8/31/20 Monday August 31, 2020 (Texas method volume - BB Squat, Bench, DL)

6:45am - belly breathing, Primal Move practice, Original Strength resets  - 45 minutes

7:30am - Kettlebell warm up

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
Arm bar + Crooked Arm bar 20kg with 3 presses and rotations, 1/1

24kg TGU x 1/1
48kg DL x 5
24kg 2H SW x 10 (hike swing park)

7:45am- Training session -  TM volume - BB Squat, Bench, DL

BB Squat:
45 bar x 5
135 x 5

225 x 3
275 x 2
315 x 1

345 x 1
365 x 1

work sets
385 x 5 x 5 sets (~90% of planned Intensity day of 430)

BB Bench:
45 bar x 5
135 x 5
185 x 3

225 x 2

work sets
245 x 5 x 4 sets (90-95% of planned Intensity day of 270)

245 x 4 x 1 set (had to rack it as I knew I was not getting the last rep)

245 x 1

BB DL (all hooked, belt at 315):

warm up
45 bar x 5
135 x 5 x 2 sets
225 x 3
315 x 1

work sets

330 x 5 x 2 sets (~80% of planned intensity day of 410)

rolling
hanging from the bar

Indian clubs 2 minutes

Band wrist extensions, 10 x 2 sets per hand
6lb sledgehammer hammer rotations, 10/10
6lb sledgehammer finger walks, 1/1, x 2

9:15am - Complete

Notes - This was a very good training session.  Getting deeper on the squats.  My technique is improving, I can see it clearly on video.  Sitting back better, using the hamstrings and glutes better.  Still need to go deeper, but the improvements are there.  This was a good bench session, I think I picked the right weight to start 5 x 5 if I had a better sense of how fatiguing 5 x 5 on heavy squat would be.  It does take it out of you.  So I didn't quite get the 5 x 5, but I will go up 2.5 lbs next volume session.  This was good work all around. For DLs, I had to deal with work phone calls so they were really spaced out which was annoying, I wanted to just get them done right away after benching.  After listening and watch to some video from SS over the weekend, I elected to change the timing of taking a breath in again, moving it to after touching the bar to shins, after pushing knees out, then breath, then set back, and pull.  That seemed to work better today.  I will keep working on it.  Taking the breath while bent over the bar is just not working for, I can't get enough air.  

8/28/20 Friday August 24, 2020 (Texas method intensity - BB Squat, OHP, DL, Chins)

 6:45am - belly breathing, Primal Move practice, Original Strength resets  - 45 minutes

7:30am - Kettlebell warm up

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
Arm bar + Crooked Arm bar 20kg with 3 presses and rotations, 1/1

24kg TGU x 1/1
48kg DL x 5
24kg 2H SW x 10 (hike swing park)

7:45am- Training session -  TM volume - BB Squat, OHP, DL

BB Squat:
45 bar x 5
135 x 5

225 x 3
275 x 2
315 x 1

365 x 1

405 x 1

work sets
425 x 5 x 1 set (Monday's 5 x 5 was 380)

BB OHP:
warm up
45 bar x 5
95 x 5
135 x 3

155 x 2

work sets
170 x 5 x 1 set (Monday's weight was 150, I felt like this was a good weight, and it was not a hard set - I think this is a PR for a set of 5)

BB DL (all hooked, belt at 315):

warm up
45 bar x 5
135 x 5 x 2 sets
225 x 3
315 x 1

375 x 1 (felt pretty good)

work set

410 x 4 fail on 5, could not break the bar.  Came back a few minutes later and tried again, no go (Monday was 2 sets of 5 at 325)

Chins 3 sets x 5

rolling
hanging from the bar

Indian clubs 2 minutes

Band wrist extensions, 10 x 2 sets per hand
6lb sledgehammer hammer rotations, 10/10
6lb sledgehammer finger walks, 1/1, x 2

9:15am - Complete

Notes - I would call this pretty good, but very disappointing to not be able to break the bar on the last DL rep.  Just frustrating.  I got deeper on the work set for squats, I was really happy with that.  OHP was not hard for the top set of 5, also a good sign.  Getting back to 5s on that lift this week has been good.  And then on the DL, I thought I was going to get it, but the 4th rep was very tough, and I could not get the 5th.  I stopped and tried to get my breath before getting it, and that was stupid. On these sets of 5 you just have to go.  And then I tried to get a single and could not.  I have to look at the video again, there has to be something there that I could improve technique wise.  Certainly the DL seems stalled.   I did a few chins at the end as well.  

