Originally Posted by
mdavis6890
I'm not trying to avoid doing what is required; I am trying to find out what IS required, given the modified goal of "pretty strong" rather than "maximally strong". I've got a job, wife and 4 kids, so anything I can do to be more efficient is helpful. I also know myself, and that I will put those other priorities ahead of training if training becomes too much of a lift (pun intended).
I figure I'll milk the novice phase for as much as it's worth and then move into maintenance mode, doing again the minimum to maintain my strength at that level. Or who knows, maybe by then I'll enjoy it enough to push farther.
Since my first post I've had a couple more workouts at 145 and 155, so making progress there. I also timed myself with the prescribed proper warmups and it came to around 40min or so for the squats. I also did presses/benches, and a set of 10 chins, but no deadlifts. So maybe an hour or so all-in for that.
I also just weighed myself naked at 167, which is the most I've ever weighed, so making progress on that as well.