Week 9: Chest

I am amazed at how consistently chest day correlates to huge gains and progress. I always knew chest was my forte, but these last few weeks have me feeling like Neo, shedding my previous limits and reaching for the sky! Cheese aside, I have made a 50lb increase on my bench max in the past nine weeks, something I really never thought would be possible. It is only a matter of time, and some improvements on my technique, until I reach another 50lbs from here.

Today's experience at the gym was further enhanced as I did something I normally never do: interact with the other lifters around me.  There was a group of three average-looking bros benching next to me, all lifting between 400 and 550lbs, easily one of the most impressive feats I've seen at this gym. I was in awe, and had to get some background on these guys, so I asked their bodyweight, and what kind of supplements they used. They ranged from 160 (!!), to 215, to 270 lbs, and admitted to being 100% natural lifters, relying on excess calories from Chipotle to get their energy. I am still skeptical, but regardless of what was said, no more than 10 minutes after the small talk with them, a random guy approached me to ask my bodyweight, and commented on how impressed he was with my lift (a new PR of 365). I was already feeling on top of the world for adding 20lbs to my previous PR from a few weeks ago, when another random, much bigger, guy approached me and proceeded to offer me advice on my form. Turns out, this guy (Norman Gorman), is a 48 year old powerlifter who just recently broke Florida's bench record for his age bracket. Amazing.

So, once again, today was a huge success and I look forward to continuing the progress. Here is the breakdown:

Flat barbell bench:

• 135 x 10
• 135 x 10
• 275 x 1
• 335 x 1
• 355 x 1 (new PR)
• 365 x 1 (newer PR)
• 375 FAIL

Dips

• 10
• 15
• 20

Pec Deck:

• 165 x 10
• 195 x 10
• 210 x 10 (new record)

Abs

• 60 x 20
• 50 x 20
• 40 x 20