Out Of The Shadows

[guru20]

Ok I typed this once...then lost it when i tried to send it, dont you hate when that happens.

Ive been lurking in the shadows (on and off) for a little over 2 years now. Ive been lifting pretty consistently for about 2 years, but dropped my bending and grip routines to focus on more bodybuilding interests (mainly increase in size) which was a mistake. I should have focused on the important stuff...strength.

About me: Im 6'0, 22 years old and weigh between 185 and 198 depending on lifestyle conditions. Currently i find myself in baghdad where im an army sniper, so my food and sleep schedules are far from perfect. I deadlifted 455 in a local army competition about 1 month ago, i can bench 320 touch and go (which is probably a little lower now, and my squat is at a lowly 350...mainly because ive been working on form and depth...but also because i hate squatting and i try to find excuses to avoid the exercise.

I can close the #2 with my right and i can bend a yellow pretty easily unbraced and a blue braced. Most of my workouts consist of 4 to 5 compound exercises with a few added iso's for things im working on ie. tris, upper chest or reverse curls. I try to do weighted pullups and dips as much as possible and worked up to 145 for 5 hung on dips until i broke the dip belt at the gym here on our FOB. Stupid army gear with there crappy metal clasps. Im also a blue belt in BJJ, so if there are any other grapplers on here...hit me up sometime.

Im familiar with most people on the post (due to my high rate of lurking) and thought id finally come out and introdue myself.

Hello, Im Nathan and im an addict.

Ive read a plethora of books on weightlifting/bodybuilding/sport specific strength, and love to hear about new books anyone is reading...i also like long walks....oh sorry, force of habit.. im currently reading el hewies olympic weighlifting 'encyclopedia' and its filled with useful information -- if you disregard the spelling errors.

This is my current grip gear: COC T, 1 (filed), 2 and 3 + supergripper. Rolling thunder, pinch grip from ironmind, IM levering, eagle loops, outer limit loops, wrist roller and wood/welding clamp for thumb specific work.

Being in Iraq has wrecked my lifting...i find my strength dwindling. Ive come here for support and friendship with like-minded people that dont think im crazy when i obsessively bend or grip things.

These are my past 3 workouts:

6NOV

Squats from the bottom: 135/5 225/2 255/1 285/1 295/miss 295/miss 275/1 (first time doing bottom squats off the rack, and it was an eye opener)

DL Partials 245/3 335/3 524/3 475/1

Floor Bench 225/3 275/1 295/1 315/1

Clean and press Dumbells 45/5 65/5 x 4

Eagle Loops 2 finger pullups 10 10 10

10NOV

Parallel Squats 135/5 225/3 275/3 315/3 315/3 (focusing on depth -- a little below parallel-- and form. ass down, knees out)

Quarter Squats 315/3 405/5 425/5

Bench from chest off racks 135/8 225/1 245/1 275/1 265/2

Overhead Lockout 135/3 185/2 205/2 225/miss 215/1

Underhand Chins (weighted) 60/5 60/5 easy

Side bends 100/20

Bent knee situps 20 on steepest setting

Hanging leg raises with eagle loops 10

IM pinch gripping 25/10sec grip was slipping, no chalk...stopped

Levering 2 sets front, back and sides

bent 2 yellows and some random little nails i found

14NOV

Cleans 185/1, 1, 1 195/1, 1, 1

Bent over Rows 135/10 185/5 x4

Flat Bench 135/10 225/5 (shoulder pinching and sore, stopped early)

Heavy curl 135/8 with leaning 135/2 completely strict

Neck weighted raises

Hold 225 DO for time

Today i did some deadlifting but i was incredibly weak, and stopped early. Ill head back tomorrow after i get some food and rest.

My food intake is either dfac food the army supplies (which is alright, but its hard to get over there sometimes) or food people send to us in care packages which is usually cakes and candy and crap i dont like to eat. If only everyone lifted...then theyd know not to send garbage...lol.

Sleep fluctuates so frequently...24 hours out in sector, 10 back on the fob, 12 out, 20 back..i have to take advantage of sleep as it comes, and then try to getmy workouts in when i can. Pretty lame.

ill make myself known a little more.

--Nathan

[JoeGrip]

Keep it up! And stay safe over there.

[guru20]

Thanks Joe, I appreciate it.

