Yup.
I also think that there are times in our lives when we have to figure out a placeholder. Something that allows us to hold onto progress but maybe doesn’t offer the same mad gainz. An emotional deload, I guess. Time to focus on other parts of our lives but still punch the clock in the gym.
I think it is human nature to avoid hard work, in general. You, like many here, are an outlier.
I’m going to sound like a whiny bitch for a second, excuse me (or don’t).
My conundrum is that I don’t think I’ll enjoy any program right now, I went with one of Brian’s programs because they’ve previously been something that clicks with me and get me excited to train. I think training in general just feels like yet another thing to fit into life. Nothing excites me.
I suppose there’s only 1 way to find out if a change of program will change that, thinking this: 5/3/1 for Strongman: Programming Adjustments, Competition Prep, and Tr – EliteFTS once LP is done, I’m half way done on LP and it gets psychologically easier in the final wave (triples).
Thanks - the one I posted above isn’t a Jim program, but he did comment on it and seemed ok with it. But also open to other suggestions.
I semi regularly laugh as I remember a former poster @flipcollar who would tell posters who were moaning about training that maybe this lifting thing wasn’t for them and maybe they ought to take up playing the guitar instead.
I guess this is my point of friction, whilst I agree with the thought, I’m not really satisfied with the results that would offer.
Appreciate the sentiment, I grew up lazy, had a very laid back personality and actively avoided hard work and effort. I suspect like former fat boys, I’m a former lazy boy, never really shaken the mindset and always trying to prove to myself that I’m not lazy.
To be clear, I meant a different program. Not like, try basket weaving.
Is it time for a full deload, take a month off from the gym, and just get some family time, some walks in etc?
(in for the follow btw!)
I’ve had a few training slumps before. Work was extra busy, or family life was stressful, or a major injury. For me, I always found I got a lot out of taking 3-6 weeks of just different, minimalist training. No real plan, just go in to work up to a few hard sets of 4-8 on a lift I don’t normally do, then hit whatever accessories I feel like, and leave. The different lift was important, I don’t want anything I can compare to where I know I’m at. IE, using an axle for all pressing, training heavy good mornings instead of deads, doing front squats instead of low bar, something like that. Don’t spend too long in the gym either. 20ish minutes to hit something heavy, 20 ish minutes to get a pump, maybe run a mile after. Keep training easy for a bit. You’re not gonna make killer progress, but you’ll keep the gains you’ve made, and probably give your body so much needed recovery boosts. The training drive always came back pretty strong for me after a few weeks of taking things more casually
Absolutely mate, what weekend is it? And i’ll get it booked off.
Haha I got you, just took me back to that comment, but now you mention it…basket weaving 
.
I’ve had a fair amount of time off recently and my sessions are spaced out much further than the authors intention - I’m 5 weeks in LP, that’s taken me 7 weeks. I’ve got a fair amount going on I think it’s just the result of that, rather than training burden.
Appreciated!
This feels similar to what I did before going on holiday, but yours is probably more logical in terms of removing the ability to compare lifts and adding a time limit. I like it, will probably use it next time.
Awesome! 13th June, if you want to email me my email address is alexslovefilm@gmail.com. (I’ll delete this once you’ve seen it).
In other news, buried my grandmother yesterday, was a lovely service and a fitting goodbye. I know the modern trend towards trying to make funerals less solemn, but I think there’s something important about making the occasion reflect the situation, it’s death, it’s not light, it’s heavy and it’s sad. Giving that space and allowing, rather than masking, grief seems to be necessary.
No judgement on people who chose to do things differently.
Back to training musings - still committed to finishing LP, deadlift day today, still carrying some DOMs from squats but shouldn’t be an issue.
25/10/25 - 200
LP W2 W5 D17
GS1:
Sandbag over shoulder: 50kg x 4 x 4 sets
Deadlifts: 155, 157.5, 160, 165kg x 5
Side plank: some time x 5 x 4 sets
Chin ups - 10 minute timer: 5, 5, 5, 2, 5, 2, 1, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 3, 2, 5, 6 - 70 total.
