JoeLiftsWeights Competitively

[Joseph Rodriguez]

Howdy,
My name is Joseph and I am a 29 year old firefighter in San Antonio, TX. I previously kept a training log in the general section of this forum. In that log I did a cycle of the Texas Method and then I transitioned to 5/3/1. I then moved my training log over to Wendler's private forum, but I found that the basic 5/3/1 program wasn't providing enough of a stress to drive further progress in my strength training. I didn't want to waste anymore time by going down the internet rabbit hole looking for a 5/3/1 template that would help me to achieve my strength training goals, so I decided to go back to the tried and true Starting Strength Method. I started a linear progression and I signed up for my first powerlifting competition in order to fix my training. I competed in the 2016 Starting Strength Fall Classic in Wichita Falls and I set the following meet PRs at a body weight of 211 lbs.: Squat 501.6, Press 220, and Deadlift 616. I really enjoyed competing and I plan to continue to do so. This is the start of my competitive weightlifting log.

9-16-2016
Squat 370x5x3
Press 175x5x3
Deadlift 470x5x1

9-19-2016
Squat 375x5x3
Bench 252.5x5x3
Chins BWx15x3

9-22-2016
Squat 380x5x3
Press 177.5x5x3
Power Clean 205x3x5

9-28-2016
Squat 385x5x3
Bench 255x5x3
Chins 45x5x3

10-1-2016
Squat 390x5x3
Press 180x5x3
Deadlift 480x5x1

10-4-2016
Squat 395x5x3
Bench 257.5x5x3
Chins BWx10x3

10-7-2016
Squat 400x5x3
Press 182.5x3x3
Power Clean 210x3x5

10-10-2016
Squat 405x5x3
Bench 260x3x3
Chins 50x5x3

10-13-2016
Squat 410x5x3
Press 185x3x3
Deadlift 520x5x1

10-19-2016
Squat 330x5x3
Bench 262.5x3x3
Dips 50x5x3

10-22-2016
Squat 415x5x3
Press 187.5x3x3
Power Clean 215x3x5

10-25-2016
Squat 332.5x5x3
Bench 265x3x3
Chins 51.25x5x3

10-29-2016
Squat 424.6x1, 466.4x1, 501.6x1
Press 200x1, 210x1, 220x1
Deadlift 510.4x1, 572x1, 616x1

11-3-2016
Squat 335x5x3
Bench 267.5x3x3
Dips 55x5x3

11-6-2016
Squat 420x5x3
Press 170x5x3
Power Clean 217.5x3x5

Joseph Rodriguez (@joeliftsweights) • Instagram photos and videos

[Austin Baraki]

Nice work, Joe!

[Brodie Butland]

You ran LP to a four-plate squat? Dear. God.

Look forward to seeing what you do in the future. Good work already!

[Hobi]

Great numbers already. Will be following.

[Joseph Rodriguez]

Thanks for following my log guys!

I have read Starting Strength, Practical Programming, The Strongest Shall Survive, Mean Old Mr. Gravity, Keys to Progress, and numerous other useful books on strength training. In doing so I have fallen prey to that extremely contagious disorder that I like to refer to as training program ADD. As I was looking through my training notebook I realized that I have never actually done Rip's linear progression program as written in PPST. With the exception of adding a few sets of weighted dips (I will alternate body weight and weighted chins for now on), I have run the program by the book this time around. Since starting the linear progression I have followed Jordan's advice of logging my meals into My Fitness Pal in order to ensure that I am eating a minimum of 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight and 3,500 calories per day. I train every third day in order to be fully rested and to accommodate my work schedule. It will be interesting to see how far the linear progression will take me before I transition to the Texas Method.

11-9-2016
Squat 340x5x3
Bench 270x3x3
Chins 52.5x5x3

[Joseph Rodriguez]

I had a great training session today. During my rest periods I got to thinking about a podcast that I listened to yesterday. Louie Simmons was the featured guest and he was interviewed on his training methods and his views on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Although I don't necessarily agree with all of his opinions, I couldn't help but admire his grit. He is a hard man who has had a hard life and has chosen to live it on his terms. A line from the the movie Lawless came to mind as I listened to the interview: "It is not the violence that sets a man apart, it is the distance he is prepared to go." It occurred to me that once you get to a certain level, strength training becomes absolutely brutal. The weight never gets any easier, it just gets heavier. Lifting becomes more of a test of mental fortitude than the movement of muscle, sinew, and bone.

11-11-2016
Squat 425x5x3
Press 190x3x3
Deadlift 525x5

Joseph Rodriguez (@joeliftsweights) • Instagram photos and videos

[Joseph Rodriguez]

11-14-2016
Squat 430x5x3
Bench 272.5x3x3
Chins BWx10x3

[Joseph Rodriguez]

11-17-2016
Squat 435x5x3
Press 192.5x3x3
Power Clean 225x3x5

[Joseph Rodriguez]

11-21-2016
Squat 440x5x3
Bench 275x3x3
Chins 53.75x5x3

[Chris McCarthy]

Solid lifting in here!