[California Jack]

great pulling bcr

[TurboRocket]

Originally Posted by BCR

I guess I'll throw you guys a bone. LOL

Got another DL record today, I pulled 435x5.

And Sunday I squatted 345x1, for 2 sets. Not a max effort, but the most I've ever done before. Good weight for me, since I abhor squats.

Nice pullin'.

Still no PRs for me but I'm getting close to my summer weight. It's not exactly a particular weight I'm after; just abs to pop more in warmer months so I guess it's a BF% target. My last PR cycle was in December-ish, when BF % was not a concern, and I'm thinking I may test my PRs with my summer weight in Jul/Aug to see what happens.

[Warp]

Bench press 225 pounds for three sets of five.

Long time goal to bench two plates.


I'm working towards a 405 deadlift. Last DL workout was 330x5. I havn't been to the gym in 8 days though!

Originally Posted by California Jack

I guess, but the same thing could be said about pressing downward. There are no dips or decline bench. I realize it is all preference, but to me no p-ups in SS is OK. I mean, if my squats, DL, BP, and press are all going up, I don't really care how many chins I can do. They're secondary to me.

YMMV.

Jack

I mostly agree. However, I've always liked to be able to do chins well. And Rippetoe says chinups are a good excercise for helping to incrase your pressing movements.

Originally Posted by DBradD

I'm thinking of tacking on 3 sets every other SS workout, adding weight when I get to 3x15. Actually, I'm not sure why those aren't in the standard program--no pulling at all?--and two pushing movements? I might have to search his forum's archives for an answer to this.

Don't eff with the program.

Originally Posted by DBradD

Actually "because Rippetoe said so" is 99% of the way toward good enough for me, LOL.

ABSOLUTELY!





I just switched from Starting Strength to Practical Programming Advanced Novice, except I suck and havn't learned to power clean just yet. The PP program has chinups and pullups but is otherwise about the same as SS if you use the gym workout (a "MWF" type setup). In PP you go to llight or front squat on the one DL day each week, instead of heavy back squats all three days.

[DBradD]

Originally Posted by Warp

...I just switched from Starting Strength to Practical Programming Advanced Novice, except I suck and havn't learned to power clean just yet.....

Who's fing with the program now, LOL--just giving you a hard time, dude.

Points well taken, BTW.

[TurboRocket]

Originally Posted by Warp

Bench press 225 pounds for three sets of five.

Long time goal to bench two plates.

More accurately, isn't that four plates

[Warp]

Originally Posted by TurboRocket

More accurately, isn't that four plates

I supppose it is, but most people IME refer to the number that are on each side.

It's nice to think about it that way though.

[TurboRocket]

Originally Posted by Warp

I supppose it is, but most people IME refer to the number that are on each side.

It's nice to think about it that way though.

I wasn't being facetious... I thought the correct reference is 'four plates', no? What's IME?

[BCR]

Originally Posted by TurboRocket

I wasn't being facetious... I thought the correct reference is 'four plates', no? What's IME?

Gotta agree with Warp on this one.

I've always known it as plates per side. Not sure why it is this way.

And......... facetious is one of my favorite words!

[California Jack]

Originally Posted by BCR

Gotta agree with Warp on this one.

I've always known it as plates per side. Not sure why it is this way.

And......... facetious is one of my favorite words!

That's why I talk about pounds not plates. I have never heard any say they are BPing 300 LBs and anyone mistaking that for 300 on one side.

BTW, I think IME is 'In My Experience'.

Oh yeah, amother reason I talk in pounds only is I don't know what a plate is?

[Warp]

Originally Posted by California Jack

That's why I talk about pounds not plates. I have never heard any say they are BPing 300 LBs and anyone mistaking that for 300 on one side.

BTW, I think IME is 'In My Experience'.

Oh yeah, amother reason I talk in pounds only is I don't know what a plate is?

Yeah, IME is in my experience.

And I only know of talking about plates per side. I don't know why that's the way it is, but that's the way everybody seems to use it.

