Fingers crossed, but I think I'm there.
Sunday weigh-in: 219.4 lbs. That's down for the second straight week, which I find odd, because I made a conscious effort to eat more last week. Nothing to worry about yet. My knee has felt much better, and I'm guessing that the steroid pack did it's job. Perhaps further examination and treatment isn't needed right now, because the difference between where I am and where I was a week ago is like night and day. I only trained twice this week, in part to give myself a chance to recover. Here's how it went...
Wed. 4/18/18, Bench & Upper Body, Total Time - 1 hour, 20 minutes
1. Bench Press
95/7; 155/5; 205/4
245/2 - started wearing mouth guard
270/1 @5 - started wearing wrist wraps
290/1 @6.5
305/1 @8 - started getting handoffs here
315/1 @9.5
275/2 @8; 2 @9; 3 @8; 3 @9; 2 @9; 2 @9; 1 @8.5 - 15 total reps, 13:30 from the end of set 1 to the end of set 7
The milestone that I mentioned in the post heading is the 315 bench. Even though I've benched more than that in competition, this was the first time I've ever benched 3 wheels/side as part of a training session. It has been a long time coming. I can't say enough how satisfying it is to know that I can approach that number like just another single. Still a heavy ass, possibly ugly single that I can't go to sleep on, but one for which I can be confident that if I take it off the rack, I'm going to lock it out.
2. Pulldown - overhand grip, not very wide
150/10 - mouth guard out of the gate
195/7 - started using Versa Gripps
rest-pause set: 225/7 + 4 + 3
3. Torso Rotation Machine
100/10 right + 10 left x 2 sets each
4. Abdominal Machine - sit-up/crunch movement
110/20
Fri. 4/20/18, Deadlift & Lower Body, Total Time - 1 hour, 8 minutes
1. Snatch Grip Deadlift - wearing squat shoes w/elevated heel
155/5; 265/4 - wore hip circle while doing these
355/3 - started using Versa Gripps
425/1 @7 - started wearing mouth guard
475/1 @9 - started wearing belt. Sort of disappointed that this felt so difficult, since I pulled 500 last time I did these, and that was after squat presses.
425/1 x 5 sets, took 5:30 from the end of #1 to the end of #5
2. Sumo Deadlift - kept the same weight on the bar, changed to slippers
425/3 x 5 sets. I rated them all @8, except for set 4 which I called @8.5. I haven't pulled sumo in about a year, since I switched back to conventional (again) in an effort to stop the decline in my deadlift. Felt very natural. I guess it's like riding a bicycle.
3. Calf Press Machine
150 lbs/some number of reps over 2-3 sets. I didn't write it down, and I don't remember.
The plan for this week is to train on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Heading to my first Orioles game of the year on Thursday. Hopefully they won't suck like they have been for the first month of this season.