Narvaez Family Starting Strength Log

[Tom Narvaez]

Hmm, interesting. That does makes sense. The thing is I'm not exactly sure if I want a training stimulus. I'm thinking that a one week deload will help a lot of nagging little things go away in addition to the actual hamstring injury.

[hamburgerfan]

I gotta say, seeing your progress makes me wish I had stuck with linear progression longer.

[Tom Narvaez]

The 5x5 thing has been magic for my squats. I've added 40lbs without much of a hitch since stalling at 370x5,5,2. Now all I have to do is figure out what the hell the secret to deadlifting is and we'll all be happier lifters.

[skipbeat]

yeah, tom your progress is making me wish I tried the ramping protocol before switching. ah well..

your squat will push up your deadlift anyways, i'd just concentrate on that right now since you'll be squatting 500 for 5 at this rate. I just can't imagine how you'll be able to program around the beating you're giving your lower back right now unless you switch to weekly/monthly planning.

[Joe Kirsch]

Nice vids, Tom. You've made some mind-bending progress.

For your deadlift, give RDLs a try. I remember you mentioning that prior to the seminar, you were basically high-bar squatting; my thought is that your hamstrings might benefit from some lower intensity, higher volume work - they've really helped all my lower body lifts a lot, and my deadlift has been improving slowly and steadily improving, despite only "testing" it every 3 weeks.

When you're squatting 500 for 5, everything else will fall in line, I imagine.

[Tom Narvaez]

I really don't know if there's anything special about the ramping thing. I mean, I was doing 365x5x3 without a light day. So, yeah, I switched to 5x5 with a top set, but, also, I added a light day. It's hard to say which factor is the more important one. I'm guessing the light day, honestly. I do know that it fits my personality much better to have one top set. When it all comes down to it, I'm a straight psycho. I can't really summon it for sets across, though.

Thanks, Joe. I will definitely be trying all kinds of stuff for my deads. I'm not really sure where to start. On the one hand, I want to try something crazy like running a 3x5 LP for Sumo deads, but, on the other hand, my more reasonable side says I should just reset and try moving up by 5s instead of 10s. While I don't want to accept my squat being higher than my deadlift, I might just end up being one of those guys. I have small hands, longish forearms, shortish upperarms, a longish shank, shortish femurs, a shortish back, and a longish torso. Somehow, that equates to being a natural squatter, a shitty bencher, and a shitty deadlifter.



In general, I'm pretty happy with everything but my deadlift. I know how to make everything else go up. I know I'll get up to 500x5+++ squats, it's just a matter of time. I know exactly how to program it. I can say similar things about a 315x1 bench, but, really, I have no idea how to program my deadlift. I may end up being one of those people that just doesn't train their deadlift directly. IDK, I have lots of things to try once I get to the intermediate phase, but I'm not there yet. I always say this, and it's been true so far, but I still think I have a lot left to gain on LP.

In short, if I figure out how to program deadlifts, I'll be pretty damn happy. I haven't much success programming them for anyone, to be honest. Tim got to 345x5 relatively quickly, but he's since regressed. I'm pretty sure I'm just approaching it wrong. Who knows? I'll figure it out eventually.

/end ramble

[Tim Narvaez]

Tim Narvaez
4/12/12

Squats: 290x5x3
I definitely have a few more jumps in me. These weren't all that hard. The only reps that were hard were reps where I dropped into the hole.

Press: 125x5x3
These were pretty hard. My left shoulder dislocated a few times during the second and third set, making a few reps especially fun. But I got it so, no real complaints.

Cleans: 140x3x5
These were tough. I'm pretty sure it's form related. I missed the third rep in the last set, but I just went for it again and got it.

Overall: Good day. I lifted everything that needed lifting. :P

[nkelman]

You deadlift in heels or flats? When I switched to heels, my deadlift spazzed out and regressed. I didnt know what the fuck was garn on. Switched back to flats, and ditched the belt, and its back on track now.

3's on the press prettty much got me up too 200lbs, good luck when you switch to em.

[Tom Narvaez]

I don't pull in heels and neither does anyone that I train with.

[sking1001]

I keep hearing you say that you're NOT finished with LP, but unless I'm reading things wrong, I'm having a hard time seeing a linear progression in your training. Switching to a ramping scheme was the first thing I did as an intermediate. I also barely got to a 300 pound squat when I switched to Madcow Intermediate. Maybe we have different perceptions of what LP is.