[DaeguDave]

DB Curls: 12@22, 10@44, RP Set - 7@62, 2@62
BB Shrugs to the back: 12@213, 9@301 (grip failed), 8@356 (tricep cramp, weird)
Cross-Chest Hammer Curls: RP Set - 13@55, 7@55, 4@55, 3@55

It's in the low 40's during the day, Banshee. It's just that they don't heat the gym so it's only about 10 degrees warmer inside. Theoretically it won't effect anything but my gripping power. I would of course rather spend this winter in NC or Texas. Alas, that will have to wait 'til next year.

[DaeguDave]

DB Shoulder Presses: 12@22, 10@44, 11@62
Dips: 10, w/66lbs - 12
Decline Crunches w/11lbs: 20
One-Arm Behind-the-Neck Extensions: 9@44

[DaeguDave]

Wide-Grip Pulldowns: 12@99, 10@143
Wide-Grip Chins w/22lbs: RP Set - 12, 4, 4, 3
BB Rows (Underhand grip): 10@147, 9@235 Superset w/Seated Rows: 12@165

My grip is only going to get worse as it gets colder. Add in the limited options for back work and I've decided to reduce back training to once a week instead of three times in two weeks. My back, chest, and traps are my strong points anyway, so I suppose it makes sense to prioritize arms for the next few months.

[DaeguDave]

Leg Extensions: 15@77, 15@99
Smith Machine Squats: 10@136, 10@213, 12@279
Lying Leg Curls: RP Set - 6@176, 6@154
Calf Press: 15@264, 15@440, 14@572
Incline Hammer Strength: 12@110, 10@198, 9@286

[DaeguDave]

DB Curls - 12@22, 10 @44, RP Set - 8@62, 5@55, 4@55, 3@55
BB Hammer Curls - RP Set - 8@103, 4@103, 3@103

[DaeguDave]

Leg Extensions - 15@77, 15@99
Smith Machine Squats - 10@136, 10@224, 9@290
Lying Leg Curls - RP Set - 10@154, 4@154, 3@154
EZ-Bar Curls - 12@59, 10@92, RP Set - 8@125, 3@125
Cross-Chest Hammer Curls - 9@62

I broke my record by two reps on the squats, but I think I could have had one more had I not taken a trip to Gyeongju yesterday, which of course involved quite a bit of walking up inclined surfaces. I did get to see the Bulguksa Temple complex, a 7th century observatory, and tons of burial mounds of the Silla Dynasty royalty. The mounds look pretty similar to the design of American Indian burial sites in the South and the Ohio Valley.

[Rocky]

Congrats on the PB in squats!
Sounds like a very picturesque trip you had aswell!
Not much to look at where I am unless you like tractors clogging up the roads and farm animal shit.

[DaeguDave]

Wide-Grip Pulldowns - 12@99, 10@165, RP Set - 7@209, 7@187, 5@187
BB Rows - 12@169, 8@246
BB Shrugs to the Front - 12@191, 10@257, RP Set - 10@312, 5@312
Incline Hammer Strength- 10@110, 10@198, 10@242, 7@286

Tried 209 on the pulldowns for the first time and got the number of reps I expected. My grip on the shrugs continues to be a problem. On the chest hammer strength I missed last week's mark by 2 reps, whether this is because I did 4 sets instead of 3, or that I was tired from the back work I'm not sure.

The gym's closed this Saturday so I'll do delts and arms on Friday. I'll use the weekend to head up to Seoul one more time before it gets to cold to move.

[Rocky]

If your grip is really hindering certain exercises - it might be worth using straps, at least while the weather is cold. I know you should keep your grip strength up but if it's stopping you going all the way with certain exercises - it might be worth employing straps for a while! I do and it helps me.

[Banshee20]

Originally Posted by DaeguDave

Leg Extensions - 15@77, 15@99
Smith Machine Squats - 10@136, 10@224, 9@290
Lying Leg Curls - RP Set - 10@154, 4@154, 3@154
EZ-Bar Curls - 12@59, 10@92, RP Set - 8@125, 3@125
Cross-Chest Hammer Curls - 9@62

I broke my record by two reps on the squats, but I think I could have had one more had I not taken a trip to Gyeongju yesterday, which of course involved quite a bit of walking up inclined surfaces. I did get to see the Bulguksa Temple complex, a 7th century observatory, and tons of burial mounds of the Silla Dynasty royalty. The mounds look pretty similar to the design of American Indian burial sites in the South and the Ohio Valley.

Sounds like an absolutely awesome trip Dave. You are one lucky dude, I would love to see that. We try to visit a bunch of Native American sites here in AZ but that sounds awesome. Congrats on the Squat PR. :Banane08:

[DaeguDave]

Originally Posted by Rocky

If your grip is really hindering certain exercises - it might be worth using straps, at least while the weather is cold. I know you should keep your grip strength up but if it's stopping you going all the way with certain exercises - it might be worth employing straps for a while! I do and it helps me.

Thanks for the advice on the straps, Rocky. I use them on my heaviest set for back and traps, which definitely helps. I think my biggest problem is that I have the wrist thickness of a 10 year old girl and I simply can't hold as much weight as I can shrug.

Where do you call home in England? I've got friends here from Brighton, Portsmouth, London, and just outside Manchester. All of them rank London as an awesome, if expensive, city, though the residents of the South of England insist it is better than the North, and the Northerners insist their area is better than the South. Much the way Americans and Koreans do with their own territories I guess.

Banshee, it was a pretty cool trip. I've been here 20 months, but I had never taken the hour bus ride east to the city. One of the advantages of living in a country the size of Indiana is that no place is too far away to reach in a weekend. I'm willing to bet some of the Anasazi sites in your area are quite spectacular.

[DaeguDave]

Smith Machine Squats - 10@136, 10@191, 10@246, 7@301
Lying Leg Curls - RP Set - 5@176, 5@154
Calf Press - 15@264, 15@440, 14@576
Smith Machine Military Press - 10@81, RP Set - 12@136, 5@136, 4@136
Dips - 10, w/77lbs - 9

Broke the military press record by 2 reps, but then again I'm comparatively pretty weak in overhead presses.

[Rocky]

I'm from South East England - Norfolk! Went down to London last night - it is expensive there and personally - I'm glad that I only have to visit! It's a bit of a lonely sort of place in a way, and dirty. Up North is a cheaper place to go. Not so fussed on being up there either. I've got mates who live up in Manchester who moved from London cos it was too expensive! Personally I like living down south but not in the city. Have you been over here yourself at all then?