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Joe Franco's contest prep journal for fall of 2011.

That came out the wrong way on my side Joe. I just cant believe a chick can deadlift that much!

You said your calories are higher...in what form? protein? carbs? fat?


Carbs are higher on my workout days.

No biggie my man.
I dont think her bodyfat was bt 5 and 6 percent while hitting the max and does deads last on the back routine for reps!! :winkfinger:

Besides, we have seen Miss T dead lift close to 300 weighing 115 during her prep last year.
 
Why are you doing deads last, Joe? And why for reps?
 
Carbs are higher on my workout days.

No biggie my man.
I dont think her bodyfat was bt 5 and 6 percent while hitting the max and does deads last on the back routine for reps!! :winkfinger:

Besides, we have seen Miss T dead lift close to 300 weighing 115 during her prep last year.

Yes that's right! Theresa Evans did do that!
 
Why are you doing deads last, Joe? And why for reps?

For the challenge and higher reps really hits my hamstrings much more.
In addition, at a lower body weight I really need to get warmed up since there is less cushion and the higher reps are a tad safer.

But I did run a program last fall doing singles of the 531 and my own rep scheme.

I just like to mix it up and keep the body/mind guessing.

Lotsa bouncing, but still proud of this one!

YouTube Video
 
You don't worry about your form deteriorating for these high rep deads, Joe? I'd be freaked about that!

(Edit: unless they're dimel deads - which yours almost are, I think. Dimel's, I think you drop a bit faster, then explode up a bit faster than how you do yours. )

What do you mean about keeping the body guessing? I hear this phrase a great deal, but it seems to mean different things to different people. What does it mean to you?
 
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The bottom line are calories in and out, like you said. I choose to use carbs for energy and performance. They work for me, and I can still dead lift over 400 pounds at a body weight of 155 versus over 170 when I started.

Damn impressive. :bow:
 
You don't worry about your form deteriorating for these high rep deads, Joe? I'd be freaked about that!

No, my form is pretty good from the first to the last rep.

(Edit: unless they're dimel deads - which yours almost are, I think. Dimel's, I think you drop a bit faster, then explode up a bit faster than how you do yours. )

Never heard of those.
What do you mean about keeping the body guessing? I hear this phrase a great deal, but it seems to mean different things to different people. What does it mean to you?

The more you do the same thing, the less effective it becomes. Our bodies are made to adapt.
Sure there are many variables, but this happens often. Plus, I need to change up the order and routines for not getting bored and increase the interest.


Damn impressive. :bow:

Thanks my man!!
 
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6/8

Shoulder and bicep workout:

Second round for this workout, and it still gives me a good pump. Increased were made all around and the energy was solid. Move through the JN 3's without too much of a challenge. Good gains on the in db curls and very happy since just 3 months back I wasn't curling anything!!

Db Press: 3 warms, 90/3,3,3,3,7
Side lateral big drops: 40 30 20 (x4)
Front raise: 55 65 65
ss with Db shrugs: 90 x 3
Incline db curl: 2 warms, 40/5 48/8,7
Cable curl big drops: 55 45 35 (x4)
Con curl: 30/9 25/14
Ab work: 3 ss

Split cardio
25/20

6/9
Complete rest day!
 
I think those sort-of are dimel deads - they're close enough that they're doing what dimels are supposed to. Regular, off-the-floor deads where the weight is set down between reps and your hips start lower, I don't think I'd want to do for a twenty rep set. But I can see why you're doing the dimels - they're great for lower back conditioning. http://www.westside-barbell.com/westside-articles/articles2008/lowerback_june08.pdf
 
6/10

Quads and calves workout:

Start to the final round of the JN. All in all really like doing this rep scheme and when I change split,(more to come later) I will keep this rep scheme in for the lead of exercises. The goal was to hit and exceed the number. Well, I did one extra rep which was solid. The back was still tender, but made it through.
The rest of the workout though, was killa and made straight up gains. The Strike has begun, and the sustained energy was fantastic. Morning bw was at 153.

Squat: 5 warms, 290/2 315/1 335/1 355/1 375/4
Hack squat: 2 warms, 270/6 295/8 drop set
Leg ext: 2 warms, 90/10,9 drop set
Squat w/chains: 2 warms, 235/6,12
Calf work: 6 sets of singles

Split cardio
20/25


6/11

Chest and tricep workout.

Awesome workout this morning on just one meal!! LOL Energy wa rockin and made all gains. The Strike is ON!!!!! Felt great and things are coming together nicely. Move the weight well with the last round of 3's for the JN on the flat bench. I was most happy with the slight incline db numbers.

