JGRIFF 06' AND BEYOND: Back in Business

[JGRIFF]

Wow, cant believe the last time I posted was in 2004, doesnt seem so long ago. Anyways I've let myself go, its bad. But I'm back at it, I dont have time to post any updates right now, but yesterday was my first workout in probably 6 months and I wanted to get it logged. I'll update my current stats and goals soon.

April 23rd, 2006

Bench Press:
135 x 8
185 x 4
205 x 4
225 x 4

Close Grip Bench:
185 x 4
185 x 4
185 x 4

Incline DB Press:
70 x 5
70 x 5
70 x 5

Cardio:
30 mins, Stationary Bike

Summary:
Honestly not too bad for not having benched in so long. Never even planned on going to 225 today so I was excited about that. It went up fairly easy. I was gassed pretty quickly though as can be seen by the following lifts. But overall a good base to start from.

[Klinger]

Welcome back Griff - I always liked reading your journals back in the day. Your numbers look pretty good for such a long layoff.

[JGRIFF]

April 24th, 2006:

BB Curls:
50 x 8
70 x 6
70 x 6
70 x 6

DB Curls Preacher Curls:
25 x 10, 10
25 x 8, 8
25 x 6, 6

(Alternating arms with no rest between sets)

Conventional Deadlifts:
135 x 5
225 x 5
315 x 3
315 x 3
315 x 3

Bent DB Rows:
40 x 8, 8
60 x 8, 8
60 x 8, 8
60 x 8, 8

BB Shrugs:
135 x 15
135 x 15
135 x 15

DB Shrugs:
60 x 15
60 x 15
60 x 15

Cardio:

Stationary Bike: 30 minutes

Summary:

Today was tough, didnt feel strong at all. The only plus was deadlifts, decided not to go heavier, didnt want to push it, but the form was there and I dont think it'll be long before the numbers come up as well. My biceps have always been crap but oh well, keep workin em.

Thanks for stoppin' by Klinger, good to see a familiar face. Keep after me, I'm disgusting and I need someone to light a fire under my behind. Lord knows my roommates wont (fat slobs).

[DaRkAnGel]

Your deadlift numbers are about where i was when i restarted a few months ago.

Right now im stronger than ever so taking breaks is good sometimes. Welcome back by the way.

[.V.]

I remember you were a busy poster here when I first came around. Good to see you back. I'll be watching your new and improved progress with interest.

[JGRIFF]

Awesome to see you guys are still here, and gettin after it. I just stepped on the scale this morning and I was shocked, theres a lot of work to do.

Here are my stats as of the current.

April 26th, 2006
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 265 lbs
Waist: 41"

Goals as of May 26th
Height: 6'10" (j/k)
Weight: 250
Waist: 39.5

I'll also max out on bench and deadlift the week of May 29th.
By then I'd like to see the following:

Bench: 270
Deadlift: 415


Since February of 2005 I've been working for MBNA America Bank and have been pretty inactive. Its a desk job where I dont move around much and my schedule prevented me from getting into a good rhythm as far as the gym was concerned. MBNA merged with Bank of America january 1st and by march I had lost my job there. Fortunetly I got a severence package and hungout for awhile before returning to a bank of america center 30 minutes away from home. Luckily I got to keep my starting date as well as my pay.

My diet has been awful since working for Bank of America, I'm in educational training there for the remainder of the week before I get my normal schedule. After that once the stress of the new job is gone and I can have an actual schedule I think I'll be ready to go full bore.

I'm feeling extremely motivated right now and really want to get back to where I was. I need to find a balance in the gym where I can sustain this kind of health for the long term.

[JGRIFF]

Monday, May 1st, 2006:

BB Bench:
135 x 8
185 x 4
205 x 4
215 x 4
225 x 4

Incline DB Bench:
60 x 5
70 x 5
80 x 5

Incline DB Butterflys:
35 x 10
35 x 10
35 x 10

Summary:
I hit the gym at 6AM this morning, I have to work from 10:30-8 today so my schedule had to be adjusted. I felt really weak on the bench, not sure if it was the change in time, I'm not used to being up this early.

The reason I did a set of 215 was that I didnt think I could get 225 x 4 and I didnt have a spotter. I hit 215 fairly easily so I said what the heck give it a shot.

I'm starting to see some gains already which is sad because it just shows how far I let myself go haha but oh well. My diet has been just about perfect for a little longer than a week.

I started ZMA again last night and will continue that. Thursday I'm also going to order San V12 which I've had success with in the past. I've also been looking into Tribulus as well, if anyone has any experience with that please share.

[JGRIFF]

Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006

Deadlift:
135 x 5
225 x 5
315 x 3
365 x 1
365 x 1
315 x 1 (just to get the bar off the floor and on the rack)

BB Shrugs:
135 x 15
135 x 15
135 x 15
135 x 15

Lat Pull Down:
100 x 10
120 x 10
140 x 6

Decline Situps:
BW x 15
25 x 15
BW x 15
Very steep incline, this bench is awesome.

Summary:
Very short workout today, my grip was killing me after deadlifts, my hands just arent used to it anymore, but they'll build back up. My lat PD was crap because I couldnt get a good grip. Deadlifts went up really smooth, I wanted to get a little more weight on their to see what happens, I think I could pull 405 right now but theres no use in me trying to be a hero right away. I'll give it a shot next week perhaps depending on how I feel.

