Cycle 3, Workout #1 - Decline/Incline Barbell - Felt Strong!
Decided to switch around the exercises to see if I felt any different. I did decline barbell bench press first, and was amazed by how great I felt on each set. I did the weights I had planned but could have handled more. Working sets were 165×12, 195×8, 205×6, 215×4.
Moving on to incline, last time I felt I was at or near my limit, so I was very interested to see how it would go. First set at 145 I failed after 10 reps. Next 3 sets I did what I’d planned, 155×8, 165×6, 176×4. Weird that I couldn’t get the first set, maybe I didn’t take a long enough break after decline. But I’m more than happy with the other sets, I didn’t expect to lift that well since incline isn’t my strongest exercise.
Did some light dumbell rows and cable pull-downs for back, and my cardio was 15 minutes treadmill and 550 jump rope reps. A great workout!
A young guy came up to me on 3 separate occasions with questions. I’d seen him once before and knew he was just starting out. He was asking me about some of the machines, then about different shoulder exercises with dumbbells, then he asked me why I use that ‘powder’ he saw me using last week. I thought he meant protein powder, but then he mentioned calluses on the hands and I knew he was asking about the chalk I use when deadlifting! He told me that he’s been working out for a month and he comes six days a week for an hour or more. I told him I workout 3 or 4 times a week and that is plenty once he learns how to make sure he is working each muscle group every week. I hope he keeps up with it.
Feels great that a complete stranger picked ME out of a crowded gym to ask questions to!
April 22, 2009 at 9:03 am
When you deadlift 435, my friend, you stand out from the crowd…
April 23, 2009 at 11:58 am
Good work on the decline/incline, ti’s always good when you can help a begginer out and point him on the right path, good for you.