My training History: I trained less than one year before competing in my first powerlifting meet as a teenager back in 1983. Before leaving the sport partially due to injuries in 2005 I achieved my elitefts status in the 198,220,242,275 & 308 weight class. Throughout these years I did have a 3 year run in the bodybuilding world. I have degenerative joint disease, have had two shoulder surgeries (right shoulder now needs replaced), one full hip replacement, knee surgery, and herniation's in all three regions of my spine, Bone spurs (all joints). I can't even begin to list the number of muscle tears I have had, surgical and non surgical. I am "The Mashed Up Meathead" and this is my story.
You can find my training log archives HERE and my most current training log posts HERE.
My best lifts are behind be but my best training is yet to come.
* Unless otherwise noted the tempo of the work sets is about 1/2 of what most would consider normal. In most cases, if I did the set with normal temp what I fail at with 8-10 reps in training I could do for 20 reps with a normal tempo. This is to keep the joint stress down while increase the stress on the muscle. I have found this to work best for me provided the conditions listed in my training history above.
QUICK RECAP:
This will be a fast write up because I am drained and warn out.
Seated leg curls.
6 warm up sets of 10 to 15 repetitions. 4 work sets using a progressive load of 6 to 8 repetitions. Each set, one rep shy of failure.
Leg press.
8 to 10 warm up sets of 10 to 15 repetitions. 4 progressive work sets of 10 to 15 repetitions, working up to 15 plates per side. The last set was dropping the weight in half for 100 repetitions.
Yoke bar box squats.
3 warm up sets, 8 to 10 repetitions. 4 work sets of 6 reps. Next exercise, leg extensions. 2 warm up sets of 10 reps, 4 work sets of 10/4 reps and 10 partial reps.
Seated calf raises.
4 sets, 20 reps.
Standing calf raises.
3 sets, 20 reps.
Leg cramps came back with a vengeance.