600

If I'm planning to use my belt I start using it on the heavier warm up sets. Allows me to get into the groove better, rather than only bringing it in on the top sets.
 
Honestly can't remember the last time I used my belt for deadlifts. Use it for most of my heavy squat sessions but I've always felt my form feels better without it for deadlifts. Only used it tonight because I knew I needed the support after three heavy sets and a subsequent failure.

I'll get a video of my deadlifts with and without the belt next week so I can see if I do change my positioning or not.

Edit: What I really need is expert tutelage from the likes of Ice, Dom and yourself. I'm sure I'm lifting way below what I'm really capable of and a few tweaks when someone's actually watching me perform each exercise would reap massive rewards. Unfortunately I live in a world of bicep monkeys and beach bums :(
 
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Squats
140 x 5
150 x 5
162.5 x 5 (Belt)
172.5 x 5 (Belt)
185 x 5 (Belt)

Bench Press
130 x 5
130 x 5
130 x 5
130 x 5
130 x 5

Pendlay Rows
97.5 x 5
97.5 x 5
97.5 x 5
97.5 x 5
97.5 x 5

Comments

Squats - And I'm back in the game! :cool:

Bench Press - Slower than last weeks 125 but reasonably comfortable.

Pendlay Rows - Didn't up the weight but wish I had. These are now feeling very powerful.
 
Yep. I'm trying to manage my bicep so I've cut out most of the exercises that caused it excessive pain like pull ups and direct bicep work which I would've done tonight.

Dropping back down to 3's and ramping up the weights from next week so I may re-introduce the assistance exercises depending on how my bicep feels.
 
This is starting to look seriously good!

I agree with LiE about belts. Using one properly is a skill, which means it isn't ideal to try and adapt to it when you're already at you top sets.

Definitely post more videos mate. If you want, send them to me privately. Having said that, I'd terrible at replying to my OCUK bros emails. Most will confirm :D
 
Thanks Ice. Really feel like my strength is coming back in leaps and bounds now. Was only 5 weeks ago I struggled to squat 175 and bench 135 for 5 reps so this routine is working wonders for me again.

Regarding the belt, I just can't get used to the feeling with deadlifts. With squats I know I can wear it just tight enough so it won't move and just loose enough so I can properly brace my core against it and I really feel the benefit on my heavier sets.

With deadlifts it feels like it's digging in to my ribs when it's too tight but any looser and it starts riding up my body so I don't have the confidence because it doesn't feel like it's going to properly support me. Only reason I wore it midweek was because the option was snap or not snap.
 
I understand your reasons for avoiding it.

You *should* be able to get tight and feel comfortable using a belt with any weight and any lift, so it's possible that you need to tweak the way you brace into it.

Right now my belt is annoying loose, with squat I'm struggling to feel it at the top of the rep at all. The next notch in will be slightly too tight though, so I'll just have to live with it until I get fatter/thinner.
 
Could it be how I wear it? I try and wear it in the same position as my squats with the middle of the belt roughly around my belly button and lower back. Perhaps slightly higher or lower for deadlifts? Must admit I kept pushing it down when it was riding up so it may have been lower than I would usually wear it for squats.
 
I have it lower for squats than deadlifts, but only slightly.

It could be your placement, or it could be the way your core works when wearing it.
 
Cheers Dom :)

My bench and squat are still a mile off my 5RMs but I'm now deadlifting as heavy as ever. Hopefully in the next 5 weeks I'll be able to get up to around 215-220 for 3 x 3 and that should allow me to hit 227.5 and finally nail an overall 600 which will RIP this log :cool:
 
On Saturday I was debating whether to do a fifth week of 5's but on Sunday I played football for the first time in years and on Monday my legs made the decision for me. Holy ****ing **** balls! I'm aching in places I forgot existed and my lower body is now on holiday to Fatigue City :eek:

Squats (Belt)
170 x 3
170 x 3
170 x 3

Bench Press
110 x 3
125 x 3
140 x 3

Pendlay Rows
85 x 3
95 x 3
105 x 3

Comments

Squats - I literally have no idea what muscles I used to perform these sets :o
 
You might be right LiE :cool:

My ankles are aching, my calves are aching, my shins are aching, my knees are aching, my inner thighs are aching, my outer thighs are aching and my hamstrings, glutes and lower back were already ruined from squatting on Friday :eek:

Cheers Morba :)
 
Deadlifts (Mixed Grip, Belt)
195 x 3
195 x 3
195 x 3

Seated Shoulder Press
92.5 x 3
92.5 x 3
92.5 x 3

Comments

Deadlifts - Felt really fatigued today but these were horrible. Felt like my back was rounding before I even started each set and really struggled to adjust to the belt. Can see myself snapping in a week or two if I wear it again.

Seated Shoulder Press - Slow and heavy.
 
Stretching yes, mobility no.

I usually end up heavily fatigued after the heaviest week of 5's but football didn't help on Sunday. My deadlift issue is more a form and comfort issue rather than mobility.
 
Squats (Belt)
145 x 3
165 x 3
185 x 3

Paused Bench Press
130 x 3
130 x 3
130 x 3

Pendlay Rows
97.5 x 3
97.5 x 3
97.5 x 3

Comments

Squats - Despite feeling very fatigued these were pretty comfortable but my back is now ruined thanks to my deadlifts yesterday so as usual I'm dropping them because I have no confidence in my ability to deadlift heavy without causing myself serious injury :(
 
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