Today was the first day i did Box Squats, so i tried to concentrate on getting used to the exercise

Box Squats 135/5 225/3 275/4 275/4 The exercise felt great

Good Mornings 135/8 Low and smooth

Bottom Bench 135/5 225 245/1 265/1

Dumbell MP Standing 40/8 70/3 70/3 Lower back felt slightly unsteady

BO Rows 135/8 185/5 185/8 Form Concentration

My grip felt weak as hell for some reason, i did some overcrush with my #1 but really just kept it to a minimum. I ripped 40 cards out of a deck, pretty easy actually, i was surprised. I find if i explode into the deck it rips much easier...a little obvious i guess.

[DAN PRAYDIS]

keep up the good work Nathan and try to keep safe when you get back you can hit the training hard and hit some big prs you are the same age as my son thanks for serving our country and hopefully you can have some sort of a christmas take care dan p

[guru20]

Thanks Dan. The Prs will come with time, i have faith.

[guru20]

Ive been really busy and havent been getting much sleep lately. I usually only eat twice a day, and my strength has been suffering for it.

Deads OH grip 225/5 x 2 Reverse grip 315/1 x2 Straps 345/5 Felt easy. Reverse again 345/1 x2

I dont like using straps at all, but im trying to massage out any lopsidedness from doing reverse for so long.

Cleans 185/1, 1, 1

Weighted Dips (shoulder was killing me, so i took it really easy) BW 15, 15, 15 really controlled and deep

Military Press standing 65/3 x 2 (easy)

I did some holds OH on the BB afterwards. 275 for 20 sec or so. then dropped it to 225 and burned out..probably a max of 7 sets.

[guru20]

Some interesting developments this week. After a mission on Thanksgiving day, i got flown out to see a optometrist for some sort of eye infection/injury. So after 2 days of moving around i finally ended up at a hospital talking to an opthamologist about my corneal ulcer that developed from wearing contacts. It seems dirt, long hours and wearing contacts breeds bacteria...and that bacteria, in turn, tries to eat my eyes -- or eye considering it was only my left.

So im taking some antibacterial drops and cream, and just hanging out in this plush hospital .

Last night i went in search of gym, and found a crappy one in the back of the Hospital. Hardly any weight, and mostly machines...it did have 300 lbs and a power rack though, so i was in business

Box Squats 289/5 289/5 felt really good

Standing Military 133/5 133/5 +some lockouts from head level

Bent Rows 198/5 198/5

Side Bends 100/20 each side

100lb Dumbell holds to failure

Pinch 2 45s with 2 hands (barely could hold this for 5 sec)

Pinch 2 35s with 2 hands to failure.

I didnt have much equipment, but that workout is all i need to grow on. Simple MJ exercises plus heavy weight.

[guru20]

28NOV

Deadlifts 245/5 OH grip 345/1, 1 Reverse grips 357/5 straps 245/5 eagle loops 277/10 eagle loops

Cleans 185/1, 1, 1

Standing DB Military Press 65/8 65/5

1 Armed Barbell Deadlifts 135/3 sets of 1 + 2 reps R 1rep L

Holds 275 for time 2 sets 225 for time

Rolling Thunder (first time i actually times these, and my hands felt tired after doing normal holds) 90lbs/14secR 90/10secL 90/18secR 90/10secL

Outer limit loops 15lbs until failure -- this was harder then i thought it was going to be.

Edited November 30, 2006 by guru20

[CoC#3]

Your training is looking really good, dude. Keep up the good work!

[guru20]

1DEC06

Box Squats 135/5 225/5 300/5 300/4 Felt really good

Good Mornings 155/7

Bottom Bench 155/5 225/3 245/2 275/1

Barbell MP 130/3 155/1 (Push press) 146/3 146/3 push press -- After i tried to clean and press 185, but couldnt press it over my head. I want work up to high numbers in push presses.

Bent Rows 185/5 205/5

Did time holds pinching 2 20kg plates with both hands.

[guru20]

Hey COC3 i just saw your comment, thanks a lot man. I appreciate the encouragement!

[CoC#3]

1DEC06

Box Squats 135/5 225/5 300/5 300/4 Felt really good

Good Mornings 155/7

Bottom Bench 155/5 225/3 245/2 275/1

Barbell MP 130/3 155/1 (Push press) 146/3 146/3 push press -- After i tried to clean and press 185, but couldnt press it over my head. I want work up to high numbers in push presses.

Bent Rows 185/5 205/5

Did time holds pinching 2 20kg plates with both hands.

NICE!

[guru20]

My friend bought the ironminds bag O nails a couple months ago but lsot interest in bending. So today he gave them to me..YES! Anyway, i bent a yellow unbraced and 2 blues unbraced. this was the first time i was able to bend blues unbraced, i was freakin pumped. Im waiting for my benders bag and then ill be ready to reach the higher levels.

