DanCR - Can you believe how much I am in heaven?

[mouse]

mouse, I’m back in New York in a few weeks and, because I love doing shit for the story, threw Paula’s into Google Maps. Thought if it was like 3-4 hours, I’d drive out just to say I did… nope, 6.5, fuck that haha. (Assuming we’re talking the place in Tonawanda.)

The have 3 in the surrounding area now but yeah that's the spot if you're ever in WNY... peanut butter angels are just unbelievable...

[KarlM]

I don’t doubt for a second those squats feel hard AF. But they sure don’t look it. They look real good and it looks like you’ve got a lot left in the tank. Are you one of those “it looks pretty easy then you just suddenly fail” types? More explosive but can’t grind, rather than can grind all day but not explosive? The intersection between the two seems to be pretty small.

[Hardartery]

Meant what I said, broseph.

If I had a magic teleporter I'd send you to Paula's out my way and change your life hahaha...

Right, Paula's in Tonawanda. Next time I am driving up to see my family I know the correct detour now.

[DanCR]

I don’t doubt for a second those squats feel hard AF. But they sure don’t look it. They look real good and it looks like you’ve got a lot left in the tank. Are you one of those “it looks pretty easy then you just suddenly fail” types? More explosive but can’t grind, rather than can grind all day but not explosive? The intersection between the two seems to be pretty small.

I've had some pretty ridiculous grinds on occasion but, yes, the bolded definitely applies to me more often than not. It happened today on my top set - I got the first three of an intended five reps and then my strength was just gone. Standing there breathing before what would have been the fourth rep, I felt my tightness drift away and I couldn't get it back. If I'd broken my knees/hips to head down for number four, I'd have dropped like a wet noodle.

___________________________________

2/28/24

Squats 45,155x12 235x8 275x7 310x3
Low Incline DB Press/Flyes 40s x6,6,6
Seated Arnold Presses 40s x6,6,6
Standing DB Curls 30s x10,7,9
Pullups x6+3+2

Notes: Well that was dissatisfying. Per above, I died on the top set and lost my five rep progression. That said, I did bump up one of the work up sets and so still did "more." I'll repeat 310 next time in. A bout of diarrhea during my work ups was unhelpful.



By press/flyes, I mean presses - elbows bent, pressing up - but with a flye-like descent, going as wide and getting as big a stretch as possible. If I'm going to do this again, I need to remember to come down into a neutral grip at the bottom; my left shoulder was pissed at my failure to do so.

Everything felt weak (although my form on both presses was much improved) and I forgot that I'm supposed to be doing DC sets on everything to get in more movements and justify the four-day intervals for upper body sessions. Fuck.

Soundtrack: Wells Valley / Achamoth

[platypus]

Your spotter was hoping that he could siphon 300lb benching power from your pecs by putting his hands in very close proximity.

[lheugh]

I don’t doubt for a second those squats feel hard AF. But they sure don’t look it. They look real good and it looks like you’ve got a lot left in the tank. Are you one of those “it looks pretty easy then you just suddenly fail” types? More explosive but can’t grind, rather than can grind all day but not explosive? The intersection between the two seems to be pretty small.

I've had some pretty ridiculous grinds on occasion but, yes, the bolded definitely applies to me more often than not. It happened today on my top set - I got the first three of an intended five reps and then my strength was just gone. Standing there breathing before what would have been the fourth rep, I felt my tightness drift away and I couldn't get it back. If I'd broken my knees/hips to head down for number four, I'd have dropped like a wet noodle.

___________________________________

2/28/24

Squats 45,155x12 235x8 275x7 310x3
Low Incline DB Press/Flyes 40s x6,6,6
Seated Arnold Presses 40s x6,6,6
Standing DB Curls 30s x10,7,9
Pullups x6+3+2

Notes: Well that was dissatisfying. Per above, I died on the top set and lost my five rep progression. That said, I did bump up one of the work up sets and so still did "more." I'll repeat 310 next time in. A bout of diarrhea during my work ups was unhelpful.



By press/flyes, I mean presses - elbows bent, pressing up - but with a flye-like descent, going as wide and getting as big a stretch as possible. If I'm going to do this again, I need to remember to come down into a neutral grip at the bottom; my left shoulder was pissed at my failure to do so.

