Another COVID-19 "Gym's Closed Question" - Restarting Weight

Hey everybody,

First off, I have to say thank you to the Barbell Medicine crew for creating awesome content and bringing much needed science-based information to the training world. I’ve improved tremendously in the month or so since I’ve started following your advice.

That being said, I just started the Starting Strength novice progression on the 7th. The first week went great, I’m sure my form needs work in all lifts, but progress was made. Now, like many others, my gym has closed indefinitely (at least 2 weeks). I have bands, one 15lb kettlebell, and a pull up bar at home that I plan on using to keep moving - I’ll be following some of Alan Thrall’s routines and the advice Leah wrote in the newsletter, but my question is: if I keep moving using these routines, how much do you think I’ll have to back off my lifts when I return to the gym in 2-4 weeks?

For reference my weights at the end of last week were: 145 lbs squat, 100 lbs bench, and 205 lbs deadlift. I’m a healthy 29 y/o male who only complains about his rotator cuff tear when his wife asks him to do something he doesn’t want to do.

Thanks again!
-Steve

Hi there,

Welcome and thanks for the kind words. Glad you’ve found our content helpful.

Regarding your question – No one can predict this. Whenever you get back, you’ll have to work up and find an appropriate weight for that day.

Thanks Austin, that’s about what I figured. Luckily, worst case scenario I only have a week to make up and two to four weeks to study form.

Thanks again,
-Steve

Being one of the few (I’m guessing) people that ran both the SSNLP and the BBM Beginner’s Template, I’d choose the latter, 10/10 as Jordan says. You may want to buy it while your gym is closed and read over it and start that instead of an LP. I had a forced layoff after breaking my foot and came back doing the beginner template. It got me back to where I was at my best strength-wise in about 6-8 weeks. I also saw a tremendous hypertrophic response, versus getting fat on the LP. Since you have to start over, from my experience the Beginner Template is the superior place to start from.