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I had a false tornado warning on my phone yesterday (not a cloud in the sky!), but the quad quake this morning was the real deal. Legs felt great, and calves were still a bit sore from last workout, but I still managed to pump those chumps… [Read more…]
There was a time when it was always Monday leg day, and now I remember why. Sure, in a busy gym it’s nice because NO one else is doing legs on Monday, but it’s also early in the week when your energy is (hopefully) high. Only real change to today’s workout was bumping calf work to the front… [Read more…]
It felt really good to be training legs by themselves. Focus was much higher, and there was no subconscious effort to preserve energy for other bodyparts. I never felt that I was doing that, yet this workout was so much better that it’s very likely I was…
Quads: Squats (2×15,10 + X Reps); Sissy squats (1×15 + X top); Sissy squats–rest/pause (2×12,9 + X Reps); Step-back lunges (1×12); Squats (1×12 + X Reps)
Hamstrings: Leg curls (1×12 + X top); Leg curls–drop set (1×12,8 + X Reps); Stiff-legged deadlifts (2×15,10 + X Reps)
Calves: Alternate calf raises (2×20,15 + X top); Alternate calf raises–drop set (1×12(8) + X top); Donkey calf raises (1×25 + X Reps); Seated calf raises (2×15,12 + X Fade)
Note: My current PowerBlock gym split is based on the X-Rep Mass-Detail Workout in the Ultimate Mass Workout e-book.
Summary: Great workout and legs are still shaking as I sit at my desk. I’m missing out on some equipment, so there are a few changes to the workout as listed in UMW, but just as it is with cars, modifying is fun. LOL! Without a leg extension machine I had to use different strategies on Sissy squats, and without any other big leg equipment pieces, it was all Squats and lunges for my pressing movements. Worked well, though. Same with calf work, but I was able to make it through almost as intended. Plenty of pump and (good) pain regardless, though.
Diet, Supplements & Nutrient Timing: For meal-by-meal diets plus training and nutrition info, see the X-treme Lean e-book.
First back-to-back training days in a while, but I think I need it. Partially because it just keeps me motivated, but also because I find I concentrate better through the day on training days versus off days. I’m debating on whether I’ll go 5 days in a row, or if I might take Wednesdays as a cardio day. We’ll see…
Quads: Squats (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); Sissy squats (2×12,10 + X Reps)
Hamstrings: Stiff-legged deadlifts (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); Leg curls (2×15,12 + X Reps)
Calves: Donkey calf raises (3×50,40,30 + X Reps); One-legged calf raises (3×15,12,8 + X Reps)
Chest: Incline DB presses (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); DB flyes (2×15,12 + X Reps)
Triceps: Lying extensions (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); Overhead extensions (1×12 + X Reps); Bench dips (1×12 + X Reps)
Note: My current PowerBlock gym split is based on the Phase 2 workout in the Size Surge Workout e-book plus TORQ sequences from the 4X Mass Workout 2.0 e-book.
Summary: With the anticipation of less recovery time between workouts, I dropped the volume very slightly, but tried to increase the tension times a bit more. Except for calves where I increased both – they need it. I also made my Lying extensions much stricter for triceps, and it had a profound effect on my reps for the subsequent sets. Prooves that I’ve probably been cheating myself a bit there. Overall, it felt great to have back-to-back training days, and I’ll decide in the morning if I should go 5 days in a row, or take tomorrow as a cardio day.
Diet, Supplements & Nutrient Timing: For meal-by-meal diets plus training and nutrition info, see the X-treme Lean e-book.
Friday the 13th AND birthday blast training… What a frightening combination. Actually turned out to be a great workout, and I didn’t even feel (that) bad about my family greeting me with cake immediately after. LOL! I had an ample dose of protein, and the chocolate-on-chocolate cake spiked my insulin for a beneficial hormone boost, I’m sure…
Quads: Squats (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); Sissy squats (3×10 + X Reps)
Hamstrings: Stiff-legged deadlifts (3×15 + X Reps); Leg curls (3×15 + X Reps)
Calves: Donkey calf raises (3×50,40,30 + X Reps); One-legged calf raises (3×12,10,8 + X Reps)
Chest: Incline DB presses (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); Incline DB flyes (1×12 + X Reps); DB Bench presses (2×20,15 + X Reps); DB flyes (1×12 + X Reps)
Triceps: Lying extensions (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); Overhead extensions (1×15 + X Reps); Bench dips (2×15 + X Reps)
Note: My current PowerBlock gym split is based on the Phase 2 workout in the Size Surge Workout e-book plus TORQ sequences from the 4X Mass Workout 2.0 e-book.
