S/B/D/R+ Week 2. Day C.

sRPE @ 8

BW - 225

Deadlift - 

-    up to 355X1 @8

-    315X3, 3, 3, 3 @~7

DB Bench - 60sX9, 7, 7, 7 @8

Pull-Downs - X10, 9, 8 @8

Cable Curls - X11, 11, 10, 10 @~8

super-set with

GHR Sit-Ups BWX9, 7, 6, 6 @~8

Stationary Bike - HIIT; 0:20/1:40; 14 minutes

Had to work out Saturday morning instead of Friday afternoon, and I felt the difference.  DL top set was awful, but the back-offs were ok.

Tried Cable Curls instead of BB Curls as I'm still waiting for this elbow issue to resolve.  It feels fine most of the time now, but after workouts and in the AM it can be really tight, and still makes me second guess how I'm going to pick things up, etc. in the everyday b/c sometimes it hurts when I do.

S/B/D/R Week 1. Day A.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 224

Squats - 

-    up to 325X1 @7.5

-    285X3, 3, 3 @6/8

BB Rows w/Straps - 

-    up to 185X6 @8

-    185X3, 3, 3 @4.5/8

GHR - BWX10, 9, 8 @8/9

super-set with

Machine Laterals - X10, 8, 8 @~8

Cable Rear Delt Flyes - X8, 8, 7 @7.5/9

Stationary Bike - HIIT; 0:20/1:40; 14 minutes

Really enjoyed this program layout prior to the Rows specialization block so going back to it for a few weeks.  This was a fun session.

Forearms didn't like the 'D' attachment on the rear delt flyes, but a buddy had mentioned using the single rope attachments.  I tried those and they felt GREAT.  

Reap What You Row Week 4. Day B.

sRPE @6

BW - 224

LH Trap DL - 

-    up to 315X1 @5

-    315X3, 3 @7

Cable Rear Delt Flyes - X8, 8, 7 @8/9

super-set with

Cable Flyes - X9, 9, 9 @8/9

Machine Standing Calves - X8, 8, 7, 7 @8/9

Stationary Bike - HIIT; 0:20/1:40; 14 minutes

Skipping BB Rows the rest of the week before the next block to give elbow and wrist more room to keep healing up.

Switched to low handle Trap Bar for the same reason.  I forgot how steep the learning curve on these are having not done them for a while.  All reps were awkward.

Reap What You Row Week 3. Day C.

sRPE @7

BB Rows w/Straps - 170X5, 5, 5 @5.5/7.5

1-Arm DB Rows w/Straps - 90X11, 9, 7, 6 @~8

Swiss Bar Bench -

-    up to 160X1 @6

-    150X3, 3 @8

super-set with 

Seated Leg Curls - X8, 7, 7 @8

1-Arm Cable Wrist Extensions - X8, 7, 7 @9/8

super-set with

Rope Pushdowns - X12, 10, 8 @8

Stationary Bike - HIIT; 0:20/1:40; 14 minutes

Subbed in NG Bench to keep stress off elbows and wrists.  Things are maybe feeling a bit better in those areas.

Reap What You Row Week 3. Day B.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 223

BB Rows w/Straps - 170X3, 3, 3 @~5

SSB Squat - 

-    up to 250@1 @7

-    220X3, 3 @7

Cable Rear Delt Flyes - X10, 8, 8 @8

super-set with

Cable Flyes - X12, 10, 10 @8

Machine Standing Calves - X10, 8, 8, 7 @8

Stationary Bike - HIIT; 0:20/1:40; 14 minutes

Switched to SSB to take more stress of wrists and elbows.

Reap What You Row Week 2. Day C.

sRPE 27.5

BW - 223

BB Rows w/Straps - 165X5, 5, 5 @5/6.5

1-Arm DB Rows w/ Strap - 90X10, 8, 8, 7 @8.5/8

Beltless Press - 

-    up to 135X1 @8

-    115X3, 3 @~7

super-set with

Adductor Machine - X12, 9, 9 @8

1-Arm Cable Wrist Extension - X12, 12, 12 @~8

super-set with

1-Arm Cable Wrist Curls - X13, 8 @7/8.5

Decided to see if trading the Rower for the Stationary Bike on conditioning, and adding direct wrist extension work could do for my elbow issues what reducing walking and adding calf work did for my foot pain earlier this year.  (had to skip conditioning this day to get to an appointment)

The next day the elbow feels pretty good.

