Son of a Bench Week 4. Day A.

sRPE @ 6.5

BW - 222

Bench - 

-    up to 240X1 @8

-    205X5 @7.5

Lever Dips - 205X11, 9 @10

Hack Squats - 110X9, 7 @8

super-set with

Pull-Downs - X10, 7 @8

DB OH Extensions - 70X8, 5 @10

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Press - X13, 10 @8

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

Still adding weight to the top single week-over-week.  Also, this is the easiest the back-off set of 5 @ 80% has felt so far this block.  Still a couple of weeks before I start adding more back-offs on this day.

Also added a rep per set to the AMRAPS on Lever Dips.

The DB OH Extensions are feeling pretty tough right now.  I'm going to back off 10# and go for higher reps starting next week.  See if I can get some momentum going in the 8-12 range and then circle back to 6-10s.  I was supposed to add a 3rd set on this day.  I didn't notice that in the program, but these were so difficult, it's probably for the best.

Son of a Bench Week 3. Day C.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 223

Bench - 200X3, 3 @~7.5

DB Bench - 70sX10(PR), 7 @8

BB Rows - 165X8, 8, 8 @8/9

super-set with

Seated Leg Curls - X9, 8 @~8

Pushdowns - X11, 10 @10

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Press - X13, 10 @~9

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

Another PR on DB Bench even still keeping RPE @8.  Next week I push these to AMRAPs, and then start adding volume in the following weeks.

Added a set to BB Rows.  Felt solid.  Probably stay at this weight and rep range for most of this block.

Son of a Bench Week 3. Day B.

sRPE @7

BW - 223

Bench - 200X3, 3, 3 @~8

Squat - up to 315X1 @7.5

ATG Pause Squat - 225X5, 5 @6/7

Machine Flyes - X10, 8 @10

super-set with

DB Curls - 35sX8, 7 @8

Floor DB Rolling Triceps - 40sX10, 7 @10

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Press - X12, 11 @9

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

Working out on back-to-back days on a full body program is always a little rough.

Got on autopilot out of the gate and did an extra set of Bench.  Not supposed to add a 3rd set on this day for a few more weeks.  No big deal, just to say I was a little out of it.

Then Squats felt awful on warm-ups until I realized I was using my bench grip hand placement which is narrower than my squat grip.  Got that sorted and things went better.

Everything else was fine.

Son of a Bench Week 3. Day A.

sRPE @6

BW - 224

Bench - 

-    up to 235X1 @8

-    200X5 @8

Lever Dips - 205X10, 8 @10

GHR - BWX11, 8 @8

super-set with

Lat Pushdowns - X8, 8 @~9

DB OH Extensions - 70X8, 6 @10

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Press - X12, 10 @~9

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

Both sets of Bench felt strong and smooth at 5# > last week.

Pushing most bench accessories to failure starting this week (not DB Bench yet), and adding volume to non-pressing movements.

Next week, I start adding volume week-over-week to bench accessories.

Son of a Bench Week 2. Day C.

sRPE @6

BW - 222

Bench - 195X3, 3 @7

DB Bench - 70sX9(PR), 7 @~8

Chins - BWX3, 3, 3 @8/10

super-set with

Copenhagen Planks - BWX12, 10 @7.5

Pushdowns - X8, 8 @~9

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Presses - 180X13, 11 @~9

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

Was confident DB Bench PRs would start falling this week.  Plenty of room to keep pushing those.

Son of a Bench Week 2. Day B.

sRPE @7

BW - 225

Bench - 195X3, 3 @~8

Deadlift - up to 365X1 @8

SLDL - 225X5, 5 @6

Machine Flyes - X8, 7 @8

super-set with

Rope Bayesian Curls - X8, 6 @8

Floor DB Rolling Triceps - 45sX6, 5 @~9

super-set with

Machine SL Calves - X12, 10 @8/9

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

Sleep quality and schedule have been disrupted the last few days, and that may have played into the unexpected heaviness of the first two movements.

Son of a Bench Week 2. Day A.

sRPE @5.5

BW - 225

Bench - 

-    up to 230X1 @8

-    195X5 @8.5

Lever Dips - 205X8, 7 @8

Hack Squats - 110X8, 7 @8

super-set with

Pull-Downs - X9, 7 @8

DB French Press - 70X7, 6 @8

super-set with

Machine Calf Press - X11, 10 @~8

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

Solid.  Upped weight a bit on Bench over last week, added some reps to the other things at comparable RPE.

