Alex_uk: 40 years in the making

See the problem here :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

2 Likes

Haha yup!

In all seriousness though feeling exhausted, not great, nice thing is I’ve got a day away this weekend that includes a hot tub, I can only assume that’s a great recovery aid! If not there should also be some good eating. Bring on BtM.

1 Like

100% glad to hear you finally got some rest

1 Like

The mental break from heavy lifting might do you good as well. As you say, the strength is there but psychologically you’re not. Time to distract yourself for 6 weeks then come back and get it when you’re nice and ready.

How tall are you again? I notice you weigh more than me, and are a lot leaner. That should probably tell me something.

Leave it at that. Take a step back to get a new run-up with a hypertrophy or power phase, a new strength phase and crush it mate!
I was in the same boat with my 140 kg press. It should have been there but it wasn’t and I was banging my head against a wall trying to force it.

1 Like

Quick recap of my Dark Horse experience:

Deceptively hard program that sneaks up on you. Very effective at improving conditioning but most significantly the ability to push yourself mentally.

Stats before and after:

Weight:
B: 206
A: 208 (no real change probably still water retention, this program made it very hard to gain weight)

Squat:
B: 170kg
A: 190kg

Bench:
B: 125kg
A: 130kg

Deads
B:190kg
A: 200kg

Ohp - no change.

Not massive improvements in the big 4 (squat looks better than it was I’d done 160 for 8 recently before the program just not tested 1rm) but it was only a short program that I didn’t run 100% properly.

Overall it’s a great program and definitely helps in being in a position to use the strength you have in less than ideal circumstances - some of my variation PRs were set when absolutely spent, physically and mentally and you just keep going and figure out actually I can do more.

Conditioning was a big element of this program choice and saw vast improvements there - so much so that I am intending to keep the format and shoe horn all other programs into this format from now on (10 mins pre conditioning and giant set as much as possible with antagonist pairing in main movers).

Brian is legend for putting out content like this for free.

Moving forward Building the Monolith will be done with the following training maxes:

Squat: 160kg
Bench: 110kg
Deads: 170kg
Ohp: 62.5kg

2 Likes

Yes, I normally lift four days a week. What’s the layout for BtM three days a week?

You could do the five set deadlift session on your last day of the week and sneak in the three set session on an off day.

You could just wait till you finish BtM.

Thanks @dagill2 @Koestrizer and @anna_5588

Rest and rebuild for a good stint before testing in the distant future.

@dagill2
I’m 6’2 for reference. You’re over 6 aren’t you? What you weighing in at now?

2 Likes

Yes definitely not doing it during BtM but I’ll struggle with 4 a week after that. Like you say I could probably squeeze it into a quick stand alone.

Turns out I’m closer to 6" 1 than I thought, and probably pushing 200lbs, 197lbs at last weigh in on Wednesday. I think my 197 probably looks very different to your 208 though, which means I’m not overweight, I’m under muscled.

2 Likes

Aren’t we all? :disappointed_relieved:

4 Likes

If you have the ability to “build” your three day a week plan then do the deadlifts on Monday and Friday.

It can be done with full body training or a split. If you do pull/push/legs then you can deadlift on pull days and leg days.

I’ve found it’s best to prioritize your goals. If you want to bring up your deadlift then build your program around it. If not, then don’t force it into a different program.

When I build a program I write down all the lifts that I want to do. I’m no stranger to combining programs so I’m often mixing a four day split with a three or five day split. I just start plugging in my lifts on my days and start with the most important ones. Eventually I get to the point where a training day is full and can’t support any more lifts. That’s how you prioritize it. If a lift didn’t make it into the mix and the training day is full then that lift gets cut.

It’s kind of like picking players for your team. They don’t all make the cut.

2 Likes

Why are you looking to change your approach for deadlifts?

1 Like

My current one isn’t working!

Thanks J I’ll take all of that into consideration, I’ve got 6 weeks I’ve committed to BtM, after that I’ll figure out my priorities, and either build something using your principles here or find a pre built one that fits my demands well.

I think generally my training goals are loosely defined and generic which doesn’t help!

1 Like

Not according to my mum, according to her, my arms are getting “too big”- GAINZ :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

4 Likes

But you’re just about to change it for BtM anyway, although BtM is pretty non-deadlifty

1 Like

Yea BtM is pretty much a squat and press!

When I referred to changing it is definitely post BtM, but majority of my training has been 531 which has been good for squat and bench but average/below average for deads & ohp (for me at least), or maybe I’m just naturally bad at those lifts. Either way something needs to change in the future I care about deads and they seem to me to be weak compared to my other lifts.

531 as written has never been a great tool for me to push deadlift (although others seem to like it). In the past I’ve just run 531 templates and just subbed the Kroc deadlift program for my deadlift. I seem to make slow and steady progress without much in the way of effort or time commitment that way.

If I really wanted to push deadlift, I’d continue with 531 and use clusters or ROM progression as supplemental for a 6 week cycle or two. Both fairly different approaches that worked well for me, and make a nice change of pace for 6 weeks or so.

1 Like

Too big - for what?