Good work here. Keep it up!
Starting a new cycle of 5/3/1
Squats
5 x 105
5 x 135
3 x 155
5 x 190
3 x 220
5 x 245
1 x 255
1 x 275
1 x 300
5 x 10 x 135
WOD
Death by Thrusters
10 rounds @ 95lbs
Conditioning
Incline Treadmill / 100 Cals
Weight
180.4
notes
hard to complain. 300lbs used to be the ultimate goal and now I've got it on day 1 of a new squat cycle after months of not training and losing 10lbs. Just need to fit more LISS into my schedule.
Well done re the 300 lbs.
I’m in a similar boat, having taken a lot of time off and losing a lot of size. Targeting a 315 lbs squat by year’s end.
Are you running a modified 5-3-1, where you hit singles after AMRAP set? What’s your RPE on the AMRAP set?
Keep it up!
Yesterday (Sunday) I took a rest day to go golfing with my boy. it was 104F ! felt amazing though, I love the heat.
Saturday was bench day:
bench
5 x 95
5 x 115
3 x 135
5 x 145
5 x 170
8 x 190 (amrap set)
3 x 225
BBB
5 x 10 x 135
super set with barbell rows
5 x 10 x 135
dips
3 x 10 x +25lbs
super set with ez bar curls
3 x 10 x 70lbs
conditioning
200 cals on incline treadmil
weight
178.8
Nice work. Impressed with that last bench press set after your AMRAP set. Looks like we have similar 5-3-1 bench press programming, but you’re def stronger. You leaving some fuel in the tank on your AMRAP set typically?
thanks man- no in the past I really did not leave fuel in the tank. Mentally 5/3/1 was way easier for me because I knew all i had to do was warm up, then kill myself on one major all or nothing set. so I really did take my AMRAPS to RPE 9-10. it was everything I had. but NOW, yes.... on this cycle I am leaving at least one rep out there hoping my recovery is better.
I've been pretty consistent in my lifting for a good 10-15 years or longer I think. really it goes back to high school. I think the foundation is better than ever as I feel like while my weight is down, I'm holding on to more mass and definitely more strength than ever before.
so I'm working hard on maintaining good balance in life and energy / recovery levels.
My goal at this point is to get as shredded and lean as I can, but without sacrificing too much size (haha, everyones normal goal, right??) but I feel like after all these years I have found the routine easier to sink into than ever before. Both with nutrition, as well as the lifting and conditioning... so far so good!
The only downfall for me with 531 was when AMRAP sets started requiring 12, 13, 15+ reps to "beat cycle PR" etc and keep improving. At that point when I have to do more than 10 reps on this cycle I think I will do a 1RM test and start the cycle all over with new training maxes. 15 reps is just way to many at that RPE that I was pushing before. even if I recovered over a week, by the time 2 cycles were done, I was really destroyed for a few weeks.
I think I’m going to start doing the same. I’d rather do RPE9
8/9 on AMRAP (particularly 5+ day) and then do one more heavier set for a double or triple, like you did. What I’ve been doing is a second set of the AMRAP weight for a few less reps for more volume. But you’ve give me a better idea. For the extra volume, I think I will try the BBB sets afterwards. Is your app generating that too? I would think you’d need to drop the %max for that after your 5-3-1 sets, and it looks like you did. Did the app do that on its own? If so, I think I want that app!
Keep up the good work. I’m betting you’re already pretty jacked at 178 lbs.
All sounds good. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I’m with you on an app. I’ve been using excel, but it’s really small, not the best layout and sort of a pain to deal with. Plus, I don’t like having to separately look up what PR rep maxes equate to in terms of a max.
And apologies, I forgot we already had some of these conversations, lol. I just reviewed some previous posts for perspective. My bad for the redundancy!
Best to you.
doing my best... I always knew that when I reached my 40s and 50s I wanted that power lifter dad look. Some dads rock the dadbod, and some of them have those thick shoulders, arms and pecks. even if they have a big ol beer belly they still look like they've lifed their whole life... know what i mean? I'm ok with getting softer in the gut but I'm not going to watch my arms shrivel up till my shirt fits them like a dress lol
and honestly I think the dudes in their 40s, 50s, 60s etc (I watched a 70 year old man deadlift well over 300lbs !) are the most inspirational and set the bar for the younger generation. they're showing kids what they should be able to grow into. I love watching @dapack lift cause I know he's 10 years older than me and constantly still setting PR's. It tells me that if I ever think I "can't" do something, I'm wrong.
