Trying to get back to some actual upper body work today. Trap/shoulder don't actively hurt anymore, but there's still some residual weakness and tenderness in the area, plus about 6 weeks without having trained bench or press hard. I thought what I've been doing - submaximal work, but not really super light - would maintain the strength better than it has. Oh well. All I can do is build back up, as tolerance allows.
Press
175x5, 185x5, 195x5, 185x5
Notes: IIRC, my last good 5x5 day was somewhere around 195 or 200, so this should be a fairly easy pressing workout, but it wasn't. Not super hard either, but 195x5 still feels slower and heavier than I am really OK with.
Bench Press
275x5, 295x5x2
Notes: Same feeling about the 295 bench as I had about the 195 press. I think my last 5x5 bench day was at 320 or 325, so 295x5x2 should be super easy. It wasn't hard, but moved slower and with less explosiveness than I'd have liked.
Chins
10,10,10,10
Notes: Fourth set was powered by Sarah's excellent performance and responding to cues in smashing her 275x5 DL. I was pretty psyched after that. It was awesome.
Curlz
EZ Curl Bar + 70lbx 10
55lb DBs x 8
Notes: My forearms didn't like the bar, so switched back to DBs.
Overall I'm trying to balance disappointment about my pressing movements with appreciation for being able to do them mostly pain free again. It's hard knowing how much work I put in to getting my press up to 225x5 and my bench to absolutely smoking 410, and getting 420 in the gym and 400 paused at a meet despite imperfect form - probably was good for a 430-435 t-n-g at the gym and 410-415 paused if I executed with good technique. And now 295x5 is hard. But a month ago, it hurt way more. So trying to keep perspective.