PVC's 5/3/1 "Intermediate" Log

[PVC]

Intermediate is in quotes because I'm technically still a novice at this point. I'm 20 years old, I currently weigh ~185 lbs and I was on SS for 4 months. I went from a skinny and weak 160 lb kid to a not-skinny and not-weak 190 lb guy. I'm switching to 5/3/1 because it's summer, and this program gives me the freedom to undereat occasionally, do cardiovascular-based activites and have a draining job with long hours - you know, stuff that would completely ruin my progression on SS. My functional 1RMs (the ones my workouts will be based on), according to the formulas in the 5/3/1 book:

Press - 130 lbs
Deadlift - 350 lbs
Bench Press - 170 lbs
Squat - 290 lbs

I'm doing a 3x per week variation, training on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. I'll also be doing conditioning work twice a week, as my schedule permits.

[PVC]

Press - 85x5, 95x5, 110x8
Chinups - 6,4,2
Dips - 7,4,2

I can't currently handle doing 5 sets of chins and dips as prescribed in the book, so I'll have to build up to it.

[PVC]

Deadlift - 225x5, 260x5, 295x8

No assistance exercises today, because I squatted yesterday (see other log). I planned my transition between SS and 5/3/1 pretty poorly.

[Mr.City]

You might want to place a pressing day between your squat/deadlift days.

[PVC]

My squat is still on linear progression. I'm bringing it back up to 270x5x3, which I will do on Wednesday, and after that it's 5/3/1 all the way. My actual squat day on 5/3/1 isn't until this coming Sunday.

[PVC]

Bench - 110x5, 125x5, 145x9
DB Bench Press - 35x10, 45x10, 45x8
Kroc Rows - 65x14

Ate more food yesterday and today, and as a result the bench was a breeze. I might have been able to get 10, but I've got a mental barrier with the bench. I'll have to work on overcoming that.

[PVC]

Squat - 190x5, 225x5, 245x7

The second set of squats should have been 215 lbs instead of 225, but I'm an idiot. Partying this weekend has left me as a frail shell of a human being, so the squats were not up to par. I was hoping to get 10 reps, but I'll settle for 7. I think I'll have to accept the fact that my Sunday workouts are going to be poor.

No time for assistance work. Got home from out of town at 3:30, got to the gym at 4:30, gym closes at 5:00. You do the math.

[PVC]

6 hill sprints

Steep hill, relatively short distance. Maybe I'll try to measure it next time. Felt slow. Strong, but slow. Now I'm regretting not having learned powercleans. Going to do 8 sprints next time.

Press 3x3 workout coming up after dinner.

[PVC]

Press - 90x3, 105x3, 115x7
Chin ups - 6.5,4,3,2
Dips - 8, 5, 4, 3

Up to 4 sets for assistance exercises. 5 sets next week.

[PVC]

Deadlift - 245x3, 280x3, 315x7
Good Mornings - 45x10, 65x10, 85x10x3
Grip Work - about to do this now

I was disappointed in my deadlift. I was expecting 8 reps, but my recovery hasn't been great recently. The seventh rep was very slightly hitched, not because I couldn't lift the weight properly but because I wasn't paying enough attention and it just sort of happened (as these things do on higher rep sets). I will make sure not to do it next time.

Does anyone have any suggestions for grip work that I can do for my deadlift? I have two grippers, not the Captains of Crush brand but they are of identical design. One offers 150 lbs of resistance (similar to the CoC #1 which is 140) and one offers 200 lbs of resistance (similar to the CoC #2 which is 195). I can close the 150 lb one for 20 reps, but I can't close the other one once. Any ideas are welcome.