Starting Rippetoe

[TreeRexasaurus]

Just started Rippetoe. Figured out suitable weights a few days before this.
I've lifted somewhat on and off over the past year and a half. Most of the days it wasn't intense and I was just following my brothers' and friends' routines. Now that I'm back at college I'm looking to actually know what I'm doing in the gym and to increase my strength. Any criticism or feedback is greatly appreciated.

Bench/Squat/Dead/Press/Row

9/8/09 - 175 3x5/165 3x5/185 1x5/---/---

[TreeRexasaurus]

Thursday, Sept. 10

Squat - 175 3x5
Press - 95 3x5
Row - 115 3x5

[Ironwake]

Nice man, another on the ripp~

Did you read the book? and are you doing warmup sets and just not posting them, or not doing them at all?

I'm in week 4 of this program, and I must say I love it. Get ready to get strong

[TreeRexasaurus]

Nice man, another on the ripp~

Did you read the book? and are you doing warmup sets and just not posting them, or not doing them at all?

I'm in week 4 of this program, and I must say I love it. Get ready to get strong

I haven't read the book, I'm basing my workouts on the rippetoe beginner thread in the workout programs secton.

For warm-ups I usually run through the motions a few times with just the bar. Is there a specific warm-up routine in the book?

Much thanks for the feedback.

[TreeRexasaurus]

Gym was closed yesterday, so made up for it today.
Warmed up properly this time doing the bar, and then 40-60-80% of actually weight for both bench and squat. For deadlift I just used the bar and 135 then actually weight.

Squat - 185x3x5
Bench - 185x3x5
Dead - 205x3x5

[LoKx]

Gym was closed yesterday, so made up for it today.
Warmed up properly this time doing the bar, and then 40-60-80% of actually weight for both bench and squat. For deadlift I just used the bar and 135 then actually weight.

Squat - 185x3x5
Bench - 185x3x5
Dead - 205x3x5

i would check your form before you start up. IMO bench should not equal squat.

[TreeRexasaurus]

i would check your form before you start up. IMO bench should not equal squat.
I have some experience lifting, but this is the first time I'm actually on "my own" program and am actually really serious about squatting. Before this my workouts were on and off with mainly machines for legs. Without sounding like a tool, I think I've got a pretty strong chest comparable to the rest of my body.

[Ironwake]

Yea, the bench is really high compared to your squat. It will balance out on this program.

Yes, there is a specific warmup scheme in the book, basically its this:

for my 225 squat on monday I will do:

45 x 5
45 x 5
90 x 5
135 x 3
180 x 2
225 x 5
225 x 5
225 x 5

Here is a link to the excel spread sheet, you just type in the workset weight, it does the rest

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2043011&d=1252693766

[TreeRexasaurus]

That's a huge help, I'm definitely going to start using it.

And yea, I hope everything starts to balance out. I'm digging squatting and deadlifting way more than bench pressing.

Btw Iron, I checked on your progress page and the gains you've made are really a testament to the effectiveness to this program. I'm really liking it so far.

[TreeRexasaurus]

Was really tired this morning and I think it affected performance. Too much cardio yesterday and not enough sleep.

Squat - 195 5/5/5 (was a bit of a struggle, but finished the set)
Press - 105 5/5/4
Row - 125 5/5/5

[TreeRexasaurus]

Squat - 205/5 195/5/5 (Didn't feel comfortable at 205)
Bench- 190 5/5/4
Dead - 225 4 (Form was a bit shaky)

These past two days have not slept nearly enough.

[TreeRexasaurus]

Squat - 200 5/5/5
Press - 110 5/5/2 (Bad form on the last set killed me)
Row - 125 5/5/5 (Forgot what I did last time so picked a weight I thought comfortable)