TweetAfter a week and a half off, I am getting back in the gym tomorrow. I will be doing a modified routine from my old one. Basically I won't be engaging my hamstrings at all. I will be doing two upper days, which will end up being a good thing. The injury sucks, but it will allow me to focus more on my chest which is my weak area anyway.

This is good because I eat like crap when I am not training!!!

Tweet5/2/11 Back in the gym!
I will be working on a little different routine here since the injury.

Guillotine press 155 x 2 x 5 (+10)
Db flat bench 45 x 15, 45 x 5

I got a huge freaking pump today and had a really good workout. The pump was so big that I could barely do my curls. It felt good to be back in there though. I know I was only out for a week and a half, but it was making me stir crazy especially with the rainy weather around here lately. I had a good workout though. I actually did 10lbs more on my guillotine presses without realizing it. I was thinking to myself, "Man I feel really weak after only a few days off...this is crazy." Then I realized that I had the 10s on there instead of the 5's. I was talking when I loaded the weight and wasn't paying attention.

Wednesday will be my lower day, which won't consist of a lot because I can't use my hamstring yet. But it's better than nothing!

Tweetnice bro, gotta love pumps like that.

Tweet5/4/11

Well, tonight was my lower night so I didn't get to do much with my hamstring. I did some leg extensions, calf raises, high pulls, and low pulls. That's pretty much it. It was a good workout, but it didn't take long. Friday will be my next good day. It will be my second chest day for the week. I am hitting chest twice a week now until I'm able to get back to the deads and squats. It was a good workout tonight though. My calves are screaming today!!

Tweetkeep up the good hard work man it will pay off in the end

TweetAnother day of chest is coming tomorrow. I decided to push it out until Saturday because everybody and their brother seems to use the power rack on Fridays lately. These last two weeks have been weak as far as diet goes. I haven't really counted calories or anything the past 2 weeks. I had to have a break. I been weighing and macro counting since December and felt I was a little burnt out. So I think the 2 weeks away from that has helped. I am going to be in a training class for work the next 2 weeks. I am going to do my best to get my diet back in check while attending the classes. It's going to be a busy two weeks. Our company won't allow us to stay over night so I am having to drive 5 hours a day to attend an 8 hour class. Then I have to fit the gym in there as well. It shouldn't be an issue, but I won't have time for anything else. Maybe this will make the days go by faster.

Tweet5/7/11

Well, I hit my second day of chest this morning. It was a good one. I did paused floor presses and pin presses today for the first time. I liked them. I felt stronger on them than I do regular bench. It was a good day. I'll be glad to get back to doing deads and squats though. They really put a workout on me.

TweetWell, I am finally back in town. I have been gone for 2 weeks doing a training class for work. The hamstring is feeling much better. I did some running with my wife this morning and felt no effects. I am getting back in the gym tonight. I'll be slowly starting to add my squats and deads back in this week. I won't have any PR's or anything for a while as I don't want to chance hurting my leg again. It will just feel good to get back in the gym though. I gained too much weight during this training class...I ate like CRAP!

Tweet5/23/11

Guillotine Press 155 x 2 x 5
Db flat bench 40 x 20

I took it a little easy since it has been 2 weeks. I feel like my guillotine can move up next week. I also got the 40s on Db bench pretty easy. I was doing 45s with some trouble, so we will see how they go next week. It seems like it has been FOREVER that I have been in the gym. Between tearing my hamstring and going to training, I haven't gotten the chance to continue on with the great start I had.

This will be the first week since the hamstring injury. I want to really take it slow and make sure I don't re-injure the leg. It looks like training (work) "may be" over for the year, so hopefully I won't have any more interruptions with my workouts (besides vacation in 3 weeks, which I desperately need).

Tweet5/25/11

Sumo deads 225 x 2 x 5
Dimel deads 135 x 10, 175 x 10

This was my first big test since hurting my leg. My strength felt like it hasn't gone anywhere. I only did 225 on the sumos because I didn't want to push my leg too much the first day back. The dimel deads felt pretty good as well, but again, I didn't want to push it. My biggest issue was the cardio portion. I felt really out of shape as far as stamina during the workout. I think that will pass quickly though. It felt good to be back in there pulling some weight. My next big test will be squat and leg day which is going to be Saturday. All in all....a GREAT day back!!

Tweet5/27/11

Paused floor press 165 x 2 x 5
Paused pin press 165 x 8, 185 x 8

I was off today so I decided to hit the gym early and beat the crowd. It was a good day. I feel like my chest exercises are getting stronger....which is GREAT!! Leg still feels good. Another good week in the gym.

Tweet5/28/11

Paused squat 165 x 2 x 5
Leg press 298 x 1 x 20

I had my first session of a full leg workout since hurting my leg. It was good. I did the same weight on squats as the last time I worked out. I wasn't going to go that high, but it just felt good and I had no issues. But after doing that, I went easy on the rest of my exercises. I kind of got worried after the squats that I was pushing too hard. That is why the leg press was lower in weight. Overall, it was a good day with the exception of my sciatic problems flaring up again. But that happens every time I take a layoff from any deads or squats, so it should go away with some workouts.

Also, my wife went with me. She did the same things I did and I showed her a few things. She liked it....but she doesn't like the soreness she is feeling now though..LOL

Tweet6/2/11

Guillotine Press 165 x 5 , 175 x 5
Db flat bench 40 x 1 x 20

It was a really good day in the gym today. My guillotine press went up and I felt it could have been a touch higher. It felt really good. I stuck with the 40s on Db bench because I can get all 20 and it feels good. When I go to the 45s, I struggle with getting all 20 in 1 set. I figure a week or two and I'll be ready to go up there. I have been feeling a good bit stronger recently on all lifts. It really surprised me because, to be honest, my diet hasn't been that great at all since hurting my leg. I have a vacation coming up in 2 weeks and when I get back, my wife and I both have decided to hit it hard. We don't want any excuses for not having beach bodies when we go on vacation next year. I know that is a long time off, but I feel like I waited much too late to really get going for this year. The reason I saw that is I had a lot of unexpected things come up that REALLY interrupted my training and sent me into a bad groove diet wise. With so much time between now and next year, we should have NO issues get ripped to the gills.

Anyway, that was my rant to myself as I am pretty irritated with the way I have handled some things lately!!! With that being said, I am still happy to be back in the gym!

Oh and an update on the leg. After doing legs last weekend, I felt like my leg and knee area were a bit swollen. I don't know if maybe I pushed it too hard during my leg workout to soon or what. It has gone away now, so we will see this week if it happens again. I will stick to the lighter weights just to make sure.