Year: 2014

Heart for Squats

My calves are a little sore from those 200 box jumps. Didn’t realize my hamstrings were sore until trying to do zombie kicks. No new issue with the shoulder after working it so far.

Warm-up

  • 20 Air Squats
  • 20 Zombie Kicks
  • Wrist Stretch
  • 10/10 Hurdlers (Forward, backward)

Strength

7×2 Front Squat @ 80+%

  • 10×45#
  • 5×135#
  • 3×205#
  • 3×235#
  • 2×255#
  • 2×265#
  • 2×275#
  • 2×280#
  • 2×285#
  • 2×290#
  • 2×295#

Yeah! When I did the 60 Day Lifting Challenge I could never get 280# for 2 reps and now I’m flying past it.

Conditioning

20:00 EMOM

  • 4 Kip Swings (Hollow/Arch)
  • 8 Push-ups
  • 12 Air Squats

It was a “Make Your Own Cindy” workout. I figured I’d go with the 4-8-12 rep scheme for the push-ups and it worked. I did every set unbroken and didn’t start to fatigue until the last few sets when I was speeding up to get in more reps. This was my first time hanging from the bar in over a month so I didn’t want to get right into pull-ups. No issue with the swings, so that was good. I finished exactly 25 rounds, which would be all the reps for “Murph” if I had been doing actual pull-ups. My air squats were slow and controlled to keep good positioning, so I could definitely speed those up to make up for lost time doing pull-ups instead of just the swings.

Did a 5 and 4 minute squat hold before leaving the gym, then 6 and 5 when I got home. Cutting it short to 20 minutes today due to the 300 air squats.

Get Outside

My adductors have been sore since Sunday when I did a bunch of snatch deadlift work and back squats. Calves feeling it a bit today from the 200 box jumps. Did CS Activation before heading to 9am.

Warm-up

  • 2:00 Bottom Squat Hold
  • Stretching

Strength

Shoulder Press

  • 10×45#
  • 3x10x65#
  • 2x10x85#

Really light, but 85# got heavy. Felt fine on the shoulder.

12:00 EMOM

  • Odds: 5 Pendlay Rows (185#)
  • Evens: 10 RDLs (185#)

I did a round with 135# warming up.

Conditioning

  • 5-4-3-2-1 Run rectangle (~135m)
  • 2-4-6-8-10 Squat Cleans (165#)

I started dying on the round of 6 cleans. Finished in 16:50.

Couple more squat holds of 3 and 5 minutes. Some butterfly hip stretching, 2x :30 of shoulder box stretch. Did CS Recovery when I got home.

Eat Up

Got up and made a nice little breakfast this morning before the gym. Trying something new to try to kick this fat loss back into gear. I always used to eat before the gym but stopped for some reason. I have also been wondering if not eating enough has been affecting my fat loss goal. I’m enjoying the no high intensity work on weekends and it should help the squats do their magic. Rarely am I ever feeling beat up anymore. CS Activation before going to the gym.

Warm-up

  • 3:00 Bottom Squat Hold
  • Leg Swings
  • Shoulder Stretches

Strength

7×2 Back Squats @ 80-96%

  • 10×45#
  • 5×135#
  • 5×225#
  • 3×255#
  • 2×280#
  • 2×285#
  • 2×290#
  • 2×300#
  • 2×305#
  • 2×310#
  • 2×320#

Wasn’t sure how it would go so I played it a little safe. Felt good and was a lot of heavy volume.

Conditioning

20:00 EMOM

  • 20 Russian KBS (71# KB)
  • 20 Box Jumps (24″)

I guess I could have been doing kettlebell swings all around since my arm doesn’t really even get up to shoulder height with the elbow bend. Was taking about 32 seconds for the swings and 37 seconds for the jumps each round.

Accessory

  • 5×10 Seated Shoulder DB Presses on the floor (15# DBs)

Really light, but I’m easing in.

Knocked out 5, 3, and 3 minute squat holds along with some other stretching before heading home.

30 In The Hole

Took a complete rest day yesterday, even from the squat holds. I did do Crossover Symmetry Recovery though since I hadn’t done it on Friday.  Got in some squat holds this morning and then took the sled around the neighborhood.

1.43 miles in 29:13 with 70# on the 25# sled.

Did Crossover Symmetry Activation and then hit up the Survival Fitness Barbell Club in the afternoon for some lifting. Did a 3:00 squat hold and some other stretching.

Snatch Deadlifts

  • Several sets of 3×75#
  • 2x2x105#
  • 2x2x135#
  • 2x2x165#
  • 5x2x195#

In between sets starting at 105# I was doing 30s overhead holds with the 15# training bar. I started off trying to do some snatch grip presses, but they were bothering my shoulder.

