Hit a couple of triples at 128kg on my bench yesterday which would be very much PR territory on the normal bench at the gym. I've hit 130kg for 4 once but it's a much better set up so I think I'm pretty much at that same level.

I haven't been above 120kg since the first lockdown so this is great progress that I'm really pleased with.

Squats are up to 97kg but that was just a couple of singles. I managed the slow descent and full 2 second pause so they're coming along brilliantly.

Looking forward to the gym re-opening on Wednesday but I've got to find a way of keeping going with the regular squats until I have the form really well drilled in. I might just add squats in at the gym on my two leg days then do a couple of very short squat only sessions at home.

Everyone else back on Wednesday?

Good going Matt, great progression. How are your knees when squatting? And do you wear knee wraps?

We’re back...!!!

Was busy with work stuff today so decided yesterday that I’d train in the evening. Got to 11am and I was having such a bad day that I closed the laptop and went for a 5k in the rain (love running in the rain)

Straight to the gym - Did a “getting back into it” session

Seated Row - 3 sets
Seated pull down - 3 sets
50 push ups
Squat - going up to 120kg felt nice
Deadlift - went up to 220kg
OHP - stuck to 60kg 3 sets of 10
Dumbbell press - we only have 40kg dbs at Nuffield so did 3 sets of 10
Pull ups 4 sets 5
Dips 4 sets of 20

Felt good being back, I’ve been doing a lot of running and have stripped down to 88kg so I’m assuming it’ll have a knock on effect on my lifts.

My programs are all messed up I was supposed start a functional training program on the 21st November but I continued with my running and pull ups because I was enjoying it.

Here’s a gym f*ck for you guys - So I’m resting from deadlift near the bench a tattooed meat head walks over to the bench and loads on 2 plates (no warm up) does 3-4 reps he looked like he was struggling. I do my set and look around and see that he’s loaded another plate on so now 3 plates and either his twin or someone who goes to the same tattoo & barber shop has now joined him he walks to the end of the gym and back huffing and puffing lays on the bench controls the weight down and then ...... nothing he couldn’t push it off his chest, lol his gym buddy is shouting “come on Andy! strength! Power! Andy come on big chest Andy big chest!! So in the end it turns out that Andy didn’t have the strength or power 😂😂 I openly started laughing I couldn’t help it, they both kept mumbling things looking at me 😂😂

Happy Diwali

Thanks pal

Woke up early to watch the boxing and ended up eating a load of samosas and pakoras. Going for a run to try to work this off now.:

Hope you had a great Saturday too

Happy Diwali, mate!

Have a great day

Thanks mate...

Drinks have just started so it’s been a great day 🙏🏽

Happy Diwali Everyone...

2020 has been a crazy year lots of new experiences that no one expected. The world may never be the same again. One benefit of 2020 is that it’s grounded me and made me realise what is most important, health, family, friends and community.

The lockdown allowed me to reconnect with my wife and re-ignite that spark that we once had, it allowed me quality time with my kids and enjoy the little wins that they have each day. Talk to them about their lives outside the house and understand them in a way that I never would have.
It highlighted local hero’s and allowed people to become better versions of themselves

Indians all over the world celebrate the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, you’ll see fireworks, you may hear singing and if you have Indian neighbours you’ll definitely smell the food.  Whether you celebrate Diwali or not I wish you all a great day and hope that the divine light of prosperity shines over you..!

Peace...!!

Great set up Matt

This lockdown doesn’t seem like a lockdown at all apart from the gyms and some shops being closed.

So I’m doing the same thing everyday. 5k run, then 15 sets of 5 pull ups plus 10 sets of 20 dips at the park. I’m also doing around 100 to 200 push ups a day when I wake up.
I do have access to a gym but I’ve haven’t had the inclination to go because of work commitments.

I signed up to Mindfit yoga and haven’t logged on once to do a session.

On a side note working from home is really doing my head in. I feel like I’m not accomplishing anything.  I’m forgetting to eat a lot and because I’m working from home not moving as much either. I really need to go swimming and stretch out.

Hope you’re all doing well..

Had a dodgy start with my home made rack. I ordered loads of bits and assembled it ready for a session on Thursday but it was clear straight away it wasn't going to be strong enough.

I ordered a few more bits yesterday, tinkered a bit in the afternoon then ordered what I'm hoping is the final few parts ready for full assembly.

Training partner came round today to help get the new floor protection in place and I'm going to finish the rack tomorrow ready for using on Monday

It's been an evolving piece of kit, even now I'm having new ideas to make little improvements.....