[don chi]

All that crap and still finding time to workout. You soldiers are something else man! Good luck and keep it up. And also a big THANKS for what you do dude.

[guru20]

Thanks don!

[Chrisx9118]

Strong squatting bro, great stuff

[guru20]

4DEC06

Deadlifts 245/5 Overhand 335/1 x 3 reversegrips 368/5 w/ straps 368/1 speed, reverse grip 295/5restpause with Eagle loops

Working set of deadlifts felt good, not too hard and not too easy. I built up to 405 for 5 about 6 weeks ago, but took some time off because of my schedule and stuff; so now im building back up slowly.

Cleans 185/1 x3 trying to build up wrist strength here

Military Dumbells standing 70/5 70/5

1 Armed Deadlifts 135/1 2 sets one on each side

Heavy Curl 135/2 left elbow hurt so i stopped early

Rolling Thunder 95lbs/ 16sec R 8sec L 10sec R 2sec L Grip failing from deadlift work, Plus im really weak at this exercise

Outer Limit loops 10lb+2.5kg for time Left and right hand 2 sets to failure

Once i get my dipping belt ill start doing weighted dips and pullups. Right now im just sticking to basic heavy movements and grip.

Thanks Chris, I appreciate it!

[guru20]

7NOV06

Box Squats 135/5 225/ 315/5 315/4 (I love these, you cant cheat unless you rock backwards first...so i just concentrate on not rocking backwards)

Good Mornings 135/8

Bottom Bench 135/10 225/2 245/2 280/miss 260/1 Felt weak, but tried for 280 anyway got it to about 4 inches off my chest

Barbell Military 135/4 155/3 155/1 Push Press 125/4

Bent Rows 205/5 210/5 210/4Underhand

Pinched 2 45s with 2 hands for 3 sets of about 8 seconds...the Plates felt wide as hell, and it was hurting my wrists to hold them for some reason

Bent a blue (about 25 sec to 1 1/2 ") when i got back from the gym.

[CoC#3]

impressive workouts! keep up the good work dude.

[guru20]

Thanks Sam!

[thearm95]

This log is great Guru! Keep it going and best of luck with your training.

- Duncan

[guru20]

Thanks Duncan!

Good Workout today, i love deadlifts...i feel like a damn piston going up and down. I dont use a belt, and it just adds to the effect. I love it.

Deadlifts 245/5 Overhand 335/1, 1 Reverse Grips 375/5 Straps 375/5 straps Felt good, still had some gas left...couldve done a couple more.

Cleans 135/1 x 8 Im working on form and forearm flexibility here. I want to build up to a strong power clean, but i dont feel comfortable yet. I could probably eek out a 225 clean, but it would look UGLY.

Military Dumbell Standing 75/5 75/4 Felt good.

Slow Pullups 12, 8

Slow Dips 15, 8 Im waiting for my damn dip belt so i can start doing weighted again.

Yesterday i cut 1/2 an inch off my blue and bent it. It took me two sessions, but i got her. I kinked it, then finished it off...total bending time probably 1 min. Killed my wrists, but that means progress.

[guru20]

14DEC06

Box Squats 135/5 225/5 325/4 325/3

Good Mornings 155/8

Bottom Bench 135/10 225/2 245/2 280/1

Standing Barbell Military 135/5 185/1 (push press) 155/2 + 2 partial from head

Bentover Rows 215/5 215/6 210/6 Reverse grip

45s Pinch with 2 hands 1st 8sec 2nd 9sec

25s one hand L10s R13s L12s R10 Grip felt weak, and i didnt have chalk

Came back and did some bending

2 yellows, 2 blues and a 1" cut blue

Then i tried to finish off my 5" G5 that i kinked to about 100 degrees, i cant get past this point though

[guru20]

18Dec06

Deadlifts 245/5 x2 OH 335/1, 1 Reverse Grips 385/5 x2 Straps

Cleans 135/8 singles Worked on form and forearm flexibility

Stiff leg DLs 135/10 slow

Weighted Dips 90/5 90/5 Got my dip belt, working up on this

Weighted Pullups 45/5 45/3 horrible for me.

Standing DB Military 75/4 75/3 Weighted stuff wore me out

OH holds with 245 20sec x 2

Started KTA 2 days ago. Going well...Im still bending a little, i finally finished my 5" G5 yesterday. Bent a 5.5" G5 today, went down easy.

[guru20]

Just bent a G8!!