed - Set C
Fri - Set A

Week 2
Mon - Set B
Tue - Set C
Thu - Set A
Fri - Set B

Week 3
Mon - Set C
Wed - Set A
Thu - Set B
Fri - Set C

***

Set A (Back, Biceps, Forearms)
- Dead lift
- Lat Pull down
- Seated Rows
- Barbell Bicep Curls
- Dumbbell Bicep Curls

Set B (Chest, Shoulders, Triceps)
- Bench Press
- Incline Bench Press
- Decline Bench Press
- Military Press
- Dumbbell Side Laterals
- Triceps Lying Press
- Triceps Pull downs

Set C (Legs, Calves, Abs)
- Squats
- Lunges
- Stiff-Leg Dead lift
- Standing Barbell Calf Raises
- Machine Calf Raises
- Weighted Machine Crunches
- Jackknives
- Dumbbell Oblique Side Crunches

***

Idea is to take a break after 8 weeks (2 months) and to incorporate cardio as and when the weather permits over here, with mainly swimming and speed training and light jogging as options.

Here's my initial weights for my main lifts entering MAX-OT (I've dropped some poundage to accomodate for double work sets as compared to 5x5):

Body Weight: *to be edited*
Deadlift: *to be edited*
Squat: *to be edited*
Bench: *to be edited*

[fin_13]

Into my third week of MAX-OT and i can already feel that the gains are terrific. My workouts have never felt so intense before. I’ve gone up 1.5kg since i embarked on MAX-OT with little visible fat gain.

I started out about 10 - 15lb lighter from what i lifted in 5?5 to accommodate for the two actual work sets in MAX-OT as compared to my single heaviest lift in 5?5. Already in the third week and i’m back up at my optimal for Squats, Deadlift and just 5lb away for my Bench.

Worked on neglected body parts like calves and abs and to a small extent hamstrings felt really great.

The fact that I’ve recruited 3 of my other gym buddies to embark on MAX-OT together with me was good motivation for one another to lift heavier and to push each other. I’ve helped them all track their progress in an excel sheet which i manage after every gym session.

Today’s Set B (Chest, Shoulders, Triceps). My Back and Biceps are still sore from yesterday but it’s gonna be an all out gym session. all the best to us!!

**edit** Will update new Progress pictures to MyBodySpace soon !!