My Quest for 405 [Forum Archive]

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My Quest for 405

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Posted by: Stewart14

Quote:

Originally Posted by rks1969

Haven't checked in for a while. Just wondering if you've ever actually made the 405 bench press.

sorry i missed this, but nope, not even close! Actually I have been doing all different sorts of routines not geared toward that goal for the past while, but I'm getting back at it now. Something tells me however, that it's just not in the cards for me to do it, well, at least raw anyway. Maybe with the old bench shirt I might get there, but once I get in the 350ish range, I just stop dead, can't get any higher. Put up 345 the other day, but I guarantee next time I bench when I try 350, I only have a 50-50 chance of making it. We'll see

Posted by: Stewart14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archangel

Sweet Jesus the VOLUME is insane!!!

Excellent workouts in here my Friend!!!

Oh, I know you're scared of the volume Archie, but if you think this is a lot of volume, what do you say about TT's workouts lately?? You must pass out every time you read his workouts!

Posted by: Archangel

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewart14

Oh, I know you're scared of the volume Archie, but if you think this is a lot of volume, what do you say about TT's workouts lately?? You must pass out every time you read his workouts!

I aint scared, LoL!!! This is me and volume:

VOLUME vs.

From now on its the "V" word

You are BOTH insane!!!

Posted by: Burner02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewart14

hey Stew-
Definately sound like a mental block. You're already telling yourself you can't do it.
Is there anyway you can get someone there to spot you? Try some static holds or negatives w/ the 405? Once you see the weight moving under your power...you can break that barrier?

Your chest workout....for being cut short...lookin' good, bud

Posted by: Gazhole

Looking good, man! Damn heavy benching.

Like Burner said, negatives might help getting past 350. Where in the bench do you lose it, usually? Could be a good idea to put in some focus work on just your weak portions of the rep using blocks or pins or something.

Posted by: Stewart14

Sept 10

Box Squats (8" box)
225 x 6
225 x 6
225 x 6

Bulgarian Split Squats
52.5s x 6
52.5s x 6
52.5s x 6

Glute Ham Raises
BW+10 x 6
BW+10 x 6
BW+10 x 6

*Some observations:

I decided to measure the bench I use as my "box" to see how low it was, and it measured around 8 inches. Well, that would make sense seeing how my hip joints felt like they were going to explode going down to sit on this thing. See, I am going wide to help protect my back, and may be inadvertantly screwing up my hip joints in the process. Maybe I will raise the "box" next time. I will say it is pretty damn hard getting up off an 8 inch box though...very tough even with this weight. The pause on the bench just makes it so much more difficult....

The only thing I have to say about the split squats is whoever invented that exercise should be shot on sight. thank you, good night.

Posted by: Double D

I have been working with a few different sports trainers recently and they hate box squats. They say its ok to touch and go, but dont seperate the 2 movements because it places all the weight on your lower back.

Posted by: Stewart14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malley

I have been working with a few different sports trainers recently and they hate box squats. They say its ok to touch and go, but dont seperate the 2 movements because it places all the weight on your lower back.

I respectfully have to disagree with them that it DOES NOT place all the weight on your low back IF you do them correctly. Now, from my understanding of it, the correct way is to assume a wide stance, initiate the movement by sitting back and keep sitting back until you land on the box under control, then release your hip muscles for a second while keeping everything else tight, then activate your hips, glutes and legs and get off the box. It looks like your sitting on it, but it's basically a gentle landing and slight rocking motion, you're not sitting down like in a chair with all that weight on your back, your leg muscles and hip muscles are always still supporting the weight.

I know it's anecdotal to say this, but when I do them, I feel ZERO anything in my lower back, I feel it all in my hips and legs.

Posted by: Archangel

I say load the bar after warmups, with 360, try it once, It will break your muscle to mind block and then the barrier will be NON-Existant!!! Just my 2 cents my Friend!!!

Posted by: Stewart14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archangel

I say load the bar after warmups, with 360, try it once, It will break your back and then the barrier will be NON-Existant!!! Just my 2 cents my Friend!!!

Fixed.

Posted by: Stewart14

it;s definitely not a "barrier" on squats...on my bench,maybe, but on squats, it's not that I am scared of the weight or have a mental block, I just can't physically do it. I know you will say that's bs, but my body mechanics cannot physically handle a heavy weight squat.

I am gonna focus on the box squats for a while and work up with that....if anything, technically if I get strong at these, it should really make for an easy free squat considering it is more difficult off the box, so we'll see.

Posted by: Archangel

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewart14

Fixed.

Was talking about your Bench, NOT squat!!!

Posted by: Triple Threat

I agree with everything that Stew said about box squats. I feel no discomfort of any kind in the lower back.

Posted by: Stewart14

Sept 12

Bench Press
305 x 3
305 x 3
305 x 3

Standing OH Press
140 x 8
140 x 8
140 x 8

Side Laterals
30 x 8
30 x 8

Posted by: Double D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewart14

You definitely do them differently than me then. I feel it in my lower back pretty bad. But everyone squats differently.

Posted by: Stewart14

Sept 13

Sumo Deadlifts
315 x 3
315 x 3
315 x 3

Box Squats
225 x 6
225 x 6
225 x 6

Chinups
BW+25 x 6
BW+25 x 6
BW+25 x 6

*I did this workout as a test for my lower back, and as of writing this, I think it failed the test. Of course, I can completely lay off lower body training, which I really don't want to do, or I can be smarter about it, like not do this particular workout ever again, lol. The deads were super light and I purposely did squats after to test things. I am thinking the best course of action would be to stop completely, but not having any leg equipement at home to circumvent the low back (and no, lunges and single leg squats, STILL use the low back whether you want to or not) like leg extensions and curls, it will be hard to stop the leg work...I don't want to lose whatever base I actually do have.

Maybe, just separate these two movements into two different days, and just do the one movement then call it a day. Deads on one day for 3x3 followed by back and bis, then box squats for 3x6-8 on the other day plus back and bis. Might be more manageable.

Or, if I actually get some time I might go to a sports doc and get this checked out just to make sure I didn't actually herniate anything and I am really screwing it up by continuing...

Posted by: Triple Threat

What kind of problems/symptoms are you having?

Posted by: Stewart14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple Threat

What kind of problems/symptoms are you having?

Hard to explain, but when I am sitting say in a chair there is a general discomfort in my back, and then when I go to get up sometimes for lack of a better explanation, it seems like my back "locks up" and it takes a second or so for me to straighten up, and then it feels fine.

Bending over seems to cause discomfort as well, just like a sore feeling, which as the days go on seems to not be muscle. I am going with a tendon or ligament issue, I don't think I herniated anything, most people describe a pop or something when it happens, this just occurred after being a little overzealous that one week with the squats and deads, so maybe it is a strain from overuse, but of course I know nothing, so I might have to go see someone if this keeps up.

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