9/20

I haven't really been lifting all that much, I think I'm pretty much maintaining which is good. Today I ran 2 miles in 15 minutes, which I guess shows my cardio is back to being respectable. I also did 8 pull-ups, so that's good. I'm looking forward to the school year starting, but it's also strange, only 2 years from now I'll basically be at a job, or possibly grad school. Damn, I am so old.

9/10

I finally got back to deadliftin'. I'm basically where I was before, so no complaints:

225x6
245x6
275x6
295x6
315x5

I also did 7 pull-ups relatively easily. I think I'm getting there towards 10.

9/9

I played tennis today with a high school friend. It was pretty cool, because my serve was substantially more powerful than it was before. I pretty much let her rip, and I hit a few aces that Sukh had no chance at. Must be the lifting.

9/7

Ok, first legit workout in a while. I've kinda been doing less intense workouts because I'm pretty much doing something every day.

Dumbbell Bench
65x6
70x6
75x6
75x5 (a little disappointed in this one, just couldn't get the last one)

Rows
80x10
85x10
90x10
90x8 (This had more to do with my hands not being able to grip that long)

So in other words, dumbbell bench might have gotten a little weaker, but the rowing's going pretty well. Considering my diet, I'll take that. Also, I didn't really take that much rest between sets, so that might have something to do with it.

9/3

Some little Asian kid took the squat rack, so I decided to use the Smith machine. I know, what a horrible choice. It actually was a pretty good workout I thought, plus it made me feel stronger. I kept myself to 5 sets and heavy weights, just to boost my explosiveness.

205x6
225x6
245x6
265x3
295x1 (Okay, there's probably little chance I could do a regular squat at this weight. What happens was, I kinda stopped right before midpoint, and then I was able to get it up with short little breaths. Probably in the real deal, it won't be so easy to just stop and continue. But at least I'm pretty sure I'm maintaining.)

So I actually looked up the difference between Smith Machine and barbell squats in terms of 1-rep maxes, and it appears to be 5%. So I guess that translates to a 1-rep max of about 280 on the squat, which I'll definitely take.
Plus, the 295 got 1 big brown guy in the gym to be like "I could never do that". So it was worth it.

Also did about 50 crunches and a set of curls with 40 pounds. I did 7 1/2 reps with them so that's an improvement.

9/2

I think my jump increased by at least an inch, possibly 2 today. I reached 9'7" for sure, possibly a bit more. All I did was psychological: I just visualized jumping higher and felt light. Other than that, today was pretty boring. Tomorrow, hopefully Programming Pearls is going to arrive, and I can get started on that. Also, tomorrow, I'm doing squats, so that should be fun. Finally, go Roddick!

9/1

Yeah, I know, haven't gone to the gym in a few days. I figured this would be one of those rest weeks that are supposed to be good for you. I tried some pliometrics today, along with a mini-upper body workout:

Dumbbell Bench:
60x10
70x8
80x3 (goddamnit, kinda stuck there. then again, i guess it's good i'm maintaining considering i'm not eating as much.)
Rows:
80x10
90x8
90x8

The 90s were surprisingly easy, I was just planning on going for 6 or something. I'm pretty sure I could do 10 next time.

Pliometrics:
3 sets of 10 squat jumps

Abs:
I did some leg raises, but then I just wanted to do the pliometrics.

Those jumps are INTENSE. I was breathing so hard after that last set. Maybe once I get good at them, add weights? If I can just add about 6 inches to my vert, I can touch the rim, which would be pretty baller. So I guess that means cutting the fat, increasing my squat, and more of this pliometric stuff.