+1 to both

Congrats on the plate press, that's a fun achievement.

Keep logging imo, I always read it.

Thanks for the support guys.

Videos will be upcoming whenever my workout partner gets back in town (I think in time for Monday's workout).

The plate press was definitely a big achievement, especially with the shoulder issues I had last year/early this year. It's amazing how much of a difference not having a grip that is 3 times too wide makes.

The boys' cribs were delivered this morning, so I had to go up and down the stairs to the nursery approximately 500 times this morning carrying up all of the boxes. Luckily I don't have to squat and DL today.

6/1

Squats
wu + 3x5x230

These were definitely a bit of a grind, but I'm sure the bar speed was pretty decent throughout to an outside observer. Still feels pretty good to put that second plate on for my workset.

Bench
wu + 3x5x250

Easier than I expected; I probably had 1 or 2 more in the tank on the third set but decided discretion was the better part of valor. I hit the peg on the way up on reps 4 and 5 in the second set, so I made a conscious decision to tighten up even more in the third set and everything went well.

Pendlays
3x5x165

So I had kind of a reverse GGO. I came out of the locker room at the beginning of my workout, saw there was a set of gloves on the only power rack, and must have had a fairly disgusted look on my face. This guy comes up, asks if I'm planning to squat; I say yes, he tells me he'll move, because he was just planning on curling. It was amazing.

That, is, pretty amazing. Every once in a while I try to give a Kobe death-ray stare to someone who obviously has their **** wherever and they don't seem to be using that area.

It pisses me off x1000. The only ppl in the gym who seem to give an F are the super neurotic ones who also wipe down everything b4 using and then wipe it down again b4 leaving (seems like huge overkill to me).

And the places people decide to use dumbbells never makes any sense. I can't believe ppl are that spatial inept and I also can't believe they don't realize it's better for everyone if ppl do their DB lifting not directly in front of the DB racks.

Yeah, I hear you. Another pet peeve of mine (putting weights away after use) isn't a huge issue at my gym, but there is one guy in particular that always leaves his weight on the bar after benching. I think he uses kettlebells from time to time, and manages to put those away, but can just never manage to lug the massive 110 pounds of weight he's loaded onto the bar back to the rack. Very annoying.

I think my gym is probably better than yours, though, because most the issues that you describe are pretty infrequent. I do work out at lunch, though, and the weight room is segregated from the machines (downstairs) so that probably helps weed out the riff raff, now that I think about it.

6/4

Just got a new pair of Vs lifting shoes, and I was looking forward to see how they compared to my flat adidas shoes that I'd been using for the last year. Squatting felt a lot better, and the pain I got in my left leg (radiating down from my groin, fairly certain it's a mobility issue) was essentially gone.

Squat
wu + 3x5x235

These are definitely getting hard; I have to fight to get the last rep or two but it still feels pretty good. I think I can keep going up for a bit before I have to think about resetting.

Press
wu + 3x5x137.5

Now these were hard -- I had to grind out reps 4 and 5 during every set, but I managed to get through it. Seems like a reset may be coming here, but hopefully I can get to 145 before I have to do it.

DL
wu + 1x5x235

Took off my squat shoes and pulled barefoot. Widened my grip just a touch so my forearms don't get all irritated rubbing against my athletic pants, and I got my butt up a little higher (it was really low before) so I don't have to do a half squat to get the bar up). 235 was pretty smooth; I had to stop before the last rep, but other than that it was all good. I concentrated on tightening my lower back and pulling my lats down, and I think I'm getting the hang of it. Hopefully I'll have some videos in a few days.

Good to see you're getting somewhat close to surpassing me on squats, .

My bench is still lol though. You should go to my log and help me fix my form since it is pretty bad after wrist/shoulder injuries from bball this winter.

Yugo --

Yeah, approaching getting my squat and DL past my bench is a big deal for me; I didn't think it would ever happen.

Anyone have any good suggestions for shin sleeves? I wore tube socks and athletic pants today and still bled through one of my socks after my set.

I just went to my local sporting good store and got these: http://www.sportsauthority.com/produ...entPage=search.

My g/f uses them and Cha recommended them. I think I wear extra large or something pretty big - I remember being *very* surprised at the fit so you may want to try them out on your bigger calf in-store to make sure the size you get isn't too small (I think I had to return the first pair I bought since they were lol small at medium size).

Thanks, I just ordered the XLs from amazon since I have prime; I'm looking forward to my shins not looking like someone took a baseball bat to them after DLing.

