jmessick Starting Strength Log

[jmessick]

Work killed Thursday's workout too, but Saturday and today I was back to it.

Saturday, 5/28/2011

Squat
45 x 5 x 2
70 x 5
105 x 3
140 x 2
180 x 5 x 3
Was a little surprised to make this, but I'll take it. Form seems pretty good most of the time, or at least no worse than 175.

Press
45 x 5 x 2
60 x 3
70 x 2
87.5 x 5 x 2
65 x 5
I must have pushed on the last rep of the second work set for 15 seconds. I was seeing stars but it finally locked out. I waited about 5 minutes before the third set but it just was not going to move, so I dropped down and did a low(er) set.

Power Clean
45 x 5 x 2
65 x 3
85 x 2
100 - 3, 3, 3, 2, -
Lost my commitment to the jump.

Neutral grip pull-ups - Maybe 1 I could call a real one. Otherwise lots of looking foolish.


Tuesday, 5/31/2011

Squat
45 x 5 x 2
70 x 5
110 x 3
145 x 2
185 - 5, 5, 3
Started bending forward too much by the end. Still, not too bad. I'll get it Thursday.

Bench Press
45 x 5 x 2
65 x 5
90 x 3
120 x 2
135 x 3
125 x 5 x 2
The missed workouts killed this. 125 felt plenty heavy today. 135 went back up a few times, but it was too wobbly to feel safe.

Deadlift
135 x 5
165 x 3
200 x 2
235 x 3
Nothing too interesting, just ran out of steam.

Dips - Trying to practice the full ROM by standing on the steps and giving myself a little help. I'm considering getting a chin-up/dip tower for my office at home so I can work on these more often in passing.

[jmessick]

Thursday, 6/2/2011

Press
45 x 5 x 2
60 x 3
70 x 2
87.5 x 5 x 3
Someone was using the power rack so I started with these instead of squats. Seemed pretty easy.

Squat
45 x 5 x 2
70 x 5
110 x 3
145 x 2
185 x 5 x 3
Woohoo, that's 1x body weight. These seem to be settling in now. I'm hoping for smooth progress to 2 plates in the next few weeks. Don't even really think about the hip problem anymore.

Power Clean
45 x 5 x 2
65 x 3
85 x 2
100 x 3 x 5
When I get the motion timed right, these still feel light. When I mess it up it ends up an arm pull and feels like a ton.

Random observation: In the power rack, I practiced failing early on to decide where to put the pins. So when I'm at full depth, I very nearly bump them, which is perfect so in case of failure I don't end up completely contorted at the bottom. I can just go a little deeper and set it down. Why is it that every time I see someone doing half-squats, they first feel compelled to move the pins down two holes? Do they think they are going to bump them? They are at least 30 inches away from the pins.

Random observation 2: My Weight Watchers branded bio-impedance scale has completely lost the thread on my body fat %. I can get on it repeatedly a few seconds apart and it will show anything from 22% to 26%, and I suspect even the 22% is high. Or maybe not and I'm just chubbier than I think. I'm going to cut out the milk on non-workout days for awhile anyway and see how it goes. I don't need abs but I don't want it to get out of control either.

[jmessick]

Sunday, 6/5/2011

Saturday's workout got bumped to Sunday morning because the in-laws were in town. Spent all day Saturday at a big family party. All the standing and crap food took a toll. Had to go first thing in the morning due to more family activities on Sunday.

Squat
45 x 5 x 2
70 x 5
110 x 3
150 x 2
190 - 1, 1, 1
Craptastic. Knees hurt, hips hurt, back hurt. Basically I pussed out. Me and 8AM don't seem to get along at the gym.

Bench Press
45 x 5 x 2
65 x 5
90 x 3
120 x 2
135 x 4, 3, 2
Better than last time.

Deadlift
135 x 5
165 x 3
200 x 2
235 x 5
At least something went OK.

[jmessick]

Last couple of weeks have been a mess. Got a sinus infection, had a $1000 plumbing issue, and had a storm come through and knock out power for 3 days. And to top it off, I filmed my squats and discovered they are garbage. My knees basically don't come forward at all, so I end up with my ass a mile behind me and bent way over, and still about 3 inches high. I did a ton of air squatting yesterday getting the knees forward a little past my toes. But anyway, all previous numbers are nonsense. I have no idea what I squat. My good morning is 190 though.

[John Taylor]

Don't let the BS distract you from your goals. I can say with 100% certainty that bullshit can and WILL happen to you just when things seem to be going well.

Hang in there - you're doing fine so far.

[jmessick]

Thanks John. Yep, feeling like I'm getting somewhere is usually a sure sign of bad things to come. On the plus side, all my extra back work has pushed my deadlift up to 255. I'll get the log going again, but yesterday I just did light squats working on the form. It seemed better except for one near face plant with 125 when I put my knees a little too far forward and my weight rolled onto my toes. Failing forward is not pleasant. The pins performed admirably with no more damage than a bruise on my knee and some embarrassment. Luckily it was still light. I just went up to 135 for a few sets. It still felt pretty easy but after probably 10 sets of 5 at various weights I called it.

[jmessick]

OK, time to get caught up ... just in time to go on vacation next week. I probably won't try to find a place to lift but I'm taking my PVC roller with to work on my hips.

6/7
Squat
190 - (3,2), 2, 2 - Had a new belt and tightened it too much. Had to stop and readjust in the first set

Press
90 -4, 4, 3

Power Clean
105 x 3, 95 x 3 - was running late

Then got sick for a week

6/16
Squat
150 x 5 x 3

Bench
105 x 5 x 3

Deadlift
225 x 2 - light day coming back from sinus infection. DLs felt pretty light but bending over was bad for the head.


6/18
Squat
190 - 4, 2, 2

Press
90 - 5, 3; 75 x 5

Power Clean
105 x 3; 95 x 3 x 4

6/21

Squat
190 x 5 x 3

Bench
135 - 2, 3; 115 x 5

Deadlift
245 x 5

6/24

Squat
195 - 4, 3, 2 - more good morning than squat.

Press
90 - 5, 5, 4

Power Clean
105 x 3 x 3, 95 x 3 x 2

6/26

Squat (Form reset)
155 x 2, 135 x 5, many more at various weights

Bench (also reset due to too narrow a grip)
120 x 5 x 3

Deadlift
255 x 3

6/28
Squat (working on getting knees forward)
125 - 3 (dumped forward on #4 ... ooops), 5
135 x 5 x 2

Press
90 - 5, 4, 3 (worse?)

Clean
105 x 3, 95 x 3

6/30

Squat 155 x 5 x 3
Bench 125 x 5 - weird leg cramp, had to go stretch it out
Deadlift 255 x 3