Merkin Weaver makes the switch

[Merkin Weaver]

Back in gym after daughter n I being sick kept me out last 4 days. Anything more than two days off and my lifts really suffer it seems.

Squat....265 really grindy on last reps. They got ugly I think. But I got em.

Bench......180 (PR). Only ever got this weight for a single in high school. I'm stoked for this. I can now officially say I'm stronger than I have ever been. Last rep was a bit of a grinder. Bench is starting to feel pretty hard.

Hang cleans....45. I'm starting with hang cleans to practice the catch. Will move to full clean when I have 95 on the bar.
These will take some getting used to. I feel like I arch my back too much in the catch.

Dips.....8/4/3

Curls......40,50,60......10/10/8

[Merkin Weaver]

Frustrating session. Can't tell if lingering cold affecting lifts or the fucked up training schedual or what.

squat......270.....5/5/4 stapled to safetys last rep. Experimented with stance width and grip width maybe contributed to this. Still feel like squat mornings happening

press......125x4
125x2
120x1
115x5

DL......285x5

kind of liberating in a way to fail a squat rep
not too scary lol.

chins regressing 1.5/1.5/1.5

[Merkin Weaver]

Another demoralizing session. I know failing reps is part of this but it fucks with my head

squat....270x3/2/4/3/2 form all over the place. Depth questionable.

bench....185(pr) x 4/3/3

elbows screaming at me.
didn't have time for cleans and dips.
will have to make those up tomo.

FUCK FUCK FUCK!

[Merkin Weaver]

2/12/2015

tried to make up the training I missed on last session.

dips....10/8/8 (Pr)

hang cleans.....65x3x1

elbows and shoulders in extreme pain due to fucking around with grip on squats.
had to stop after 1st set of cleans.

going to de load squat 10% due to stall and form degradation.

on the plus side ordered practical programming. Excited to give it a read. Need the guidance.

[Merkin Weaver]

2/15/15

*de loaded squat 17% due to stall and bad form
*de loaded press 10% ish due to stall

squat......225 these felt very easy plates rattled each rep. Need to work on chest up cue with the hip drive.
noticed tendency to shift to toes slightly.

press.......110x5x1
had to stop due to severe elbow tendon pain
shouldn't had gone pas 45 lbs

DL ......295x1x1x1x1x1
these felt really strong.
pain affected ability to do these in "1 set"

so I officially have an elbow issue. Pressing movements are out till this is healed.
lame. I'm not going to make the mistake of doing nothing though.
squats and deadlifts don't aggrivate the elbow so I will continue with these.

[JTC_MN]

Are you 100% confident squats don't aggravate your elbow? Especially if your chest/upper back lose tightness in squat, you might have tendency to get your elbows/arms under the bar.

[Merkin Weaver]

That's what I think did it originally. Slight discomfort but no pain after squats today.
presses really set it off though.

I was especially careful not to load arms elbows during squats.

dips on wed really set it off. This was after doing stupid shit with my squat grip.
no real warm up before those dips also a factor.

hows your meet prep going?

[JTC_MN]

Could just be lingering and not healed up yet. Ice and ibuprofen will be your friend. I've had some good posts in my log recently from experinced lifters about elbow stuff.http://startingstrength.com/resource...ad.php?t=52179Check it out if you like.
As far as meet prep, I'm just started straight-up Texas Method yesterday.

[Merkin Weaver]

Ya you got some good commentary in your log.
that sucks you fuckered your elbow too.

[ithryn]

Will be ditching rows for power cleans
Elbows don't agree with the rows anymore.
Plus I just don't like rows. Never have.

Good. Rows are for bitches.

kind of liberating in a way to fail a squat rep
not too scary lol.

Isn't it? Just wait till you're crashing really heavy weights down and making a scene of panting and cursing for a minute before you can rerack and start over.

chins regressing 1.5/1.5/1.5

My chins are all over the place depending on what else I'm doing, especially with presses, and depending on bodyweight. I sorta stopped worrying about em, although I intend to keep improving them.

How are you liking 3x5 versus 5x5? I did a run of SL a long time ago and I kinda resent the idea that you must do 5x5 or you can't pass go. Your squat weight seems to be going up the gainz elevator as I imagine it would be.