I'll try to post some pics when it's finished if I can figure out how to.....

Really looking forward to seeing this... Great that you have the skills to make something like this. As @marky said too, the plan sounds good

Went hard for some PBs this week.

On bench did 80kg (my bodyweight) for a single. Was going for a double and the first rep felt ok if a bit grindy. The second rep hardly left my chest and barely got it to the safeties!

Then a 110kg squat triple on Tuesday which I'm pleased with as I haven't been squatting much at all. Lots more in there with better form and focus.

Hopefully only a month but think it's odds on it's 2021 the next time we're allowed into a gym

Good going Ledders. How’s your hand?

Your squat seems really good? Strong legs from football?

Out of interest how are you reaching 80kg on your bench? Reps going up? Rest between sets? And do you have a spotter?

Yes I think 2021 too.. So annoyed I think gyms and sports centres etc are the solution not the problem.

Breakfast - Was out of porridge and Huel so I had rice and 3 eggs with spinach
Supps - Creatine
Pre-workout: Dorians Blood & Guts

Sad day today, last day at the gym for at least a month so again did compounds. I went heavy on Monday so couldn’t go as heavy today.

Went up to 140kg on Squats only got 5 reps on 2 sets

140kg on bench but got 9 reps

Went up to 90KG on OHP did 8 reps could have gone higher but did lots of accessory work after because I knew this was the last session in a while.

No deadlift but did 7 sets of x5 pull ups. 5 sets of x20 dips

Did a huge amount on back because I didn’t go for deadlift
Box jumps followed by farmers walk with the 36kg dbs
Sled not sure the weight but wasn’t heavy at all. battle ropes and the punch bag, more for the benefit of the hotties that were in the gym today.

Overall happy with the session I think some time off will do me some good. I’ve signed up to Mindfit yoga for the month and have a few degenerates that want to meet in Gedling park for a run each morning.

@marky Great work pal, love full body too. Sell the dumbbells if you can get a grand for them 😂 my gym is still charging me this month and have assured me that if it’s extended they will either cancel my dd or refund me. But like Harvey said I think 4 weeks will be more like 8

@Matt great work with the incline, I only do dumbbell incline but am going to start Olympic bar incline when we get back in the gyms again. Please post a picture of the rack once it’s made, would love to see it

@harvey my experience with lockdown break was very similar to Matts, didn’t take long to get back into the swing of things. I think it helped that I followed the NFL plan to the letter I didn’t sway from it at all including the eating times and the rest and rehab stuff prescribed

@dean are you back to full strength yet? It’s been at least a week 😂

On a serious note. If any of you are struggling during lockdown or need someone to vent to, feel free to drop me a line.

9 reps of 135kg not 140kg (bench)

Breakfast - Was out of porridge and Huel so I had rice and 3 eggs with spinach
Supps - Creatine
Pre-workout: Dorians Blood & Guts

Sad day today, last day at the gym for at least a month so again did compounds. I went heavy on Monday so couldn’t go as heavy today.

Went up to 140kg on Squats only got 5 reps on 2 sets

140kg on bench but got 9 reps

Went up to 90KG on OHP did 8 reps could have gone higher but did lots of accessory work after because I knew this was the last session in a while.

No deadlift but did 7 sets of x5 pull ups. 5 sets of x20 dips

Did a huge amount on back because I didn’t go for deadlift
Box jumps followed by farmers walk with the 36kg dbs
Sled not sure the weight but wasn’t heavy at all. battle ropes and the punch bag, more for the benefit of the hotties that were in the gym today.

Overall happy with the session I think some time off will do me some good. I’ve signed up to Mindfit yoga for the month and have a few degenerates that want to meet in Gedling park for a run each morning.

@marky Great work pal, love full body too. Sell the dumbbells if you can get a grand for them 😂 my gym is still charging me this month and have assured me that if it’s extended they will either cancel my dd or refund me. But like Harvey said I think 4 weeks will be more like 8

@Matt great work with the incline, I only do dumbbell incline but am going to start Olympic bar incline when we get back in the gyms again. Please post a picture of the rack once it’s made, would love to see it

@harvey my experience with lockdown break was very similar to Matts, didn’t take long to get back into the swing of things. I think it helped that I followed the NFL plan to the letter I didn’t sway from it at all including the eating times and the rest and rehab stuff prescribed

@dean are you back to full strength yet? It’s been at least a week 😂

On a serious note. If any of you are struggling during lockdown or need someone to vent to, feel free to drop me a line.

