Michael's Log

[Michael Park]

Age: 29
Sex: Male
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 178

I recently attended the Starting Strength Seminar in Atlanta, and I decided that I want to make sure that I've exhausted my novice gains.

1/21/12: At the Atlanta seminar

Squat: 45 x 5 x 2, 105 x 5, 165 x 5, 225 x 5, 290 x 5 x 3 on Stef's platform
Deadlift: 135 x 5, 195 x 5, 255 x 5, 275 x 5, 315 x 5 on Juli's platform
Press: 45 x 5, 70 x 5, 90 x 5, 110 x 5, 115 x 5 on Tamara's platform

1/22/12: At the Atlanta seminar

Power Clean: 45 x 6, 45 x 3, 95 x 3, 135 x 3, 145 x 3, 155 x 3 on Alex's platform
Bench Press: 45 x 5, 95 x 5, 135 x 5, 165 x 5, 185 x 5 on Steve's platform

1/25/12:

Squat: 45 x 5 x 2, 105 x 5, 165 x 3, 225 x 2, 295 x 5 x 3
Press: 45 x 5 x 2, 60 x 5, 75 x 3, 90 x 2, 115 x 5 x 3
Chin-ups: BW x 13, 10, 8

1/27/12:

Squat: 45 x 5 x 2, 110 x 5, 175 x 3, 240 x 2, 300 x 5 x 3
Bench Press: 45 x 5 x 2, 80 x 5, 115 x 3, 150 x 2, 185 x 5 x 3
Power Clean: 45 x 6, 65 x 3, 95 x 3, 125 x 3, 155 x 3 x 5

This was my first time squatting 300. I was pretty excited about that.

[JamesMichael]

Hey good job hitting 300. Bet you can hear the song of the three plates!

I went to the seminar here in Texas, it was better than I could have imagined. And the proof is in the pudding, I put 50 lbs (and climbing) on my best squat. And before the seminar I felt like I had fairly good form. Good bunch of people and well worth it.

[Michael Park]

Thanks, James. Yes, 315 is currently whispering to me in my sleep.

I also thought I had pretty good form before the seminar. I was rudely awakened by gasps of shock when people watched my first squat. It feels much better now. Definitely a good experience.

[Michael Park]

1/30/12: BW - 180.5 lb

Squat: 45 x 5 x 2, 110 x 5, 175 x 3, 240 x 2, 305 x 5 x 3
Press: 45 x 5 x 2, 65 x 5, 85 x 3, 105 x 2, 117.5 x 5 x 3
Deadlift: 135 x 5 x 2, 200 x 3, 265 x 2, 335 x 5

[Michael Park]

2/1/12:

Squat: 45 x 5 x 2, 110 x 5, 175 x 3, 240 x 2, 310 x 5 x 3
First set
Second set
Third set
Bench Press: 45 x 5 x 2, 80 x 5, 115 x 3, 190 x 5 x 3
Back Extension: BW x 10 x 3
Chin-ups: BW + 25 x 8 x 3

Squats felt heavy. I could feel me knees caving in. I tried to narrow my stance and focus on shoving my knees out on the second and third sets, but they're still coming in a bit. I got a pretty intense lower back pump and had to go lay down for a minute after the third set. 315 x 5 x 3 on Friday!

Does anyone know how to imbed the videos so that you see the image and just have to click on it to make it play instead of using the hyperlink? I'm technologically incompetent and can't figure it out.

[Jsutt]

Click on the film-strip thingy (up there^) in the reply screen. Good luck for Friday, I've been trying to hit that weight for a while now too.

[JamesMichael]

Awesome man. You can fail at 320, but there ain't nothing that's gonna stop ya from getting 315 up! Start practicing your strut now.

[Michael Park]

2/3/12:

Squat: 45 x 5 x 2, 115 x 5, 185 x 3, 255 x 2, 315 x 5 x 3
http://youtu.be/hexcpwWQ-6A
http://youtu.be/PupD9V5R8Ho
http://youtu.be/-_m5lYF50b0
Press: 45 x 5 x 2, 65 x 5, 85 x 3, 105 x 2, 120 x 5 x 3
Power Clean: 45 x 6, 65 x 3, 95 x 3, 125 x 3, 157.5 x 3 x 5

Success! The squats felt really heavy. If I weren't so excited about hitting 315, I might not have made it. We'll see how 320 goes on Monday. I'm not sure if I should switch to Advanced Novice or wait until I miss my squats once first.

The press felt heavy as well. The fifth reps of each set were grinders. I hope I can keep the progress on these up 2.5 lbs at a time.

[Michael Park]

Click on the film-strip thingy (up there^) in the reply screen. Good luck for Friday, I've been trying to hit that weight for a while now too.

Thanks for the good wishes. I tried the film-strip thingy, but it looks like it still just inserted links to the videos. I've seen others put them on there where you automatically see a youtube capture and don't have to open a new window to see them. Weird. Maybe I'll figure it out eventually.

Awesome man. You can fail at 320, but there ain't nothing that's gonna stop ya from getting 315 up! Start practicing your strut now.

Thanks for the encouragement! It sounds stupid, but I think you helped me will the weight up. I just wasn't going to let it pin me down. My strut left a little to be desired, but I'll keep working on it.

[JamesMichael]

YES!

Great job man! Now I know there's some guys around here who squat 900 everyday before breakfast, but I know for an average joe like myself 315 is pretty dang respectable. Especially when you did it 15 times!

320's not all that much harder, it's just a few more pounds, and you'll be stronger by the time you lift it. But hey even if you miss it, you're all good. You'll just make it up another day.

I was trying to put off advanced novice for as long as I could too, but in the larger scheme of things, I don't think it really matters. Just do what your body tells you to.