Donati's Log Of Steel Bending, Grip And Powerlifting

[Buccos1]

Tue (6/16)

Floor Press - Axle

(1x3) 115

(1x3) 165

(1x3) 205

(1x2) 255

(1x1) 285

Speed Bench Press

(1x3) 135

(1x3) 165

(5x3) 185

Angled Kettlebell Pushups

(1x25)

Grippers - MMS

(1x5) T

(1x3) #1.5

(1x1) #2

(1x1) GHP5

(1x0) SM (132lbs.)

(1x25) RB 210N

My top set on floor press felt weak. I haven't done these for a few weeks and noticed the drop-off. It seems like I have to keep training this movement to maintain gains, with not much carryover from anything else. I wanted to try my new 132lb. Super Master and couldn't wait for my next gripper day, so worked it in. Of course, without proper time-off and rest, I didn't stand much of a chance. But I like this gripper! I got the handles to about 5mm. One of the hardest things for me lately is taking time off of grippers … wanting to train them every other day. I know progress would happen a lot faster if I stuck to my plan (2 days/week), but every time I think about a certain gripper, I want to close it, and end up making some attempts.

I did some reps with my 90-something 210N, which felt really easy. It's funny now, as I think about a few years ago when I had trouble getting a few reps with this thing.

[Buccos1]

475 Squat

[Buccos1]

Wed (6/17)

Squats - briefs

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

(1x2) 405

(1x1) 445

(1x1) 475

Deadlifts - 2.25" mat

suit/straps down

(1x3) 135

(1x2) 225

(1x2) 315

(1x1) 405

(1x1) 455

(1x1) 495

straps up

(1x1) 545

I decided (last-minute) to couple squats and deads together today. (Trying my deadlift-every-week variation had something to do with this too, as weekly pulls are going to really tax the system, and I thought that this might be a good opportunity to build some endurance.) Overall, a pretty good session!

[Buccos1]

Thur (6/18)

Bench Press

(1x8) 135

(1x3) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 255

(1x2) 295

add shirt/2-board

(1x2) 350

(1x2) 385

I went to see a new gym late last week, and talked to the owner, who said that a lot of guys bench/compete and it'd be "no problem" getting guys to help spot on shirted bench. So, today, I showed up at the time he suggested, where a few guys regularly bench or would be around to help. I get there and the guy I spoke to is training people and there is no one else around "to help." So I ended up cutting my session short. I had high-hopes for this experience and was disappointed after my visit.

Also, this was THE FIRST time I ever got into my bench shirt ALONE 100% and then got it off BY MYSELF!! I didn't think it was possible, but wasn't going to stand around and wait for someone "to help." Maybe all those years of double overhand bending have made me more flexible than I thought I was in the shoulder area.

[Buccos1]

Mon (6/22)

Bench Press

(1x8) 135

(1x3) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x1) 275

(1x1) 315

add loose F6/1-board

(1x1) 350

(1x1) 365

Bench Press - 3 board

(1x1) 350

(1x1) 365

Angled Kettlebell Pushups

(1x25)

My wedding was over the weekend, and I didn't get much done training-wise the past few days. I actually took up a bunch of steel and some grippers, with the hopes of getting some friendly competition going, and some decent bends/closes, but with everything going on, it kinda got pushed aside.

After my last shirted session, I got to thinking about doing some reps alone, in my power rack. One of the biggest issues with a shirt is needing help getting it on/off, and having a lift-off guy so you stay in a good position. But, after last week's session, and getting in-and-out of the shirt alone, I was psyched (and nervous) to try it. All-in-all, it worked out OK. It's still far from ideal, but I need to get reps in the shirt in, and am not going to let circumstances determine if I'm able to do that. I wore my loose F6 and took 350 and 365 to a 1-board pretty easy. I'm not sure how much heavier I'd go alone, but hope to continue working on technique the next few weeks if I can't get in with some training partners.

[Buccos1]

[Shoggoth]

Nice lift! By the looks of the basement it looks like you've had a move in the last while to.

[JHenze646]

My wedding was over the weekend, and I didn't get much done training-wise the past few days. I actually took up a bunch of steel and some grippers, with the hopes of getting some friendly competition going, and some decent bends/closes, but with everything going on, it kinda got pushed aside.

Wait, what? You just got married!?! Congratulations!!

[Shoggoth]

My wedding was over the weekend, and I didn't get much done training-wise the past few days. I actually took up a bunch of steel and some grippers, with the hopes of getting some friendly competition going, and some decent bends/closes, but with everything going on, it kinda got pushed aside.

