The Road to 405

[Niki Sims]

Is your back still hurting?
you were super hesitant to lean over in your squats. And you were arching your way down a bit.

I think the beltless deads look better in terms of squoze. Also looks like you did a better job pulling straight up versus slightly back on the belted sets.

[Ryan Arnold]

Is your back still hurting?
you were super hesitant to lean over in your squats. And you were arching your way down a bit.

I think the beltless deads look better in terms of squoze. Also looks like you did a better job pulling straight up versus slightly back on the belted sets.

These are good observations. My back is not a factor in the hesitancy, that has more to do with just trying to sit back and stay tight and not knee slide which hasn't been working great either. I do realize I need to speed them up and arch less - will work on that next week. Agreed on the beltless deads. I think I'm going to try to only use the belt for top sets of 3 or less. I just seem to deteriorate on a set of 5 with it on. Thanks for chiming in!

[Ryan Arnold]

And I guess I shouldn't say my back is not a factor. Dwayne noticed the same thing about my squats and its certainly something that's in the back of my mind. But I've squatted so much with back pain that I didn't consider it something that would prevent me from getting in the planned work for the day. But I'm probably subconsciously protecting it in some way

[Ryan Arnold]

Random thought post:

I've realized recently(and of course this is purely subjective) a rather significant quality of life upgrade/ease of ADL's by being someone who can squat 400+/DL 500+ as opposed to 300+/400+. Anyone observe anything similar subjectively of course?

[Ryan Arnold]

2/20/17

Squat: 295x5x5

295x5 - YouTube

Bench: 230x5x5

Chins: BWx10x2

Going to switch to a modified 3 Day TM:

Monday: Squat Volume, Bench/Press Volume, assistance
Wednesday: Press/Bench 3x5, DL, assistance
Friday: Squat Intensity, Bench/Press Intensity, assistance

Squats felt good today despite the knees still being too far forward. I wasn't arching my low back as much. Will see how they look friday with more weight on the bar

[bean counter]

Random thought post:

I've realized recently(and of course this is purely subjective) a rather significant quality of life upgrade/ease of ADL's by being someone who can squat 400+/DL 500+ as opposed to 300+/400+. Anyone observe anything similar subjectively of course?

I haven't deadlifted 500 yet (best is 473), so maybe there will be some magical transformation when I do, but no. I don't think getting my squat from three plates to four made my life as a city-dweller with a desk job any easier.

[manveer]

I haven't deadlifted 500 yet (best is 473), so maybe there will be some magical transformation when I do, but no. I don't think getting my squat from three plates to four made my life as a city-dweller with a desk job any easier.

No difference in the day to day. Maybe changing from summer to winter tires and vice versa is a little easier. People ask me to help them take down/put up their luggage in airplanes sometimes, but that's probably due to my height.

[Bryan Dobson]

No difference in the day to day. Maybe changing from summer to winter tires and vice versa is a little easier. People ask me to help them take down/put up their luggage in airplanes sometimes, but that's probably due to my height.

Installing a 650# hot tub is easier/possible.

[Ryan Arnold]

Installing a 650# hot tub is easier/possible.

I just noticed my back hurts less overall, especially on trains/planes/automobile rides. Less stiff in the morning. Able to put in a full day of landscaping with less fatigue. Able to put in a full day of coaching with less fatigue. Things like that and probably others i'm forgetting. Prob subjective tho

[Ryan Arnold]

2/22/17

Press: 155x5x3
DL: 365x5

365x5 - YouTube

Chins: BWx10x2

Press was fine. Seems like I'm getting back into the habit of being on my heels in the DL. So will have to focus on staying midfoot/overcorrecting to toes.
Decided to try to Texas Method Chins. Since I plan to cut another 15-20lbs of BW off(thus making chins easier) I think this should theoretically produce good results. So I'm thinking:

Monday: Weighted 5x5
Wednesday: Two bodyweight sets to failure
Friday: Weighted set of 5