The 2022 Barbell Enthusiasts Collaborative Training Log & Hall of Fame

[jademonkey]

^^
I know conventional is typically a harder variation than sumo, but didn't you get like 30+ of 315 sometime last year? I bet all you'd need is some brief acclimation.

Anyway, I managed 8 with no straps, belt or chalk... Then I just did some light squatting at low volume to keep the movement pattern from atrophying too much.



Deadlift:
135 x 8, 225 x 4, 315 x 3, 365 x 2, 405 x 8 (PR!), 455 x partial rep, 455 x 1, 455 x partial rep (2)
Squat:
BW x 15, 45 x 12, 135 x 8, 185 x 4, 225 x 8, 225 x 8

Oooh conventional. Idk if I could get 3 conventional. Haven't lifted conventional in a long time, prob over a year. I stick with sumo for strength lift and RDL for hamstrings.

315 was like 22 or something, I don't remember exactly, but I feel 315 for reps is more of an anaerobic set than strength. There's an Anytime Fitness in Lander WY, will be there at some point next week for my next deadlift session. If they have bumper plates, might try 405 SUMO for reps, or just stick with working my way back up and pull a 475. I'll be rested up after some consistency, so may even go for both if I feel good (yeah right, no chance of pulling a good single after AMRAP).

----
Yesterday's session felt good, worked up to a couple 345 squat singles. Getting more comfortable in the 3 plate range for reps. Bench is going slow but still slowly coming back. Got 225x5 (prior record was 10), and a couple singles at 245. I think bench really wants more volume and variation than one session every week or so. Might try and swap in dumbbell bench press in the ~8 rep range after DL & OHP on DL day.

Rows, RDL, side & rear delts, and triceps to finish off. Trying to get that arm work done now lol.

[Filmbuff81]

Sweet. I'm glad everyone's taking interest in this.

Great job CW! Getting 405 x 1 for the first time was one of my best memories in training. I bet that felt awesome.

Film and SJT are most likely going to have me beat, but I'm still glad to have improved my rep total by one and to prove to myself that I can do it with a bare grip, even though I was resetting it just about every rep, if that still counts.

I have to say though, when I got home, I felt fairly dizzy a couple of times. Hope the lift was safe, even though in every other way I felt fine, just tired and slept well...

Resetting is tougher than TnG so 8 is quite good.

I wouldn’t be concerned about the dizziness.

Big sessions always lay me out. All I wanna do is lay around after yesterday.

[EliKoehn]

Thanks. That's nice to hear from someone at your level. That last rep felt like I might have had another in me, but I didn't bother trying, so I guess that's on me. In any case, it did exhaust me and today I've felt pretty sluggish, so the following, while a little below what I used to be able to get reliably, isn't disappointing:

Flat Bench (T&G):
275 x 5, 5, 5, 4.5, 3

I alternated each set with an individual pullup. Not sure why, but that somehow seems to help my following set, even if it's just an individual rep. Failed halfway up on the 4th set, and got 3 for @9.5-10 on the last set.

[RapidFail]

As I'm sure you know already, warming up is a very individual thing. I typically do very few warmup reps when I'm working up to a max attempt, because I've found that once I reach around the 10 rep mark it starts to impact my max strength. Don't even recall exactly how many I did, but it was probably 135 x 2 or 3, 225 x 2, 315 x 1, 365 x 1. It's lift dependent as well - I often need many more reps to get loose and in the groove when squatting than any other lift.

Do you ever Sumo Deadlift?

No, I tried it once in 2018 and injured my back with pretty light weight. I'm more interested in hypertrophy than lifting max weight, so I'm happy sticking with conventional.

Last time I deadlifted I did:

5 x 110lb
3 x 155lb
2 x 200lb
1 x 231.5lb (working weight)
5 x 231.5llb (1-2 RIR)
4 x 231.5lb (1-2 RIR)
6 x 204lb (2-3 RIR)

[CW47]

No, I tried it once in 2018 and injured my back with pretty light weight. I'm more interested in hypertrophy than lifting max weight, so I'm happy sticking with conventional.