Flat bench: 4 warms, 205/1 225/1 235/5
Slight incline db press: 2 warms, 100/8,7 drop set
Slight in db fly ss: 40 45 50
Chest dips: 3 sets to fail
Tricep pressdown: 2 warms, 70/8 75/8
Ly Db ext: 30/9 25/10,8 into double drop

Cardio
20/25

Check in weight: 152.5
My changes over the last two weeks have done more than what I expected. Time to add in more carbs.
 
6/12

Back and hamstring workout:

Little slow moving into the workout. We had nasty storms here and it kept the dogs and kids up all night. But fortunately, I was able to sleep in a little bit.
Looking forward to this workout, as it was the test out for the JN triples. I was happy to bang out 5 reps with 405. Personal best at my current body weight. Although I will continue to do deads through out the prep, I dont think I will be going to max. All in all an excellent workout and did more volume as the energy increased throughout.

Deads: 5 warms, 335/1 365/1 385/1 405/5
Lat pulldown underhand: 2 warms, 140/8 150/8,8
T bar row: 3 warms, 205/5 225/8 180/12
Lat pulldown wide: 110/10 100/12,12
1 arm row: 85/12,11
Leg curl: 2 warms, 60/7,6 drop set
Stiff leg bar: 2 warms, 225/20

Split cardio: 20/20


6/13

Shoulder and bicep workout:

Very effective pump and burn and did what was called for plus!!

Db press: 3 warms, 75/2 85/2 95/5
Side lateral big drops: 40-30-20 x4
Front raise db ss: 30 35 35
with bar shrugs: 185 x3
In db curl: 3 warms, 45/5 50/5 drop set
Cable curl big drops: 55-45-35-25 x2
Con curl: 30/12,12
Ab work: 3 ss

Split cardio
25/20


6/14
Will be complete rest day!


Great finish to the JN 3's. I must say it really did help keep me accountable on the main lifts during this time of prep. I will finish off with a deload on the main movements, or my version of. And then I will do a mix of workouts hard to set myself up for the next phase. Going into the show starting after my vacation will be a 5 day split. I may continue to use the JN program but for different lifts such as front squats, and db chest press instead. I will also begin to practice posing when I return.
 
6/15

Quads and calves workout:

Deload on the squat, but made my quads scream with higher reps. Fueled by Strike HD 8, I felt like I could have kept on going!! Pump and burn were great, and was strong all the way through. The drop into 225 after the last heavy squat set was just enought rest to take the weight off.

Squat: 5 warms, 265/5 285/5 305/5 325/5 drop right into 225/15
Leg press: 3 warms, 405/16 450/15
Db walk lunge: 1 warm, 60/6 65/12
Leg ext big drops: 65-55-45-35 (4x)
Calf singles raises: 6 total sets

Split cardio
20/20
 
Okay, I'll bite. What's in Strike HD 8?
 
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Just a quick update:

Continuing with the deload workouts but its only a deload on the first movement.
The rest of the workout is still all out and making gains. To time to lose!
The last two training session were solid and happy with the progress.
I will finish up this 4 day split tomorrow with delts and biceps, and then a complete rest day on Sunday.

Thereafter, I will plan ahead start my 5 day split that I used last fall/winter.
This routine will allow me a little more volume per muscle group and give me more rest between workouts. A great way of leading into the competition.
 
Not sure where I left off, but here goes!

Sunday June 19th.
Complete rest day.
Was off the diet for Fathers Day, and it felt good.

For this and next week, I will continue to do the four day split until I am back from vacation. The workouts are more instinctive for these two weeks, but all is good as I am very sore from yesterdays Quads/calves workout!!!

Here is what I did exercise wise,
Leg Press: 10 sets
Bar lunge: 5 sets (worked up to 2 sets with 175)
Leg ext ss
with sumo db squat: 4 sets
Calf work: 5 sets

Split cardio.

Today June 21st, I nailed out a solid Chest and Tricep workout.

Flat db press: worked up to 110's for two sets of 5!
In bench: 4 sets
IN db press: 3 sets
Rack push ups: 2 sets
Rope press down: 3 set
Dip: 3 set
Bar ext: 3 sets
Abs

Split cardio


Tomorrow I will hit Back and hams before going to NY for a couple of days.
Thursday will be an off day, and back to instinctive training!
 
I'll send one of these and not bother you.

images
 
Sunday June 26th

Made it through the challenging week!
It was tough for the fact I was in NY for a couple of days to attend a funeral of my aunt. I missed two workouts and the diet was off track, but had a couple of great ones the last two days and back at it.