Btw, mine still look bruised sometimes since I've been doing higher rep 5/3/1 sets, but it helps a ton. I used to be bleeding after most workouts and really annoying stuff.

Also, I don't know if you sweat a lot but my sleeves are completely soaked after doing DLs, so I'd recommend taking them off if you plan to do anything after DLs. Obv this will vary - my g/f can wear her sleeves for a really long time and they will barely be damp - but if I leave them on for an hour they literally soak through completely and I can wring them out.

Thanks for the tip; I would guess it won't be an issue for me as I do my DLs last in my workouts. Hopefully I'll be able to report back that things were improved the next time I DL (Friday).

6/6

Squats
wu + 3x5x240

Almost had to bail on the last rep in the third set, but grinded through. Got a bit on my toes on a few of the reps, I need to work on trusting the shoes and staying sitting back. Still going to add 5 lbs and go for 245 on Friday.

Bench
wu + 3x5x252.5

Pretty hard, but I think I can probably progress a bit more before I'll need to think about resetting.

Pendlays
3x5x165

Felt pretty good, will probably move up to 170 on Monday.

6/8

Spent Wednesday night in the hospital with the wifeacore, saw some mini-contractions at her 33 week checkup so they kept her overnight for observation. I slept on a 66 inch long couch, which, as I'm 6'4", was challenging to say the least. All is well though, she's on bedrest for the duration.

My colleague/workout partner was busting my balls about how hard my last few reps at 240 were, and was encouraging me to reset. I channeled Doug's (I think?) post about manning up and earning your reset:

Squat
wu + 3x5x245

Felt better then 240, honestly. I really concentrated on sitting back, going down with a little more speed, and exploding up. It was still really hard, but I feel pretty confident with 250.

Press
wu + 3x5x140

This was pretty hard, but I think I have 145 in me at least before I have to reset.

DL
wu + 1x5x245

This was pretty hard, especially given the squat volume. In lieu of taking my squat volume down to 2 days a week, I think I'm going to go from DL'ing every other workout to once every week relatively soon.

As an aside, I think a lot of the time I was squatting earlier in my SS career, I was so concerned with perfect form that I used it as an excuse to not lift heavier weight. I'm sure there are things I could improve on (videos, I know), but I'm getting stronger, and I can work on any huge form issues on reset.

Thanks to H&F for all the advice and support.

Gl with the baby.

And gj with the SS progress - you gonna be real strong man.

FYP. Twin boy SSers that will be on GOBMAD, assuming my wife is up to it.

Thanks! Still a ways to go for sure, but I'm ventured out of 'pathetic' into 'sub-acceptable' for my lower body lifts, so that's something.

How sore/stiff should ones lumbar region be after a squat/DL day? And the rule is to never roll your lumbar region, right?

My suspicion is that I am finally lifting an amount of weight that stresses this portion of my body (which is generally pretty weak), but I just want to make sure there's no prehab I should be doing in order to mitigate the effects.

congrats on the kid brotha

Congrats on the twins!

Yeah, I believe that was Doug Funnie's motivational post. It lit a fire under my ass, too.

Not sure about rolling the lumbar region. I generally don't do it.

My lower back is always sore after DLing. Squats don't really do this to me.

The lax ball is life-changing (for me); I would start doing that if you haven't already.

Keep it up! Jeffawesome is gonna try for 315 squat by the end of the month!

I'll be happy with 275 if I can make some ten pound increases.

Thanks for the congrats guys!

I have a rumble roller and a lacrosse ball that I use, but I need to be more diligent (i.e. not be such a pussy) at rolling my glutes/hams/thighs. Good to hear I'm not the only one with a little lower back soreness -- mine is just enough so I know I DL'ed, nothing painful.

My original goal was 265 by the end of the month; I've got 9 more squat workouts and 20 pounds to go so it seems doable assuming I don't stall. If Jeff makes 315 by the end of the month; more power to him -- I think my bench gives me a decent cushion in the 3-lift competition

Yeah, I hope to be benching 225+ by the end of the... summer?

I think your modified upper body program will serve you well; I certainly didn't get my bench from SS style splits. A lot of posters seem to think the upper body lifts need more volume/frequency, and my own experience leads me to agree with that assessment.

I had a lot of success with heavy singles and negatives, so you could maybe consider those if you want to tweak your programming a bit.

Okay. More volume / frequency coming.

Thanks!