A change of pace

The HIT workouts were great. I felt I lost weight because of the high intensity but maintained 99% of my strength. Top end strength suffered the most with such a drastic drop in calories but that was expected.

At the moment I am trying to get rid of all the niggles. My left elbow is really giving me pain all the time, mainly when straightening. The right one is not so bad but it does ache so there is some tendonitis there too. My hips and back feel pretty good although they are sore so I really need to do more stretching.  The rest isn't too bad.

So at the moment I am maintaining. I have two scheduled gym workouts a week containing a little of everything.

On friday last week...

Military Press - 135x8, 180x3, 200x1x1x1. These felt hard. So I have lost about 20-25lbs off my pressing.
Squat - 180x10, 265x10, 370x10. Felt fine.
Curls - 90x10, 110x8, 135x5x5. Felt ok.
Calves - 2px20, 4px10x10x10

That's all I had time for.

Today...

Incline Press - 135x12, 220x6, 242x3, 265x2, 220x5. Would be nice to get this up over 300lbs.
Chins - plus 35lb platex10x10x10, sternum chins x6
Speed Box Squat - 135x2, 220x2, 242x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2.
Standing Calves - 6px15, 8px12, 10px8x8
Cable Crunch - 125x20, 155x15, 200x6

Pretty basic stuff. A push, a pull, a squat and some accessory work. I do my box squats with the stance I use for jumping rather than the wide Westside Barbell style. This also takes the stress off my hips and puts it on the quads.

If you haven't already checkout Steve's Parallel Grip Deadlift article. It's a very well put together piece and covers everything you need to know about a very versatile bit of equipment.

Finally, checkout this INSANE video of Mikael Koklyaev. That is 160kg he is literally having fun with!

Nick