8/26/20 Wednesday August 26, 2020 (Texas method light - BB Squat, Bench, Chins)

6:45am - belly breathing, Primal Move practice, Original Strength resets  - 45 minutes

7:30am - Kettlebell warm up

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
Arm bar + Crooked Arm bar 20kg with 3 presses and rotations, 1/1

24kg TGU x 1/1
48kg DL x 5
24kg 2H SW x 10 (hike swing park)

7:45am- Training session -  TM light - BB Squat, Bench, Chins

BB Squat:
45 bar x 5
135 x 5

185 x 3

225 x 3
275 x 2

work sets
315 x 5 x 2 sets (80-85% of planned Volume day of 380)

BB Bench:
45 bar x 5
135 x 5
185 x 3

work sets
225 x 5 x 3 sets (90-95% of planned Volume day of 245)

Chins

x 5 x 3 sets (tried to be stricter on these)

rolling
hanging from the bar

Indian clubs 2 minutes

Band wrist extensions, 10 x 2 sets per hand
6lb sledgehammer hammer rotations, 10/10
6lb sledgehammer finger walks, 1/1, x 2

9:15am - Complete

Notes - A really easy day, almost like I didn't even train, which was weird.  TM is definitely different than an NLP.  Volume day is damn hard, then you have a really easy day, and then Friday with Intensity we will see how that goes....

8/24/20 Monday August 24, 2020 (Texas method volume - BB Squat, OHP, DL)

 6:45am - belly breathing, Primal Move practice, Original Strength resets  - 45 minutes

7:30am - Kettlebell warm up

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
Arm bar + Crooked Arm bar 20kg with 3 presses and rotations, 1/1

24kg TGU x 1/1
48kg DL x 5
24kg 2H SW x 10 (hike swing park)

7:45am- Training session -  TM volume - BB Squat, OHP, DL

BB Squat:
45 bar x 5
135 x 5

225 x 3
275 x 2
315 x 1

345 x 1
365 x 1

work sets
380 x 5 x 5 sets (90% of planned Intensity day of 425)

BB OHP:
warm up
45 bar x 5
95 x 5
135 x 3

work sets
150 x 5 x 5 sets (I picked a weight here I was confident that I could get 5 x 5 - I barely fucking got it)

BB DL (all hooked, belt at 315):

warm up
45 bar x 5
135 x 5 x 2 sets
225 x 3
315 x 1

work set

325 x 5 x 2 sets (80% of planned intensity day of 410)

rolling
hanging from the bar

Indian clubs 2 minutes

Band wrist extensions, 10 x 2 sets per hand
6lb sledgehammer hammer rotations, 10/10
6lb sledgehammer finger walks, 1/1, x 2

9:15am - Complete

Notes - So after some back and forth, quite a bit of reading and listening to Paul Horn's video on the Texas Method on the SS Forum over the weekend, I just decided - It's Time.  NLP, essentially started in January with vigor on all 4 of the main lifts, has run its course now for squats and deads. Really the only thing hanging on was squats and frankly that is because I haven't been getting deep enough anyway.  So dropping the intensity and getting in more volume on TM with squats, I will renew my focus on getting deeper.  And I did that today, and am pleased with this change.  I mean 5 x 5 squats at 380 was still HARD no doubt. These Mondays are going to test me and it will Demand that I get recovered over each weekend.  With my schedule though, I think this could really work for me.  For OHP I just picked a weight that I knew I could get 5 x 5 on, and at 150, that's pretty low, I know.  I think there is somewhat of a big difference between the 5 x 5 weight and what I could do for singles (195), so I am not quite sure what I should do for Intensity day for the press.  I think the approach is supposed to be that this was 90% of Friday's weight, which would give me just one set of 165 which I know I could absolutely do.  I am going to think about this some more.  The DLs were pretty strong reps, I haven't done multiple work sets for DLs except for maybe once, so I wanted to be a little cautious out of the gate here and did 2 sets of 5.  I could have done 3 sets of 5 without any real issue, and next week, if things are going ok, I likely will bump up to that. This weight is targeted at 90% of the planned weight for Friday, which is 410 for one set of 5.  I have done that before, but it is close to my PR which is a triple at 415.  I think this is a good place to start the DL and we'll see where this goes. 

8/20/20 Thursday August 20, 2020 (BB Squat, Bench, OHP, Chins)

 8:45am - belly breathing, Primal Move practice, Original Strength resets  - 45 minutes

9:30am - Kettlebell warm up

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
Arm bar + Crooked Arm bar 20kg with 3 presses and rotations, 1/1

24kg TGU x 1/1
48kg DL x 5
24kg 2H SW x 10 (hike swing park)

9:45am- Training session -  BB Squat, Bench, OHP, Chins

BB Squat:
45 bar x 5
135 x 5

185 x 5
225 x 3
275 x 2
315 x 1
365 x 1

405 x 1

work sets
420 x 5 x 3 sets

BB Bench:
45 bar x 5
135 x 5
185 x 3
225 x 2
255 x 1

275 x 1

work sets
290 x 1 x 5 sets

BB OHP:
warm up
45 bar x 5
95 x 5
135 x 3
165 x 1
185 x 1

work sets
160 x 5 x 1 set

160 x 4 fail on 5

160 x 3

12 reps

Chins
x 5 x 3 sets 

rolling
hanging from the bar

Indian clubs 2 minutes

Band wrist extensions, 10 x 2 sets per hand
6lb sledgehammer hammer rotations, 10/10
6lb sledgehammer finger walks, 1/1, x 2

