Time Crunch + Forearm Pain Week 1. Day A.

 sRPE @6.5

BW  - 227   

SSB -

-    up to 300X1 @9

-    250X3 @8

Reverse SSB Box Squats - 210X3, 3, 3 @~7.5

Circuit -

-    Leg Curls - X9, 8, 8 @8

-    Hypers - BW+25 behind head X8, 8, 7 @8

-    Leg Extensions - X12, 10, 10 @8/9

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

Schedule is all over the place this month and next, plus I think I need to just back off anything that puts much stress on grip for a while.

Not letting perfect be the enemy of good, I'll just go in when I can and try to hit some stuff, and maybe a plan will emerge.

S/B/D/R+ Week 4. Day A.

BW - 225

Squats - 

-    up to 355X1 @9.5

-    290X3 @~7

BB Rows w/Straps -

-    200X5 @8

-    200X3, 3 @7

Leg Curls - X8, 8, 7, 6 @8

super-set with

Leg Extensions - X10, 9, 9. 9 @8

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

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

Only training session from last week.  Got hit by a combination of schedule crunch and a cold. 

S/B/D/R+ Week 3. Day C.

sRPE @8.5

BW - 227

Deadlift w/Straps -

-    up to 355X1 @8

-    315X3, 3, 3, 3, 3 @7/7.5

DB Bench - 60sX9, 7, 7, 6 @~8

Pull-Downs w/Straps - X10, 9, 8 @8/9

Cable Curls - X10, 9, 8, 8, 8 @~8

super-set with

Machine Knee Raise - X7, 7, 7, 7 @~8

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

Tough session.  Not sure if it was general end of the week fatigue, the added volume from this week catching up with me, or just normal ups-and-downs of training.  Looking forward to a couple of days off.

S/B/D/R+ Week 3. Day B.

sRPE @8

BW - 223

Bench - 

-    up to 225X1 @9

-    185X3, 3, 3, 3, 3 @7/7.5

FFE BSS - BWX11, 10, 8, 6 @8/9

NG Cable Rows - X10, 10, 8 @~8

super-set with

Bent Knee GHR Sit-Ups - BWX8, 8, 6 @~8

Machine Standing Calf Raises - X8, 7, 7, 6 @8/9

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

Felt good coming in today, but Bench was flaaaaaat.  Everything else seemed fine.

S/B/D/R+ Week 3. Day A.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 225

Squats - 

-    up to 350X1 @8.5

-    295X3, 3, 3, 3, 3 @6/7

BB Rows w/Straps - 

-    up to 200X5 @8

-    200X3, 3, 3 @~7.5

GHR - BWX10, 9, 8, 8 @~8

super-set with

Machine Laterals - X12, 9, 9, 8, 8 @8/9

Cable Rear Delt Flyes - X9, 9, 7, 6, 6 @8/9.5

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

Weather was great, and focus was strong.  Feels good to be able to handle this volume right now

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 2. Day B.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 220

Bench - 

-    up to 225X1 @8

-    195X3, 3, 3, 3 @7.5/8.5

FFE BSS - BWX11, 10, 9, 8 @8

Cable Rows - X11, 10, 9 @8

super-set with

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

Machine Standing Calves - X8, 7, 8, 7 @~8

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

Solid session.  I've been taking a bit more time on my warm-up singles this week trying to feel out where my top set should be.  On both Squat and Bench, I re-took my last warm-up single and both times found the 2nd set easier allowing me to go for something higher on the top set.  Patience, I guess.

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

sRPE @8

BW - 228

Deadlift - 

-    up to 365X1 @7

-    325X3, 3, 3 @~7

DB Bench - 60sX8, 8, 7 @8

Pull-Downs - X8, 8, 7 @8/10

BB Curls - 60X9, 8, 7 @8

super-set with

GHR Sit-Ups - BWX8, 7, 6 @8/8.5

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

I was already dragging much ass coming into a hot and humid gym today, so the workout was a slog.

Nevertheless, DL was better than expected.

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

sRPE @7

BW - 223

Bench - 

-    up to 215X1 @7.5

-    190X3, 3, 3 @7.5/8.5

FFE BSS - BWX12, 10, 10 @8/9.5

Cable Rows - X11, 9, 9 @8

super-set with

GHR Sit-Ups - BWX11, 8, 7 @8

Machine Standing Calves - X7, 7, 7, 7 27.5/10

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

I've been low-key a coward about putting Front Foot Elevated Bulgarian Split Squats into my program regularly, and yes:  they suck.  Time to get good at them!

Fun session.

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 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 3. Day A.

sRPE @8.5

BW - 223

BB Rows - 

-    up to 200X3 @7

-    add straps - 170X8, 8, 8, 8 @7/9.5

Pulldowns w/Straps - X8, 8, 8 @~8

GHR - BWX10, 10, 8 @8

super-set with

Bench Dips - BWX14, 10, 9 @8

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

super-set with

1-Arm Cable Wrist Extensions - X10, 8, 8 @8/9

Stationary Bike - HIIT; 0:20/1:40; 8 rounds

If adding straps, adding wrist extension work, and subbing bike for rower doesn't yield any real relief by EOW, I'll have to make more drastic changes to programming.  Issues are effecting me outside the gym too much. 

