Son of a Bench Week 12. Day A.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 223

Bench - 

-    up to 225X1 @9

-    185X5 @7

Lever Dips - 205X10, 8, 8 @~10

Circuit:

-    Leg Extensions - X12, 11 @8

-    Adductor Machine - X12, 10 @8

-    Lat Pushdowns - X8, 8 @~9

-    Cable Curls - X10, 8 @8/9

1-Arm DB OH Extensions - 25X10, 9, 7 @~10

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Press - X17, 13 @10

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

We threw a dinner party the night before, so I was coming in pretty rough to train in the AM.  However, we're leaving town this weekend for a camping trip, so I had to train if I want to get 3 sessions in this week.  Top-end performance was quite muted.

When it came time for the Hack Squats / Pull-Downs super set, I just could not.  Did an iso circuit instead. 

Son of a Bench Week 11. Day A.

sRPE @7

BW - 225

Bench - 

-     up to 225X1 @8.5

-    190X5 @7.5

Lever Dips - 205X14, 8 @~10

GHR - BWX16, 10 @9

super-set with

CS Rows - 125X8, 7 @8/9

1-Arm DB OH Extensions - 25X14, 9, 7 @10

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Press - X15, 12 @10

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

Stayed out late the night before and was kind of dragging-ass to get into the gym before the early holiday closure.

All things considered, a very solid session.

Son of a Bench Week 10. Day A.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 223

Bench -

-    up to 225X1 @8.5

-    185X5 @7

Lever Dips - 205X12, 7 @10

Hack Squats - 100X9, 8 @~8

super-set with

Pull-Downs - X10, 7 @8

1-Arm DB OH Extensions - 25X12, 8, 7 @10

super-set with 

Machine SL Calf Press - 195X13, 12 @10

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

Facilitated both a Birthday Party and a Memorial at the end of the week.  That prevented me from getting a 3rd session in, and left me coming into this session carrying additional stress.

Pretty good session all things considered!

Son of a Bench Week 9. Day A.

sRPE @7

BW - 224

Bench - 

-    up to 235X1 @9

-    195X5 @7

Lever Dips - 205X13, 9 @~10

GHR - BWX12, 11 @8

super-set with

CS Rows - 115X10, 7 @8

1-Arm DB OH Extensions - 25X12, 8, 7 @10

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Press - X14, 11 @10

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

Right Pec was a little sore throughout Benching, but everything turned out ok.

Upped intensity on Lever Dips, and volume on triceps isolation.

Solid session.

Son of a Bench Week 8. Day A.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 224

Bench -

-    up to 225X1 @8

-    185X5 @7.5

Lever Dips - 205X8, 7 @~8

Hack Squats - 100X8, 7 @8

super-set with

Pull-Downs - X9, 8 @~8

1-Arm DB OH Extensions - 25X10, 9 @~10

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Press - X10, 9 @~10

Rower - HIIT, 5 rounds

Back from a week long trip.  Basically starting the program over.  This session looks almost exactly like the 'A' sessions from the first two weeks.  It will be interesting to see if lifts progress faster, slower, or about the same.

Happy to report that I had not foot/plantar fasciitis issues at all spending 6 days walking around NYC and an upstate farm.  We'll see if any of that discomfort reemerges (i.e. was it due to training?) or if the calf work and switching ~half my conditioning to the rower helped clear that up.

Son of a Bench Week 7. Day A.

sRPE @7

BW - 222

Bench -

-    up to 225X1 @8.5

-    185X5 @7.5

Lever Dips - 205X7, 6 @~8

GHR - BWX8, 8 @~8

super-set with

CS Rows - 115X9, 7 @8

1-Arm DB OH Extensions - 25X9, 7 @~8

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Press - X12, 11 @~10

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

After a pretty stressful week off, and with a (hopefully more relaxing) week off coming up, I reduced volume and intensity to intro week levels.

My low back is also still giving me a smidge of trouble after going a bit HAM on SLDL last week.

All in all, just trying to #gaintain until I get back.  It's looks like I'll have a summer pattern of 1 month of disruptions and 1 month of consistent training.  

Son of a Bench Week 6. Day A.

sRPE @8

BW - 221

Bench - 

-    up to 240X1 @8

-    205X5, 5 @8/9

Lever Dips - 205X12, 8, 8 @10

Hack Squats - 110X8, 6 @8

super-set with

Pull-Downs - X10, 9 @10

1-arm DB OH Extensions - 25X13, 7, 7 @10

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Presses - X14, 11 @10

Rower - HIIT; 5 rounds

Whew.  A one set increase in Bench volume, and taking most of my accessories to failure instead of to RPE 8 made this the most short-term fatiguing session of the block so far.

I have houseguests this week which mean I'll probably only get one more session in until next week.  I probably need to be prepared to make some judgement calls on next weeks volume and intensity.

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. 

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 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 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 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.

Dippin' into Dips Week 2. Day C.

sRPE @7

BW - 226

Dips - BWX5, 5, 5 @~6/8

Lever Machine Dips - 180X12, 12, 8 @10

Chins - 

-    up to BW+25X1 @9.5

-    BWX3, 3 @~8

Adductor Machine - X13, 11 @~9

Rope Pushdowns - X15, 12, 12 @10

Solid session, and then helped as a spotter for an EOY Max Out event at the gym.

