Yaums - Starting strength in France

[Yaums]

32, 5'11, been doing SS for 5 weeks now, after 6 months of CrossFit-ish training.

BW: 198lbs ==> 211lbs

5 weeks ago:
Squat: 81kg (178lbs - 3 sets of 5)
DL: 90kg (198lbs - 1 set of 5)
Bench: don't have a bench yet, doing weighted pushups: 14kg (31lbs - 3 sets of 5)
OHP: 37kg (81lbs - 3 sets of 5)
Power clean: 67kg (147lbs - 5 sets of 3)

I could have started heavier with squat and deadlift, I just switched to 2kg increments for squats and 4kg to DL. I got up to 73kg (160lbs) on power cleans before switching to power snatchs.

Fri, 6 May 2011 - SS #15

Squat: 133kg (293lbs, 3x5)
Weighted pushups: 26kg (57lbs, 3x5)
Deadlift: 151kg (332lbs, 1x6)
Chins: 8-8-8-7-7-6

Going to go back to 117kg on squats next week to work on form, I did a vid and saw my back is badly rounding and my depth is questionable on some reps. DLs seem OK, did 6 reps (couldn't count reps correctly if my life depended on it, I usually end up with more reps than necessary). Left elbow was OK (been bothering me for a while).

Y.

[Yaums]

Mon, 9 May 2011 - SS #16

Squat: 117kg (257lbs, 3x5)
Press: 44kg (97lbs, 3x5)
Power snatch: 61kg (134lbs, 5x3)
Chins: 1-1-1-1-1-1

I realized today I was squatting with the bar a bit too low. Corrected it. Depth is now OK. Upper back is not perfectly set, and I look at a point too low.
Press is OK, second set was tough, but the third surprisingly not.
For power snatch, I focused on setting the back at the beginning and getting a good shrug. Still difficult.
First time with full ROM chins.
I'm now officially pain-free in my left elbow.

Y.

[Yaums]

Wed, 11 May 2011 - SS #17

Squat: 121kg (266lbs, 3x5)
Weighted pushups: 28kg (62lbs, 3x5)
Deadlift: 155kg (341lbs, 1x5)
Chins: 2-2-2-2-2-2

Some squats were high again, but not many. I still think my upper back is not properly set, I'm clueless. I may lose some tightness at the bottom, maybe it's time for another form check.
Pushups were damn hard.
Dead OK, bar path not ideal: when I lower the bar it travels forward and for the next rep is not at the mid-foot.
I'm quite pleased with my chins, I'm better than what I thought.

Y.

[Yaums]

Sat, 14 May 2011 - SS #18

Squat: 125kg (275lbs, 3x5)
Press: 45kg (99lbs, 3x5)
Power snatch: 63kg (139lbs, 5x3)
Chins: 3-3-3-2-2-1

Missed my workout yesterday, due to family reasons.
Squats were not too hard. Maybe a bit high again. I'm excited for the press, because I missed this weight 2 weeks ago and had to deload. this time it went up smoothly enough. I wish I had bumpers for my snatches, my left thigh is beginning to get bruised.
The deal starts now with the chins. Missed the last rep by an inch, got it by kipping a bit, so I don't count it.

Y.

PS : BW is 215 now.

[Yaums]

Mon, 16 May 2011 - SS #19

Squat: 129kg (284lbs, 3x5)
Weighted pushups: 30kg (66lbs, 3x5)
Deadlift: 159kg (350lbs, 1x5)
Chins: 3-3-3-2-2-2 (+1)

Back a bit rounded for the last DL rep. Otherwise, OK.

Y.

[Yaums]

Wed, 18 May 2011 - SS #20

Squat: 131kg (288lbs, 3x5)
Press: 46kg (101lbs, 3x5)
Power snatch: 65kg (143lbs, 3x3)
Chins: 3-3-3-3-3-2 (+2)

Morning workout, the hardest in a long time. OK on squats, except for 2 reps (one on the 2nd set turned into a half goodmorning, and I almost got stuck on the very last one). Power snatches were tough, especially the first set. I cut out the last two sets, due to lack of time. Chins are progressing nicely. The whole workout left me pretty beat up: I guess going out on week's day (and not eating enough in the process) + stress at work + bad night (kids) is not a very good combination for recovery.

Y.

[Yaums]

good: this morning, my wife noticed my upper body has grown.
bad: she does not like it.

[Rezart Erindi]

good: this morning, my wife noticed my upper body has grown.
bad: she does not like it.

Why? She scared you turn into the Hulk?
Btw I've been following your log. Good progress, but be careful on the squats. Try to keep tight, and I suggest you watch the video that Rip did about the lower back.

[Yaums]

Yep, pretty much. She's scared of the Hulk. Seriously, I've never been skinny, and she thought I was OK. Plus she thinks it's a bit narcissist, and she's afraid I'll have to buy a whole new bunch of shirts! But whe wasn't trying to convince me, she just spoke her mind. Overall she's pretty supportive, even if it's taking much time.

As for squats, back tightness is not natural for me. I already watched the vid about the lower back, it helped a great deal, and I think the lower back is pretty much OK now. The upper back is another matter, I can't determine if it's correctly set or not, I'll post a vid as soon as I can get one with enough light (I train in my garage either early on the morning or late in the evening...).

Thx!

Y.

PS: I'm toying with the idea of programming DL and snatches once a week on a fixed day. I think I'll wait for the next fail...

[Yaums]

Mon, 23 May 2011 - SS #21

Squat: 133kg (293lbs, 3x5)
Weighted pushups: 32kg (70lbs, 3x5)
Deadlift: 163kg (359lbs, 1x5)
Chins: 3-3-3-3-3-1 (-1)

Skipped last Friday's workout (business trip, couldn't find a place to train in Paris: either commercial gym where you can't deadlift, let alone snatch, or powerlifting/weightlifting clubs that don't accept people just for a session... F*ck!!).

Monday was tough as hell. Last rep on the squat was a nightmare. Same for deadlift.

Skipped today's session too (too sick, gastro-enteritis is a bitch, couldn't eat yesterday and slept all day long...). And when I am recovered, I fucking know that the kids will be sick too, so it means little sleep in sight for the end of the week.

Y.