Last time I deadlifted I did:

5 x 110lb
3 x 155lb
2 x 200lb
1 x 231.5lb (working weight)
5 x 231.5llb (1-2 RIR)
4 x 231.5lb (1-2 RIR)
6 x 204lb (2-3 RIR)

Well, I'm always of the opinion that so long as you're making good progress you should stick with what you're doing.

I wouldn't worry about what the actual numbers are too much. Leverages can play a HUGE part in how much a person can lift on a particular exercise. First time I ever deadlifted (with minimal lifting experience) I was able to do 225, which was nearly twice as much as I could squat. Others can step in the gym for the first time and do even significantly more. But I think that as lifters we sometimes overlook the fact that people that can do this are in the extreme minority. Deadlifting the weight you are still puts you ahead of most people (and even a lot of the people I've seen lifting in commercial gyms).

Is your rep range on working sets usually around the 4-6 range? Just curious because although it's going to result in hypertrophy, it's not necessarily the ideal rep range (or overall volume) for it.

[RapidFail]

Well, I'm always of the opinion that so long as you're making good progress you should stick with what you're doing.

I wouldn't worry about what the actual numbers are too much. Leverages can play a HUGE part in how much a person can lift on a particular exercise. First time I ever deadlifted (with minimal lifting experience) I was able to do 225, which was nearly twice as much as I could squat. Others can step in the gym for the first time and do even significantly more. But I think that as lifters we sometimes overlook the fact that people that can do this are in the extreme minority. Deadlifting the weight you are still puts you ahead of most people (and even a lot of the people I've seen lifting in commercial gyms).

Is your rep range on working sets usually around the 4-6 range? Just curious because although it's going to result in hypertrophy, it's not necessarily the ideal rep range (or overall volume) for it.

Yeah, 4-6 reps for the deadlift and 5-8 or 6-10 for the rest of the big compound lifts. I've done higher rep deadlifts before (up to 9 reps), but I'm not a fan of them. I've injured my back squatting, deadlifting and doing RDLs before, so I've had a few setbacks that have slowed my progress. I'm weakest off the ground when deadlifting, I've never failed to lock the weight out but sometimes find it just won't move. Happy with my current progress - I hadn't deadlifted for nearly a year due to a hamstring injury. I'm now getting deadlift PRs nearly every week.

Congrats on the 405lb by the way - that's a long-term goal for me.

[MyEgoProblem]

Absolutely forgot about the 4pps amrap....

May have to do mine strapped cos my wrist is battered atm for no reason* and not playing ball supinating

Im actually weaker strapped cos my set up is dog**** spending all that time at the bottom.

Might try to get off my ass and into work on my day off ffs and have a tug.. Been ages since i did more than a 3rep set 😂

Is is street raw rules? No belt



*other than the nerves are ****ed after crushing it at work over a decade ago 😂 but dont really know why its choosing to play up right now specifically

[EliKoehn]

Absolutely forgot about the 4pps amrap....

May have to do mine strapped cos my wrist is battered atm for no reason* and not playing ball supinating

Im actually weaker strapped cos my set up is dog**** spending all that time at the bottom.

Might try to get off my ass and into work on my day off ffs and have a tug.. Been ages since i did more than a 3rep set ������

Is is street raw rules? No belt



*other than the nerves are ****ed after crushing it at work over a decade ago ������ but dont really know why its choosing to play up right now specifically

However you want to do it: straps, belt, chalk, whatever. I just don't like belts for some reason. I'm sure it would help but they never situate right on me and I seem to manage okay without them.

[RapidFail]

Curious to know if anyone here uses Versa Gripps?

I love mine and use them while doing deadlifts, RDLs, BORs, dumbbell calf raises and shrugs.

I have a belt but it's too big for me (it was a gift) and I never use it.

[CW47]

I use Cobra Grips, which are basically the same as Versa Gripps.
Even though I often use a belt when doing heavy deads, they don't actually help me much. At times I've been able to lift more without a belt than with because I can get in a better starting position. It helps much more on squats than on anything else.


