GainzZz For Valhalla

[MattimusMaximus]

BW: 208.3 lbs (BW PR! 2650 cals reversing)

Squat:

385 Beltless
415 Beltless
445
475 @9.5

425x1 x2 sets

Bench: Paused

285 Beltless
300
315 @9.5


***Felt pain in previous pec injury area so called it quits today. I don’t want another pec strain/tear. This week sucked. The calorie deficit caught up to me. I’ve definitely lost strength and momentum. Looks like I’m cutting this training cycle short and resetting my maxes. Looks like I’ll be taking a longer diet break than I thought.

-Feeling really beat up. Sore left knee, Sore mid back, sore left elbow (tendon?), and now possible reinjured right pec. All with weights lighter than 2.5 mths ago. I’m angry despite expecting this to happen at some point. At least I had my lightest weigh-in today I guess.

[JohnHelton]

There seems to be a weird phenomenon where strength goes to crap when you have been cutting for awhile. It seems to come back with the return of calories (assuming you haven't gotten into bodybuilding stage shape). Good time to take a break.

[MattimusMaximus]

@JohnHelton Definitely not even close to Bodybuilding stage shape lol. I’m still fat, just less fat. Bathroom scale says 24.8% down from 32% BF. I still have a ways to go unfortunately. I think you’re right though, I may have dieted too long and need a break.

[MattimusMaximus]

BW: 207.8 lbs (New BW PR! 2650 cals reversing)

Press:

165 Beltless
175
185 @9.5

165x1 x4 sets (EMOM/Beltless)

Chins: BW+115 lbs (PR!)

323 lbs x1 New all-time weighted Chin PR!
BW x9

Standing Laterals: 60s rest

30’s x12 x2 sets

Standing Hammer Curls: 60s rest/top pauses

30’s x12 x2 sets


***46 mins
-New low BW PR! Lowest in 7 years!
-Press strength down a little bit but not much from the last training cycle. Max around 190-195 now but understandable since it’s close to my BW now.

-Weighted chin up PR was cool. Even accounting for lower BW the total weight was the most I’ve ever singled. Felt bad ass strapping 115 lbs around my waist. I used to do that when I weighed 140 lbs lol.

-left elbow still sore. Tendon has a bruised feeling. Right pec a little tight still. I’ll have to rehab it the rest of this week with light weights.

[MattimusMaximus]

BW: 208.5 lbs (for 7-day avg. bumped up to 2750 cals yesterday)

Deadlift:

415 Beltless DOH
445
475 @8.5?
505 @10


**21 mins ended it.
-satisfied I pulled over 500 lbs, especially considering my BW. Definitely a new record for me and only 20 lbs shy of my best. Bummed about the strength loss but I have to recognize I’ve lost quite a bit of weight and was in a deficit for a long time.
-Should also remind myself I didn’t taper for these attempts.
-will have to reset maxes now and restart the training cycle.

New Training Maxes are:
Squat: 470 (-30)
Bench: 315 (-25)
Press: 190 (-20)
Deadlift: 505 (-20)

BW: 208 (-38)

[MattimusMaximus]

*Deload

BW: 208.5 lbs (2750 cals still reversing)

Squat: Beltless/No knee sleeves/2 min rests

285x5 x3 sets

Bench: Beltless/Controlled TnG/2 min rests

190x5 x4 sets

EZ SFP: Slow/strict

65x12

EZ Arm Curls: Strict/top pauses

65x12


***33 mins total
-Just trying to be kind to my beat up body with a deload this week. Knee is feeling a bit better but back is still a little sore. Left elbow still hurts but it’s improving. I’m hoping the lighter deload will flush some blood in there and help things recover quicker than just not doing anything.

[MattimusMaximus]

BW: 209.1 lbs (2750 cals)

Press: Beltless

115x5 x4 sets

Chins: Supine Grip

BW x10

Seated DB Laterals:

13.2’s x40 PR

Seated DB Hammer Curls: Top pauses

13.2’s x40 PR


***22 mins total
-glad I took a deload and increased cals. This week has been stressful. It’s refreshing to lift some easier stuff.

[JohnHelton]

Recharge the batteries.

[MattimusMaximus]

@JohnHelton Definitely! I hope it’s enough!

Weighed in a record low this morning: 207.6 lbs

-Took Today as a rest day and I rarely do that. I figure it’s no biggie I just pulled 505 last week. Pec is feeling much better. Elbow is almost there too.

[MattimusMaximus]

BW: 207.9 lbs (2850 cals reversing)

Squat: Beltless/2 min rests

285x5 x6 sets Vol PR

Bench: Beltless/Control TnG/2 min rests

190x5 x7 sets Vol PR

EZ SFP: EMOM/very strict

65x12 x3 sets

EZ Arm Curls: EMOM/Tp,reg, drag

65x12 x3 sets


***56 mins total
-Decided to increase sets +1 on mains. Figure it’s light enough and my cals are up. Why not try it out.

[MattimusMaximus]

BW: 208.7 lbs (2850 cals reversing)

Press: Beltless/2 min rests

115x5 x7 sets

Chins: EMOM/Supine Grip

BW+25 lbs (233) x4 x4
BW x6

Seated DB Laterals: 60s rest

13.2’s x30 x2 sets

Seated DB Hammer Curls: 60s rest/top pauses

13.2’s x30 x2 sets


***42 mins total
-again added a +1 set to press volume since I’ve reset the weights so low. We’ll see what it does with the calorie reversing.

