Author Topic: Magoo: The Quest for a 405 bench (Read 108023 times)

Ursus · « **Reply #800 on:** January 19, 2009, 12:49:13 PM »

ah right i was just asking cos i never read PLing routines myself.

I just noticed that you go back and forth with shoulder routine. Like you say stick at them and you will def hiot the 405 sooner rather than later

MisterMagoo · « **Reply #801 on:** January 19, 2009, 12:51:45 PM »

Quote from: Goudy on January 19, 2009, 12:49:13 PM

I just noticed that you go back and forth with shoulder routine. Like you say stick at them and you will def hiot the 405 sooner rather than later

VERY true. i'm terribly shoddy about shoulder pressing. partly because i can't do barbell shoulder presses for shit, so i just give up (seriously, in the last three years i haven't moved up more than maybe 30 pounds). part of that might be that i don't do it, but the other thing is it just feels terribly uncomfortable. so, DBs it is. maybe when i'm pushing the 100s for 6 i'll be in good shape.

The BEAST · « **Reply #802 on:** January 19, 2009, 12:55:57 PM »

I just watched your video a few pages back, you look great!

Quote from: MisterMagoo on January 19, 2009, 12:41:04 PM

i think it also has kind of a board press effect in that you can use heavy enough weight and get adjusted to it. when the only time i have over 3 plates in my hands is when i'm doing heavy benching, it makes the weight feel like a million pounds when i unrack it and that screws me up, i think.

can you get another spotter to help with the unrack??

QuakerOats · « **Reply #803 on:** January 19, 2009, 12:58:42 PM »

Quote from: MisterMagoo on January 19, 2009, 12:51:45 PM

VERY true. i'm terribly shoddy about shoulder pressing. partly because i can't do barbell shoulder presses for shit, so i just give up (seriously, in the last three years i haven't moved up more than maybe 30 pounds). part of that might be that i don't do it, but the other thing is it just feels terribly uncomfortable. so, DBs it is. maybe when i'm pushing the 100s for 6 i'll be in good shape.

i know a lot of people these days are into standing presses but i get ALOT from seated barbell presses with a medium grip leaning back a little kind of like Branch Warren does them in his vid, kills my shoulders and you can handle more weight, also do you have boards where you train?

Ursus · « **Reply #804 on:** January 19, 2009, 01:02:39 PM »

that may be more conducive to benching...stable back use legs etc.

i feel any kind of strong pressing will do the trick

QuakerOats · « **Reply #805 on:** January 19, 2009, 01:04:37 PM »

Quote from: Goudy on January 19, 2009, 01:02:39 PM

that may be more conducive to benching...stable back use legs etc.

i feel any kind of strong pressing will do the trick

you do 'em kind of like Wendler does them at 1:38 of this clip don't you?

MisterMagoo · « **Reply #806 on:** January 19, 2009, 01:07:18 PM »

Quote from: The BEAST on January 19, 2009, 12:55:57 PM

I just watched your video a few pages back, you look great!

can you get another spotter to help with the unrack??

thanks! and yeah i have help unracking, but it just feels heavy as hell once i get it in my hands, you know? i usually handle 315 spotter-less, sometimes 325-335 if i'm just doing sets of 2-3.

QO, i'm thinking of doing the same. i notice i do lean back on DB presses and that's likely a big reason i do better on them. i'll put it this way. if i can get 185 for 4-5 reps next week like that, i'll stick with the barbell militaries. i'd MUCH rather do that because using DBs is a serious pain in the ass.

sick video, reminds me i need to buy some more wrist wraps. YO WICKED, I NEVER GOT MY PAIR OF APT WRAPS.

QuakerOats · « **Reply #807 on:** January 19, 2009, 01:09:00 PM »

Quote from: MisterMagoo on January 19, 2009, 01:07:18 PM

thanks! and yeah i have help unracking, but it just feels heavy as hell once i get it in my hands, you know? i usually handle 315 spotter-less, sometimes 325-335 if i'm just doing sets of 2-3.

