Smash Fuarking Weight

[RipCJ]

I hate that feel after time off where weights you crushed before feel overwhelming. The strength comes back pretty quick though and you've made huge gains in the last year so I wouldn't feel too shi*ty about it.

Thanks for the support. Hopefully the recovery workout tomorrow will be better.

[RipCJ]

6 laps

Sit-ups

[RipCJ]

Squat
325 x 5
325 x 5

Press
135 x 3
135 x 3
135 x 3
135 x 3
135 x 3

Pull-up
B/W x 12
B/W x 10
B/W x 10

Dip
B/W x 15
B/W x 15
B/W x 15

Notes
Did not have time to do this yesterday and I did not have access to the rings today. Squat bar speed was good, but it still felt heavy and weird on my back. Press was very light and I will be increasing it by 10 lbs each week until it starts to feel heavy. No idea what to expect for the intensity workout tomorrow night.

1:00

[RipCJ]

Squat
405 x 3

Bench Press
265 x 3

Deadlift
Worked up to 365

Notes
No energy, no drive. Got a video of the 405 set and bar speed was great, but it just feels so heavy on my back. Lower back feels like it is getting crushed. Bench press was very heavy and bar speed was slow. Deadlift was just crap.

0:40

[RipCJ]

Bench Press
250 x 5
250 x 5
250 x 5
250 x 5
250 x 5

Ring Pull-up
B/W x 12
B/W x 9
B/W x 9

Ring Dip
B/W x 9
B/W x 8
B/W x 8

Notes
Used wrist wraps for all five sets. Only the last few reps of the last set were grinders. Slight improvement on ring dips.

1:10

[RipCJ]

Power Clean
230 x 3
230 x 3
230 x 3
230 x 3
230 x 3

Notes
Was in a great groove tonight.

0:40

[RipCJ]

[Sinaku5]

Hey man Im just stopping in to say that your journal and progress is phenomenal.

Very consistent journal that should show anyone just what Texas method can do.

Congrats on all your accomplishments.

[/JV/]

Coming back from a long break to 245x5x5 and then 250x5x5...your bench has definitely improved over the long term.

Hope squats are starting to feel better. A couple weeks and you'll be back up there.

Now I want to play with rings...

[RipCJ]

Hey man Im just stopping in to say that your journal and progress is phenomenal.

Very consistent journal that should show anyone just what Texas method can do.

Congrats on all your accomplishments.

Thanks. Hopefully others learn from what I have done with TM. The best thing you can do with your training is be consistent.

Coming back from a long break to 245x5x5 and then 250x5x5...your bench has definitely improved over the long term.

Hope squats are starting to feel better. A couple weeks and you'll be back up there.

Now I want to play with rings...

I believe my PR is 260x5x5, so I am not far off. I will definitely start to micro load next week, though. The rings are very fun and different, if you have access to them I would suggest working with them.

[RipCJ]

Squat
325 x 5
325 x 5

Press
145 x 3
145 x 3
145 x 3
145 x 3
145 x 3

Ring Pull-up
B/W x 13
B/W x 10
B/W x 10

Ring Dip
B/W x 10
B/W x 10
B/W x 10

Notes
Been feeling sick the past few days, so that is why I missed volume squat. Today's squats still felt heavy and overall pretty weak.

1:05

[RipCJ]

Squat
425 x 3

Bench Press
267.5 x 3

Deadlift
405 x 3

Notes
Was up studying all last night, so that is why I could not fit this in yesterday. My lower back felt great today and this was the best I have felt under the bar in awhile. Belted up for squat and used wrist wraps for bench press.

I have been thinking all day about possibly transitioning to some Oly lifting, but I am unsure of the best way to go about it. I want to ease into it and not change my training program all at once. I kind of want to start front squatting again, but if my back is feeling fine I would definitely want to keep heavy back squats once per week. I also have been thinking about adding in a second day of power cleans. And then I would need to figure out how to learn the snatch, full clean, and jerk. Thoughts?

[Farley1324]

I haven't been following any journals for awhile (nor been lifting), but as part of my stay-motivated plan I am going to pick up following a few journals.

I may have some thoughts after getting a better feel for what you are doing these days.

Also...strong **** in here, as always

[RipCJ]

I haven't been following any journals for awhile (nor been lifting), but as part of my stay-motivated plan I am going to pick up following a few journals.

I may have some thoughts after getting a better feel for what you are doing these days.

Also...strong **** in here, as always

Nice to hear from you! If you go back to February, that is when I was at my strongest. Basically took a month off and tonight was the end of my second week of full training. Still trying to get back in the groove, but tonight was a step in the right direction.

[/JV/]

I have been thinking all day about possibly transitioning to some Oly lifting, but I am unsure of the best way to go about it. I want to ease into it and not change my training program all at once. I kind of want to start front squatting again, but if my back is feeling fine I would definitely want to keep heavy back squats once per week. I also have been thinking about adding in a second day of power cleans. And then I would need to figure out how to learn the snatch, full clean, and jerk. Thoughts?

