Block 5. Cycle 7. Session A.

BW - 222

Squat -
380X2 @9
325X6, 6, 6 @8.25/8.5

High-Bar Squat - 265X5, 5, 5 @8

Bench-Grip Deadlift w/ Straps - 325X5, 5, 5 @8

Mixed session.

Squat top set went very well.  A touch heavier than the days target.  However, I probably should have pulled back on the volume sets. 

High-Bars and Wide Grip Deads were fine, but I was completely mentally wiped by the time I finished my low bar sets.  I didn't want to do any more squats, and after squats, I didn't want to do anything at all. 

I traveled out of town this last weekend, and I think travel and vacation activities may have contributed. 

To this point, available evidence had pointed to a 7 week time-to-peak.  However, the squat top set looks like my second best increase of the block, and my best Week 7 Squat.  Unless Bench and Deadlift convincingly crash and burn this week, I will plan on extending this block another week.

All video is of top sets and final work sets.

Block 5. Cycle 6. Session C.

BW - 221

Deadlift -
400X2 @8.75
342.5X6, 6, 6 @8

Pause Squat - 275X5, 5, 5 @8

Axle Bench - 197.5X5, 5, 5 @~8

400 is a weight PR on Deadlift, and obviously a Rep PR.  Nice.  Felt easier than I expected, but not as easy as it looks on the video.  There was some "meet day" mental focus that contributed to this lift, as there always is for a milestone.  Target for next week will be 4 plates (maybe more).  So we'll do it all over again, then.

Back-off sets also all felt very good, although this is a new-ish bar and the heavy knurling on TnG deadlift is brutal on the hands.  I add a ton of extra chalk just to try and mitigate it.

Pause Squats felt very good.  I probably could have added a touch more weight, but 275 is just nice.

Axle bench was a little tough because I still have some DOMS in my pec from the previous session.  Made the first couple of works sets a little tough, but was solid by the end.

Video is of top sets and final work sets.

Block 5. Cycle 6. Session B.

BW - 221

Bench -
250X2 @9.25
210X6, 6, 6 @~8/8.75

Cambered Bench - 172.5X5, 5, 5 @~8

Chin-Ups - BW Density Block; 7 minutes; 7 reps on first set; 31 total reps

Decent session.

I pushed the weight on the top set of bench a touch higher than was indicated, because getting a lift-off for the top sets has seemed to give a little boost.  I was probably just a smidge ambitious, but no harm.  The annoying thing will be if I end up using the same weight next week. 

I dialed-it in tigher for the back-off sets.  The first two were good, with the second being a particularly rock-solid @8, but the difficulty on the third jumped for some reason.

Cambered bench was well locked-in.

Got another rep on the first set of chins, but the same number of total reps.  All good.

Video is of top sets and final work sets of the barbell lifts (using my phone as a timer during chins, so can't really take video).

Block 5. Cycle 6. Session A.

BW - 221

Squat -
370X2 @9
317.5X6, 6, 6 @8

High-Bar Squat - 260X5, 5, 5 @8

Bench-Grip Deadlift - 317.5X5, 5, 5 @8

Very solid session.

Nice 5 lb. jump in the top double on Squats, and the back-off sets went up 7.5 lbs. AND had a slightly lower RPE on average than last week.  e1RM crested 400 for the firs time since I started using Emerging Strategies.

High-Bars and BGDL also trended upwards a bit stronger than in recent weeks.

All video is of top sets and final work sets.

Block 5. Cycle 5. Session C.

BW - 221

Deadlift -
392.5X2 @9
330X6, 6, 6 @~8

Pause Squats -
262.5X5 @7.5
265X5, 5 @~8

Axle Bench - 195X5, 5, 5 @8

392.5X2 is a Rep PR on Deadlift.  My first Rep PR since using Emerging Strategies.  Back felt a little "something" at the top of rep 1, but I was able to finish the session with no pain, and no apparent drop-off in performance.  The feeling of "something" in my low back has been present every since, so we'll see how Comp Squat session goes today.  My assumption is that everything will be fine.

Pause Squats were rock solid.

The ~70lb. axle I've been using all block was occupied, so I had to use the lighter axle.  I don't actually know how much it weighs.  I compared it subjectively to how heavy it felt in my hands compared to a standard barbell, and guess-timated 40lbs. for this session.  All good.

Video is of top sets and final work sets.

Block 5. Cycle 5. Session B.

BW - 222

Bench -
242.5X2 @9
207.5X6, 6, 6 @8/8.75

Cambered Bar Bench - 167.5X5, 5, 5 @8

Chin-Ups - Density Block; 7 minutes; 6 reps on first set; 31 total reps

Conditioning - LISS; Treadmill Walking; 20 minutes

Another solid session this week.  Nice to get a little string of them going.

Week 5 hasn't been great for Bench to this point, so it was nice to get a bigger than usual jump this week.  I was shooting for 245, but warm-ups indicated something slightly lighter.  The top set was rock solid, and has been this cycle.  I think some of that is down to only getting a lift-off on the top set allowing me to have a tad more energy for the actual reps.

Cambered Bench was also solid.

I only got 1 more rep in the Chin-Up density block this week, but I was 2 lbs. heavier than last week so that's alllllllright. 

Video is of top sets and final work sets.

Block 5. Cycle 5. Session A.

BW - 222

Squat -
365X2 @9
310X6, 6, 6 @~8

High-Bar Squat - 252.5X5, 5, 5 @8

Bench-Grip DL - 307.5X5, 5, 5 @8

Another good session bouncing back from cold and (all-but-gone bronchitis).

Squats made a bigger jump than they have the last couple of weeks.  Just felt much more "there."  Looking forward to seeing how the block goes.

I was hyper-focused on execution today since I had one less rest day between DL and Squat days than usual.  Probably gave myself longer rests between sets than usual on average as well.  Closer to 5 minute rests than 3 minute rests. 

High Bars and Wide-Grip DLs were all solid as well.

Sleep has been behind a little bit so I was still ready for the session to be over by the last movement.  Was meeting a friend to watch a game, so skipped out on conditioning again.

All video is of top sets and final work sets.