Becoming an Iron Golem

19M | 5’11" | 185lbs @ ~20%BF | 1.5yr training

Tested Maxes:

Squat: 320 (low bar belted) (235x20 high bar beltless as well)
OHP: 160
Dead: 405 (7 months ago so probably higher)
Bench: 235

My primary goal is to become as strong, conditioned, and healthy/capable as I can with a secondary goal of size and looking powerful.

My program is based off of Tactical Barbell’s Grey Man:

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WEEKLY SCHEDULE

MON: Day A - 75min

TUE: Stair Sprints - 15-20min

WED: Day B - 75min

THU: Walk - 30-60min

FRI: Day A - 75min

SAT: Conditioning - 30min

SUN: Walk - 30-60min

Pattern: A-B-A-B-A-B continuous, no alternating weeks

Standard Warmup: 5min (jumping jacks, arm circles, leg swings, bodyweight squats, pushups)

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DAY A

Do Standard Warmup

1. LOW BAR SQUAT - GM progression, 4min rest

4 sets @ prescribed reps/% + 4 NG pullups after each set

2. OVERHEAD PRESS - GM progression, 3min rest

4 sets @ prescribed reps/% + 4 NG pullups after each set

3. FARMER’S WALKS - FC progression, 2min rest

4 sets x length_of_room + 4 NG pullups after each set

4. BARBELL ROWS - GMC progression, 2min rest

3 sets @ prescribed reps/% (no pullups)

5. LEG EXTENSIONS - Double progression, 1min rest

3 sets x 12-15 reps (no pullups)

TOTAL PULLUPS: 48 reps

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DAY B

Do Standard Warmup

1. DEADLIFT - GM progression, 4min rest

4 sets @ prescribed reps/% + 4 NG pullups after each set

2. BENCH PRESS - GM progression, 3min rest

4 sets @ prescribed reps/% + 4 NG pullups after each set

3. OVERHEAD CARRY - FC progression, 2min rest

4 sets x length_of_room + 4 NG pullups after each set

4. INCLINE BENCH - GMC progression, 2min rest

3 sets @ prescribed reps/% (no pullups)

5. LEG CURLS - Double progression, 1min rest

3 sets x 10-12 reps (no pullups)

TOTAL PULLUPS: 48 reps

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PROGRESSION SYSTEMS

GM (GREY MAN) - Main Lifts

3-week wave:

Week 1: 4x8 @ 70%

Week 2: 4x6 @ 75%

Week 3: 4x3 @ 80%

After wave: +10lbs lower / +5lbs upper to training max

Deload every 7th week: 3x5 @ 60%

GMC (GREY MAN CLUSTER) - Accessories

3-week wave:

Week 1: 3x12 @ 55%

Week 2: 3x10 @ 60%

Week 3: 3x8 @ 65%

After wave: +5-10lbs to training max

Deload every 7th week: 2x10 @ 50%

FC (FULL-BODY CARRY) - Carries

Linear: +2.5 lbs per side a week for the overhead carries (+5lbs total) & +5 lbs per side a week for the farmer’s walks (+10lbs total) for 6 weeks

Week 7 deload: 3 sets @ 70% of week 6

Week 8: Restart at old week 3 weight + continue

DOUBLE PROGRESSION - Isolation

Progress reps within range (12-15 or 10-12)

When hit top range all 3 sets: go to next weight on machine, drop to bottom range

Deload every 7th week: 2x10 @ 70%

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CONDITIONING

TUESDAY STAIR SPRINTS (15-20min)

6-10 all-out sprints up stairs

Walk down 90-120sec between sprints

SATURDAY CONDITIONING (30min)

Option 1: 100 burpees for time

Option 2: 5 rounds - 10 burpees, 20 jumping jacks, 10 pushups, 10 jump squats, 60sec rest

Option 3: 30min mixed bodyweight work

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I’m going to begin the program tomorrow because I don’t want to wait until next Monday or I might lose momentum and not do anything haha

Think you will be jacked.

I agree.

I am very curious if you will get the benefits of Grey Man with all the recovery demands you’ve tacked on top of it.

I think I will get a lot out of this program. I know Tactical Barbell fairly well as a system (Operator was the first program I ever ran so it has a special place in my heart), and if I start stalling or feeling crappy I’ll take a step back and assess. I plan on eating to support my training (which I got from you, easily one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever read on lifting/nutrition) and making sure I get enough rest (I’m a college student so this may be a bit trickier but I’m also decently good when it comes to my sleep schedule so that should be okay). I’m really excited for all the carries, too.

Also forgot to mention that I’m going to use training maxes for the main four lifts, so my numbers will be based off of these:

Low Bar Squat - 290 lbs (90% of 320)
OHP - 145 lbs (90% of 160)
Deadlift - 365 lbs (90% of 405)
Bench Press - 195 lbs (90% of 215, detrained on bench)

Wednesday January 28th 2026 - Session B

Deadlift: 4x3 @ 295 lbs (4 minutes rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

Bench Press: 4x3 @ 155 (3 minutes rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

Overhead Carry: 4xRoom_Distance @ 95 lbs (2 minute rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

Incline Bench: 3x8 @ 100 lbs (2 minute rest) (guards are at 13 and hooks are at 4)

Leg Curl: 3x12,12,12 @ 115 lbs (1 minute rest)

Friday January 30th 2026 - Session A

-Low Bar Squat: 4x3 @ 235 lbs (4 minutes rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

-OHP: 4x3 @ 115 (3 minutes rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

-Farmer’s Walks: 4xRoom_Distance @ 115 lbs per hand (2 minute rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

-Barbell Rows: 3x8 @ 120 lbs (2 minute rest) + 3 NG Pull-ups between sets (9 total)

-Leg Extension: 3x15,15,15 @ 145 lbs (9 total)

Monday February 2nd 2026 - Session A

Low Bar Squat: 4x8 @ 210 lbs (4 minutes rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

OHP: 4x8 @ 105 (3 minutes rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

Farmer’s Walks: 4xRoom_Distance @ 125 lbs per hand (2 minute rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

Had to skip rows and leg extensions because I was running late for my mathematical logic class.

Wednesday February 4th 2026 - Session B

  • Deadlift: 4x8 @ 265 lbs (4 minutes rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

  • Bench Press: 4x8 @ 150 (3 minutes rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

  • Overhead Carry: 4xRoom_Distance @ 100 lbs (2 minute rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

  • Incline Bench: 3x12 @ 90 lbs (2 minute rest) + 3 NG Pull-Ups between sets (9 total)

  • Leg Curl: 3x12,12,12 @ 130 lbs (1 minute rest) + 3 NG Pull-Ups between sets (9 total)

    Total NG Pull-Ups: 66

Forgot to add this yesterday

Friday February 6th 2026 - Session A

  • Low Bar Squat: 4x8 @ 210 lbs (4 minutes rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)
  • OHP: 4x8 @ 105 (3 minutes rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)
  • Farmer’s Walks: 4xRoom_Distance @ 125 lbs per hand (2 minute rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

Monday February 9th 2026 - Session A

  • Low Bar Squat: 4x6 @ 225 lbs (4 minutes rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

  • OHP: 4x6 @ 115 (3 minutes rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

  • Farmer’s Walks: 4xRoom_Distance @ 135 lbs per hand (2 minute rest) + 4 NG Pull-Ups between sets (16 total)

  • Barbell Rows: 3x10 @ 115 lbs (2 minute rest) + 3 NG Pull-ups between sets (9 total)

  • Leg Extension: 3x15,15,15 @ 145 lbs + 3 NG Pull-ups between sets (9 total)

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