June 16, 2022
T-Shirt Paused Bench Press: 165 pounds x 1 rep
Close Grip Paused Bench Press: 130 pounds - 4 sets x 6 reps
Cable Row: 2 Chains - 2 sets x 60 reps
Hammer Curl: 20 pounds/ea - 2 sets x 20 reps

Very solid day. T-Shirt bench around an 8 RPE. Close grip was pretty easy today.
Was not in the mood to mess with the chains so I ended up doing rows with 2 instead of 4 since that's what was on there from when I did pushdowns a few days ago.
Curls are weak! Shouldn't be surprised since I never do them, lol.

[Filmbuff81]

Curious to know if anyone here uses Versa Gripps?

I love mine and use them while doing deadlifts, RDLs, BORs, dumbbell calf raises and shrugs.

I have a belt but it's too big for me (it was a gift) and zi never use it.

I use versas for everything. Absolutely love them.

[jademonkey]

I use Cobra Grips ever since I dislocated a finger and my grip went to ****. I put them on when my grip gives out, could be top single or reps. Some days better than others. But they give good grip and seem easier than straps to me. I'm used to grips from gymnastics. Never tried lifting straps, but they look like a pain in the videos I see.

For RDL I just use mixed grip. Even for low eight like 235 I just don't like my grip being a thing at all. For rows I do overhand and never had a problem, but I don't do much weight. Usually no more than 195 or so. 225 on rare occasion that I wanna pendlay heavy as deadlift back off sets.

[MyEgoProblem]

I have a pair...
Bear grips from the uk.
Same thing.

Not bad really. The live in my day bag.

Got regular and fig 8s too.. All different uses.

[MyEgoProblem]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce6I5iON...d=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Speed lower day usually 9 x 1/2/3
180*3(x8) with versas
180*5 chalk

The *5 was gonna be the amrap but its the hottest day of the year and id be there pulling all day for zero benefit so didn't bother.

Safe to say 5 isnt a rep max or anything close. Around 70-75% atm.

[CW47]

Yeah, that triple looked extremely easy MEP.
Could you share some examples of what you use Bear Grips vs Reg Straps vs Fig 8 Straps for?
I've only used regular straps a couple of times and never use figure 8's, so I don't know anything about what they're best utilized for.

[MyEgoProblem]

Yeah, that triple looked extremely easy MEP.
Could you share some examples of what you use Bear Grips vs Reg Straps vs Fig 8 Straps for?
I've only used regular straps a couple of times and never use figure 8's, so I don't know anything about what they're best utilized for.

Ta. I rarely pull conv tho, just sumo and defecit stifflegs us. Wasnt the tightest tech..

So i the bear/versa grips mostly for machine handles tbh, but they work for bars & db just fine. The quickest and easiest setup. General purpose workhorse

I use the reg straps for deads usually. Cos i like to drop deads in training.

And the fig8s for strongman stuff mainly! So very rarely get them out. Used to use in last gym that had smooth bars 😂impossible to drop anything with 8s

[RapidFail]

Wondering what time of day everyone here trains and whether many of you do physical work?

I'm a Physical Education teacher at a school with a pretty big campus, so by the time I get home from work around 5-5:30pm, I've usually done 10-12k steps for the day. I'm then busy with preparing dinner at getting the kids into bed. By the time the 7yo is in bed by 7:30 I am exhausted and never feel like training. On the occasions I have lifted in the evening, I've been weaker and enjoyed it much less.

So 99% of the time, I train around 5:15am (usually Mon-Tue-Thu-Fri) - I get up at 4:30am so I have time for a small pre-workout breakfast and black coffee.

[MyEgoProblem]

Normally... I need to be 2 meals deep in the day and awake awake..

Before lockdowns, working as a chef... my Best sessions where always after work around 3pm or around midnight after second shift of my split.

Early session have never hit right for me.

They will start having to tho now with work rota changing (for the better) but still - early feels hard man.
Even managing a gym I can't bring the motivation up to get in early

[coachcalande]

Boooooom!!!

355x3 ssb at 55 yrs old baby!

https://youtu.be/i--Y9TPP9uc

Too good not to share!

[RapidFail]

Normally... I need to be 2 meals deep in the day and awake awake..

Before lockdowns, working as a chef... my Best sessions where always after work around 3pm or around midnight after second shift of my split.

Early session have never hit right for me.