Reap What You Row Week 2. Day A.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 224

BB Rows - 

-    195X3 @7

-    165X8, (add straps) 8, 8 @~8

Pulldowns - X8, 8, 9 @8/9

Hack Squats - 100X8, 7, 7 @~8

super-set with

Lever Incline Press - 70X8, 7, 7 @8

BB Curls - 65X8, 7, 6, 6 @~8

Rower - HIIT; 0:20/1:40; 10 rounds

Was able to increase volume again on this session.  However, elbow pain is fading over the weekends, and then peaking following training sessions.  I tried adding straps part way through back-off rows to see if that would help, and it maybe did a little.

I think I need to switch to stationary bike for my HIIT for a while and see if laying off the rower makes a difference.  Just got up to 20 minutes on the rower, but may have to back off that initially when switching movements.  

Reap What You Row Week 1. Day B.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 228

BB Rows - 160X3, 3 @easy

Squats - 

-    up to 295X1 @~5

-    275X3, 3 @~6

Cable Rear Laterals - X6, 4, 5 @8/9

super-set with

Cable Flies - X9, 9, 8 @8

Machine Standing Calves - X7, 7, 7, 7 @8/9

Rower - HIIT; 0:20/1:40; 10 rounds

Solid session.  Elbow discomfort seems to be retreating.

Pivot. Week 1. Day B.

sRPE @6

BW - 227

Bench - 

-    up to 205X1 @6

-    195X3 @7.5, 185X3 @6.5

Hack Squats - 100X8, 8, 8 @~8

Cable Rows - X11, 10 @8

super-set with

GHR Sit-Ups - BWX8, 7 @~8

Machine Standing Calf Raise - X12, 10 @~10

Rower - HIIT; 7 rounds

Out-of-town visitors came in the night before, and performance was a bit muted on this day.  

However, this volume (very similar to what I was doing in the last block) at these RPEs felt fairly easy.  The last few months, I've been pushing higher RPEs on average while being really conservative with volume.  I've been thinking to flip that script a bit and see if pushing volume again while holding back on intensity might alleviate some of the nagging aches and pains that have started to develop.

Son of a Bench Week 12. Day "C".

sRPE @7.5

BW - 224

Bench - up to 225X1 @8

Lever Incline - 100X9, 8, 7 @~9

Reverse SSB Box Squats - 210X3, 3 @7.5/9

FFE BSS - BWX10, 9 @8.5/9.5

Chins - BWX1, 1 @~8*

super-set with

Seated Leg Curls - X11, 10 @8.5/9.5

Pushdowns - X17, 14 @~9

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Press - X13, 10 @~10

Coming back from a long camping weekend.  Kind of went in and did whatever I felt like doing, but ended up with mostly a "Day C" vibe.

Bench actually felt pretty good.  Maybe a slight peak from the time off.

Got a wild hair to do "Eliminators" (Reverse SSB Box Squats).  Kind of cheated them, though, because I forgot you need to keep the pad high on your neck and a loose grip on the handles to really get the upper back stress you want from these. 

Also threw in some Front Foot Elevated Bulgarian Split Squats (Both Feet Elevated Split Squats?  not sure which is clearest).  I'm thinking these are a likely component of a future Squat specialization block, so wanted to start re-familiarizing myself with them.

My left elbow is generally slightly aggravated all the time now, and starting to having some lingering discomfort in the right.  I've been in some kind of pressing specialization going back to December, and I'm thinking having all this travel interfering with training in June may be an opportunity to just kind of mess around in the gym the rest of the month, and then pivot to something else when I get a clear runway. 

Son of a Bench Week 12. Day B.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 223

Bench - 185X1, 1 @~6

Deadlift - 

-    up to 385X1 @8.5

-    315X5 @6

Machine Flyes - X10, 7, 7 @10

super-set with

Rope Bayesian Curls - X9, 8 @10

Floor DB Rolling Triceps - 45sX8, 6, 5 @10

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Press - X12, 10 @10

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

80% Bench singles moved really nicely, and so I thought DL might pop too, but performance was only slightly better than the prior DL session.

My left elbow wasn't feeling great on Rolling Tri's, and is still pretty unhappy the next day.  Hoping it will fade and not impact tomorrow's session.

Son of a Bench Week 5. Day A.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 225

Bench - 

-    up to 245X1 @9

-    200X5 @8.5

Lever Dips - 205X8, 7, 6 @7/6

Seated Leg Curls - X6, 7 @6/8

super-set with

Rope Lat Pushdowns - X7, 6 @8

1-Arm DB OH Extensions -

-    30X6 @8.5

-    25X6, 6 @8

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Press - 180X17, 13 @~10

Getting on the other side of this gnarly cold and got to the gym again.

