Do or do not, there is no try (my path to…….)

[scwot]

For reasons unknown I’ve decided I want to be as strong and hard to kill as possible.

The seed was planted about a year ago when I stumbled across stronglifts and found a simple program that just made sense (a bad program is better than no program). Until then I’d just do random shit in the gym and didn’t do much weight lifting as I enjoyed “cardio” and didn’t want to get too “swole” as I thought that it would have a detrimental effect on the aforementioned “cardio”.

I tested my 1rm in bench (80kg, 176lb), and deadlift (120kg, 2641b), but not the press and squat. No idea why not.

Due to working 10 hours a day and 3 hours travelling I decided to train on weekends. Squat plus a press on Saturday and deadlift plus the other press on Sunday. I threw in some rows and chins/pullups as well.

At some point I decided to analyse my form and watched loads of squat/deadlift vids on youtube. One had this funny American bloke who was touching this other bloke on the ass when showing him how to squat. He was referred to as “Rip”.

This lead me to Starting Strength. Thank fuck for that!

That was about 6 months ago and as of 4 months ago I’ve been training consistently 3 days a week mon/weds/fri. The last 2.5 months of that have been on the texas method.

Vital stats are

Age 33
Height 5’6.5” (that .5” counts god dammit!)
Weight 169lbs
BF 20%ish

Squat 143kg (315lb) 6reps
Deadlift 155kg (341lb) 4reps
Bench 91kg (200lb) 4reps
Press 53kg (116lb) 6reps
Clean 0kg (0lb) 0reps

Can’t do cleans, want to do them, can’t. I can do deadlift, shrug, row, contort arms under bar and land bar on throat. I can do that with 85kg (187lb).

The goals are
500/400/300/200lb 1rm on dead/squat/bench/press
If along the way that leads to 180lbs body weight at under 20% body fat then great. I’ll log my progress here.

Finally a massive thank you to all who post on this board and who have been an invaluable source of knowledge while I was lurking. Now it’s time to put up.

[Bean1871]

Welcome, scwot, and best of luck in your quest for huge numbers. As you well know from lurking round here a bit: there are plenty of characters here to keep you motivated.

[Carlos Daniel]

Same here. Those are decent numbers, Texas Method will pick up where Starting Strength left you.

[scwot]

Thanks for the welcome.

Todays workout, volume day.

Squat 5x5 132.5kg (292lb). First time wearing a belt for volume (used only for intensity day before). Compared to last weeks 130kg, easy.
Bench 5x5 82.5kg (182lb). HARD.
Deadlift 1x5 150kg (330lb). Slight deload as felt my form getting away from me last week. Smooooooth.

[scwot]

Light day.

Front squat 3x3 102.5 kg (225lb).
Press 3x3 50kg (110lb).
Chins 3x5 BW+ 15kg (33lb).

Felt a bit too intense for a light session. Normally try to keep the weight at a decent level but with less volume. Will see if this adversely effects intensity day and adjust if needed.

[scwot]

Yesterday- intensity.

Squat 145kg (319lb) 5reps
Bench 92.5kg (203lb) 3reps
97.5kg (214lb) 1 rep
100kg (220lb) 1rep
Hang Cleans 5x3 52.5 kg (115lb)

All felt great, actually left a bit in the tank. Will continue with this rep range to test max's for squat and bench and apply to the press next week.

[scwot]

Volume day.

Squat 5x5 135kg (297lb). OK.
Press 5x5 50kg (110lb). Just made the last rep.
Deadlift 1x5 152.5kg (334lb). Easy.

[scwot]

Light day.

Front squat 3x3 102.5 kg (225lb).
Bench 3x3 82.5kg (181lb).
Chins BW+ 16.25kg (36lb) 5,4,3 + 9BW (fail at 3x5).

[scwot]

Intensity.

Squat 147.5kg (324lb) 5reps
Press 57.5kg (126lb) 3reps
62.5kg (137lb) fail
60kg (132lb) 1....rep....just.
Hang Cleans 5x3 55 kg (121lb)

[scwot]

Volume day.

Squat 5x5 137.5kg (302lb).
Bench 5,5,4,4,4 85kg (187lb).
Deadlift 1x5 155kg (341lb).