With a 6 repper on the last set you should be able to up the TM. You could do as I do. Don’t tell Jim but I only increase by 5 pounds on lower body.
4-11-2018
C2W3D3 - BP
45X10, 95X5, 125X5, 145X3, 160X9, 210X1 PR, 135X8X3
Krocs in between sets, 40x10x4
@mortdk - I had decided to up the TM on squats by five, so you confirmed my brilliance.
@2busy - the OHP is a done deal, actually trying to get to BW next. I had a 290 SQ a while ago, so I’m closing in on that. The BP at 210 today went up well, so I think there’s plenty of room for growth there as well. The DL is the problem, especially since I don’t DL, lol. Going to add it in for the next cycle and just be really careful with it.
Get the nerve healed up and get it!
Why? Is it essential to what you want?
Would block pulls it rack pulls work better for what you want?
For your off day/week, consider the FS as the sole exercise to work on, since you don’t DL. It improves said and squat.
You’re the 'use the squat to up the DL" guy, pretty cool. Try snatch and clean pulls once in a while.
To boost OHP, use partials. DBs are of no use unless you have a spotter. Do HSPUs after a few good sets of OHP then retire into overhead DB presses. Keep total work sets under 10.
Pullups won’t help you much in this game. Neither will benching. You’re the vertical exercise proponent. Deadlifts are more horizontal than squats.
Best to taper for 2 weeks, test for a max once more. Then re-write your training programs by taking out the joker sets and going in +1.25% of 1RM every 1 - 2 weeks.
I used to squat 150 parallel with minimal training but studies got in the way and reading your log, the sensations of preparing for a 1RM squat rushes back, I still ponder about my mesolimbic days fondly.
It’s only a problem for the 1,2,3,4 plate club, otherwise, not a big deal. And really, that club isn’t that overarching, and 2,3,4,5 is probably way out of reach at this stage of life, so no, it’s not really a problem.
Good point.
TBH if you get a three plate squat for three, and get good at rack/block pulls around mid shin for fives with 3.5 to four plates chances are you’d get four plates off the floor without a hassle.
Remember, deadlifts aren’t that big a deal if you’re decently strong already on squats and rows. The best squatter at Elite sucks at deads. Except, he still pulls close to 700 lbs, which is close to 200 lbs less than his squat.
4-13-2018
De-load Week
One hour Ashtanga yoga - does that count?
That sounds effing great…it’s a goal. I would be happy with a shaky single before September!
For some reason I have a very hard time maintaining a neutral spine when deadlifting. I suspect I have weakness somewhere there, and I’m not sure squatting will cure it. I suspect focusing on technique with a slow and steady progression will do the trick, and rows and rack pulls may also help.
Question - I’m guessing DB rows aren’t going to help, amirightorwhat?
Where in the spine? If it’s not lumbar it probably doesn’t matter much.l, especially if you’re bracing good and hard.
My own experience says otherwise. Plus the fact that Greg has us DB rowing three to four times a week…
I don’t think there’s a better exercise to help your grip, back and abs than heaby DB rows.
Well, you should be squatting with a neutral spine so it might.
In one of the logs (can’t remember which) they to talk about front squat as a super assistance for DL.
DB rows are great, kroc rows one set all out with a heavy DB.
Front squats definitely do the trick for DL. With DB rows I’ve found better results from multiple sets than a single all out set.
I try to do a couple of cycles Kroc’s and a couple of multi sets… I really can’t tell which is the better.
This might refresh some memories of my issues with deadlifting.
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=EDLRFNPPwGc
I thought, apparently mistakenly, that DB rows wouldn’t necessarily help with these issues concerning neutral spine - I feel like there’s just a general weakness in the entire posterior chain.
But I really don’t know wtf I’m talking about. I’m guessing I need to up the weight on my Kroc rows and add in a day of front squats, while working slowly on DL technique.
Anyways, DL isn’t that big of a deal for me other than maintaining balance in my levels of strength, if that makes any sense at all.
BTW, de load week, another hour of yoga this morning, this time Gentle Yoga, lol. Gentle for who?
It ain’t kroc rows if you could row it cleanly for reps
https://ruggedfellowsguide.com/lift-kroc-rows/
Like I said,
Point taken @danteism
Thanks for the edumacation!
The light in that video is stealing his life force while he talks
Thanks Flats for posting, it was really helpful. I think or rather I hope it will be helping me next time.
I used to work with a physical therapist and he pointed out that the hyperextended spine was wrong. Everyone’s idea of a flat back seems to be a hyperextended one. I tried to listen even though I didn’t understand all of the components of the lift. This video explained in more detail why you don’t want those things. ![]()
Seeing it wrong vs right, all the way through the move is different and cool.
Hyper extending my back has been a big problem issue for me. My hips hate flexion, and sticking my butt back and leaning forward and arching the shit out of my back makes my thighs come way, way closer to my ribs. That’s bad!
4-16-2018
C3W1D1 - OHP
45X10, 65X5, 85X5, 95X5, 110X10, 65X10X4 (BBB)
Lat PD’s 110x8x3, Shrugs 110x10x4, Curls 25x10x4, TPD’s 90x12x4
Decided on a whim to do BBB for a cycle.