The Vegetarian Buddhist Aspiring Powerlifter

[KrazyEyezKillah]

Welcome one and all!
I have been doing logs in the teen section since I was maybe 19 years old, but now that I'm 23, it seems appropriate to move my logging over to here.

A bit about myself:
-I have been a vegetarian since birth. I wasn't raised that way; my parents would try to feed me meat and fish as a baby and I would have none of it. The only meat I have any kind of real experience with is bacon, which I do enjoy the taste of, but that was a rarity most of my life, and several years ago I gave that up, too. My vegetarianism is not based on ethical reasoning. I simply don't want to eat meat. I never have. So I don't.
-I am a Buddhist practitioner and I take that very seriously. It has given me an incredible sense of purpose and has made me more of a well-rounded individual. It is the most important thing in my life.
-I am totally sober: no alcohol, weed, pills, *******, etc. This has been the case for nearly six years. There's a story behind that, but that's for another day.
-I want to get into competitive powerlifting. For most of my lifting career, I have been more focused on bodybuilding and just gaining size. I started at 18 years old weighing ~115 pounds, and now I am 23 weighing about 200 pounds at maybe 12% body fat. About a year ago, I got into 5/3/1 and saw very good strength gains (bench from 265 to 315, OHP from 175 to 205, squat from 370 to 420x3).
-I haven't competed yet and probably won't for a while, at least not until my deadlift is up around 500 lbs. I am still pretty new to deadlifting. I only started doing it regularly maybe four months ago, so my best set to date is 415x5.
-My brother James, a war hero, died in a car accident last November. He was my first training partner and his favorite lift was the Overhead Press, which is why I do it so often and enjoy it so much. Above all, my goal is to hit a 225 lb OHP to honor my brother in whatever way I can.

I will be posting each workout in detail, and I will also be posting up videos maybe twice a week that will contain the working sets of the main lifts (ohp, squat, bench or deadlift) only. I have a youtube channel that is brand new (TheBuddhaBuilder), and if you sub to either my channel or my log, I will rep you. I will also rep you if you are a cool person and deserve reps!

Peace all. Here is a video from the last two workouts, OHP and squat.

Just realized how small the video is, will fix that next time.

[JamesA1990]

Looks good, good luck m9

[KrazyEyezKillah]

Looks good, good luck m9

Thanks man.

Tonight was a very good bench day. Need to work on arching just a little bit less, since on the last set my ass was probably only 1/2 on the bench.

Bench Day

Bench Press
275x4
275x4
275x4
275x5
295x1
305x1
225x12

Pin Presses
Worked up to 245x8

Incline Cable Fly
80x8
90x7
70x10

Dumbbell Skullcrushers
One arm at a time
50x12
50x12
50x12

Cable Pushdowns
200 lb stack x 20
200 lb stack x 20

[Bruno93]

In! Excellent intro, even though I've been following your old log for a while, didn't really knew all that stuff, pretty interesting. Keep it up man!

[KrazyEyezKillah]

In! Excellent intro, even though I've been following your old log for a while, didn't really knew all that stuff, pretty interesting. Keep it up man!

Glad you came on over man!

[KrazyEyezKillah]

Deadlift Day
385x4
385x4
385x4
385x4

BB Hip Thrusts
315x8
330x8
First time doing these.

High Bar Raw Paused Squat
285x2
285x2
285x2
285x2
285x2
285x2

Seal Rows
240x5
240x5
240x7
225x9

V Bar Lat Pulldowns[
295 stack x 6
265x10
235x12

Preacher Dumbbell Curl
65x6
60x7
50x15

Hammer DB Curl
50x??
45xx10

[KrazyEyezKillah]

Pretty good tonight. OHP was a bit easier than expected. "Speed" bench was not too fast at all.

