Block 1 (Accumulation). Cycle 2. Day 3 ("Deadlift" focus).

BW - 218

Tempo Squat 2-2-0 - 185X5, 5, 5, 5 @5.5/6.5

Close-Grip Bench - 135X8, 8, 8, 8 @6/7

Chin-Ups Supinated w/Straps - BWX3, 4, 3, 3, 2 @~10

Conditioning - Treadmill; 20 minutes walking

Low back has been not great the last few days despite taking Friday through the weekend off from lifting.  Started popping NSAIDs on Sunday, and felt okay to go to the gym on this Monday.  Decided ahead of time not to Deadlift.  Perhaps won't deadlift again the rest of this block or at least a week after the low back feels good.

Went with the same weight as last time on tempo squats.  RPE came in lower which was good, but I didn't want to adjust the weight upwards as I started to "feel" the low back injury a bit.  I did throw in an extra set just looking to get @6+.  Decided to play it safe, but was enthused that these felt better.

Worked up to last week's Close-Grip working weight of 127.5 and it was @5 at the most, and so warranted a jump to 135.  Same number of sets to get to @7.  Low back gave me a little trouble getting set up, but not too bad.

Decided to continue last week's new adventures with pull-up variations with straps.  Early days with these, but...my forearms strangely feel like they're getting more work?  Like, burning after the set like you get with high rep isolation work.  It seems counter-intuitive to think the forearms (i.e. "grip muscles") would be getting more work with straps.  Not sure exactly how to test that. 

Still avoiding HIIT conditioning till the back feels better.  No video today.