Jamesxvx Powerlifting Journal

[jamesxvx]

I figured I should really start one of these, to start recording my progress and my routines, along with what I'm eating.

This was me a month or two ago:

http://i.imgur.com/SIMAC.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/axbtZ.jpg

 

I took these last night:

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg833/scaled.php?server=833&filename=photoon20120211at2130.jpg&res=medium

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg716/scaled.php?server=716&filename=photoon20120211at21302.jpg&res=medium

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg15/scaled.php?server=15&filename=photoon20120211at2131.jpg&res=medium

 

I'm happy with my progress so far, and I'm really stoked to push myself harder during my routine.

Edited May 5, 2013 by jamesxvx

[MattSxvx]

I can def see the progress on your back.

 

-xvx

[jamesxvx]

Thanks man, Its cool to see another vegan straight edge lifter on here.

 

Yesterday's routine:

Squats:

135 x 12

225 x 10

225 x 8

My legs didn't feel too strong here and I'm usually adding more weight for that last set, but didn't want to hurt my legs early in the week.

 

Shoulder Shrugs

135 x 12

225 x 10

225 x 10

 

Leg Press

180 on each leg x 10

225 x 12

225 x 10

 

Bench Press

135 x 12

145x 10

150 x 10

 

Bent over Dumbbell Rows

60 x 12

60 x 10

60 x 8

 

Rest day today with creatine in the morning and Vega sport protein shake as well. Feeling a bit sore today, and shaking off a cold, nothing too serious.

[jamesxvx]

Bogged down my 4 midterms this week, 2 of which are tomorrow. Still hitting the gym as hard as I can

 

Dumbbell Curls

35 x 15

35 x 10

35 x 10

 

Hammer Curls

 

35 x 15

35 x 12

35 x 10

 

Tricep pull down

60 x 12

65 x 12

70 x 10

 

Tricep pull down with bar

65 x 12

70 x 10

75 x 10

 

Romanian Deadlifts

185 x 10

225x 6

225 x 6

225 x 7

(I bought bar wraps yesterday, checked the box in the locker room, and there was only one, Such a bummer)

 

Power Cleans

125x 8

135 x 8

145 x 8

[jamesxvx]

Todays updates. Nailed two midterms today, and couldn't be happier, one more to go friday morning then I'm free for a week.

 

My arms are super sore today, which feels nice surprisingly.

Can't wait to deadlift tomorrow!

[jamesxvx]

Back home for reading week. Luckily my mom decided to pick up some stuff from the vegan bakery here called Kindfood. If you're ever around the burlington Greater Toronto Area, I highly suggest it.

 

I'm stuck here with 125 pounds on a barbell and that's it, so I plan on stimulating my body as much as I can with that.

 

Weighed myself today and I'm sitting at 172.5, which is cool.

[jamesxvx]

Squats

135x 12

215 x 10

235 x 10

275 x 8

135x 10

 

Leg Press

90 (per leg) x 12

135 x 12

160 x 10

 

Seated Calf Raise

3 sets of 90 until failure

 

Leg extension

100 x 12

120 x 12

135 x 12

 

Really happy with my squatting progress, considering I haven’t touched heavy weight in over a week it felt great. I ended up biking to the gym and back which I think helped my legs warm up for what I was going to put them through.

 

Followed up by 5g creatine, 30 g Vega Sport protein, almond milk and blueberries.

 

Quinoa stir-fry for dinner.

[jamesxvx]

February 27th.

Today was a chest workout day, my gym switched all the machines around which made some things a bit more crowded, but none the less I had a solid workout.

 

Close Grip Bench Press

100 x 12

125x 12

130 x 12

These felt good since it was the first time I've done them, I think I can start around 110-115 because 100 seemed super light.

 

Bench Press

135 x 12

135 x 10

135 x 10

I wasn't feeling strong on these, and I was hoping to get back into my bench maybe in and around 145, but that wasn't happening. I didn't have a spotter as per usual so when I feel like I won't succeed on the next lift I stop.

 

Incline Bench

125x10

135x 10

135 x 8

Felt good, definitely happy.

 

INcline dumbbell chest flies

 

25x 12

30 x 10

30 x 12

 

First time doing these, I may switch them out for dumbbell bench, because it felt as though I was working my arms a lot more than chest.

 

Overall a solid workout, it was one of those days where I was one of the only guys in the gym, so most of the machines were empty, it was great.

[jamesxvx]

Rest day, February 28.

 

Took in a serving of Vega meal optimizer this morning with a bagel and tofutti on the side. Brought roasted chick peas, two tofurkey sandwiches, an apple.

 

I've only bee drinking green tea and water, which is helping me feel a lot better.

 

For dinner I made some whole wheat pasta, tomato sauce with vegan ground round.

Topped that with with a vegan protein shake with a banana and peanut butter.

 

I'm upping my protein intake since I haven't really been focused on the intake of it it recently. I'm hoping it helps my recovery.

 

I have a presentation tomorrow that I'm nervous for, and its throwing that off my focus lately. I'm hoping I can nail that, go to the gym right after, and put in one of the best workouts.

[jamesxvx]

Feb 29.

 

Deadlift

155 x 12

225 x 12

305 x 6 (Ripped my hands bad)

225 x 12

 

RDL

225 x10

225 x 6

225 x 6

225 x 6

 

Bent over Rows

135 x 12

155 x 10

155 x 8

 

Seated Rows

115 x 12

115 x 10

115 x 8

 

When my hands ripped up deadlifting, I couldn't hold my grip on my RDL's and ended up having to split my sets to accompany that factor.

[jamesxvx]

March 1st

 

I wasn't going to go to the gym today, but some personal matters came up, and I used my aggression to my advantage.

