Phillips NLP log

[pjp1982]

Hey all,
I'm 36 years old, and this year I decided it was time to get in shape. I've been overweight and out of shape pretty much my whole life, and I've had enough. Although aesthetics certainly is a factor, I especially want to improve my health/longevity.

I ran across Starting Strength on youtube this year, and it seemed like a good way to get started. So over the summer I built a home gym and accumulated all the neccessary accoutrements.

I'm about 5'9" tall, and weighed 248 at the time of my first workout.

I don't have a coach handy, but I've watched LOT's of youtube videos on the various lifts. I think my form is pretty good, except for my squat grip. Still working on it.

So, without further ado, here's my log up to now. I'm only listing my work sets, because I have better things to do with my life than type. I will say that for the first few weeks I was doing more warmup reps than needed, so I've scaled it back a bit.

9-17
Squat: 95X5X2
Press: 75X5X2
Deadlift: 185X5X2

9-19
Squat: 105X5X2
Bench: 105X5X3
Deadlift: 195X5X2

9-21
Missed due to flu.

9-24
Squat: 115X5X3
Bench: 115X5X3
Deadlift: 205X5

9-26
Squat: 125X5X3
Press: 95X2
Deadlift: 215X5

[pjp1982]

Continued:

9-28
Squat: 135X5X3
Bench: 125X5X2
Deadlift: 225X5

10-1
Squat: 145X5X3
Press: 95X5X2
Deadlift: 235X5

10-3
Squat: 155X5X3
Bench: 130X?
Deadlift: 245X5

10-5
Squat: 165X5X3
Press: 100X5X2
Deadlift: 255X5

10-8
Squat: 175X5X3
Bench: 135X5
Power clean: 105X5X2

10-10
Squat: 185X5X3
Press: 105X5X3
Deadlift: 265X5

10-12
Squat: 195X5X3
Bench: 135X3X3
Power clean: 110X5X3

10-15
Squat: 205X5X3
Press: 110X3X4
Deadlift: 275X5

10-17
Squat: 215X5X3
Bench: 135X5X2
Power clean: 115X5

10-20
Squat: 225X5X3
Press: 110X5X3

10-22
Squat: 235X5X3
Bench: 135X5X3
Power clean: skipped because my left arm was hurting from the squat...

At this point I weigh 261.

[claywieczorek]

This is great - glad to see that you are taking control. I was also born in '82, so I feel the mid 30s on the daily!

Have you checked your nutrition? Also, while the internet is great, I highly recommend buying the book. I have the 3rd edition in hardback and paid about $20 for it on amazon. Well worth the price.

[pjp1982]

I did buy the book, (and actually read it) before doing much else.

I'm trying to eat more protein than I normally do, but other than that, I haven't spent much time on nutrition. I'm also taking creatine.

This is great - glad to see that you are taking control. I was also born in '82, so I feel the mid 30s on the daily!

Have you checked your nutrition? Also, while the internet is great, I highly recommend buying the book. I have the 3rd edition in hardback and paid about $20 for it on amazon. Well worth the price.

[carson]

Welcome. Do you live in the US. If so there are SS coaches in most states. Check with one at least from time to time. The next best option is to check out online coaching. A SS coach can help correct any technical problems before they become dangerous.

[pjp1982]

Welcome. Do you live in the US. If so there are SS coaches in most states. Check with one at least from time to time. The next best option is to check out online coaching. A SS coach can help correct any technical problems before they become dangerous.

Yes, I'm in Indiana. I think the nearest coach is all the way across the state from me, but I'm sure it would be worth going sometime (soon).

[pjp1982]

It's been a rough couple of weeks. I keep having arm pain while doing the squats. After playing around with it, and watching some more videos this evening, I think I'm just not flexible enough to get into the proper position, with the proper grip. So I think I'm going to just stop the squats and focus on getting flexible for awhile.

But here's the workouts since I last posted:

10-24
Squat: 245x5x3
Press: 112.5x5x3
Deadlift: 295x5

10-26
Bench: 137.5x5x3 Didn't do squats or power cleans because of my left arm hurting.

10-29
Squat: 255x5x3
Press: 115x5x3
Deadlift: 305x5

10-31
Squat: 260x5 More arm pain, so did the bench presses next day, but no power cleans:
Bench: 140x5x3

11-3
Squat: 265x5x3
Press: 117.5x5x3
Deadlift: 310x3 Left arm was hurting again, so could not do 5 reps.

11-5
Arm was still not quite 100%, so only did presses: 120x5x3

11-7
Still not feeling up to doing squats or deadlifts, so just did bench presses: 145x5x3

11-10
Squats: 265x5x2 Arm started hurting again, so didn't do third set. I'll do the deadlifts tomorrow if the arm feels ok.

[pjp1982]

Also, I gained another 3 or 4 pounds. In the last week, I've adjusted my diet a bit (cut back on carbs), and have dropped back down to 249, which is good.

[claywieczorek]

Also, I gained another 3 or 4 pounds. In the last week, I've adjusted my diet a bit (cut back on carbs), and have dropped back down to 249, which is good.

What part of your arm is giving you pain?

[pjp1982]

Mainly the elbow, but also the shoulder.