Training Update

Haven't posted all week, I realize. Training has gone well and the weights continue to go up. While certainly not easy, there hasn't been a doubt that I would hit all of them, which is good, since it only gets heavier from here. Definitely need to get more sleep, however.

Squat - 295x5 Tuesday
Bench - 250x5 Saturday

Training Update

Pretty damn sore, but glad to be done with week 1 of the 5x5. It went pretty well. If I do a better job of sleeping and recovering, I don't think I should have too much trouble hitting the numbers I'm supposed to.

Squat - 5x5 @ 255
Bench - worked up to 245x5
Row - worked up to 195x5

Training Update

Started up the 5x5 variation this week. It is higher in both volume and intensity than I have been doing, so there is some soreness, however, it is manageable. The main thing is, I need to make sure I'm getting enough sleep, as I definitely haven't been doing that, and my recovery is suffering as a result.

Tuesday
Squat - worked up to 290 x5
Bench - 5x5 @ 215
Rows - 5x5 @ 170

Thursday
Squat - 5x5 @ 225
Deadlift - 5c5 @ 275
Military - 5x5 @ 135
Pulldowns - 5x5 @ 205

Training

Began a "transmutation," or intensified block of training today. I will be using a modified version of Bill Starr's 5x5 for the next 10-12 weeks, designed to peak at the end. We shall see how well it works, but the goal is a higher bench press max, allowing me to start working on reps in the bench, eventually culminating in 225x20 on the bench. Ideally, I will also be leaning out by the time I hit that, so that body weight is sub-225. The neck is still giving me minor issues, and I want to wait until it really feels good to start putting anything significant overhead, so snatch pulls will replace snatches. The program calls for military press on Thursday, so we will have to see how I am feeling on that one.

Snatch pulls - 3x3 @ 135
Squat - worked up to 290x5
Bench - 5x5 @ 215 superset with
Rows - 5x5 @ 170

Information Overload

While reading my friend Boris' blog today (SquatRX - AWESOME blog if you've got the time), he was lamenting the fact that in today's tech age, information is so readily available that it has created the "bumbling amateur." I couldn't agree more. Particularly as it relates to training, there are so many people saying so many things, that it's easy for one to become overwhelmed (especially if you've never been an "exerciser"). Part of the problem, as Bertrand Russell noted, is that the stupid are so sure of themselves, and the intelligent so full of doubt. While not totally true, it certainly isn't far off. The loud, ignorant majority are screaming in the face of the possible customer, in the hopes of making the quick buck. It only serves to confuse people more. Add in those who really do know what they're talking about trying to help, and well, there you have it.
Additionally, we have been almost conditioned to not fail. I know I'm guilty of it - I know that at least part of my issues with procrastination have to do with wanting to do everything perfectly and not knowing where to start. Realizing that imperfection is not only OK, but inevitable, is a vital part of learning. If one's training goals are merely as an "exerciser," then, to a certain extent, it truly doesn't matter! Do what you want! Are you going to do some dumb things along the way? Absolutely. But there are plenty of people who should know better that do really dumb things too. So don't be afraid to fail. Not "attempt a 315 squat when I'm only capable of 135" fail, but on a smaller scale. You'll figure it out eventually, if you really want to.

Training

Hit the 100s x21 on Thursday - goal accomplished. I had intended to use this week to deload before moving to the next phase of training, however, due to scheduling conflicts, I was unable to train hard Saturday. Therefore, I have used this half week since Thursday as a mini-deload and will start up hard Tuesday.

Training update & Thoughts on disappointment

As usual, haven't been updating much. Yesterday was sprints, box jumps, and some squats, bench and inverted rows.

Thorough warmup

Sprints - 5x10 yds

Box jumps - 3x5

Squat - 2x6 @245

Bench - 2x6 @195

Feet-elevated inverted rows - 15, 12

Going to shoot for the 100s x20 on DB bench tomorrow. I think I warmed up a bit too much last time I shot for it, so we'll see if I should temper that back a bit this time.

Disappointment is nothing more than a disconnect between your expectations and outcomes. If you are disappointed, it is because whatever the current outcome was did not match the level that you had expected prior. This is true no matter what it is you’re talking about – if you don’t have expectations (or expectations that are so low they are easily cleared), you can’t be disappointed.

On the one hand, that sounds like the cliché “set your expectations so low you can’t help but clear them,” but the fact is, that sometimes that becomes necessary. Surely we all want to be Superman (or woman), but at a certain point in time, we have to realize our current limitations and work within them. We can’t always “aim for the moon, and even if you miss, you’re among the stars.” The stars are much further away – if you miss the moon, you’re just floating in space. Be aggressive, but be realistic.

Disappointment in others is probably the hardest to deal with, because you have no control over the outcome. In our own lives, we may have great disappointment in ourselves; however, it is because we know that we have control over the outcome. When it comes to others, we literally have no control over their actions. We have certain expectations of others, especially those close to us, absolutely. But we simply cannot tie our happiness (or lack thereof) in with the actions of others. It will always be a recipe for disaster.

In the end, the best we can hope for is to not be disappointed in ourselves. That starts with figuring out what, exactly, disappointment is for you, and what you have to do to stay above it. Of course, your level of disappointment will always vary, too. If you fail to reach a lofty goal, there may be disappointment that you didn’t reach it, yet still some satisfaction that you accomplished other things along the way. However, if perhaps you didn’t even get close, or failed to achieve what should have been an otherwise fairly easy goal to achieve, the disappointment may be far greater.

So what the fuck am I saying in all this rambling? To be honest, this was just kind of a topic that popped in my head one day and I started regurgitating thoughts onto the screen. I think my point is that we have to figure out why we are disappointed in ourselves – aside from the particulars of the things we may “hate” in our lives. Our physical appearance, our jobs, our bank account – the fact is, all are fixable. However, we have to approach them by taking the right steps daily. And doing so will take you in the right direction. Set your daily goals, and try like hell to meet them. Avoid daily disappointment in yourself and see where you are in a few months, or a year. And if you screw up? Guess what, you get to keep trying to get it right.

Training Update

Obviously I haven't been keeping up with this, but here was yesterday's training:

Deadlift - work up to 5 singles at 315
Bench (feet on bench) - work up to 3 singles at 245
DB Bench Press - 95s x20
Bent-over rows - 5x10 @ 115