Currently at 75kg. I was around 71-72kg when I did those lifts
@Bagsy yeah, my bench technique needs some work, specially with the leg drive part. I just took the press more seriously too because shoulder strength was more important to me than pec strength
@boilerman I’d be pleased if any of my PRs moved anywhere near that fast. Definitely looks like another 50 pounds there
@whang I care about pretty much any other lift more than benching yet it is probably my best lift 
Nah, I think your DL is your best lift lol
Thanks man
It most definitely is. I’m holding out hope that I can find a way to move 420. I hope it moves like 385 did and once the weight goes up my reps just slow down… But that’s doubtful. If not, I’ll be happy with 405 and hopefully set some rep PRs in the process.
I’m hoping that it was mental too… I haven’t been to the mid/ upper 300’s in like 9 or ten months so I was kind of freaking myself out I think… “You’ve done all this work and busted your ass and it’s not going to move off the ground”.
Oh yeah, I think you’ll be fine at 405 and wouldn’t be shocked if you got 420. Getting used to heavier weights and not giving up when they feel terrible is a learned skill. So is getting beyond that self doubt - that’s what had me stymied below 500 for 5 years. I’ve gone from expecting to nail or miss the lift to only expecting a clear mind and 100% effort from myself and that’s what’s made the difference.
Yeah I think I have to get over the fear of failing and just go for it. I have probably gotten too comfortable hanging around the same weight for too long on deadlift.
PA1W1
Incline press
115x5
130x3
150x8
175x1
180x1
115x20
SS
BW pullups 5x8, 2x5
Pushup 5x12
HLR 5X15
Lots of sets today. Incline felt pretty good, I was aiming for 10 reps on the plus set but fell a bit short. I might have been able to grind them out but I’ll leave that for week 3. Hit two jokers, 180 moved pretty well. Not quick, but I had no doubt I could get it up.
PA1W1
Squats
235x5
270x3
300x10 (rep PR)
335x1
350x1 (+5lb PR)
235x20
SS
Band curls 37, 25, 25
DB raise at 12.5lb ea 20, 15, 20
and as if my legs weren’t already sufficiently fucked, BW squats 3x25 no lockout
So, that was an experience. Felt amazing today, super amped up and my brace felt great while squatting. Happy with the PRs, but my aim is towards 370 in week 3.
I’m sitting at 210 midmorning (took a couple vacation days) so I need to start eating like a madman. However, lifting belt fits like a glove on the third hole which probably helps my brace feel spot on. Might have to eat up to hole 2 again.
405 soon!
Yeah a 405 squat would be amazing. Idk I felt like 350 moved pretty well but I am not sure how mentally prepared I am to have another 55lbs on my back haha.
Especially without a spotter… I’ve gone through my failed squat rep plan 100 times in my head and luckily never had to try it.
Yeah squats are the bane of my existence so I feel you there
I think if you had wanted to grind out a slower rep, you probably could do 370ish. But your deadlifts definitely have been looking faster. I’m probably an even more dramatic example of that… all of my squat reps look pathetically slow.
Definitely don’t test. It looks like Jim’s advice is faring well for you. But I do wonder, on which level of your house do you lift? Could you potentially damage the floor?
Yeah I am planning on taking it “easy” the third week on the 1+ set and going for 5, then hitting a couple jokers for both DL and squat. Might shoot for the 405 DL this week and aim for 420 on week 3, and if I’m still feeling outstanding in week 3, I’ll go for a 360-370 squat then as well.
Absolutely. I’m lifting in an addition from the late 60’s/early 70’s. If the rest of the house is any indication as to the structural integrity of the framing of the floor, it’d be beyond repair if I dumped the weight. I built my platforms because the hardwoods were starting to bow where I would squat and deadlift.
I’m planning on gutting the back portion of the house in a few years and building a master bed/bath once I can afford to buy the materials and at that point I’ll be moving my lifting equipment out to the garage, or in a perfect world, to a large shed or barn with a poured floor.
Ha, but it’s crazy how you just keep going. I know I’ve said it before, but every time i see your plus set vids I think you’re done because a rep slows down, then you just bust out 5-6 more.
Edit: and like @garagerocker13 said a few posts ago,
and I agree 100% haha. Once the bar speed slows even slightly, it feels like an eternity to finish the rep. Might be beneficial to lift a bit more slowly?
Sounds like a good plan
Do you not have a basement? I haven’t failed a squat in a long time, but this is why I’m incredibly thankful to no longer lift on a fourth floor balcony and to not lug a barbell and plates to my old building’s parking garage. I was too scared to deadlift otherwise.
And then I add 5 pounds and can’t do half as many reps if any at all 
As far as lifting slowly, it only really helps if I’m missing a rep because I’m out of position. Otherwise, it just makes me lift the same weight slower 
Also, you being an Up-Stater, have you ever ridden at Gore Mountain? Might be trying to take a trip there this season.
Do you do programming using the same percentages for upper body lifts as lower body lifts?
I think many see better progress on upper body when they either up the reps compared to lower body at the same percentage, or keep the reps the same and up the percentage.
On a bench press or OHP, very little BW is being lifted. When you squat / DL, most of your BW is being lifted essentially making the percent of 1RM higher. If that percentage works for lower, and you are stalling on upper, I would up the percentage or the reps. Additionally, for most the upper can recover and handle a bit more anyways as it is likely smaller muscles.
@Bagsy I do have a basement but the ceilings are even shorter than the rest of my house. I can barely walk fully upright down there unfortunately. And yeah, I definitely would think lifting on a balcony would be a bit sketchy. I think @tlgains is lifting on a porch at home now which would make me nervous as well.
I’m sure you’re capable, just gotta go for it and own it
@garagerocker13 I have been once back when I was a teenager. Used to snowboard once or twice a year, always ended up hurt haha. I’m in western NY tho. Every time I tell someone from out of state I’m from New York they automatically assume NYC, so I throw upstate around because to them, anything other than NYC is upstate haha.
@mnben87 so would that mean a lower TM on upper body work and find a way for additional volume through extra reps somehow? 531 seems more or less set in stone as far as main and supplemental work is concerned so I’m curious as to how you would program something like that
Same percentages mostly but my TM is usually more aggressive. So in effect the intensity is about the same. I’ll probably do something with more reps in general and see what happens - been running lower rep programs lately and am ready to switch it up.
Ahh gotcha there. New York is pretty much three states to me anyway - Great Lakes, Upstate, and NYC. Gore looks pretty sweet, lotta room and lotta trees so hard to go wrong.
531 should self adjust per cycle. Basically, your tm goes up.
I just see with a lot of power lifting programs, the bench and ohp stall, and either more volume or intensity is needed.
Right, I guess I asked the question poorly, and misunderstood your first post.
So you’re suggesting either raising training max percentage for upper body and keeping reps as written, or keeping TM at prescribed percentage on all lifts and adding volume through extra reps per set or extra sets on upper body lifts?
Sorry, not trying to be combative or anything. I guess I’ve never dipped my toes into the why’s of a program working/not working or what to do to change an outcome. I just try to do what strong people tell me to do.