 

Shoulder Shrugs

135 x 12

185 x10

185 x 12

 

Power Cleans

125 x 8

135 x 8

150 x 8

I busted open a callous and a blister on that last set, but I proceded to continue, which turned out to be a mistake. I bled quite a bit, but when I got home I quickly researched how to tape it up in order to help it heal.

 

Military press

95 x 12

115 x 10

115 x 8

 

Completely drained, and my shoulders are sore. I'm currently tending to my wound to see how this tape works.

[jamesxvx]

This is currently what my hand looks like. There is currently a hole right below my middle finger that decided to rip during Power cleans. My mistake was continuing my workout and working that rip deeper. I'm taking it easy until sunday where I will continue with my legs workout and judge my hand if its ready for Monday or not.

[C.O.]

Your ink is dope mr. delocated. And damn, sorry to hear about/ see your injury. Here's to quick healing hands. Thanks for sharing on here.

 

Cheers,

 

-Dylan

[jamesxvx]

Thanks Dylan, I'm hoping to finish it up this summer.

[jamesxvx]

March 2nd. My hand has been healing a bit, and I've wrapped it a lot nicer than what I posted before. Its sensitive and I can feel it when I write or grab something, but I'm hoping giving it a solid break will help it heal.

I ate fairly well today, went grocery shopping, and bought a lot of fresh produce. I opted for a fruit smoothie today at school, from Boathouse farms since I missed my vega shake due to not having any rice milk, but it got me through my day.

 

Dinner today was whole wheat pasta, avocado, tomato sauce and some brown beans.

 

Here's to hoping tomorrow morning I can use my chin up bar a bit, not working out is killing me.

[jamesxvx]

I guess this is more of a personal post. I was going through a bunch of stuff with my ex girlfriend this past week. Essentially being accused of actions I have never done and some people assuming they were true. I was down on myself for a few of my workouts, but I started using those emotions to power through my workouts. I've never had something to turn to in my life besides just going out and clearing my head, but with lifting I can use everything I'm feeling and push myself as hard as I can.

 

I think I'm finally moving on, after saying everything I could have, the thing to do is move forward.

 

 

Soul Search has been on replay at the gym, if you enjoy hardcore or heavier stuff this band rips.

[jamesxvx]

March 3.

 

My hand is healing, keeping it taped up as a precaution. Giving it as much air as I can when I sleep and taping it when I'm using it. Seems to be working.

 

I managed to use my chin up bar this morning, which ruled:

 

Neutral Grip Chin ups

3 sets of at least 12 and until failure

 

Close grip chin ups:

3 sets of at least 12 and until failure

[C.O.]

What tat studio and which artist is doing your ink?

[jamesxvx]

The owl chest piece was done by my friend Jon Pignataro up in Bracebridge Ontario. Works out of a shop called the tattoo shoppe. He does some great stuff

[jamesxvx]

March 5th,2012.

Finally back at the gym after taking a break from my ripped up hand. Its healed a lot, and I don't need to wrap it anymore which rules. Leg day today.

Pre-workout: One cup of black coffee (This helped a lot, and I will be putting this to use for every workout from now on)

 

Leg-press (weight is per leg)

90 x 12

135 x 12

180 x 12

Huge improvement from the past 160 for only 8.

 

Squats

135x 12

225 x 12

275 x 8

225 x 8

135 x 12

I wasn't happy with the depth of my squats with 275, so I did a pyramid routine, focusing on my depth and driving the weight up fast with good form.

 

Standing calf raises

160 x 15

180 x 15

200 x 15

Felt great, and I'm pretty sure I did more than 15, until failure.

 

Leg extension

120 x 12

135 x 12

150 x 12.

 

Extremely happy with todays workout.

Post workout: Vega sport protein, Creatine, orange juice.

[jamesxvx]

March 6th, 2012 - Chest

 

Pre-workout- One cup of black coffee

 

Guillotine Press

95 x 12

125 x 12

135 x 12

First time trying these, recommended from a friend. Felt great, I can definitely add some more weight next week.

 

Bench Press

135 x 12

135x 8

145 x 8

155x 5

Bench felt good today, felt quick and didn't struggle too much. Focused more on my depth rather than weight, my form felt great.

 

Close Grip Bench

100 x 12

125 x 12

My wrist started acting up so I stopped after my second set.

 

Pectoral fly

120 x 12

130 x 12

150 x 12

 

Post workout: Creatine and Vega sport protein

 

Meal: Pita, hummus, tofurkey, 1/2 avocado, tomato, cooked beans and carrots and a banana before class.

I'm watching what I'm eating from now on, I got lazy this past weekend and I felt it on monday.

[jamesxvx]

Took some progress photos out of boredom today. Catch me looking like a deer in the headlights.

 

http://i42.tinypic.com/1076nb4.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/2liij5u.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/8z0lki.jpg

 

Slow and steady. Fully content with my progress so far.

[jamesxvx]

March 7, 2012

 

Arms

Bicep Curls

35 x 12

30x 15

30x 15

 

Hammer curls

35 x 12

30x12

30x12

 

Tricep Pull downs with bar

60 x 12

75 x 12

80 x 12

 

Tricep pulldown with rope

70 x 12

65 x 12

65 x x 12

 

Big improvements with those

 

Seated Bicep Curl

60 x 12

75 x 12

75 x 12

 

Post workout: Creatine and Vega sport protein

TOfu scramble, green pepper, mushrooms, and spinach.

[jamesxvx]

March 7th, 2012.

A warm front came in today, bringing 14 degree weather to Eastern Ontario.

Went for a 20 Km bike ride on the track bike.

[jamesxvx]

March 8, 2012.

Rest day. Not as sore as I thought I would be, but definitely still feeling tired. Busy day at school, and shooting an event tonight.

 

Protein shakes throughout the day, eating wholesome as well.