Backspace's Journal and image gallery!

Great work out yesterday!

Made some fantastic gains, my benching is not improving really though.

Dead lift: 60 kg 12/12 (working on form, I could lift 20kg more easy).
Bench: 60 kg 9/7
Bent over row: 70kg 12/12 (time before was 8/8, great result)
DB raise 12kg 12/12 (this is 1 kg over last time)
DB pull over 23kg (upped 1 kg) 12/12
Tri ext 11kg R 12/12 L 12/12 (I was 6kg last time, massive improvement)
Bi curl 13kg R 6/1 L 6/1 ( I put this up 2kg, wrist hurt)

Went for a run but my legs are still stuffed from running.
 
I think BPs are always the toughest to make gains on ... you're not using the most powerful muscles on your bod. Are your triceps giving out, or is it your delts or pecs? Once you figure that out, you can remedy the problem.

Deadlifts and squats are using huge muscle groups, so it's easier to make good progress on those.

Just my opinion, though ;)
 
i_love_muscle said:
I think BPs are always the toughest to make gains on ... you're not using the most powerful muscles on your bod. Are your triceps giving out, or is it your delts or pecs? Once you figure that out, you can remedy the problem.
Deadlights and squats are using huge muscle groups, so it's easier to make good progress on those.

Just my opinion, though ;)
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Thank you, that is really helpful :) I had not thought about it like that before.

I think that my support muscles are giving out, I have been advised to do dumbbell press (however I love benching and I am seeing how far I can get before I have to switch). Also, as I workout at home I get my gf to spot me (I only get her to help with when I fail, I don't try push out another. She is getting really good at it!). She told me yesterday in second set my left hand was wider than my right, stupid mistake. Infact now I think about it, I am not happy with my form at this weight, perhaps I should drop it back? My form was a bit wobbly.

Also the reason I think it is my support muscles giving out is because my personal trainer said he thought it may be, and my Pecs and delts are not getting burnt enough.

I would like to note here my personal trainer is an old work colleague who was studying, and has now left to work full time. I have paid him $30 so far for **** loads of training, support and advice. He has only been over once.

Interestingly, I was benching with a closer grip for ages, it was not until my personal trainer came around that he suggested I widen grip (and that’s when I felt it more in my pecs, previous to this I was working tri's more).

When he came around, I did one set of 12, then one set of 10, with this same weight, since then I have not been able to reach the same (or sometimes near it, like 12/7, or 10/8).

I will post some new photo’s, I keep finding new muscle groups.

Short story is I think my grip, form and support muscles are all having a play in this.

I was thinking about doing push-ups to strengthen the support muscles, not sure how effective it will be.

diet is driving me crazy, I have no idea when to take my supplements, (but I am not up to reading the pre and post workout info Chillin posted).

I am really confused and overwhelmed by it all, but once I figure it out, it will be better. One thing is for sure, it is making me eat better! I spend a lot of time reading, re-reading and filling the information Chillin posted.
 
Hey Backspace, i found the same problem with my benchpressing, my personal trainer had to get me to widen my grip as i too was to close in on the bar. also something else i was doing wrong was on the way back up i was pushing the bar up to my full arm extention (locking my elbows back into place), my personal trainer got me to stop doing that and now i only bring the bar back up to a point just before my elbows lock back into place (hard to explain, but i hope you get my drift) and then go back down towards the chest, so i kinda have a very smooth up and down motion going now.
 
Powerlifters use a totally different technique because they want explosive power in their bench because they're only in it for one rep ;)
 
Sweet! Thank you both, very helpful. The bench article in particular. I tend to leave a fist size gap between my chest and the point that I lower the bar, as opposed to lightly resting on my chest.
 
Took my partner down to the oval, kicked the ball, had small jog around the oval. Great that she is getting motivated. She could only do one push-up, and she does not like taking advice from me, she thinks I am telling her what to do! But I was just very relaxed about it all (I think).

My legs are still sore as hell, I can hardly run, but my new runners are ace, gold, awesome, wicked the best.
 
Looked at bike, $1000. Need to save, trying to train for a Triathlon in February 2009.

