In Squat We Trust

[John Watson]

FR 11/27
Volume Day

Squat
255x5x5

Bench
147.5x5x5

Light Deadlift
230x5x2

SU 11/29
Recovery Day

Squat
205x5x2

Press
90x5x3


Volume day, while not feeling heavy or near limit, causes me to sleep incredibly well and for long periods during the day, without interfering with sleeping again at night.
It takes until Sunday night until I'm feeling somewhat recovered.
So far, I'm recovering by week's end, and not carrying over any fatigue so that's good. But I did get a vicious headache, which responded well to 800 mg of ibuprofen about every 6 hours. I vaguely recall a headache after last week's volume day. Must be the huge catabolic effect of volume.
Well, next week we'll see when I add another 5 lbs if there's a possible cause/effect. Hopefully I adapt to the volume.

[John Watson]

TU 12/1
Intensity Day

Squat
285x5

Bench
167.5x5

Deadlift
325x5

I'm in PR territory for 5RM.
This shit works. Let's see if I can keep it going. Nothing felt too difficult.

[John Watson]

12/4
Volume Day

Squat
260x5x5

Press 100 x5x5

Light Deadlift
235x5x2

I'm enjoying the volume. It feels like getting homework done for the test on intensity day. Come intensity day, I always feel prepared, more so than on novice LP.
I'm going to have to be real patient with bench & presses since they go up 2.5 lbs every 2 weeks, or 1.25 lbs a week. Feel like I could have started these a bit higher, but maybe they'll go longer without a reset.
Compared to 5 lbs a week on squat and deadlift, seems slow.

[John Watson]

12/6
Recovery Day

squat
210x5x2

bench
135x5x3

sgdl
135x5x2

Worked today, but managed to get in about enough sleep to feel recovered. But there goes the 4th most important day of TM; laundry day.
Long afternoon naps are mandatory.
This volume day did not kill me as last week did. I think I had a bug, with a bad headache.

Let's see how we do on intensity day.

[John Watson]

12/8
Intensity Day

Squat
290x5

Press
107.5x5

Deadlift
330x5

Last rep of press slowed slightly, maybe I wasn't under it.
Deadlifts not rapidfire, some seconds between reps.


End of week 4, the easy part.
5RM PR's are in bold.

[John Watson]

12/11
Volume Day

Squat
265x5x5

Bench
150x5x5

Deadlift
240x5x2

Bench and deadlift were fairly easy, starting to feel the squat volume, though I was in no danger of missing reps. Maybe I need more carbs.

[John Watson]

I missed recovery day yesterday.
I might do my presses tonight, and proceed with scheduled intensity with and benching tomorrow.

[John Watson]

TU 12/15
Intensity Day

Squat
295x5

Bench
170x5

Deadlift
335x4

Did not lock out that last deadlift.

[John Watson]

I've been puzzling over where to go next, with my 5th week of TM ending with a missed deadlift, after 5 weeks of happily adding 5lbs.

I'm think going to do heavier Volume Day deadlifts one or two sets at 90% of Intensity Day, and try 335 again.

I don't know if I want to drop to triples on the deadlift just yet, though that's another option, as is dropping the increment to 2.5 lbs, but we want to gain strength as quickly as possible.

Another option would be to alternate halting/rack pulls, but I'll try that when/if the 90% deadlifts are too much.

That missed 5th rep, I just felt like my back had no stamina, got an ever so slight back tweak, probably from slight rounding.
The 90% deads will help me train with a flatter back, I hope, and maybe help with stamina, keeping my back from burning out with fatigue.

Once I get my garage set up for deads and cleans/snatches, I'll switch over.

I was feeling much more explosive running up stairs during my commute when doing cleans, so I think they really do train explosiveness quite well. Commuting is my sport.

[John Watson]

FR 12/18
Volume Day

squat
270x5
265x5x4

I screwed up and checked my numbers, 265 is 90% of my previous ID squat.

press
97.5x5x5

pretty easy

light deadlift
275x5x2

YNDTP, deadlifting for volume at 82% of intensity day. I'm sure this is a huge mistake, but I want to drive my deadlifts up.
I'm hoping I can survive the volume by practicing extreme sloth on Sat/Sun.

Crazy how 275 was brutally hard some months ago. now it's a light day for 2 sets across.

I'm enjoying these 2+ hour sessions.