30 Aug 10 weeks to go until Relentless

I wrote an article last week for this site about how do you get your edge in the gym. I didn’t write that as an educational piece, I wrote that as a “get your shit together, Ashman” piece.

The last several weeks (maybe months) of training I have dealt with issues in my hips, my back and my shoulders. It has sapped my drive to excel where there were many days when I didn’t even give a shit about lifting a single pound.

I am sure many of you went through that and even still are, but if you don’t have the desire to push yourself, you will NOT improve.

The last week I have been working to regain that edge I lost in the gym so I can improve. It isn’t easy to break out of shit habits but I am pretty damn determined to get back on track.

Mental focus is returning and my ability to push myself harder is returning. Right now it is taking a conscious decision on my part to do that but with that daily decision an old habit is being reintroduced as instinct.

I am a rage lifter, period. No matter how I try to change that, lighten up or be a little more low key… I am run by my emotions and that is all there is to it.

Time to lift angry again.

Deadlift
Set 1: 135 lbs × 2
Set 2: 135 lbs × 2
Set 3: 225 lbs × 2
Set 4: 315 lbs × 2
Set 5: 405 lbs × 2
Set 6: 455 lbs × 2
Set 7: 500 lbs × 3
Set 8: 545 lbs × 2

Not heavy today and I am happy with how this felt from the floor speed wise. I don’t plan on pulling heavy in training until I test my opener but instead to work lower percentage weights and move that shit fast.

SSB Squat
Set 1: 70 lbs × 6
Set 2: 160 lbs × 6
Set 3: 250 lbs × 6
Set 4: 300 lbs × 6
Set 5: 300 lbs × 6

Piston style, fast and quick.

This is the first time I have raw squatted deep for a few months at least. Since the hip was killing me I have stuck to other variations and taken the time to give my hip a rest. I didn’t push any weight here at all, this was just for some quick easy reps.

Leg Press
Set 1: 400 lbs × 20
Set 2: 400 lbs × 20
Set 3: 400 lbs × 20

Glute Ham Raise
Set 1: 10 reps
Set 2: 10 reps
Set 3: 10 reps

Stir The Pot
Set 1: 20 reps
Set 2: 20 reps
Set 3: 20 reps

Bench tomorrow and speed/rep deadlifts on Wednesday night. Pulling twice a week now up until Relentless.

Plan after this meet?

Taking a WHOLE damn year off from any sort of competition so I can heal up for good, build more muscle, shore up some weak points and take the time to rebuild strength from the setbacks I have had both mentally and physically.