Slicin' and Dicin'

[Dustin07]

You not only don’t have to do a Joker, but you should not take them weekly.

I know, thats why I kept them lighter and didn't push it. I wasn't supposed to take a cookie from the jar, but I was at least polite enough to put the lid back on when I was done. Unfortunately I still ate the cookie, though.

 

[Dustin07]

I may never successfully cut again. My wife has progressed from making English muffins, to sourdough (amazing) to this supply of bagels she just texted me.

 

[MrKleen73]

I did, lol, but it was more the triceps. arms were feeling joooocy!

right now app figures me at a 322lb 1RM (not likely, lol) and you're right, a 305lb TM.
it looks like my next weeks rx is 3 x 275 with 6 being the AMRAP goal. although I'm stressing over that less and less these days as long as I am clean, can afford a Joker, and hit my BBB.

Yeah, you tend to have that high strength endurance so you can lift a lot closer to your 1Rm for reps than the average lifter. So it is likely a little skewed.

You not only don’t have to do a Joker, but you should not take them weekly.

I know, every time I keep seeing them I think wonder what his progress would be without all the joker sets taxing his CNS regularly.

I know, thats why I kept them lighter and didn't push it. I wasn't supposed to take a cookie from the jar, but I was at least polite enough to put the lid back on when I was done. Unfortunately I still ate the cookie, though.

It's okay, it is your cookies you are stealing, it ain't hurting anyone else's progress, and it seems to increase your enjoyment. So as long as you are aware of the trade off, and are enjoying the process it isn't an issue.

 

[Dustin07]

Yeah, you tend to have that high strength endurance so you can lift a lot closer to your 1Rm for reps than the average lifter. So it is likely a little skewed.

I know, every time I keep seeing them I think wonder what his progress would be without all the joker sets taxing his CNS regularly.

It's okay, it is your cookies you are stealing, it ain't hurting anyone else's progress, and it seems to increase your enjoyment. So as long as you are aware of the trade off, and are enjoying the process it isn't an issue.

Lol honestly I'm a bit torn. Still hitting Rx programming without issue. So do I up TM again after this cycle or chill?

Squats are progressing smooth and linear despite already upping tm a bit. Bench I think is more likely to fall off first.

Basically every lift is getting hit every 8th day except pulls which are getting three hard sessions a month.

The pulls not being weekly have been scheduling issues more than planning, but I think it's been serendipitous in that it's been enough to stimulate and that 4th session could throw me over cns wise.

 

[akboom87]

I may never successfully cut again. My wife has progressed from making English muffins, to sourdough (amazing) to this supply of bagels she just texted me.

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Those bagels look fire ! My wife has been on the sourdough kick for a year maybe more so lots of sourdough loafs here as well. Also sourdough pancakes, my personal favorite!!

 

[Hyde]

Lol honestly I'm a bit torn. Still hitting Rx programming without issue. So do I up TM again after this cycle or chill?

Squats are progressing smooth and linear despite already upping tm a bit. Bench I think is more likely to fall off first.

Basically every lift is getting hit every 8th day except pulls which are getting three hard sessions a month.

The pulls not being weekly have been scheduling issues more than planning, but I think it's been serendipitous in that it's been enough to stimulate and that 4th session could throw me over cns wise.

No, don’t up TMs - just don’t do Jokers weekly. People want so badly to believe that you have to do more to improve progress, but that’s not always the case.

It’s like pizza. Pizza is awesome, anytime. Every meal, cold or hot, old or fresh, lots of good toppings to choose - it’s never a BAD meal, even bad pizza isn’t that bad. But if you eat it for every meal, it will lose a lot of magic to you - if you have it once every couple/three weeks at the place you really like, fresh with your favorite toppings & with people you love, it hits so much harder.

Stop eating pizza every day. It’s a treat, and when you take that approach you will really increase what you can ring out, performance-wise, when you do it.

 

[Hyde]

Also, does your wife have a sister that wants to move to IL or anything?? Those bagels look primo

 

[slimsaw00]

Lol honestly I'm a bit torn. Still hitting Rx programming without issue. So do I up TM again after this cycle or chill?

Squats are progressing smooth and linear despite already upping tm a bit. Bench I think is more likely to fall off first.

Basically every lift is getting hit every 8th day except pulls which are getting three hard sessions a month.

The pulls not being weekly have been scheduling issues more than planning, but I think it's been serendipitous in that it's been enough to stimulate and that 4th session could throw me over cns wise.

Not sure if you have 5/3/1 Forever or not but his leader/anchor approach gives some insight on joker sets. During a leader you would do 5s Pro and heavy supplemental work (BBB for example)…. Usually two cycles. Then after a deload, you would have your anchor where you hit the PR sets and also your Jokers. The anchor is usually for one cycle. Deload, then depending on performance during an anchor you would adjust training maxes.

You are way stronger than me, so take all of this with a grain of salt.

 

[Dustin07]

I know, every time I keep seeing them I think wonder what his progress would be without all the joker sets taxing his CNS regularly.

No, don’t up TMs - just don’t do Jokers weekly. People want so badly to believe that you have to do more to improve progress, but that’s not always the case.