I'll start a targeted increase in Volume later this week, and similar with RPE starting next week. 

Son of a Bench. Week 1. Day C.

sRPE @6

BW - 225

Bench - 190X3, 3 @7.5

DB Bench - 70sX8, 6 @~8

BB Hanging Rows - 165X8, 5 @~8

super-set with

Seated Leg Curls - X10, 8 @8

Pushdowns - X8, 8 @8

super-set with

Machine Calf Press - X10, 9 @~10

Rower - HIIT, 5 rounds

Solid session.  A lot to be optimistic about.

Son of a Bench Week 1. Day B.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 224

Bench - 190X3, 3 @~7

Machine Flyes - X8, 8 @7.5

Squat - up to 315X1 @7

ATG Pause Squats - 225X5 @6.5

super-set with

DB Curls - 35sX8, 8 @7/8

Floor DB Rolling Triceps - 40sX8, 8 @7.5/8

super-set with

SL Machine Calf Press - X9, 9 @~9

Rower - HIIT; 10 minutes

Bench and Squats both felt good today, although all the super-setting anything with Squats always feels extra hard.  I'll try it out for a few more weeks and see if I acclimate.

Son of a Bench Week 1. Day A.

sRPE @5.5

BW - 224

Bench - 

-    up to 225X1 @8

-    190X5 @7.5

Lever Dips - 205X7, 6 @8

GHR - BWX12, 9 @8

super-set with

Cable Lat Pushdowns - X8, 8 @8/9

DB OH Extensions - 70X6, 5 @8

Nice and easy to start off the new block.  Making sure the movements and sequence feel good.

TOTALLY forgot to do either calves or conditioning which are habits I need to get into early before volume and intensity ramp up.

Pressin' Out Week 9. Pivot

sRPE @6

BW - 225

Press - up to 170X0

Machine Flyes - X7, 7, 7 @8/9.5

super-set with

Machine OH JM Press - X6, 7, 6 @9/10

Deadlift - up to 365X1 @7.5

SLDL - 275X5, 5 @~6

Twisting Rope Curls - X10, 8, 7 @9/10

Machine Calf Presses - X8, 9, 9 @8/10

Tried hitting 170 again on Press, but still not there.  Likely, I'll take a few days off then come back and start a Bench focused block.

I've been dealing with some plantar fasciitis or similar the last few months.  Saw direct calf work as one of the suggestions from BBM to maybe help work through it.  I've started taking the bus to and from the gym a bit more to cut back on walking.  Will look to supplement that with some more conditioning work in the gym until this clears up.

Pressin' Out Week 9. MAX

sRPE @6

BW - 225

Press - 

-    up to 1675.5X1(PR) @10

-    170X0, 0, 0

Bench - up to 245X1 @9.5

JM Press - 85X5, 5, 5 @~8

Hack Squats - 150X5, 5 @8

Incline Rear Delt Flyes - 12sX12, 11, 10 @~10

Chipped my best Press for a new PR.  It felt really good, so I made several runs at 170 with no luck.

Was still feeling good, and thinking about pivoting to Bench focus for a while, so I went ahead and worked up on it.  That's my first straight bar bench since 7/3/24 when I hit 250.  Not a bad place to start if that's what I decide to do.  

Pressin' Out Week 9. Day C.

sRPE @ 7

BW - 226

Press - 125X3, 3, 3 @~7

High Incline DB Bench - 55sX11, 8, 6 @10

Deficit Flexion Rows - 145X9, 9 @9/10

super-set with

Seated Leg Curls - X10, 8 @~10

Pushdowns - X9, 8, 7 @~10

Almost skipped this session because of schedule.  But also maybe a sign that overall stress (life, gym, etc.) is starting to get a bit much, and may need to look at a pivot.

If things are going well on Monday, I could try to chip my lifetime Press PR, and then pivot to the next thing.

Pressin' Out Week 9. Day B.

sRPE @8

BW - 223

Press - 125X3, 3, 3 @~7

Cable 1-Arm Front "Y" Raise - X11, 9, 8 @10

Squat - up to 275X1 @6

super-set with

Lying DB Curls - 20sX11, 9 @9/10

ATG Pause Squats - 225X5, 5  @7/8

PJR Pullovers - 60X9, 9, 9 @7.5/8.5

Didn't push so hard on the PL Squats this week, and don't feel so beat up the next day. Still a tough session.

Possibly this training block is starting to have run it's course.

