Scrawny male 45yo Newbie

[CimmerianInTraining]

As carson has, I also would encourage you to at least try to learn the lifts from the book. At the weights you're using you aren't in danger of hurting yourself seriously with missed DL form, so if your trainer continues to be an unreliable SOB, I suggest giving it a shot and film yourself and post it to the technique forum, where a lot of experienced and smart people will give you some sane suggestions and guidance. Not as good as having a competent coach but at least you can get started.

[carson]

Excellent advice.

[crgruver]

What is your height? Do you have the book? Have you reviewed the teaching videos on this website? You might be able to learn the lifts by reading and watching. I gather you do not pay the trainer which would explain why he doesn't show up. I hope you can find some help from a certified SS coach.

Sorry for the 2-month delay in responding! I'm about 5'10". I have both SS and PPST, and the SS DVD. I've read most of SS, and just starting on PPST (the parts that apply to me at the novice level). March 23rd was my last workout until 4/14, when I started up again. Because I have a newborn baby, I've only been able to get in to the gym twice a week, but that'll change to 3x on June 1 when the baby starts daycare. I finally met with the trainer on 4/21 and he taught me the Press and Deadlift. I carefully review the video and the book after each workout to be sure I'm focusing on the right cues and keeping my form, but I think it's time to take a video and send it in to a coach on this website... and I'll definitely look at the videos on here too. I know I'm not actually doing the program until I get in 3x a week, but I've been showing some good gains, and have put on 10 pounds in the last month, so something is working...

[crgruver]

As carson has, I also would encourage you to at least try to learn the lifts from the book. At the weights you're using you aren't in danger of hurting yourself seriously with missed DL form, so if your trainer continues to be an unreliable SOB, I suggest giving it a shot and film yourself and post it to the technique forum, where a lot of experienced and smart people will give you some sane suggestions and guidance. Not as good as having a competent coach but at least you can get started.

I bought the DVD too, that has helped a ton. I'll get that video up as soon as I can - I'm curious to know how close I am to good form... Thanks for your input!

[crgruver]

Having a newborn baby and starting the SS program at the same time proved to be a little too much - I wasn't sleeping at all and thought I'd just hurt myself trying to learn lifts on no sleep. I continued to eat about 3500 cals a day and do pushups every day to keep up with my weight goals. By 4/14 the baby finally started sleeping more, so I've started working out again. Unfortunately 3x a week can't happen until 6/1 when daycare starts, but here are the last 5 weeks:

4/14 160lbs
Squat 45x2 55x2 65x2 75x3
Bench 45x2 55x2 70x2 85x3

4/17
Casein last night and this morning, bcaa just Before workout
Squat 45x2 55x2 65x2 80x3
Bench 45x2 60x2 75x2 90x3

4/20 - session with trainer
Casein, bcaa (trainer Phil)
Squat 45x2 55x2 70x2 90x3
(Resistance Band warmup)
Press 45x2 55x2
Deadlift 45x2 75x2 105x2 135x2 160x3

4/23
Casein, bcaa
Squat 45x2 60x2 75x2 95x3
Bench press 45x2 60x2 75x2 95x3
Dead lift 45x2 85x2 130x2 170x3

4/27
Casein, bcaa
Squat 45x2 65x2 85x2 105x3
Bench Press 45x2 70x2 90x1 100x3
Dead Lift 45x2 95x2 135x2 180x2

4/30
Casein, bcaa
Squat 45x2 70x2 95x2 115x3
Press 45x2 55x2 65x3
Dead lift 45x2 95x2 140x2 190x3 (only did 2 of the last set, felt like I pulled something in my lower left rib area)

5/5
Casein
Squat 45x2 70x2 100x1 125x3
Bench 45x2 70x2 95x2 105x1
Dead lift 45x2 85x2 125x1 160x1 185x1 - Lower back has a little pinch/tight feel so I stopped after one set, think I'm rounding my back on the way down.

5/8
Bcaa
Squat 45x2 75x2 105x1 120x1 135x1
Press 45x2 55x2 65x2 75x3
Dead lift 45x2 85x2 125x2 160x3
I feel like I need to improve my DL form so I'm going back to 160 work set and go up in 5lb increments.

5/11
Squat 45x2 70x2 95x2 120x1 140x3 starting to feel something in my inner thigh/groin, close to maybe pulling something? Or just a normal burn?
Bench 45x2 65x2 85x2 110x3
Dead lift 45x2 75x2 105x2 135x1 165x3

5/14
Casein, Bcaa
Squat 45x2 75x2 105x1 125x1 145x3
Press 45x2 55x2 70x2 80x3 (last set was only 4, just couldn't do one more)
Dead lift 45x2 85x2 125x2 170x3

I just read in SS that novices should not do sets across for DL at higher weights, so maybe that's what I'll start doing.

[crgruver]

5/18
Casein, Bcaa
Squat 45x2 75x2 105x2 130x1 150x3 - felt the bar dig into my left shoulder blade, maybe bar is a tad low?
Bench 45x2 65x2 90x2 115x3
Dead lift 45x2 85x2 125x2 145x1 175x1 - Not doing sets across for work set anymore...
166lbs