HLM. Week 1. Day 1.

BW - 228

Paused HB Squat - 225X5, 5, 5

Bench -
245X1
195X5, 5, 5, 5, 5

RDL - 295X5, 5

Ramp up week for my HLM program now that adductor feels good enough to get back to training Squats and DL.  Got some feedback from SS coaches Brent Carter and Michael Wolf on the design.

I don't think I've ever done Paused High Bar Squats, so...Rep PR!  I'm treating this session and the next as a sort of introduction to movements and program, and so didn't worry too much about pushing intensity.  This weight was fine, and I felt a bit worked afterwards.  Intensity will increase from here.  Last set shown.

I dropped the top set of Bench back 5 lbs. from last week's 5X1.  Again, treating the last two sessions of this week as a ramp up to the program.  195X5X5 felt like a solid work-weight, though.  Top set and last back-off set shown.

295X5 is a Rep PR on RDL.  This was the only movement where I was "going for something."  Straps help so much here, but I use "Oly" straps so this weight still stressed my grip a bit.  Still worth it to be able to feel out the more important details of the movement.  Filming the first set, I realized that the weight was swinging out when I initiate the concentric.  Cleaned it up a bit on the second set, but still not totally locked in.  I'm fairly certain this is because my knees are shooting forward, but I'm not positive on the cue to fix it yet.  Last set shown.

Getting back to only doing 3 movements in a session sure made it feel like I was getting out "early."

Old Man Texas Method. Week 5. Intensity Day

BW - 228

Squat - 385X5

Press - 150X3 (fail on 4), 3

Deadlift - 375X2 (fail on 3), 2, 2

385X5 is a PR on Squats.  As has been usual on Intensity Day, the late-middle warm-up sets didn't feel great, but the last single of warm-ups felt okay, and then the work set felt really good. 

That was the good news.  The rest wasn't so good.  Press felt very heavy in the late warm-ups.  I girded my loins and still went into the work set looking for 5, but failed on rep 4.  So okay.  We'll move on to 2X3 for Press on I.D.  Technically, this is a 2X3 PR.  Both sets shown.

Deadlifts were an even bigger disaster.  Based on advice I got from a Starting Strength coach on their forum, I reset my DL by 15 lbs. so that I could progress again with the preferred 1X5 -> 2X3 -> 3X2 -> 5X1 ID progression.  Well, I failed on rep 3.  However, watching the video and being honest with myself, I think I gave up on it pretty quick.  The 2nd and 3rd sets of 2 looked plenty strong and fast.  Therefore, I will go at this weight again next week.  I will either get the 5, or look for 2X3 to progress on.  1st and 3rd sets shown.