Michaelk growing to Aus

[michaelk]

Training back this afternoon, will write that up and may even try for a pic.

Did hammies and tris yesterday, nothing too exciting- DB Leg curls and BB Lunges with the back foot elevated on a bench.

Currently sitting on about 107 or 108k in the morning RAW. Could do with another 2-3k before dieting if anyone can spare any.

[greyghost]

Could do with another 2-3k before dieting if anyone can spare any.

See me on Sunday - you can have whatever's left.

[michaelk]

Trying to email the pics I took with my phone with no success:(

Anyway, today I warmed up with 3 sets of lat pulldowns, wasn't feeling real strong either

Decided to start with T Bars- the old fashioned kind with no chest support.

20k 10 reps- just getting the feel

40k 10 reps- same again

60k 10reps- feels like something is working back there

80k 10 reps- starting to get serious

100k 10 reps- feeling a bit of a pump and like I'm going a bit red and vascular with this one

120k 6 reps- PB and I've run out of room on the machine

120k 8 reps.

These are all done with a decent bend in the waist, torso closer to horozontal than verticle

Chins, Bodyweight

9reps,

8 reps

7 reps

5kg dumbell between ankles: 6 reps, drop it and get another out.

Incline DB curls

15k 10reps

17.5 10 reps

22.5 10 reps

25k 7 reps, rest pause and do 2 more

Preachers,

20k 10 reps

30k 10

37.5 10

45 8 reps

will try and get the pics online as soon as I can, ones of the T Bar loaded up and the other is a rear lat spread.

[michaelk]

Big Kiwi Convict Gear Singlet

[nzmusclemonster]

Lights out baby!

Only 2 exercise for back? Is that your norm.... or was it a low volume day?

[Gym rat]

mean back Mike \:D/

[michaelk]

Lights out baby!

Only 2 exercise for back? Is that your norm.... or was it a low volume day?

As I often say, its not what we're lifting but how we're lifting.

14 sets isn't too low volume, I used to only do 9 for back right up to I turned Pro.

usually I would do three exercises, and other than Deadlifts which I do alternate weeks depending on how my lower back is feeling and if I'm squatting soon, the rest is just decoration.

[SamWelly]

Lights out baby!

Only 2 exercise for back? Is that your norm.... or was it a low volume day?

As I often say, its not what we're lifting but how we're lifting.

14 sets isn't too low volume, I used to only do 9 for back right up to I turned Pro.

usually I would do three exercises, and other than Deadlifts which I do alternate weeks depending on how my lower back is feeling and if I'm squatting soon, the rest is just decoration.

But you lack a lot of back mass wouldn't you agree? A lot of the BIG boys do 20 sets plus for back, or 2 days a week - 1 deads or racks, the other lats and pulls. Any reason you do a fair bit less?

[michaelk]

Lights out baby!

Only 2 exercise for back? Is that your norm.... or was it a low volume day?

As I often say, its not what we're lifting but how we're lifting.

14 sets isn't too low volume, I used to only do 9 for back right up to I turned Pro.

usually I would do three exercises, and other than Deadlifts which I do alternate weeks depending on how my lower back is feeling and if I'm squatting soon, the rest is just decoration.

But you lack a lot of back mass wouldn't you agree? A lot of the BIG boys do 20 sets plus for back, or 2 days a week - 1 deads or racks, the other lats and pulls. Any reason you do a fair bit less?

No i don't lack the mass, I have a great pic of me doing rear double bis with 3 Pro winners...I'm close to holding my own.

How many sets did Dorian do (I was a 90's bodybuilder)....there's plenty who don't do 20+ sets too.

For me it's about balance, my back grows (width) pretty easy, and if that gets out of hand it doesn't look impressive- just makes the rest look underdone.

[SamWelly]

Dorian lifted a LOT heavier tho... Its not comparing apples with apples. You have a completly different look too. He was thick and had full muscle bellys, you have a leaner stringier body IMO.

Looks like your lats have a really good width and fairly low insertion points. I went to your first pro debut in Wellington a while back and thought the same as I posted above...

No offence intended but this is a subjective sport obviously. Just wondered if you had some reasoning behind your training - some sort of injury or something.

[michaelk]

Not offended, I thrive on intellegent discussion about bodybuilding.

So because Dorian lifted heavy he didn't have to do volume?...does that mean your Volume trainers don't lift heavy?

Do you think Dorian lifted those weights from day 1 or is it possible he built up to it?

Would you say that he lifted heavy because he looked like that or did he look like that because he lifted heavy?

I am always struggling with lower back issues

I've never done a pro show in Wellington- there was only one in 2001 (i did sneak to the front row to watch..and was pretty stringy then), otherwise you might have meant my guest pose in 08 or have me mistaken for someone else?

You'd have to be the only person on the planet to say I have low lat insertions...they're unfortunately too high...again :cry:

I am lifting heavier than I used to, when you hit your PB weight for a reasonable number of reps (as in the 120k T Bar)...your muscles will respond, regardless of whether that PB is 30kg or 300kg- so I will continue to grow, thats why new trainers respond to light weights, relative to what they have been lifting before it is more.

As I lift more and more..I will grow, and won't need 20+ sets, (just like Dorian)

I'm trying to devise how I can T bar more, as the machine only takes 6 plates, I might balance 20's on top- seriously.

What you call stringy....others call hard- my avatar is from my debut.

below is a pic from the night before the NZ Pro in Auckland- stringy?

[biggurl27]

Lights out baby!

