Stronger

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Training consistently is a learning process, an active process of introspection. Getting stronger isn’t easy. It requires a laboring, painful work that will only be expressed in the next bout of laboring, painful work. Yet with strength training, that process is just as important as the end. Choosing to do something hard — of your own volition — puts the mind in a vulnerable state. It forces you to decide whether or not you think you’re capable. Want to complete a set, but don’t think you can? You won’t. Staring down the bar, daring it to beat you and knowing that you will crush it; that is something entirely different, my friends.

It isn’t about merely attempting something that is Very. Fucking. Hard. But shifting the mindset into not just the possibility of completion, but the explosive dominance and subsequent victory you’ll have over that barrier. The mindset itself is the victory. The destruction of the set is the victory lap. The weening moments after when your heart is still racing and short of breath — that’s standing on the podium. Learning how to give everything you have mentally and physically to achieve your goals is what getting stronger is all about.

Happy PR Friday.


34 thoughts on “Stronger”

  4. PRs this week
    Bench 220×2
    Press 155×3

    Got a 475 deadlift single, which while it isn’t a PR, was done with no amping up, no music, and felt great. Good to be moving solid weight often.

    Been eating Paleo + dairy, and after two or three days of not eating carbs had a catastrophic squatting session. (I know, I know, but the first squat session into the eating phase was great! PRobably from the residual 500g of carbs two days before). Got my macros more balanced and I’m working on stuffing my face with meat and tubers regularly. Weight is down some, but strength is still improving slowly and it seems like most of it was bloat. Feeling good overall.

    Taking a 4 day break and then back on to cycle 8 of 5/3/1. Still shooting for 405 squat at the end of cycle 9.

    Also, 3 weeks out from the MCAT.

  6. I love Pyrros…

    Log PR: 230…4th or 5th time on the log…having issues with it falling forward.

    House PR: Spent 3 days in a row tearing up our downstairs and installing solid Oak hardwood floors. Very 70sbig thing to do…and enjoyed some awesome DeSchutes Red Chair beer through the process.

  7. Ughh, I hate you Justin. Posting this 2 hours after I decide not to go for a 5th rep on Bench because I was unsure and didn’t have a spot.

    Squat:
    405 x 1 x 5 < Fuck. Yeah.
    Bench:
    270 (x 1 x 4), (x 2 x 3)
    Deadlift:
    455 x 1 x 5

  8. @smithb9 Friicking awesome, got me fired up!

    Felt reckless today, so made a 10lb jump in my LP and lifted 385×5 in deadlift. Other PR’s are 350x5x3 squat and 8 bw pull-ups.
    bodyweight 210

  9. PR:
    Deadlift 390×5 DOH
    I have pulled 410×5 in the past but with mixed grip. I like the challenge of the DOH and it makes me reset better between reps.

    I have been subbing dips for bench due to a lack of equipment in my garage. Hit 4×20 last week and added weight for a 55x5x3. Squats and presses to come today…

  10. 285 lb deadlift. My back rounded all over the place because I didn’t drag it up my shins. Form PR next Friday!

    150 lb power clean. I misloaded the bar. I thought it was 145. That was fun.

  12. Finally squatted 405#x3x5! Form broke down a little but what the hell, that’s what happens when you are pushing to the max. I didn’t really do anything else this week to rest up after that. Definitely had my fill of 3×5 for a while after that – think I’ll drop the volume for a month or so and do a little peaking, maybe a few weeks to work up to 440#x5, a couple weeks more to 475#x3, and then 500#? We’ll see. Everything else has been feeling a little stagnant the last few weeks so maybe this is a chance to work on the deadlift a little too.

    vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVfhWbBLh0k

  13. I agree with Evan anything with Dimas in is awesome.

    Unfit PR. When i do my my 3×5 squat sets i have to take loooooooooaaaads of rest in between each rep let alone each set. I’m squatting tiny weights, for example in a video of Chris he will be squatting almost 3 times what i do but still hitting the reps quicker.
    Am i just being a pussy about things?

  14. Unimpressive Current Lifts:
    3x5x170lb bench (PR)
    3x5x180lb squat
    3x5x95lb ohp
    1x5x175 dl
    bw/ht: 184, 6ft3in

    Weight still going up (good). Numbers a little of out proportion after struggling with some injuries. Upper back/shoulder feels funny this evening, hopefully it’ll be good by tomorrow. Switched over from SS to the Laseck S&C program this week as it fits my need to get the gym and blow off some steam more than 3 days a week. Plus my new gym as a prowler so condition is fun again. Lots of progress to come this summer.

    x156

  15. Bad week of training… In week 4 of Greyskull LP, I went from 160 2×5,1×7 on Monday to 165 4,3,3 today. Big decline – would sleep and nutrition be that big of a factor or should I just chalk it up as an ‘L’ on the day for me??

  18. I am 10 weeks into TM and still haven’t stalled. 3rd week on creatine. Both dates may be off a little. I don’t journal and I just post here.

    Bench press 5×5 290 PR
    Squat 5×5 330 PR
    Deadlift 1×5 435 PR
    Military 3×5 185 (resetting to 165)

    Tomorrow or Sunday (may take extra day) I’m going for Bench 1×5 305
    Squat 1×5 360

  20. @stankrom

    “160 2×5,1×7 on Monday to 165 4,3,3 today. Big decline”

    For the Greyskull LP upper body lifts only increase 2.5 lbs per workout. You should have been using 162.5 as your working weight. Drop the weight to 162.5 for your next workout and tear it up, you will get your reps.

    -Derek

  21. @kjack you may be the first person to actually take Bill Starr’s advice about 4 sets of 20 before adding weight.

    Dips +140×5
    Chinup 115x2x5
    Power Clean 251×2
    Atlas Stone 170 to shoulder x2
    235 to chest x1
    265 off the ground a few inches.
    Axle Clean and Press 240.

  22. I forgot,
    Deadlift 400×5. Pretty big deal for me as there was a time where I couldn’t complete 370×5 but was able to squat 415×5 and I finally broke 400 now. This was about 10 minutes after doing 390×5 (also a PR) so I’ll make a 10-15lb jump next time I try a 5rm. And hopefully set a new 1RM in the TSC.

    Good luck to the competitors tomorrow.

  23. Wrist PR:

    Had to move my watch band clasp out a hole. I guess all the deadlifts, pullups, and dumbbell snatches are doing me some good.

  24. Stuff PR: Picked up Practical Programming and Anatomy Without a Scalpel off amazon and dove into PP the other day. I’m ready to get learned!

    Food PR: Picked up a 1.8lb Tri-Tip yesterday from my local meat house, it’s a gorgeous piece of meat, that with 1.5 lbs of ground chuck and a sixer of Negra Modelo should make a nice chili this weekend.

    No training PRs. Took a week off after my meet and just getting back into it the past few days. Still haven’t decided what program I’m going to follow next, right now thinking of winging it until I get through a hectic work schedule and work travel. Then picking up Greyskull LP for the summer time. Gotta buy that E-book soon.

  25. @ Derek

    I know I know! I still havent gone out and got the fractional plates yet. Looks like it came back and bit me in the ass, ’cause I’ve been moving up 5# each workout instead of the 2.5#.

  26. First conditioning workout in 6 months. According to my Oly coach, my next training cycle is going to include a lot of mobility work and conditioning so that I “don’t suck wind on a triple at 50 kg.”

    I’m really sore today. Fuck that shit.

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