Light speed bench workout

I did a light speed bench workout at Ripped fitness today.

10 sets of flat bench 135 x 3

A few sets of tricep push downs

I'm not really feeling all that prepaired for the meet.  The job hunt/interviews are pretty stressful and it's been affecting my training.  Perhaps after 5 days of rest, I'll be ready for the meet.

I had another interview with the local company yesterday.  I met with 5 different people 30-45 minutes each.  Lots of technical questions, some involving writing code on the white board, some solving logic questions.  It ended with meeting with one of the VP's.  The HR person said this would probably be the last interview.  I felt like it went pretty good.  One of the engineers said he really liked my answers and that I had though of some things that nobody else had mentioned when answering his standard interview question.  The VP guy also said "good answer" to a few of my responses.  The other people where harder to read, I had a small bug in my code for one of the questions, but IMHO this is kind of expected writing things out on the white board, I doubt he thought it was much of an issue as it was obvious I knew the answer to his question.  They said that I should hear from them in the next couple days.  I really hope it works out it seems like a great place to work, and I feel I'm a really good fit for the job.

Monday Morning

Waist deep powder up at Snowbird.

Last heavy benching before the meet

I left for Charleston, SC Thursday, I didn't get there until midnight, and had an interview at 8AM and flew back to SLC friday afternoon, arriving home well after midnight.  So, I wasn't sure how the benching would go after being pretty tired from sitting in a little plane for so long, but it wasn't a bad bench session.

We did reverse bands, but could only find one blue band, so we did green bands with purple bands.  I believe it was slightly less tension than the blue bands.  

I should add that when I do these with the group, the bands are set pretty low for me, as they completely deload about half way up my press.  I guess it's good for working my lockout, but the bands help me much less than other people.

From memory the benching went like this...

135 x 10

225 x 8

275 x 5

315 x 3

365 x 1

405 x 0 miss

385 x 1  russ touched the bar, but not much

385 x 1  russ touched the bar, but I think even less than the first time

385 x 1  same thing, but it didn't help much ( I probably should have said don't touch it )

365 x 1

315 x 6

I then did some tricep accessory work.

Last time we did reverse bands, I got 405, but I think the blue bands helped more than the bands we used today.  I could be wrong, I hope not.  I don't feel like I'm getting weaker, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised with all this job hunting/interviewing stress.

About the job hunt.  The company in Charleston didn't make me an offer while I was there, however I think they will.  I got the feeling from the contractor guy who interviewed me that it was just a formality.  I didn't really get much of a feeling from the government guy, he was harder to read, he didn't want to eat lunch with us, and I gave him a copy of my resume and he gave it back to me at the end of the interview (I've never had anybody do that before, and I'm not sure if there's any meaning behind it or not).  I have another round of interviews at Omniture on Monday.  I'm meeting with 5 more people.  They seem to take pride in the fact that they are thorough in their interview process. 

Deload squat session

Squats

Bar x 8

Bar x 7

135 x 7

225 x 6

135 + green bands x 3

225 + green bands x 3

275 + green bands x 2

275 + green bands x 3

275 + green bands x 3

225 + green bands x 3

225 + green bands x 3

225 + green bands x 3

A few sets on the leg curl machine.

Not the best bench session

I've been pretty stressed out about the job search, so I'm not too surprised that I felt weak today.

Flat bench with Mike

bar x 10

135 x 8

185 x 8

225 x 5

275 x 3

(put shirt on)

345 x 1

345 x 1

355 x 1 not sure how much Mike helped

365 x 1 miss

Overall, I felt like crap today.  But it seems that 2 weeks out from a meet I always feel like crap.

I thought about doing some pin press lockouts, but I didn't see the point.  My body clearly wasn't wanting to bench press to day.

I did a few sets of tricep cable presses.

I'm going to Charleston this week for an interview with the company that I used to work for.  Life is confusing lately.

Thursday thoughts

I went skiing today.  I often feel like I'm the luckiest man alive when I go skiing.  Today wasn't different in that respect, but I couldn't help feeling like I'm the luckiest man alive, AND even in this horrible time of unemployment, I couldn't help but feel thankful for everything.  I'm thankful for my old skiing buddies who taught me to ski ( Todd, Corry, Mike, and later Danno ).  I'm thankful for the experiences that I've had, and the things I've been able to learn that has enabled me to be able to write software and support my family.  I'm thankful to Chris and Jody who very indirectly helped me to become a really, really, really good c++ programmer.  I'm thankful for everybody I've meet powerlifting ( Stump, Mike, Kyle, Russ, C.J,  Brad, Scott ) because for some reason, not completely clear to me, I feel that powerlifting is something I need to be doing, and they've all helped me out a lot.  I'm thankful to my wife Becky, because she completes me and has made me a better person.  I'm thankful to God for letting me experience everything I have.

