Taking the plunge

[hondotbt]

Mon 10/16/2017
BW 212.4
Squat: 220x5x3
Bench: 145x5x3
Timed Chin Hang from top position: 18 sec, 19 sec, 23 sec

Had 3 days off because of travel, but got back in the rack. Bench feeling a little more grindy than last week, shoulder is tweaked again so I have to very, very precise with technique and arm angle. Finally got some knee sleeves and I think there's a bit of a placebo effect, but I really don't care. It just seemed like my normal knee pain day after squatting is less than normal. Placebo or not, I'll take it. Looking forward to Thu and getting 2 wheels on for my work set of squats.

[hondotbt]

Thu 10/19/2017
BW 214
Squat: 225x5x3
Press: 120x4x4
DL: 275x5 ; 235x5

TWO WHEELS ON SQUAT!!! What a great feeling. If I stay disciplined, at some point in the future there will be 3 wheels...... long term goal.

Listening to the Barbell Logic podcast and to Rip's podcast during my commute has been of great assistance in getting my head straight about the fact that I need to train based upon the fact that it is scheduled and I have a plan, not on how I feel at the end of the day. Changing up to day on/2 day off rather than just 2x a week has really helped with some of the self discipline. Had a pretty low motivation at the start of the session, but just hung with it, and by the 3rd work set of squats I felt in the groove. Speaking of in the groove, that's one of the cues that I'm trying to use. I'm visualizing a track that the bar is taking that is straight up and down and I'm just providing the force to keep it moving in that track. Seems to be helping a bit. Should be getting back into PR territory in a few weeks with the squat, looking forward to that in a big way.

Again the 3rd set of squats was the best, enjoying that. Taking longer breaks between sets, and just being damn determined to get in the work is paying off. The change to 4x4 for this week on the press was a good call. Several grinders in there that indicated that 5x3 would most probably have resulted in some missed reps.

[hondotbt]

Mon 10/23/2017
BW 215
Squat: 230x5x3
Bench: 150x5x3
Chins: 3 jump to complete, 1 jump fail and hold @ 90 degree arm angle.

queue the broken record.... 3rd set of squats was best set, very happy about that. Bar slowing down on bench, not sure how many more 5lb jumps are left. Shoulder is still tweaked and it's a concern, but the tighter I am with my form the better.

[Mr. Bingley]

nice squatting!!

[hondotbt]

Thanks, I think the first few times I tried this I gave up too soon on my squats and went to ascending sets. It's bizarre how my sets across have been getting better each session. I'll take it. Tomorrow night I tie a PR for sets across on Squat and next week will break it. I appreciate the encouragement.

[hondotbt]

FRI 10/27/2017
BW 214
Squat: 235x5x3
Press: 120x5, 120x4x2, 120x3
DL: 285x5; 235x5

Squat sets didn't improve as much as from first to last as they have been the past few weeks, but still the last had better bar speed than the first set.
Press is definitely hitting the wall, probably ready to change up to back off sets
Deadlift good bar speed. Using mixed grip now. The back off set post work set seems to be making a difference as well.

[hondotbt]

MON 10/30/2017
BW 214
Squat: 240x5x3
Bench: 155x5x3

Getting a whiff of PR territory on Squats, that's going to be a good day. Bar speed on squats is definitely slowing as is bench. Really doing my best to focus on eating and resting to milk LP.

[hondotbt]

THU 11/2/2017
BW 215
Squat: 245x5x3
Press: 123x4; 113x5x4
DL: 295x5; 245x5

[hondotbt]

MON 11/6/2017
BW 215
Squat: 250x5x3 PR
Bench: 160x5x3
Chins: Green Band 6, Green & Red 7, Green & Red 5
Nice to hit a PR.... Thanks to the Barbell Logic podcast for helping me with grasping the need to power on through and just get it done.

[hondotbt]

FRI 11/10/2017
BW 215
Squat: 255x5x3 PR
Press: 123x5; 114x5x2; 112x5
Deadlift: 305x5; 245x5