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Bode's Vegan Nerd Training Journal


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Ok, here we go! I've never made a training journal so I'll need as much help as I can get with this

 

I'm just getting back into training with a bit more intensity. I've been in and out of the gym over the past couple of years but not with enough solid, reliable frequency to get to where I want. No excuses on that front (apart from a small chunk of time in moving from New Zealand to California!).

 

The stats:

Age: 25

Height: 5'11" ish (close to 6")

Weight 167 lbs

 

My goals:

For me, I just want to be fit, strong and lean. I've found the best way to get people to think about a vegan lifestyle is to see an impressive example which is what I want to be. What are some good strength benchmarks? Should I work towards benching my own weight? Deadlift 2x bodyweight?

 

 

Current training:

I'm following Derek's full body muscle gain routine on Mon/Wed/Fri as best I can. I workout in the gym at my work which gets pretty busy at lunchtimes so sometimes I need to mix it up if the bar is being used. Anyway, I'll be tracking what I do each day to make sure I'm improving and staying on track. After each of these sessions I'm also running a light mile, usually in around 8:30-9:00. On Tues/Thurs I'm doing 30 mins of solid state cardio and trying to do another cardio session on the weekend. What changes should I make to this schedule? What kind of reps/sets should I be doing for strength/lean muscle gain keeping in mind that I need to keep rest periods pretty small?

 

 

Thanks for any help in advance!

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My thread wasn't approved until today so here's what Monday entailed:

 

Thrusters:

12x70lbs

10x80lbs

8x90lbs (ouch! definitely getting towards failure)

 

Incline DB Press:

Not much rest between this and the thrusters so I stayed at 45 where I would usually go to 55...

12x45lbs x3

 

DB Row:

12x35lbs

10x40lbs

8x45lbs

15x30lbs

 

Shrugs:

12x60lbs

10x65lbs

8x70lbs

 

One Mile Run:

8:43

 

 

Today is a cardio day for me so I'll try and get a run or something in after work. Also, for dumbell exercises, should I be listing the weight of singular dumbells or the total of both?

 

Vegan power y'all!

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Today I tried a bit of 5x5 with bigger compound 'stuff'.

 

Squats (Smith):

I have a love/hate relationship with squats. They remind me of much throwing up for rowing training at high school. Rrrrr.... But, I know they're a killer compound exercise so I'm going to put them in once a week.

5x70lbs

5x90lbs

5x110lbs

5x110lbs

5x110lbs

 

Pull ups

Going to try and get slower with more control. Still need to make sure I go all the way to hanging for every rep!

5x5

 

Incline Press:

5x70lbs (too light but good depth)

5x100lbs

5x100lbs (not getting much depth at this weight)

5x90lbs

5x90lbs

 

DB Shoulder Press:

5x30lbs (a little too easy)

5x35lbs

5x35lbs

5x35lbs

5x35lbs

 

Kettlebell Swings:

Had a few minutes left so I pushed through some of these. Could definitely feel fatigue from the squats still!

 

 

Definitely wasn't a great workout for me. I find it harder if the gym is completely empty... We'll see how sore I am tomorrow though!

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Owwww! Legs are still sore from yesterday but decided to push through what I had planned and happy that I did. Ass = kicked.

 

Shoulders:

Decided to hit my quickly shoulders before my cardio today since they weren't too sore from yesterday. Saw Dwight Howard on some replays this morning... that man has crazzzzy shoulders.

For speeds sake, I did a round of lat raises>overhead press>standing row with dumbells.

 

10x15lbs

10x17.5lbs

10x20lbs

 

10x17.5lbs

10x20lbs

10x22.5lbs

 

10x20lbs

10x22.5lbs

10x25lbs

 

HIIT:

Stole this from mattsxvx's training journal (think it was him!). I aimed to do 30 minutes of HIIT (1 minute up, 1 minute down) at a 15 degree incline. After the first couple of minutes, I decided to go with a 10 degree incline so I could actually stick out the whole time. Next time I'll try 11 and work my way up!

 

30 minutes:

6mph for 1 minute

2mph for 1 minute

10 degree incline

 

 

Just going to down some Sun Warrior now. Feeling good today! Yeooow.

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Definitely! The bar was unfortunately in use at my work gym and we don't even have a rack for it. I just moved to California from New Zealand to work in the video game industry over here - so I get your Brit slang I guess I could use the ez-curl bars since we have ones that go up to 120lbs which is sufficient for me at the moment. Is there a better alternative? If you have any sick compound exercises you can recommend then throw them my way. Hopefully I can steal the bar tomorrow and deadlift like crazy. I'm sitting at around 250lbs for a few reps for my deadlift so I'm going to see if I can better that. What would be a good deadlift routine?