QO, i'm thinking of doing the same. i notice i do lean back on DB presses and that's likely a big reason i do better on them. i'll put it this way. if i can get 185 for 4-5 reps next week like that, i'll stick with the barbell militaries. i'd MUCH rather do that because using DBs is a serious pain in the ass.

sick video, reminds me i need to buy some more wrist wraps. YO WICKED, I NEVER GOT MY PAIR OF APT WRAPS.

yeah i think it makes a difference, i read where Wendler likes to always do 'em standing but i like them seated.

MisterMagoo · « **Reply #808 on:** January 19, 2009, 01:12:20 PM »

Quote from: QuakerOats on January 19, 2009, 01:09:00 PM

yeah i think it makes a difference, i read where Wendler likes to always do 'em standing but i like them seated.

i'm willing to bet if i wore a belt while doing them standing it would help. but it always feels like most guys are smacking 2 plates around standing with no problems and there's me barely getting 185 for 2.

Stubborn · « **Reply #809 on:** January 19, 2009, 01:14:56 PM »

Quote from: QuakerOats on January 19, 2009, 01:09:00 PM

yeah i think it makes a difference, i read where Wendler likes to always do 'em standing but i like them seated.

Standing is good because if you get tired at rep 5 you can still push press a couple past that.

Try the belt too! It really helps with stability the whole way through. Just use it when you go 185+, magoo.

Ursus · « **Reply #810 on:** January 19, 2009, 01:31:10 PM »

Quote from: QuakerOats on January 19, 2009, 01:04:37 PM

you do 'em kind of like Wendler does them at 1:38 of this clip don't you?

yup lol almost exactly, maybe a few inches lower.

MisterMagoo · « **Reply #811 on:** January 20, 2009, 03:27:17 PM »

hm.

TUESDAY

box squats: low box
135x5
225x5
275x5
315x5
365x3 - felt like ass.

regular squats: ass to the floor. used rip's video as inspiration
315x3
365x3
365x3 - fucking BUTTER. didn't struggle at all. it was amazing. some strain, but felt like i could have gone all day.

sumo pulls: for speed, no belt, standing on a 2" platform.
135x5
225x5
315x5
315x5

pull-throughs:
60x15
70x15
70x15

abs

weight: 225!

notes: um. yeah. wow. i thought i was in trouble because of how hard the box squats were. instead i was shocked to find that 365 wasn't even a little tough. damn.

ripitupbaby · « **Reply #812 on:** January 20, 2009, 06:28:01 PM »

damn is right! Keep it up with those squats...and let me know when you end up feeling sore in places that you didn't even know existed before.

MisterMagoo · « **Reply #813 on:** January 23, 2009, 12:29:11 PM »

THURSDAY: bench assistance

feet-up bench:
135x10
185x10
225x10
225x10
225x10

plate-loaded pulldowns: the kind with the free-floating handles
90x15
180x15
270x12
270x12 - 3 plates per side.

DB side raises:
25x12
30x12
35x12
35x12

cable rear shoulder whatevers: y'know, where the cables cross in front of your face
17x15
17x15
17x15

pushdowns: straight bar
80x15
80x15
80x15

pullups:
12
12
12
12

weight: 224

notes: total bodybuilder workout, but it felt great.

FRIDAY:

deadlifts: all paused on the floor
135x5
225x5
315x5
405x5
405x5
405x5 - see notes

pause squats:
135x5
225x5
315x5
315x5

face pulls:
70x12
70x12
70x12

leg extensions:
200x20
200x20

calves:
135x75 - yeah, 75 reps. did sets of 10/15/25/15/10 with five seconds between to shake out.

abs

weight: 225

notes: okay, it can no longer be denied. my flexibility is ass. i haven't done any serious stretching in a long time, and i noticed this week it was a problem when i sat on the floor and, no shit, having my legs out in front of me was hard. just sitting straight up with my legs outstretched. my hamstrings were THAT tight. so starting this past saturday i stretched out for 15 minutes every morning. today, well, my deadlifts were spot on and my squats felt like dynamite. my lower back doesn't hurt any more either. amazing, isn't it? flexibility helps lifting. whoda thunk it.