10:45am - Complete

Notes - OK training day. A little experimenting here to switch to one intensity and one volume day for the upper body lifts each week.  Haven't really figured it out yet very well.  160 was too heavy for volume on pressing, I need to be able to get all of my 5s.  Bench was pretty good.  Squats were very difficult.  No doubt I need to get serious about getting a coach very soon as I am spinning my wheels here a bit. 

8/18/20 Tuesday August 17, 2020 (BB DL, OHP)

7:45am - belly breathing, Primal Move practice, Original Strength resets  - 45 minutes

8:30am - Kettlebell warm up

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
Arm bar + Crooked Arm bar 20kg with 3 presses and rotations, 1/1

24kg TGU x 1/1
48kg DL x 5
24kg 2H SW x 10 (hike swing park)

8:45am- Training session -  BB DL, OHP

BB DL (all hooked, belt at 315):

warm up
45 bar x 5
135 x 5 x 2 sets
225 x 3
315 x 2
375 x 1

work set
415 x 0 (could not break the bar)

405 x 0 (could not break the bar)

365 x 5

BB OHP:
warm up
45 bar x 5
95 x 5
135 x 3
165 x 1

work sets
185 x 1 x 5 sets

5 reps

rolling
hanging from the bar

Indian clubs 2 minutes

Band wrist extensions, 10 x 2 sets per hand
6lb sledgehammer hammer rotations, 10/10
6lb sledgehammer finger walks, 1/1, x 2

9:45am - Complete

Notes - An absolute shit training session.  I had not nothing.  Low back not recovered from Monday's training session.  I arranged things this way this week due to traveling on Thursday.  I wish I had saved the DL for Thursday, probably better to have planned for more recovery and just did some overhead pressing today.  Quite disappointing.  My left low back is tight, my stomach has been bothering me, and I simply did not have it today.  A bit of a learning point as I either just need to DL on the same day as squat (because I would be warmed up and could just go get it done - this worked last Monday for a 415 lb triple PR) or have enough rest (48 hrs) after squatting.  Back to back days is not going to work.  I an out of time as I wanted to do 10-15 heavy singles for OHP today, but had to get to a bodywork appointment on time.  The bodywork helped.  We'll see how squatting and benching goes on Thursday. 

8/17/20 Monday August 17, 2020 (BB Squat, Bench)

 9:45am - belly breathing, Primal Move practice, Original Strength resets  - 45 minutes

10:30am - Kettlebell warm up

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
Arm bar + Crooked Arm bar 20kg with 3 presses and rotations, 1/1

24kg TGU x 1/1
48kg DL x 5
24kg 2H SW x 10 (hike swing park)

10:45am- Training session -  BB Squat, Bench

BB Squat:
45 bar x 5
135 x 5

185 x 5
225 x 3
275 x 2
315 x 1
365 x 1

395 x 1

work sets
415 x 5 x 3 sets

BB Bench:
45 bar x 5
135 x 5
185 x 3
225 x 2
245 x 1

work sets
260 x 2 (hit the pin, which made me think I had set it in the wrong spot, so I racked it.  So frustrating)

260 x 5 x 3 sets (PR)

260 x 4 racked it, didn't go for the 5th rep

260 x 3 fail on 4

24 completed reps total

rolling
hanging from the bar

Indian clubs 2 minutes

Band wrist extensions, 10 x 2 sets per hand
6lb sledgehammer hammer rotations, 10/10
6lb sledgehammer finger walks, 1/1, x 2

12:15am - Complete

Notes - A good day getting back in the swing of things.  Belt was a little tight - I probably have put on a few lbs over vacation and it's also extremely hot, I think I am taking on some water and feel a bit bloated.  I will watch it because it was a bit uncomfortable and may have impacted the work sets just a little bit.  With that said I handled 415 again today, this was a good choice, we'll see if I can run it up to 420 on Thursday as the schedule is off this week with the planned trip to the Oregon coast.  I went for volume on the bench today, I am going to try intensity on the bench on Thursday.  The weight choice at 260 was good, if I didn't have the issue on the first set I think I could have hit 5 x 4 sets, which was my goal.  As it was I just decided to get 25 reps, didn't make it, but this was a good effort after picking 265 lbs last Monday and struggling to get 18 successful reps. 

also, my wife is hot and I love her so damn much. I am the luckiest guy in the world! (Leah)

8/14/20 Friday August 14, 2020 (KBs Priest Lake)

 Back in Priest Lake

Warms up consist of some overhead holds, goblet squats, light presses, deadlifts and swings. 