 

Cheers mate!

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You can't really sub squats, they are what they are. It has to be barbell work, if the gym has no power/squat rack then really you're in trouble. How could you load a heavy weight otherwise? Dumbbell squats are possible but pale in comparison, the next thing I'd suggest is hitting up lunges but again you'll have to really use dumbbells for heavy(ish) work.

Ez bars are for curls & tricep work, it won't be stable on your back.

 For a deadlifting routine, deadlifts are the routine. Your workouts should be based a round bench press (do not sub barbell work with dumbbell if anyones says to do this then they have little intelligence) military press (no leg movement) squats & deaslift. As you're training 3 days a week I'd highly recommend these program's as your after strength, starting strength by Mark Rippetoe or this one over at builtfit http://www.builtfit.com/workouts/strength-and-powerlifting/builtfit-5x5-workout

 

If you focus on big multi jointed compounds you can cut the crap out people think you need to do a million & one assistances, check out my log (the last few pages) I train for strength/power & have added a lot off mass. There's only 1 Olympic bar?

 

Look over YouTube for technique videos by Mark Rippetoe, so search Rippetoe squats/ Rippetoe military.

What games you working on? I'm loving mass effect 3's multiplayer

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Thanks for the tips guys - much appreciated!

 

I started on the Builtfit routine that you posted and did the Friday workout. Definitely going heavier next time on most of the exercises - I kind of undershot it a bit on a few things. Veggie, I work at a company that starts with a "B" and rhymes with "lizard" and I love it here. Can't say I've had a chance to play Mass Effect yet but I hear that it's REALLY good!

 

Goblet Squats:

Bar was in use so I tried these out. Managed to get really good depth and I totally hear you on the core stabilisation! Going heavier next time - too light on these.

5x50lbs

5x55lbs

5x60lbs

5x65lbs

5x70lbs

 

Bench Press:

I pilfered the bar and bench! I'm still a bit of a noob with these and admittedly can get more depth. Might keep the same weight next week and nail the form.

5x95lbs

5x105lbs

5x115lbs

5x125lbs

5x135lbs

 

Barbell Rows:

Owww! These felt bad in that really good way.

5x95lbs

5x115lbs

5x125lbs

5x135lbs

5x145lbs

 

ez-Bar Curls:

Had to give up the bar but I figured it was ok for biceps.

12x60lbs (heavy enough to sacrifice form towards the end of the set)

12x50lbs

12x50lbs

 

Leg Press:

Serious burn on these - could still feel the squats and hill sprints from yesterday.

10x100lbs

10x100lbs

10x100lbs

 

Cable Crunches:

I liked these! Going to go heavier next time.

10x100lbs

10x100lbs

10x100lbs

 

 

I also had to blast through the whole routine in under 40 minutes (lunch break workouts) so my rest periods were pretty short.

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The only problem with the builtfit prog is the weight it says to add soon adds up & you will hit a wall sooner rather then later. I hurt my back so couldn't squat or deadlift for a while & I used the program to get some strength back quickly. I then went over to 5/3/1 which is amazing.

It's better to start to light than to heavy.

 

I use to love Diablo 2 on pc, many hours spent on that badboy!!! Mass Effect is pretty sweet tbh! haha pilfer love that word!

 

Nice workout amigo

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Today's workout 4/2/2012

 

Goblet Squats:

Heavier than last Friday which is good. The jumps in weight that were over 5lbs were due to those dumbells being in use. No time to waste, go heavier...

5x55lbs

5x65lbs

5x70lbs

5x80lbs

5x85lbs

 

Bench Press:

Same as last Friday but with better form. All the way down to the chest on the first two sets of weights - I won't go heavier until I can get the full range on all sets.

5x95lbs

5x105lbs

5x115lbs

5x125lbs

5x135lbs

 

Barbell Row:

Better form than last Friday I think...

5x95lbs

5x115lbs

5x125lbs

5x135lbs

5x145lbs

 

Dumbell Shoulder Press:

12x25lbs

10x30lbs

5x35lbs (failure!)

 

Treadmill:

1 mile: 8:03

That's faster than I've done it recently and still had a bit left in the tank. Going to crank that up next time (Wednesday) if my legs feel good and go for <8 mins.

 

@Veggiesasquatch - I spent a lot of time playing D2 as well! Have you had a chance to check out D3? It's only 6 weeks away!