Today is a travel day as we are going on vacation for the week. I plan on continuing the 4 day split while I am away and plan on eating as clean as possible.
Once I come back, I will begin the 5 day split, hit the diet hard and then decide on the show for this year.

My plans may have changed for competing and when. It has nothing to do with being ready or not, its really a gut feeling on what I think is best for me at this time.
Balance and family are my priority. So I might do 1 or 2 shows this fall or wait till next spring.

All is well, and looking forward to see what lies next.
 
July 5th

After a couple of weeks of finishing up the 4 day split with instinctive training, I am ready to move on. I will be using my 5 day split and will apply the Juggernaut rep scheme to the main movements. They include, Front Squat, Db Chest Press, Stiff leg deads, and Seated Shoulder press with a bar. Very excited to see how I progress.

As far as competing, things have changed for the fall. For many reasons (personal and profressional), and not one of them is the fear of not being ready, it looks like I will push it till the spring. Even though I did eat freely on vacation, it was not too damaging, but I plan on getting down to a certain point and will make the decision. Either I will keep on going and do a local show or diet up and stay with in striking distance while keeping my strength up.

And that is the truth!
 
7/5

Quads workout:

Back on the 5 day split and off to a great start. Like I mentioned earlier, I am doing the JN rep scheme, and for quads using the front squat. It was a challenge by the end, but handled it well. I think the number I started with is on point and will find out test out time in a couple of rounds. Entire workout brought a solid pump. Felt great and focused.

Front squat: 4 warms, 190/10,10,10,10,10
Walk db lunge: 2 warms, 75/6,6
Leg ext ss: 70 70 70
with Leg press: 180 225 270
BW squat: 1 warm, 16 reps
Low ab work: 6 sets

Split cardio
20/20
 
7/6

Back and calves:

Forgot how much I dig just doing back without deads. Dont get me wrong, deads are a staple, but doing just a day of rows is killa. The pump and focus were on today brought to you by Strike! Faster tempo just because I felt great. FYI, my legs are very sore from yesterdays training!

Pull ups: 5 sets to failure
T bar row: 3 warms, 205/8 215/8 160/17
Lat pulldown underhand: 2 warms, 120/11 130/9
Db bench row ss: 65x3
with Str arm pulldowns: 35x3
Calf work: 2 warms, seated singles 4 sets, 2 burn sets

Split cardio
25/25
 
7/7

Chest and triceps workout:

The week continue to be solid on the new split. Doing the JN 10's was not to difficult today and looking forward to breaking new numbers next round. Great combo of movements and was feeling full and tight. The body weight is slowly coming back from the vacation, but I am in no hurry. I have my goals and they will be laid out in a couple of weeks. For now, its getting strong and staying relatively lean.

Flat db bench: 2 warms, 65/10,10,10,10,15
In bench press: 2 warms 175/8 185/6 drop set
Chest dips: 3 sets to fail
Flat fly: 1 warm 50/10,11
Ly db ext: 1 warm, 30/6 35/4 drop set
Tricep press: 1 warm 60/9,8
1 arm underhand press: 15/12,12
Ab work: 6 sets

Split cardio
25/20
 
7/8

Hammy workout:

Felt great to focus on the hammies alone. Although not challenging yet, the workout was great and I made up for the ease of the stiff legs. I am also using the Juggernaut reps scheme for the stiff or what some call romanian deads. The hardest part was on the last set holding on. I am not using straps.

RSLDL: 3 warms 190/10,10,10,10,15
Leg curl: 2 warms 55/8 57/6 drop set
Reverse bar lunge: 2 warms 135/6 155/8
Good mornings ss: 95 115 115
with Db Leg curl: 50 50 40
IN/Out thigh: 3 sets

Split cardio
20/20


7/9

Complete rest day!!
 
7/10

Shoulder and bicep workout:

Really nice finish to the first round of the 5 day split using the JN.
Great energy and felt strong through out. Looking forward to round two and see how I progress. Again, the weight was not too challenging but was is nice about this routine, is that is will correct itself after the first wave.

Seated bar delt press: 2 warms, 120/10,10,10,10,15
Seated side lateral: 2 warms, 40/8,10,10
Rear delt raise ss: 20 25 30 30
with Db shrugs: 65 75 75 75
Barbell curl: 2 warms, 105/8,8 drop set
1 arm preacher: 25x3
Rope curl: 35/15 40/15

30 min cardio
 
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