I feel you re the dadbod, like Mark Rippetoe, though he’s getting up there at around 62, I think. I’m still fighting the dadbod at 51.
Oh yeah, I just started using the same app as you, but on iPhone. But still on trial. I like it, but haven’t tinkered with advanced features. However, it messed up calculating my wife’s sets, making the last warmup set the same weight as the first working set. Doesn’t make sense. Hopefully it’s an isolated thing.
Thanks for all the tips and info.
Oh another note on the app. I do from time to time alter the weights prescribed for instance. it may call out warm up sets at 90 and 110 so I'll just go 95 and 115 (normal barbell numbers) and my BBB programming was like 125 or 130, so I just threw two plates on and made it 135.
also the accessories. 531 does NOT call out back work on a bench day, lol. So I add the lifts to the app and I have been supersetting the back work to help maintain symmetry and pull my shoulders back (posture). I also add a lot of curls because I'm one of those weirdos who naturally built big calves (maybe from BMX racing back in the day) but my arms are always smaller than my legs so I work on them a lot. (lot of guys I know are the other way around. big guns, but calves struggle).
I just dont' do ab work before a squat day, or bicep work before a deadlift day. I feel like that's potentially asking for injury, personally.
The heat is ridiculous. We are in an apartment right now with no AC but the portable kind and it work but still too hot. Lifts are looking solid and maybe a little time off from powerlifting did you good.
So I sorta screwed up but sorta didn't. Yesterday we peaked at 109F and I couldn't help it... I ran to the golf course because NOBODY was there (first time I've seen that since COVID). played 18 holes in 2 hours lololol it's normally 4.5-5hrs.
After that, hit the gym but I was already sorta trashed (didn't drink, just exhausted from 2hours of sweating on the course). So I did go through the motions a bit, but I knew right away it wasn't going to be a huge day.
squats
5 x 115
5 x 135
3 x 160
5 x 175
5 x 205
2 x 230
5 x 10 x 95
conditioning
150 cals incline treadmill
weight
176.2
haha thanks dude! tonight should be a super fun night at the gym cause I can just do the things I really want to do and I'm gonna go hard to prep for a few days off. heavy bench hopefully, and going to add in front squats to get some quad work in since yesterday was so glute and hamstringy.
haha hell yeahYou gotta look sexy, right?!?!
haha hell yeah
actually whats funny is my wife decided to go on a big diet about 2 months ago. Now personally, I already thought she looked great. But I knew the program she was gonna run (basically a cut) and I knew she'd get results so I figured:
A. I'm not going to have my wife running around in a bikini body while I sport a powerlifting body
B. It's going to be a hell of a lot easier for me to cut if I join her on this and we do it together.....
so now that I'm back down 13 lbs already and looking in the mirror I'm thinking... damn, I'm so close to my all time best for low bodyfat, but I'm retaining way more muscle mass........ I sorta want to see how far I can take this!
Welcome back dude. Sounds like a great trip! Congrats on the successful fishing! And way to hit the ground running re training!
Overhead Press
5 x 65
5 x 80
3 x 95
3 x 110
3 x 125
8 x 140
BBB
5 x 10 x 95
Superset with Fat Grip Chin-ups
5 x 8
Dips
15 x BW
10 x +25
10 x +35
10 x +35
Superset with EZ Bar Curls
12 x 45
10 x 70
10 x 70
10 x 70
Lateral Shoulder Raise
15 x 20
15 x 25
15 x 30
DB Curls
10 x 30
10 x 40
8 x 50 + 8 x 40
DB Tricep extension
10 x 20
10 x 25
10 x 30
notes
date night! no time for conditioning. Been trying this new pre-workout. No stim added so I can't totally tell if I like it or not yet.. Invalid Link Removed
weight
176.7
Great first session post your fishing trip, particularly the OHPs. Looks like you’re about ready to press 185 lbs. Solid.
Also looks like your weight is already back down. I’m nipping at your heels at 172.8 lbs.