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I haven't really tracked the Diablo 3 news as I don't think my laptop will run it on a high setting but I know it's coming out on Xbox so I may have a catch up over the next few days. Atm I'm looking forward to Darksiders

 

Nice work again, I'd suggest hitting a military press (barbell work) over the dumbbells but if you only have the one oly bar that's going to be hard. Dumbbell pressings assistance work to me, if It's not on a barbell it's not a big lift. Also on the Monday where you do 5 reps if you're feeling good on the last set blast past the 5 reps (always keep a rep or two in the tank) this is a good to dominate the workout (taken from Mr  Wendler)

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Thanks for dropping by RC! As you can see, Veggie and Matt have been so awesome at giving me heaps of advice; definitely a testament to the strong community you've built here. Whenever people tell me "it's unhealthy to be vegan" or "where do you get your protein?" (I seriously hate that one!) I always point them to articles here and show them you, Derek and Ed. I can't say I've had much luck converting people yet - but a lot of people around here are curious about what being vegan means. Ironic isn't it that the people that come at me with "where do you get your protein?" are often type-2 diabetics... curious.

 

Anyway! Just got back from another Tuesday cardio session. Gym was empty which is usually not great for me. But I put the headphones in, caught up on what's happening in the NBA, and got to it.

 

Treadmill HIIT:

30 minutes (1 up, 1 down) 6mph & 2mph

10 degree incline

 

Looking forward to another one of Derek's workouts tomorrow. I don't see much of a change but my fianceé has noticed some extra muscle - I'll take what I can get!

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So... much... compound. Feels good!

 

Cleans:

First time adding these into the rotation so I practiced the form before adding weight.

5x95lbs

5x105lbs

5x115lbs

5x120lbs

5x125lbs

 

Incline DB Chest Press:

Managed to have someone spot me for the final 2 sets so I could go a bit heavier. The last set was the heaviest I'd ever done it and I didn't need any spotting on any rep other than the first (just to get the weight up)

5x45lbs

5x50lbs

5x50lbs

6x55lbs (spotted)

5x60lbs (spotted)

 

One Arm DB Row:

5x55lbs

5x60lbs

5x65lbs

5x70lbs

5x75lbs (felt REALLY heavy for me but managed to keep form pretty good)

 

Deadlifts:

As if the cleans weren't enough! Yeesh, I'm sitting here typing and I can feel the fatigue in my whole back and hammys. Sun Warrior, do your thing. I've gone heavier on these but not at 5x5. 225lbs for 2-3 is about where I sit at the moment.

5x135lbs

5x155lbs

5x175lbs

5x185lbs

5x195lbs

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Definitely feeling 'good sore' from yesterday - those deads and cleans really sorted out my back. More cardio today!

 

Treadmill HIIT:

30 minutes (1 up, 1 down) 6mph & 2mph

10 degree incline

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Feeling good today! Had a great workout and I'm definitely noticing improvements.

 

Chin Up:

Form was better than last week - going slower and lower. Will switch to pull ups once I'm really happy with form.

5x5xBodyweight

 

Decline DB Pullover:

Got some serious fatigue on the 4th set.

5x20lbs

5x22.5lbs

5x25lbs

5x30lbs (failure!)

5x25lbs

 

Barbell Push-press:

Had the gym pretty much to myself today which was awesome! Went heavier on these than I thought I would and was surprised I managed to get through all of it. Having to do a power clean for the first rep only added that little bit extra.

5x65lbs

5x75lbs

5x85lbs

5x95lbs

5x105lbs

 

Romanian Deadlifts:

Yes, I did do regular deads on Wednesday when according to Derek's plan I should've done them today. But, I hadn't looked at the proper form for them yet; hence the switch.

5x135lbs

5x145lbs

5x155lbs

5x165lbs

5x175lbs

 

Incline DB Chest Press (FST-7):

Ouch! This made lifting half my max feel like it was sooooo heavy towards the end. I'm always so suprised. First set... "this weight is too light.. pssssh". Last set... "$^&!@%#^&!!!!"

12x30lbs

12x30lbs

12x30lbs

12x30lbs

12x25lbs

12x25lbs

12x25lbs

 

 

Felt good about the workout today. It definitely feels good to notice some gains in strength. Even though my weight has stayed around 167-169lbs I'm confident that some bf% has dropped and there's some extra muscle. Going to have a relaxing weekend and get some light cardio in. Ready to hit it hard next week!

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Managed to get some cardio in on a Sunday - just steady state since I'm feeling sore from the week and need to get ready for tomorrow's weight day

 

Elliptical:

30 minutes

422 calories

Resistance 10

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Today's workout was pretty good - still sore from the previous one though so I'm feeling that I'm going to have to increase my protein consumption if I want to keep on Derek's routine. The barbell was also in use so I had to go with dumbells unfortunately. It was a good opportunity to stretch out and work on depth/form though.

