Starting my powerlifting career with Madcow's 5x5 : tank's training log!

[tank]

Date: 6 JAN 12
Session: Week 10, Day 1
Time: 3:30 AM –4:35 AM
Duration: 1 Hour and 5 Minutes

Squat:
140 x 5
170 x 5
205 x 5
240 x 5
275 x 5 Rep PR!

Bench:
115 x 5
145 x 5
175 x 5
200 x 5
230 x 5 Rep PR!

Row:
85 x 5
105 x 5
135 x 5
150 x 5
170 x 5 Rep PR!

Standing Cable Crunches:
50 x 12
50 x 12
50 x 12 Rep PR!

Decline Crunch: Superset with Side Bends.
25 x 8
25 x 8
25 x 8 Rep PR!

Dumbbell Side Bends:
75 x 8
75 x 8
75 x 8


Notes: I’m not quite ready to increase the weight for Dumbbell Side Bends. I increased on both Standing Cable Crunches and Decline Sit Ups and managed to complete all reps, which tells me that the inclusion of the two additional abdominal exercises is helping.

I didn’t have any problems with Squats or Row, but bench was tough. The reps weren’t grinders, but the weight was definitely heavy. I’m getting to the weight where your arms don’t look/feel like you should be benching so much weight.

Anyway, this was a very good session. It was the first session of week 11 of Madcow’s Intermediate and I haven’t missed any reps yet. I’m definitely going to continue the program until I take mid-tour leave on January 29th.

I feel like I should probably continue with the program when I return from leave, too. My thinking is that until I stall and reset multiple times, I should continue the program because it makes the best of use of linear progression, and clearly I respond well to it.

Any thoughts?

[Off Road]

Strong session Tank. Keep it rolling.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by tank

I feel like I should probably continue with the program when I return from leave, too. My thinking is that until I stall and reset multiple times, I should continue the program because it makes the best of use of linear progression, and clearly I respond well to it.

Any thoughts?

PR slam-a-thon.

My only advice is to make sure you consider the fact that 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 workouts will be sub-par at some point. Sometimes you will even hit 2 week stalls for no reason. The only reason I being this up is because I don't want you to automatically reset after a bad week.

My advice is...if it's rolling, keep it rolling. If you are mentally bored of the workout or need a change, which happens to all of use, find a way to make some changes without losing the essence of what you're doing right.

[tank]

Originally Posted by Off Road

Strong session Tank. Keep it rolling.

thanks OR!

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

PR slam-a-thon.

My only advice is to make sure you consider the fact that 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 workouts will be sub-par at some point. Sometimes you will even hit 2 week stalls for no reason. The only reason I being this up is because I don't want you to automatically reset after a bad week.

My advice is...if it's rolling, keep it rolling. If you are mentally bored of the workout or need a change, which happens to all of use, find a way to make some changes without losing the essence of what you're doing right.

i'll remember that for when the time comes. i really do think it would be foolish to change my program any time soon. this is, by far, the most quantifiable success i've ever had training. i also think that when the time comes to make changes, based on my results from running this program, it would be wise to train in a similar approach.

[Kuytrider]

Why am I not surprised by all the PR's?

Hope you can get back into it after your February lay off. How long will you be away from full weight training?

[tank]

from 29 january - 18 february at least. i'm a little worried too, but i'm going to enjoy myself on leave.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by tank

from 29 january - 18 february at least. i'm a little worried too, but i'm going to enjoy myself on leave.

It comes back quick

[jslep]

Big PR's and you are up nearly 5lbs a week since week one that's awesome!

[austin.j.taylor]

enjoy your leave while you got it. I would bet that you can pick up right where you leave off without any problems.

[MikeM]

Yep. You are a PRapalooza!

Crush it hard until the day you leave. Then eat like ox and grow, you'll come back just as strong. You'll just need to get the conditioning back in order. No big deal.