Had the most incredible day. Felt good, great all day. workout was busting ass, mads gains everywhere, some big gains in some areas, one rep in others.

Went for a jog in my new shoes right after, did about 3 k, sprinting up a hill. Awesome.

Mixing right now while I eat low fat steak and steamed veggies, about to go to trivia.
 
Getting a bike worth 1800 for 800 with 5000km only, perfect nik, can pay off.

Ran up a massive ridge today, was so exhausted when I reached the summit, kept going, my knees feel really bad. I was a skate boarder for about 11 years so that may have something to do with it, but I may just need proper rest.

I might go to the doctor and get a full check up.

Still on the yo-yo diet, but looking and feeling heaps better, start my new job soon as a graduate, get looked after, good pay.
 
Yesterday was a public holiday, but I worked. I won a $750 GPS system in a work competion.

Anyway when I got home I did not feel like working out. I think I need a rest, I am always sore (from cardio) and what I have learnt is that is bad. But I do feel guilty. I might have the rest of this week off weights and hit it hard next week.

I can't miss soccer training though.
 
^ Yeah it is pretty cool

Yesterday was so bad. I felt like crap, I have had a couple of beers here and there due to social gatherings in a few days in a row, and thanks to me buying a new phone (got a N76 for $200 brand new that retails for $350), I have not had money to buy new, good food. Therefore my diet has been suffering, and I have been making unclean food choices.

I am not sure if it a combination of the booze, poor food, and skipping training this week (I really do need a break, I have been told by a couple of ppl I should take one), but yesterday I was just in a really bad head space.

I have a lot of personal issues I need to deal with, and I have some heavy family things I also need to sort out. I am actually finding it really tough at the moment.

On a positive note I think my lack of exercise and diet contributed to my low self esteem and depression for such a long time while I was at Uni.

I might just go have a lift today anyway, see if I feel better.

I have a school reunion at the end of the month, and I want to be in the best shape for it, therefore I am really thinking about kicking into my diet hard.
 
Cheers guys, feels like I am standing on a soap box, posting my problems to strangers on the internet.

But I had a really big chat to my GF last night (we have been together for nearly 10 years) and I have so much internal anger management issues I need to deal with.

Anyway I feel like I have been putting lots of effort into my body, but I need to focus on my mind.

I almost feel like dropping the weights for a while, starting a running program and diet to lose the body fat, and start serious work on my head.

I am going to book into a counsellor right now, it is time I took responsibility for my self, and the effects it has on others.
 
Wow ... that's a really big first step, Backspace. Respect to you for acknowledging what you need to do, and bigger respect for actually doing something about it ;)

Don't worry about posting your problems to strangers on the internet. It can often be cathartic as it can reset your perspective. Plus, we're completely impartial :)

I wish you all the best from the bottom of my heart.
 
Thank you, I heart muscle. OMG I have not been to see any one (I tried calling but the line was ringing out) so I have tried to focus on on not taking life so seriously, and relaxing in general.

I can feel that energy is coming out in music and creativity. It is evaporating slowly, and I feel about 100% better. I have realised that I can choose to react in any situation (I have been told this before but I have learnt for myself).

I played soccer last Friday and it was the only exercise I have done. I played so well, I am improving very rapidly and now I am able to quickly sprinting and keep up. learning to pace myself also.

Lifting starts again this week, looking forward to it (kind of).

I have a school reunion on the 29th of Nov so I want to lose to weight around my gut before then. I realise the only I can do this is through diet and cardio. I will crank up a calorie calculator and try and eat a max of 2500 a day and see how I go.

I will try running three times a week. I kind of want to just run, and not lift for a while. But I am concerned I will lose some of my muscles.

On a cooler note, two of my mates tried to wrestle me on the weekend (at the same time) and I absolutely smashed them, I was throwing them around like they were dolls.
 
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HAha well one of them is shorter than me and looks like a midget, and afterwards he jumped on my back and was wriggleing trying to take me down, so I did a forward roll with him on my back it was funny as. But I bit my lip hard durring the roll haha.
 
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