Crockett turns 35

[Crockett]

Link to my original log: Exhausting LP before I turn 30

I decided to start a new log, partly because, now that I'm 35, the title of the old log is well out of date, but also because I don't promise to follow SS programming.

A quick bit of background:

I started lifting in summer 2011, at age 28. A couple years later, my lifts were around 365/230/180/455, but I was fat. I then lost a bunch of weight (thanks to Jordan) while maintaining strength. A career crisis pulled me away from all that, and I got fat and weak again. I'll periodically get my squat up around 280x5x3 or so, but then life gets in the way again and I detrain. I'd like to break that cycle. I recently moved to New Haven, CT, turned 35, and spent $1800 on equipment from Rogue so I can lift at home.

Basic stats:

35 years old
6'1"
~255 lbs.
42.5" at navel
365/230/180/455 PR (also 220 power clean)

Programming:

A kind of modified SS I use when I'm re-training. Prioritizes bench, which for me is weak relative to OHP. Will eventually add Airdyne HIIT to this.

mon: squat 3x5; bench 3x5; chins 3x
wed: deadlift 1x5; press 3x5
fri: squat 3x5; bench 3x5; chins 3x

Nutrition:

I desperately need to lose weight again, and I follow Jordan's advice. Here is where I start.

high (2x/wk): 220/400/60
low (5x/wk): 250/250/70

[Crockett]

squat 170x5x3

Collars. Belted with shoes. Keeping it very conservative at the start. Skipped bench because had thought I would do a 6-day split, which for several reasons I now realize is a mistake.

[Crockett]

squat 135x5x3
bench 135x5x3
chins 1/2/1
Airdyne :20/:20/:15/:11

Okay, false start back in November. Life got in the way, as it does. Hoping that, despite being on the academic job market, this will stick. I really need to lose weight. Just got some new stretch marks. Starting very conservative on squat and bench, although my tremor (I have essential tremor) was acting up at the top. I struggled for more chin reps, but 1/2/1 counts only the successful ones (dead hang). The Airdyne KILLED me. When I first bought the thing back in late October, I tried out some short bursts of high-intensity - maybe 5 seconds or so. It seemed too easy, and I was worried it wouldn't produce the same effect as the rower or the prowler. Holy shit was I wrong. Twenty second intervals on that thing are tougher than rower, prowler, and hill sprints, at least in my experience. I spent a FULL HOUR trying not to puke, and I didn't even do 4 full intervals. The aim is eventually 8, and then adding a second day per week. For now, I'll do one day, and try to add intervals as becomes possible. Hopefully 4 full intervals is possible next time. Lord.

bw: 253.5
navel: 43"

[Crockett]

press 95x5x3
deadlift 185x5

[Crockett]

squat 145x5x3
bench 140x5x3
chins 2/2/1

Still squatting without belt. Could make bigger jumps on bench, but in no hurry. Chins doing slightly better, but still pretty dismal. The upside of being fat, though, is that bodyweight lifts are serious business! It's as if I'm a 200 lb. guy doing weighted chins with 50 lbs.

[Crockett]

squat 155x5x3
bench 145x5x3
chin 3/3/2
Airdyne :20/:18/:13/:08

Wearing belt now for squats. Chins getting slightly better. Airdyne killed again. My intervals were slightly shorter this time, but I went harder. I think I was probably only 90-95% last time. It is crazy hard to keep 100% for :20 on the bike. Rower is easier, probably because each stroke takes longer.

bw: 253.5
navel: 42.25"

[Crockett]

press 105x5x3
deadlift 205x5

Weights still ludicrously easy, but taking it slow to avoid stupidly tweaking something. Even wore the belt on the DL.

[Crockett]

squat 165x5x3
bench 150x5x3
chin 3/2/2

Both squat and bench still at easy weights. One fewer chin than last time, but I think I was taking shorter breaks between sets.

[Crockett]

squat 172.5 x 5 x 3
bench 155x5x3
chin 3/3/2

Squat was supposed to be 175, but I forgot to put the little weights on one side.

bw: 250.9
waist: 42" (though honestly it's tough to know if I'm measuring precisely the same way each time)

[Crockett]

press 115x5x3
deadlift 225x5

Got a little impatient with the press and decided to jump 10 lbs. Still easy weight, though will probably do jumps of 5 hereafter.