Nice work on the bench mate. 160kg is awesome especially after everything beforehand. How long are you in the gym for that lot? I'd be about a week

Saturday wasn't the best session. My mate was really de-motivated because of all the lockdown talk especially as he's really in to his 'squat every day' thing at the moment and thought it was going to be ruined.

Anyway we had a bit of a chat and we've realised that as we're both single and living alone we can form a bubble and keep training at my house. I'm going to manufacture a heavy duty rack so that he can keep doing his heavy squatting and also we'll be able to do heavy bench.

Just in the process of designing the thing and procuring the bits...... Busy day at work......

Thanks pal. I actually did the bench ahead of the deadlift. Spent around an hour and a half in the gym. I take 1 minute between light weights and up to 3 minutes when it gets taxing.

😂😂 I agree about the diet part. It does improve whilst I’m cutting, usually February time when I start.

On a side note I did a really heavy deadlift a couple of years ago (not going to post the weight to many questions if I don’t post a video) but I burst a load of blood vessels in my face and even eyes.. I actually looked like I had something seriously wrong with me for a couple of weeks. I’ll send you guys a picture.

I’m actually looking forward to taking a month off, I’m going to do daily classes of Mindfit yoga online and get my running up to a higher standard.

Breakfast - 2 scoops porridge, celery, large carrot, half banana, bag spinach
Supps - Creatine
Preworkout - Blood & Guts

Doing full body compounds for the next few days until gyms close
Long warm up, some yoga stretching and onto squats

Squat
10 x 60kg
5 x 80KG
5 x 100kg
5 x 120kg
5 x 140kg

Deadlift
5 x 60, 5 x 100, 3 x 140, 3 x 180, 3 x 220, 3 x 240

Bench
Bar, 10 x 60, 10 x 80, 5 x 100, 5 x 120, 5 x 130, 3 x 140, 2 x 150, 1 rep 160kg which is a PB

Cleans. I don’t think weight makes a difference with cleans, did 5 sets going up to 60kg I didn’t want to tax my forearms before shoulders.

OHP
Bar, 10 x 60kg, 5 x 70, 5 x 80, 5 x 90, 5 x 100kg

Went onto dumbbells mixing shoulder press and incline, starting on the 32kg dumbbells moving up to the 40’s

Row - used the 40’s for 4 sets of rows. Went onto pull downs not sure how heavy But was less then my bodyweight.

A few other accessories and finished up, the gym had an offer on protein £1 for a large bottle and being indian and a mizer I brought one and ended up running to the bathroom when I got home. Damn lactose intolerance.

Had some Huel when I got in and 6 pieces of bacon, 3 sausages, 2 eggs and a can of spaghetti hoops tooped off with some left over garlic bread from last night and now I feel like going to sleep.

Really happy with my bench today. I had a PT spot me and told him to stand right back unless he saw me struggling I made myself believe that there was no one behind me and got it out (not easily) but nevertheless got it out without him touching the bar.

I’m not happy that the gyms are closing on Thursday but I am looking forward to smashing my 5k challenge and I think with the gyms closed and my missus wanting to run with me it’ll give me the motivation to improve.

How’s everyone getting on?

Utter bellends. Why does it not start till Thursday!

They have to debate it in the commons Stuart and plus we need enough time to stock up on toilet roll ...

First session back today after Covid lay-off.. was very tough strength remains but fitness has fallen off

Absolute machine... ✊🏽💪🏽

How are

@marky
@Dean
@Harvey getting on?

Some nice numbers to finish the week, 2x10 Squats at a 100 which I think is a lifetime PB. DLs 2x3 180, kinda annoying because I thought I would get 5 on one of the sets, which would have been a lifetime PB. Back home for a few weeks whilst we change flat (lockdown depending) and the bars are so poor at the Pure here, so maybe it was that but there wasn't a 4th on any set. I wanted to peak at 180 for then start to drop back down and just tighten up the movement with pauses and speed reps mixed in with 8+ sets.

OHP was 55 for , so hoping to move to the 60. Bench 3x8s at 87.5. I think if I got that at 90 that would also be a lifetime PB.

So mental to think A) I can do lifetime PBs post haemorrhage B) do them just after 2 years and C) do them after a 4 month break due to lockdown. Kinda wipes out any nerves for this upcoming lockdown, but the frustration is still there. Really zoning in on multiple 200 on the DL now, and multiple 140s on the squat. Both are still a long way away, but feel a lot more realistic than this time last year.

That’s some good going especially post op. 200 DL is massive that bar bend is a good feeling. Sounds like you’re hitting it hard.. Annoyingly lockdown will now put a holt on progress for us all.


How’s Ledders doing?