Week 2 of the new cycle.

I do hope I didn’t over-estimate on the weights. I think I’ll be OK tho. I mean, I’m still working to stop 3/fail and reps are in the desired 7-10 range, so in the coming weeks as intensity goes up and “x/fail” goes down, it should all work out.

I still feel weird with this approach of getting volume over the course of a week instead of one day. I still have that Arnold “chase the pump” mentality, where by the end of the session you should have that skin-splitting pump. I get a pump, but it’s not skin-splitting. But this is a different approach and methodology, which is sound. I’m just not used to it. But results in the end are what matters. Plus the fact I just don’t feel totally beat up is always a plus.

Since the sessions are going to be getting longer soon, I’m going to try to cut down on rest times. For the heaviest stuff, I’ll still aim for 3 minutes. Most things I want to cut down to 2 minutes, and even 1 minute where I can (e.g. warm-ups, abs, etc.). That should also increase perceived intensity a bit. I won’t do it at the expense of good work, but if I don’t take a little care to vary the rest period times, I’m going to be in the gym forever. 😉

RP Physique, Mesocycle 1.1, week 2

• Incline Medium Grip Bench Press
  • bar x 10
  • 95 x 10
  • 135 x 5
  • 185 x 10
  • 185 x 7
  • 185 x 7
  • 185 x 7
• Dips
  • BW x 8
  • BW x 8
  • BW x 8
  • BW x 8
• Close-Grip Bench Press
  • 140 x 10
  • 140 x 10
  • 140 x 10
• Barbell Bent Over Row
  • bar x 10
  • 95 x 10
  • 135 x 5
  • 175 x 8
  • 175 x 8
  • 175 x 7
  • 175 x 7
• Narrow-Grip Pulldown
  • 130 x 10
  • 130 x 10
  • 130 x 8
  • 130 x 8
• Upright Rows
  • bar x 10
  • 75 x 5
  • 100 x 10
  • 100 x 10
  • 100 x 8
  • 100 x 8
• Reaching Sit-up
  • 5 x 10
  • 5 x 10
  • 5 x 10