Pressin' Out Week 9. Day A.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 224

Press - 

-    up to 160X1 @10

-    135X3, 3, 3 @7/8.5

Cambered Bar Bench - 155X6, 6, 6 @8/9.5

GHR - BWX12, 10 @8

super-set with

Machine Pullovers - X11, 9 @8/9

EZ OH Extensions - 55X13, 11, 9, 8 @10

Top end strength wasn't quite in the same place as last week on the Press.

Upped reps on Cambered Bench and OH Extensions over last week.

Pressin' Out Week 8. Day C.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 223

Press - 125X3, 3, 3 @7

High Incline DB Bench - 50sX13, 9, 9, 8 @~10

Chins - BWX3, 3, 3 @7.5/9

super-set with

Copenhagen Planks - BWX14, 14 @~9

Pushdowns - X14, 9, 8 @10

Solid session.

Need to be better about doing Copenhagen Planks.  They just hit different than the adductor machine.

Pressin' Out Week 8. Day B.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 222

Press - 125X3, 3, 3 @7/8

1-Arm Cable Front Y Raise - X14, 11, 10 @~10

Deadlift - up to 365X1 @7

super-set with

Rope Bayesian Curls - X14, 13 @10

SLDL - 275X5, 5 @6/7

PJR Pullovers - 60X8, 8, 8 @8/9

Going to try and work some supersetting back in as sessions are starting to get longer.

Pressin' Out Week 8. Day A.

sRPE @8

BW - 225

Press - 

-    up to 165X1 @10

-    135X3, 3, 3 @7/9

Cambered Bench - 155X5, 5, 5 @7/9

Hack Squats - 100X10, 10 @~9

Pull-Downs - X12, 9 @~10

1-Arm DB OH Extension - 25X14, 12, 8, 7 @~10

Was feeling fatigued walking into the gym, so I took a lot of time with  my Press warm-ups.  Things started feeling pretty good as I hit 135, and I ended up tying my PR.

Despite going heavy on Press, Cambered Bench felt about the same as last week.

Because Squats were so hard last week, I decided to do something a bit more stressful than Roman Chair Squats for my Squat assistance today.

Beat the log book on pulldowns.

All the EZ bars were weirdly occupied, so I did single arm OH extensions.

Much longer session today because more warm-ups were needed on the first 3 movements, and doing unilateral work on the last one. 

Pressin' Out Week 7. Day C.

sRPE @8

BW - 224

Press - 125X3, 3, 3 @~7

High Incline DB Bench - 50sX14, 8, 8, 7 @10

Deficit Flexion Rows - 145X8, 8, 8 @8.5/10

Seated Leg Curls - X15, 13 @~10

Pushdowns - X16, 13, 10 @10

Wasn't feeling Seated DB Press today so switched to High Incline DB Bench.

Getting better acclimated to the Deficit Flexion Rows.  Still a ways to go.

Beat the log book on leg curls.

Felt like I got hit by a truck after Squats in the prior session.  Made everything today harder.  I'm super annoyed when this happens.  The only way I've found to really avoid it is to have frequent Squatting in my program, but that makes all my programs Squat focused, and I went through years of always having Squat be my best lift because of it.  Anytime I try to get away and try to really build up other lifts, Squatting starts to bury me.  But there I was again last night, starting to write out a frequent Squat program when what I really wanted to do was move on to Bench and Rows after this.  Oh well.

Pressin' Out Week 7. Day B.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 225

Press - 125X3, 3, 3 @7

Incline DB Raise - 15sX16, 12, 10 @10

Squat - up to 335X1 @9

ATG Pause Squat - 225X5, 5 @7/8

Lying DB Curls - 20sX12, 8 @10

PJR Pullovers - 55X14, 11, 10 @8/10

Sets of 125X3 felt easier across the board since I moved up to that weight for my light days.

Did a PL Squat for the first time since 7/1/24, and ripped my shorts wide open.  Gains.

Technique on the regular Squat was a bit wonky, so there's room to get that round back into form as this was on par with my best ATG Pause singles.

Beat the recent log book on Incline Raise, Lying Curls, and Triceps Pullovers.

Pressin' Out Week 7. Day A.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 226

Press - 

-    up to 155X1 @9.5

-    135X3, 3, 3 @7/8

Cambered Bar Bench - 155X5, 5, 5 @7.5/8

GHR - BWX16, 13 @~9

Machine Pullovers - X17, 14 @9.5

EZ OH Extensions - 55X12, 10, 8, 7 @10

Had to leave town unexpectedly for a few days last week, and missed a training session.

