Workouts: Last 2 sessions

Thursday:

BW - 223

Hammer Incline - 70X8, 8, 7 @~8

Machine Press - X9, 8,7 @~8

super-set with

Machine Flyes- X8, 6, 6 @8/9

Cable Straight-Arm Pushdown - X12, 9, 8 @~8

Machine Laterals - X11, 9, 8 @8/9

Monday:

BW - 225

SSB Squat -

-    up to 300X1 @8.5

-    250X5 @8

Reverse Safety Bar Box Squats - 210X3, 3, 3 @~7

Chest-Supported Giant Sets -

-    Rows - 90X10, 8, 8 @7/8.5

-    Scapular Retractions - 90X5, 4, 4 @7/8

-    Finger Curls - 5, 4, 2 @8/10

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

Had some health issues the last week that interfered with training.

Off Day Training

 sRPE @5

Press - 

-    up to 115X1 @5

-    105X6 @8

-    75X12, 9 @~8

CS Rows - 100X10, 8, 7 @~8

1-Arm DB OH Extensions - 15X15, 10, 6 @8/10

Lever Shrugs (strapless) - 200X22, 16 @10

Just went in and trained with a pal doing mostly whatever he felt like.

Pivot. Week 2. Day A.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 227

Squat - 

-    up to 305X1 @6.5

-    275X3, 3, 3 @6/7

CS Rows - 115X9, 8, 7, 7 @~8

GHR (Westside/To-Parallel) - BWX8, 8, 7 @8/9

super-set with

Machine Laterals - X10, 9, 8 @8/9

Incline Rear Delt Laterals - 15sX9, 10, 9 @8/9

Rower - HIIT; 7 rounds

Low back felt fine the last day or so after tweaking it during Monday's DLs.  However, I felt some discomfort in my last Squat set.  I started warming up for BB Rows, and it didn't like that at all so I switched to Chest Supported and that was fine.

I started warming up on GHRs with my normal, "jack-knife" technique, but low back felt a little off still.  I switched to a Westside-style only coming down to parallel.  I'm not sure I've ever done those before, but they were much easier than expected; about 2/3 of what I can do jack-knife.  I didn't feel it in my glutes nearly as much, but the hamstrings were clearly the limiter.  A viable alternative for me to leg curls!

Pivot

sRPE @6

BW - 224

RDL (Beltless w/Straps) - 225X7, 7 @8

CS Rows - 125X7, 6 @~10

Cable Flyes - X9, 11, 10 @7.5/10

super-set with

Cable Rear Delt Flyes - X7, 7, 7 @10

Hypers - BW+25X14, 10 @8.5

super-set with

Machine Press - X12, 10 @~10

Machine Preacher Curls - X9, 7 @~10

super-set with

Machine SL Calf Press - X15, 12 @10

June schedule disruptions are just too much to try and chase consistency in the gym.  Going to go on a Pivot until July and (probably) start a short BB Row focused block. 

Made this session up as I went trying to fill gaps from the last session, and had fun.

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 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 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.  

Inter-Holiday Session

sRPE @5.5

BW - 227

Press (beltless) - up to 145X1(PR) @9.5

CS Rows - 135X10, 10 @8/9

Hanging Flexed Knee-to-Chest w/straps - BWX12(PR), 9, 7 @8.5/10

Pivot-y kind of session before I start a Press-focused block next week.  

I haven't done a ton of beltless Pressing, but I'm pretty sure that is a PR.  

Lockout on this an all of the singles working up to it felt different than they did recently when I was going after the Press.  I'd been hitting a pretty hard sticking point about 2/3 of the way up, and I'd tried attacking it with Pin Presses and Push Presses, with little success.  These sets hit that sticking point and slowed a little, but still smoothly pushed through to lockout.

If that feel holds through the beginning of the block, I'd be tempted to chalk it up to all of the triceps work I did on my Dips mini-block. 

I'm also pretty sure 12 reps at this BW is a Rep PR on Hanging Flexed-Knee-to-Chest, but I haven't done that variation too often.  Had to use straps on these because left forearm discomfort continues (and may become a confounder in my Pressing; fingers crossed).

Chin-Up War Week 11. Day A.

sRPE @7

BW - 220

Chins -

-    up to BW+45X1 @9.5

-    BWX5, 5, 5, 5 @7.5/9.5

CS Rows - 160X8, 7, 5 @9.5/10

GHR - BWX15, 11 @9.5/10

DB OH JM Press - 30sX11, 8 @~10

BB Curls - 95X10(PR) @10

Been a rough week, but managed to drag myself to the gym and grab a Rep PR on Curls.