Everything felt weak (although my form on both presses was much improved) and I forgot that I'm supposed to be doing DC sets on everything to get in more movements and justify the four-day intervals for upper body sessions. Fuck.

Soundtrack: Wells Valley / Achamoth

I'm reminded every time a spotter does this that I should procure this t-shirt.

[DanCR]

@platypus @lheugh

It was worse than close proximity - dude actually was tapping under my pecs. This may come through on the video, but when in response to him doing so I said, "I got it," he said that he wasn't helping. Ok great... then why are you touching me at all. Tbf he was a nice guy and legit tried to keep me going after the third rep, which is what I'd requested - a hype man - but at that point a gun to my head wouldn't have gotten me another successful rep.

[EricK]

Can't blame a guy for taking an opportunity to steal a sweet feel, amirite?

[DanCR]

Can't blame a guy for taking an opportunity to steal a sweet feel, amirite?

I was hoping you'd be more jealous.

[EricK]

Can't blame a guy for taking an opportunity to steal a sweet feel, amirite?

I was hoping you'd be more jealous.

Obviously. Added an edge to the clip. I'm extra jealous of the 'stache...

[MarkKO]

@platypus @lheugh

It was worse than close proximity - dude actually was tapping under my pecs. This may come through on the video, but when in response to him doing so I said, "I got it," he said that he wasn't helping. Ok great... then why are you touching me at all. Tbf he was a nice guy and legit tried to keep me going after the third rep, which is what I'd requested - a hype man - but at that point a gun to my head wouldn't have gotten me another successful rep.

This drives me nuts. I always make a point of telling spotters I don't know to do absolutely not one goddamn thing unless I say take it

[DanCR]

3/1/24

Squats 45,155x12 240x8 280x7 315x3
RDLs 135x12 145x8,8
Standing Calves on box BWx25,25,25
Seated Leg Curls 80x12,12



Notes: Last “warm up” set was a rep PR that by all rights should have been the top set (it was done rest / pause and took probably two minutes) but why exercise restraint. I sooorta bitched out of trying to repeat 310 for more reps but seriously it’s really annoying to load and why not just work at it with three plates. I absolutely haven’t tripled that since 2019.

Pulling the floor up, cutting the descent below parallel but before ass to grass, and not “falling” into the hole is crucial. Lean, crunch, pull, push. That shouldn’t be hard to remember.

[dlocas7]

Congrats in your post-2019 PR, especially given the fact that you did this after 240 x 8 and 280 x 7. 310 is indeed annoying to load; the only time you see that number in my log is because I have a shorter bar with heavier plates and three plates happen to be around 310. And 5 lbs usually doesn't make a big difference on a squat or deadlift other than mentally --- if there's a mental block, then remember that the difference between 308 and 315 is 140 vs. 143 kg!

[DanCR]

310 is indeed annoying to load

Haha I appreciate this validation.

And 5 lbs usually doesn't make a big difference on a squat or deadlift other than mentally --- if there's a mental block, then remember that the difference between 308 and 315 is 140 vs. 143 kg!

This is 100% true. During covid when I was lifting at home I had a bar and plates in kgs (I didn’t react quickly enough in ordering and all the lbs were sold out), and I found that I expected more out of myself in terms of weight increases.

[Skid]

DCR, that's pretty strong for no belt or sleeves, curious as to why you don't use them?

[hector]

Welcome back to 315 land!!!!

I agree 100% with your logic in choosing 315 over 310.

[DanCR]

DCR, that's pretty strong for no belt or sleeves, curious as to why you don't use them?

Thanks! That means a lot coming from you. The thing with belt / sleeves is that because I’m old and never used them before, the lifts without them have become my standard - what I’m competing wiith. My lifetime squat 1RM is 355. Say tomorrow I put on a belt / sleeves and get 365. It wouldn’t feel to me like I’d beaten 355, but rather like I’d done something “different.” I guess I could see what’s what with a belt / sleeves and also still go without now and then - work on both - but there’s only so much time.

[KarlM]

Holy quadriceps dude! Looking jacked! Congrats on the plate math too

[broseph]

Strong work on those squats, brother.

And congrats on getting a better spotter.

[Clearwater47]

Great squats! I'm again very impressed by how well you maintain your form even when you're pretty close to failure.