Finding Out that the Iron Never Lies

[bustermonkey2]

Jan 27, 2015

Sumo deadlifts @ 495 lbs-1 RPE 9.5
Sumo deadlifts @ 395 lbs-4,4,4,4 RPE 9

Press @ 165 lbs-8
Press @ 170 lbs-8
Press @ 177 lbs-8 PR RPE 9.5

Floor press @ 285 lbs-5
Floor press @ 290 lbs-5,5 RPE 9.5

[bustermonkey2]

Jan 30, 2016

Bench, 1st rep paused @ 320 lbs-6
Bench, 1st rep paused @ 325 lbs-6
Bench, 1st rep paused @ 335 lbs-5 PR RPE 9.5 Not too bad
Bench, 1st rep paused @ 325 lbs-6 RPE 9.5

Squats @ 410 lbs- 6
Squats @ 415 lbs-6
Squats @ 420 lbs-6
Squats @ 425 lbs-5 PR RPE 9.75 I was really wiped out by this point.

Chins w/ 45 lbs-5
Chins w/ 55 lbs-5,5 RPE 10

[bustermonkey2]

Feb 1, 2016
Bodywt 226 lbs

Sumo deadlifts @ 516 lbs-1 RPE 9.75. I though I had bar loaded to 505 but forgot I was using 5 kilo clamps. It was harder than expected and then I realized it was 11 lbs heavier due to clamp weight. DOH! This is only 9 lbs off my sumo pr.
Sumo deadlifts @ 416 lbs-4,4,4,4 RPE 9.5

Press @ 171 lbs-6
Press @ 176 lbs-6 I almost passed out here as I tried to do it on a single breath.
Press @ 186 lbs-7 PR RPE 10 I barely got it.

Floor press @ 285 lbs-5
Floor press @ 290 lbs-5 RPE 9.5 I had to skip last set due to time constraints.

[bustermonkey2]

Feb 3, 2016

I decided to test out my 1 RM on bench and squats as I haven't done so in a while, and I doubt I'll want to try it as my next meet approaches in mid-April.

Bench, paused @ 345 lbs-1 No problem
Bench, paused @ 365 lbs-1 Although random bro I had to use for spotting kept trying to grab the bar, it seemed ok.
Bench, paused @ 385 lbs-0 Fail. This would have been a 5 lb pr but I got stuck about 2 inches above chest, my regular sticking point. I think it was really close here and maybe I could get it on another day.
Bench backoff @ 315 lbs-5 Just a quick set

Squat @ 466 lbs-1 No problem
Squat @ 486 lbs-1 RPE 9.5 Pretty tough
Squat @ 506 lbs-1 PR RPE 9.75 Tough but I estimate I should have another 10 lbs or so here. This was a small 6 lb wrapless PR.

[idlehands]

Nice squat pr!

[bustermonkey2]

Thanks! I feel like squats are still progressing but bench is a bit stagnant.

[bustermonkey2]

Feb 8, 2016
Bodywt 226 lbs

I'm going to switch my programming up a bit. I've gotten good at 8's and 6's on my current programming but I think it's not driving a lot of progress on my 1RM. So I'm going to do the following weekly template:
Mon: Bench 5 x 5; Squat 5 x 5; Chins
Wed: Bench 6 x 3 (sets by reps); Deadlift heavy single with Backoff 4 x 4; Press 3 sets of varying rep ranges
Fri: Bench 7 x 2 (sets by reps); Squats 2 x 2 wrapless, then 2 x 2 wrapped; Chins.

I'm hoping the increased intensity on bench will start my 1RM moving again and volume change on squats will allow more focus on the weight instead of having fatigue being the limiting factor.

Bench, 1st rep paused @ 315 lbs-5,5,5,5,5 RPE 9
Squats @ 405 lbs-5,5,5,5,5 RPE 9.5 I was pretty worn out by 5th set. Hopefully I'll adjust to extra set pretty quick.
Chins-12,12,5 Ran out of gas by last set.

[idlehands]

405x5x5 is a beautiful thing

[bustermonkey2]

405x5x5 is a beautiful thing

It is at that- although not nearly as beautiful as 495x5x5.

Feb 10, 2016

Bench, 1st rep paused @ 330 lbs-3,3,3,3,3,3 RPE 9.5

Sumo Deadlift @ 526 lbs-1 PR. Small 1 lb pr. RPE 9.5. A little grindy but not terrible.
Sumo Deadlifts @ 426 lbs-4,4,4,4 PR Small 1 lb pr. RPE 9.

So after my 3rd set of deadlifts, gym employee tells me I'll need to stop dropping weights because I'm going to come through the floor (weightlifting area is on 2nd floor which makes no sense). This has happened a few times before to me, usually with this employee. I tell him I'm not dropping the weights and I'm not sure how gingerly I can put down weights as I point to bar loaded to 426 lbs. Gym employee guy is all of 150 lbs and I've never seen him lift at all. He then says, "Well, you might have to take some off." I am super pissed at this point and I just glare at gym guy as he walks off. I have been a member of this gym for 10+ years and spend around $100/month on membership fees, and when I had 2 kids doing tennis there for several years I was spending about double that amount per month. It's ridiculous that weight area is on 2nd floor and absolutely ludicrous that they want deadlifts returned to the ground so slowly that it makes no noise. If I wanted to lift at Planet Fitness, I would have joined there. I bet I am going to get kicked out of the gym at some point. The owners spend no money at all on barbell lifting and want the weightlifting area to be silent while they blast the zumba music so loud it downs out all other sound. Unfortunately there's not a lot of great options for me around here. I will probably try Shawn Frankl's gym, which is close by and has good equipment, but doesn't have any showers or real locker rooms so I'll have to lift after work instead of at lunchtime. Sorry for the rant, but I'm very frustrated with these pseudo-gyms that don't really want anytime getting really strong.


Oh- I had to skip chins due to time constraints and generally being pissed off.

[bustermonkey2]

Feb 12, 2016

Bench, 1st rep paused @ 440 lbs-2,2,2,2,2,2,2 RPE 9

Squats @ 445 lbs-2,2
Squats wrapped @ 465 lbs-2,2 RPE 9.5

Press @ 155 lbs-5
Press @ 175 lbs-5

Chins-15


February 14, 2016

Bench, 1st rep paused @ 320 lbs-5,5,5,5,5 RPE 9.75 but my right arm was extremely sore by the end- almost like it was throbbing with pain, even though I know it was just a muscle strain.

Squats @ 410 lbs-5,5,5 I had to call it quits here because of my right arm. Although it didn't really hurt while squatting as soon as I got done with each set it felt successively worse. I was getting nervous that I wouldn't be able to steady the bar on my back so it was time to be done.