P.S. I’m really glad things are going well on paper. It’s a start!
Are you still seeing a therapist? I wish I could have you as a client. I would love exploring all of this with you weekly in person.
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Hey Emily, thank you again for your thoughtful replies as always. I just started seeing a new therapist, and they seem nice. Hopefully I end up getting somewhere this time. As for relaxation, I try to take mini-breaks through the day but sometimes my schedule doesn’t allow for it either. I’ve accepted that I’m on a death march until I graduate. It would be really cool to have you as a therapist! I’m always willing to talk if you’re able.
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You need a good therapist and friends who check in, so we’ll hope you’ve connected with the former and I’ll be the latter.
How much time do you have left in school?
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I have another year and a half left but I may or may not switch from journalism to advertising. I’m a copywriter so I feel like it makes more sense. I have to speak with my advisor about that, or maybe my professor. Reddit isn’t very helpful.
Bench Day
225 x 2
235 x 1
240 x 1 – not too shabby
Dumbbell Rows (Paused)
2 x 12 x 80 pounds
1 x 12 x 70 pounds
Chest Flies (paused)
4 x 15 x 100 lb (1 min rest)
Incline Press Machine
4 sets of 12, not sure what the weight is
Weighted Pull-ups
45 lb. x 8
DB Hammer Curls
45 x 8
40 x 2 x 8
Lat Raises
4 x 12 x 15 lb.
Tricep Pushdown drop set to faliure
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Haha, no, I would imagine not.
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Pulled 480 on an off day
Deadlift
465 x 1
475 x 1
480 x 1
Misloaded, thought I had 485 on the 475 pull.
Bench
225 x 3
245 x 1
Experimenting with false grip again. Felt better. Today was a tiring day so I look forward to seeing where I’m at once fresh.
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I finally hit 5 plates
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Hell yeah dude! That’s fantastic work!
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thanks! onto 585. that’ll take me another 2 years haha.
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It’s honestly interesting: the climb from 3-4 plates takes FOREVER, but 4 to 5 seems to go quickly. 5 to 6 DID take me several years, but there was a back injury and me just plain giving up the lift in there. I’m wondreing if I would have moved quicker absent that.
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I think this counts. Thoughts?
I probably didn’t use enough chalk. 455 x 3, grip slipped at the end a millisecond after I locked out
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That absolutely counts dude! Yiu slaughtered it.
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Too lazy to log but working behind the scenes.
Notably, deadlifted 400 x 10 today. Following 5/3/1 style and being careful with accessories. Loving heavy machine hip thrusts and weighted 45-degree back extensions at the moment. Also spamming that Hammer Strength seated row machine with 100+ reps because it’s fun. I do paused RDLs too, but I limit them to 285 x 3 x 8 because if I go too hard on those it’ll aggravate my lower back.
As for squats, have been hitting a top set + 5 x 5 SSL + leg extensions + hamstring curls. Squat seems to be stagnant, hit 335 x 10 the other day and that was an RPE 11 set.
Bench is still horrible but 5 x 10 FSL + flies + hammer strength incline press and bicep curls seem to be paying off.
Finally, best press single as of lately is 175. Hit a top set of 140 x 9 recently. have been doing 5 x 10 FSL (same thing) + extra back work on that day.
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More logs 
Deadlift
135 x 5
225 x 4
315 x 4
380 x 3
425 x 6
465 x 1
RDL Paused
295 x 8
305 x 8
285 x 8
Seated Row Machine (hammer strength)
Two plates x 10
Three plates x 15
Three plates and a quarter each side x 10 (single-arm)
Drop back to three plates, two plates and a quarter, two plates, spam reps. Probably 125 or so total?
45 degree weighted back extension paused at the top
60 x 10
60 x 8
60 x 10
Hip thrust machine
295 x 3 x 10
Spamming lat pull-down and bicep curls tomorrow with my press workout
5/3/1 is so boring but maybe I’ll make steady progress
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Good news is I’m getting stronger. Bad news is I tweaked my lower back something fierce yesterday. It was killing me last night but the pain has subsided to a tolerable 5/10. Hoping I’ll feel better in a week or so.
Deadlifted 410 x 8 in 45 seconds with no pauses in between reps. Then went up to 450 for a double and realized my back was killing me after the fact, but I think the damage was already done.
Volume deads are off the table. I never seem to have this problem when I keep my sets to 5 reps or less.
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Christ you’re strong. Great work dude!
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Sorry to hear about the hurting.
I’ve kept mine at between 3 & 5 for years after one too many tweaks. Too much opportunity for minor technical differences to turn into major setbacks.
And yeah, as Pwn said, Strong!
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@SkyzykS tagging you in here too.
Actually, I pulled 8 reps within 40 seconds. Video angle is questionable. Got half a ninth rep off the floor, but I couldn’t finish it.
Back is feeling suspiciously good today. It’s still tweaked but the pain has subsided from a 6/10 to 2/10.
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It took me a second for those first couple of reps to register because they looked effortless. My brain wasn’t making the connection.
Good work man!
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