Paul's log - Staying strong past 50

[Cole Gorton]

your on a roll right now

[irongeek]

your on a roll right now

I know. When I get like this it feels like a sin to skip workouts. Just want to milk this for all its worth. At 53 yo, I don't have much more time!

[irongeek]

2/12/25

Press w/4" belt - 180 x 3 x 5, 165 x 5 x 2
Bench - 240 x 6 x 4
BW tricep extension - a few sets

[irongeek]

2/13/25

SSB w/belt - 385 x 5 x 3, 335 x 8
Bench - 305 x 2, 275 x 2 x 3, 225 x 14

This was ok. Low back fatigue from deadlifts a couple days ago was really a factor this morning. I'll need to cut out those back-off deadlift sets if I want to squat 2 days later.
Bench was ok. 305 first rep moved well, second was a struggle. When I backed-off to 225 the weight felt like 135, which was nice.

[irongeek]

2/14/25

RDL - wide grip + straps + 3" belt - 365 x 8 x 4
BW Rows - 18, 18, 17, 16

RDLs were heavy and tough. Low back is just getting too much fatigue. I think it's time to lower volume to 3 sets per session and to alternate with a lighter weight weekly - something like rows.
I did make it to my goal of 365, so I got that going for me.

[irongeek]

2/15/25

LBBS w/4" belt - 415 x 3, 385 x 2 x 5
HBBS w/3" belt - 275 x 10
Bench - 215 x 7 x 7

Squat progress came to a halt today. Could feel it in the warmups - very heavy and lots of hip pain. Changed to heavy doubles as back-off sets to allow a bit of a rest here.
Pretty happy with my progress.

[irongeek]

2/18/25 - Deload

LBBS w/belt - 315 x 3 x 3
Press - 145 x 3 x 3
Pullups - BW x 10

Lots of joint pain - specifically hip pain. Otherwise, OK.

[irongeek]

2/20/25 - Deload Day 2

LBBS w/belt - 315 x 3 x 3
Bench - 235 x 3 x 3
Pullups - BW x 10

Plan on testing my lifts this weekend, then move onto a proper program - probably Andy Baker's Garage Gym Warrior 3. I bought that program a couple of years ago, but never ran it.

[irongeek]

2/22/25 - Testing Day

Squat w/belt - 465
Bench - 335 - I think this tied my lifetime PR.
DL w/belt - 505
Press w/belt- 215 - Lifetime PR

As usual, things never turn out how I expected. I expected a really good deadlift, ok squat, and meh presses. I got a meh deadlift, a better than expected squat, and better than expected presses. Deadlift at 505 felt solid, but then I tried 530 and it felt bolted to the floor. Them's the breaks!

[Fred J]

Overall that's a great day in PR territory!