My two goals today were:

1)  See if I can work up to something heavy on Bench

2)  Get in volume on everything else regardless of proximity to failure

Was actually able to add weight on Bench over last week although the RPE was higher, too.  That meant my 80% back-off weight was actually a touch lower than last week.

Pulled back on RPE on most everything else and got the volume in.

Subbed leg curls for GHRs because I wasn't sure 180 degree upper body swings would be compatible with sinus pressure.

EX bar lat pushdowns have been bothering my elbow tendinopathy, so I subbed in rope handles and that felt MUCH better.

Similarly, 2-handed DB OH extensions have also been bothering my elbow, so I switched to single-arm and that felt great. 

Block 12. Cycle 4. Session A.

 BW - 232

Waist - 44"

sRPE @ 7

BB Curls - 72.5X11, 11, 11 @~8

Press -

107.5X6*, 7 @~9.5 *dumped the first set

100X7, 7 @8.5/9

Squat - 

385X1 @8.5

315X4, 4, 4, 4, @~6

BB Preacher Curls - 45X12, 12 @~8

Grip got wonky on the first work set of Press and actually dumped the bar forward.  Really strange.  The weight ended up being too much anyway.

Top set of Squat was a little awkward, but still nice to be flying over 3.5 plates on squat at this effort level.

Pulled back on Preacher Curls a bit.  I've got forearm discomfort around the elbow that's starting to linger during this Curls-focused block, and this movement seems to aggravate it the most.  Worked up slowly with very controlled reps, and this ended up being the right weight for that effort.

Block 10. Cycle 3. Session B.

BW - 228

Waist - 43.75"

sRPE @ 7

Bench -
207.5X3 @8
177.5X7, 7, 7 @~7

CG Bench - 170X6, 6, 6, 6 @7.25/8

Rack Pull-Ups - BWX7, 7, 7 @~8

GPP Day -
- Circuit: Straight-Arm Pull-Downs, DB Press, Hammer Curls - 7 minutes; 3 rounds; sets of 8-10
- Rower - HIIT; 7 rounds; 14 minutes

Okay upper body day.

Right elbow was feeling a bit sensitive, and slowed down the lock out on my top triple, raising the RPE.  I was able to increase the weight slightly on the back-offs, but all-told e1RM was relatively flat from last week.  Expect a bounce back next week!

Closed-grips were a little better initially, but the RPE ramped up fairly quickly.  This may be somewhat a function of adding an extra set to both bench movements.

I ended up not adding an extra set to the rack pull-ups because I always had this set a 3 sets for this program, i.e. I didn't drop a set for the first two weeks like I did with everything else.  I'm also getting extra upper-back work on the GPP days, so no big.

sRPE ended up being right about on target, I think.

Pivot Block. Cycle 4.

BW - 225

Waist - 42.25"

5-3-0 Tempo Squat - 275X2, 2 @~6

5-3-0 Tempo Deadlift - 282.5X2, 2 @~6

Bulgarian Split Squat - 48X7, 7 @~6

5-3-0 Tempo Bench - 150X2, 2 @~6

Overhead Cable Triceps - 50X6 @8

Flex Arm Hanging Knee Raise - BWX6, 6

BB Curls -
60X10 @7.5
62.5X10 @~8

Conditioning - LISS; Treadmill Walking; 20 minutes

Good session.

Switched to two 24# chains for the split squats.  Much easier than trying to keep using handheld weights.  Also gives me the chance to start weighing out chains for use in an upcoming block.

Subbed Cable overhead extensions for the rolling triceps.  MUCH better on my elbow/triceps tendon even though I lost focus and went @8 instead of @6.  Now that I'm using a lower impact movement, I don't mind going a little harder.

Curls weirdly took a big jump.

Pivot Block. Cycle 3.

BW - 221

Waist - 42.25

5-3-0 Tempo Squat - 270X2, 2 @~6

5-3-0 Tempo Deadlift - 275X2, 2 @5.5

Bulgarian Split Squat - 45X7, 7 @~6

5-3-0 Tempo Bench - 145X2, 2 @~6

DB Rolling Triceps - 40X6 @6

Flex Arm Hanging Knee Raise - BWX6, 6

BB Curls - 55X10, 10 @~8

Good session.  Moved quickly through everything, and had no trouble adding weight to anything except rolling triceps.

