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Thread: Am I lazy or astute?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Ottawa ON, Canada
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    Default Am I lazy or astute?

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    Hello gang,

    I've been programming for someone for 4-ish years now.

    For the last 18 months we have been working on re-composition type dieting, but clearly she is in a deficit, shown by weight-loss below.

    F/ 56/ from 180+lbs down to 157 lbs and down a couple belt notches.

    Sq- 216
    DL- 275
    BP- 120.5
    Press- 81

    Moved programming from HLM-ish to a 4 day split 3ish months ago. She likes the 4 day split, and her goal is to keep nutrition consistent and see where her weight peters out. She is very happy with body composition changes, and wants to let them ride out.

    For most of the time she was losing weight, I was confident that she could keep chasing PR's on her lifts. Recently it's become harder for her to get that weight on the bar, and i'm increasingly suspecting it's because she's in a different weight category now.

    I talked her into changing from programming that is very focused on core lifts, to mixing in some more supplemental lifts ( strict press/ pin squat/ comp bench/ paused DL etc). I will still keep good volume with parent lifts, but I'm finding it hard to gauge where to put her volume weights. Also, for whatever reason, her weight-loss has picked up again after being around 162lbs for a while.

    I see it as a benefit to have some "fun" time in the gym with new lifts ( she really likes pin presses) and let her body-weight settle where it will. Then we can get back at hitting main lifts as the focus again.

    But... I'm second guessing myself. Am I being lazy by not finding the way to add weight to the bar, and should I keep hard on the main lifts, or is it reasonable to shift focus for a while until the body-weight settles down?

    Thanks in advance,

    Adam

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    4,610

    Default

    How tall? Have you tried progressing higher rep ranges (8s or 10s)? Same principle: add weight every week, eventually drop reps, etc/recycle.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Ottawa ON, Canada
    Posts
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    Default

    Hello, Robert

    She is 5'10

    I have used 8's for BP, OHP, and DL. I have not used it on SQ. This was in a volume day context though, not as an intensity day.

    I have not used 10's.

    Most recent cycling has been 5,3,1 on intensity day.

    thank you for your time.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
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    Phoenix, AZ
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    Try it out. Do 3-4 weeks of 10s, 3-4 weeks of 8s, 5s, triples, singles etc. Standard pyramid, works quite well and gives the lifter a mental break from grinders. Also improves technique if you are coaching the lifts well.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Ottawa ON, Canada
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    Default

    Thank you very much, Robert!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    4,610

    Default

    starting strength coach development program
    You are welcome

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