Chin-Up War Week 10. Day A.

sRPE @7.5

BW - 224

Chins - BWX8, 5, 4, 4 @9/10

CS Rows - 135X15, 10, 8 @~10

Hack Squats - 125X10, 8 @~9

EZ OH Extensions - 60X11, 8 @~10

BB Curls - 85X8, 8, 8, 8(PR) @7.5/9

Chin strength came back a bit over last week, but still feeling plateau-y.  However, recovery is still feeling ok so I'm not sure if I should keep grooving here for a while, or think about shifting focus.  Hitting 10 reps does not feel imminent.  Maybe I back off the initial sets and see if I can hit 4 sets of 5?  Sets of 6 across at ~this BW would set some Volume PRs...

Chin-Ups remain one of my worst lifts.  However, all around upper body pressing strength is definitely in the chat.

85 for 4 sets of 8 is a Volume PR on curls.  I've backed off the RPE on the initial sets the last couple of weeks so I can grab these low-ish hanging Volume PRs.  

Chin-Up War Week 9. Day A.

sRPE @8

BW - 224

Chins - BWX6, 5, 4, 4 @9.5/9

CS Rows - 135X14, 10, 8 @9.5/10

GHR - BWX14, 11 @9.5

1-Arm DB OH Extensions - 25X13, 11 @9.5/10

BB Curls - 85X10, 10(PR), 10(PR) @7.5/10

Recovery has been off, and I think that impacted Chin-Up strength out of the gate.

85 for 2 and 3 sets of 10 are Volume PRs.

Chin-Up War Week 8. Day A.

sRPE @7

BW - 223

Chin-Ups - BWX9, 5, 4, 4 @10

CS Rows - 135X13, 9 @~10

Roman Chair Squats - BWX15, 12 @~9

BB OH Extension - 45X12, 10 @9

BB Curls - 85X13(PR), 8(PR) @10

Chins felt a little flat week-over-week.

Rep and Volume PRs on Curls. 

Chin-Up War Week 7. Day A.

sRPE @7

BW - 226

Chins - BWX9(PR), 5, 4 @10/9

CS Rows - 135X11, 10 @10

Hypers - BWX16, 14, @8/9

EZ OH Extensions - 55X12, 10 @10

BB Curls - 85X12(PR), 7(PR) @10

Another Rep PR on Chins, but barely got that last rep over the bar.

Wasn't feeling GHR today, so just kicked out some hypers instead.

85 for 12 is a Rep PR on Curls, and for 2 sets of 7 is a Volume PR as well.  Feel like I may shoot for a new 95# Rep PR with a 45# barbell at the end of the block.  

Chin-Up War Pivot. Day A.

sRPE @6.5

BW - 224

Chins - BWX8, 4 @9.5/8

CS Rows - 135X8, 7 @7.5/8

GHR - BWX14, 12 @9.5/9

1-Arm DB OH Extensions - 25X13, 10 @10

BB Curls - 85X8(PR), 6(PR) @~8

Reduced volume and intensity and swapping out Chin-Up Accessories this week.

85X8 and for 2 sets of 6+ are Rep and Volume PRs on Curls.  I didn't even know that at the time.  Nice to get some PRs at lower RPE.

Press, Squat, Back, Triceps

sRPE @8.5

BW - 225

Press Paused at Forehead - 

-    up to 145X1 @10

-    105X3, 3, 3 @6.5/7.5

ATG Squats - 225X6, 6, 6, 6 @7/9

CS Rows - 100X12, 10, 8, 8 @9/10

super-set with

Machine OH JM Press - X12, 9, 8, 8 @10

Solid start to the Paused Press wave.

Added a rep per set to the ATG squats.  Quite an intense movement.

I guess I didn't feel beat up enough so I decided to super-set compound movements at the end, lol. 

Close-Grip Bench, Leg Press, Rows

sRPE @7

BW - 224

Close-Grip Bench - 

-    up to 245X1(PR) @10

-    215X3(PR) @9

-    185X3, 3 @~7

Leg Press - 3ppsX11, 11, 10 @9/10

CS Rows - 115X11, 10, 9 @9/10

Two more PRs to close out the wave of close grips.  Hopefully translates to good things for comp bench next wave.

