Mike's 5x5 Log

[MikeM]

Thanks Rip!

Funny thing is, my knee is totally fine when I lift. I'm concentreating on good form and keeping things tight, so no problems.

Effing knee hurts when I'm not paying attention in normal life and step wrong off a curb, or catch a chair leg with my toe, or one of my children yank me in some hideous way.

Seriously, life is what's killing me. Weights are keeping me whole as best they can. I'd be even worse a wreck if I didn't have some sort of counterbalance strength that lifting has given me.

Now, if only life was so orderly as my lifting program.

[MikeM]

Now, I've got another problem I've been mulling over for weeks.

In this 5x5 program, I chose to add weight when I hit 8 reps twice in consecutive workouts on the top set. But, I wonder if that is perhaps not the best way to progress with this particular program for some things. It's worked great with Squats and Deadlifts and Bench for example, but anything overhead has been hampered maybe, I think.

My Squats,etc. have progressed nicely, but Push Presses and BNP have stalled more than I would expect, and those are the things I like the most. Perhaps I started too high. Perhaps I am too impatient, etc.

But perhaps, I should be adding 5 pounds each time I hit 5 on an overhead weight, and maybe I don't hit 5 on the next weight, only hitting 3 or 4 or whatever. Then I have the feel of progressing, and likely something to work towards that isn't so hard as an over the top (8 vs 5) rep progression.

Or is it all the same thing?

I feel a little bit frustrated that some things are coming along nicely, but other things are not. That could be just the price of doing business, we always want what we can't have. If so, I'm fine with that. BUt, don't want to leave any stone unturned.

I can literally feel myself getting hugely stronger at squats and deadlifts and cleans and even bench pressing, etc. But my OH lifts have gone nowhere really.

Now perhaps my OH lifts were maxed out already from my previous programs whereas Squats and Cleans and Bench, etc., I hardly did them, so it's easy to make big progress on those, and less so on lifts I did a lot of earlier.

But, bottom line. Why are all these OH lifts are not rising with all the other boats? Am I missing something? Why is it a very tough Squat one week becomes a not so hard squat two weeks later, but a tough push press is still butt tough a month later?

Very frustrating.

[big_swede]

I think that the progression on the OHP vs the Squat has alot to do with the amount of muscle's recruited to push the weight. In the squat, you use quads, hams, glutes, lower back, abs and so on, a great deal of muscles involved and also alot of CNS activity, which makes the progress faster as you strengthen your core and nervous system to be able to handle heavier weights. The OHP is also in some terms a fullbody lift but not near as much as the squat. You see what i mean?

I think going to 5 reps and when that is acomplished, adding 5-10 lbs and go for 5 is a good way to progress on the OHP.

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck!

[MikeM]

Thanks, Swede! Good advice, makes sense that the less muscles involved, the slower the progress. And I'm going to try going with hitting 5 reps, then moving the weight up a bit just on OH presses and see where that goes.

I think tiredness also plays a role, because I feel great right up until I hit a wall with those OH lifts. With other lifts, I can often grind out more reps, but OH lifts just stop dead. When I hit five, I feel like I can do eight, but then six just won't lock out and I'm finished. Trying a new progression pattern might help with that aspect, so I'm not so beat up by the time I get to the max sets.

However, upon reflection, I think my biggest problem is I think too much, haven't worked at any of these lifts long enough, and have way too little patience!

I can be such a whiny SOB sometimes! Goodness, I had the best week of this entire program, and I enjoyed that for like 2 hours before I started looking for problems that my twisted mind thinks need to be addressed!

Still, there you go, that's me. I always think it's something, when in reality it's probably nothing.

Looking forward to Monday. I feel another Squat PR coming and if I don't hit 8cleans with 135, then I'm a monkey's uncle!

[Szelago]

Hey Mike.
Keep up the good work.
Don't really have a suggest re. your OHP question,though.
Just checking in....

[MikeM]

Well, life has certainly interferred with this week's iron working! Monday was shot with both kids sick, so I never left the house. Then today, I'm sick and can't keep anything down or in (which is worse frankly). I think tomorrow is a lost cause too. Took two days for the kids to get over it.

So, I will live vicariously through others lifting for the moment. Everybody do an extra set just for me! HA!

[big_swede]

Will do Mike, Get well brudda!!

[MikeM]

Tack sa mycket!

[MikeM]

Good to be back. Glad this unpleasant week is over! I feel a lot better. Still, I didn't push anything today, but a pretty good session anyway.

Hypers: 1x 15x 45
GHR: 1x 15x 35

Back Squat 80%:
5x bar, 135, 135, 185
5x 185

BNP 100%:
5x bar, 95, 95, 95
5x 115

Power Cleans 80%:
5x bar, 95, 95, 115
5x 115

BB Rows 90%:
5x 115, 115, 115, 135
5x 135

Deadlift 80%:
5x 135, 135, 185, 185
5x 185 (held for 25 seconds)

Bench 80%:
5x 135, 135, 185, 185
5x 185

Finishers:
Dips: 10
Chins: 5
Pushups: 15

[Abaddon]

Solid session Mike!