Harryboyo's Starting Strength Log... fast forwarded a wee bit!

[harryboyo]

Hopefully this deload on squats will help you progress much more, at least you have hit the three plate mark and know it's done with. Now it's just all about maintaining and improving from here

GJ man!

Thanks man! I'll be focusing a lot on form going up in squats. I just want to ride out my LP on the pressing movements and then I'll be done with starting strength and will be looking to do an intermediate program.

[connorpat1995]

will be looking to do an intermediate program.

Sounds exciting. Any ideas on which program?

[harryboyo]

Sounds exciting. Any ideas on which program?

Texas Method

[WatsonS90]

A rare video of my squat workset from today:

Squats looked great man

[HunterMC6]

Mirin squats man! Those look real solid form is great!

[harryboyo]

Thanks everyone for having a look at my squat form. I'll need to get a video up of my other lifts so you can critique :-)

[WatsonS90]

Thanks everyone for having a look at my squat form. I'll need to get a video up of my other lifts so you can critique :-)

Same here, I need to get a deadlift video up asap. My gym is set up weird so I can't really place my phone anywhere...I may have to ask someone to hold it for me

[harryboyo]

Same here, I need to get a deadlift video up asap. My gym is set up weird so I can't really place my phone anywhere...I may have to ask someone to hold it for me

My gym is awkward to film in too and I train by myself so usually just prop up my mobile against my gym bag or the stepper if I film something.

[harryboyo]

Workout A (14th July 2014)

Squat
3 x 5 x 130kg (286lbs)

Bench Press
3 x 5 x 85kg (187lbs) [PR]

Chinups
3 x 5 x BW + 5kg (11lbs)


Bodyweight = 204lbs

Squats always feel heavy when I get to 130kg and over now. Got the job done though and with good depth. Need to focus on keeping my chest up as it dropped on some reps.

I had good tightness on bench today. My form is getting better and happy that I can now progress to 86kg. I think I've underachieved in this lift and it's been my form that's been holding me back. Just need to keep working on it and squeezing the **** out the bar while staying uncomfortably tight :-)

On the last rep of the last set the spotter touched the bar when it was 3/4 of the way up. There was no doubt in my mind I was getting the rep so I'm counting it. **** it.

[Mainer215]

Workout A (14th July 2014)

Squat
3 x 5 x 130kg (286lbs)

Bench Press
3 x 5 x 85kg (187lbs) [PR]

Chinups
3 x 5 x BW + 5kg (11lbs)


Bodyweight = 204lbs

Squats always feel heavy when I get to 130kg and over now. Got the job done though and with good depth. Need to focus on keeping my chest up as it dropped on some reps.

I had good tightness on bench today. My form is getting better and happy that I can now progress to 86kg. I think I've underachieved in this lift and it's been my form that's been holding me back. Just need to keep working on it and squeezing the **** out the bar while staying uncomfortably tight :-)

Great work Harry. You will be ripped as fuc when you decide to cut.

[WatsonS90]

Great job on the bench PR, Harry. I miss benching so much, my old PR was 3x5 at 80kg, I'm just glad to be DB benching at least, not sure when my wrist pain will become a constant thing so I'm making the most of it now haha

I thought 87.5kg felt 'heavy' today so I couldn't imagine how 130kg would feel on my back right now haha, your CNS will have appreciated this deload and hopefully it'll pay you back with more strength, everything will work out man, just keep working hard.

[HunterMC6]

****ing hate spotters on bench, nice work on the PR though!

[harryboyo]

Great work Harry. You will be ripped as fuc when you decide to cut.

Thanks Mainer! I really hope I look half decent when I do cut for abs etc.

Great job on the bench PR, Harry. I miss benching so much, my old PR was 3x5 at 80kg, I'm just glad to be DB benching at least, not sure when my wrist pain will become a constant thing so I'm making the most of it now haha

I thought 87.5kg felt 'heavy' today so I couldn't imagine how 130kg would feel on my back right now haha, your CNS will have appreciated this deload and hopefully it'll pay you back with more strength, everything will work out man, just keep working hard.

Just think when you get up to 100kg squats though. 87.5kg will feel light in comparison. For me 140kg feels heavy as fuark but I remember struggling with 120kg but that feels pretty light now. It's all relative :-) I think I've ran squats into the ground for LP. It would be nice to rep out 142.5kg for a new PR but I will see.

****ing hate spotters on bench, nice work on the PR though!

I like having a spotter for safety and also for a lift off. You get some idiots spotting you though even when you've clearly told them you don't want them to touch the bar unless you say.

[GinjaNinja85]

I've missed a bit of your training lately. Bench is going well! I find that other gym's weights feel lighter so now I'm at a point where I'm pushing my limits, I'm avoiding other gyms.

[harryboyo]

Workout B (16th July 2014)

Deadlift
1 x 3+2 x 160kg (352lbs) [PR] grip failed on third rep so took a minute to re-chalk and got the last two reps. Don't know if it counts as a set of five but classing it as a PR anyway...



