New leg day strategy

Today, I decided on a new strategy for my powerlifting workouts, due to wanting to switch things up a bit and still challenge myself. The changes will only concern my leg day workouts (Tuesday and Thursday’s) but hopefully I will see good results from the switch up and reduce the soreness. 

I will continue to do deadlifts and squats on the same day along with lower body accessory work BUT instead of doing heavy with both exercises and speed with both exercises. I will do heavy for one and speed for the other, and vice versa on the 2nd day. This was the first day doing this — so not much to say for it yet.

 

Warm up:

 

• Resistance band lateral walks: 4 x 25, green band
• seated leg curl: 4 x 25, 10 lbs
• body bar back squats: 4 x 25, 3 lbs

Workout:

• Conventional deadlift (speed training day): 8 x 5, 185 lbs
• Barbell back squat (heavy day): 6 x 3, 170 lbs
• Barbell front squats: 5 x 8-10, 65 lbs

Superset:

• Smith machine vertical leg press: 5 x 8-10, 205 lbs
• DB wide stance stiff legged deadlifts: 5 x 8-10, 40 lbs

Superset:

• EZ bar walking lunges: 5 x 8-10, 30 lbs
• DB cleans: 5 x 8-10, 30 lbs

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Gym Partner Monday

Today was one of those days where I wasn’t in town to attend my regular gym and I still wanted to get a workout in, in order to not skip a Monday. Thankfully, my friend, whom I was staying with over the weekend, agreed to attend the gym with me earlier this morning at her gym. Now, if I had to attend without her, i probably would have, but not have liked it very much because of the fact it was a new environment that I am not yet used to and have only been to once before. With as long as I have been lifting, you would assume I wouldn’t have any issues with the gyms, but I still have my small insecurities when entering a new gym in a new place. Today’s workout was both quick and very simple. In the mix of it all, I was able to show her new exercises and push her past what she would normally feel comfortable doing, I love doing that; boosting someone’s confidence and making them feel good about their abilities. 

 

Workout:

 

• Smith machine bench press: 3 x 6, 75 lbs, 95 lbs

Superset:

• Smith machine bentover row: 3 x 8, 75 lbs
• smith machine upright row: 3 x 8, 45 lbs

Superset:

• Seated Db shoulder press: 3 x 8, 40 lbs
• seated Db lateral raise: 3 x 8, 20 lbs

Superset:

• Seat low row: 3 x 8, 100 lbs
• wide grip lat pulldown: 3 x 8, 70 lbs

 

Bosu Exercises

Upper, lower, cardio & Abs 

Upper body:

1. Bosu Walkovers: 

2. Bosu Triceps walkup: 

3: Bosu Dome push up: 

Lower body:

1. Bosu lunge: 

2. Bosu Squat: 

3. Bosu hamstring curls: 

Abs:

1. Bosu ball sit ups: 

2. Bosu ball ab twist: 

3. Single leg glute bridge: 

Cardio:

1. Bosu burpees: 

2. Bosu mountain climbers: 

3. Bosu toe taps: 

 

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Friday’s workout make up day

No excuses

Friday was my make up day since I had missed Wednesday’s bench session. It was heavier lifting day, so close to my max day with my core lifting. Accessory work I made a strength (heavier load) as well to match it. 

 

Warm up:

 

• Cable straight arm pulldown: 4 x 25, 30 lbs
• Cable rope face pulls: 4 x 25, 30 lbs
• Cable triceps pushdown: 4 x 25, 30 lbs

Workout:

• Barbell bench press: 5 x 2-3 (90% 1RM), 110 lbs

Tri-set:

• DB alternating bicep curls: 6 x 5-8, 60 lbs total
• Triceps extension machine: 6 x 5-8, 60 lbs
• Rear delt machine: 6 x 5-8, 60 lbs

Cardio:

• Stair climber: 10 minutes, level 5

so recently I have noticed my bench has went down in weight — my 1RM was 135 lbs at one point , close to 140 and now, it is about 120 (if I were to guess) and while that might not seem like an extreme loss, it feels like it, so I am trying to bring my numbers back up & it has been tough. My bench is the weakest link in the BIG 3 lifts, always has been but since stopping a program and focusing on weaknesses, it has went down in weight — right now, I am creating my workouts with trial and error and hoping in 6-8 weeks  I will see the numbers climb back up. 

