DT,

I'm like you!

JT/Rexx,

It's a sauna, so a dry heat. Even I'm not addicted enough to bring my phone into a steam room.

4/18: BBM Hypertrophy C1W6D1

Squat (4 minutes):
300x1 @6.5
320x1 @8
290x6 @8-8.5
275x6x3 @8, 9, 8

OHP (3 minutes):
150x1x2 @6.5, 6.5
160x1 @8.5
140x6 @8.5-9
125x6x3 @8, 8, 8
Facepulls: 8x15

DB Incline Bench:
60s x8x4

80 minutes.

Pretty decent day, if a bit weird. Squats felt good (with the exception of my left scap constantly cramping) until my second backoff set. I misgrooved the final rep on the way up, went back down, almost hit the pins/dropped it, then finished the rep. Last backoff was fine, so shrug.

OHP was fine but for brainfarting and doing a second 150 single because I forgot to add weight to the bar. Need to work on keeping the bar more in my palms and getting my head through earlier, but it's getting better. 60 DBs were too light for incline, but no big deal. Slow and steady.

Videos are linked inline if anyone cares.

Nice press, although I admit anytime anyone does barbell exercises above 135 lbs without 45 lb plates it disturbs my aesthetic sensibilities.

Noted, and agreed. I'm shaming/punishing myself until my backoffs are at 135.

Today should have been an off day, but the gym is closed on Easter (lol), so I decided to go in today.

4/19: BBM Hypertrophy C1W6D2

DL (4 minutes):
365x1 @6.5
390x1 @9
350x6 @9
330x6x3 @8, 9, 9

Bench (3 minutes):
225x1 @6
250x1 @8-8.5
220x6 @9-9.5
205x6x3 @8.5, 9, 9.5

2 Count Leg Press (3 minutes):
2 plates per side x11x4

80 minutes.

Not really a surprise that everything moved more slowly considered I squatted/pressed relatively heavy yesterday and added five pounds to the singles and top sets, but it wouldn't be my log if I didn't make the wrong decision on this sort of thing. I'll make sure to have a day of rest between these sorts of heavy days moving forward.

One positive was that I managed to get my bench setup a fair bit tighter (legs further towards my head, and a slightly bigger chest/arch), so that was nice, and probably the only reason I got all the reps.

Hey Monte. I don't like RPE and don't know if it is because I am missing something in the reasoning or am right to be irritated by the concept. I figured I could look it up and find out, but why miss an opportunity to talk about things?

So here's my nit--as I understand it RPE is determined by taking what you think would be your last technically sound rep and calling that 10, then counting reps back to wherever you stop. Basically, the number of reps you have in the tank subtracted from 10. Okay fine. So if you could get 10 and stop at 7 that's an RPE 7. But if you could get 25 and stop at 22 that is also RPE 7. If this is correct, I hate it. Why not just say reps in the tank? It just doesn't seem right to me, man. Sticks in my craw. Am I the problem?

ETA--like rate of perceived exertion just does not match up well as a scale of reps in different ranges. One in the tank on a high rep set is a very different exertion than one in the tank on a low rep range.

ETA-since you are the one who introduced me to it or at least drove the first time I paid attention, I hold you responsible for this.

First, it was developed by people who rarely work with sets of more than 10 reps. I think the issue that it is meant to monitor from a programming standpoint is the fatiguing nature of near failure sets. When I did amrap sets, I found that a balls out set of 9 reps on the squat was every bit as fatiguing as a near-failure triple, judging from the fact that I couldn't match that level of performance for at least a week afterward in both cases.

Also I don't think the "technically sound" part should be stressed as much. These programs are meant for people who are able to push quite close to failure without breaking technique. It probably loses an amount of usefulness correlating with the lifter's inability to perform heavy reps with correct technique, i.e. the reason novices shouldn't bother using RPE for programming (they should still monitor it).

As to your main contention, I think a high rep set @7 is more similar to a low rep set @7 than it is different from a fatigue generating standpoint, and the areas in which it is different are more due to the fact that they're different rep ranges. In other words, these rep ranges themselves have intrinsic properties that lead to different adaptations, affecting different energy systems, the peaking-strength-hypertrophy-endurance continuum, etc.

okay, fair enough, and I know in practice it's a fine scale and this is nitty af, but let's get plausible with the corner case. 9 reps of your 10 rep max is more different than 1 rep of your double max.

4/20: BBM Hypertrophy C1W6GPP1

Chins (7 minutes, bw):
15, 8, 7, 5, 5, 4, 4 (n=48)

Ab Wheel (7 minutes, bw):
10x6

Palloffs (1 min btwn sets):
4x12

Skullcrushers (1.5 min btwn sets):
4x15

EZ Curl (1.5 mins btwn sets):
4x15

Had to leave early because we had to take one of our cats to be put down. Sad obviously, but it was time.

Sorry about your cat.

Condolences. We had to put down a cat and a dog in the last few months, so can relate. Although in true California yuppie fashion, our vet does house calls for the euthanasia, ostensibly to minimize trauma for the animal.

Ugh, sorry

That sucks, .

Sorry to hear about the cat. Hope the minis are handling it well. Was it Montecore?

Thanks breauxs. The wifeacore is taking it a bit hard, as this cat was supremely devoted to her, but we know it was for the best.

Melk,

No; he's the last man standing. Healthy as a horse, thankfully, though dumb as a rock.

4/22: BBM Hypertrophy C1W6D3

Paused Squat (2 count, no belt) (4 minutes):
205x8 @6
215x8 @7
225x8x3 @8, 8, 8

Overhead Pin Press (Shoulder height, no belt) (3 minutes):
95x8 @6
105x8 @7
115x8x3 @8, 8.5, 9
Facepulls: 8x15

Larsen Press (3 minutes):
wu, 155x11x4

65 minutes.

Added a top set for each exercise; no issues anywhere, and everything felt a bit easier than last week.

Plane now.

At least your cat doesn't have to live in Indiana anymore? RIP cat. Condolences.

Sorry to hear about your cat Monte.

Thanks breauxs.

4/23: BBM Hypertrophy C1W6D4

Paused DL (2 Count) (4 minutes):
225x8 @6
235x8 @7
245x8x3 @8, 8, 8.5

2 Count Bench (3 minutes):
145x8 @6
155x8 @7
165x8x3@7.5, 8, 8

Landmine Rows (3 minutes):
wu, 145x11x4

Shade over 60 minutes.

All k; flew to LA yesterday, but got to bed early so I could lift this morning. Forgot straps, so used mixed grip for DL, which gave a pretty big forearm pump. Everything else fine.

Sorry to hear about you cat. Being there when one is put down is a difficult experience to go through.

Where are you in LA? Work or pleasure?

Culver area. Work. Wake up, gym, work, dinner, NBA, then rinse/repeat. Exciting life I lead.

I used to live close. If you had timed it a year earlier you could have come over to watch the Brooklyn game. I might have bought a Russell jersey for the occasion.

Unfortunately I live 40 miles away now, which might as well be 4,000 in LA traffic.

Also, You are close to Hollywood Park casino if you get the itch to poker.

RIP kittycore

Sorry to hear about the cat, condolences.