Valentino's Training Log

[Stephen Valentino]

Hi everyone,

I'm Stephen, and I've been a fan and user of the Starting Strength method for about a year and a half. After a short stint in the catabolic (physically, mentally, and spiritually) world of "traithletics" I decided to get back into lifting from back in my high school football days because I was getting soft and the realization that physical goals are necessary for me to be 'psychologically normal'. I haphazardly ran a novice linear progression taking much longer, and eating much less than I needed to. Despite the circuitous route, I went from about 165lbs up to my current ~190lbs over this 2 year long period. I am unsure about whether I want or need to compete, but I find getting my numbers up is enough motivation for me at this point. I'm going to grad school in the Fall, and I will apply to medical school after that. Very fond of the idea that Training = Medicine, as well as Dr. Sullivan's work and the other Starting Strength coaches and doctors.

Stats:
Age 24
~5'8''
~190lbs

Best Lifts:
Squat 350lbs x 3
Bench 265 x 1
Deadlift 405 x 4
Overhead Press 160 x 2

Time to get after ittt

[Stephen Valentino]

5/26/17 Training:

Bench
225 x 1, 240 x 3, 235 x 2, 235 x 3 *Flaring elbows instead of keeping them tight against body

Overhead Press
145 x 1, 155 x 1, 160 x 1, 170 x 0*, 170 x 0* Missed both attempts

Dips
4 x 15 3 sets: <) 1 set: (>

Hard work is easy work

[Stephen Valentino]

5/27/17 Training:

Squat
350 x 2, 355 x 1, 335 x 2

Deadlift
425 x 1, 365 x 5 reps x 3 sets

Hard Work is Easy Work

[Stephen Valentino]

5/30/17 Training:

Squat
265 x 3
300 x 5 reps x 3 sets @RPE 8.5

Overhead Press
130 x 5 reps x 3 sets @RPE 8.5

Chin-ups
10, 10, 12

[Stephen Valentino]

I was doing Texas Method somewhat successfully, but was starting to feel stale from the four day version of it that I was doing. I decided to switch to the Heavy-Light-Medium type program because (1) to do full-body workouts again (I was doing an upper-lower split Texas method) (2) changing up the schedule of my workouts for novelties sake (3) give myself an extra day of recovery lifting 3 days instead of 4.

We'll see what happens.

Any suggestions on how best to run the HLM program would be welcome (if anyone is reading this!).

[Stephen Valentino]

Current plan, more or less, from Andy Baker on the website:

[Stephen Valentino]

6/1/17 Training:

Squat
270 x 5 reps x 1 set

Bench
225 x 5 reps x 2 sets (with belt)

Wide Bench
205 x 8 reps x 2 sets

Inverted Rows
12, 15, 15

[Stephen Valentino]

Training 6/3/17:

Squat
305 x 2 reps x 3 sets

Overhead Press
145 x 3 x 3

Paused Deadlift
315 x 4
335 x 4
365 x 3

[Stephen Valentino]

Training 6/6/17:

Squat
305 x 5 reps x 3 sets @ RPE 8

Bench
225 x 4 @shit
210 x 5 reps x 2 sets @9
185 x 10

Deadlift
385 x 5 @ 8.5

Getting used to doing the Big 3 all in the same workout again.

[Stephen Valentino]

Training 6/8/17

Overhead Press
140 x 5 reps x 3 sets
105 x 12

Squat
275 x 5

Chin-ups
43 reps in 10 minutes