Today was better. Rep PR.

It’s funny that deadlifts were always a sweet spot for me, but I find I enjoy them less. I still do enjoy them, I guess it’s that their place hasn’t changed but my love for other things (e.g. squatting) has grown. Still, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as walking up to a heavy bar and picking it up off the ground.

I had a nice rep PR of 5 @ 400#. I could have done more, but today was about leaving something in the tank, so I did. While the first down set left just a couple in the tank, the last downset left a bunch in the tank. I double-overhanded it and my grip started to give, so I stopped to switch, and while I was stopped my body said “that’s good” so I just left it. You don’t have to kill yourself to make progress, and I’ve been making progress.

That said, I wasn’t as dead to the world so I did some hyperextensions. I’m trying a different approach with my feet at 45º angles, my upper back rounded over. When I do this, I find the movement is much more glutes and hams than lower back, which is what I’m after. Good deal.

Anyways, I chalk today up as a solid 80% day. Happy with it.

I’m still not 100% sure what to do about this day. It’s one where I had a plan, the plan didn’t pan out, so I’ve been loosely winging it. But I think this is going to be ok to just do what I’m doing here. Because so long as there’s progress, I’m good.

In other news… I should mention that part of my problem today was feeling discomfort in my biceps, especially in the area where they attach to the elbow. Grr. I’m working to un-slack myself about stretching, massage, and other things in that area. Not just on the arms, but also pecs, shoulders, upper back, etc. I don’t neee to go down this road again. Regarding benching, I’ll be taking next week deload (since I’m taking time off work too) and I’ll see how things go. My thinking right now is to either just keep benching (provided the rehab, massage, stretching, etc. works out), or to go with inclines and see how I respond to those.

• Deadlift
  • 170 x 5
  • 210 x 5
  • 250 x 3
  • 315 x 5
  • 355 x 3
  • 400 x 5 (5 rep PR)
  • 355 x 8
  • 315 x 7
• Hyperextensions
  • BW x 12
  • BW x 12
  • BW x 12
  • BW x 12
• Leg Curls
  • 35 x 12
  • 35 x 12
  • 35 x 12
• Crunches
  • BW x 20
  • BW x 12
  • BW x 10