rpbrown
06-28-2010, 09:57 PM
Hello all. Just some background info:
Began a botched form of Starting Strength in Feb/March 2009 for a couple of months, then slacked off during the summer before beginning a Ph.D. program. I came to Georgia Tech and started to lift regularly, albeit still not Starting Strength in earnest. In January of 2010, I began the actual SS program sans GOMAD (big mistake) but it was more a logistical problem than anything else.
I lived in a suite with 3 other roommates in the graduate student dorm where we shared a fridge. Simply put, I could not load the fridge with food, especially 4-5 gallons of milk, in this way. I didn't have the time to go grocery shopping everyday, either.
Nowadays, I live in a nice new apartment that has ample fridge space, so I stock up regularly and enjoy the crap out of this new arrangement! Unfortunately, my linear progress also stalled out about a month after GOMAD entered the picture because I had already exhausted most of it prior to adding GOMAD.
tl;dr: messed around with SS-esque program for a while, did program (YNDTP), added GOMAD after 3-4 months of SS without it, stalled a little after 1-2 months, switching to Texas Method for squat only thus far.
Some statistics:
Height: 6'0 with long legs and torso, not really long arms.
Weight: 188-190 lbs
Squat: 290x4 (270x3x5)
Deadlift: 320x5
Bench: 180x3x5
Press: 125x3x4
Power Clean: 155x4-5x3 last time I did them a few weeks ago. Switched to barbell rows to appease shitty gym trainers and their management. Also to gain some extra mass on my upper back (naturally wiry guy).
I may have to switch to TM for bench too, but I will see how weighted dips help with that before making a change. My training partner and I typically will do a Mon/Fri Press or Bench with Wed. reserved for the other lift, then the following week we switch.
I deadlift typically every Monday and Friday, adding 5 lbs each time; this will have to change eventually as the weight gets too heavy between any given Friday and Monday.
Will test out the TM for a week or two to see how lifts progress. I am aware that sometimes people jump the gun too soon on going intermediate before advanced novice.
EDIT: Will try to mix barbell rows with high pulls because the trainers who walk around and would normally complain about explosive exercises won't know any better; they'll think it's a fancy upright row.
Began a botched form of Starting Strength in Feb/March 2009 for a couple of months, then slacked off during the summer before beginning a Ph.D. program. I came to Georgia Tech and started to lift regularly, albeit still not Starting Strength in earnest. In January of 2010, I began the actual SS program sans GOMAD (big mistake) but it was more a logistical problem than anything else.
I lived in a suite with 3 other roommates in the graduate student dorm where we shared a fridge. Simply put, I could not load the fridge with food, especially 4-5 gallons of milk, in this way. I didn't have the time to go grocery shopping everyday, either.
Nowadays, I live in a nice new apartment that has ample fridge space, so I stock up regularly and enjoy the crap out of this new arrangement! Unfortunately, my linear progress also stalled out about a month after GOMAD entered the picture because I had already exhausted most of it prior to adding GOMAD.
tl;dr: messed around with SS-esque program for a while, did program (YNDTP), added GOMAD after 3-4 months of SS without it, stalled a little after 1-2 months, switching to Texas Method for squat only thus far.
Some statistics:
Height: 6'0 with long legs and torso, not really long arms.
Weight: 188-190 lbs
Squat: 290x4 (270x3x5)
Deadlift: 320x5
Bench: 180x3x5
Press: 125x3x4
Power Clean: 155x4-5x3 last time I did them a few weeks ago. Switched to barbell rows to appease shitty gym trainers and their management. Also to gain some extra mass on my upper back (naturally wiry guy).
I may have to switch to TM for bench too, but I will see how weighted dips help with that before making a change. My training partner and I typically will do a Mon/Fri Press or Bench with Wed. reserved for the other lift, then the following week we switch.
I deadlift typically every Monday and Friday, adding 5 lbs each time; this will have to change eventually as the weight gets too heavy between any given Friday and Monday.
Will test out the TM for a week or two to see how lifts progress. I am aware that sometimes people jump the gun too soon on going intermediate before advanced novice.
EDIT: Will try to mix barbell rows with high pulls because the trainers who walk around and would normally complain about explosive exercises won't know any better; they'll think it's a fancy upright row.