Overhead Press Day

OHP
170x5
170x5
170x5
170x5
170x5
135x14

Speed Bench
270x2
270x2
270x2
270x2
270x2
270x2

Lateral Raises
35x17
30x21

Facepulls
125x15x3

Shrugs
405x20
315x50

Rotator Cuff Work

[nwskier]

Strong lifts. Sub'd

[KrazyEyezKillah]

Strong lifts. Sub'd

Thanks man! Glad to have you on board.


Hitting some squats tonight, 365 4x4 I believe, followed by some speed deadlifts.

[KrazyEyezKillah]

Everything felt heavy tonight. Probably didn't help that the workout was at 1 AM, but at least I hit all the reps. One thing I really want to focus on is opening up my feet a bit more when I squat to get more power from my hips and glutes.

Squat Day

Squat
365x4
365x4
365x4
365x4

Speed Banded Deficit Deadlifts
335x1
335x1
335x1
335x1
335x1
335x1
335x1
335x1

Leg Curl
180x8
180x8
180x8

Leg Press Calf Press
470x18
470x16
470x15
470x15

[nwskier]

Any workout at 1am would be rough, let alone a lower body session! Nice work getting it done

[KrazyEyezKillah]

Any workout at 1am would be rough, let alone a lower body session! Nice work getting it done

Truth. I'm a night owl and I'm usually at the gym late anyway, but 1 am is crazy even by my standards! I'm pretty sure I've pulled 405 with far more speed before than those 335 "speed" deads.

[Bruno93]

Never tried banded deadlifts, is it much different than regular deadlifts? I do know the mechanics of it, easier at the bottom than at the top of the rep, but is the feeling much different from one to another? I've heard good things about band/chain work for speed work, but never had the possibility to work with them as my gym doesnt have it. :/

[KrazyEyezKillah]

Never tried banded deadlifts, is it much different than regular deadlifts? I do know the mechanics of it, easier at the bottom than at the top of the rep, but is the feeling much different from one to another? I've heard good things about band/chain work for speed work, but never had the possibility to work with them as my gym doesnt have it. :/

Dude, I like them, but they are almost definitely not a necessity for someone at my level (meaning that humbly - my deadlift kind of sucks). It pretty much just feels like a normal deadlift until you're around knee level and then suddenly gets very, very difficult.
I don't have a deadlift platform or anything man, I just make this crazy ass set up with 45's on the ground which are holding down normal resistance bands that I run over both sides of the bar. Like I said, I'm probably busting my ass for nothing. But, it makes me stronger off the ground and at the knee (since it's banded deficit), which is always a good thing. With a deadlift goal as big as yours, I would look into them if I were you.

[KrazyEyezKillah]

Bench Press Day
Bench
285x3
285x3
285x4
315x1
225x14

Pin Press
205x3
255x8

Dumbbell Bench
100x15
75x20

Dumbbell Skullcrushers
One Arm at a Time
55x8
55x8
55x8

[b]Tricep Rope Pushdowns
120x15
140x20

[nwskier]

strong benching!

looks a bit similar format to my chest workouts too. other day did 275x6 pyramiding up to 315 single, followed by repout at the end.
not sure about you, but I typically find a lot of my gains come from that last repout set.

great work, you have solid strength base. lots of growth potential

[sonnydfrizzy]

Brahhh I remember you in the OG Tbb days haha
Meditation and self-awareness brah right? I was always mirin' as I made no gainz (still don't).

Will definitely be subbed to this journal. How do you choose your assistance exercises? Any long term bodybuilding or physique goals?

[KrazyEyezKillah]

strong benching!

looks a bit similar format to my chest workouts too. other day did 275x6 pyramiding up to 315 single, followed by repout at the end.
not sure about you, but I typically find a lot of my gains come from that last repout set.

great work, you have solid strength base. lots of growth potential

Thanks man! Strength has improved a lot on my pressing movements the past year or so. Squat is doing okay - just need deadlift to catch up.
I ran 5/3/1 for a long time and made great gains, then felt I needed something with more volume, but I liked the rep-out idea from 531 and stole it. Sometimes I can't get more than my prescribed 5, 4, or 3 reps on the last sets of my program, but when I can, I can feel myself getting swept away in a river of gains.

