Texas Method in Michigan!

[SSrecruit]

5'9" 195lb, 43 year old male

I've been doing a hybrid of LP with Texas Method for the past month because my bench and press stalled, but was still making progress on Squat and Deadlift.

Current PRs:

Squat: 250 X 5 X 3. Have been on LP, switching to TM on this lift starting next workout.
Deadlift: 290 X 5 (set today)
Press: 165 X 5
Bench: 255 X5
Chins: 12 AMRAP, 3X5 with 22.5 lbs on the belt.

Today's workout:

Squat: warmup 45, 95,135, 185, 225. Work weight 250 3X5 which was a PR. Was very difficult for me to keep good form.
Press: warmup 45, 95. Did 135 3X5 for "recovery day" on the press.
Deadlift: warmup 135, 185, 225, 255. Work weight: 290X5, also a PR. Not too difficult for a PR - I'll keep moving up on DL.

[Chesty McLifty]

Saw your reply in my thread. I'll be following your progress too. Exciting times!

[SSrecruit]

Intensity day, set all 3 PRs:

Bench: warmups at 135, 185, 225. PR at 257.5 X 5 with good form. But very freaking difficult.

Squat: warumps at 45, 95, 135, 185, 235. PR at 255 X 5. Marginal form to be honest. My squat is so weak! Working on it.....

Deadlift: warm up 135, 185, 225, 255. PR at 295 X 5. 4 reps were good.Training partner said one was sloppy.

Overall a great workout - gonna go cook up a couple steaks and have dinner with my son!

[chrisza]

Dude, your out benching your squat?! Guarantee form issues with your squat.

[SSrecruit]

Chrisza- Ive benched all my life, never trained the squat until I took up starting strength 6 mos ago. I agree those numbers are wierd though! I can squat with good form up to about 240, above that my knees cave in. My form isnt bad, I just have weak legs. But not for long!

[chrisza]

Really enforce the knees out cue/get knees set early and your squat should skyrocket. Keeping the bar at midfoot all the way down and up is crucial. I was similar to you when I started. It literally took me 2 years of messing around(self taught) to get a good squat. Once form is locked in, you will pile on weight fast.

[SSrecruit]

Volume day today - I like doing this on a sunday, it's a longer workout and best not to feel rushed!

Squat:
Warmups at 45, 95, 135, 185
Work sets: 5X5 @ 225
Workout partner says form was perfect on these. I was able to keep knees out (Chrisza you're right that's my cue to focus on right now, weak point in my squat). I'll move to 230 next volume session.

Press:
Warmups at 45, 95, 125.
Work Sets: 5X5 @ 145
This session got really tough on the 3rd and 4th set. For some reason, bar speed was fast on the 5th set and it wasn't hard at all. I think I rested longer going into that 5th set. I think I'll micro-load to 147.5 next time. I have head trash around 150 5X5.

Weighted Chins:
21.25 for a 3X5
Took everything I had to get through the 3X5 despite having been heavier in previous workouts.

Great workout today!!! Was about 1 hr 10 min.

[SSrecruit]

Recovery day workout, 12:15 PM

Squat: WU 45, 135, 185. 3X5 with 205. Focused on form - chest up, knees wide, looking down. Felt good.

Bench: WU 135, 185. 3X5 with 215. Went to a wider grip which felt good. Will try the wider grip in my next bench volume session.

AMRAP Chins: 12 (new PR), 8, 6. Last session was 11, 8, 7.

Did this in about 50 minutes. Going on a short 3 day vacation - will do some pushups and such in the hotel room but mostly resting.

[SSrecruit]

Travelled for a short family vacation, did a hotel gym workout on friday in lieu of intensity day:

Lunges - 35 lb dumbells, 4X10

Shoulder press with 45 lb dumbells, 3X10

Pull ups with the close parallel grip, 3X5

Its not a barbell workout but better than nothing! The lunges made me very sore the next day!

[SSrecruit]

I re-read the squat chapter in starting strength - realized that Im not always keeping the spine extended in my squat. Lowering weight to focus on this cue for today.

Squat:

warmup 45x5, 95x5, 135x5, 185x5. Then did 205 5x5. This weight was very light but I was ablemto focus in on the form, especially with keeping back in extension, heels on the ground, knees wide. This was easy but im really trying to get my form perfect. Willmove up next time.

Bench:

widened my grip - had been gripping just outside of center on the inner knurls. I widened out to put my ring fingers on the space between the knurls.

Warmup: 135x5, 185x5, 205x5, 215x3

Worksets: 232.5 for a solid 5x5. I think widening the grip made it easier - got through it pretty easily, 2 minutes rest. Moving up to 235 next time.

Weighted chins:
+22.5 5, 5, 4. Failed on last rep of last set. Sticking to this weight next time.