Press
2 x 4 x 64kg (141lbs)
1 x 3 x 64kg (141lbs)

Chinups
3 x 5 x BW + 5kg (11lbs)

Hanging Leg Raises
BW x 35
BW x 18
BW x 15


Bodyweight = 204lbs

Grip failed me on the third rep of deadlift. Probably didn't use enough chalk. Got the last two reps after re-chalking again. Don't know whether to count it as a set of five. I'll probably attempt the weight again next week to be certain. Annoying.

I alternate between two different gyms and there's definitely a difference between the bar/weights as indicated by my press results. I got 5/5/4 the last time using the other gym and only got 4/4/2 at the gym I used today at the same weight. Again this is annoying. Third time I've failed press at this weight time to deload.

[Scrabbz]

I'd count it as a PR. Grip failure in my opinion =/= strength of the pull. I've had my grip strength on pulls I know I can do before and it can be frustrating.

Great work setting the PRs you have been. Most impressive. Actually, more than impressive, astounding.

[Mainer215]

More great work Harry.

You keep right on trucking along.

[harryboyo]

I'd count it as a PR. Grip failure in my opinion =/= strength of the pull. I've had my grip strength on pulls I know I can do before and it can be frustrating.

Great work setting the PRs you have been. Most impressive. Actually, more than impressive, astounding.

Yeah it is frustrating but I'll get the five reps clean next week. Thanks for the kind words man. My progress isn't hat great compared to others but progress is progress at the end of the day.

More great work Harry.

You keep right on trucking along.

It's what I do best mate :-)

[harryboyo]

Workout A (18th July 2014)

Squat
3 x 5 x 132.5kg (291lbs)

Bench Press
2 x 5 x 86kg (189lbs)
1 x 6 x 86kg (189lbs) [PR]

Chinups
2 x 5 x BW + 5kg (11lbs)
1 x 4 x BW + 5kg (11lbs)

Curls
1 x 10 x 40kg (90lbs)
1 x 7 x 40kg (90lbs)
1 x 10 x 37.5kg (85lbs)
1 x 7 x 37.5kg (85lbs)


Bodyweight = 205lbs

Great session today. I filmed the first set of squats and they were basically ATG! Such a nice feeling being able to do that when I remember I was struggling with this weight a month ago. I usually go just below parallel for really heavy sets near 5RM but if it's a bit easier I sometimes go deeper.

Really starting to get the hang of bench form. I'm starting to get the hang of getting really tight and staying that way for the entire set. Previously I tended to get quite loose half way through the set so wasn't getting the most out of the exercise. That 90kg bench is edging closer!

Some curlz for the burds just because I can :-)

[WatsonS90]

Yeah buddayy, strong session mate!

Glad you're finding your form on the bench press, can't wait for you to hit that 90kg for 3x5!

Your weight is going up spot on, too.

[Scrabbz]

Great PR, sir. Glad to hear you're also getting your form down.

[harryboyo]

Yeah buddayy, strong session mate!

Glad you're finding your form on the bench press, can't wait for you to hit that 90kg for 3x5!

Your weight is going up spot on, too.

Yeah the key is staying as still and right as possible when benching. If your setup is not uncomfortable then you're not benching right :-)

Yeah buddy! 90kg is my mini milestone!

Great PR, sir. Glad to hear you're also getting your form down.

Thanks Gary!

[pyaarawala]

A little late, but, IN! And congrats on the PR. PRs are always nice!

[harryboyo]

Workout B (21st July 2014)

Squat
3 x 5 x 135kg (297lbs)

Press
2 x 5 x 58kg (128lbs)
1 x 8 x 58kg (128lbs) [PR]

Chinups
2 x 5 x BW + 5kg (11lbs)
1 x 6 x BW + 5kg (11lbs) [PR]


Bodyweight = 205lbs

Squats were BRUTAL but I got the job done. One of the hardest thing about squats is maintaining good form when you're lifting to your limits. I struggle to keep my chest up sometimes but felt I managed to keep my chest up on most reps today.

I suppose I got a rep PR in the press on the last set. Didn't take much rest in between sets as it wasn't too heavy.

[Scrabbz]

Maintaining squat form is indeed hard as the weight goes up.

Congratulations on the Press PR and the Chin ups PR. Great work, sir.

[harryboyo]

Thanks Gary! Over time maintaining form on heavy 5RM sets becomes better but it's always a constant battle.

The meat of the work is when I get back up to 64kg in press. Hoping to blast through my press plateau at that weight.

[GinjaNinja85]

Nice work Harry. 135x5 is getting close to where you were at so it's no wonder they're heavy. Just gotta keep finding another gear!

Impressed with those weighted chins too. Good stuff.

[pyaarawala]

More PRs! w00t! Also, how many chins can you do at just bodyweight?

[harryboyo]

More PRs! w00t! Also, how many chins can you do at just bodyweight?

I can do about 20 bodyweight chins on a good day.

Nice work Harry. 135x5 is getting close to where you were at so it's no wonder they're heavy. Just gotta keep finding another gear!

Impressed with those weighted chins too. Good stuff.

Yeah it felt bloody heavy! Who knows how 137.5kg will feel on Friday!

Them weighted chins are amazing for building your biceps and back strength. Can't get enough of them.

[HunterMC6]

huge press for 8 reps man! Very impressive. When are we making the move to TM?