Training Log of Doom

[nhitchings]

Stats
Male, 32 years old
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 230 lbs

PR's
Squat: 315x1
Bench: 205x1
Sumo Deadlift: 479x1 (single-ply)
Press: 125x2

This is my second try at Starting Strength. My first try took place a little over a year ago. I stalled out fairly early because I'm a dumbass and I wasn't doing the program. I spent some time with a strength coach whose program heavily emphasized the sumo deadlift. I'm not working with a coach anymore because it's too expensive and I feel a need to take more control of my own training anyway.

The first two weeks on my own I decided to try 5/3/1. I figured I was at least intermediate because I had been lifting for a whole year (heh). I quickly realized that I am not advanced enough for that program and I always felt like I gave up on Starting Strength too soon anyway. So, since I pulled a groin muscle on my first squat day on 5/3/1 (it was minor but really annoying), I haven't been using the conventional deadlift, and my bench and press numbers are pretty weak anyway, I decided to reset to something like 40%-50% of my previous 5RM's and am work my way back up. I have reread SSBBT3 and PPST cover to cover and I am going to Do The Program. Here are my numbers from the first two weeks:

13 Oct 2013
Squat: 110x3x5
Press: 65x3x5
Deadlift: 145x5

15 Oct 2013
Squat: 120x3x5
Bench: 95x3x5
Deadlift: 165x5

17 Oct 2013
Squat: 130x3x5
Press: 75x3x5
Deadlift: 185x5

20 Oct 2013
Squat: 140x3x5
Bench: 105x3x5
Power Clean: 95x5x3

22 Oct 2013
Squat: 150x3x5
Press: 85x3x5
Deadlift: 205x5

24 Oct 2013
Squat: 160x3x5
Bench: 115x3x5
Power Clean: 105x5x3

[carson]

Good restart. I've done ok by following the program fairly closely. Stick with it. Your numbers look good. If you can post some videos.

[nhitchings]

27 Oct 2013
Squat: 170x3x5
Press: 95x3x5
Deadlift: 225x5

29 Oct 2013
Squat: 180x3x5
Bench: 125x3x5
Power Clean: 115x2x3, 115x1, 115x2, 115x2x3

31 Oct 2013
Squat: 190x3x5
Press: 105x3x5
Deadlift: 245x5

I missed the second rep of my third set of power cleans on the 29th. Technique was all fucked up. I did get all 15 reps but I'm going hang out at 115 for one more session to make sure I get a solid 115x5x3. The press is becoming difficult so I'm going to switch to 5 lb jumps.

[nhitchings]

Good restart. I've done ok by following the program fairly closely. Stick with it. Your numbers look good. If you can post some videos.

Thanks, man. I do have a few videos of my squat. I plan on posting them soon.

[nhitchings]

3 Nov 2013
Squat: 200x3x5
Bench: 135x3x5
Power Clean: 115x5x3

5 Nov 2013
Squat: 205x3x5
Press: 110x3x5
Deadlift: 265x5

7 Nov 2013
Squat: 210x3x5
Bench: 140x3x5
Power Clean: 120x3x3

Early morning training sessions suck. I ran out of time to finish power cleaning today and I'm not really sure if I would have made all of the reps anyway. I felt like absolute dog shit this morning and I couldn't focus. I can't seem to get to bed early enough to get up at 4:30am and still have a good training session. Anyway, I'm going to have to repeat 120 for power cleans next time and I am going to start using my belt next week. Also, on Tuesday's deadlifts I had to switch to mixed grip on the third rep of my working set. Finally, I've been doing chin-ups on my own chin-up bar approximately every other day sporadically throughout the day for the past week and a half or so. I've been doing this because I really suck at chin-ups and can only do singles right now. Trying to "grease the groove" so to speak. I may start tracking these next week.

[nhitchings]

Squat: 215x3x5
Press: 112.5x3x5
Deadlift: 275x5

Meant to use my belt on squats today but I forgot. Press was hard, as usual, and I did use my belt. Deadlifts were easy, switched to mixed grip on the third rep of my work set.

[nhitchings]

Squat: 220x3x5
Bench: 145x3x5
Power Clean: 120x1, 120x2x2, 120x1, 120x3x3

Fucking power cleans. I'm going to film these on Sunday and post a form check. This is getting ridiculous. Squat and bench were fine and I used my belt for squatting. I've been having pain in my arms that makes flexing my biceps and gripping things difficult. This happens when I squat. Usually digging around in my traps and other upper back muscles alleviates some of the pain but it is pretty damn annoying.

[nhitchings]

Squat: 225x3x5
Press: 115x3x3
Deadlift: 285x5

Goddamnit. I can't wait to start my new job so that I don't have to deal with these 5:30 AM training sessions anymore. I am going to blame lack of sleep for my failure on the press today. After I failed the fourth rep on my first set I decided to just do two more sets of 3. It's a good thing because the third reps on both of the subsequent sets were absolute grinders.

[nhitchings]

Squat: 230x3x5
Bench: 150x3x5
Power Clean: 120x5x3

Finally got the power clean. A few of the reps were a little sloppy but I was able to rack them all. I took a video of the first set but I haven't uploaded it yet.

[nhitchings]

Squat: 235x3x5
Press: 115x3x5
Deadlift: 295x5