The 2022 Barbell Enthusiasts Collaborative Training Log & Hall of Fame

[EliKoehn]

Eli - I'm dealing with the same thing currently. My motivation tends to be significantly lower when I'm cutting weight. I'm really just wanting to do enough to maintain some degree of strength and work capacity. I need to remember that not every workout needs to be the greatest workout ever. I just need to get some work in. And of course can ramp it up on the days where I'm feeling more energetic.


November 16, 2022
Overhead Press
105 pounds x 1 rep
85 pounds - 2 sets x 3 reps

Still proving to be a busy time for me. Trying to fit workouts in when I can. Felt especially weak on this lift today. Would have liked to gotten some more volume in but it is what it is.

That's well said and is encouraging, thanks. It's helpful to have a place with mutual commiseration (if that's not too strong of a word) and motivation to stick through it. In my own experience, I often find that slumps tend to precede strides of progress. Whether that's through galvanized motivation ensuing afterwards or some mysterious feature of psychology/sports science, I couldn't say, but nevertheless the good days tend to follow.

You've really been on a tear lately so maybe time to deload?

[CW47]

Paused Sumo Deadlift
365 pounds x 1 rep
365 pounds x 3 reps (w/straps)

Hamstring Curl
90 pounds x 5/10/10

Did the deadlifts with a stiff bar, no belt, no straps for the top single. I dropped the bar on the way down. Added straps for the 'back off' work and kept the weight the same. Good demonstration of how much grip limits me right now.

[EliKoehn]

^^ Where are you pausing in the RoM?

A.S.
Flat Bench (T&G):
3 x 1 at 315
Supinated DB Curl:
3 x 15 w/ 35s

Yesterday I did protein sparing modified fasting to enable some DCA for the weekend while maintaining a deficit and so only had a single chicken breast and nothing else yesterday. Also I only slept 3 hours. So this was a pretty good showing for a short workout I'd say.

[coachcalande]

Guys!

Finally able to fit under a squat bar again! A bit painful but the progress with this shoulder is undeniable!

https://mobile.twitter.com/CoachCalande

[coachcalande]

First time deadlifting since 2015 or 2016

https://mobile.twitter.com/CoachCalande

400 for reps easy

[EliKoehn]

First time deadlifting since 2015 or 2016

https://mobile.twitter.com/CoachCalande

400 for reps easy

I don't see the deadlifting but I did see the 345 bench. Nice!

--

I took a 10 hour job doing tree work today, so that's my "workout." Lots of wood splitting with an axe and carrying sections of trunk/cut pieces. Also moved lots of cut lumber.

[coachcalande]

I don't see the deadlifting but I did see the 345 bench. Nice!

--

I took a 10 hour job doing tree work today, so that's my "workout." Lots of wood splitting with an axe and carrying sections of trunk/cut pieces. Also moved lots of cut lumber.

The deadlift was easy as pie but I’m really glad I only did one work set as I’m sore in spots of my upper back/traps that I haven’t felt in awhile. The video is there on my feed with my squats and food pics ha ha. Anyway, if Christmas gift wish list happens, I’ll get some iron and be able to train with some bigger numbers on deads. I’ve never really trained deads seriously but easily repped 495x4 on my last session years ago. I’m playing with some goals to get in the area of 600 plus. We will see.

[SaviorSelfJT]

Was traveling for work for a whole week, finally back to sleeping in my own bed which is nice

Yesterday I did a machine based workout, after about 20 mins on the stair climber. I had it set to cardio mode with a target of 180BPM. It kept going faster and faster at the beginning to like 140 steps/min and then I slowed it down cause I was worried I was gonna fall off if it kept going faster. My lungs felt like they were literally on fire

[RapidFail]

First time doing the bench press since October 30th as I've been resting my injured right shoulder.

BENCH PRESS
10 x 66lb
5 x 99lb
3 x 116lb, 2.5 min rest
9 x 116lb, 2.5 min rest
6 x 116lb, 2.5 min rest
5 x 116lb, 2.5 min rest
First time bench pressing for a few weeks. It no longer hurts to retract my shoulder blades, but I'm going light to be safe. I'm a little surprised by how much strength I've lost - first set was six reps shy of my PR and I don't think I could have done another rep. I'll try the same load next week and see how many more reps I can get.

[coachcalande]

Starting to spread my lifts over three days vs two after this illness.

Template for week:

day 1
bench
incline
flys
rows
lat pulls
narrow lat pd

day 2
squats
deads
front sq
leg curls/ext
calf raise

day 3
seated OHP
upright row
side laterals
ez curls/pushdowns
db curls/skull crushers

day 4
rest


Repeat.

NOT SURE IF ILL STAY WITH THIS LONG BUT FOR THE TIME BEING IM GOING WITH IT.

