Captain's Log Over 40 Powerlifting

Thanks everyone, I’m happy to be here. I missed these last posts, I’ve been buried in the books lately, but I’m caught up now.

Couldn’t finish out the unloading week 5. Lots of stuff going on, and I needed to unload/rest anyway. I have four weeks until the planned week long family vacation at Disney World.

My plan is to do a four week program

  1. 5x5 @ 70%
  2. 3x5 @ 80%
  3. 3x5 @ 65%
  4. Ramp up to 1 or more sets x5 @ 85%,

Week 1 Day 1

Squat
45x15
135x10
225x5
295x1
335x5 / 5 sets

Overhead Squat
135x5
135x5

Incline Bench
135x6
165x10 / 3 sets

Standing Behind Neck Press
45x10
75x3
95x10 / 3 sets

DB Tri Ext
30’s x 10 / 3 sets

Bike 12 min.

How long have you done sheiko? How have you found it helps you progress?

I was thinking of switching after my next meet. I’ve had success with a loose 5/3/1 type template but any time I go with heavier volume, it just feels better to me. I don’t know if ‘feels better’ will translate into gains which is why I’m waiting.

[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:
How long have you done sheiko? How have you found it helps you progress?

I was thinking of switching after my next meet. I’ve had success with a loose 5/3/1 type template but any time I go with heavier volume, it just feels better to me. I don’t know if ‘feels better’ will translate into gains which is why I’m waiting.[/quote]

It’s probably in my original log, but I’ve done two cycles of Sheiko. The first I increased my squat, but bombed out of a meet unable to open with my 95% 1RM. I had made lots of mistakes.

This time around, I definitely got stronger. That was based on a 5lb increase on bench, subjectively how my form improved. It’s tough to follow over 40. On the last weeks of the 4 and 5 week phases, I’ve had enough.

Sheiko was recommended by a guy I knew on Myspace. I had been following a non-linear Western Periodized program I made up. It didn’t seem to be improving my strength any more.

Since I train by myself at a commercial gym, I don’t like to train near failure.

Oh, and this four week period will be a 4 day push/pull split.

Sometimes this doesn’t work out well if my hammies are wicked sore after squatting. Anything bent over (deads, bent rows, yadda, yadda, yadda) just doesn’t happen until they’ve recovered.

Dan, wanted to thank you again for that back stretch. Has made quite a differnce with the back pain.

[quote]ecogenx wrote:
Dan, wanted to thank you again for that back stretch. Has made quite a differnce with the back pain.[/quote]

I’m very glad you feel better. My old job as an athletic trainer was 70% stupidity, but I will sorely miss the 30% that was evaluating and treating injuries. Hopefully I will find a way to keep my feet in that water.

Now the biggest and most important thing about treating backs. Knowing how you did it and how to prevent it.

  1. Posture and good movement form
  2. Ab bracing and strength
  3. Hip flexibility.

Week 1 Day 2

W/u for chins were
Lat Pull downs
100x10
140x5
200x1
Chins
BWx3 / 5 sets

Bent Rows
135x8
185x3
215x5 / 5 sets

RDL
225x10

Bent Lateral Raise
15’s x 10

BB Curl
40x10
60x3
80x6 / 3 sets

Bike 12 min

Your training is looking solid.Nice work.

[quote]Jimmy T wrote:
Your training is looking solid.Nice work.[/quote]

Thanks, I’ll get back to Sheiko if my studies allow and hopefully do the New England’s May 22nd.

I need to get Jim Wendler’s e-book and stop being such a tight-wad. 5/3/1 May maintain my sanity through all this. These last two days of training I was done lifting in a little over half an hour. I think 5x5 with 70% of 1RM helps to speed things up. Next week is 3x5 @ 80%.

After that week lay off, I am WICKED SORE today. Mainly hamstrings.

Week 1 Day 3

Realized I would not get my day 4 in b/c the Mrs is working 12hrs Sat and Sun, so I will add deadlifts to today’s training. Was going to start with deadlifts but pogues have taken up the space at the racks.

Bench
135x10
185x5
225x2
250x5 / 5 sets

Military Press
95x10
140x5 / 5 sets

DB Lateral Raises
15’s x 10
20’s x 10

Narrow Bench
135x8
210x5 / 3 sets

Deadlift
135x10
225x5
315x2
355x5 / 5 sets

DB Shrugs
100’s x 10 / 3 sets

Lat Pull Downs
100x10 / 3 sets

Week 2 Day 1

Squat
45x15
135x10
225x5
315x2
365x5 / 3 sets

HB ATG Squat
225x8
275x5
315x3

Speed Bench
135x10
195x3 / 6 sets

Standing Behind the Neck Press
45x10
75x5
95x10 / 3 sets

DB Tricep Ext.
30’s x 10
35’s x 10 / 2 sets

Really like your workouts. The bench and mil press on the same day would be too much for my front delts, though.

[quote]hel320 wrote:
Really like your workouts. The bench and mil press on the same day would be too much for my front delts, though.[/quote]

I’ve always liked to do them together and have always done them that way. Flat bench is the only chest exercise I do.

Week 2 Day 2

Lat Pull Down warm up for chins
70x10
140x5
170x3

Chins
BWx4 / 4 sets

Bent Row
135x10
185x3
245x5
225x5 / 2 sets

RDL
225x10 / 3 sets

Bent Lateral Rasies
20’s x 10 / 3 sets

BB Curls
50x8
70x3
90x6 / 2 sets

I do have to say that I’m not bummed my bent row strength dropped. When I do Sheiko, it’s not a priority.

The squats 3x5@80% felt really easy. I was happy. See how bench goes Friday.

Workouts are looking solid. Looking forward to watching your progress between now and the New England’s.

Missed another day this week so I doubled up today, like last week.

Week 2 Day 3

Bench
135x10
185x5
225x3
255x1
285x5 / 3 sets

Military Press
95x10
135x2
160x5 / 3 sets

Javelin Military Press
50 x 6+6 / 2 sets

Narrow Bench
135x10
225x5
240x5 / 2 sets

Deadlift
135x10
225x5
315x2
365x1
405x5 / 3 sets

One Arm DB Rows
75 x 10+10 / 3 sets

Lat Pull downs
100x10 / 3 sets

Alt DB Curl
25’s x 10 / 2 sets

New one. Javelin military press? Couldn’t even find that one doing a search.

[quote]hel320 wrote:
New one. Javelin military press? Couldn’t even find that one doing a search.[/quote]

I can’t remember where I read it, I though here on T-Nation. It is just a one arm military, but instead of a DB, I use a small BB. My gym has one of those racks with the small barbells from 20lbs - 110lbs.

I have a difficult time keeping my shoulders tight when I bench, and figured this should help with stability.

Do you have any advice?

When you say keeping your shoulders tight do you mean like trying to push your shoulder blades together?