The whole bodybuilder mindset is still pretty foreign to me. I’m slowly moving myself towards it as I see the ridiculous double think of following strength and performance coaches and being amazed this doesn’t translate into a championship winning physique.
These are definitely going in the bank for when I get to knock together a program again. I’ll have a play with the movements a bit before then, but I don’t really want to fit them into my existing program. Most of the sessions are already overflowing with “stuff”.
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The talk about doing those movements instead of pressing really struck a cord with me. OHP is not fun (or challenging) on my right arm but lateral raises don’t bother me. I might be able to build my shoulder back up without pressing - and that would be awesome.
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I’m thinking along similar lines. Minimise the pressing, and just increase isolation
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Should I be worried I’m already half planning my next program, 3.5 months in advance?
This is why I came up with the challenge. I do that all the time.
I think the key to putting an end to it is finding the things that we like instead of doing what everyone else does.
I think our problem comes from seeing someone who is bigger/stronger than us doing something different. We automatically think that exercise is better and try to find a way to fit it into our program.
And lastly, trying programs is killing me. I know there are rep schemes and progressions that I like. There are exercises that I like. It’s time to focus on those; I don’t need to be experimenting much anymore.
I think I’m getting close to my best training program. I’m still tinkering with the details - exercise pairings, volume, and training days. But I’m getting close.
The real trick is going to be figuring out how it feels to do jumps or jump rope in my squat shoes. 
Go barefoot would be my solution.
And yeah, I agree with nearly everything you wrote. I know how to get bigger and stronger, and I’m learning what tools work well for me and what tools don’t. This is something touched upon in another thread though. For me, an element of variety keeps the excitement there. I lift to get physically better, obviously, but I also lift for my mental health and, long term, to help others. Trying and integrating new tools into my core programming helps me to do all those things.
So I know that I will likely always use some kind of simple progression model to get stronger at the basic lifts, for example. How I do that will probably change consistently, but the idea will always remain the same.
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Haha J, you’ll always be tinkering, and thinking it’s almost there, no matter what you do.
Btw if this program I’m running at the moment works, I’ve found what works for me. Then I’ll figure out a way to do a 3 month volume higher reps sort of thing followed by a 2 month peak, something along the lines of what I’m doing now and SGSS.
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Just keep doing what you are doing. I wouldn’t really worry about peaking unless you plan to compete. Maybe just run what you are doing now a few times and add in a hypertrophy block somewhere in the year to break it up and keep it fresh.
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That setup alone is gold
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So two weeks off from work, including a holiday and my birthday. Much food has been eaten, beer drunk and weights not lifted. I fully anticipate weigh in tomorrow to be “on the high side” and progress picture to be “needs improvement” category.
Things I’ve learned:
- Don’t try and plan to keep strict nutritional guidelines when going on holiday, unless money is on the line. It’s just not worth the stress. 1 or 2 weeks in a year don’t have much impact compared to the other 50.
- Being active everyday is a million miles from being actually fit. I rode a bike most days while away and I can safely say I am not even close to fit.
- I had my blood pressure read while away (brother in law had a monitor with him as he has to do it every day, so I was obviously going to try) and it’s marginally on the high side. My resting heart rate was also reasonably high. I should probably fix these things.
The only way I know to make sure I consistently do things I dislike is to make them a habit. So I’ll be looking to find ways to make regular cardio a habit. As much as i hate cardio, and I can persuade myself it’s not necessary to reach my desired physique, it can only be a good thing for my cardiac health, mental health and lean-ness.
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It might be easier to do this with weights.
Ah, same for me my friend. I’m trying to bring back cardio slowly. Personally I prefer “fun” stuff like JMaier linked. I have learned last cut that you don’t have to do tons of cardio either, and unlike bodybuilding work you should’nt go all in! Will see if I have the mental fortitude for a run this afternoon!
I 100% prefer the fun stuff, and complexes are pretty brutal. I can easily knock together an ass kicking complex or metcon with almost any training equipment or goal, although that one has some pretty interesting ideas in it. I feel like my main goal with the cardio is cardiovascular health and mental health though, and any physique and work capacity I get out of it is purely a bonus. I just need something that I can say “everytime I do this, I will also do this”. Maybe “everytime I do an early shift, I will also do a cardio session”.
I’m torn between trying to mix it up (because it’s more fun, and probably more beneficial), and doing exactly the same every day (because: habit)
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I think you should develop the habit of doing conditioning but vary the method. 
I’ve been doing different stuff lately and I don’t care. I’m going with the do something approach. I think it’s good for health and GPP, too.
A bit depending on the goal I would say running twice a week on run for a timed mile and the other day shorter sprints at about 90% effort.
You can do a tabata workout on the ergorower or airdyne/assault bike or other stationary bike or run a tabata interval.
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I’m taking Advantage of every opportunity I can to talk up the sled. Do it yourself sled is just so damn easy to make and it is hands-down the most effective conditioning tool I’ve ever used.
One of the best parts about the whole thing is I can do it while I’m home
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I usually (90% of the time) train at 4:30am or 11pm, neither of which is going to be helpful for outdoor conditioning. I have found a park near me where I could just park up, unload a sled and push/pull so that’s definitely on the cards for early morning sessions, likely next year now, our summer is basically done here.
Ah yeah that’s a bit Of an odd time frame. It’s not super loud but loud enough to where my next-door neighbor might not want me dragging it across my caliche driveway at 4:30 in the morning. Lol, I guess I’m so on about it because we’re finally approaching the winter months where outdoor conditioning is actually pleasant here. Weather across regions is weird.
We usually get a few months over summer that allow for outdoor conditioning regularly, and the rest of the year is too unpredictable to allow it. I used to lift no matter what, but there’s only so many squat sessions in the rain you can put up with before commercial gyms become appealing.
There is something about the sun that makes me want to get outside and train though. Definitely adds so much to the fun.
Unrelated news:
Scales read at 194.8lbs as of a few minutes ago. A comfortable 10lbs in 2 weeks, and I’d be willing to bet practically none of it is muscle. Back to the grind tomorrow, seems needed.
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