Fitness Log - Back - Week 8

Bleah, bad workout today. My back days have really stalled hard, progressing on virtually nothing. I keep trying to replace the final back exercise.

--

Deadlifts - 75, 77.5, 70.
6 5 6

This was bad. Hit all 6 reps on the first set, tried to go up one weight but couldn't pull more than 3 at a go. Pulled 2 more, then failed the last rep.
On the next set, tried to lift 75 instead, couldn't get more than 1-2. Tried 72.5 after resting 30s, couldn't get more than 1-2. Had to do 70 instead.

I think it's my grip strength that's failing me... I pull the weight a few inches off the ground, but it feels like the weight is going to slip out of my hands (I'm wearing gloves, so it's not really slip out, but like i'm gonna drop it cos I don't have strength to hold on kind of feeling?)

I'm going to try with mixed grip, 75 77.5 75 again, hopefully it'll be better. Heck, maybe I'll even lift 80 next with mixed lol. But need to get used to the imbalance - it's a bit tricky, the upward motion, because the underarm is likely to pull harder due to my weak overhand grip.


Assisted pullups - 50kg - 2 sets of 8

Shall lower the assist each week, to maintain sets of 8. I think I'll only do 2, cos it negatively affects my lat pulldowns later on.

Crunches - 73
Woo personal best. I basically do this till failure. At 73 my abs felt like exploding so I stop. I usually do cross crunches (e.g. right elbow to left, left elbow to right) after 60.

Lat pull downs - 54, 54, 50kg
6 6 6
I struggled badly to even pull 6, and did them with much cheating on my 2nd and 3rd set. I may want to drop this back to 50 to really control my motion and squeeze back to get maximum engagement.

barbell rows 30kg
6 6
Not very sure of my form... this exercise is confusing.I don't really feel it in my back like I'm supposed to, more of my arms. I want to train back at Gombak because they have that perpendicular barbell row machine... but I don't think I'll get to do deadlifts there at peak hour :S zz

Suspended leg raises
20 12
My back had a little spasm/pain in it so I had to stop at 12. Think overworked on the lat pull downs.

--

Not sure if there's any point training hard on back days, because.. I CAN'T SEE MY BACK MUSCLES most of the time. But I guess it's good to develop all areas at once, will help with compounds like squats and bench. Sigh, but the visible ROI is so low.