From gym bro to strong military guy. My strength journey for army.

[jukh]

Hi,

I want to say right away that it's not U.S. Army .

Started lifting on January 2nd 2023 (New Year resolutioners, unite!). Started as 17y/o, 6'2, 145lbs (yep../). I really enjoyed gym right away, so consistency never has been a concern. Most of the time was spent on "Powerbuilding" programs with lots and lots of bicep curls, lat pulldowns and chest machines. Never went on dedicated bulk, always been complaining on "Fast metabolism" and other bullshit. So you can tell that I've been gym bro up until I discovered SS.

Started Starting Strength on 11th of December 2023. I was 18/6'2/190lbs. Starting lifts:
Squat - 175lbs (all time best 225 x 5)
Bench - 185lbs (all time best 195 x 5)
Deadlift - 240lbs (all time best 265 x 5)
Press - 95lbs
Power Cleans - 65lbs

As for 21st of March 2024. I'm 18/6'2/227lbs. Lifts:
Squat - 285lbs 3x5
Bench - 233lbs x 5
Deadlift - 345lbs x 5
Press - 132lbs 5x3
Power Cleans - 172lbs 5x3.

Current programming is:
Tue: Sq 1x5 +5lbs, 2x5 90%. Bench 1x5 +2lbs, 2x5 90%. Power Clean 5x3 +5lbs
Thu: Tempo Sq 3x5 60% (Working on depth). Press 5x3 +2lbs. Deadlift 1x5 +10lbs
Sat: Sq 1x5 +5lbs, 2x5 90%. Press 5x3 +2lbs. Bench 1x5 +2lbs, 2x5 90%. If enough time - 3xAMRAP chinups.

Goals are: Squat - 365 x 5. Bench - 255 x 5. Deadlift 425 x 5. Press 160 x 3. Running 2 miles in under 14 minutes (Required in the unit I'm looking to join). Goal BW: 240lbs.

I sleep 8-9 hours every day, uniterrupted. I eat ~4.5k calories. I am tall so gotta gain a lot more bodyweight.

[jukh]

Yeah "Strong" is more figure of speach really. I know that 365lb Squat for 18y/o 6'2 guy wouldn't be something "Strong".

And I'd love to go for bigger goals, but my country needs me as soon as possible.

[jukh]

21.03.2024 - 2nd workout of 15th week. BW: 227lbs. Slept 9 hours.
Recovering from a small layoff. Previous week I didn't have enough time to train (had 1 hour tops), so I cut my workouts short, and to do that I skipped deadlifts/PCs and some sets of the press.
Tempo beltless squats - 175lbs 3x5
Press - 120lbs 5x3
Deadlift - 330lbs 1x5

Note: Increase Press 5lbs.
First time deadlifting from the right height (211mm), before today I used to deadlift from quite a deficit because floor in the gym is very beat up. Because of that I can finally fully extend my back, and now it feels like a very natural movement.

[jukh]

23.03.2024 - 3rd workout of 15th week. BW: ~227lbs. Slept 8.5hrs.
Squat - 280lbs x 5, 255 x 2x5
Press - 127lbs x 5x3
Bench - 237lbs x 4, 215 x 5, 220 x 5
Chins - 1x4

Note: do NOT take working set of Bench between working sets of Press again... Could've easily get it if I'd have done it after all sets of Press. 220 x 5 flew like an empty bar.
Chins are harder than I thought. Probably because I'm detrained in this movement. And I didn't have enough time to do all 3 sets.

Wondering if I should do chins between Squat or Bench sets, since 3 sets of 3-4 reps is not a lot of volume anyway? If somebody'll see it - share your experience .

[jukh]

26.03.2024 - 1st workout of 16th week. BW: ~227lbs. Slept 8 hours.
I start the transition to Texas method as my skinny ass can't gain weight as rapidly as I did before. Food fights back, and I can't eat more, if I try to do so - I only progressively shit more.
I tried to do another reset after small layoff, but after super heavy grinding with a sticking point on the last session - I decided to go for intermediate programming. On top, SSCs from SS subreddit recommended to do so too, so here I am.

Squat - 260 x 5x5
Bench - 220 x 2x5, 225 x 5
Power Cleans - 177 x 4x2.

Note: Turns out I've been benching wrong for a long time, my heels were off the ground, and I believed that it allows me to create more stable arch, when really I just bridged my reps. I start benching the right way from now on. Started a little lighter as it's new technique for me (kind of). Next week I will transit it to intermediate programming as well.
Power Cleans start to fail at 5x3, so I changed the rep scheme. Gotta be faster off the ground.
Started learning Power Snatch.

[carson]

On warm-up, you should have no time to rest between sets. Between work sets you are to rest. Do not do other lifts. As a young strapping youth, you may not need more than 4 minutes rest but take them.

[jukh]

28.03.2024 - 2nd workout of 16th week. BW:~228lbs, slept 8.5hrs
Recovery day.

Beltless Squat - 200lbs x 3x5
Press - 115lbs x 5x3
Power Snatch - 65lbs x 5x3

Power Snatch is much harder to learn on your own than Power Clean, isn't it? At least for me it is... Can't figure out the jumping position, and snatch pull feels really weird. I will probably throw more Power Snatches here and there if I will have enough time after my training sessions.

[jukh]

Thanks, Carson!

[jukh]

30.03.2024 - 3rd workout of 16th week. BW:~228lbs. Slept 10.5hrs.
Today I've overslept yet again... I hate it, but can't change it. I've been meteo-dependent for my entire life. Every time the weather changes - I sleep like a dead man, sometimes for 12 hours.
Workout was done in a rush because I overslept, and it's Easter tomorrow so I gotta clean up the house and help mom to cook

Squat - 285 x 5
Bench - 232 x 5
Deadlift - 340 x 5

Note: Bench can go up 5 more lbs, and deadlift should slow down to 5lbs again. Deadlift comes from a small layoff, that's why it's lower.

[carson]

[QUOTE

Power Snatch is much harder to learn on your own than Power Clean, isn't it? At least for me it is... Can't figure out the jumping position, and snatch pull feels really weird. I will probably throw more Power Snatches here and there if I will have enough time after my training sessions.[/QUOTE]

I would be no help on these since at my age, 77, I cannot do either. However, you may be able to get online help from our coach Dr. Jonathon Sullivan. Why not contact him through Greysteel?