Hi, I'm Chris and this is my training log.

[chrisstophere]

Age: 37
Weight: 195~
Height: 5' 10"
BF: approx. 17%

I started with the stronglifts program, but then after finding SS, I switched. Before that, I was doing a bunch of shit a buddy suggested to do over a 5-day split which sucked. I also began this getting stronger shit with type 2 diabetes, 255 or so lbs, and 33+% BF. That's all gone now. In total, I've only been lifting for just under a year. It was a really slow start, but now I'm addicted as hell and try to never miss a day. In fact, I'm trying to incoporate more days without hindering the bread and butter of the novice program.

I was keeping track of everything via the spreedsheet available, but wanted to start taking notes along with trying to join this community.

Here's what I started with on 01-30-12 to where I'm at now.

Squat: 135x5x3 ---> 220x5x3
Bench: 160x5x3 ---> 180x5x3
OHP: 95x5x3 ---> 125x5x3
Dead: 225x5x1 ---> 295x5x1
Pendlay Row: 145x5x3 ---> 165x5x3

I'm hoping to replace the rows with actual power cleans as soon as I can man up and stop being a punk about them. I'm practising them fairly regularly but haven't seemed to get the confidence to incoporate them into my routine. I'm just going to man the fuck up and start them next B day, shitty form or not.

So far I have no specific goals other than to just keep adding weight to the bar while not getting overly chunky ever ever again. Wait, I would like to get that bicep vein popping out like a water hose one day.

[chrisstophere]

03/07/12

Squat: 225x5x3 ---> +5lbs
Bench: 185x4x3 ---> same weight
Dead: 305x5x1 ---> +10lbs
Weighted Dips: 15lbx12, 15lbx11, 15lbx7
*Forgot my chalk today which sucked. Also went back to fasted training.
*I felt as though if I had chalk, I could have managed to complete the benches, that or switched bars to the all steel one and rested a bit longer. That bitch was light as hell on the first set it seemed. I might have just been mentally psyched for squatting 2 plates for reps for the first time though.

[Bradley]

03/07/12

Squat: 225x5x3 ---> +5lbs
Bench: 185x4x3 ---> same weight
Dead: 305x5x1 ---> +10lbs
Weighted Dips: 15lbx12, 15lbx11, 15lbx7
*Forgot my chalk today which sucked. Also went back to fasted training.
*I felt as though if I had chalk, I could have managed to complete the benches, that or switched bars to the all steel one and rested a bit longer. That bitch was light as hell on the first set it seemed. I might have just been mentally psyched for squatting 4 plates for reps for the first time though.

When people refer to "plates" they are referring to one side only. 4 plates is 405 lbs.

[chrisstophere]

When people refer to "plates" they are referring to one side only. 4 plates is 405 lbs.

Ahh, I didn't know that. Thanks, I fixed it. I still feel pretty new to weightlifting but I'm loving the challenge of it.

[Ishmael]

I was excited last week when I threw that second wheel on (last week,) until I remembered that I had a 35lbs bar.

When I actually hit the real "two plate" 225lbs yesterday all I was thinking about was how far away I was from three plates.

[skipbeat]

We are close enough in strength for me to follow along. Welcome!

I am the exact same height, weight, and strength level as you, and you might be underestimating your BF% a bit. No biggie! Get those lifts up!

[chrisstophere]

I was excited last week when I threw that second wheel on (last week,) until I remembered that I had a 35lbs bar.

When I actually hit the real "two plate" 225lbs yesterday all I was thinking about was how far away I was from three plates.

I completely understand. I'm hoping that some mental thing doesn't mess me up next session.

We are close enough in strength for me to follow along. Welcome!

I am the exact same height, weight, and strength level as you, and you might be underestimating your BF% a bit. No biggie! Get those lifts up!

Nice and thanks, it'll be nice to have someone I can kinda lift along with.

[JamesMichael]

Good going on the lifts; It always feels good to put the next big plate on. Just keep grinding along, they stack up real quick! We're right at the same weight/age, we might not be old, but we ain't no spring chickens either! So yeah the young guys get to rely on recovery, but we have old man strength and grit.

And just do the shitty powercleans. That's what I do. For me they've gotten a little less shitty. Not much, but you'll end up feeling better about them than the rows.

OH! And not sure if you have one or not, but get a belt! I've done SS twice; the first time a few years back I didn't have one and got up to 285 or so. This time I held off till about 270, and I was able to breeze past 285. Looking back, even though I was advised to get one, I waited way to long out of some misguided attempt at being as 'raw' as I could be. It's a night and day difference.

[chrisstophere]

Good going on the lifts; It always feels good to put the next big plate on. Just keep grinding along, they stack up real quick! We're right at the same weight/age, we might not be old, but we ain't no spring chickens either! So yeah the young guys get to rely on recovery, but we have old man strength and grit.

And just do the shitty powercleans. That's what I do. For me they've gotten a little less shitty. Not much, but you'll end up feeling better about them than the rows.

OH! And not sure if you have one or not, but get a belt! I've done SS twice; the first time a few years back I didn't have one and got up to 285 or so. This time I held off till about 270, and I was able to breeze past 285. Looking back, even though I was advised to get one, I waited way to long out of some misguided attempt at being as 'raw' as I could be. It's a night and day difference.

Thanks and the belt sounds like good advice. I'll start pricing them out. And as for the power cleans, I'm actually psyched to start them. I've been watching the technique videos and practicing and man do they look badass when done with heavy weight.

[chrisstophere]

03/09/12 - Session 12

Squat: 230x5x3
OHP: 130x5, 130x3, 130x4
PC: 125x3x5
Neutral Chin-ups: 7, 4, 4

Notes:
Squats
What little form i do have, it definitely broke down on the last few reps in the last set. The bar felt like it was rising to the high bar position and i'm thinking wayyyy too much about form while squatting instead of concentrating on just going up. Finding parallel or keeping the knees out isn't an issue, but finding that bounce reflex sure is it seems. I think i'm getting in my own head and that's going to hurt me.

OHP
These were heavy today after finding out that I should be pressing from a stop. I had been using a bounce (not a knee push, feels like a stretch reflex) which seemed to make them so much easier.

PowerCleans
First time doing these. Felt good, although form will be an issue till I get a bit more experience. Worked my way up to 125 and just finished the last sets with that. Felt like I could of went added more, but figured I should start with less. Also felt like I was going to pass out a few times in the middle of the set from holding my breath. I just did a full reset between reps to get my bearings again and then pulled. Got to work on that extension form though.

*Slept like crap the night before due to my wife getting a dog that kept us up all night long. I'm also not eating enough to support the growth and progression I'm trying to accomplish. I have to figure out what I really want to do before I set myself up for failure, i.e. getting lean and minimally strong or getting big and hugely strong. Due to the sessions form breakdowns and missed reps, I'll have to figure out whether to do a deload or not come Monday.

*I'm liking this keeping a log things, never realized how much it could help self analyze. I'll come back and edit the post with what I'm going to progress or regress to this weekend.