I’m debating what to do.

So today was fine — it’s deload, it’s no big deal, nothing to write home about.

But it does have me thinking.

Do I need to change?

Part of me sees how my trip to Maui went. Looks like I did gain a couple pounds, which I should be able to shed easily, but it also got me thinking that maybe I want to shed more. What if I stayed on the current lifting program and spent the next 10 weeks on another cut? If say I lost 15-20 pounds, that would be awesome and put me in an awesome position for a powerlifting cycle (weight-gain-wise). Plus I’d have lost a bit more flab.

Part of me wants to change the program tho. I’m starting to feel some not so good things. My left knee is feeling strange, and my elbows are mad at me. I’m putting a hard guess at the elbows being from the heavier skullcrushers. And my knee? That I don’t know, but I’m just working to manage it right now. Still, I think the massive volume at the heavier weights is taking a toll on me. But then I think, how much of it is because of the poor sleep I’ve had the past some weeks?

And stuff will be changing soon. At the day job, the current client project is ending and I’ll be starting on some smaller projects shortly, which in theory should be less stress and happier times, more peaceful days. Plus if I stay on this cycle, it’s “meso 1 again” but this time aiming for a slightly higher rep range, thus weights should be a bit lighter. As well, exercise selection takes on more dumbbell work, which should be a little more polite on everything too.

But a change in programming would be a change to the RP powerlifting templates, starting with 1 cycle of their hypertrophy then transitioning to strength for a cycle or two. While intensities will go up, work will go WAY down — FAR fewer sets and exercises in a week. So it’s different stress, but in some regards should be easier because it’ll be say an hour in the gym (instead of 2-2.5), and just less overall work.

But then as well, I wanted to dedicate myself to finishing out this program attempt because there’s benefits to gain and things to learn (it has been eye-opening). But then, I’ve been taking this general approach for about 5-6 months, and I know from past experience I get beat up enough and sometimes radical program change is needed.

As you can tell from my thinking-out-loud that I just don’t know what to do right now. I’m not feeling good, but I want to see things through. Results have been good, but I’m getting worn. And in the end I gotta admit, I want to get back to powerlifting.

RP Physique, Mesocycle 1.1, week 5, deload

• High Bar Squat
  • bar x 10
  • 135 x 5
  • 185 x 3
  • 210 x 5
  • 210 x 5
• Front Squat
  • bar x 5
  • 145 x 5
  • 145 x 4
• Seated Leg Curl
  • 115 x 5
  • 115 x 5
• Stair Calves
  • 50 x 5
  • 50 x 5
• Skullcrushers
  • 45 x 10
  • 70 x 5
  • 90 x 5
  • 90 x 5
• Military Press
  • 115 x 5
  • 115 x 5