Brahhh I remember you in the OG Tbb days haha
Meditation and self-awareness brah right? I was always mirin' as I made no gainz (still don't).

Will definitely be subbed to this journal. How do you choose your assistance exercises? Any long term bodybuilding or physique goals?

Awareness practice.. It just changes everything man. Keep at it. We are so much bigger than we realize.
Assistance work is sort of self-regulated and sort of not. There are some things I always do (lateral raises, face pulls, leg press calves, pull-ups) but for the most part I go off how I feel. I will say that pretty much all assistance work is for some known purpose in helping get my big lifts stronger. Pin presses, pause dumbbell bench, deficit band pulls, pause high bars - they all have their place, based on where I feel weak in my squat, bench, dead.
Goals would be to compete in a powerlifting meet in the next little bit (maybe 9 months or so? Idk). Don't think I'll be an incredibly successful powerlifter, but I also know I'm not a weak dude, and I'd like to compete for the experience.


Sorry I've been MIA from this log. Life has been taking me down an immensely interesting avenue lately.

In the past few days I've done:

-Deadlift 405 3x3 harder than I expected
-Overhead Press 180 4x4 not bad
-Squat 380 3x3 easy

And yesterday I did:

Bench Day

Bench

265x5
265x5
265x5
265x5
265x5

Dumbbell Paused Bench
100x8
100x8

Low Cable Fly
3 sets

DB Skullcrsuhers (One at a time)
45x16
60x6
55x9

Skullcrushers EZ Bar
115x10
125x10

[nwskier]

DB Skullcrsuhers (One at a time)
45x16
60x6
55x9

damn you got some wicked strong triceps. good chit

and agreed on that river of gains ^

[KrazyEyezKillah]

damn you got some wicked strong triceps. good chit

and agreed on that river of gains ^

Thanks man. Probably my strongest body part. My "normal" bench is what most people would consider to be a pretty damn close grip.

Yesterday hit overhead press, 192x3x3, which was very hard. Today:

Squat Day

Squat

355x5
355x5
355x5
355x5
355x5
9/10 overall RPE

Poor Man's Reverse Hyper
65x15
65x15
65x15

Lat Wide-Grip Pulldown
210x12
220x10
235x8

Calves (Leg Press)
480x19
480x19
480x19
480x19

[nwskier]

Yesterday hit overhead press, 192x3x3, which was very hard. Today:

Squat Day

Squat

355x5
355x5
355x5
355x5
355x5
9/10 overall RPE

Poor Man's Reverse Hyper
65x15
65x15
65x15

Lat Wide-Grip Pulldown
210x12
220x10
235x8

Calves (Leg Press)
480x19
480x19
480x19
480x19

nice work on the squats. What is the 'poor man's reverse hyper? i've been doing reverse hypers on stability balls and those have really helped my core and healing from a low back car injury a few years ago.

strong OHP sets too. I finally broke a 200+ OHP and it pretty much taxed me for the rest of the workout, ha. Pretty much took it all out of me for the remaining sets.

[KrazyEyezKillah]

nice work on the squats. What is the 'poor man's reverse hyper? i've been doing reverse hypers on stability balls and those have really helped my core and healing from a low back car injury a few years ago.

strong OHP sets too. I finally broke a 200+ OHP and it pretty much taxed me for the rest of the workout, ha. Pretty much took it all out of me for the remaining sets.

I'll get a video of it at some point. I pretty much go to the hyperextension station and hold the foot platforms with my hands. Then I have a dumbbell between my legs and I do the reverse hypers. It's quite an odd setup, but it works lol. I agree, I've enjoyed them very much. HUGE low backs from them though.

Thanks man. OHP has always been a good one for me. Really want that 225! But I think it will still be a while.

Last night:

Bench Day

Bench Press
280x4
280x4
280x4
280x4
Tired, didn't feel good, but got em.

