Higher Rep. Week 2. Squat

BW - 208

Squat -
BarX10 (paused)
95X5 (paused)
135X5
185X4
225X3
255X2

Pause Squats - 225X3, 3

High Bar Squats - 185X10, 5

Hack Squats - 120X10, 10, 10, 10

Leg Extensions -
Pyramid upX15, 15, 15, 15, 10 (top set heavier than last week)
Back-offX20 (same weight as last week)

Lunges - BWX20, 20
super-set with no rest
Hypers - BWX20, 20

Okay session.  I'll be waving the top double on squats while I'm focused on building some muscle.  It was planned to be a single, but these weights are too light.

I still want to stimulate some top-end strength here while being cautious of whatever's going on with my lower back.  I thought pause squats as the back-off sets fit the ticket pretty well.  They force me to take some weight off the bar, while at the same time I get feedback on what's happening in the hole where my low back needs to keep tight.  This was a "getting reacquainted" session for pausers, and I expect to be pushing this up to 3 sets of 5 (similar to what I've been doing with deficit deads).  225X3 already matches my old Rep PR for these.  I'm much stronger now.  I won't push past 3 sets of 5 because I need to make sure I'm still fresh enough for...

High bars.   These will be the 'main' movent, and are starting here with 185X2XAMAP, or what Paul Carter would call a 50% set.  This is kind of a 2nd back-off set.  But as things progress, I hope to be able to push past 2 sets at this weight, and maybe set some volume PRs.

Hack Squats are so stupid hard, I'm basically ignoring the value of the weight on here.  I don't understand why these are so much harder than leg presses.  Over 5 reps on every set was eye-bulging.

Pushed another plate onto the leg extensions.  Feels like it will be awhile before I get that one up to 15.

I mysteriously cut my lunges/hypers after two sets.  In the light of day, I don't know why that was.  Hypers are much easier now that they're not coming right after a free squat movement.