Its very sweet you calling Mike baby :wink:

Great pic Mike :clap:

[Gym rat]

Great photo Mike :clap: :clap:

[Optimass]

I saw Mark S and Sonny Schmitt train together back in the day - from memory Sonnys routine was low volume. I remember thinking at the time that he didn't use a lot of weight either - just very strict on form. Its a bit old school in someways. Again it comes back to how your body responds - I prefer the Dorian Yates style of training my self but the older I get the my it hurts in the wrong way.

Sam from memory your still in your early 20s - you have a lot more time on your hands in some respects before your muscle matures. Mike is a little ways along which is where you start to develop the harder look to your muscle. My ex-training partner was 55 and his muscle looks like bundles of rope strapped together. In some ways its a better look for competition which is why I think you don't fill your genetic potential as a lifetime weight trainer until you hit your 40s > so you have to adapt your training as this starts to happen also -

Mike has a finer bone structure than most his height hense a tight mucular formation - enables him to show of a more asthetically apealing physique - this is something I would want to maintain as it would get more recognition provided your conditioning was 100%. (Mike there is a photo of you on your facebook page in blue trunks that shows off you waist and relaxed side profile that - shows your genetic formation very well - great pic also).

[ohjoshua]

:pfft:

i think you took it very well for a bodybuilder being called stringy.

[michaelk]

:pfft:

i think you took it very well for a bodybuilder being called stringy.

You have to get used to it in this sport, the further up you go....the worse you are at it? :wink:

[nate225]

:pfft:

i think you took it very well for a bodybuilder being called stringy.

You have to get used to it in this sport, the further up you go....the worse you are at it? :wink:

LMAO, absolutely true MK, amazing how many people here manage to critique the Olympians for their apparent weakpoints! (myself included! :nod: ).

In saying that I think Sam had a valid point (although it came across a bit negatively, kudos for your well tempered response MK).

Volume may help improve your back, which Sam sees as weak, and you refute (from an objective point of view I personally think your back is solid from a NZL perspective or at 202, although I'd see you struggling next to most HW pros internationally, again just my opinion!).

I had the opportunity to train with Dave Smith a while back (who has a pretty resonable back himself) and we hit 26 sets in less than 50 minutes. Many of the younger BBers down there have taken this on board and I've seen some really sharp results in terms of progress.

Anyway all the best for the build up, have you decided if you're on for the Ironman or are you going to stick with the Aussie show??

Nate

[michaelk]

Anyway all the best for the build up, have you decided if you're on for the Ironman or are you going to stick with the Aussie show??

Nate

I'm not ignoring the idea, and have increased my volume work this year (after watching a Jay Cutler Vid), but again it's about balance, and have increased all parts this year.

Also I feel for me that lots of sets in a short time is just cardio- and I lack the recovery between sets to lift the weight I need to grow. Dave is different to me, so what suits him does not necessarily suit me.

It's the old Volume vs Heavy Duty argument.

I don't think that anyone really fits entirely in either camp, that is why I've always varied my training week to week, heavy/light- volume (by my standards)/HD.

Ironman or Aus?.....it's like choosing between sour creme or butter on the baked potato at Dennys on your free birthday meal- I say why choose when you can have both.

At this time I'm still planning on doing both.

[michaelk]

Legs on saturday,

I do like writing about them as they are brutal to train.

Pulled my mate Dave in to do them with me- he is training hard for his first show.

5 sets of 20 rep leg extensions, up to the stack- just pre exhausting.

Squats-

40k/15reps

60k/15reps

90k/15reps

110k/15reps

130k/15reps

140k/15reps

150k/10reps

Leg Press

80k/12 reps

120k/15 reps

180k/18 reps

230k/20 reps

The rest between leg presses was only as long as it took for dave to do his set and to put weights on.

[Pete_S]

Mike, see you opt for pretty high rep ranges for legs. Is this something that you have trialed over the years and find works better for your leg growth? I myself have recently moved to 20 rep sets for legs short rest periods and have seen greater results.

[michaelk]

I have for years alternated heavy and light weeks. Lately I've been going heavy week, heavy week, light week. The alternating gives my joints a rest on light week and my CNS a rest on heavy week.

I also alternate squatting by doing 3 weeks on, 2 weeks off to help my knees to cope.

I'm naturally a very light boned guy, when I started training I was 65kg at 5'10" and am one of those guys that often get mistaken for being 10+kg heavier than I actually am. I joke that I have helium in my bones so don't sink into the scales very much.

[steak]

:pfft:

i think you took it very well for a bodybuilder being called stringy.

had me reaching for the popcorn too

have increased my volume work this year (after watching a Jay Cutler Vid)

oh yeah which one...or is there only one?

good back :nod:

[rose]

when I started training I was 65kg at 5'10"

Forgive me Sir, but :shock: Dunno about 'stringy' aye :crazy: but nice bum! That pic should be in the even hotter boys thread, it would up the standards lots :grin:

At this time I'm still planning on doing both

8)

[samoan_muscle]

I'm naturally a very light boned guy, when I started training I was 65kg at 5'10" and am one of those guys that often get mistaken for being 10+kg heavier than I actually am. .

You look alot shorter than 5'10 too...i had you around 5 foot flat - what do you know that's ten inches shorter.

[rose]

You look alot shorter than 5'10 too...i had you around 5 foot flat - what do you know that's ten inches shorter.

Wow, how do you function in every day life, being such a crap judge of heights etc? :haha: