[jwood]

So I have been looking back at my training and trying to pick out the things that worked best for me. I have found a few common themes for myself:

1. Box squats do not work for me-I find that my form is completely different on a box than free squats. Usually causing me some lower back pain too.

2. Westside is tough for a raw lifter who lifts alone. Westside is probably the best method ever for a geared lifter but looking back at my own training and other great lifters it seems there are better methods.

3. Time to get back to basics-no need for all this specialty stuff, just need heavy hard work and consistency.

4. I like hitting rep PRs

So, for now I am deciding to do a couple of cycles of chaos513 which is just a variation on 5/3/1 where you hit your rep number and then work up to a heavy single. I like to hit reps, but I also need to feel heavier weights. So, I am going to give this a chance. I will not be running this for deadlifts, too much soreness comes from this. My squat day I will also hit a deadlift variation, such as GMs or pulls of blocks.

I also have some other things I am thinking about. I have been reading the training manuals from Lift-Run-Bang and they are very good. Basically he has you work up to a heavy single and then do a max rep set.

Also, for the next month or so my Saturdays are shot. Therefore I may only have one squat day in the gym a week and then focus strongman for my other lower body day. For now, when I can make on saturdays I will still do speed work.

What do you guys think about this? Give me some thoughts?