I'm a little sore from my chest day, but not nearly as bad as last week which is good to see. Tomorrow I'm going to throw in shoulders, biceps and triceps, so that I can give my arms a little more concentration.

[JGRIFF]

Monday, May 8th, 2006:

Flat Bench BB:
135 x 8
185 x 4
225 x 4
235 x 3
245 x 2
255 x 1
225 x 3

Summary:
I really didnt have much motivation when I first got into the gym, my first sets were sluggish no pop at all. After 235 though I started to feel a little bit better. My lower back bothered me a bit however, could be from the amount of golf I've been playing. I decided to cut the workout short, especially with a deadlift day tomorrow, I'll see how I feel.

I figure with the low volume today, I can easily put in another bench day this week, most likely thursday, which I dont think is a bad thing. Since I'm just getting back into it I think benching twice a week with lower volume is probably for the best. My main goal right now is getting my lifts up as soon as possible.

255 felt good, I think 270 will definitely be do-able by the end of may, we shall see.

I have yet to weigh myself, next monday, I'll see where I'm at, thats about the half way point to the goal I set for the end of may.

[.V.]

OMG, say it ain't so...a golf injury?

Seriously, from the looks of things - 270 by the end of the month is likely.

[Klinger]

Dude -- If you had 255 w/o a spotter, I bet you can get 270 with a spotter in the next couple sessions. I'm sure you'll hit that goal at least a week or 10 days earlier than end of May.

You doing any triceps work besides the CG bench?

[JGRIFF]

Originally Posted by a_welch503

OMG, say it ain't so...a golf injury?

Seriously, from the looks of things - 270 by the end of the month is likely.

Unfortunetly yes haha. I dont think its an injury just some discomfort. I really get after the driver, basically swing out of my shoes, and all the bending over on the course just makes the back a little tense, atleast for me. Im carrying a lot of weight for me right now.

Originally Posted by Klinger

Dude -- If you had 255 w/o a spotter, I bet you can get 270 with a spotter in the next couple sessions. I'm sure you'll hit that goal at least a week or 10 days earlier than end of May.

You doing any triceps work besides the CG bench?

I definitely agree with you there klinger, I think 270 should be a go no problem. Atleast thats what I'm hoping . I'm definitely going to be doing some more tricep work, the reason I havent as of yet is because I really dont want to over do it and be crippled for a few days. I'm atleast to the point right now where my chest isnt extrememly sore the following day.

[JGRIFF]

Tuesday, May 9th, 2006:

Standing EZ Bar Curl:
40 x 10
60 x 5
80 x 8
90 x 6
100 x 4

Overhead Triceps Extension (DB):
30 x 10
50 x 10
70 x 8
70 x 8
70 x 8

DB Curls:
30 x 10,10
35 x 8,8
40 x 5,5

V-Bar Tricep Extension:
100 x 10
130 x 10
150 x 9 (failed on 10)

Summary:
Well my triceps arent where they once were, tricep extension was a little weak, but not bad overall. My bicep work felt much better, even from my first bicep day. I'm getting more stamina in the gym which is another good sign.

I decided to do an arm day today just to give a little more attention there. Deadlifts tomorrow most likely, my back is feeling better.

My supplements should be coming in today or tomorrow, I ordered some more ZMA, Creatine and Tribulus, not to mention my favorite ON Protein. I also ordered some vasopro ephedrine HCL which I had used before, that came yesterday. They changed the amount per dose, from 25 mg to 12.5 mg which is probably a good thing if you dont want a full 25 mg. I took 25 mg yesterday afternoon and the only side effect I found was that I almost instantly had post nasal drip, granted its main use is to loosen up flem and "make coughs more productive" but I dont remember it being that effective before haha. One thing for sure is that it pumps the water out of you, definitely leans you out as far as your water weight is concerned.

[Firehawk]

Your strength will come back quick...i think.

[JGRIFF]

Wednesday, May 10th, 2006:

Deadlift:
135 x 5
185 x 5
225 x 3
315 x 3
365 x 1
405 x 1

Bent Rows (BB):
135 x 10
135 x 10
135 x 10

Shrugs (BB):
135 x 10
155 x 10
175 x 10
195 x 10

Lat Pulldown
100 x 10
100 x 10
100 x 10

Summary:
Todays workout wasnt too bad, had a little more stamina today. 405 was hell, I couldnt believe how hard I had to work for it. I havent pulled like that in a LONG time, felt good though.

I dont know whats wrong with me on the lat pulldowns, I was gased. I dont really like the machine at the new gym that I'm at, I dont feel like it pulls as smoothly as the previous gym I was at. The bottom line however is that I was pretty tired by that point, cant think of much else.

I started San V12 turbo this morning before the gym, I also took 625mg of tribulus and 200 mcg of chromium picolinate. Last night I took my ZMA along with 625mg of tribulus. Obviously I dont have much to report as far as any increase in energy as I just started these supplements, but we shall see in the near future.

And FIRE, whats with this you think? YOU BETTER ASK SOMEBODY!

And another thing, I couldnt help keep off the scale, so I hopped on and was pleasantly suprised to see that I'm down to 258.5 lbs out of 265. This is good seeing as that I bottomed out at 265, 2 1/2 weeks ago or so, and that I wasnt just bloaded at that point. I'll see how that fluctuates over the next few days to see exactly where I'm at.