Just along for the ride.

[beardown91]

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First day back in the gym since the meet Sunday. Hit 4x15 very light bench press sets, with close grip, no arch, and feet slightly elevated to go easy on my lower back. Finished up with some accessory work, called it a night.

[beardown91]

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Some of my squat work from this weekend. Friday: 6x2 at 325lbs (left) Today: worked up to 365, then 4x4 at 300lbs... 3 weeks out from the meet.

[beardown91]

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Bench work from earlier today. 8 sets of 2-3 paused, at 205lbs. Goal was to keep the bar moving as fast as possible. Body weight about 196~197 right now.

[beardown91]

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After taking 460 for a quick single. Worked 4 sets of 5 at 365lbs (RPE~6-7). Happy with how these moved.

[beardown91]

My life at the moment. 😪😂

[beardown91]

First bench day of the intro microcycle: 4x5 at 180lbs (68% of training max). @keepongettingstrong

[beardown91]

Deadlifts felt slightly better, but very slow, after almost 3 weeks of no deadlifting. Kept it light. 65% for 6 sets of 2. Body weight just below 194lbs today. @keepongettingstrong

[beardown91]

First time back squatting for over 2 weeks. Plus side: knee feels much better. Downside: everything technical about my squats felt AWFUL. Lol good thing I'm keeping things light on this introductory micro cycle. 4x5 at 255. @keepongettingstrong

[beardown91]

The only acceptable cardio is the kind you can do while not moving your feet. #WordsToLiveBy

[beardown91]

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5x10 bench at 135lbs today. Excited to get meet prep going on Sunday. @keepongettingstrong

[beardown91]

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Last week of no back squatting. Here's some lighter 5x8 KB 'front squats' with the 53's. @keepongettingstrong

[beardown91]

RDL work today. 4x10. Only went up to 225, because I wanted to really control the eccentric portion and keep my lats engaged. Excited to get meet Prep started on Sunday! @keepongettingstrong

[beardown91]

Shout out to @liftbigeatbig and @millsfitness for the KB complex ideas in that article. Still hate cardio though. Lol @keepongettingstrong

[beardown91]

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After 7 sets of 3 from 195-215lbs, took 225 for a paused double. Should've been an easy triple, but I didn't set up right and only got 2 reps.

[beardown91]

I didn't choose the gainz life, the gainz life chose me. (at Blueberry Hill Cafe Oakbrook)

[beardown91]

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Paused bench single from last week at 255. Jumped to 275 after this and could not finished the lock out. @keepongettingstrong

[beardown91]

No back squats or deadlifts for the next couple weeks thanks to some patellar tendinitis. Very frustrating because training was going very well. Instead of ignoring it, I'm taking care of it before it gets really bad. In a lot of cases, there are ways to work around an injury. Though not optimal with meet prep right around the corner, I need to make sure I'm setting myself up for success in the long term as well. Today's workout: Goblet squats: 5x10 Light rdl: 5x10 Hip extensions on GHD: 3x15 with 50lb sandbag McGill sit-ups: 4x20 Calf raises: 3x10 (at Elite Athletic Development / CrossFit Arlington Heights)