Top single on Press was about the same as last week, but back-offs were maybe a tad stronger.

Over the previous 6 weeks, I'd hit a few PRs on DB Bench, so I decided to swap it out for Cambered Bar Bench.  I will likely pivot to focusing on Bench after this Press-focused training runs it's course.  Cambered Bench allows me to start splashing in some skill work on that while continuing to "overload" the delts beyond what I can OHP, but still with a lengthened movement.

Really tried to "beat the log book" instead of just "punching the clock" and add reps on GHR and Pullovers over recent performance while maintaining good technique.  I do a lot of GHRs, and that's definitely a PR at anything close to this BW. 

After all that, Overhead Extensions went in the tank a bit on the initial sets, lol.

Pressin' Out Week 6. Day B.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 223

Press - 125X3, 3, 3 @7.5

Incline DB Raise - 15sX15, 11, 9 @~10

Deadlift - up to 365X1 @7

SLDL - 275X5, 5 @8

Rope Bayesian Curls - X12, 8 @10

PJR Pullovers - 55X13, 10, 8 @9/10

Decided I might start working PL Deadlifts and Squats back in just as singles before rep work on the longer ROM variations.  This my first PL DL since July.  Only about 5% off from my e1RM back then, so it seems like all the SLDL work has allowed me to maintain pretty well.  

I cut this off @ RPE 7.  This is probably the heaviest absolute weight I've lifted at all since July, and it felt like my back was starting to struggle a lot more than my lower extremities.  About to do a quick out of town trip, and didn't want to risk dealing with a back tweak during travel.  This is just a starting point, anyway, for working the heavier stuff back in.

Pressin' Out Week 6. Day A.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 225

Press -

-    up to 155X1 @9.5

-    135X3, 3, 3 @7.5/8.5

DB Bench - 65sX14(PR), 9, 6 @~10

Roman Chair Squats - BWX11, 10 @~9

Pulldowns - X11, 8 @10

EZ OH Extensions - 55X16, 11, 7, 7 @10

Upped the top single a bit on Press, and grabbed another Rep PR on DB Bench.  

Pressin' Out Week 5. Day C.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 223

Press - 125X3, 3, 3 @7/8

DB Seated Press - 45sX13, 11, 8, 7 @10

Deficit BB Flexion Rows - 145X8, 8, 7 @~10

Seated Leg Curls - X12, 8 @10

Pushdowns - X14, 12, 10 @10

Nice session.  Technical acclimation on the Deficit Flexion Rows has a lot of headroom, but the upper back burn was very real.  

Pressin' Out Week 5. Day B.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 226

Press - 125X3, 3, 3 @7.5

Incline DB Constant Tension Raise - 12sX14, 12, 10 @10

ATG Pause Squat -

-    275X1 @8.5

-    185X5 @6

Lying DB Curls - 20sX11, 7 @10

PJR Pullovers - 55X12, 10, 7 @~10

Everything was a bit harder today than expected.  Squats had a real -10% day for some reason.

Pressin' Out Week 5. Day A.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 226

Press - 

-    up to 150X1 @9

-    135X3, 3, 3 @~8

DB Bench - 65sX13(PR), 8, 7 @10

GHR - BWX14, 10 @~10

EZ OH Extensions - 55X15, 11, 8, 6 @10

Upped the weight and dropped the reps on the Press back-offs.  Now that volume has ramped up on accessories, I should be getting enough hypertrophy volume for Delts and Triceps that I can pivot work on the main lift to lower reps.

Nice to grab a DB Bench PR.  Doing DB Bench after heavy Pressing really lights up my pecs. 

Didn't look closely at my program, and inadvertently skipped upper back work.  Life goes on. 

Pressin' Out Week 4. Day C.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 223

Press - 125X3, 3, 3 @7.5

DB Seated Press - 45sX12, 10, 8 @~10

Chins - BWX3, 3, 3 @8/9

Adductor Machine - 150X11, 10 @~10

Rope Pushdowns - X12, 11, 9 @10

Solid.  sRPE trending down throughout this week.  I'll add a tad more volume over the next couple of weeks as long as that trend continues.

Pressin' Out Week 4. Day B.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 223

Press - 125X3, 3, 3 @~7.5

Incline DB Raise - 15sX14, 10, 9 @10

SLDL - 

-    up to 345X1 @9.5

-    275X5 @7

Rope Bayesian Curls - X12, 10 @10

PJR Pullovers - 55X11, 11, 8 @9/10

Upped weight on "light" Presses and they felt fine. 