They will start having to tho now with work rota changing (for the better) but still - early feels hard man.
Even managing a gym I can't bring the motivation up to get in early

Dragging myself out of bed at 4:30, I often feel like resetting the alarm for an hour later. But once I've had my coffee, I'm good. I used to get up at 5:00 and train fasted and that was still better than training after work.

It wasn't always this way - before having kids I used to train in the late afternoon no problem.

[coachcalande]

Dragging myself out of bed at 4:30, I often feel like resetting the alarm for an hour later. But once I've had my coffee, I'm good. I used to get up at 5:00 and train fasted and that was still better than training after work.

It wasn't always this way - before having kids I used to train in the late afternoon no problem.

It’s really the only way as a teacher/coach with kids, wife, house, yard, cars, taxi duty, side business…fewer distractions at 5 am.

[RapidFail]

It’s really the only way as a teacher/coach with kids, wife, house, yard, cars, taxi duty, side business…fewer distractions at 5 am.

I literally have all those hings - except my wife does most the gardening/yard work and I do most of the cooking. I love my little 2-hour window of peace from 4:30 to 6:30, although it does come at the cost of having to go to bed earlier and having less time with the missus. The alternatives would be training in the evening - which would also cut into our quality time together, or not training at all.

I often think I'd like to go back in time and give the young, single me a slap in the face for ever claiming to not have enough time to do anything.

[coachcalande]

I literally have all those hings - except my wife does most the gardening/yard work and I do most of the cooking. I love my little 2-hour window of peace from 4:30 to 6:30, although it does come at the cost of having to go to bed earlier and having less time with the missus. The alternatives would be training in the evening - which would also cut into our quality time together, or not training at all.

I often think I'd like to go back in time and give the young, single me a slap in the face for ever claiming to not have enough time to do anything.

I usually set my alarm for 3:30 am and try to be in the garage by 4:30-6 am. That’s my typical workout window. I only train every other day so it’s, mwf, sun, t, th, sat …repeat…the off days, I have coffee and watch the sun rise with my bride and dog. So our quality time is often early ams before kids get up. After work is all kids needs until we collapse into bed. It would be “escape” and irresponsible of me to disappear for training at night. Now, I do sometimes take 30-40 min to train arms in the eve or afternoon if I double split that legs/arms day.

This has only been possible with kids being Oder now. But in the end, real life balance means getting big and strong with just 3-4 gym sessions a week. Being older, recovery is different…I don’t do squat around the house on a lifting day…I save it all for off days…and my kids asking for basketball or whatever now is much different than even 2-3 years ago…

Anyhow, off days are also food prep days.

[MyEgoProblem]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CfCpRF0N...d=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Dynamic Bench session..
12*3 4 different grip widths
Jm press for a bunch of deep stretch sub max vol
Band triset curl/ext/pullapart

First real upper work in 2 weeks. Since been away on holiday and getting ill as hell.

I do like to use this setup to come back from a layoff, its not super heavy. Not super taxing but forces me drop the hammer and keep it on from rapid reversal to lockout without that weird snappy elbow jank.

Will add 5% to the bar next session then another 5% the session after and so on until it starts to slow down. Then ill call that the end of my intro and resume some heavier stuff.

Other than this ive really only Managed a deadlift session and some gpp/bs machine jockey stuff.

Hopefully we back on a roll boys

[EliKoehn]

A.S.
Pullups:
5 x 6 at BW (250ish)
Flat Bench (T&G):
5 x 5 at 275

This was the easiest five by five at 275 I've ever done. Final rep was somewhere between @8 and 9.

[jademonkey]

I work out in the morning. Best when I'm not sick of working all day and just wanting to relax. Coffee and cereal for fuel.
A normal time to wake up is 8 AM, but I'll go as early as 6:30 if my wife is planning a morning session (she has to be on the clock at 9). Otherwise, since we live in the van, I'll go in and work out till 10 or 11, come out and work in the van, and she'll go in on her lunch break or after work. I do fine in the evening, I just am not as motivated to get started. Plus I have to remember to time a good snack an hour before.

Gym today in Lander, WY. They had a deadlift platform and bar, but only steel plates. Thin steel plates are kinda wobbly but it went ok. Pulled 475 today, but the bar ripped the skin on my finger drawing blood on the way down and I had to drop it. A few back off singles at 455 with grips. Wasn't feeling reps today.