 

Anyone else have a hard time with their bench numbers? 

 

 

Chest day gains

Warm up:

• DB bench press: 4 x 25, 20 lbs
• Band reverse fly: 4 x 25, green band
• band pull apart:  4 x 25, green band

Workout:

• Barbell bench press: 9 x 3-6, 70 lbs (60% 1RM)

        — Barbell bench press (wide): 5 x 3-6, 70 lbs

        — barbell bench press (narrow): 5 x 3-6, 70 lbs

Tri-set:

• Incline Db bench press: 6 x 12-15, 60 lbs
• EZ bar military press: 6 x 12-15, 30 lbs
• DB shrugs: 6 x 12-15, 100 lbs

Tri-set:

• Seated Arnold DB press: 6 x 12-15, 40lbs, 30 lbs
• EZ bar reverse grip bentover row: 6 x 12-15, 70 lbs
• assisted dips: 6 x 12-15, 130 lbs

May 10th workout Heavy leg day gains

Warm up:

• DB goblet squats: 4 x 25, 10 lbs
• EZ Bar wide stance deadlifts: 4 x 25, 20 lbs
• EZ bar butt lifts: 4 x 25, 20 lbs 

Workout:

• Conventional deadlift: 4 x 2-4, 4 x 240 lbs, 4 x 255 lbs, 4 x 270 lbs
• Barbell back squat (low bar, wide stance): 3 x 2-4, 3 x 160 , 3 x 170, 3 x 180

           — barbell back squat: 2 x 1-2, 2 x 190, 2 x 200 

Tri-set:

• Body bar overhead squat: 6 x 12-15, 9 lbs
• DB wide stance stiff-legged deadlift: 6 x 12-15, 50 lbs
• Fire hydrants: 6 x 12-15

Tri-set:

• Leg extension machine: 6 x 12-15, 60 lbs
• leg curl machine: 6 x 12-15, 50 lbs
• Hip adduction machine: 6 x 12-15, 50 lbs

 

 

 

 

Skier’s thumb (gamekeeper’s thumb) injury prevention

So I will be honest when I tell you I have never heard of this injury before, I mean I know people can hurt their thumb, but never heard of this and not an injury I hear a lot about when it comes to sports. I don’t ski so this isn’t something I would have been aware of, but for all you who do, have you heard of this injury before, has this ever happened to you? Feel free to share your experience and story in the comment section. I had to do some digging to see what this injury consisted of, and luckily for you I found a source that was able to be helpful in explaining it more in depth, but for my fellow readers, I will use short sentences to give you an idea as to what this is. 

 

What is “skier’s thumb”

An injury to the UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) of the thumb. The UCL is either torn, damaged or ‘avulsed’ from the insertion site. 

 

How does this injury happen?

Any extreme force that pulls the thumb away from the palm of the hand

 

• downhill skiing
• fall on your hand with thumb stretched out
• when a skier falls down while holding the ski pole

So it might be more common that I had thought. 

 

Symptoms:

• painful
• swollen
• thumb may feel weak when pinched or grasp something
• bruise like discolorations around the joint
• difficult to hold or squeeze things
• there might be a bump around the surrounding area

Treatment options:

• Partial tears don’t need surgery usually. Thumb will need immobilized for about 4 to six weeks in a special cast. 
• If completely torn- chances are you will need surgery, normally done as an outpatient procedure. 

Rehab will be needed in both cases to gain strength and ROM back. 

 

I don’t know about you guys but this doesn’t seem like a fun injury to have – so try to be careful next time you go skiing or when you take a fall. Like,comment, share, and follow!

 

Fitness WonderWoman

Shay-lon