 

Goblet Squats:

Same weight on the last set as last week but the previous sets were heavier. More volume overall so I'll call that a step in the right direction.

5x65lbs

5x70lbs

5x75lbs

5x80lbs

5x85lbs

 

DB Chest Press:

This weight was feeling great and without a spotter it's difficult for me to go any heavier. Slow, with good form but definitely want to go heavier on these.

5x55lbs

5x55lbs

5x55lbs

5x55lbs

5x55lbs

 

DB Bent Over Row:

Went heavier on the last two and they were super hard for me.

5x40lbs

5x45lbs

5x50lbs

5x60lbs

5x70lbs

 

DB Shrugs:

Grips were definitely going on the last set.

5x65lbs

5x70lbs

5x75lbs

5x80lbs

5x85lbs

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Cleans:

An improvement on last week and it actually felt easier. Strength gains.. yay! Feelin like a 167lbs big man...

5x95lbs

5x105lbs

5x115lbs

5x125lbs

5x135lbs

 

Incline DB Chest Press:

Was lucky enough to have my buddy to spot me and managed to reach a new PR on the last set. Feelin' strong today.

5x45lbs

5x50lbs

5x55lbs

5x60lbs (spotted)

5x65lbs (spotted)

 

One Arm DB Row:

5x60lbs

5x65lbs

5x70lbs

5x75lbs

5x80lbs (grip and form starting to fade!)

 

Deadlifts:

Almost getting up to my max on the final set which I'm stoked with. After 4 weeks on this I'll probably just test out my 1 rep max and see how that goes. Heavier than last week on the last 2 sets - stoked!

5x135lbs

5x155lbs

5x175lbs

5x195lbs

5x215lbs

 

 

Wasn't optimistic heading into the gym today but I realised that the weights were feeling lighter this week which was a huge boost. Gotta keep up with lots of protein this week so I can keep the intensity for this routine. I get what Derek says about using this workout for 4-6 weeks at a time, so I'll stop at 4 weeks just to be safe for my first go around. Luckily, the cafeteria at work has a salad bar where I pack a box full of veges (mostly based around broccoli and fresh edamame beans/chickpeas). We also have a great program where if you walk/bike/carpool to work you get money to go on your account. So, since I bike to work every day, I pretty much get free lunches. Yeaaah!

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My girlfriend went to the gym for some cardio last night so I decided to join her.

 

Elliptical:

30 minutes

410 calories

Resistance 10

 

More cardio later on today. I'll probably keep it on the lighter side.

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Thursday cardio day... I keep telling myself to just take it easy so I can recover better. Was just planning on a brisk 30 minute walk or something but ended up doing more since I sometimes slip into the "go hard, or go home" mentality. Do you think pushing myself on cardio days will make recovering harder? Am I hurting myself by not taking it SUPER easy on my "off" days.

 

Treadmill:

3 miles

29:58

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Had to work out in my apartment complex gym today No good freeweight/barbell setup here... the dumbells only go up to 50lbs! Increased reps to make sure my volume didn't lag behind.

 

DB Curls into Arnold Press:

8x30lbs

8x30lbs

8x30lbs

 

Leg Press Machine:

No good freeweights for squats/RDLs but managed to get a nice burn on these...

12x100lbs

10x140lbs

8x180lbs

6x210lbs (machine max )

 

Double DB Bent Over Row:

12x45lbs

12x45lbs

12x45lbs

 

Incline DB Press:

Started with a really high incline and gradually decreased it to hit all angles.

5 sets of 8x45lbs

 

Shoulder Lat Raise:

7 sets of 12x15lbs

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Didn't get enough sleep last night but had a surprisingly good workout today! Just had a light jog to warm up and got straight into it...

 

Goblet Squats:

5lbs increase on each set today. More volume, higher max. Progress.

5x70lbs

5x75lbs

5x80lbs

5x85lbs

5x90lbs

 

DB Chest Press:

Managed to get a spotter for these. Felt stronger on these than last week.

5x45lbs

5x50lbs

5x55lbs

5x60lbs

5x65lbs (spotted)

 

DB Bent Over Row:

Started heavier for more volume. Same max as last week though.

5x50lbs

5x55lbs

5x60lbs

5x65lbs

5x70lbs

 

Military Press:

Too light at the start but felt like I reached a good weight for the last 3 sets.

10x50lbs

8x60lbs

5x80lbs

5x80lbs

5x80lbs

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