BTW: Lifting 225 pounds isn't exactly four plates, either. If you want to compare it to listing the total number of pounds you'd have to say four plates and one bar, no?

[BCR]

Originally Posted by Warp

Yeah, IME is in my experience.

And I only know of talking about plates per side. I don't know why that's the way it is, but that's the way everybody seems to use it.

BTW: Lifting 225 pounds isn't exactly four plates, either. If you want to compare it to listing the total number of pounds you'd have to say four plates and one bar, no?

Now ya got me thinking....

I wonder if I could balance 2-45's in each palm and bench that way, sans bar. That would be a challenge.

I think all bars weight 45lbs, so it is a given. Unless you're benching with a Texas squat bar, or cambered bar, which weigh more.

[TurboRocket]

Originally Posted by California Jack

That's why I talk about pounds not plates. I have never heard any say they are BPing 300 LBs and anyone mistaking that for 300 on one side.

Good point, CJ.

[Warp]

Originally Posted by BCR

Now ya got me thinking....

I wonder if I could balance 2-45's in each palm and bench that way, sans bar. That would be a challenge.

I think all bars weight 45lbs, so it is a given. Unless you're benching with a Texas squat bar, or cambered bar, which weigh more.

All standard olympic style bars weigh 45 pounds.

There are lighter bars, though. Junior bars, women's bars, etc and others that vary. But yes, it is assumed that a BB weighs 45 pounds unless specifically stated otherwise.

[DBradD]

Back to the original question, I actually do have a milestone, although not on the exercise side.

I've totally stopped drinking caffeine at this point. I don't think that's necessary for most people in general, but it was for me. I'm already hyper enough as it is and caffeine makes me anxious and panicky (is that a word?!).

I did it the pansy way, which I recommend for anybody who's tried this and failed. I was at about 3 cups of coffee/day worth of caffeine and dropped the amount in even increments over about 3 weeks. No headaches or drowsiness that way. I could never find a week worth of time when I can afford the headaches and drowsiness, which is why I failed trying cold-turkey previously. Before, when I tried cold-turkey, I would have some pretty terrible headaches.

It feels nice not being dependent on that stuff. Before, I would have to think ahead to make sure I would be able to get to some coffee, diet coke, or whatever. That's a BS way to be. One weird thing is that I'm pretty sure I'm working faster now. I think my mind would race in an ADHD-like way before.

I have another interesting observation--obviously applies to me personally and maybe nobody else. I've had an afternoon sleepy period for as long as I can remember. Recently, I dropped my lunchtime carbs to <15g of ultra low GL foods, and this sleepy period seems to have totally evaporated. One interesting thing was that a GL around 5 still resulted in the sleepiness whereas approaching zero fixed it. (So much for those folks who say that paying attention to macronutrients and GL is always stupid and futile--sometimes it's helpful). Adding caffeine at that time might help a little, but fixing my food intake totally solved the problem, at least for the moment. I wonder how many other folks who grab an afternoon cup of coffee to combat the afternoon drowsiness would experience this also.

[Warp]

Good on the caffein.

I am at the point I am not addicted to caffein. I drink soda maybe twice per week.


I have almost completely cut fast food out of my diet. I've had it three times in the past three months, and two of those were last weekend when traveling.

I use to eat a LOT of fast food. Like, we're talking 8-10 meals a week.

[BCR]

Great job Brad!

I've been caffeine free for about 10 years now. Zero coffee and maybe a few sodas over the course of the year at most.

Since I work nights, I see how addicted to it people really are. A lot of people drink it 8 hours straight there.

I just like to prove to myself I can still function fine in life, succeed in my lifting, and work nights without it.

Keep us posted on how...................Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (BCR has fallen asleep at the keyboard).

[windplex]

PRs I suppose. Going up in weight and reps in most all exercises of late.

The weights I use are underwhelming compared to my youth but my strength is good.