Pin Presses
Worked up to 260x5, which felt very hard.

Pec Fly Machine
295x20
295x18
295x17
Followed by a drop set.

DB Skullcrushers (One at a Time)
55x10
55x10
60x7

Tricep Pushdowns
3 sets. I don't recall the weight.

Most likely doing some deadlifts tonight!

[KrazyEyezKillah]

Real nice pressing tonight! Everything felt solid.

Overhead Press Day

OHP
172x5
172x5
172x5
172x5
172x7
Last set was dope!

Speed Bench
275x2
275x2
275x2
275x2
275x2
275x2

Seated Facepulls
130x15
135x14
140x14
145x13
150x12
155x12

Seated DB Laterals
35x15
30x18
25x20

Rotator Cuff Work

[nwskier]

beast strength on OHP! that last set is sick. boosting reps like that at the end is super motivating and sets tone for rest of workout. Love it when that happens.

and thanks - will have to try that variation on reverse hypers. Are you holding a DB between legs on those, holding plate to chest, or using tension bands?

[KrazyEyezKillah]

beast strength on OHP! that last set is sick. boosting reps like that at the end is super motivating and sets tone for rest of workout. Love it when that happens.

and thanks - will have to try that variation on reverse hypers. Are you holding a DB between legs on those, holding plate to chest, or using tension bands?

Thanks man! Holding a DB between my legs. I'll film it for you next time I do them, the whole process is sort of hard to describe.

Sweet short squat day today. Squats felt solid af. Also really digging sumo deads again, feeling much more powerful on them now. I'm thinking I'm just gonna hit 3x3, adding 5 lbs every time until I can't anymore. 380 3x3 was quite easy, 7/10 RPE overall.

Squat Day

Squat
370x4
370x4
370x4
370x4

Sumo Deadlift
380x3
380x3
380x3

Leg Curl
170x12
170x10

Calf Press on Leg Press
500x19
500x17
500x15

Will get a vid up at the end of this week.

[KrazyEyezKillah]

Bench Day

Bench Press
290x3
290x3
290x4
320x1
225x14

Incline DB Press
100x10
100x8

Incline DB Fly
50x15
55x15

DB Skullcrushers
60x8 One at a time, felt unsafe
50x14
50x14

Skullcrushers
130x10
130x10

Felt strong af! Going off to Vermont tomorrow night, will be back Sunday night.

[Dan3317]

Nice lifts man, very impressed!

Are you lifting in a Snap Fitness? I've never seen one with actual benches like that. I live in Southwest NY and have access to 3 different Snaps, none have real benches, have to take a basic bench into the squat rack.

[KrazyEyezKillah]

Nice lifts man, very impressed!

Are you lifting in a Snap Fitness? I've never seen one with actual benches like that. I live in Southwest NY and have access to 3 different Snaps, none have real benches, have to take a basic bench into the squat rack.

I am indeed! Dude, it's the exact opposite problem here. I have access to several as well, and only the one I go to has a squat rack (and that was a somewhat recent purchase), and all the others have benches but no rack. Sadly, my Snap is falling apart. The floor is totally maimed and has craters in it from deadlifting, the ceiling is falling apart, stuff gets broken and never fixed.

[nwskier]

Great bench day! Def good for 295x5 and 330+

[KrazyEyezKillah]

Great bench day! Def good for 295x5 and 330+

Would be sweet!


My retreat in Vermont was really nice, feeling very fluid and open. I seem to have tweaked my low back a bit. OHP today felt really solid though. Going to try to squat tomorrow. Might lay off deadlifting for a little bit.

Overhead Press Day

Overhead Press
182x4
182x4
182x4
182x4

Speed Bench
247x2
247x2
247x2
247x2
247x2
247x2
247x2
247x2
247x2
247x2

Seated Facepulls
140x15
145x14
150x13
155x12
160x12

Seated Laterals
30x23
30x??

Shrugs
405x40
405x25
405x20
405x15

Rotator Cuff Work