Sudden drop in performance?

[wojciech]

Hi,
As a preface, I will note that I operate on a Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday SS schedule. Due to Thanksgiving, I had my last workout on Tuesday. On Sunday, I went back and did the Press/Deadlift workout I last did on a Saturday (8 days break). Since the last squat workout (Tuesday), I had to drop roughly 20lbs in weight, because my knees were caving in hard. Since the last press workout, I had to drop down 10lbs in weight, despite numerous attempts at equal, or 5lbs weight drop.
What was this caused by? I don't think I could have atrophied over a period of 8 days. I don't think it's a mindset issue either, as I tried many times, but the weights were just too heavy to lift with proper form.
What should I do next workout? Try to add more weight? Redo the last workout with the same weights? Or try lighter?

[Mark Rippetoe]

The First Three Questions | Mark Rippetoe

A Clarification | Mark Rippetoe

[wojciech]

The First Three Questions | Mark Rippetoe

A Clarification | Mark Rippetoe

Hi Mark,
I was expecting this type of an answer: I have read both of these articles a long time ago and I'm trying to follow the program rigorously, with appropriate dieting (3.5-4k kcal), sleep (8hrs+) and weight progression (2.5lbs/workout on all the lifts except DL). I usually end up resting 10+ minutes between sets. I do realise taking a week off is NDTP, but there was nothing I could do about that, and my question is mostly about how is that possible that such a short lay off could result in such a drastic loss of strength and what should I do about it, now that the damage is done?

[Mark Rippetoe]

I do realise taking a week off is NDTP, but there was nothing I could do about that, and my question is mostly about how is that possible that such a short lay off could result in such a drastic loss of strength and what should I do about it, now that the damage is done?

It's not possible that the layoff caused a huge drop in strength. But you did not tell us your lifts.

[wojciech]

It's not possible that the layoff caused a huge drop in strength. But you did not tell us your lifts.

P/B/S/D in lbs: 128/192/275/305
Power clean: 128

[Mark Rippetoe]

Like pulling teeth here. Bodyweight?

[wojciech]

6'2'', 235 lbs, 19yo. I know it's a bad strength/weight ratio, but I'm trying my best here. Started off 2 years ago weighing 130-140, covid made me do the program in 3-month-long chunks followed by 3-month-long lay offs.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Your bodyweight is not terrible for your level of training advancement, but your lifts are shit because you haven't done the program. Do the program.

[wojciech]

On an unrelated note, my lab results came back today and my total/bioavailable/free test is 420ng/dl / 130ng/dl / 65 pg/ml. Thats fairly low for a guy my age, right?

[wojciech]

Okay, so today the same thing happened with my press, last Thursday I pressed 135 for 4,4,3,2,2, and today, I couldn't even get the same weight for 1 (tried 137.5 three times, 135 two times). What the hell is happening here? Could it be misweighed gym plates? Did something like this happen to anyone else? Or do I have a neurological pathology?