Closed-Grip Bench, Hack Squats, Upper Back

sRPE @7.5

BW - 224

Close-Grip Bench - 

-    up to 225X1 @9

-    185X3, 3, 3 @~7

Machine Flies w/ rest-pause partials - X10/10 @10

Hack Squats - 1ppsX12, 11, 10 @~8

Upper Back Attack - 

-    CS Rear Delt Rows w/ rest-pause partials - 45X18/11, 14/11 @10

-    CS Rows w/ rest-pause partials - 100X11/7, 10/6 @10

-    CS Scapular Retractions - 100X11, 10, 10 @10

225 ties my previous CG Bench PR.  Not a bad place to start the wave.

Hack Squats felt fresher than usual today for some reason.

I realized I was doing "Upper Back Attack" and "Big Hippers" on Fridays when I wasn't also Deadlifting on that day.  Now that I'm pulling at the end of the week, I thought it might save me some intra-session fatigue to move the upper back work to Bench day, and put Biceps on DL day instead.  We'll see how it goes.

Sumo DL, Upper Back, Hips

sRPE @8

BW - 224

Sumo DL - 

up to 365X1 (PR) @9.5

add straps 315X6 (PR), 6, 6 @~8

Upper Back Attack -

-    CS Rear Delt Rows - 55X20, 17 @9/10

-    CS Rows - 100X10, 8 @9/10

-    CS Scap Retractions - 100X12, 10 @~10

"Little Hipper" supersets -

-    Hanging Bent Knee Raise - BWX11, 12 @7/9

-    Adductor Machine - X15, 13 @10

I don't think I've ever actually pulled Sumo mixed-grip before.  Supinated hand swung way out on the top set.

Back-off sets were harder than I expected at this weight.  Felt like my eye was gonna pop out.

Because of the Sumo, etc. decided to not do any hip extension on the "Hipper" super-sets. I did mess around with trying to keep my knees bent back throughout the knee raises with the idea of keeping the RF more lengthened.

Deadlift, Dips, Upper Back

sRPE @7

BW - 222

Deadlift - up to 405X1 @8.5

Dips - up to BW+50X6 @10

Upper-Back Attack Giant Set -

-    CS Rear Delt Rows - 45X19@9.5

-        Long ROM Partials - 45X11@10

-    CS Rows - 100X10 @9.5

-        Long ROM Partials - 100X6@10

-    CS Scap Retractions - 100X9@9.5

-        Long ROM Partials - 100X8 @9.5

Final session of testing week.

First comp DL since late February.  First 4 plate pull since mid-September. (geez those last couple of blocks were trash for my DL)

Heaviest Dips since early August.  Would have needed 3 more reps for a PR at this combined BW+Weight.  I didn't really expect a PR here as Dips usually need more frequent training for me to progress them.  

Just hit the Upper Back attack as one long set.  Back was immediately sore.

Possible Take-aways:

1)    I split time evenly this block between DL and Squat variations and supplements.  Assistance work was a arguably more Squat-specific: Leg Press, Hack Squat, Hip Flexion, Adductor work.  But also some Hip Extension and LOTS of Upper Back Work.  That's a big pile of little rocks, but maybe there's something there.

2)  Dips need attention to maintain and progress.

3)  This week's 955 total on the PLs was 35 lbs. better than the heavy SBD specific block I ran previously, and 120 lbs. heavier than any actual weight lifted in the low RPE block before that.  e1RMs were also better.  I would characterize this block as a bit more high-fatigue/low-specificity with a BIG DASH of "doing whatever I felt like."  Now to figure out how to operationalize the former while leaving room for the latter.

Upper Back, Hips

sRPE @7

BW - 227

Upper-Back Attack - 

-    CS Rows - 100X16, 12, 10 @9.5/10

-    CS Scap Retractions - 100X12, 12, 11 @9.5/10

-    CS Rear Delt Rows - 45X15, 13, 10, @9.5/10

-    Cable Rear Delt Flyes - X9, 9, 7 @10

"Little Hipper" -

-    HLR - BWX7, 6, 6 @8.5/9

super-set with

-    Cophenhagen Planks - BWX15, 12, 12 @8/9

Only plan going in today was Chest-Supported Rows.  Decided to just park myself at the CS Row and do a bunch of upper back stuff.  The CS rear delt rows were a little funky so I hit some rear delt flyes to make sure they got good and worked.

If I was going to do this again, I might start out with the Flyes then go CS Rear Delts -> CS Rows - > CS Retractions.  Or maybe it would depend on whether I was prioritizing Rear Delts vs. General Upper Back.

I've had an idea of super-setting HLR, GHR, and Cophenhagens, and in my mind I was calling it "The Big Hipper."  I did GHR in the previous session, so I did a "little" version.  

Here the next day, my upper back is very fatigued, and my hips are very sore.