Also upped reps on Front Raises, and upped weight on Triceps Pullovers.  All feeling good.

Pressin' Out Week 4. Day A.

sRPE @7

BW - 224

Press - 

-    up to 150X1 @9.5

-    125X5, 5, 5 @8/9.5

DB Bench - 65sX12(ties PR), 8, 7 @~10

Roman Chair Squats - BWX13, 10 @9.5

Pull-Downs - X11, 9 @~10

EZ OH Extensions - 55X14, 10, 9, 8 @~10

Small bump in Press strength over last week, and tied DB Bench PR.  Overall difficulty of the session was down a little bit over last week as well, even though I added set volume.

Pressin' Out Week 3. Day C.

sRPE @8

BW - 224

Press - 115X3, 3, 3 @~6.5

DB Seated Press - 45sX10, 9, 7 @~10

BB Flexion Rows - 185X6, 6 @9/10

Leg Curls - X12, 9 @10

Rope Pushdowns - X11, 10, 9 @~10

Felt totally gassed when I got home from this session for some reason.  Probably stress.

I decided to do BB Rows instead of DB Rows to save a little time.  These were a little bit more fatiguing than I expected so I might add a deficit next time.  That should bring the weight down and give me a comparable or better stimulus with less absolute fatigue. 

Pressin' Out Week 3. Day B.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 222

Press - 115X3, 3, 3 @~6

Incline DB Raise - 15sX12, 10, 8 @10

ATG Pause Squat -

 -   315X1 @9

-    225X5, 5 @~7.5

Lying DB Curls - 20sX10, 7 @~10

PJR Pullovers- 50X13, 10, 10 @~10

Solid.  Press continues to feel slightly stronger week-over-week.

I think I'll keep the PJR Pullovers in for a while.  They give a nice, bi-articular Triceps stimulus while also giving some secondary stimulus to the Pecs and/or Lats (depending on which hyper-confident fitness influencers you lend credence). 

Pressin' Out Week 3. Day A.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 223

Press - 

-    145X1 @9

-    125X5, 5 @7/8

DB Bench - 65sX11, 7, 6 @9.5/10

GHR - BWX13, 12 @8.5/9.5

Machine Pullovers - X13, 13 @~10

EZ OH Extensions - 55X13, 9, 8 @~10

A little bit more life in my Press today.  Thought about going up, but being patient and letting it come to me a bit to start.

Pressin' Out Week 2. Day C.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 225

Press - 115X3, 3, 3 @~6.5

DB Seated Press - 45sX10, 9 @~10

Chins - 

-    BW+25X1 @9.5*

-    BWX3 @8

Adductor Machine - X14, 13 @~10

PJR Pullovers - 45X13, 12, 11 @9.5

*Weighted Chins are definitely aggravating my left forearm.  I hate to have to sideline that lift for a while after spending so much time spent trying to improve it, but I may have to do that to give the tendinopathy time to calm down.

Still the first time I've been able to squeeze in a 3rd session in a couple of weeks, so I'm happy about that.

Pressin' Out Week 2. Day B.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 223

Press - 115X3, 3, 3 @~6.5

Incline DB Raise - 15sX12, 9 @10

SLDL - 

-    315X1 @8

-    275X5 @8

Lying DB Curls - 20sX9, 9 @~10

Rope Pushdowns - X15, 13, 11 @10

Solid.

Pressin' Out Week 2. Day A.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 224

Press - 

-    145X1 @9.5
-    125X5, 5 @~9

DB Bench - 65sX10, 7 @~10

Roman Chair Squats - BWX12, 9 @~10

Pull-Downs - X10, 8 @10

EZ OH Extensions - 55X13, 8, 8 @~10

Gnarly head cold had me sidelined the last few days, and missed my 3rd training session last week.  Solid return.

Pressin' Out Week 1. Day B.

sRPE @6

BW - 228

Press - 115X3, 3, 3 @6/7

Incline DB Raise - 15sX10, 10 @9/10

ATG Pause Squat -

-    315X1 @9

-    225X5 @6

Rope Bayesian Curls - X11, 10 @10

Rope Pushdowns - X10, 10 @10

Nice little session.  ATG Squats felt surprisingly solid even though they weren't there in the previous session, and I'm currently under the weather.