On the needing to powerlift comment....  Today, while up on the ski hill, I couldn't help but feel that its because powerlifting needs to become a replacement for skiing, because my job search is going to take me away from Utah.  Although I don't want to move away, I've had only a couple local companies seem interested in my skills, but today my previous employer in Charleston called me about a couple of jobs they have open, and I must say, it felt right.  I loved my job back there, and always did even when my wife and I decided to move to Utah.   And I think for some reason the whole powerlifting thing was revealed to me last year as a replacement for skiing for when I eventually have to move away from Utah ( which I'm feeling might have to happen ).  Even as much as I love skiing, today on the ski hill I realized I'm fine with it.  I love skiing, and always will, and Snowbird without a doubt has the best powder skiing and terrain in the country, and I've had some incredible days up there skiing in amazingly deep snow on some incredible terrain, but for the most part I end up doing it alone.  I love it, but it's also very isolating.  Powerlifting is obviously an individual sport, but I've met some great people doing it, and I never feel alone ( even at the meet in Arizona ).  I haven't met many people skiing ( well, just one really ) and quite honestly, I'm kind of tired of the attitude of most skiers up at Snowbird.   Anyway, I don't want to move, but maybe it's time to move on.  I love powerlifting with all my heart, and even though I'll miss the people I've met here, I can do powerlifting anywhere.

Wednesday night deadlifting

Deads,

135 x 8

225 x 6

315 x 4

405 x 1

495 x 1

( Got it easy but felt really tired, not recovered from squatting monday night, so... )

405 x 2

315 x 3

done.

I was hoping for more, but I was done.  Everybody says I'm built to pull, but why is my dead stalling and my squat increasing?

dumbell rows

120 x 5

120 x 5

120 x 5

(obviously I'm not myself today, the 120's were hard )

Various grip work

Another DL workout that wasn't what I was hoping for, URG.

Monday night heavy squatting

Squats

bar x 8

bar x 7

135 x 6

225 x 6

315 x 2

tried squatting in my DL suit

405 x 1 hated it

put squat suit on

455 x 1

495 x 1

( Boy seeing it written down make it seem soo easy, but tonight was pretty taxing, although with my new grip, my forearms feel great. )

3 sets on Leg curl

3 sets of pull throughs

I had an interview today.  One of the guys who got laid off in the first round recommended me to his current company.  They called me on friday and I had an interview today.  The interview was with the HR Technical Recruiter and consisted of a few logic questions, which I answered correctly, and then we talked about the position and my background.  It sounds like an awesome job and I'm a great fit.  I have a second interview this friday!!

Saturday shirt benching

Flat benching, straight weight with Mike

bar x 10

135 x 8

185 x 6

225 x 7

275 x 2

(put shirt on)

315 x 1 ( way high, the shirt wasn't on right )

335 x 1 3 boards

345 x 1 3 boards

345 x 1 2 boards

365 x 1 no boards  barely touched, I brought it down slightly low to force it to touch. I was slow to lock out but I think with less volume/more rest before this attempt I would have easily gotten it.

rack lockouts 

315 x 10

405 x 5

405 x 5

flat bench with chains and 35's hanging from bands

set of 8

set of 4 

it was obvious I was finished for today

ME deads

Well, I was feeling tired from all the job hunting stress, so I wasn't sure how things would go.  I guess it wasn't all that bad, but not what I was hoping for....

Deadlifts

135 x 8

135 x 8

225 x 7

315 x 5

365 x 2

401 x 1

455 x 1

495 x 1

545 x 0 miss ( being stupid I didn't have my hands even, the weight was lopsided which threw me off so I missed it. STUPID! )

545 x 0 miss ( URG, this should be easy weight, but I think I was too quick with my setup, raised my hips too soon, and missed it.  CRAP! )

545 x 0 miss ( my body clearly had enough volume.  Shoot, I should have gotten both the first and second attempt, but I was being stupid and at this point I was just plain done.  URG, kind of disappointing. )

Bumbbell rows

120 x 9

( nick has the 140's.. )

130 x 7

130 x 6

130 x 6

Wrist roller thingy I don't know the weight

4 sets

2" handle one arm deadlifts

150x 1

150x1

150x1

Russ suggested that I do some deads with the bar where you stand inside with the weight out to the side ( not sure what you call it )

265 x 5

265 x 5

265 x 5

I really like these in that it feels like deadlifts but it's different enough so I can see my body not adapting to it.  I'll definitely do these for max effort some time.

The grip builder machine ( that I don't know what to call )

3 sets of 25 not sure of the weight but I think there was 4 35's on it.

It was a great workout, other than missing attempts that I should have gotten.  Man Russ is the pulling machine, and a great workout partner.  

