Thanks toothy.

I have been joking with friends about how fun getting fat is, I've added close to 15lbs since starting SS. I do feel strong when I'm not recovering.

Feels pretty damn good, for sure.

good. Will be good to shut up my friends and family when cutting time comes round and they will start to SEE how strong I feel. (If that makes sense)

3/1/10

BW 195

Sqwat

3x300
5x300
3x300

Was letting at pt work in and he actually spotted me, without my asking, on the second set. I was glad he did, since I think my 4th rep might've been close to fail and the 5th was no way happening without a boost. It was strange, I got my forst 3 reps without too much trouble, but the 4th one was just hell.

I think I might be stalling here. I did eat kinda light over the weekend getting maybe 1/2 gallon milk over the two days and barely any today before I went in. Weights not going up like I had thought it would. I think I've gotten my 200g's min protein every day though. Next workout will be 300 again, unfortunately. I will focus on eating more though. Forgot the backoff set.

Bench

5x250
2x5x255
6x205

Accidentally put on 5 less my first set. Needed help on my last rep again. Might be close to stalling here too.

DL

1x4x360(+15)
8x270

Managed to get 4 reps. grip was a problem, will need chalk before I can add much more weight. Still happy with 4 reps. Backoff set was pretty easy.

Dips

2x10

Overall today was a success, although I realize I need to eat more asap, or I'm gonna stall. Starting to think about intermediate...

3/3

Squat

3x300
5x275
5x275
8x205

So I reset after failing my first set, again. 275 felt so damn good. Its a good feeling knowing I'm gonna be able to get 5 instead of wondering when I'm gonna fail.

Press

3x160
4x155
4x155
8x105

Press, sucks as usual, tried to increase cause warmup felt good. nope.

PC

5x3x190

Again, slow start and strong finish here, probably should've added 5.

Chinup

10,8

Yea, gonna need to read up on my options or get some advice, stalled on everything but cleans and dl, and i'm sure those are soon to come.

3/5

Squat

3x5x270
8x205

Reset my squat 10%.

Bench

2x5x260(+5)
4x260
8x185

260, yeahh buddayyy

DL

3x365(+5)
8x270

I went nuts with 15lb increases last two dl's and now im gonna stall. Should've thought of that earlier.

Dips

2x8

Tri ext.

2x8

I did todays workout in record time, much less time between sets and I was out close to 30 minutes earlier. Had to deal with a more elevated HR but it went well, I think. Foam rolled after and it was painful, untill I was done.

3/8

Squat

3x5x275(+5)
8x205

Tried HB and it was very nice to not beat up my shoulders.

Press

3x4x155

Gonna reset press next workout.

PC

2x3x190
3x3x195(+5)

As usual I am cold, then hot.

Pullup

3x10

GHR

2x8x125

Overall I'm pleased with today, getting my clean up another 5, after a disaster of a weekend eating/sleeping wise. Although 275 felt heavy today, but maybe thats because it is.

What stretches do you do, and do you do them pre or post workout?

My pre workout stretch is pretty lol, I basically just do the few stretches I know how, hitting my ass and hamms, and a lame attempt at my back and abs. On bench days I do a decent stretch for my upper body.

After I foamroll for about 5 minutes. Im making myself roll for longer cause it hurts so good.

3/10

Squat

3x5x280(+5)
8x205

Had fellow SS'er view my form and he commented im going maybe 2 in below parallel. I was happy to hear it, not sure what to think other than that I dont have to get so low.

Bench

3x5x260
8x205

No increase but I was closer to completing without any assistance. Had help with only 1 rep on third set. My ass was off the bench for a few reps though.

DL

4x365
6x275

Have chalk now, and it definately helped. My problem today was getting the last 4-5 inches to lockout on the last rep on each set. Didn't get to 8 on the comedown set, which might be too heavy. Will vid next DL.

Dips

2x10

Only ate 3 packets oatmeal for breakfast 3 eggs at 11 am a power bar at 2 and maybe 3/4 of a gallon of 2% with 2 scoops protein over the course of the day before my workout today, and I still felt great. Thought I might have a problem but WIM ftw.
Gonna go get my carb on now.

3/12

Squat

3x5x285
8x205

Press

3x155
2x5x135
6x105

Reset press for first time.

PC

5x3x175

Reset PC for first time

Chinups

2x10

Tri ext.

2x10

I started getting to bed later this week and it threw my eating off. I have not been eating a big meal an hour or two prior to going to workout. Today I ate 3 eggs and 3 packets oatmeal all day w milk and protein before going to gym at 4pm. Not planning in continuing made my workout much more difficult. At least I'm getting a good dinner though. Yea so today kinda sucked but I still completed everything.

3/15

Squat

3x5x290
8x205

Fairly easy, not close to fail, and no need for rest between reps.

BP

2x5x265(+5)
4x265
8x205

Needed help on the last rep on each set, except comedown set.

Deadlift

3x365
5x225
8x225

Made some form adjustments and did an extra 5 at 225 just cause. Going to reset for next workout.

Dips

2x10

GHR

2x8

3/17

squat

3x5x295
8x215

press

3x5x135
7x105

pc

3x5x175

chins

2x8

3/19

Squat

3x5x300(pr)
8x210

Got all reps, and form did not fall apart completely.

