Sometimes you just have to listen to your body.

I was all set to start another cycle, to go 9 weeks before deloading. But when I woke up this morning I just wasn’t feeling it. I stepped back, looked at everything, and in the end opted to take this week as a deload. I’m getting all excited by the momentum, about being back on track, all those things, and I’m just excited to keep going. Well, if I want to keep going for the long run, I need to pace myself. There have also been other things going on in my life that are affecting my recovery, so it’s best for me to deload now. I’ll hate it, but if the whole week I’m just anxious to get back at things, that’s a good sign. 🙂

So, did the deload per protocol, cut assistance work “in half”, and just got some work in. Nothing big, but honestly I felt really good afterwards — like it was just what the doctor ordered. So, probably a smart thing for me to just run 6-week cycles and take the deload like it or not.

Weight has been holding steady at 230. That will be a bit of a challenge this week, but I just need to keep carb intake under control and I should be OK.

5/3/1 Simplest Strength Template

• Squats
  • bar x whatever
  • 110 x 5
  • 110 x 5
  • 135 x 5
  • 135 x 5
  • 165 x 5
  • 165 x 5
• Straight-leg Deadlift
  • 135 x 5
  • 150 x 5
  • 175 x 5
• Leg Curls
  • 30 x 12
  • 30 x 12
• Hyperextensions
  • BW x 10
  • BW x 10
• Crunches
  • BW x 10
  • BW x 10
• Standing Calf Raises
  • 50 x 10
  • 50 x 10