[jademonkey]

I'm located in one place for a couple months, so I'm gonna focus on the big 3 for this time and put cardio back on the back burner. Or just take it off for a while.

Squat 5 days ago: legs felt pretty sore, worked up to 315 single, was planning on 335 or 345 but they felt soooo freaking sore I backed off, backed off again, then just did a set at 225.

I may be neglecting legs by only doing squats and sumo deadlift with occasional leg press and RDL.

Yesterday squats felt crazy sore again on warm up 225 x5. Planned one more set but it felt much better, so upped it to 245, then 255, then worked up to 315 again. Felt better than last time. Gonna keep squatting regularly and hopefully get back up to 375. Threw in some split squats, single leg RDL, and hip abductions. Glutes are trashed today. Did bench, pull downs, and some other stuff but maybe gonna slam upper body again tomorrow. Gotta get a lot of bench volume in if I'm gonna get back up to the upper 200s before we leave for Mexico in mid January.

[EliKoehn]

^^ Good luck with your goals on the Big 3 and have fun in Mexico.

--

I had planned a really long volume session but am on a deficit and was hungry once I'd gotten to the gym, which is never a good sign that your workout will be good lol... Needless to say I did less than I'd originally planned, but still a decent day.

Flat Bench (T&G):
5 x 8 at 225
Pendlay Row:
5 x 8 at 225

Dips:
3 x 10 at BW, 1 x 7 (w/ ~30 second rest dropset to finish remaining 3 reps)
Upright Row:
4 x 10 at 80 pounds

Standing OHP:
1 x 12, 8, 8 at 75
Lat Pulldown:
2 x 12, 1 x 8 at 170
Lateral Raise:
3 or 4 x 12 w/ 25s

One stupid tricep pulldown set of 7 at 100 pounds with the ropes but my triceps were gone at this point, so I stopped here.

That dip failure was disappointing, but on the drop set, I got to a knife's edge of failure on the final one, felt a strange sensation of barely pushing through it, then my tricep started twitching fast while finishing out. That used to happen to me on bench when I was on the way up to 300, but I haven't experienced it in years probably.

Here's me fatly doing lateral raises.

[EliKoehn]

Quick lunch session. Slowly but surely resisting the detraining on squats, and I was aiming for more than doubles with 3 plates, but it's the first time back in that territory for a while now. Deadlifts still feel in good trim.

A.S. (Ha, BeginnerGainz, I did alternate sets with them this time!)
Squat:
3 x 2 at 315 (but this is still pipsqueek weight relative to BW)
Deadlift (raw):
455 x 1, 475 x 1

[CW47]

@Eli - I realize I'm pretty late in answering but I always pause my deadlifts about 2-3 inches off the floor.


November 22, 2022
Push Press
85 pounds x 6/3

Seated Shoulder Pin Press
85 pounds x 4
65 pounds x 8

DB Upright Row
45 pounds??? x 6

Had a long break as I continue to be incredibly busy. Hammered this out in less than 15 minutes, just trying to get some kind of work in.

Weight check in - started this week at 182. Down just 2 pounds so far after 2 weeks. I'll count it as a win if I lose or maintain this week since I'll be attending at least 2, maybe 3 holiday get togethers.

[SaviorSelfJT]

Did a workout yesterday with squats and deadlifts. Been forever since I’ve done squats. I didn’t even do much weight and today I’m so sore it literally hurts to walk

[coachcalande]

Happy Thanksgiving fellas!

Fueling up for a shoulders and arms session right now.

Feeling strong so Ill probably do seated OHP with 185-205 …we will see.

[coachcalande]

Goal met!


Training shoulders and arms.
Just crushed 225x1 on overhead press.
https://youtu.be/vFq11pAHInI

[RapidFail]

Shoulder has been worse since benching on Monday. Took an extra rest day yesterday after a poor night's sleep. I'm re-thinking doing the Candito 6-week program for now as I can't currently bench press with the required intensity. I'm actually thinking of running Smolov Jr for squats instead and doing Candito another time when my shoulders are fully recovered.

This means saying goodbye to my 2022 goal of a bodyweight bench press. The closest I got was 143lb for 6 reps for a calculated 1RM of 166lb at 180lb bodyweight.

Seeing as I've had two injuries this year from overhead pressing (first the left shoulder then the right) I'm planning on taking an extended break from the movement - it just doesn't seem to be worth it for the injury risk.

[EliKoehn]

@Savior. Your squat's way better than mine anyway, but my legs have been destroyed lately on previously submaximal work, so hopefully that bounces back quickly for us both.

@Coach, nice! That has to feel good.

@Rapid, did you input an estimated 90% 1RM instead of the highest you've literally ever done? That could be why you're running into a wall, although I have to say that I find it interesting that you would find bench to be the bottleneck on that program. The squat seems to get the lion's share of attention and intensity, with the bench work being a lot less just in terms of volume and how many top sets you end up doing. Is the rest of it going well?