Reap What You Row Week 2. Day B.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 229

BB Rows - 165X3, 3, 3 @~5

Deadlift - 

-    up to 335X1 @5.5

-    315X3, 3 @5

Cable Rear Delt Flyes - X6, 6, 5 X8/9

super-set with

Cable Flyes - X9, 8, 9 @~8

Machine Standing Calf Raises - X10, 8, 8, 7 @~8

Stationary Bike - HIIT; 0:20/1:40; 7 rounds

Solid session. 

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.  

3 Day SBD. Cycle 1. Session E.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 217

Bench - 

up to 200X1 @6

185 (80%) X3, 3, 3 @5.5/6

CG Bench - 165 (70% of Bench) X2, 2, 2 @~5.5

Chins - BWX2, 2, 2 @~6.5

Triceps Pushdowns - X10, 15, 8 @6.5/10

super-set with

Machine Flyes - X10, 14, 12 @7.5/10

Stationary Bike - HIIT; 10 minutes

Solid little session.  I think I can start adding sets to the supplemental movements on all volume days.  If that goes well, I'll see if it feels like a good idea to add sets to the main movements.

3 Day SBD. Cycle 1. Session C.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 220

SBD singles at 80, 85, 90% of last e1RM:

-    Squat - 275, 290, 310X1 @5/7.5

-    Bench - 180, 195, 205X1 @5/7.5

-    Deadlift - 330, 340, 360X1 @4/6.5

Pull-Downs - X11, 8, 9 @9/10

Stationary Bike - HIIT; 10 minutes

First SBD day "in" the program (as opposed to the test day at the start).

Squats felt a bit heavy on my back, but performance was on target.

Bench felt better without the ab DOMS in the last session, but performance was about the same.

DL was the big winner this session as RPEs were well lower than expected.

3 Day SBD. Cycle 1. Session A.

sRPE @7

BW - 224

Squats - 

up to 295X1 @6

275 (80%)X3, 3 @6

Plate Deficit DL - 300(74% of DL)X2, 2, 2 @~5.5

Copenhagen Planks - BWX10, 10, 10 (each side) @7/8

DB Curls - 25sX10, 10, 10 @7/8

super-set with

High Incline Leg/Hip Raises - BWX5, 5, 3 @8/10

Stationary Bike - HIIT; 10 minutes

Using a mix of RPE targets and %'s this block on the strength movements.  Assistance movements generally approaching failure.  Autoregulating volume across the board to try and walk out of the gym feeling fresh-to-fine.

I called an audible and added in the Leg/Hip raises.  I feel like since I've not been doing the Toes-to-Bar, I'm feeling more hip extensor discomfort following Squat workouts.  However, this super-set also increased sRPE for the day.  

Still tempted to take this approach on lower focus day of cutting Biceps volume and super-setting in hip extensor work.  Just have to play it by ear.

3 Day FB Hypertrophy. Cycle 4. Session F.

sRPE @8

BW - 222

BB Rows - 145X8, 8, 8 @7/8

031 Tempo Work:

-    BB Curls - 60X9, 8 @10

-    CG Bench - 110X10, 10, 10, 10, 10 @8/9

-    GHR - BWX12, 12, 12, 12, 12 @6.5/9.5

Stationary Bike - HIIT; 10 minutes

Had a few days off for the spouse's birthday.  Once again, this style of training seems better able to "withstand/absorb" schedule disruptions compared to the strength-oriented training I'd been doing.  

Probably time to at least start thinking about how I could train for strength performance in a way that would also allow for an inconsistent schedule.  I've got some inklings, but nothing I'm putting on paper yet.

3 Day FB Hypertrophy. Cycle 4. Session C.

sRPE @8

BW - 224

Chins - BWX2, 2, 2 @~7

031 Tempo Work:

-    EZ Face Pulls - X11, 11 @10

-    Incline Bench* - 95X10, 10, 10, 10, 10 @6.5/10

-    Roman Chair Squats - BWX10, 10, 10, 8, 6 @9/10

Stationary Bike - HIIT; 10 minutes

*Finally found the technique on Incline that's giving me the sensation I'm looking for, that is, a stretch feeling across the upper chest and front delts: 1) Wider grip; hands at the rings.  2) Arms flared to 90 degrees throughout; "guillotine" style.  3)  Driving my elbows towards the floor right before the concentric; getting a vertical forearm under the bar to push through.

Roman Chair 2 cycles ago (before the lower volume, intensity technique cycle) I did 5 sets of 8.  Turns out strength hasn't gone up enough to hit 5 sets of 10, lol.  These were hard, but like most BW-only movements, don't seem to be systemically fatiguing.  I also played around with trying to "kick" my feet into the brace out of the bottom to try and shift as much of the tension to my quads as possible.  That kind of felt like it was working.