Defeat the "Dad Bod"! 5/3/1 Recomp Log. (Building the Monolith & Boring but Big)

Stats:
27 Years Old
6’1
260lbs
High Body Fat Percentage

Motivations
In all honesty, I’m in a rut.

I am overweight, weak and in the WORST shape my life.

The birth of my child, graduate school, and a stressful career as a law enforcement officer working night shifts put training in the back of my mind. Long research papers matched with fast food and a lack of sleep became the norm and I just kept making excuses for myself. I convinced myself that I would get in the groove “tomorrow”.

Three years later I woke up and realized that I am on a bad path. I looked in the mirror, stood on the scale and was disgusted with what I saw. I am 60 pounds heavier than I was in recent years and am significantly weaker. This type of lifestyle could get me killed in my profession and will certainly kill me quicker in the long run.

It’s time to hold myself accountable and quit making excuses. I am also receptive and appreciative for to any feedback/advise T-Nation Forum readers would like to share.

I want to set a good example for my child and be able to continue an active lifestyle and keep fighting the good fight throughout my life.

Training background

  • Began with 4 years of consistent training through 5x5 and Bigger/Faster/Stronger programs to prepare for football in high school. I then transitioned into a Barwis Methods influenced programs while playing college football for the next three years. Ran powerlifting programs such as the cube method, Texas method & dabbled in CrossFit and then bodybuilding splits after football.

  • Nearly sedentary for three years with an occasional workout mixed in.

  • During the last few months I started doing 2 lift a day programs maybe twice a week to help with re-acclimating myself to strength training and physical activity.

Training Program
I am feeling up to beginning a difficult program. After researching the topic I decided that 5/3/1 programs would be a good fit for my lifestyle and goals for while.

  • I will be running the “building the monolith template” starting out. This program looks absolutely brutal and will help me re-gain lost muscle.

  • Diet will be very similar to the recommended diet in the “building the monolith” with the lunch food sources “cleaned up” a bit. I anticipate some fairly rapid re-comp due to my current horrible state.

  • I will likely then begin the boring but big progressions outlined in the "beyond 5/3/1 book after this initial 6 week phase.

  • All other sleep, recovery/conditioning recommendations will be adhered to.

Goals
-Re-comp, regaining prior strength gains.

3 Likes

Squat
5x 105
5x 130
5x 155
5x 185
5x 210
5x 235
5x 235
5x 235
5x 235
5x 235

Week 1 Day 1
OHP
5x55
5x70
5x90
5x110
5x125
AMRAP 16x95

Close Grip Lat Pulldown
100x 110lbs
Face Pulls 45lbs 100x

Wide Grip Push ups 4x20

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Assault Air Bike Conditioning 38:25 Minutes. Distance 10.00 Calories 192.2 , stretching

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Welcome! I’m in for this log. Very interested to see how you do re-comping with BtM.

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welcome.

I appreciate you doing what has become a thankless job.

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It sounds like you’re off to a good start. I’ve run BTM several times along with many other 531 programs and templates. I’ve had good success with Wendler’s programming. I’m curious to follow along with you to see how you like it.

With BTM make sure you eat well and get as much rest as you can given your busy life. If you’re able to do that you’ll get some good results.

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I’m in for the 5/3/1, as well as seeing how fast you can recomp. You’re going to be updating stats regularly, right?

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Thanks for joining in! Yes Sir, I’ll be posting every training day and doing regular updates on strength and body comp comparisons in the coming months

Sounds good, hopefully will make some good progress with it, will just have to eat the right things.

I sure do appreciate that. It’s easier to do a job when you feel appreciated by some folks

Dead Lift (conventional touch and go) 5x165 5x205 5x245 5x285 5x 325 5x 365 5x365 5x365. Bench press (touch and go) 5x135 5x135 5x155 5x185 5x205 5x5 @ 230. Yates Row 5x12 135 EZ Bar Curl 3x20 Incline DB Curl 2x20

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2 mile hike pushing baby stroller, moderately hilly, stretching.

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Squat 5x105 5x130 5x155 5x185 5x210 5x235 20x120 press 10x5 95 Chins 5x5 100x face pull with band. 5x20 BB shrug 185

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2 Mile hike with baby stroller. Felt good (not happening that often now a days) so went to the garage and hit some Iso stuff bodybuilding style for fun. Circuit 4 rounds of calf raises, DB lateral raise, rear delt fly on inc bench, DB pull overs, Band Fly’s, hammer curl, skull crusher, stretching.

1 Like