Summary: How could it not be a great workout when I woke up alive on my birthday? That’s always a great way to start another year, and the workout echoed that. Legs are still shaking, and chest and tris are still pumped – no doubt from the post-workout cake consumption. You simply don’t say “no” to a 5-year old boy when he’s standing in front of you with a birthday cake and lit candles, though. Now to enjoy the pump, get some work done, and enjoy the day.
Diet, Supplements & Nutrient Timing: For meal-by-meal diets plus training and nutrition info, see the X-treme Lean e-book.
What an incredible weekend! It’s all relative, I know, as a weekend like this one would be considered almost cold in summer, but considering there was “no mo’ snow” on the ground from the last snowfall 4 days ago, mid-60s and sunny was pretty darn nice. The only bad thing is that the hot and humid summer is that much closer, and so is yard duty. LOL…
Quads: Squats (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); Sissy squats (3×10 + X Reps)
Hamstrings: Leg curls (3×30,20,1 + X Reps); Stiff-legged deadlifts (3×10 + X Reps)
Calves: Donkey calf raises (3×50,40,30 + X Reps); One-legged calf raises (2×15 + X Reps)
Chest: Incline DB presses (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); Incline DB flyes (1×12 + X Reps); DB Bench presses (1×20 + X Reps); DB flyes (1×12 + X Reps)
Triceps: Lying extensions (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); Overhead extensions (1×15 + X Reps); Bench dips (1×15 + X Reps)
Note: My current PowerBlock gym split is based on the Phase 2 workout in the Size Surge Workout e-book plus TORQ sequences from the 4X Mass Workout 2.0 e-book.
Summary: We actually spent most of the weekend outside, got plenty of springtime yard prep done, and lots of play time with the boy. A long-sleeve shirt was bordeline uncomfortable, and lots of people were out in shorts. Spring is in the air! That means that mornings are still cool (which I love for training) and fresh air is abundant, so the motivation is kicking into ultra high gear. Great workout because of it, and I’ve felt that legs are getting a good workout, but not quite enough workload, so I bumped up the volume a bit, and both quads and hams were on fire as a result. Chest was on swole patrol, too. Amazing what decent weather can do for your overall sense of well being. That’s the beauty of having real seasons, and a huge part of the reason we relocated. Love it!
Diet, Supplements & Nutrient Timing: For meal-by-meal diets plus training and nutrition info, see the X-treme Lean e-book.
Still a bit sick, and was feeling pretty terrible yesterday morning. Felt OK by the evening, though, and better today than yesterday. Seems to be germ season, or I know have new level of allergies I’ve never dealt with before. I still blame the little kids – they’re everywhere. LOL…
Quads: Squats (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); Sissy squats (1×15 + X Reps)
Hamstrings: Stiff-legged deadlifts (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); Leg curls (1×15 + X Reps)
Calves: Donkey calf raises (3×50,40,30 + X Reps); One-legged calf raises (1×15 + X Reps)
Chest: Incline DB presses (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); Incline DB flyes (1×12 + X Reps); DB Bench presses (1×20 + X Reps); DB flyes (1×12 + X Reps)
Triceps: Lying extensions (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); Overhead extensions (1×115 + X Reps)
Note: My current PowerBlock gym split is based on the Phase 2 workout in the Size Surge Workout e-book plus TORQ sequences from the 4X Mass Workout 2.0 e-book.
Summary: Today was a good training session, but it was hard work. It always is, but not usually this hard. I had a nice dose of nasal discharge running down my throat on leg work, and high-rep squats are nauseating enough on their own. Needless to say, it was a great ab workout, too, as I went into major dry heaves after every set. It was almost funny. Almost. Felt much better once I finished legs and moved on to chest, though. Good pump and great burn. Plus, I’ve further increased tension times by adding X Reps back in at the end of most final sets.
Diet, Supplements & Nutrient Timing: For meal-by-meal diets plus training and nutrition info, see the X-treme Lean e-book.
