The Determined Nerd (Weightgaining/Strength Training)

[DaveC]

First off, I may as well introduce myself. I'm a 20 (turn 21 in 6 days!) year old college student who attends Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA.

Age: 20
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 139 [3/15/08]

I used to lift a bit back in high school and used to weigh in the area of 155, however I cannot remember my lifting stats from those days, but anyway I've started a 5x5 routine with just a little bit of variation.

I've been in the gym for the past 2 months, mostly working up cardio and getting in shape. Now I'm looking to add mass, and weigh at least 150.

Right now I feel like I need to work a lot on my lower body and core. My current 1RM bench is 155.

So here is my log from my first day:

[Thursday March 13, 2008]

Military Press:
Set 1: 65x5
Set 2: 85x5
Set 3: 85x5
Set 4: 85x4 (failed here)

Deadlifts:
Set 1: 95x5
Set 2: 105x5
Set 3: 115x5
Set 4: 115x5
Set 5: 115x5

Spent a lot of time here working on form with only the bar, all sets felt good and if it were not for an under trained lower back, probably could have gone higher.

Squats:
Set 1: 115x5
Set 2: 125x5
Set 3: 125x5
Set 4: 125x5
Set 5: 125x5

Chinups:
13
6
7
7
5

Until failure every time, didnt give enough rest on the second set I think.

Supplements are 5g of creatine a day and 2 muscle milk shakes (22g ea). Yea I know theyre expensive and theres cheaper alternatives, but I can afford it and I love the taste.

Any input would be greatly appreciated Hope to hit the gym tomorrow and post that log as well.

Also my lower back is on fireeeeeee today.

 

[DaveC]

Alright, so I finally got time to post up a new log. Its been 11 days since the above log, and heres what I did today. I've been keeping them every time I go, I've just been to busy to make a post every time.

For reference bench press on 3/11 was 120x8x3.

Bench press:
145x5x4
155x5x1

Deadlift:
135x5

Squat (went light today):
135x5x5

Also threw in 3 sets of pull ups:
15
13
12

Weight is still floating right around 139-140.

Still working on the form in dead lifts, seems to take a good bit of time to master but its definitely an awesome lift. And yes, I know I'm pretty disproportioned at the moment but in a month or so my goal is to squat 175ish on my lighter days.