bob's texas method log
 

Alrighty, it's been a while since I posted. I've done starting strength, made awesome progress, and decided to switch to the texas method. Today was my first day, and I was trying to get my 5RM for squat and bench.

Squat:
135x10(warmup)
225x5
265x5
295x5 final

Bench press:
115x10
135x5
155x5
165x5 final

Assistance work:

Curls: 70x3x5

Weighted crunches: 60x3x15


Monday is 5x5 day... let's hope I recover before then!

I hope you keep this log up to date. I am very interested.

I'll do my best! I mostly need a place to write this stuff down so I remember my numbers... it was much easier just adding 5 pounds every time!

Monday: volume day

Squat:
135x10 warmup
265x5x5 work set

Bench:
115x8 warmup
145x5x5 work set

Deadlift:
335x5 work set

Assistance lifts:

Curls 70x3x5

Weighted incline situps 60x3x15

This workout takes about half an hour longer than my average Starting strenth workout did. I'm more sore than usual.

Cool man. I just got back to lifting after some time off due to an injury, then I did some lower weight, higher rep stuff just to do something. Now I'm back to doing Starting Strength. I want to do the Texas Method next since I never have, but the workouts are just too long. With 5/3/1 I can be in and out of the gym in 30-50 minutes, depending on how much assistance I do. I may look into a 4 day TM split and see how long that will take every day.

Keep up the good work.

I started SS a few weeks ago. Tonight will be my 12th workout.

Bob, looks like you like to warm up with high reps. I do the same. I can't imagine how some lifters can warm up just doing sets of 5 or less..

Keep in mind as the weights get heavier the warmups are used to get accustomed to the weight.

High reps get the blood flowing and loosen you up, but can also waste energy.

The program worked really well for me, it's fun stuff!

I forgot to post wednesday's workout. 2x5 squat at 220... OHP 3x5 at 95. Some arm work. I thought i'd be disappointed with "recovery day", but I definitely needed it after Monday.

I played indoor soccer on Friday night. 5 rep maxes later today

Yeah, 10 reps woks for now, but may have to change later in the program if I'm having trouble getting through the sets

My warmup looks something like this:

45 -5x3
135 x5
185 x3
225 x2
275 x1
325 x1

I Can't do a bunch of higher reps then squat a working set for 5x3.

Yup. If I tried 275 x5 before moving on, I'd be about useless afterward.

sunday's 5 rep maxes:

squat: 300x5
OHP: 115x5


Did some arm work and some incline crunches, nothing too exciting there. tonight is the dreaded 5x5!

last night:

squat 270x5x5
OHP 100x5x5. thought about going 105, but figured it wouldn't be good to fail halfway through.

Decline crunches w/ 60 lbs. dumbell, 3x15
curls, 70x3x5

Bob, do you use a belt?

I've seen pros and cons about it. Then again, I wish I was able to move the weight which would make me consider one. lol

I do for squats and deadlift. I began starting strength beltless, and started using it once I was squatting 200+. I would recommend using one either for safety reasons or for getting that extra couple pounds out of your lift.

on a side note, I wish I was less busy so I could consistently get MWF workouts instead of the skip-a-day here and there business.

That is one of the reasons I like 5-3-1. It seems more flexible schedule-wise.

Saturday's recovery:

squat: 225x2x5

lying triceps extension 75x3x5. first time i'd done those, i'd say it went well. According to the program I should have done a moderate 3x5 on bench, but I skipped that since I was going for 5RM today.

Today's 5 rep maxes:

squat: 305x5. next week I'll hopefully be pushing 3 plates for 5!

bench: 170x5. had some trouble locking out the last couple reps cuz my triceps were still thrashed from saturday's extensions, but I got through it.

curls: 75x3x5.

Any day you increase weight on all your lifts is a good day in my book.

Volume day:

squat:
275x5x5. felt pretty good

Bench: attempted 5x5 at 155. did 1 set and dropped to 150 for 2 more sets. Not sure why I failed, but looks like I'll be redoing this weight in 2 weeks.

Lying triceps extension: 70x3x5

monday's 5 rep maxes:

squat 315x5

OHP 115x5

then today's volume day:

squat 280x5x5

OHP 95x5x5

lying triceps extension 70x3x5. would've increased to 75, but I felt pretty sore after the press.

also, weighed in at 180 today, down from 185 over the last couple weeks. time to hit the milk again.

Way to go on 315x5!

Thats a great weight!

Well, this week's lifting has been kinda crappy. I don't remember all the numbers, but I got 320x4 for squat and 170x4 on bench on teusday. I'm a tad overtrained at this point due to poor nutrition this week, which is partially my fault and partially because I worked a lot of overtime this week. christmas season business, ya know.

I'll be taking roughly the next week off as I'll be headed to the parents for christmas. I plan to eat as much as I can, I've decided to bulk to 190 and then maybe cut a couple lbs.

I'm also thinking about switching back to the starting strength model, but the "advanced novice" version with a lighter wednesday. I'd also like to throw some Oly lifting in just for fun.

Tonight was supposed to be volume night, but I said screw it, I had a crappy week and I'm doing what I want. 3x3 squat with 315. pullups, curls... And I also tried some power snatches. I managed to get 115, which I suppose is ok for never having done a snatch before. anyways... I'll check in next week sometime, and I'd love to hear thoughts/advice on switching back to SS and gaining weight.

Back from a nice few days off from work...

Monday involved no heavy lifting. I strictly ironed out some technique issues on squat and bench. The grip I was using for squat just wasn't quite right, so I re-read some parts of SS and watched one of Rip's platform videos over on the website. My squat form is now pretty darn good, in my opinion.

I had a rather glaring issue with arm position on bench, which was probably part of my progress woes. got that worked out.

Tonight I went back to the trusty 3x5 and managed 300 for squat. It felt pretty good.

I've reset Bench to 135x3x5 to give it some time to recover and also to really lock in my corrected form. I'll increase it by 5 lbs. til it slows down and then attempt microloading.

Overall, I am a bit sorry to leave the Texas Method. I liked the variety, and it does work, but given my work schedule and other obligations I can't do it properly. I also was probably just not quite ready for it. the SS advanced novice program should fit the bill a little better.