Saturday morning snowtime training session. Good times! Finally some snow again to cover our ugly brown lawn. I can handle the snow, as it’s a good excuse for outdoor fun, but I’ve had about enough of the cold-with-no-snow parts of this winter. Moving on…
Quads: Squats (3×30,20,15); Sissy squats (1×15 + X Reps)
Hamstrings: Stiff-legged deadlifts (3×30,20,15); Leg curls (1×18)
Calves: Donkey calf raises (3×50,40,30 + X Reps); One-legged calf raises (1×15 + X Reps)
Chest: Incline DB presses (3×30,20,15 + X Reps); DB flyes (1×12 + X Reps)
Triceps: Lying extensions (3×30,20,15); Bench dips (1×18)
Note: My current PowerBlock gym split is based on the Phase 2 workout in the Size Surge Workout e-book plus TORQ sequences from the 4X Mass Workout 2.0 e-book.
Summary: It was a good workout overall. Heck, I was able to do squats for the first time in a couple of months, it seems. I was in slow-mo, however, and not sure why. Could’ve been because it was Saturday morning and I didn’t feel rushed, or maybe it was just the 30,20,15 sequence on squats. The more I think about it, that might have been it. LOL! Those burned like crazy, but felt incredible. My lungs had trouble keeping up, though. Pump was great across all bodyparts, and you can see I decreased the chest work a bit. Lower pecs have been responding fine, but uppers are looking flat again, so this an attempt at focus more than anything else. Now, time to see if there’s enough snow on the ground to try and keep up with my 5-year old boy.
Diet, Supplements & Nutrient Timing: For meal-by-meal diets plus training and nutrition info, see the X-treme Lean e-book.
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s more tension time for me! Still liking the Size Surge split, and as much as the low-volume approach has its merits, I feel like that’s run it’s course for now, so it’s time for a bit more tension time, and a lot more muscle burn…
Quads: Step-back lunges (3×30,20,10); Sissy squats (1×12)
Hamstrings: Stiff-legged deadlifts (3×30,20,10); Leg curls (1×15)
Calves: Donkey calf raises (3×50,40,35); One-legged calf raises (1×14)
Chest: Incline DB presses (3×30,20,10); Incline flyes (1×10); DB bench presses (2×20,10); DB flyes (1×10)
Triceps: Lying extensions (3×30,20,10); Overhead extensions (1×12)
Note: My current PowerBlock gym split is based on the Phase 2 workout in the Size Surge Workout e-book plus TORQ sequences from the 4X Mass Workout 2.0 e-book.
Summary: This one took a little longer than normal, but only because my lungs need to catch up with me a bit. Total number of sets isn’t much different, but the TORQ sets definitely last longer, and I need an extra 10+ seconds of rest after the 30-rep set for now. That’ll resolve itself by the end of the week, though. I got a good reminder of what deep muscle burn feels like, as well as just how many reps 30 is… Especially on an alternate-bodypart exercise like Step-back lunges. That’s actaully 60 reps total, and a heck of a way to get going on a Monday morning. Trying to keep some balance for now by using TORQ on the midrange exercise followed by a standard, single set. That will likely change or increase in the near future.
Diet, Supplements & Nutrient Timing: For meal-by-meal diets plus training and nutrition info, see the X-treme Lean e-book.
The rep numbers are increasing a bit, and I can’t help it. As much as I love the feeling of strength building up, I much prefer the balance of a good poundage with sufficient reps to make for a skin-stretching pump. No changes to the training split at this point, but I am increasing the number of reps here and there…
Quads: Step-back lunges (2×12,10); Sissy squats (2×12,10)
Hamstrings: Stiff-legged deadlifts (1×14); Leg curls (2×12,10)
Calves: Donkey calf raises (2×50,40); One-legged calf raises (2×15,12)
Chest: Incline DB presses (2×15,10); Incline flyes (1×10); DB bench presses (2×12,10); DB flyes (1×10)
Triceps: Lying extensions (2×12,10); Overhead extensions (1×10); Bench dips (2×12,10)
Note: My current PowerBlock gym split is based on the Phase 2 workout in the 20 Pounds of Muscle in 10 Weeks e-book.
Summary: I only increased a few reps here and there as a means to increase tension times, but it made a big difference in feel. Plus, it’s getting close to time to change the routine up a bit, so this is a good way to transition into the next training phase. I’ll likely stick with the every-other-day split for a while, as it seems to be a good balance of rest/recovery and volume. For now, this was great workout.
Diet, Supplements & Nutrient Timing: For meal-by-meal diets plus training and nutrition info, see the X-treme Lean e-book.