OHP still working up, 115x8 / 125x6 / 135x4 / 145x2 / 155x1.

High rep pull downs in lieu of pull ups cuz my grip sucked after tearing my finger.

DB bench in lieu of dips or flys to get some more work similar to BB bench.

[EliKoehn]

I'm kind of curious if you don't mind the question, do you have to stop at various stores or rest stops to go to the bathroom, or how does that work? Living in a van sounds like a fun experience, but that's the one thing that puzzles me about the idea.

[jademonkey]

I'm kind of curious if you don't mind the question, do you have to stop at various stores or rest stops to go to the bathroom, or how does that work? Living in a van sounds like a fun experience, but that's the one thing that puzzles me about the idea.

I spent 14 months building it out so it's like a tiny apartment on wheels. People always wonder about the toilet situation lol. I use a homemade "dry toilet", which means I have a toilet seat with separator built in. Have to sit for #1 but the liquids are funneled into a 2.5 gallon jug in the front and the "solids" go in a horse bucket with a bag in it. Add pine kitty litter to the bucket to keep the solids fairly dry and it doesn't stink normally. Bag up and chuck in a dumpster like a diaper. Liquids either water bushes out in the middle of nowhere or go in a park or rest area toilet.

My wife and I take turns with alone time each morning, but don't mind peeing in front of each other.

Toilet construction: https://www.promasterforum.com/threa...09/post-741043
And https://www.promasterforum.com/threa...09/post-756162

The 99% complete build: https://www.promasterforum.com/threa...09/post-767298

[EliKoehn]

I spent 14 months building it out so it's like a tiny apartment on wheels. People always wonder about the toilet situation lol. I use a homemade "dry toilet", which means I have a toilet seat with separator built in. Have to sit for #1 but the liquids are funneled into a 2.5 gallon jug in the front and the "solids" go in a horse bucket with a bag in it. Add pine kitty litter to the bucket to keep the solids fairly dry and it doesn't stink normally. Bag up and chuck in a dumpster like a diaper. Liquids either water bushes out in the middle of nowhere or go in a park or rest area toilet.

My wife and I take turns with alone time each morning, but don't mind peeing in front of each other.

Toilet construction: https://www.promasterforum.com/threa...09/post-741043
And https://www.promasterforum.com/threa...09/post-756162

The 99% complete build: https://www.promasterforum.com/threa...09/post-767298

Wow, nice build. Admiring that! It's got to be a great experience being able to travel anywhere in the US without having to pay hotel fare or plan lodging while still having the rudiments of home comfort with you where you go. I'm going to Colorado next week with some friends and paying $200 for my share of just four days in a furnished cabin. I'd plan all sorts of trips if I had a decked-out van.

--

Deadlift:
5 x 5 at 405

Once again raw conventional with no straps or chalk. The very last rep came just shy of a proper lockout at the top before the bar started rolling out of my hands, but it was quite close. Otherwise, I also took longer rests than normal and think that ought to be mentioned. Want to see how far I can take this with a raw grip. The progress continues and I'll make it my personal experiment as I go forward. If you start using straps early on, it will never develop in tandem with everything else like I believe it can.

[CW47]

I'm using this week primarily as a deload before I start up a new cycle. Will be doing heavy singles with minimal volume work.

June 20, 2022
3-Count Paused Bench: 175 pounds x 1 [9.5 RPE]
Overhead Press: 95 pounds x 5 reps

Feels like I'm consistently able to hit 175 on the 3-count bench now - this is the second time I've done it in the last 2 weeks at about the same RPE.
Followed it up with some OHP for reps relatively close to failure, just because I felt like doing some overhead pressing.


June 21, 2022
Sumo Deadlift: 405 pounds x 1 rep [9.5 RPE]

Playing around with my setup still. Started off closer to the bar, widened stance, and moved hands slightly further out. It came off the floor quite easily but I struggled to lock it out, probably in large part because my hands were rubbing against my legs quite a lot. Felt it much more in my glutes. This might be a good setup for me if I adjust my hand placement and do a better job of pulling the slack out of the bar. Still, it feels like this weight should be there pretty much any day of the week.