Conditioning is flat at the moment but permits 60 minutes of continuous cardio in the zone.

Gaining muscle mass slowly.

[TurboRocket]

Originally Posted by DBradD

Back to the original question, I actually do have a milestone, although not on the exercise side.

I've totally stopped drinking caffeine at this point. I don't think that's necessary for most people in general, but it was for me. I'm already hyper enough as it is and caffeine makes me anxious and panicky (is that a word?!).

Good job, DBrad. Two cups of coffee in the morning is probably my only remaining vice - never need it in the afternoon, tho. No soda or fast food. Lots of whole foods, lots of water, some Crystal Light, and two cups of coffee.

[yam]

Overhead press is the hardest for me. Today I finally got my 5x5 at a weight I have stalled at for over a month and a half.

Since February I have gone from 215lbs of out of shape old man to 195 of more muscled but still out of shape old man. I am down 4 notches on the belt and way stronger. Just about everyday is a PR for me but the over head press was kicking my butt.

My goal is 5 pull ups by Labor Day! I can do only one now. I am doing the stronglifts.com beginner 5x5 and eating better. Squats squats and more squats.

[DBradD]

Good job dude. Sounds like some exciting progress.

I think the press is the hardest to keep moving for most people. I know it is for me. I've started micro-loading that progression, going 2-3 lb increases instead of 5. I think I'll totally stall out in just a few more workouts.

[California Jack]

I agree with DBD, presses are my worst lift too. Not only do I stall out fast but I have the lowest numbers in the press respectively.

Keep it up and post here more often.

Congrats.

Jack

[California Jack]

oh yeah Yam, I just checked out that beginner 5x5 program at the site you mentioned. It is a great one. It is almost exactly like what I do (I recently dropped dips as they were hurting an old football injury), although I consider myself an intermediate not a beginner. I think you can milk that program for a long time.

BTW, pro, if you read this, I nominate that workout on that site for the FAQ.

[TurboRocket]

Way to go yam... Keep it up.

FWIW, what helped me with pull-ups is GTG (Grease the Groove). Went from doing 4 when I started to my PR of 34 strict PUs in about, I'd say, 8 months or so - mostly using GTG for a few months at a time.

[DBradD]

Originally Posted by California Jack

I agree with DBD, presses are my worst lift too. Not only do I stall out fast but I have the lowest numbers in the press respectively.

Ironically, I think my press is my best lift at the moment. I've been able to really go at it for a month straight and am almost at bodyweight for a single. I started squats, DL, and PCs comically low and moved up comically slowly, so they're still pathetic--actually at a dead stop--see next paragraph.

I had a weird thing happen Sunday--something I've never felt before. After my DLs, I felt a weird burning pain about 2" to the right of centerline and about 4" below my belly button. It's not gone away and I'm starting to worry I have a sports hernia or something similar. Good thing I'll have good insurance in a month. I started out at 135 on squat and DL and worked my way to 250 over 1 month exactly and that's still very light. I'm sure my form is very good, so I don't know what I could've done differently. Just keep going forward!---the alternative is no good.

I'm going back to HSPUs, pistols, and bridges for the next month just to get some amount of work in. I'll get a Dr. appointment next month when I can afford it.

I did 3 really good sets of 5 sub-parallel pistols tonight, so there's some good news at least. My presses had not transferred to HSPU, strangely enough.

Re-starting a S&C program in the mid-30's, for me anyway, is about like buying a car with 100,000 miles on it. Hopefully I'll figure out all the weak points someday and be able to drive it fast for a while.

[BCR]

Originally Posted by DBradD

Good job dude. Sounds like some exciting progress.

I think the press is the hardest to keep moving for most people. I know it is for me. I've started micro-loading that progression, going 2-3 lb increases instead of 5. I think I'll totally stall out in just a few more workouts.

I've aborted all overhead pressing.

I now realize that raw benching kills my shoulders. They feel beat up for days after. So they must be getting plenty of work.

Still working rear delts and doing face pulls though.