Wait, what? You just got married!?! Congratulations!!

Congrats man! Seen the pics on FB. Looked like a nice day.

[Buccos1]

Nice lift! By the looks of the basement it looks like you've had a move in the last while to.

Thanks! We moved about a year ago. Most of my stuff is in the garage, which is about 15-20% smaller than the space I had in the old dungeon gym. But, I am able to do some of my grip stuff in the house and have a little room to store things so it works out pretty good.

My wedding was over the weekend, and I didn't get much done training-wise the past few days. I actually took up a bunch of steel and some grippers, with the hopes of getting some friendly competition going, and some decent bends/closes, but with everything going on, it kinda got pushed aside.

Wait, what? You just got married!?! Congratulations!!

My wedding was over the weekend, and I didn't get much done training-wise the past few days. I actually took up a bunch of steel and some grippers, with the hopes of getting some friendly competition going, and some decent bends/closes, but with everything going on, it kinda got pushed aside.

Wait, what? You just got married!?! Congratulations!!

Congrats man! Seen the pics on FB. Looked like a nice day.

Thanks guys!

[EricMilfeld]

Congratulations, Carl!

[Buccos1]

Congratulations, Carl!

Thanks Eric!

[Buccos1]

Tue (6/23)

Bamboo Bar Bench Press

(3x20) 75

Shrugs

(1x5) 135

(1x5) 225

(1x5) 315

(1x5) 405

(1x5) 495

Grippers - MMS

(1x10) T

(1x3) #1.5

(1x1) GHP5

(1x0) SM (132lbs.)

(1x5) GHP5

DO - IMPs

Yellow Nail

5/16 x 7" Grade 2

Red Nail

DU - IMPs

Yellow Nail

1/4 x 6.5" Grade 5

The 132lb. Super Master was really close … about 1-2mm from closing.

[Buccos1]

Wed (6/24)

Deadlift - 2.25" mat

(1x3) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

add suit/straps down

(1x1) 405

(1x1) 455

straps up

(1x1) 495

(1x1) 525 - 1.5" mat

I bought a cheap window air conditioner for the garage and tried it out for the first time today. It was a little better, but not too much difference … mostly in the area it was. I have a few fans that I can position near it to get some of the a/c circulating, so hopefully, that helps. I wore a suit that was "impossible" to get on two years ago (even after dropping significant weight at that time). I must of lost more size in the legs than I thought, 'cause it went on relatively easy and left almost no marks.

[Buccos1]

Fri (6/26)

Squats

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

add briefs

(1x1) 405

(1x1) 440

(1x1) 460

Walkouts

(2x1) 525

(1x1) 550

For the past few sessions, I've been wearing knee sleeves instead of knee wraps. Things have been feeling pretty good with them. (I've never been one to crank the wraps, so I don't think I ever got too much.) Instead, with sleeves, it seems a little better with not having the wraps throw my angles off. I'm not sure what I'm going to go with at the meet: knee sleeves or cheap (forgiving) wraps.

I tried walkouts again today, after having done these sporadically a few years ago. I forgot what it was like to have so much weight on my back (550). The difference between this and even 495 is pretty huge. These three reps beat me up pretty bad. I'm going to attempt a few walkouts at the end of my squat sets, with the hopes of getting better accustomed to my top set, and helping that weight feel "lighter."

Bodyweight is 193 today. Over the next few weeks, I am hoping to stay right around 195-197.

[Buccos1]

Sun (6/28)

Bench Press

(1x8) 135

(1x3) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x1) 275

(1x1) 315

add F6/2-board

(1x1) 345

1-board

(1x1) 385

(1x1) 390

Grippers - 25mm Block

(1x1) #1.5

(1x1) RB 210N

(1x1) GHP5

(1x1) #2.5 (123lbs.)

Grippers - Strap Holds (10lbs.)

10 sec. -- GHP5

5 sec. -- GHP5

I wanted to see where I was with block closes, after not having done these in months. My previous best with a GHP block (25mm) was 123lbs. … and 126lbs. with a 20mm set. The 123 felt pretty easy today with the 25mm block. Might have been good with my 126lb. Super Master. I wonder if I should start working block closes back in the routine, if it would transfer to my parallel set closes? Most of my MMS closes seemed to have helped overall gripper power, as my block closes have gotten stronger without specific work on it.