Back Squats

  • 10×135#
  • 5×205#
  • 3×235#
  • 5x7x255#

Second pick from Smolov. Wasn’t too bad. Legs felt fresh after the rest day. One more 3 minute squat hold shortly after finishing my sets.

5 Rounds NFT

  • 10 Weighted GHD Sit-ups (holding 15-15-25-25-25 pound plate)
  • 1:00 Bottom Squat Hold

Knocked out the CS Recovery at home and finished off my first 30 minute day of squat holds with a 4:00 one.

Hundreds of ’em, Fifty Two

Have been resting on Fridays, but really wanted to get in another squat session today, so I’ll rest tomorrow or maybe drag the sled.

Warm-up

  • 200 DU
  • 3:00 Bottom Squat Hold
  • 200 DU
  • 3:00 Bottom Squat Hold
  • Crossover Symmetry Activation

I guess I left my RPM rope at Survival Fitness, so had to use my backup, the RX rope. Managed to get 70+ and then 100 unbroken during the first 200. That got me to 1,508 for the final week of my personal Double Under Challenge. In 4 weeks I racked up 5,200+ double unders!

OLY

Muscle Clean

  • 3×95#
  • 3×115#
  • 3×135#

Hip Clean

  • 2x3x135#
  • 3x2x155#
  • 3x2x175#

Trying to work on speed under the bar. Kevin also pointed out that I was banging some instead of driving the bar up so I tried to work on pulling the bar in to me and driving it up off the legs.

Strength

Back Squats

  • 5×155#
  • 5×205#
  • 4x9x245#

I’m going to start pulling some of my extra squat days from a Smolov squat cycle, so that’s where the 4×9 came from. It was supposed to be at 240#, but I didn’t feel like messing with the little plates. Wasn’t as hard as I was expecting.

Good Mornings

  • 5×135#
  • 5×155#
  • 2x5x175#
  • 5×185#

In between some of the good mornings I knocked out 3 sets of 50 band pulls. Finished with another 3:00 squat hold. Ended up with 29 total minutes in the squat hold today, so tomorrow and the rest of the 30 days will be 30 minutes a day.

From the Front

I was up early this morning, so was able to get in some squat holding. Also did the Crossover Symmetry Activation before heading to the gym. The 90/90 movement was almost no issue for me today with the super light band, so huge improvement already!

Warm-up

  • 3:00 Bottom Squat Hold
  • Wrist Stretch
  • Leg Swings
  • 15 Air Squats
  • Zombie Kicks

Strength

Front Squats

  • 10×45#
  • 5×135#
  • 3×225#
  • 3×245#
  • 3×270#
  • 1×280#
  • 3×270#
  • 1×290#
  • 3×270#
  • 1×305#
  • 5x2x225#

Weird percentages again today (I forget what they were). I went off a PR+ again to up the ante. The waves are actually pretty cool though. The triples at the same weight feel easier as you go. Everything felt pretty solid. The 305# squat is just 5# under my old PR. The doubles at the end were supposed to go with a jerk as well, but not for me.

Conditioning

10 Rounds

  • 1:00 AMRAP
    • 5 Burpees
    • 2 Broad Jumps
  • 30s Rest

Joe and I did it outside, so jumping was sketchy. Didn’t keep track of anything because it would have been way too hard to. Some days you just want to do work.

Went right into a 5:00 squat hold with little rest.

Skill

300 double unders took me 4:14, a new best.

Did a final 5:00 squat before leaving. I’ll be up to 28 total minutes today. Pulled in to the garage at home and knocked out Crossover Symmetry Recovery.

Deadlift Rising

Bought some new bands last night and started doing Crossover Symmetry again to rehab the shoulder and start strengthening it. I have my last laser therapy today. I’m going to try to stick to this schedule recommended by CS. Not necessarily the days, but only doing Recovery 2 days in a row.

crossover-symmetry-schedule

Warm-up

  • 3:00 Bottom Squat Hold
  • 3 Rounds
    • 10 Squats (15#)
    • 10 Good Mornings (15#)
    • Arm Circles

Strength

5×3 Deadlifts at 80-90%

  • 5×135#
  • 5×225#
  • 5×295#
  • 3×365#
  • 3×395#
  • 3×415#
  • 3×425#
  • 3×435#

Still getting back where I used to be so only 3 sets were in the range according to my old 1RM, but less than 3 weeks ago with singles I did 435# and didn’t get 455#. Definitely getting the low back strength to come back fast.

