Sets and recovery/older lifter

[Tom Cashmore]

Hi Mark; I was hoping you could shed some light on the programs phase 2 on pg 232 in Practical Programming. I am about to turn 53 and have been doing the twice a week program. I am finding that twice a week squat is too much unless I drastically lower the weight for day two.
Also...not always doing my top weight for three sets of 5. Sometimes my three sets include moving up increments of 10 pounds until I get to top weight then only doing one or two sets. Please give advice and correction.

Thank you
Tom

[Mark Rippetoe]

This will help:

The Barbell Prescription | The Aasgaard Company

[This Old Man]

What is your diet like, and how well are you sleeping?

[johnnys]

Hi Mark; I was hoping you could shed some light on the programs phase 2 on pg 232 in Practical Programming. I am about to turn 53 and have been doing the twice a week program. I am finding that twice a week squat is too much unless I drastically lower the weight for day two.
Also...not always doing my top weight for three sets of 5.

I don't think either plan for that program has 3x5 top sets the way I read it. I had a longer run on that (after doing the SS program two days/week) than I had on the basic program, FWIW and I'm the same age as OP.

[Tom Cashmore]

Ok yes Chris Kurisko mentioned this book towards the end of my online coaching experience with him. I will put the order in today....
Thanks...
TCM

[Tom Cashmore]

Hi there; Thank you for asking..sleep is excellent...however not always able to get in the calories....I am a small 5"9 always fighting to stay close to 180 lbs. I am small boned ..horribly small legs inherited from tall father..! lol...But I am recently trying to stay diligent on the diet. I must admit however...that with everything I read on here about not worrying about fat it is nice to go to doctor for yearly medical and receive an excellent bill of health when I am leaner. Years previous when over my 178-180 lbs I get bad blood pressure and high levels of glucose! Trying to find that balance.....Health is number one...not my squat numbers! Yes I want to be stronger...but again...not at expense of health issues...What is your take on this?
TCM

[Mark Rippetoe]

I must admit however...that with everything I read on here about not worrying about fat it is nice to go to doctor for yearly medical and receive an excellent bill of health when I am leaner.

The approval of your doctor is indeed wonderful. Whenever a doctor approves of me, I always leave the office delighted -- walking on air! So happy my feet barely touch the ground! This kind of validation is so important in today's world.

[Fiddler]

I'm a lot older than you, and about the same size ATM, and I followed the LP 3 days per week until I stopped gaining, and switched to Andy Baker's 4 day per week "over 40" program. My BP and other blood chemistry got a lot better, and I quit all meds apart from anticoagulants (plastic heart valve) long ago.

[Grunter]

Is it age or responding to all these board posts that have refined your sarcasm Mr Rip? Cause if it's the former, I can't wait....

[This Old Man]

Hi there; Thank you for asking..sleep is excellent...however not always able to get in the calories....I am a small 5"9 always fighting to stay close to 180 lbs. I am small boned ..horribly small legs inherited from tall father..! lol...But I am recently trying to stay diligent on the diet. I must admit however...that with everything I read on here about not worrying about fat it is nice to go to doctor for yearly medical and receive an excellent bill of health when I am leaner. Years previous when over my 178-180 lbs I get bad blood pressure and high levels of glucose! Trying to find that balance.....Health is number one...not my squat numbers! Yes I want to be stronger...but again...not at expense of health issues...What is your take on this?
TCM

I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is what's holding you back. If you ate more, you'd get stronger. 53 is not dead. In fact, it's not even all that old.

How much are you squatting now?