[MattimusMaximus]

BW: 207.4 lbs New PR (2950 cals reversing)

Deadlift: Beltless/DOH/2 min rests

305x5 x5

Slingshot Bench: Paused/Beltless/2 min rests

245x5 x4 sets

Oly SFP: EMOM

67.5x 12 x3 sets

Oly Arm Curls: EMOM/tp, reg, drag

67.5x 12 x3 sets


***51 mins total
-Increased sets by +1 again on main lifts. I think my plan is just to do this with volume weeks for now. I won’t add sets during hybrid weeks or singles. With the maxes adjusted and volume reset to 60% I’m hoping the added volume doesn’t wreck me.

[MattimusMaximus]

BW: 207.3 lbs PR!!! (2950 cals reversing)

Squat: Beltless/2 min rests

335x3 x5 sets

Bench: Beltless/Control TnG/2 min rests

220x3 x6 sets

EZ SFP: EMOM

85x8 x3 sets

EZ Arm Curls: EMOM/TP,reg,drag curls

85x8 x3 sets


***49 mins total
-reset accessory to lighter because of that injured elbow. It’s getting better but still sore. Squats felt rusty until set 3. Glad you report i didn’t strain my pec but I’m glad I’ve reset all my weights to recharge while simultaneously reversing my cals.
-waiting for the scale to go back up but it slowly keeps going down. I won’t complain about that at all.

[MattimusMaximus]

BW: 206.6 lbs PR!!! (2950 cals reversing)

Press: Beltless/2 min rests

135x3 x6 sets

Chins: BW+45 lbs/EMOM/SG

252 x3 x4 sets
BW x7

Seated DB Laterals: 60s rest

18.2’s x25,16

Seated DB Hammer Curls: 60s rest/top pauses

18.2’s x15 x3 sets


***42 mins total
-Seriously no idea how I’m 206.6 today. I actually feel a little bloated so it’s weird.
-Also noticed accessory work is seemingly resulting in a bigger pump earlier now. Like I can’t get as many reps in which is odd since I’m eating much more food. The body is so confusing. I think it was definitely time to take a break from the calorie deficit though. NO RAGRETS.

[cole]

i cant believe im 20 lbs heavier than you and not near as strong!

[MattimusMaximus]

@cole Down 40 lbs now in 15 mths but I did lose some strength recently. Once I got below 213 my maxes dropped suddenly. It sucks.

[MattimusMaximus]

BW: 207.9 lbs (3050 cals reversing)

Deadlift: Beltless/DOH/2 min rests

355x3 x4 sets

Slingshot Bench: Beltless/Paused/2 min rests

265x4 x3 sets

Oly SFP: EMOM

87.5 x8 x3 sets

Oly Arm Curls: EMOM/TP,reg,drag

87.5 x8 x3 sets


***41 mins total

[MattimusMaximus]

BW: 207.2 lbs (7 day avg and 3050 cals reversing)

Squat: Beltless

345
375
405 @7.5? Idk

375x1 x5 sets (EMOM)

Bench: Comp Paused/Beltless

230
250
270 @7? Idk

250x1 x6 sets (EMOM)

EZ SFP: EMOM

105x4 x3 sets

EZ Arm Curls: EMOM/Top Pauses

105x4 x3 sets


***56 mins
-didn’t go great. I don’t know if I’m just rusty at 80+% or if I’ve actually suddenly dropped 1/5th if my strength. I hate it whatever it is. Sleep is crap and stress is high but that’s not new really so I don’t get it.
-Weaker, down 40 lbs, but still fat. This sucks.

[JohnHelton]

Hang out at that weight and the strength will come back. You didn't get dramatically weaker with the last few pounds of weight loss.

[MattimusMaximus]

BW: 207.8 lbs (3050 cals reversing)

Press: Beltless

135
150
165 @7?

155x1 x6 sets (Beltless/EMOM)

Weighted Chins: BW+65 lbs/45s rests/supine grip

273x1 x10 sets

Seated DB Laterals: EMOM

22’s x23,15,8

Seated DB Hammer Curls: EMOM/Top pauses

22’s x15 x3 sets


***47 mins total
-I liked doing heavy chins with singles today. I’ll move forward with that structure I think. My shoulder joints were happier.
-Presses weren’t as light as I’d like them to feel but their speed was decent and uniform rep to rep.
-I think I’ll raise lateral weights soon and start doing sets under 12 across next time. I think I’m misjudging how taxing the high rep laterals can be.
@JohnHelton I’m planning on maintaining throughout July but I’ll be doing another cut for Aug/Sept/Oct and then break for holiday season. I’m seeing lots of health benefits to being less fat despite reduction in strength. One big one is I’m not snoring anymore apparently.
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