Hi BBM guys, as this is my first post I would like to open it by saying thank you for the content you produce, it is appreciated!
I hope this post does not contain unnecessary info but I will try to give a complete picture as I notice acommon response to questions is to ask for better information.
My question: I am undergoing my Starting Strength Novice programme, I have not missed a workout but that is maybe the only thing that has gone well, out of life stresses leave me lacking in sleep and food (70+ hour work weeks paying for a property alone). I think I am coming to a likely premature end to my novice period, given my bench has now failed and my deadlift feels less like progress and more like a strength test. Is a deload appropriate in this moment? I am aware that I am a novice and may be falling in to the trap of wanting to milk my novice gains for too long? But as the same time I am wondering if rerunning it is worth it, especially given the fact I am currently losing weight and likely strength.
I have just listened to Austins chat with Szat Strength where he discussing training through his residency. It was inspiring to hear that and I will definitely keep up my training but I am uncertain what training approach is best, any advice is appreciated here. I have read The Bridge and I am prepared to start it.
[Edit: I don’t know if my numbers are useful to this but I will add them and put them in pounds. I am 6ft, between 160-170 pounds (was 170 a week ago but I am closer to 160 now), and my lifts are currently… Squats 165, Deadlift 297, Bench 158, Press 94. Squat is not at a challenging level yet]
PS: During the beginning of my LP I had pain in my left leg/hip when squatting. I was not able to add weight for a while and actually had to drop it to a manageable level but still squatted all but 1 workout I believe. I probably would have avoided squats all together during that period if not for your advice, so thanks! It felt good to do something even if impaired.
I am 28. Fairly average athlete… 25/26 inch vertical, was able to get a sub 20 minute 5k after a few months of running to list my only real athletic accomplishments!
At 6 feet and 170lbs, you are still very under weight. I am 3 inches taller than you and weight 50 lbs more while still looking very skinny. I suggest SLOWLY gaining more weight and seeing if the calorie surplus will hash out your strength issues. I think it’s unlikely that you tap out your squat at 165 already unless your form is egregious, you are not taking enough rest between sets, or you are eating too little.
That being said, there is absolutely no reason to keep running the LP if you have truly stalled. Move on to more intelligent programming. Even if you haven’t milked out all you can from the LP, you will still progress on the Bridge but the rate of progression won’t be as fast.
Yep, nobody recommends you get fat like Rip would have you do and it seems as if there has been some controversy over what BBM actually recommends but at 6 feet and 170 you could still gain weight FAST for a little while yet. Like a pound per week for a couple months then take note of your body composition and maybe slow it down. I would also say your LP isn’t really done if you’re 170 (don’t worry, I’m not Rip though. I wont say you need to be over 200). Your LP especially isn’t done if your squats haven’t even got challenging yet. Eating more should help with the deadlift and presses and if the presses still stall there is always the BBM plug-in.
I know BBM always says not to grind out your LP and keep resetting but on the other hand there really is no reason to cut it short when you could still be adding to your squat every time.
Aware that I am underweight, and definitely trying to stay on top of it. I have probably net gained 3/4lbs in the last month, but as you can see for my original post, my body just burns fat if I am unable to eat well at work. I have learnt through the BBM guys not to over milk LPs but outside of my panicked original post, I have only just failed my bench, and since my squat is so far behind my deadlift, I may just add some volume to my deadlift until the squat is caught up to a challenging level.
My plan for now is to keep running my LP, I was definitely panicking after a poor workout when I wrote my original post. My bench only failed 2 workouts ago and I took the route of adding more volume instead of a deload, probably be a month+ until that stops working. No doubt my deadlift LP will run out way before my squat too so I may well just add some more deadlift volume until the squat has caught up before moving over to the bridge.
Weight gain will forever be a problem during this period of my life, even with meal prep I still lose weight during work. Hearing that a pound of added weight a week is ok gives me some reassurance, I have definitely added weight to my frame. I guess I was holding myself to the Rip standard too closely, stressing that I am not even close to 200 right now.
Thanks to the both of you for taking time to respond I appreciate it
@neandrewthal I will be honest with you I am not opposed to a bit of a belly at this point, while running and boxing I weighed as little as 67kg (147lbs)! I fancy having a go at life with a belly haha. It will forever frustrate me that I am running this LP through a period in my life where weight gain is very difficult but that’s just how it goes, I will switch to the bridge when I stall and that’s that I guess. Either way I am very pleased with my progress, 4 of my last 12 workouts have been done on the same day as a root canal!