I want to work out more

[Jeff LC]

Hi Rip -

Question - lifting in the gym is the most enjoyable activity in my life. And it saved my life too, in a way. I am fully 100% addicted to it and most days i spent either lifting, or just spending time feeling juiced up and ready to burst with anticipation about lifting.

That being said, i really just hate only being able to lift three times a week. is there ANYTHING I can do, to spend more time working hard in the gym, or at least more days... even if it is sub optimal and it means my squat will go up a little slower, i don't care, I'm in this for the long hall and not to hit a deadline... i just want to go work my ass of in the gym 5 days a week, not 3.

Is there anything I can do?

Info: I am probably still a Novice, but definitely an experienced novice, as far as novices go - 30 year old male, 5 foot 11, 190 pounds, lifts are
Bench 200x1
Deadlift 305x3
Squat 225x3

I recently had my first coaching with a SS coach, Ryan Arnold, and I'm going to start following the program STRICTLY, i just really really really wish i could go in the gym and bust my freaking ass more often. Do you have any advice for me?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Let me advise you to read your own words here and reflect upon them: "I'm in this for the long hall and not to hit a deadline"

[Ddtediejm]

I recommend just going for a 30 min walk on non-training days. It has helped me quell this urge to push more as well. I came in from doing CrossFit where you were working 3 days on and one day off and got used to getting out of my cube at lunchtime to "work out". I beleive it is more of an urge to break up the monotony of the day rather than derail training. Just my non licensed two cents.

[Geoff Bischoff]

I am probably still a Novice, but definitely an experienced novice, as far as novices go

This was me: I goofed off doing stupid things in the gym for a full decade. Often, I'd go to the gym 7 days a week. I gained some strength over those 10 years because God smiles on fools and because I tend toward dogged determination.

Then in June 2018 I began the SS way, first with LP and currently with 4day TM from PPST3. In 2018 I've gained 75lbs on squat (now 390), 20 on bench (now 315), 50 on press (now 215), and 60 on DL (now 465). That's 155 to a PL total and 185 on a SL total this year for a 41-year-old desk jockey who thought he'd already maxed his strength out.

To paraphrase coach Rip, from I forget which source: Driven people are likely to overtrain whereas lazy people are likely to undertrain. Know who you are and train accordingly. Sounds like taking a break and just doing the program as written is your best bet.

Also:

I'd lay down money that come week 8, it won't feel like "taking a break" no matter who you are.

Final note ...

I just want to go work my ass of in the gym 5 days a week, not 3...

Maybe work your ass off those other two days at the dinner table, doing a LP on your bodyweight?

[Str8shutr]

Do you have any advice for me?

The weights you currently PR at are light. Once your working weights are heavy you will be glad you are “only” lifting three days a week.

Eat some more. Put weight on your body and on the bar.

Do The Fucking Program.

Profit.

[Devyn Stewart]

I've found that mentally preparing for a heavy 3x5 session of squats 5 pounds heavier than what almost killed me last time is workout enough for me on my off days. FWIW, I also used to lift 7 days a week doing body part splits and couldn't spend a day away from the gym. That's because that stuff is easy. LP isn't easy.

[Will Morris]

Hi Rip -

Question - lifting in the gym is the most enjoyable activity in my life. And it saved my life too, in a way. I am fully 100% addicted to it and most days i spent either lifting, or just spending time feeling juiced up and ready to burst with anticipation about lifting.

That being said, i really just hate only being able to lift three times a week. is there ANYTHING I can do, to spend more time working hard in the gym, or at least more days... even if it is sub optimal and it means my squat will go up a little slower, i don't care, I'm in this for the long hall and not to hit a deadline... i just want to go work my ass of in the gym 5 days a week, not 3.

Is there anything I can do?

Info: I am probably still a Novice, but definitely an experienced novice, as far as novices go - 30 year old male, 5 foot 11, 190 pounds, lifts are
Bench 200x1
Deadlift 305x3
Squat 225x3

I recently had my first coaching with a SS coach, Ryan Arnold, and I'm going to start following the program STRICTLY, i just really really really wish i could go in the gym and bust my freaking ass more often. Do you have any advice for me?

After a few more months of training, you will realize that the hardest work you put in is with recovery. I swear, force feeding myself enough to get stronger is 1000x more difficult than any set of squats I have ever done.

[TommyGun]

I've found that mentally preparing for a heavy 3x5 session of squats 5 pounds heavier than what almost killed me last time is workout enough for me on my off days.

Amen. When it gets heavy and taxing on both a physical and mental level, you will view recovery day as a gift from the gods. And don’t view it an an off day. It is a recovery day which is the critical piece of getting strong. If you need to contemplate the importance Stress-Recovery -Adaptation cycle.

[BenBoskovski]

The feeling of going to the gym everyday and always assuming you need to do more stems from easy training routines that don't value linear progress. Where you go into the gym to get a pump with submaximal loads. When you realise that you NEED to lift 5lb heavier the next training session, you will WANT to have that rest day in between.

[Jeff LC]

Thanks everyone. The biggest factor I hadn’t considered is how I will feel when the weights get heavy.