Matt's Starting Strength Journey

[mattb]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum as I joined after discovering the Starting Strength program. First, about me I am 5'9', about 135, and looking to gain some good strength and hopefully some muscle to help with lacrosse. I just enrolled in the local Sport And Health and will begin my workout today. I have had some previous training experience so I know the technique on all lifts except power cleans. I'm also gonna start very light to practice form.

So first heres my starting weights and goals:
squat: 95/275
bench: 75/160
DL:95/305
press:45/100
row: 55
powerclean goal: 135

I'll be starting off using rows while also practing power cleans with the bar. Hopefully progress to hang cleans by next week and PCs by the following. Besides that i plan on using 10 lb jumps on squat up to 155 and 20lbs on DL up to 185, i'll use one 10 lb jump on bench because i fear if i go up too quickly i'll stall. The rest will be 5 lb jumps the whole way through. If i have time tonight ill post my workout stats and thoughts, if not then tomorrow.

Wish me luck

[mattb]

Todays stats: 6/7/11

squat: 95 3x5 easy, need to work on hip flexibility
bench: 75 3x5 again easy, good form
deadlift 95 3x5 did two extra sets to focus on form. need to work on using back less

overall good workout, will increase squat and bench by 10 and deadlift by 20.

[mattb]

just got back from the gym, 6/9/11

squat: 105 3x5 again easy
press: 50 3x5 way too easy but need to start low to avoid early plateaus
row: 55 easy but form was weak, probably cos of low weight, not sure

good workout today everything up by 5 next time except for squat, which will be 10

[mattb]

good workout today 6/12/11

looks like sun tues thurs will be my workout schedule from here on out

squat: 115 3x5, still got a few 10 lb jumps left
deadlift: 115 1x5, going up 20
bench: 80 3x5, staying at 5lb jumps for now

[mattb]

early morning workout today 6/14/11

squat: 125 3x5 getting pretty tough, need more rest between sets
press: 55 3x5 surprisingly difficult, got through it though
row: 65 3x5 easy, not sure when the weights will get difficult

also did some work on hang cleans practicing with the bar. i'm not sure if it was really early or i didnt eat/sleep enough but everything felt much more difficult than usual

[mattb]

6/16/11

squat: 135 3x5 bw squat today. not too big of an accomplishment especially for my body weight but still a good milestone. a little tough gonna take it down to 5lb jumps for now.
DL: 135 2x5 did an extra set to work on form, adding 20 to this next time.
bench: 85 3x5 not too easy, not too hard. also tried 135 for 1 rep at the end for fun, barely got it off the chest.

[mattb]

6/19/11

squat: 145 3x5 pretty hard meant to do 140, misloaded. bar speed was slow definitely taking it down next time
press: 60 3x5 tough but got through it
row: 75 3x5 easy again

[smokn']

Hang in there man, us skinny guys got our work cut out for us but it can be done. What's your diet like?

[mattb]

my diet has been whatever, pretty clean with a little junk. i try to get plenty of protein and veggies as i can.

6/21/11

squat: 150 3x5 pulled through it, will call this a pr because when i squatted before was with incorrect form
bench: 90 3x5 got this easily enough
deadlift: 155x5 pretty good, gonna go up 20 again

need to start eating more to recover but havent got the best sleep these past days

[smokn']

Unless you're lactose intolerant, do GOMAD. I was skeptical and tried eating 4000 calories a day w/o it, but it was worthless. I've been gaining a lb a day with GOMAD.