Squats (six reps)

Mon, 30 Nov 15

Squats: 225x5, 255x2x5, 315x5, 340x3, 360x2, 385x6x1

Changed the weight around a bit as I couldn't get a rack and had to alternate in with some other guys.  Went well though, hard but not grindy.

Deadlifts (six reps)

Fri, 27 Nov 15

Deadlifts: 135x5, 225x5, 315x5, 365x5, 385x3, 405x6x1

Tried reversing my normal routine, used straps first.  I've been busy with work all week, so I decided to do extra work today to make up for the lost sessions.  I played with the actual load as well, to make quick work of racking the plates.

Squats (six reps)

Mon, 23 Nov 15

Squats: 135x5, 225x5, 255x2x5, 300x5, 340x3, 360x2, 385x6x1

Those last two singles felt really heavy.  Last one was on the verge of being a grinder, but I think my rest was too short.

OHP/Bench (five reps)

Fri, 20 Nov 15

OHP: 135x5, 150x3, 170x2, 185x1,195x5x1
Bench: 135x8, 170x2x5, 200x5, 230x3, 240x2, 255x5x1

Went well.  OHP were all singles. Broke bench into triple and double.  Wrist wraps on the OHP singles.

Deadlifts (five reps)

Thu, 19 Nov 15

Deadlifts:  135x5, 225x5, 270x5, 315x3, 360x1, 385x1, 405x5x1

Girlie hands again today, and gym staff were right beside me, so no chalk. Straps with double overhand grip for the five reps.

Squats (five reps)

Tues, 17 Nov 15

Squats: 135x5, 225x5, 255x2x5, 300x5, 340x3, 360x2, 385x5x1

No problem.  Smooth.

OHP/Bench (four reps)

OHP: 135x5, 150x3, 170x2, 185x1, 195x4x1
Bench: 135x8, 170x2x5, 200x5, 230x3, 240x2, 255x4x1

Went well, but the singles were certainly heavy.  No doubles and triples on those yet.  Wrist wraps on the OHP singles.

Deadlifts (four reps)

Fri, 13 Nov 15

Deadlifts:  135x5, 225x5, 270x5, 315x3, 360x1, 385x1, 405x4x1

Had little girly hands today, needed straps for the four work reps.  No problems other than that.

Squats: Begin cycle 4 (four reps)

Thu, 12 Nov 15

Squats: 135x5, 225x5, 255x5, 300x5, 340x3, 360x2, 385x4x1

That 385 definitely feels like 90% of 1 RM lol.  I took a few days off after last strength testing.  My body just felt a little beat up and tight through the hamstrings.  Did some stretching and took it easy.  Hard to believe that after this cycle I'll be using 4 plates as my working weight.

Strength testing: Deadlift

Fri, 6 Nov 15

Deadlifts: 135x5, 225x5, 275x5, 315x3, 365x2, 405x1, 425x1, 445x1, 455 F

I was hoping to do better than I did.  Couldn't break the bar free at 455.  That being said, 55 lbs to get by the beginning of May next year doesn't seem like an impossibility.

Update: My math suggests I should be doing 400 for my training sessions at this max.  That's lower than the 405 I have been moving, so I think I'll do another run at 405.  Goal will be to avoid straps as much as possible.  I have to do some work on my callouses as well.

Strength testing: Bench/OHP

Thu, 5 Nov 15

Bench:  135x2x5, 185x5, 215x5, 225x3, 245x2, 265x1, 275x1, 285x1 PR
OHP: 135x5, 155x5, 165x5, 175x3, 185x1, 195x1, 205x1, 215x1 PR

Two PRs.  Pretty happy with that.  Tried 225 with the OHP but it just wasn't going to go up.

Strength testing: Squat

Wed, 4 Nov 15

Squats: 135x5, 225x5, 275x5, 315x5, 375x3, 405x1, 415x1 (PR), 425x1 (PR)

I was sick last week with a head cold, and just felt wrong since.  So, I decided today, since I was feeling well to test my strength and see how my program was actually working for me.  I was quite happy to hit 405 which was a tie for my last PR a year ago.  Then to add 20 lbs on top of that was even better.

I'll see about testing bench/OHP tomorrow.  Maybe deadlift Fri.