Fino's Pursuit of "Stronger"

[Fino]

I have kept a personal log for my training but my wife recommended I do an electronic one as well. Recently forgetting my log book at the gym one day gave me the extra push to create an electronic one. Fortunately a kind soul turned in my log book, which had over a year’s worth of data.

Stats: Male, 33 years young, 5’6” to 5’7”, current walking around weight between 185 and 190.

Brief History: Prior to 2012 I had never performed any of the major lifts other than the bench. My “workout” history consisted of isolation movements, body weight exercises, and running (both long distance and interval). I weighed 155 lbs. when I discovered the major lifts and SS.

I fell in love with the SS model and the idea of training; that is working towards predetermined goals with a structured plan in place. I saw some good progression and introduced my wife to the model. She gave up endurance running (she had run a half marathon and was unhappy with her “skinny fat” frame) and became my training partner. Her training log can be found here: http://startingstrength.com/resource...ad.php?t=39594
We have been lifting together for about 16 months now. She has competed in 2 PL meets and I have competed in 1 (December 2013). Our next planned meet is in August 2014.

Current PRs (all LBS.)
Meet: 292/281/325 @ BW of 178 December 9, 2013
Training: Squat 290 (1x5), Bench 267 (1x5), Press 174 (1x5) and 182 (1x1), Deadlift 330 (1x3)

Programming: Texas Method with an upper and lower body split. I use this to allow for the volume required for progress in my pressing movements. 5 pounds jumps in squats, 2 and 1 pound in pressing, and 5-10 for deadlifts.

Sat: Press Intensity, Bench Volume
Sun: Squat Volume, Pulling
Wed: Bench Intensity, Press Volume
Thurs: Squat Intensity, Deadlift

I will frequently post video of my work sets. I welcome any feedback on form or programming etc. My current biggest challenge is the pulling movements. I tend to not set my back hard and to initiate the pull with my back.

[Fino]

To get things up to speed:

January 22, 2014:
Bench: 267lbs 1x5 PR
Press: 157ls 5x5
Curls
Video of Bench and Press: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wux8bLMYlHU

January 23, 2014:
Squat Intensity: 290lbs 1x5 PR
DL 295lbs 1x5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR016c1sD9w

January 25, 2014:
Press Intensity: 175 1x4 missed last rep (Will attempt same weight)
Bench Volume: 244lbs 5x5
Video of press: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW_kBgeaBZs

January 26, 2014:
Squat Volume: 265lbs 5x5
Dl warmup
Power Snatch 110x4x2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRRJtBe0smQ

[Aleli]

Nice!

I'm glad you finally got around to starting a log.

[carson]

Fino, I'm also glad that you are posting. We are at about the same place on DL but your numbers are killing me on the others.

[Fino]

January 29, 2014:

Warmup bench: 45x1x10, 135x2x5, 165x1x3, 195x1x2, 225x2x1, 235x1x1
Bench Intensity: 269lbs 1x5 PR!

Warmup press: 45x1x5, 95x1x3, 115x1x2, 135x1x1
Press Volume: 159lbs 5x5

Curls

Video of Bench and Press: http://www.youtube.com/watch?edit=vd&v=7pLjtXnhBU4

[Fino]

Fino, I'm also glad that you are posting. We are at about the same place on DL but your numbers are killing me on the others.

Thanks for the note Carson, lets race to 355!

[carson]

That would be fun but I'm twice your age. I doubt that it would be much of a competition.

[Fino]

January 30, 2014:

The bad news: first time in 6 weeks I have missed a rep on my squat. The good news: Even though I missed the last rep, it was still the most weight I have ever squatted.

Warmup: 45x2x5, 135x2x5, 165x1x3, 195x1x2, 225x2x1, 235x1x1, 265x1x1
Squat Intensity: 295lbs (1x4) missed the 5th....PR
Notes: Physicaly I felt fine, but I wasn't at my best mentally for this set. I was intimidated since it was the most weight I have ever lifted. I took longer than usual during my set up. On my last rep my chest rocks back and kills my drive. Will repeat weight next week. For volume will keep weight the same at 265lbs 5x5, I am thinking about adding one back off set of five at 250lbs, but not sure yet.

Warmup: 135x1x5, 185x1x5, 225x2x2, 265x2x1
DL: 305lbs (1x3), (1x2) missed the 4th and 5th reps on my first set.
Notes: Will now change to 5lb jumps. Repeat weight next week.

Video of Squat and DL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?edit=vd&v=CgeMk-LcKvc

[hamburgerfan]

Good work. How long have you been doing the TM?

[Fino]

Hey hamburgerfan. I have been running TM for squat for 6 weeks, before that ran Heavy Light Medium that Andy Baker listed on his blog. I have been running a TM model for pressing for a bit now though first traditional, alternating press and bench, then combining the two with one on intensity and the other on volume in the same day. Six weeks ago I switched to 4 day TM uppler lower split in part to cut my gym session time down and to also help drive my pressing movements.