Calling this a maintenance block. As the lifestyle changes to reverse the Diabetes continue, I want to move a little further away from crunching numbers/looking for optimal, and just kind of low fatigue / punch the clock on the basics: Low Reps (1-5) on the main movements; Moderate Reps (8-12) on compound supplements, and High Reps (15-20) on Isolation/Single-Limb accessories.
I haven't been logging this, but I've also added 20 minute cardio session 3X a week.
Interesting how quickly Bench and Deadlift top-end strength is plateauing with this low volume "maintenance" approach following two dedicated blocks. This is only the third block trying this set up where slot 2 is medium stress maintenance + hypertrophy, and slot 3 is low stress maintenance.
Results over the last two blocks were mixed, with the first block showing generally very good results for the lifts that weren't the block focus, and the second block having poorer results. But on average, I showed improvement on the non-focus lifts within each of the 2 blocks, and even the poorer, 2nd block averaged an increase on those lifts.
Inter-block is a little bit of a different issue as I had generally poor results coming out of the pivot into Block 17, so although there was good improvement within the block, some of the non-focus lifts ended up with a lower Peak e1RM than in the previous block (Dips and Squats). Anyway, just something I'm keeping an eye on.
Pull-Downs (supinated) - X12, 9, 7 (straight-weight; same weight as previous)
Hammer Curls -
45sX5
35sX12, 10
Moved Squats back into LP mode to see if I can run them up a bit. Definitely readjusting to what "heavy" sets across feel like, i.e. what it feels like when every rep isn't fast or "easy" all the way through. I probably panicked a bit in the last session when that happened, but I got my mind more right coming into this one, and was able to approach it with more confidence. Also, getting back into my old work set routine of making sure the unrack is stable before I walk it out, and making sure the bar is settled on my back between breath and rep. Last set shown.
2nd day back to LP for Press. These all moved very well. Very happy with how it went. Last set shown.
I Deadlifted for the first time in a couple of months. Zero adductor tightness on this movement, although it's still tender outside of the gym. Just did a set at 315 to feel it out.
As far as the assistance, I'm not caring about it as much now that I'm back on all the main lifts. Pull-Ups were week, pull-downs and curls were both strong.
Pull-Downs - X11, 8, 7 (straight-weight; same weight as previous)
BB Curls - ~60X11, 10
Starr Rehab Squats were expected to be sets of 8 today, but the Squat had other plans. 6th rep with 315 was challenging technically, so I called it there and went ahead and dropped to sets of 5. These all "felt" like real work sets and my legs were nice and achy for about 24 hours following. I'm just going to switch over to standard LP progression with 10 lb. jumps (hopefully) between sessions. Adductor still feels a bit sharp on the initial warm-up sets, and feels a bit spasm-y at times outside of the gym, but nothing nearly as debilitating as it was. Current plan is to run the LP up to the mid-to-high 300's and then switch back into regular programming with an HLM, top-set followed by back-off sets approach. I'm hopeful that lower intensity back-off volume will help continue the healing process while also driving adaptation for the top sets. All 3 work sets shown.
250X1 is a Rep PR on bench. Nice to get it for 5 sets, too! The first set was really close as the descent was a bit slow, and touched a bit high. Those were the two cues I took into the other sets, and they were all much better. I may try to push this up one more time. Would be nice to notch 255 before I switch over to HLM, but we'll just have to see. Last set shown.
Chins were fine. Still strict and double-paused.
RDLs still feeling good with the straps. So good, I'm probably sand-bagging on switching back to pulls from the floor. "I'm talkin' to the man in the mirror."
Pull-downs were the same total reps as last time, with a slightly different distribution. All these chin-up accessories are probably going out the door once the adductor feels good enough to switch back to regular programming. Looking back at my log, I have added about ~15 lbs. over the course of about 2.5 months. Went from getting ~105X8 to getting ~115X11-12.
Likewise, I've taken barbell curls from getting ~50X9 on the 2nd set to getting ~60X10 on the 2nd set here. If I start to miss these movements because my chin-up strength starts going backwards, this is stuff I could potentially mix in on off days at the gym in my office building, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. The main thing is to get back to regular, progressive work on the multi-joint barbell movements.
