I liked this post because of the fact that you’ve done what you’ve done together with:
That is incredible to me. From where I’m sitting, this is amazing work and you’ve been crushing it. I’m sorry to hear you feel otherwise, but hang in there, my man—it won’t go on like this forever!
Why don’t you take a few days off from all things lifting. Continue to smash the food, try and get some good sleep, and then finish the program as if nothing happened?
I feel like you’d get more out of a program stepping away to get recovered than you would continuing to drive yourself deeper and deeper into the ground.
Hey boilerman you’re still doing great man!!
I agree with my @wanna_be said. You should definitely take a few days off to relax and catch up on your eating. Maybe do something that relieves you of stress like playing your guitar.
Yeah dude… you’ve done the work. Gone deeper than just about anybody has, to the point you can barely move. Rest is good.
@SvenG thanks man, I appreciate that. I expect a lot from myself and it’s hard for me to say “I’ve had enough”. I really, really want to get better and am willing to subject myself to pretty much anything to do so. I do have to draw the line, though. Once other parts of my life are being dragged down by lifting, I’ve gone too far.
I like that idea a lot dude. I’ll probably end up at least pushing next week’s starting day back a couple days to allow some recuperation. If this were week 2 or 3 I’d probably end up doing exactly what you said- a mini deload. I only have a bench day left, and am probably going to opt out of conditioning this week to get ready for the next program, so I’ll just hammer through tomorrow and call it done. I’m not expecting to set the world on fire, that’s for sure. As long as I get back there and try to get some decent reps in tomorrow I’ll be happy.
Luckily this next program starts slow. A lot of very submax work and staying very far away from failure for the first 4-5 weeks so I think it’ll give me a good opportunity to start climbing out of this recovery hole I’ve dug for myself.
Thanks @tlgains, yeah dude, eating has to get way better than it has been. I gotta start logging it better again. I feel like that helps me stay on track.
Ya @jdm135. I hate feeling this way. The beginning of this week will definitely be used for eating and chilling, thanks man.
You’re destroying it dude. If you drown, it means you swam far. I remember Deep Water advanced finally breaking me at the end. It means you gave it your all.
Thanks pwn, I was on a roll for a while but I think I just overextended myself these past few weeks. I have learned a lot this run through so I can take that and apply it to the next run in a few months.
Makes me think of the blog post of yours about failure being anabolic. I think I’ll be in a good place when I rebound out of this.
Getting back in to the food logging. I feel like it helps me realize how much/little I’m taking in
Dinner last night
Had 4 eggs and bacon this morning, 3 scoops PB. 10oz of 80/20 ground beef and 3 scoops sour cream for lunch later.
Benching after work today. I had planned to do it yesterday but I got home from work, took the dog for a walk and got a service call an hour away. Got home around 9pm.
Just a few additional thoughts on work/life balance. I love my job. I love helping people and I love actually doing the work. However, it feels as though my employer is taking advantage of my willingness to do the work. Working well past normal business hours regularly, being the one on call, always being available and always having my phone on me is starting to wear on me. I’ve had multiple conversations on how to rectify the issue, but nothing has changed. I actually had a conversation with our call service yesterday and asked them what our on call schedule looked like. They replied with “we just have your name on indefinitely”.
We are supposed to be making a change in January, but I don’t think I can last that long like this. I’ve had 4-5 offers from other companies but brushed them off because I thought I was happy where I am. I made a few calls yesterday and have gotten the ball rolling on a possible change.
My wife brought up a good point yesterday. I have the leverage and control in this situation. They do not have someone that can replace me and I can TELL them what I want, I don’t have to ask. Again, I love the company I work for, but if I just stop answering calls, they’ll change their tune quick. I think I have proved to them (over and over and over) that I’ll bend over backwards for them and our customers, and if they can’t appreciate that and compensate me properly (with both money and time) I’m done and moving on to someone who will.
That is ridiculous.
exactly.
From what you’ve demonstrated here, any company would be blessed to have you.
If they don’t appreciate that, they don’t deserve you as an employee
Thanks Anna, that’s nice of you to say. Sometimes I feel like I can do more, but I need to remind myself that it’s not my job to save the world. I need time to step back and relax. My life can’t revolve around my job without me allowing it to do so.
On the job situation. 100% you have the leverage and can name your terms. You MUST do so. because otherwise they will continue to use you. Often, I think it’s better to go elsewhere than to renegotiate with a current employer, because your new employer won’t have a history of treating you like dogshit. However you know the nuances of the situation better, and perhaps staying with your employer on new terms means being a big fish in a small pond, which can be awesome.
