How many reps are you getting at 90?
Where does bench fit in? First? Second?
You are training AM? What are you eating pre WO?
All sets are sets of 5. Bench is second. I train in the AM. I have a banana and 1 Tbsp peanut butter with coffee prior to workout.
Couple things I would do here to increase bench production
Move to first exercise. Squat is a huge energy suck.
Eat more prior. I would have a hard enough time training in the AM but on that amount of food I would be useless. I need at least 2 good meals in the tank prior to training.
Increase reps at 90. This will eventually translate when trying to hit more reps on 95.
Thanks. Will do.
Where are you failing? Off chest? Midway? Lock out?
Midway.
I didn’t read ALL of your log but it looks like you are trying to max out every workout? At least for the last couple of weeks. And I totally “get it”. I LOVE to do the same BUT it’s not always
effective.
It’s going to be hard to hit it with the deficit you are in. My advice is to not worry about the numbers until you start at least a maintenance phase. Possibly a surplus.
I will be the first the say… my bench is absolute shit. I’m 5’4" with an almost 6 ft windspan. My body wasn’t made for benching. But, many people here have helped me.
I was told more total volume. Instead of maxing out spend some time just accumulating some volume and work on MMC. Use your lats to the throw the bar up. Leg drive. Blah… blah… blah..
Spoto press, pin press, push ups helped me.
Can you post a video of you benching?
I suppose I’m adding weight every time. To be fair, none of these are numbers I haven’t recently hit. About a month prior to starting this log I fell off of a lifting stretch that ended right around where I am now (excluding the fucking bench
). But I suppose it could be time to reconfigure? Maybe a phase of higher volume lower weight? I don’t know. Gotta figure something out.
It just occurred to me that I was 30 pounds heavier in that last phase…
Yep!
I would try benching twice a week. One heavy-ISH one a little high volume lower weight or spoto press. Or alt them every other week.
Man. Today has been an exceptionally illuminating day!
I would also agree with what the other fella said…drop down a little bit and increase reps at 90. Even 85 and 80. And if you are up for it, do a couple reps at 100 now and again. Being able to rep a higher weight makes a slightly lower weight feel much easier.
@s.gentz
Been looking at a few things. Do you think it would be reasonable to try a 5/3/1 BBB? I’m pretty sure I’m reaching a wall on most lifts at the moment.
Edit: this seems simple. My brain likes simple.
I very much love the use of the word fella.
I personally don’t have any experience with 531.
What I can say is that it’s def a plan to grow/get stronger.
That being said I don’t think you’re eating enough cals to support a program like that. I think it’s best done in a surplus.
What are you short/long goals?
My short term goal was weight loss. I wanted to get to around 137. This is an arbitrary number. It’s a weight I’ve been at before and felt pretty good at. Long term goals are to be stronger and more fit. I would like to focus less on the scale and more on composition at this point. I also need to focus on joint health. Specifically my shoulder and wrist. I’m honestly looking for something relatively simple that will help me continue to get stronger. My home gym setup is relatively simple. No machines.
Guess my main goal is to continue moving forward. I feel like I’m starting to stall. Unsure if I should overhaul, make small adjustments, or just drop all my weights and start my current routine over. Aren’t you glad you asked? Lol
To me, this is 5/3/1 in a nutshell.
And I’ve had tremendous success with 5/3/1 in the past: I ran something like 20 back-to-back cycles when I got less dumb after joining this forum, and I became the strongest and most aesthetically-pleasing I’ve ever been in my entire life at about 44-45 years old.
YMMV, of course: You are not me, and I am not a woman.
But if you go this route, I’d highly recommend picking up and actually reading JW’s 5/3/1 Forever. There really is no substitute for the book.
Edit: Tagging @unicornsandrainbows because 5/3/1 & Bodybuilding.
And I mean, just look at her. That progress is the product of consistency and effort if ever I’ve seen it.
I read the first. I have this book as well. I will read it this week.
Also something like 531 and the assistance out of the “Beginner Prep School” section would be perfect for your set up!