Bench

4x265
5x265
4x265

Gonna reset as this was a repeat of last workout and I got less reps with more help.

DL

5x245
8x205

Dips

2x10

Tri ex

2x10

3/22

Squat

3x5x305(+5pr)
8x215

Press

3x5x140
8x115

Dl

5x225

PC

3x5x180
8x115

Chins

2x8

New pr on squat... not even too difficult, reset worked. Score. Accidentally dl'ed today. Forgot it was clean not dl, but I was still warming up so it was light. PC's felt pretty easy after reset, still fully exhausted after. Kinda impressed with today tbh, I was up all night after sleeping in late and wasn't sure how I'd react. Drank a full gallon of milk from 9pm to 6 am to makep for missing my protein during the day. Had a solid breakfast and slayed the 305. YEAH BUDDAY

3/24

Squat

3x5x310(+5pr)
8x225

Little knee cave on a couple reps and an inch or two shy of parallel on the last rep or two. Overall very happy and surprised at the reset getting me an extra 10lbs and counting. Friday I load up 3 big boy plates... The hip aches are now barely noticeable but I'm still exhausted. Had a slight knee pain on 1 rep the last two workouts. I think its from not kicking out my knees.

Bench

3x5x240
8x205

Ez, thinking about adding pushups till I move to intermediate.

DL

5x260
8x225

Still working on form, trying to get my ass lower. Improving, I think.

Skipped dips and ghr, cause I was dyin.

Are those back off sets or hyper trophy sets (or both?)

Seems like a ton of volume

Started as back off sets.

Then I started throwing a little more weight on just cause I was able to complete all 8 reps a little to easily.

Probably both now though. I like it.

3/26

Squat

5x315pr
3x315
1x315
8x225

Didn't eat as much as I had hoped I would before today as I slept in a bit and didn't get a good breakfast.

Set 1: Got as pumped as I could, since I had no idea how I was gonna do. I was surprised when This set felt almost exactly the same as my third set 2 days ago at 310. All 5, not much leg cave and depth was paralell.

Set 2: I was exhausted already but I felt boosted by finishing all 5 my first set. Maybe attempted this without enough time between. Got to the third rep and I decided I wasn't going to miss paralell on any reps no matter what so I got down on the third and took wayyy to long to get it up. Didn't attempt 4.

Set 3: So tired I was dreading this cause I knew I was going to fail at some point. Did 1 good rep and quit.

Press

3x5x145

pc

3x185

So now that I've hit this landmark I'm starting to think I am done with beginner stage. I am feeling a lot like pkrplyrx as far as my body is getting tired. I've been strong before, from doing very simple exercises(pushups, pullups, bw squats, situps, leg lifts) and I never had the amount of aches that i do now. This could be from getting old. I think I'm getting to the point where I cant put my body through this anymore withput eating massive amounts of food to compensate. I'm tired of pigging out and getting fat. I weigh 200 now, +15 from 3 months ago when I started. So I might start intermediate as soon as next week. If not next week the week after. I'm going to start paying closer attention to my diet and begin cutting as well. I'm over getting fat. I think my #'s are good enough to begin cutting, and I'll just do my best to maintain from here.

Hoping to hear some other peoples thoughts on my options at this point.

You're currently squatting heavy 3x a week right? Make the wednesday workout light and stick with 3x5 for the heavy workouts. Cut DL frequency to once a week if you haven't already. This should help.

And if you're totally fried right now just make next week lower volume (but keep the intensity pretty high). Don't fight for any reps or anything, and don't grind out too many sets (and cut out the backoff sets).

I think you're perfectly fine to start cutting now if you want to shed some fat. Or keep eating and start using PPAN like tbk suggested if you want to squeeze out some more novice gains. If you do decide on cutting I assume you know what to do right?

Good bench, where you a brah in a former life?

I've been skimming a lot of the talk on cutting, so I could use some help with it. Other than set cals/protein and avoid carbs I dont know much about cutting. I have been drinking a lot of milk so I'll prob switch to skim and cut back. Something like 5-6 small meals around 3k cals a day off the top of my head sounds about right?

I would like to get three work sets at 315 before I cut. Just cause why not.

I like the ppan setup, seems like a good plan. Gonna need some more direction for sure. Gotta keep things moving. Thanks guys..

I talked earlier about how I went to jail and put on like 50 lbs in 3.5 months doing pushups. Thats where my bench comes from. Dunno if that qualifies.

Yeah set cals and protein for diet. For exercise, lower volume to e.g. 2/days week with SS, 2x5 or 3x3 and try to keep intensity (I'm gonna try 3x1 for DLs). If you want, add a day of HIIT/metcons.

I dunno man, jailbirds are both the ultimate bros and the ultimate non-bros. We need an expert on terminology like thremp to clear this up.

This coming week I'm going to begin to eat lighter, but not really set numbers. I am still undecided on my routine. I was planning on moving towards the texas method since I dont feel comfortable making my own yet. Need to get more info on HIIT/metcon stuff also.

Good luck recovering from volume day eating at a deficit...

I thought that I would eat carbs and more cals on volume day, and maybe just eat at maintenance the day after. I'm not sure how big of a deficit I'm ready for anyway.