I hope I don't have to move away from Utah to find a job.  I seem to be getting much more response from companies outside of Utah, unfortunately.  It's very sad because I love living here and don't want to move.  The companies around here have told me that I have too much experience ( even though they also said I was a perfect fit for the job ).  I've also been told from another company that I was a perfect fit, but they wouldn't hire me because Move Networks was paying me more money.  URG, you've got to be kidding me.  I took a risk with a start up company ( Move Networks ), so they paid me more because their benefits weren't all that great, and I get dinged for it.  I don't get it.  But I've been talking to companies in Huntsville, AL,  Las Vegas, New Jersey, Wisconson, Iowa, New York,... and they all seem very interested in my background.  But most of the companies around here either say I'm over qualified ( I don't understand why they don't view this as that they're getting more than what they're paying for ) or that they're looking for 10 specific things and I only have 9 ( and they don't value somebody's ability to learn new technology, which is something I have a proven track record of being really good at ). 

I had another local company tell me that they wouldn't consider me because I didn't have the background they were looking for, but I've had over 10 years experience with everything they listed on their job listing.

Another local company told me that they wouldn't consider me because they were looking for somebody with experience writing video processing code.  But that's exactly what I've been doing at my previous 2 positions for the last 4 years, and it's what I've done in developing my own software and creating a profitable business out of in my free time.  URG, are they stupid!

Overall my feeling is, crap, I'm going to have to move.  

DE Squats

Squats:

Bar x 10

Bar x 10

Bar + mini bands x 3

145 + mini bands x 3

235 + mini bands x 2

285 + mini bands x 2

285 + mini bands x 2

325 + mini bands x 2

325 + mini bands x 2

325 + mini bands x 2

325 + mini bands x 2

285 + mini bands x 2

235 + mini bands x 2

235 + mini bands x 2

3 sets on leg press machine

3 sets on leg curl machine

3 sets on seated calf machine.

Shirt experimentation

Today I did some experimentation with shirts.  The benching went as follows:

Reverse bands ( top of my ROM was way above the bands, so I'm lifting 100% at the top, actually it was probably 100% of the weight at about half way up. )

135 x 10

185 x 6

225 x 5

275 x 3

315 x 2

365 x 2

405 x 1  

( titan fury size 54 )

455 x 1

455 x 1

( people said the shirt is a little big, Brad had the same shirt in size 52, so I tried it )

455 x 1

455 x 1

( Brad said that the katana might be a better shirt for me and he had an old that he used that could try size 54 )

405 x 1

455 x 1 2 boards

455 x 1 no boards

Wow, I definitely like the katana the best.  The fury would squeeze my upper body in a way that didn't give me much of a pop off the bottom, it kind of made it hard to press.  With the katana the 455 with no boards was really really tight at the bottom but it didn't really squeeze my whole upper body like the fury, but it really helped me off the bottom.  I think I found the right shirt for me.  It was great having all the help from everybody especially Brad, Russ, Tom, CJ.  It was an awesome bench session.

Given that I know I can lock out 455 ( since I was above the bands with it ), and that 365 should touch with the katana without the bands, I think it's reasonable that I'll bench in the 365-375 range with the shirt by the time of the meet next month.  ( Right now I'm thinking I'll bench my opener raw so I get a good lift in, and then really go for it with the shirt. ) Given how I squatted last monday, I think I could put 100 pounds more on my total from the meet in Feb.  That would be pretty cool.

Deadlift accessory workout

Bent knee concentric goodmornings with safety squat bar.

bar x 8

145 x 6

195 x 5

235 x 5

285 x 2

325 x 1

325 x 1

325 x 1

235 x 3

here's a video:

Barbell rows ( kept the weight light to let my forearms rest )

100 x 8

100 x 8

100 x 8

100 x 8

5 sets of pull throughs

Laid back DE bench workout

I met Stump for a DE bench session at golds on 7th.  After still being really drained from squatting last night, I took it really easy today with my DE bench workout.  Stump gave me some advice about why I'm not keeping my back tight on my first rep benching.

I could still slightly feel my forearms aching after 5-6 sets of benching, nothing major but I could feel it.  I would have never believed that my forearms would be my weak part when squatting 500 pounds.

DE bench

Bar x 10

Bar x 8

8 sets of 135 x 3

Not very speedy today, but given the squat session last night, I didn't worry or care too much.

Overhead pin presses.  Pins about even with the top of my head

bar x 8

135 x 8

185 x 4

185 x 7

185 x 7

I didn't want to push it too much today, so I stayed relatively light with these.

Tricep cable push downs

probably 5 sets, working up to whole stack + 25#

Face pulls, various weights up to 150-ish, probably 6 sets.

All and all a nice easy laid back workout.

Squat PR

A really good monday night squat session with Russ, CJ, Kevin and myself.

Squats

Bar x 8
135 x 7
225 x 6
315 x 3
365 x 2
(Put suit on)
405 x 1
455 x 1
495 x 1
500 x 1 (PR)

4 sets on leg curl machine.

I was using a different laptop for video capture and had some technical difficulties so I don't have a video. But I had a great time tonight. Kevin, Russ, and I were all in squat suits, and CJ had his Metal briefs, and we all were squatting 500+. I think if Ripped had a monolift, I would have squatted 550 tonight.