Viking Strength....Let's hope

[MattimusMaximus]

Hello, I'm starting this training log at the intermediate stage as reference for myself to keep a log in more than one place and hopefully to improve my current lifts through community support and/or critique.

I'm 28 years old (29 next month), 5'9.5" @ 220.6 lbs as of today. I just switched to the Texas Method after running SS for some time and resetting multiple times. I went from a bodyweight of 125 lbs all the way up to 215 lbs using SS and have gained 5 lbs since starting Texas Method a few weeks ago.

SS main lift results:

Bw: 125 lbs to 215 lbs

Squat: 95x5x3 to 280x5x2
Bench: 135x5x3 to 225x5x2
Deadlift: 225x5 to 340x5
OHP: 95x5x3 to 145x5x2

Texas Method: (Last Intensity Day Dec. 6, 2014)

BW: 220 lbs

Squat: 300x5
OHP: 150x4
Deadlift: 360x3
Dips: bw+90x3
SBBC: 115x5x2

*Last Volume Day (Dec. 9, 2014)

Squat: 275x5x4
Bench: 215x5x4
Rows: 200x5x2
Chins: Felt major tendinitis (tennis) from squats so cut workout short.

*Today Recovery Day (Worked on form to heal tendinitis in arms)

Squat: 225x5x2
OHP: 130x5x3
P.Cleans: 135x3x3 (just started these a few weeks ago)

[MattimusMaximus]

Intensity Day: Bodyweight 220 lbs

Squat: 305x5
Bench: 240x4
Deadlift: 365x3
Dips: bw+90x3
BB Curls: 120x5 +rest pause x2 + rest pause x2

*Tendonitis feeling much better but it felt like it negatively impacted my bench as warmup sets seemed to aggravate it a little. Still PR's in main lifts but a little disappointed I missed the 5th rep on bench... might need to start micro loading....

[MattimusMaximus]

Volume Day: Bodyweight 221 lbs

Squat: 280x5x3, 280x4
Press: 135x5x4
Rows: 205x5x2
Chins: bw x 7,5
Standing EZ Curl Tri-Extensions: 110x4 +rest pause x2 +1 cheat

*Squats were a spiritual experience today, that was some heavy shit! (for me) and I dragged myself to the gym but got it done. A little disappointed in missing the 5th rep on the 4th set of 280 squats so I'm not sure whether to reduce to 3 sets, keep the load constant for a few more volume days, or reduce the load by 5-10%?
*I've been going strong all year so I think I'm just going to take the week off next week (Christmas) as gym hours are shitty and my body is telling me to lay off a bit.

[beasty boy]

awesome squats

[MattimusMaximus]

awesome squats

Thanks! I think I struggled most with bringing these up out of all the lifts. I was stuck at 185x5 for the longest time and then about 5 months ago they suddenly shot up... I still have a long way to go hopefully

[caveman]

Thanks for stopping by my log. It seems that you might be relatively new to the board. Welcome! You'll find lots of good info and logs and whatnot. I hope that you get the tendonitis straightened out. I've gotten that a couple of times and it really makes living life unpleasant in and out of the gym.

What kind of strength related goals do you have in mind for 2015?

[MattimusMaximus]

Thanks for stopping by my log. It seems that you might be relatively new to the board. Welcome! You'll find lots of good info and logs and whatnot. I hope that you get the tendonitis straightened out. I've gotten that a couple of times and it really makes living life unpleasant in and out of the gym.

What kind of strength related goals do you have in mind for 2015?

Thanks for the welcome! The tendinitis is definitely getting much better, the only thing that aggravated it today was the bench press so maybe it's a form issue. I just signed up for the Seattle SS seminar that's in February so hopefully we can figure out what I'm doing wrong.

As for 2015 I definitely want to reach at least a 275 bench, 365 squat, and minimum 405 deadlift (conventional) for 1x5 by the end of the year. Truth be told I want the 300/400/500 but I'll be more realistic as stalls and resets will slow things down.

[MattimusMaximus]

Recovery Day (bodyweight: 224 lbs)

Squats: 230x5x2
Bench: 200x5x3 (Paused reps)
P.Cleans: 140x3x3

*P.Cleans felt much better today considering I only started them a few weeks ago. The weight ripped off the ground easier than expected and wrist flexibility has increased due to proper catching.
*Bench felt very strong and performed each rep with a pause at the bottom but for some reason tendinitis acted up during these sets.

[MattimusMaximus]

Intensity Day (bodyweight: 224 lbs)

Squats: 310x5
Press: 150x4 (stalled)
Deadlift: 370x3
Dips: bw+90x4
BB Curl: 120x6 (+rest pause x2)

*Great workout, just a little pissed about my press stalling but I'm sure it's because I've never micro loaded it. Anyone have any suggestions on a cheap alternative to micro plates?

[MattimusMaximus]

Volume Day (Bodyweight: 222 lbs)

Squats: 285x5x4
Bench: 220x5x4
Rows: 210x5x2
P. Cleans: 145x3
Chins: bw x8,5
Standing EZ-Curl Tri Extensions: 110x5 (+rest pause x2 neg)

*Christmas Day would have been Recovery Day so I included a set of Power Cleans today just to keep it fresh for next week.
*Obviously decided not to take the week off; I'll just be skipping recovery day (25th) and continuing Intensity on Saturday (27th).
*Was pleased with this workout but felt like absolute crap by the end of it.