I think that sounds like a great idea, both because I have wanted to learn the Oly lifts for years and because I am starting to feel the urge to change up my own training a bit. As much as I feel the basic squat/bench/dead strength thing is the foundation of my training for the foreseeable future, it would be nice to focus on different things now and then and become more well rounded, develop new skills, make gym time a little more interesting.

They're obviously pretty technical lifts that will require lots of practice. So you'd have to figure out how much attention you want to give to them and how much you're willing to let up on your existing training, which as you know can be quite consuming. Have you planned out your PL meets for the rest of the year? If you don't plan to do another one soon and you don't mind diverting some focus, then sure, go for it. Start pushing front squats. Maybe your volume day becomes front squat day? (I'd actually be interested to see what that does for your back squat.) You're already overhead pressing, and you could start to emphasize that more.

You have good equipment to work with. That's a plus. You also seem to have the time.

Take a look at Greg Everett's book if you want a good reference on learning the olympic lifts. And make up a good plan so I can copy it and use it later for myself.

[RipCJ]

Bench Press
252.5 x 5
252.5 x 5
252.5 x 5
252.5 x 5
252.5 x 5

Ring Pull-up
B/W x 13
B/W x 10
B/W x 9

Ring Dip
B/W x 12
B/W x 12
B/W x 8

Notes
Felt decent today. Bar speed for bench press was quick throughout the five sets. More improvement on the rings.

1:10

[RipCJ]

Power Clean
232.5 x 3
232.5 x 3
232.5 x 3
232.5 x 3
232.5 x 3

Notes
None

0:40

[RipCJ]

[RipCJ]

Squat
405 x 5
405 x 5
405 x 5

Notes
From last night. Squat is starting to feel a lot better. Should be able to complete the five sets next week.

0:40

[RipCJ]

8 laps

Sit-ups

[RipCJ]

Squat
325 x 5
325 x 5

Press
155 x 3
155 x 3
155 x 3
155 x 3
155 x 3

Ring Pull-up
B/W x 12
B/W x 9
B/W x 8

Ring Dip
B/W x 13
B/W x 12
B/W x 12

Notes
Squat felt decent.

1:10

[RipCJ]

Bike

Sit-ups

[RipCJ]

Squat
435 x 3

Bench Press
270 x 3

Deadlift
425 x 2

Notes
Overall not the best training session. Squat felt much heavier than last week. I brought my stance in a bit so I may just need to get adjusted to it. Bench press felt very heavy, almost missed the third rep. Had no chalk for deadlift and my grip gave out on the third rep.

0:50

[musicianman]

Connor, it looks like you've maintained an ass-kicking despite the end of the semester coming along and some illness. Respect to that.

[RipCJ]

8 laps

Sit-ups

[RipCJ]

Bench Press
255 x 5
255 x 5
255 x 5
255 x 5
255 x 5

Ring Pull-up
B/W x 13
B/W x 10
B/W x 10

Ring Dip
B/W x 12
B/W x 12
B/W x 12

Notes
Bench press felt heavy, but manageable. Not going to power clean later tonight because I have stuff to do.

1:10

[RipCJ]

Squat
405 x 5
405 x 5
405 x 5
405 x 5
405 x 5

Notes
First two sets were a breeze. The last three were very tough. I felt great walking out of the gym knowing I completed the five sets. It will be a long road back to PR territory with 430x5x5.

1:00

[RipCJ]

Squat
325 x 5
325 x 5

Press
165 x 3
165 x 3
165 x 3
165 x 3
165 x 3

Ring Pull-up
B/W x 13
B/W x 10
B/W x 9

Ring Dip
B/W x 15
B/W x 15
B/W x 10

Notes
Press was surprisingly very heavy and bar speed was awful.

1:15

[RipCJ]

Squat
445 x 3

Bench Press
272.5 x 2

Deadlift
435 x 3

Notes
Did not train on Sunday night because I had to catch up on sleep. I will continue with volume bench press tomorrow. Squat warm-ups felt off, but the work-set felt solid. Bench press was just awful. Decided to increase deadlift after only getting two reps with 425 last week. 435 felt a lot better than the past few weeks of pulling. Will be sticking with 10 lb increments for at least the next week or so.

0:50

[RipCJ]

Bench Press
257.5 x 5
257.5 x 5
257.5 x 5
257.5 x 5
257.5 x 4

Ring Pull-up
B/W x 14
B/W x 10
B/W x 8

Ring Dip
B/W x 15
B/W x 15
B/W x 10

Notes
This was done earlier this afternoon. Not going to power clean again tonight because I don't have any desire to. Very slow bar speed on bench press. Hopefully I will be able to get it next week. I believe my current PR is 260x5x5, so I am not too far off.

1:15