Main training this day was

DB 32kgs SQ x 5 x 6 sets

DB 24kgs CL x 5 PR x 5, x 3 sets

DB 32kgs floor PR x 5 x 3 sets

32kg 2H SW x 10 x 3 sets

8/12/20 Wednesday August 12, 2020 (KBs Priest Lake)

Back in Priest Lake

Warms up consist of some overhead holds, goblet squats, light presses, deadlifts and swings. 

I was feeling very tired and not fully recovered from Monday's workout.  Particularly squatting the double 32s was ugly.  Adductors really tight.

Main training this day was

DB 32kgs SQ 1 x 3 sets

DB 24kgs SQ 3 x 3 sets

DB 32kgs PR 3 x 5 sets

3 sets of farmer carries with the 32s superset with swings with the 32 to finish. 

Got a massage this afternoon, which I think will help quite a bit.  

8/10/20 Monday August 10, 2020 (BB Squat, Bench, DL)

 6:45am - belly breathing, Primal Move practice, Original Strength resets  - 45 minutes

7:30am - Kettlebell warm up

1/2K halos - 12kg, 4X each side / each leg (total 16X)
Arm bar + Crooked Arm bar 20kg with 3 presses and rotations, 1/1

24kg TGU x 1/1
48kg DL x 5
24kg 2H SW x 10 (hike swing park)

7:45am- Training session -  BB Squat, Bench, DL

BB Squat:
45 bar x 5
135 x 5
225 x 3
275 x 2
315 x 1
365 x 1

395 x 1

work sets
415 x 5 x 3 sets

BB Bench:
45 bar x 5
135 x 5
185 x 3
225 x 2
255 x 1

work sets
265 x 5 (PR)

265 x 4 fail on 5

265 x 4 

265 x 3 fail on 4

265 x 2 fail on 3

18 completed reps total

BB DL (all hooked, belt at 315):

warm up
45 bar x 5
135 x 5 x 2 sets
225 x 3
315 x 2
375 x 1

work set
415 x 3 (PR) (decided to stop at a set of 3)

rolling
hanging from the bar

Indian clubs 2 minutes

Band wrist extensions, 10 x 2 sets per hand
6lb sledgehammer hammer rotations, 10/10
6lb sledgehammer finger walks, 1/1, x 2

9:15am - Complete

Notes - Traveled back home from Priest Lake on Sunday, 7 hours in the car, to drop off Frankie and Liam.  Knew this was going to be a tough session and I had a flight to catch back to Spokane to head back to Priest Lake.  In the circumstances I decided to squat 415, which was a good weight choice and went well.  I will likely squat this again to start after vacation and then run up another NLP and just see where I can take it.  Overall that was good.  On bench I decided to drop the weight but get in a bit more volume and see if I could hit a rep PR at a weight I previously topped out at with triples, 265.  Overall I had some good sets and did hit PRs, though I think either 255 or 260 would have been a better choice and perhaps I could have hit 5 sets of 5, or at least 4 sets of 5 which is what I was really shooting for.  So a slight disappointment as I do not like failing reps, though the fails were done in a professional manner and I definitely tried to grind through them.  To end with a PR triple on the DL at 415 I felt like was a real accomplishment.  I wasn't sure if I should go heavy and I just decided fuck it and went for it.  The next time I DL heavy I should be more fresh, and I am going to trip and hit a set of 5 at 415.  The last rep on this was tough, I may, may, may have had one rep left in me but I would say it would have been ugly.  In the situation I wanted to take this PR and come back and regroup for the next time pulling heavy. 

8/7/20 Friday August 7, 2020 (KBs Priest Lake)

Warms up consist of some overhead holds, goblet squats, light presses, deadlifts and swings. 

Main training this day was

DB 32kgs SQ 4 x 7 sets

DB 32kgs PR 4 x 5 sets

a few snatches, some farmer carries to finish. 

8/5/20 Wednesday August 5, 2020 (KBs Priest Lake)

Warms up consist of some overhead holds, goblet squats, light presses, deadlifts and swings. 

Main training this day was a complex for 30 minutes

DB 32kgs CL x 2 PR x 1 FSQ x 3 - 10 sets

DB 32kgs CL x 2 PR x 1 FSQ x 2 - 4 sets

8/3/20 Monday August 3, 2020 (KBs Priest Lake)

 Took 1 20kg, 2 24kgs, and 2 32kgs to Priest Lake where we are vacationing for 2 weeks.  

Warms up consist of some overhead holds, goblet squats, light presses, deadlifts and swings. 

Main training this day was

DB 32kgs SQ 3 x 8 sets

DB 32kgs PR 3 x 5 sets

a few snatches, some farmer carries to finish.