Codger's Quest

[codgerus maximus]

How are liking this new program?

Do you feel like it will work on the platform come meet day?

I'm enjoying the program though my numbers have been a bit inconsistent. I think my body is starting to adapt to the new training--short rests, etc. I decided not to enter the New Mexico meet. I've been nursing a sore right elbow and and left shoulder and they're just starting to feel better so I thought I'd give them more time to heal and focus on powerbuilding/hypertrophy for a while and avoid singles above RPE 8. In the fall my plan is to start one of the RTS meet-prep programs and see how that goes.

Maybe by early winter I'll be ready for a meet. At some point I'd like to work with a trainer, either with one of the BBM crew or with RTS. Or maybe drive to Albuquerque once a month to work with a great lifter there named Carlos Santoliquido: https://www.openpowerlifting.org/u/carlossantoliquido He placed second in the Raw Master's Nationals in Daytona and he took first place in Spokane in 2018.

Looks like your training is coming along nicely!

[gymdad150]

How are liking this new program?

Do you feel like it will work on the platform come meet day?

[codgerus maximus]

Week 3 day 2

Deadlift with belt: [email protected]; 395x2x5. 90 to 120 seconds rest.

Floor press: [email protected]; 172.5x5x6; 60 seconds rest.

High bar squat: [email protected] amrap; 185x12x2. Three minutes rest. The first set left me gasping for air for two minutes. Is there an RPE 12? So instead of doing 196.25 for the last two sets I dropped the weight to 185. I think 210 would have been a better choice for the first set.

[codgerus maximus]

Week 3 day 1 on the RTS powerbuilding template

Squat with belt: [email protected]; 272.5x2x5. 40 to 60 seconds rest.

Comp bench: [email protected]; 193.75x2x7. 30 to 40 seconds rest.

3-board close-grip bench: 172.5x13x1 (amrap set); 152.5x12x4. Two to three minutes rest.

Felt good today, fresh and well rested.

[codgerus maximus]

Week 2 day 4

Two-inch deficit deadlift, no belt: [email protected]; 357.5x2x3. Two minutes rest.

Close-grip bench: [email protected]; 172.5x3x6. 40 to 60 seconds rest.

RDL with straps: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Two minutes rest.

[codgerus maximus]

Week 2 day 3

Safety bar squat, no belt: [email protected]; 233.75x2x5. 60 seconds rest.

Low-pin bench: [email protected]; 202.5x2x5. 90 seconds rest.

DB flies: 95x14x1 (amrap set); 85x12x4. 90 seconds rest.

I was expecting to do 230 on the bench today. My 1RM strength seems to fade quickly when I'm not following a strength-specific program, but sheesh...I'll stay on this program for another couple of weeks to see how it goes. If my numbers don't improve I might have to switch things up. Or just do a bodybuilding template for fun.

[codgerus maximus]

Week 2 day 2

Deadlift with belt: [email protected]; 365x3x6. Two minutes rest.

Two-board bench: [email protected]; 215x2x5. 60 to 70 seconds rest.

Close-stance high-bar squat: [email protected]; 196.25x12x2. Two to three minutes rest. Phew, I was breathing pretty hard during these sets in my hot garage.

[codgerus maximus]

Week 2 day 1 on the RTS Powerbuilding program

Squat with belt: [email protected]; 247.5x3x6. 60 to 70 seconds rest.

Comp bench: [email protected]; 177.5x3x8. 60 seconds rest.

Close-grip floor press: [email protected] (amrap set); 135x12x4. Two to three minutes rest.

[codgerus maximus]

Week 1 day 4

Two-count paused deadlift, no belt: [email protected]; 351.25x3x4. 60 to 90 seconds rest.

Touch and go bench: [email protected]; 170x5x6. 60 to 90 seconds rest. I thought 207.5 for 4 reps would feel like an 8. Not today.

Snatch grip RDL: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] 60 to 90 seconds rest. I used straps for the last 2 sets.

[codgerus maximus]

Week 1 day 3

Low-pin squat, no belt: [email protected]; 255x3x6. Two minutes rest.

Low-pin incline bench: [email protected]; 135x3x6. 90 seconds rest.

DB bench: 150 (total weight) [email protected]; 125x12x4. Three minutes rest.

I'm enjoying these first few days of the RTS powerbuilding program. Each workout starts with a couple of low-rep sets at RPE 8 to gauge your strength for the day. Then you drop the weight by 10 to 15 percent for the volume work that follows.

[codgerus maximus]

31 inch waist

...damnnn Tim! You'll be heading out for Mr. Olympia if you keep that up!

Maybe if I were carrying 30 or 40 more pounds of muscle...I'm a measly 176 or 177 now.

[gymdad150]

Minimal Rest

Not something I want to contemplate when training.

31 inch waist ...damnnn Tim! You'll be heading out for Mr. Olympia if you keep that up!

[codgerus maximus]

Week 1 day 2

Deadlift with belt: [email protected]; 325x5x6. Two to three minutes rest.

Slingshot bench: [email protected]; 205x3x6. 60 to 90 seconds rest.

Belt squat: [email protected]; 245x12x2. Two minutes rest.

[codgerus maximus]

Starting another program with Reactive Training Systems: 8 weeks of powerbuilding, a hybrid bodybuilding/powerlifting cycle.

Week 1 day 1

Squat with belt: [email protected]; 217.5x5x6. 90 seconds rest.

Comp bench: [email protected]; 160x5x6. 60 to 80 seconds rest. After finishing the workout I looked at the template and realized I was supposed to do 8 sets at 160 instead of 6.

Press, no belt: [email protected] (amrap set); [email protected] Three minutes rest.

The template specifies "minimal rest" between all sets. I was able to keep the rest below two minutes for the squats and benches, and tried resting 90 seconds after the first set of presses, but realized I would never hit 12 reps for all the sets without resting a bit more.

[codgerus maximus]

Week 7 day 4

Reverse grip bench: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Three to four minutes rest.

Close-grip bench with mini-bands: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; 102.5x8x1. Three to four minutes rest.

Push press; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Three to four minutes rest.

And that's a wrap for the RTS hypertrophy program. Maybe I'm slightly larger? Hard to tell. Next week I'll start another RTS template, a powerbuilding program, which looks like it has lots of volume.