Also. You’re newly married. In fairness I worked my ass off back when I was first married… but man, if you don’t have to, don’t! Enjoy this time when you and your wife can hike, and hang out, and do stuff that you currently don’t have time for. You’ll be busy enough in later years to make up for it - trust me!
My 0.02.
The one issue I have with leaving is that I’ve been with the original company for over 11 years now and I absolutely love the majority of the accounts we take care of. I know a lot of them would come with me if I were to move, though.
I’d like to give my current employer the benefit of the doubt. I’ve laid out my concerns to the higher ups a few times but this is the first time I’ve given an ultimatum. For being younger and on the lower end of the chain of command, I feel like I have at least a small amount of pull and influence on what happens, and they’ll listen to what I say just due to the sheer volume of work I do (I make them a shitload of money).
The funniest part about this is, when the original company was sold we were told that there wouldn’t be any changes, that they were getting multiple applications a week and there would be ample opportunity for shadowing the vets before they retired…
Yeah man, I’m over the 80-hours-a-week-grind-and-make-bank life. Up until a few years ago I would do my normal hours with HVAC, leave and help a roofing crew after work and then roof all weekend. It was fine and the money was outstanding but I don’t need to do that anymore. I like the second part of your post, haha. I love spending time with my wife doing fun things and just enjoying each other’s company.
I appreciate you taking the time to make that post, man. I try to keep my log lifting-focused but I really appreciate people taking a moment to reflect on my thoughts and letting me know what they think.
Deepwater Intermediate W6D4
Bench at 185lb, 4 min rest
x 10, 9.5, 7
CGBP at 165lb, 4 min rest
3x10
Incline press at 145lb, 3 min rest
3x10
Dips
x 21, 16.5, 13.5
Planks and sit ups
Final lifting day of deepwater Intermediate is in the books. Fizzled out these last couple of weeks but I’m glad I stuck with it and at least attempted to lift. I am certainly happy it’s over. On to the next program either Friday or Saturday.
Sounds like it’s time to open shop for yourself
I was definitely considering it. That lack of time being a service tech would just get multiplied by 1000 if I were to strike out alone though. I wouldn’t be able to say no, ever.
I have more to add lol but not enough time!
For now, though, what’s the next program?
All good man, no worries.
Next program will be an 8 week strength/peak block. It’s RPE based which is new to me, but my buddy swears by it. Pretty much a taper from low intensity medium volume up to a max triple on squat, DL and bench on week 8. Progressing OHP as much as possible in the 10-12 rep range through week 4, and 6-8 reps through week 8.
Some variations thrown in for assistance and he said he wants me to add in a few sets here and there if I’m feeling good since I’m coming down off of such a high volume program. Drilling decent form and bar speed throughout to keep reps clean and fast.
Quick DW recap
Begin
Squat, 10x10 at 275 (could not complete)
Inter
Squat, 8 sets to 100 reps at 305
Begin
Push press, 10x10 at 123lb
Inter
Push press, 8 sets to 100 at 138lb
Begin
Bench, 3x10 at 175lb (could not complete)
Inter
Bench, 3x10 at 185lb
Begin
DL, 10x10 at 305lb
Inter
DL, 8 sets to 80 reps at 340lb
Begin
Strict press, 10x10 at 103lb (could not complete)
Inter
Strict press, 8 sets to 85 reps at 118lb
Log clean, 9 sets to 100 reps at 153lb
Starting bodyweight- ~200lb
Bodyweight as of today- 201.8lb
When all is said and done, I’m happy with the progress. This wasn’t a perfect run of deepwater, and my results are not quite as good as the first run through. I think after some extra time spent away from high volume insanity, I’ll come back at it with a refreshed intensity and strength. I’m ready to put my head back down and do some work. I’m ready to build back up, rekindle that flame for lifting heavy shit, and tear it up. Still shooting for a 5 plate DL by the end of December.
99.99% committed to a new job, which is extremely promising when it comes to the work/life balance I’m looking for.
The next program will likely begin either tomorrow or Saturday. I’d like to keep a thursday-sunday schedule with conditioning on Tuesdays, but I’ll have to move some days around here and there.
Unreal, man—and that’s without considering all that life’s thrown your way in this run. Factor that in, and… WOW! Just WOW!
Really nice work.
Thanks @SvenG I appreciate it man, can’t dwell on any of it though- there’s more work to be done