The rolling triceps thing is still bothering the bottom of the muscle/tendon just above the elbow.  I though it got better last session, but it seemed to have gotten a bit worse this session.  At this point I'm going to switch it out for a different movement, because I don't want to carry any unnecessary inflammation, etc. into my next dev block.

Only got video of the lower body tempo work.

Pivot Block. Cycle 2.

BW - 225

Waist - 41.75"

5-3-0 Tempo Squat - 265X2, 2 @~6

5-3-0 Tempo Deadlift - 270X2, 2 @~6

Bulgarian Split Squat - 35X7, 7 @~6

5-3-0 Tempo Bench - 140X2, 2 @~6

DB Rolling Triceps - 40X6 @5.5

Flex Arm Hanging Knee Raise - BWX5, 5

BB Curls - 52.5X10, 10 @~8

Conditioning - HIIT; Stationary Bike; 7 rounds

Moved through this nice and quick with rest times ~2 minutes or less.  Resistance training was finished in about an hour even with remembering to do the ab and biceps work.  I rearranged the order so that all the lower body work is together at the beginning and all the upper body at the end.  This flowed much better.

Because the rolling triceps seemed to be bothering my left elbow, I left the weight the same.  There was still some discomfort there, but not as much as last time.

Couldn't be bothered with video.

I track waist circumference and I'm going to add that into this log because BW fluctuation isn't telling the whole story.

BW fluctuation over the last month:

Waist fluctuation over the last month:

Pivot Block. Cycle 1.

BW - 221

5-3-0 Tempo Squat - 257.5X2, 2 @~6

5-3-0 Tempo Bench - 137.5X2, 2 @~6

5-3-0 Tempo Deadlift - 262.5X2, 2 @~6

Bulgarian Split Squat - 25X7, 7 @~5

DB Rolling Triceps - 40X6 @6.5

Conditioning - LISS; Treadmill Walking; 20 minutes

Next block will be using single session cycles because of time constraints.  I'll be using this pivot to kind of feel that out a little.

Tempo lifts were all fine and were max @6.  Probably a little lower, but I'm not really worried about the first session of the pivot block.  I like to still see the weight progress in these blocks, so I don't mind starting "too" light.

I did the BSS with a 25 lb. bumper.  I looked around for a 15 kg, but couldn't find one, so I just stayed @5.  I think holding the grippy plate is a bit easier on getting into position and on balance than using a DB, so I'll find a 15 kg next time.

My right triceps near the elbow were not super happy about the heavy eccentric on the rolling triceps.  Gonna be real careful about that next session and be prepared to swap out a different movement.  It would suck to get an injury in a pivot block.

Didn't get video of the tempo pulls.

Texas Method Team Training. Week 11. Volume Day

BW - 223

Squat - 315X5X5

Press - 125X5X5

Deadlift - 250X10X2

Was on my own training today as I couldn't make the team training day.  Would have liked to be with the coach, etc. for my run at 315 5X5, but it is what it is.  And what it is is pretty hard!  It's such a milestone thing to do 3 plates-per-side for 5X5 for me, that I got pretty amped up.  This had me gripping the bar too hard; a habit I've been breaking myself of.  The result was that, by the time I was stepping up for set #3, my shoulders and elbows were screaming.  I ended up taking extra long breaks in between sets to let the pain recede.  Long story short:  I got the 315X5X5, and it was hard, and my elbows really hurt afterward.

The pain in my elbows radiated down into my wrists and hands, and made the Press feel really weak.  This 5X5 was also very difficult today, but I got it as well.

By this time, Deadlifting seemed like a cake-walk and went just fine.

Also, the guy that spotted my last 3 sets of Squats, ended up working up to 700X1.  That was pretty fucking cool to watch.

Phase 1. Week 3. Bench Press

BW - 208

Bench -
BarX10
95X5
115X4
135X3
155X2
185X5, 2

Cambered Bar Bench - 155X3, 3, 2

Incline - 135X5, 5, 5, 5, 5

Felt under-slept and over-stressed coming into the gym today, and it may have contributed to a feeling of struggle throughout the session.

Nevertheless, 185X5 is a Rep PR.  This was without a spotter.  My goal for this weight is 8 reps.  My left elbow started bothering me a lot during the top sets.  Not the golfer's elbow that I've had, but more of an undefined, comprehensive ache.

The cambered sets were very difficult, and the elbow continued to ache.  Less reps per set than last session.

I dropped the incline down to 135, and did sets of 5 until they started to slow down.  Everything felt a little better after these.