My experience has been that the workouts run long. Probably 60-90mins, even at full steam and that’s far longer than I typically push myself for. I also find that on heavy topsets, especially deads or squats, I lose focus on the actual strength work and in particular the bracing.
My “proposed solution” for myself is that I will probably cut the giant set format on the main work so I can focus on it, particularly lower body. Put most of the accessory work into giant set format with supplemental lifts with an optional, but very limited, assistance finisher and conditioning. It will look slightly different for every lift, but that’s my plan.
My workouts have lasted an average of 45-50min mostly bc I feel mentally out of it after that point
Also, my joints have been feeling crappier than usual and on most days, I just don’t want to work out, which is extremely unusual and frustrating for me
I want a “deload” but I really don’t feel like I’ve worked hard enough to deserve one
This is outside my knowledge base by a long way, so I can’t comment.
My thoughts on this are that it’s a function of poor goal setting. When you have a clear and appropriate goal in mind, discipline is the key to getting the work done. Without a clear goal, discipline becomes impossible and instead you have to rely on motivation which is fickle and unreliable.
Very true. I have a pretty nice progression scheme for my workouts but it’s definitely not the same…
I really just want to get back into a proper gym and go back to powerlifting training
The worst part is that I feel like my discipline is slipping, which is scary
Also, can I just take this week off from “serious lifting” as a mental deload? Or should I push on @T3hPwnisher I’d like to hear your thoughts too
I don’t believe your discipline is slipping. Jim Wendler summed the process up well in his latest blog post:
In essence: pick your long term goal, then make an effective plan to get you there. After that: get your head down and start following that plan. It’s a sentiment echoed by Dan John, Jocko Willink, @T3hPwnisher and many other successful people. Where I believe you’re going wrong is picking a route without first picking a goal. Pick the goal, then use that to pick the route. It probably won’t involve things that you like doing.
Edit: I thought I mentioned, but must have missed it out. Discipline is reliant on a goal. It’s the process of sticking to said plan and therefore can’t exist absent an end goal
felt good, got HR up and pretty intense. Chalk makes a HUGE difference. really suck at HS now
@dagill2@T3hPwnisher@garagerocker13 Thanks for the input. At the current moment, I guess my goal is not to get weak af while I’m cut off from a proper gym, which admittedly is not exactly clear.
I do want to get to at least 6-8 1 arm pushups, 20-25 reps/side on my kb press with the 25lb and 5-8 pistols/side with the 45. I used pretty large ranges b/c idk when I’ll actually be back in a gym. Hopefully, my uni gym will be open in the fall, but we’re getting sent home after thanksgiving, at which point, everything is up in the air again
Ok, so with such changeable conditions, short term goals and methods are going to be up in the air and decisions are going to need to be made on the fly. This is when long term, big picture goals become important because they will guide these decisions. And I’m still unclear, after all this time on your log, what your big picture end goal is.
The same as 99% of lifters. Getting as strong as possible while staying as lean as possible.
a 300lb deadlift and 200lb squat was in sight before covid screwed everything up at pretty much the exact same time my kidney surgery screwed things up last year, which is why this has been so hard for me
Where does the balance sit between these two? Because they are clearly (for you), competing goals. It may be helpful to consider who you look to as an example of someone who’s “made it”.
What about conditioning? Or circus tricks like handstands and pistols? What about health or longevity? Are any of these goals?
I don’t think you’re being honest with yourself about your conditioning goals, or lack of.
In terms of the skills stuff, I think those just need to be worked into your goal. It won’t be difficult to do, they aren’t really competing goals.
For longevity, Dan John has a goal to dance at his grand daughters wedding. For those of us who’ve seen the effects of grandparents lifestyle choices on their grandkids, that’s a pretty smart goal. I don’t think it should be too difficult to find similar goals for someone who doesn’t intend to have kids.
Edit: rereading, this post says goal too much but it’s too late to go through and edit.
That’s just lazy typing on my part. By “powerlifting” I mean getting as strong as possible in the big 3. Specifically, I want a 4x bodyweight deadlift some day.
Also, quite a few actual powerlifters are quite lean
Those a very short term goals. The original was 300lbs by my 18th birthday, but kidney surgery and covid have this so far postponed them.
I guess a more realistic timeline would be 315+ deadlift and 2plate squat by my 21st