Pull-Downs (supinated) - X10, 8, 7 (straight-weight; +~5lbs. from last session)
Hammer Curls -
40sX5
30sX12, 10
Starr Rehab Squats felt much better today. 305X10 is actually a Rep PR. Probably going to go ahead and drop down to 8's for the next 1-3 sessions. Didn't get the same painful low-back pump as the other times I switched, but we're starting to get into range of pre-injury workset weights. It seems better to kind of "glide" up into 5's, making sure form is consistent rather than grind myself down chasing higher rep sets. Last set shown.
RPE experiment on Press is over. Maybe with additional guidance, or more time, I would have found my way into making it productive, but I was sick of each workout with the same weight feeling harder than the one before it, so I'm going back to more traditional SS programming. I may still stall out this round, but at least I'll have a clearer idea of how to proceed. Last set shown.
Pull-Ups were fine. Hadn't done them in about 10 days due to travel, etc. Left a rep in the tank on every set.
I brought my straps in today for RDLs. So much easier to execute this way. Really focused on: 1) bar stays in contact with leg, 2) bard drops because butt moves backwards, and 3) shoulders back hard at the top to contract the lats. Two sets of 5 and my lats were burning after the first set this way.
Upped weight on pull-downs with now predictable results. Will stay here until I get 3X10+.
Dropped the top-set reps on Hammer Curls and that left more in the tank for the back-off sets. We'll see what happens when I up the weight next time.
Was out of town for a few days, so I backed up 10 lbs. on the Starr Rehab squats. Went ahead and backed reps off to 10 as previously planned. These were okay, but my adductor was kind of cranky throughout, and has been giving me discomfort ever since. We'll see how it goes next time. Finale set shown.
I was looking for doubles with 245. I failed on my first attempt. The first rep of the second set made it clear that doubles weren't happening, so I proceeded to complete 5 singles. Will continue with 5 singles adding only 2.5 lbs. per jump until I can't get 5. 1st, 2nd, and final set shown.
Was training on an off-day and plan to come in two days in a row to get back on track. So I didn't do any Chins or chin accessories. I will do just those and Starr Rehab squats today.
Because the adductor was cranky and because of the lay-off, I was conservative with the RDLs and backed off 20 lbs. If the adductor feels okay next time, I will jump back to the previous weight of 275. If it then continues to feel okay, I may start pulling from the floor again.
Pull-Downs - X12, 8, 6 (straight-weight; same weight as last session)
BB Curls - ~60X10, 9
Starr Rehab Squats continue. Adductor was bugging me a bit during the first set, but not the others. Weight has gotten heavy enough now, though, that low-back pump and conditioning are making it very difficult to complete all reps with good form. Gonna drop on down to 10 reps per set. Last set shown.
Went into this session with a lot more intel on using RPE in the BBM way (gleaned from some YouTube videos by Alan Thrall). Using the RPE chart, I was dropping the weight on the first and 2nd sets, and the third set would project to be around where it's been. 120X5 was supposed to be @6, but it felt much heavier than expected and was @7. Based on my understanding of the BBM approach to RPE, I should have stayed there at the next set. However, Press has been pretty demoralizing the last few weeks, and no progress has really been apparent. The prospect of reducing average intensity again was a real bummer. I'm about to go out of town to attend to some family issues, and really didn't want to leave it on this note, knowing I wouldn't be training again for several days. So instead I just maxed out. 165X1 is a Rep PR. That was nice to hit. Some might say that indicates progress, but frankly 165 has been right around my projected max for a while. Anyway.
Chin-Ups were okay at the new, stricter, double-paused, chest to bar execution. 1 less rep than last time, though. Whatever. Press PR.
RDL felt pretty strong. Grip seems to be the limiting factor right now. May just pack straps next time.
Got a couple more total reps on pull-downs with the same weight as last time.
Pull-Downs (supinated) - X12, 10, 10 (straight-weight; same weight as last time)
Hammer Curls -
40sX7
30sX10, 8
Starr Rehab Squats feeling good. Almost no adductor discomfort on this day. Added a belt back in for the final set.
240X3 is a Rep PR on bench. Failed on the 3rd rep on the other two sets. Everything felt pretty good. Just at the upper limits of my strength where execution has to be absolutely perfect. For instance, on the 2nd set, the 3rd rep touched too high, and that was enough to throw everything off. All 3 sets shown.
Similar to chins, I reset my pull-ups to a stricter approach. Full hang at the bottom, and trying to touch chest at the top. Couldn't touch, but did pause all reps.
RDLs felt very strong today. No racks available so had to pull from the floor, but no adductor twinges.
Got all my reps on pull-downs and so can up the weight on those next time.
Curl strength seems to have rebounded or improved slightly.
