rsm's Texas Method Log

[rsm92]

I'm 21 years old and have been lifting for about 2.5 years, but more focused on strength training and powerlifting for the past 6 months. I have a push/pull meet coming up on June 14th and this will be my first meet, 198lb class. I had an injury last September that kept me from squatting for a few months; I LP'd from late December to just recently that didn't end too badly. Current lifts are:

Squat 370x5
Bench 295x1 tng, 285x1 paused
Deadlift 470x1

I'm running a variant of the Texas Method with an additional assistance day, and this is my third week on it with intensity coming up tomorrow:

Monday (vd):
Squat 5x5
Bench 5x5
RDL 2x5@8/Deadlift 2x3@7.5

Wednesday (rd):
Press 3x5
Squat 2x5
Curl

Friday (id):
Squat 1x5
Bench 2x1 (paused), 1x3 (tng)
Deadlift 1x5/2x1 (ascending)

Saturday (ad):
Press 1x3@8
Weighted Pullups/Chins 2x6
Curl

Pulls are cycled ever other week. The days are shifted due to final exams but I should be back to normal schedule shortly. I'm interested to see what exactly is the best way to manipulate the volume/intensity relationship to keep progressing, so feel free to throw in some suggestions. Hope you guys follow along. Here's my training from earlier in the week:

TM wk3

Tuesday 5/13/14 (vd):
Squat 325x5x5 - last set was a bit tough, but spent 5-6 min rest in between set so I guess it's not as hard as it should be yet
Bench 245x5x5 - finishing the last 3 sets was tough; i may hold the volume here next week and start microloading
RDL 225x5x2

Thursday 5/15/14 (rd):
Press 155x5x3 - not too bad, the bars at this gym suck and don't spin, so after the powerful lockout the plates spin and make the bar spin in my hand as well
Squat 255x5x2 - no belt, recovery squat
Curl 27.5x12x2 - cables, boring

[rsm92]

Tough day today, may need some help from the TM veterans.

Saturday 5/17/14 (id):
Squat 375x5 - became extremely grindy; i'm thinking i may have to up the volume to 335 instead of 330 to provide adequate stimulus, considering 325 was pretty damn easy and this was very hard; can anyone provide insight?
Bench 290x1x2 paused, 280x2 tng - missed the third rep of 280; 245 was pretty tough for volume so i may keep that there and retry 280; the second rep was hit in the wrong spot and had sort of a mini pause, so i'll likely get it next time
Deadlift 440x1, 475x1 - fast

To those who have been in a familiar situation on the Texas Method, I'd like to hear some suggestions. Thanks!

[BigDave]

wow!!

[rsm92]

TM wk4

Tuesday 5/20/14 (vd):
Squat 335x5x5 - easy
Bench 245x5x3, 245x4 - had to go home for this, gym closed early. not sure what happened here; will see what happens on id and go from there
RDL 315x3@7.5 - called it here

[rsm92]

Thursday 5/22/14 (rd):

messed around with low bar a little bit this session

Press 160x5x3 - getting the rebound off the hips is still pretty difficult for me
Squat 260x5, 185x5 - 2nd set was low bar, feeling off but i may make the switch soon enough
Curl 32.5x12x2