It’s like pizza. Pizza is awesome, anytime. Every meal, cold or hot, old or fresh, lots of good toppings to choose - it’s never a BAD meal, even bad pizza isn’t that bad. But if you eat it for every meal, it will lose a lot of magic to you - if you have it once every couple/three weeks at the place you really like, fresh with your favorite toppings & with people you love, it hits so much harder.

Stop eating pizza every day. It’s a treat, and when you take that approach you will really increase what you can ring out, performance-wise, when you do it.

First off, everyone knows pizza is better the next day.

I was driving (LOL) when I replied to Kleen last night so I couldn't get into it but I was thinking about it a LOT. especially this part: I think wonder what his progress would be without all the joker sets taxing his CNS regularly.

I'm not sure how you would measure additional progress (or lack of progress) at the current moment since I'm just going through the motions on the app and hitting the prescribed numbers every week.

I do love the idea of going in on my next session, hitting 310 x 3 (as prescribed) and moving on with my day. I do worry that if a top set is too easy, I'm leaving something on the field and not doing enough to cause some stimulation though.

Looking forward in the app, currently cycle 5, by Dec it does have me aiming for 345 x 3 and 365 x 1 (last years PR) on normal training days, so with enough patience if I'm able to maintain it definitely will have me training through old bests.

Also, does your wife have a sister that wants to move to IL or anything?? Those bagels look primo

Thank God no, she is an only child orphan which helps relieve me of any potential temptation. I've seen pics of her mom and she was a fox. I can only handle one of these spicey viking descendants I think.

Not sure if you have 5/3/1 Forever or not but his leader/anchor approach gives some insight on joker sets. During a leader you would do 5s Pro and heavy supplemental work (BBB for example)…. Usually two cycles. Then after a deload, you would have your anchor where you hit the PR sets and also your Jokers. The anchor is usually for one cycle. Deload, then depending on performance during an anchor you would adjust training maxes.

You are way stronger than me, so take all of this with a grain of salt.

I only have the OG book on hand so most of my additional deep dives into 531 are web searches etc, I'll have to look this up, the only mention of "anchor" in the book I have is talking about sit-ups lol.

The catch 22 and struggle I am having as I get into cycle #5 is monster AMRAP sets are mentally and physically crushing, I just don't have a desire to hit 16 reps at X weight to "beat PR". like my current rx for this week is 5 x x 360, thats no big deal. but the app does have that spicey little fineprint in there "11 Reps to beat PR".

 

[Dustin07]

I know, every time I keep seeing them I think wonder what his progress would be without all the joker sets taxing his CNS regularly.

Can you build on that a bit to give me more perspective? I'm not sure how else to measure progress right now beyond hitting my prescribed sets lol. Well, other than maybe the mirror, waistline, and whatnot haha.

 

[Hyde]

First off, everyone knows pizza is better the next day.

I was driving (LOL) when I replied to Kleen last night so I couldn't get into it but I was thinking about it a LOT. especially this part: I think wonder what his progress would be without all the joker sets taxing his CNS regularly.

I'm not sure how you would measure additional progress (or lack of progress) at the current moment since I'm just going through the motions on the app and hitting the prescribed numbers every week.

I do love the idea of going in on my next session, hitting 310 x 3 (as prescribed) and moving on with my day. I do worry that if a top set is too easy, I'm leaving something on the field and not doing enough to cause some stimulation though.

Looking forward in the app, currently cycle 5, by Dec it does have me aiming for 345 x 3 and 365 x 1 (last years PR) on normal training days, so with enough patience if I'm able to maintain it definitely will have me training through old bests.


Thank God no, she is an only child orphan which helps relieve me of any potential temptation. I've seen pics of her mom and she was a fox. I can only handle one of these spicey viking descendants I think.

I only have the OG book on hand so most of my additional deep dives into 531 are web searches etc, I'll have to look this up, the only mention of "anchor" in the book I have is talking about sit-ups lol.

The catch 22 and struggle I am having as I get into cycle #5 is monster AMRAP sets are mentally and physically crushing, I just don't have a desire to hit 16 reps at X weight to "beat PR". like my current rx for this week is 5 x x 360, thats no big deal. but the app does have that spicey little fineprint in there "11 Reps to beat PR".

View attachment 262731

She’s gorgeous bro, no doubt. Also really cool to get to see the garden and such in full detail you’ve been hammering away at.

5/3/1 Forever is a very good read - contains a lot of updated ideology since his first book that will help you understand training & Jim’s thoughts more recently about how to make the program work for you best. If you PM me an email I should be able to send you a copy.

I do not think you want an AMRAP beyond ~12 reps generally, unless you’re really pushing hypertrophy on legs and wanted closer to a widowmaker set/ Super Squats scenario instead of safer bodybuilding machines for some reason. So if you are truly hitting 13+, I’d bump things up for sure at an accelerated rate.

Talking about the jokers, if you are benching 285-295 most weeks, you will take away your ability to occasionally take 300-305 on a perfect day. Because you will live with higher neurological fatigue and cause more micro trauma that also isn’t meaningfully acquiring good reps. 1-2 singles isn’t enough work to move the needle much. You get better mainly from the total work that’s ultimately acquired from 5+ rep stuff largely.

Everything I’ve been doing the last few weeks in training has been to tease out my ability to display the most maximal singles soon. It hasn’t been building. The building was the sets of 5-10 that came prior. This is just peak realization.