here's a video of my third set of pulls and my second set of pause squats. rep five on the squats is bad, but you can see at the bottom of that one i came forward a bit. still, gives an idea of what a pause squat is to ME.

also, it just felt good to pulls for sets of five like that. nothing murderously heavy, but enough to really feel it. by the end of the workout i felt great.

ripitupbaby · « **Reply #814 on:** January 23, 2009, 12:47:39 PM »

Dude, stretching is SO important for lower body development, especially hamstrings. You just cannot grow your hammies if you don't stretch them. Keep it up. I have a mat on the floor in my living room that I sit on to watch TV and just stretch the legs and hammies the whole time...

Those paused squats looked brutal!

MisterMagoo · « **Reply #815 on:** January 23, 2009, 12:53:04 PM »

Quote from: ripitupbaby on January 23, 2009, 12:47:39 PM

Dude, stretching is SO important for lower body development, especially hamstrings. You just cannot grow your hammies if you don't stretch them. Keep it up. I have a mat on the floor in my living room that I sit on to watch TV and just stretch the legs and hammies the whole time...

i'm sitting on my floor right now actually. it's turned into the best way to keep me flexible, at least if the past week is any indication. and i seriously felt like gold the whole workout. well, until the end of some of those sets.

Quote

Those paused squats looked brutal!

oh yeah, they're fucking terrible. rep one and two are almost always so easy the bar pops off my shoulders, but by five my face is turning colors and i can't breathe. that's why i love doing them.

MisterMagoo · « **Reply #816 on:** January 27, 2009, 12:42:59 PM »

eh i'll write shit up later.

MONSTER_TRICEPS · « **Reply #817 on:** January 27, 2009, 12:49:02 PM »

430? Good job.

MisterMagoo · « **Reply #818 on:** January 27, 2009, 12:55:05 PM »

440, actually. 4 plates, a 10, a 5, and 2.5 pound collars. i would have done 435 but the little spring clips were missing and if i don't use them the plates come all wonky when i walk out.

and the angle on the camera makes it look like way more of a good morning than it actually was. $:-\$ from the side it was pretty much like my 315 pause squats.

ripitupbaby · « **Reply #819 on:** January 27, 2009, 06:18:19 PM »

That's some heavy-ass weight you got on your back there Magoo.

tonymctones · « **Reply #820 on:** January 27, 2009, 08:17:40 PM »

Damn bro looking strong as shit

PANDAEMONIUM · « **Reply #821 on:** January 27, 2009, 09:21:21 PM »

Great, pretty smooth looking 2x BW squat, dude. All the needs to be said is "Keep up the great work"

The BEAST · « **Reply #822 on:** January 29, 2009, 01:49:12 PM »

Very nice!! Good and deep, I am impressed

thewickedtruth · « **Reply #823 on:** January 29, 2009, 02:01:03 PM »

fuck man you're becoming a monster fast.. when you going to do a meet?

MisterMagoo · « **Reply #824 on:** January 31, 2009, 09:20:50 AM »

february 21st, most likely. only they make you register for each lift separately, so i'm a little on the fence.

THURSDAY

close-grip
135x10
185x8
225x5
275x5
275x5 - absolutely nothing. could have gone for 8-10 if i wanted to hit failure.

standing BTN press:
95x12
115x12
125x12
125x12 - just going easy

like six sets of various pulldowns, chins, and rows.

pushdowns: wolfe-style, elbows out.
85x15
100x12
100x12

some curls

FRIDAY: oh this went well

deadlifts:
135x5
225x5
315x3 - something wasn't right. my stomach hurt like fucking crazy.
405x2 - every time i took a breath and pushed into the belt, my abs and stomach cramped up like mad. my back rounded out, hurting now.

weight: 225

notes: yeah that workout was horrific. i felt like i was going to puke. cut it after those four sets. right now i'm not sure if i should go back today and "finish up" with some lighter assistance work or if i should just wait for my bench workout on monday.