[Buccos1]

Tue (6/30)

Floor Press

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 245

(1x2) 275

(1x1) 300

Speed Bench Press - Axle

(1x3) 125

(1x3) 150

(5x3) 150 - add chains

Shrugs

(1x5) 225

(1x5) 315

(1x5) 405

(1x5) 495

Angled Kettlebell Pushups

(1x30)

Lying Dumbell Extensions

(1x8) 30

(1x5) 30

I only had 35 minutes to train today, and did most of these sets with 10-30 sec. rest, which turned out to be a pretty decent workout. Floor Press felt better the more weight I put on the bar.

[Buccos1]

Wed (7/1)

Grippers - MMS

(1x5) T

(1x3) #1.5

(1x2) RB 210N

(1x1) GHP5

(1x1) #2.5 (123lbs.)

(1x7) GHP5

1" V-bar

(1x1) 150

(1x1) 200

DU - IMPs

Yellow Nail

Yellow Nail (5.5")

DU - BBW

1/4 x 6.5" Grade 8

Blob 35

(5x1)

The 2.5 close felt weak, so I didn't make any heavier attempts. I was planning on going for 5 reps with my GHP5, and was expecting it to be tough, but it turned out to be 5 solid closes, and then a few resets, for a total of 7 reps, which I think is a rep-PR with this thing!

[Buccos1]

Thur (7/2)

1" Deficit Deadlifts

(2x3) 135

(2x3) 225

(2x2) 315

(1x1) 405

Deadlifts - 2" Mat

(1x1) 455 - add suit/straps down

(1x1) 475

Deadlifts

(1x1) 525 - straps up

[Buccos1]

Sat (7/4)

Squats

(1x5) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

add briefs

(1x1) 405

(1x1) 425

(1x1) 455

(1x1) 465

Grippers - MMS

(1x10) T

(1x3) #1.5

(1x3) RB 210N

(1x1) GHP5

(1x0) GHP6 (128lbs.)

(1x1) RB 240N (124lbs.)

All-around, just felt run-down from everything going on for the fourth. Grippers felt weak from the get-go, and I was second-guessing my attempt at the GHP6 beforehand, which I know better to do. I tried my 240N right after and got a weak close with it. During a lively party in the evening, I broke out a bunch of steel and some horseshoes, while trying to recruit some takers. I had a few give it a go (including some women) and had a few people bend some grade 2s and 40d nails with singles. I bent a thicker DC0 as a souvenir for a little cousin, which he loved! I haven't bent shoes in awhile, but technique seemed right-on.

[Buccos1]

Sun (7/5)

DO - IMPs

Yellow Nail

5/16 x 7" Grade 2

Red Nail

Grippers - 25mm Block

(1x5) T

(1x3) #1.5

(1x3) #2 (102lbs.)

(1x3) #2 (107lbs.)

Stub

(1x1) 25

(1x1) 30

(1x1) 32.5

[Buccos1]

Mon (7/6)

Bench Press

(1x8) 135

(1x3) 185

(1x3) 225

(1x1) 255

(1x1) 275

(1x1) 320

add F6/2-board

(1x3) 355

1-board

(1x1) 370

Full-rep

(1x0) 385

(1x1) 365

Close-grip Bench Press

(1x5) 225

(1x5) 245

I had to take my baby into the gym with me and as I was getting set-up for the 385 attempt, he started crying. I tried to focus on the lift, but it threw me off just enough that I ended up getting out of position and missed about halfway up. This was also with my looser shirt, which I probably need to be spot-on with everything when going 365+.

[EricMilfeld]

Ah, the ol' "baby was crying and threw off my groove" excuse. Really? Pssshhh...

Seriously though, nice benching!

[Buccos1]

Ah, the ol' "baby was crying and threw off my groove" excuse. Really? Pssshhh...

Seriously though, nice benching!

LOL … thanks! Despite my uncanny level-of-focus , and ability to "tune things out," I couldn't do it this time. I'd like to get in a tighter shirt and hit some numbers like I was doing a few years ago (415-440), but realize it's not going to happen training alone and/or with my wife. But the nice thing about my looser shirts is that there is no pain on/off and no cuts or marks after all is done.

[Buccos1]

Wed (7/8)

Deadlift

(1x3) 135

(1x3) 225

(1x2) 315

add suit/straps down

(1x1) 405

(1x1) 455

straps up

(1x1) 505

Grippers - MMS

(1x5) T

(1x3) #1.5

(1x3) RB 210N

(1x2) GHP5

(1x1) Super Master (126lbs.)