Dips, Leg Press, Shoulders, Triceps

sRPE @7

BW - 223

Lever Dips - 225X9, 8, 7, 6 @10

Leg Press Drop Sets - 270X11, 225X9, 180X7, 135X7 @10

DB Incline Laterals - 15sX10, 12, 8, 7 @8/10

super-set with

DB Incline Extensions - 15sX12, 16, 10, 12 @7/10

First day back after 5 day camping trip.  Everything felt good.

Went up to 5 total plates on Lever Dips.  Historically, this lift has been ~90% of Dips, so I'm cautiously optimistic about how the wave of regular Dips will kick off next week. 

Heard some of the science folks talk recently about promising studies on Drop Sets compared to Rest Pause approaches.  I did a lot of Rest Pause recently inspired by Mike Israetel, but haven't done Drop Sets much.  Thought I might give it a shot here and there on compound, low-specificity accessories.  

Between the Drop Sets and the Super Sets it was like 45 minutes in and out of the front door.  That basically demands I start doing HIIT conditioning at the end of sessions again, lol. 

Dips, GHR, Shoulders, Triceps

sRPE @8

BW - 225

Lever Dips - 205X13, 10, 8, 7 @10

GHR - BWX12, 11, 10, 8 @10

1-Arm, behind-the-back Cable Laterals - X11, 10, 10, 9 @10

super-set with

Rope Pushdowns - X16, 15, 13, 13 @10

Added one 25# plate to Lever Dips over last week and only lost 2-3 reps per set.  I'll go up to 5 plates next week.

GHR was interesting.  Recently on Hypers, I learned I could kind of make that whole movement happen just by "firing" my glutes.  I tried that today with similar results.  Contracting the glutes hard in the hang brought me to about parallel and which point the hamstrings can kick in harder for the knee flexion.

Because lingering Biceps soreness from this session last time interfered with Chin-Ups in the following session, I replaced them with triceps work here and will move Biceps work to the Chin-Ups day.

Between the Lever Dips and the B2B Cable Laterals, I've got some nice delt achiness today.

Dips, Hack Squats, Curls, Shoulders

sRPE @8

BW - 224

Lever Dips - 180X15, 11, 11, 9 @9.5/10

Hack Squats - 100X13, 10, 9, 8 @9.5/10

DB Incline Curls - 

-    20sX12 @10

-    15sX13, 12, 10 @9.5/10

super-set with

DB Incline Laterals - 15sX12, 9, 8, 7 @9.5/10

Start of the Lever Dips wave.  Will probably add a half plate next week and see what happens.  Once I settled on Bench Dips and Lever Dips as my movements for the first two waves, I was on the fence about what order they should go in.  On one hand, Bench Dips are a bit more "body in space," like the main lift, but the pressing angle of the lever dips is more similar and it's a bit easier to load.  We'll see what happens.

All reps of Hack Squat continue to be metal on metal at the bottom.  Feeling good.

Combo of Lever Dips and Incline Laterals got me some nice, anterior delt DOMS the following day.  

Deficit DL, Hips, Dips

sRPE @7.5

BW - 225

Deficit DL - 

-    up to 395X1 @9.5

-    370X3(PR) @9

-    315X3, 3 @~6

Big Hipper Supersets - 

-    Machine Knee Raise - X13, 12, 11 @10

-    Hypers - BWX13, 13, 13 @~10

-    Adductor Machine - X13, 14, 15 @10

Machine Dips - 135X15, 13, 10 @9/10

This time around with Deficits, it's been a challenge getting into good starting position and maintaining it below the knees.  Managed to go a bit heavier this week and also pull a PR triple, but it's the most challenging of the 3 main lift variations this wave.

Built up a lot of fatigue on DLs, so did the lowest fatigue movements on hip supersets.

Forgot to do curls dagnabbit. 

Med.-Rep Volume PRs. Week 2. Session D.

sRPE @5.5

BW - 224

Deadlift - 365X1 @7

Lying Leg Curls - X10, 10, 8, 7 @~10

Machine Dips - 180X14, 12 @~9

V-Bar Pushdowns - X22, 5 @6.5/10

Lat Pushdowns - X11, 10, 8, 9 @8.5/10

Caught a cold.  Went to the gym to see how it would go, but could tell from working up on DL that meaningful strength work wasn't going to happen today without a subpar performance that would also drive me into the ground.

Subbed in a bunch of low-stress hypertrophy work for the usual volume.

Mid-Rep Volume PRs. Pivot Session A.

sRPE @7

BW - 219

Horizontal Leg Press - X9, 9, 9, 9 @~6

GHR - BWX15, 15, 10 @7/8

Paused PL Machine Dips - 180X10, 10, 10 @6/8

Paused Bench Dips - BWX15 @9

Lat "Prayers" - X16, 13, 8 @9.5/10

EZ Cable Face-Pulls - X13, 12, 11 @~9.5

Feeling run down and beat up most of the week, and have a lot going on over the weekend, so decided to do an ad hoc pivot session.  I actually felt pretty good most of the day and was tempted to just do my regular training, but decided to stick with the plan.  

Interestingly, the RTS Stress app reads this as MORE stress than what I usually do.

Pivot Session B.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 209

320 Bench - 195X1, 1, 1 @8.5

NG DB Bench - 65sX10 @9

Front Squat (beltless) - 185X3, 3, 3 @~8

RDL (beltless) - 275X6, 6 @~8.5

Machine Dips (plate loaded) - 270X6, 6 @8/9

DB Curls - 40sX7, 6 @10