Felt a tweak around my ham/glute insertion, felt it at 120kg on the warm ups, but carried on, didn’t feel it during the deads, but slightly on the sandbags and on 165kg I could feel I was compensating slightly with my lower back instead, called it there. Which is a shame, because the deads felt strong tonight, finally clicked with driving the floor away with my quads, quite possibly because of the hammy/glute thing, so very nearly did the final set, even typing this out I almost dropped the phone and loaded the bar, but best case scenario I get it and don’t injury myself, so what, is it going to make a difference in the grand scheme? Nope, talked myself sensible, this is already 5kg more than last week and felt way easier.
It was supposed to be deficit deads, farmers, cheat rows etc for the next two GS’s, taking the sensible choice and living to fight another day, threw some chin ups for the back and bi gains instead.
Tried to keep up with 5 every 30 seconds, then tried adding some mid point singles/doubles, didn’t last long! On the back stretch the 5s were sloppy and occasionally rest pause, the last set was “myo” reps.
Just writing this at the end of the chin ups… Good job I didn’t push the deads any further (probably stupid to go as far as I did, it’s hurting now, hopefully still just a tweak).
Good work recognizing the value in living to fight another day.
I’ll respond properly later, but sorry to hear of your loss mate
27/10/25 - 202.5
LP W2 W5 D18
GS1
Chin ups: 25kg x 3 x 5 sets
OHP: 57.5, 60, 62.5, 65, 67.5kg x 5
Plate uppercut: 10kg x 5 e/s x 5 sets
GS2
Chin ups: 12, 11, 12
Split jerk: 70, 75, 80kg x 3
Ab rollout: 5 x 3 sets
GS3
Arnold press: 20kg x 8 x 3 sets
OH Tri ext: 40kg x 12 x 3 sets
Face pull: red band x 15 x 3 sets
Did the usual and switched order for the final set so main mover not antagonist came first. Pleased with the results here, 1 more week of 5s, hopefully 70kg for 5 is on the cards, need to remember this when it comes to eating, taking @Cyrrex advice, just get fat and the pressing will take care of itself, ok not the words he used, but I’m following his actions not words.
In my head low rep heavy chins sound a bit pointless, but they light my back up in the best possible way, unique sensation, not really pushed lower reps/weight be interesting to see how much these can grow, they’re certainly a keeper. My back was absolutely smoked for the BW chins.
Split jerks, I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing here…
Looking at the video the last rep it was more of a reverse split 
- looks like no second dip (the benefit of this if I gather correctly?), not really getting any benefit that I wouldn’t put of a push press?
Arnold presses were lower than I’d have wanted but getting the DBs in place made my elbows hurt so left them light.
That reverse split rep killed me. I’ve seen (and done) a lot of weird stuff when it comes to Olympic lift technique but that’s a new one for me😂
You might consider doing them from behind the neck; that’s a pretty standard learning progression to minimize the urge to press and instead really drive with your legs. Could also ditch the split and just power jerk. Am I remembering correctly that you have max Axle overhead at an upcoming comp? What style do you plan on using for that?
I think I have just been fat shamed
I think you might be right …
Haha, glad to be of entertainment! You never know it might catch on!
Thanks, I’ll sub that in for the next time this comes up.
No idea, I’ve not really even got much push press experience, need to figure something out in this area, pretty sharpish!
No shame, it’s functional and I’m emulating it 
- although the post work out pump pic suggests I’ve still got some separation and a tiny bit of ab definition, time to get my strongman on (more big Z style than Pud).
I need a scientist to explain to me why your torso is so long
so aesthetic 
Do hobbits have scientists?
Very high praise from you sir, thank you!
It’s going to take me a while to come up with a good comeback for that one.
I’ll give it a thought over second breakfast