[SaviorSelfJT]

Rapid - good luck with smolov. If you can complete it your basically guaranteed a PR afterwards

Eli - your squat is probably better than mine right now


——-


Today I did squats/press/hang cleans and the curls

For the curls I curled the plates themselves

35s X 8
45s X 8, 2 sets

I was holding the plates in the center by putting some fingers through the center hole. It hurts like a bitch on the fingers if it pinches your skin

Then sets with 25s but holding the plate on the handle on the circumference and extending the weight in the direction of my forearm, not handing straight down. This is really difficult

After those I did some reverse grip curls with the barbell

[CW47]

Rapidfail - I'm definitely not suggesting you do this right now, but have you ever used heavy singles as part of your bench training?


November 25, 2022
Front Pin Squat
185 pounds x 1 rep
135 pounds x 3 reps

Hamstring Curl
90 pounds - 3 sets x 12 reps

Think I had the pins a notch too low, but the front squat still ended up going pretty well.
Missed yesterday because of a family get together, and have another one tomorrow. Doubtful that I'll fit in a workout, but we'll see.

[RapidFail]

@Savior. Your squat's way better than mine anyway, but my legs have been destroyed lately on previously submaximal work, so hopefully that bounces back quickly for us both.

@Coach, nice! That has to feel good.

@Rapid, did you input an estimated 90% 1RM instead of the highest you've literally ever done? That could be why you're running into a wall, although I have to say that I find it interesting that you would find bench to be the bottleneck on that program. The squat seems to get the lion's share of attention and intensity, with the bench work being a lot less just in terms of volume and how many top sets you end up doing. Is the rest of it going well?

I haven't started the program yet - I'm cutting for another three weeks and didn't want to do it until I'm back at maintenance or more. Until October when I hurt my shoulder (grinding to get a dumbbell OHP PR) I was the strongest I've ever been for all of the big 3 lifts. If it weren't for the shoulder injury I'd be looking forward to the bench press the most.

[RapidFail]

Rapidfail - I'm definitely not suggesting you do this right now, but have you ever used heavy singles as part of your bench training?

November 25, 2022
Front Pin Squat
185 pounds x 1 rep
135 pounds x 3 reps

Hamstring Curl
90 pounds - 3 sets x 12 reps

Think I had the pins a notch too low, but the front squat still ended up going pretty well.
Missed yesterday because of a family get together, and have another one tomorrow. Doubtful that I'll fit in a workout, but we'll see.

No - triples are the lowest reps I've done to-date. I generally prefer to bench 5 reps plus, low reps tend to aggravate my shoulders, even when they're healthy. Working in some RPE 7-8 singles once I've fully recovered from the injury might be fun.

[coachcalande]

Todays incline bench 235x6

Day 2 of my 3000 cal keto experiment

https://youtu.be/vlArBbxTDWM

[CW47]

50 Degree Incline Press
115 pounds x 5 reps

Barbell Front Raise
45 pounds - 3 sets x 8 reps

Had planned the incline press to be max effort but I could not get setup in a way that allowed me to unrack the bar properly. I have one more option I'll try next time I attempt something like this, so hopefully that will work out. The lack of maneuverability when doing incline work is one of the few downsides of using a built in lat pulldown...

[coachcalande]

Day 3 anabolic diet

Ssb 325x4 this morning
Depth seems good
Minor left side glute strain?

https://youtu.be/cbKWaW46Dec

[CW47]

High Bar Squat
145 pounds - 3 sets x 6 reps

Pin Squat - Low Bar
135 pounds - 3 sets x 3 reps

Work capacity is still horrible. Goal is to do at least 3 sets of 8 on each of these, along with a couple of exercised of higher rep work. This was all I could handle today though.

[SaviorSelfJT]

More S/B/D today

Then curls again

It might just be my imagination but I swear theres a difference from just ONE single workout with those plate curls. I swear theres noticeably more muscle mass around my elbow in the forearm area. And last time I could hammer curl the 25s by the handle extended but I absolutely could not hold them in a horizontal position. Today I could

I tried to upload a picture. I took an arm pic from my phone and then uploaded to imgur but their new edit tool doesn't let you resize/crop so no bueno

[coachcalande]

Keto day 4 - shoulder press results

240x fail …close!

Training sets…
185x7,5,5,3
Satisfying!
Moving on to upright rows.

[CW47]

Push Press
85 pounds - 5 sets x 5 reps

Overhead Seated Pin Press
65 pounds - 3 sets x 10 reps

Good progress. Only managed to do 9 total reps last time on the push press with the same weight. I'll shoot for 6x6 next time.
Also saw really good improvement on the pin press, hitting all of the prescribed reps & sets.
I'll probably add in some accessory work as well next time.