I don’t disagree at all. I think holding myself back personally frustrates me, and there’s always derailers in life. I just feel like I’d always be in “work back up” mode, because I never would get to the “run” phase.
But, admittedly, my personal problem is pretty much doing just that and running myself into the ground… so I’m not denying the wisdom in the planned approach.
Yep the biggest problem with the sow and methodical approach is you always leave the gym feeling like you didn’t do enough. The funny thing is, that this feeling over time is exactly what sees results. Now to counter that you can of course go down a more Max effort type training and go hard every week. But in my experience (that means age) I can’t do that too long before a niggle means I miss training all together. Both roads probably still lead to where I am at, small increases over time.
I think this is what I’m trying to get at too - same page
@simo74 and @TrainForPain I really appreciate the replies. I don’t think I’ve taken off more than 10 days in the last five years–your insights are valuable.
I think I’m in the “if it takes a few more weeks” camp. The most shocking difference between now and a month ago is my lack of endurance, which I’m pretty sure is a result of having Covid.
I lifted for the first time yesterday, cut the weights to halfish of what I was doing before for two work sets of five with slow negatives and pauses. Nothing too hard, but I’m sore today.
For now, I’ll keep inching the weights upwards until progress slows and I need to add some volume.
It may be a while. Actually, I kinda hope so.
This is where some bodyweight stuff on your off days can really help. A few push ups and body weight squats isn’t hard in terms of recovery but the higher reps will make the 5’s in the gym seem more bearable.
Here’s my physique update now that I’ve been 51 years old for a couple months. I’m even older than @simo74, but much better looking. 
Weighed in at 171.0 lbs this morning, and feeling pretty good these days.
Looking great man!
Must be that baby soft skin
Did you mean to post this here or in your own log ?
Oh, you mean I shouldn’t post my workouts randomly on every topic on this forum? Thanks for the catch.
Well you can do what ever you like but it might be hard to track back later where the posts went. LOL
I thought it was just a cool motivator
some of us need that right now
Yes, but what about THIS year?
@Chris_Shugart has anyone come forward asking to manage this?
Because I need to start making plans. To, you know, t-ransform.
Yup, getting my before body ready!
This made me actually laugh. I would have just said “ha!” but the system wouldn’t let me.
It’s been me the last couple years that started up the thread. It’s legitimiately “un-official” - all homegrown in the forum; not a T-Nation officially sponsored thing… which is kind of cool.
I can pull together another thread this year. I might make some slight tweaks to the awards piece at the end, namely the MVP - all the “winners” are so noble (by design) it’s paid out kind of weird!
I would also like to actually put something into the “least transformed;” something along the lines of “this didn’t go how I want and I’ll do what someone says until the next one.”
Any thoughts, team? @T3hPwnisher?
I’m always in
I just got my coffee and was all settled in to come on and make both a new thread about this and offer the thoughts that started bubbling around in my head yesterday during my workout.
Firstly, why do there need to be prizes? Isn’t being the most shredded or best transformed person on TNation reward enough?
Second, what do we really value about the T-ransformation? I think it’s the community and shared push. Talking smack and laughing/commiserating over our failures and tiny victories. Posting updates, being cheered.
Others may find something different here. I’m not that competitive - but only because I can’t be, honestly - but for others there’s that piece.
I know everyone is busy and this is a huge undertaking. I would not be willing to do it because it’s an organizational headache.
So what I was going to suggest was that we all rate ourselves, like on a 1-5 scale, along the lines of (not well thought-out, but as a start)
5 - crushed it.
4 - I’m pretty satisfied with my progress
3 - I did some of what I said I was going to
2 - Well that didn’t go to plan
1 - Yikes, my before looks better than my after
That sort of thing. I’d love for it to be the usual challenge, but no one should have to take on the burden at a busy time of year, and my point is not what it should look like, but that there are other options. I think the most important thing is the call-out to past participants to pull it together and get their befores in.
Again, just some thoughts.
I’m always game to pay out for it. I always talk about how the best part about being at rock bottom is the only way to go is up, and I love the idea of watching a blank slate take on a protocol 100% and seeing how it transforms them. It’s why I like offering up the “transformative” programs like Super Squats, Deep Water, Mass Made Simple, etc.
I know it’s a bitter pill to swallow to BE the least transformed, but, again, reframing helps. It’s pretty awesome when you’re in a spot where what you’re doing isn’t working, because it means you now have the freedom to do ANYTHING else. It’s honestly a bit confining when what we’re doing works, because then we don’t get to deviate from it. I imagine it’s why people program hop: they want to express freedom.