Accessory

14:00 EMOM

  • Odds: 30s Hollow Rocks
  • Evens: 40s Farmer’s Carry (53# KBs)

Conditioning

10 Rounds

  • 10-10-10-10-6-6-6-6-4-4
    • C2D Push-ups
    • Weighted Lunges (35# DBs)
  • 10 Goblet Squats (44# KB)

Took me 11:37 to finish. Did another 5:00 squat hold after class. I was up to a total of 26 minutes of squat holds yesterday and will accumulate 27 today.

Didn’t have time to get in some double unders and probably won’t do any tonight, so I’ll have the next 2 days to finish out the 1,500 for the week.

Ho-hum Tuesday

Feeling good! I can’t wait to start trying out the shoulder next week.

Warm-up

  • 2:00 Bottom Squat Hold
  • 3 x 30s Box Shoulder Stretch
  • 3 x 25 Band Pulls (thicker red band)
  • 2 x 1:00 Laying KB Hold (each side, 25# KB)
  • 3:00 Bottom Squat Hold

Strength

Warmed up with 5×135# pendlay rows and 5×135# RDLs. Then super set these two…

5 Rounds

  • 5×185# Pendlay Rows
  • 10×185# RDLs
  • 90s Rest

Conditioning

7:00 AMRAP
* 5 box overs EMOM starting at 1:00

  • 15 GHD Hip Extensions
  • 15 V-ups

I got either 5 full rounds plus 5 more hip extensions. I flew through the box overs, but those v-ups got slow.

Did a 6:00 squat hold after class. Will get in 15 more minutes throughout the day. Yesterday I did 5×5:00 without a problem, so I’ll make it a total of 26 minutes today.

3 Days of Back Squats

Can feel a deep soreness in my hamstrings, especially easing out of bed over the edge of the mattress.

Warm-up

Various footwork drills.

OLY

Cleans

  • 2×135#
  • 2×165#
  • 2×185#
  • 5x2x205#

Snatch Deadlifts

  • 3x2x205#

Didn’t have a lot of time and didn’t have straps so didn’t stop at the positions like I normally do.

Strength

Back Squats

  • 5×205#
  • 3×245#
  • 4×280#
  • 1×300#
  • 4×280#
  • 1×310#
  • 4×280#
  • 1×325#

Disappointed to have the strength program keep changing all the time. 😦 Was looking forward to seeing progress with the 5×3. This series was fun though. Was my third day in a row of back squats and wasn’t that tough to get through. I bet all of the squat holds are helping a lot.

Conditioning

8:00 AMRAP

  • 10 Burpees
  • 10 Pistols
  • 10 GHD Sit-ups

Finally have a real GHD at Survival Fitness now! Matt brought his in from home. I did completed 4+20.

2014-04-28-ghds

Mobility & Skills

  • 5:00 Bottom Squat Hold
  • 6:00 EMOM of 50 DU
  • 5:00 Bottom Squat Hold

Too many screw ups on dubs, but puts me at 808 for the final week of my Double Under Challenge, so 700 left to go before Saturday.

Head Case

My hamstrings are a little sore from the good mornings. Was up at 5:30 to take Mom and Dad to the airport. Hit up Open Gym in Bay City to lift.

Warm-up

  • 5:00 Bottom Squat Hold
  • 3×50 Band Pulls
  • Stretching

OLY

  • 45# Position Work
  • 4x3x95# Muscle Cleans
  • Cleans w/ blocks at the knee
    • 2x2x135#
    • 2x3x155#
    • 2x2x185#
    • 2x2x205#
    • 2×215#
    • 5x1x225#

I started to hit that mental barrier at 225#. So stupid! I just did a 255# power clean from the hang too weeks ago and I’m afraid of 225#. After a couple of false starts and iffy attempts, I convinced myself to stop being a pussy, pull, and drop under the bar. Last few reps were much better with confidence. I hadn’t done 225# from the blocks before so that was good. I am such a head case though and still think about those near-disaster PR cleans of the past. I need to get comfortable dropping under the bar to squat them and today was a good step back to it.

Back Squats

I didn’t plan on squatting, but Kevin was doing some and it was nothing crazy, so I jumped in with him.

  • 5×205#
  • 5×235#
  • 3x5x262.5#

That 2 hours flew by! Finished up with another 5:00 bottom squat.

Conditioning

Got out the sled when I got home. 140# total after adding 115# of bumpers and I also wore the 20# weight vest. Went 0.51 miles in 13:01.

Did a final squat hold of 3:00 to make 23 minutes on the day since I had done a couple of 5s in the morning.