Sunday, 04/08/2018:
Chins: 9 in 1 minute, 28 in 3 minutes
Abs: 7 mins, 6x5 rollouts, 4x 30s side plank, 6x deadbug (those are killer)
Lat Pulldown: Don’t feel like typing everything cause I kept tanking and lowering the weight.
Upright Rows: 40lbs x20,16,14,14
LISS: Elliptical 30 min @ +/-140
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYFbRNehD2c
HLM Week 3
BW: 202.0
I tried and failed to get some extra sleep to catch up from my awful last week, not from time constraints but just my stupid body. I managed to get about 6 each the last couple of days so that is pretty normal for me at least.
Tuesday, 04/10/2018:
Comp Squat:
5x275
5x315 @8
5x305 @8
5x295 @8
5x285 @8
E1RM: 389 (down 11 - from the last day of GPP/HYP when I hurt myself)
w00t! First 315 since the day I kneeceboed myself six long weeks ago. Work capacity is trash hence the descending sets so It’ll still probably be a week or two until I can do this weight for sets across @8. Stoked about doing 5 sets at any weight though. That will get my work cap moving in the right direction. I fell onto my toes on rep 3 at 305 and I finished the set (and the rest of the sets) without doing it again and without dying either.
Comp Bench:
5x180 @7
5x190 @7.5
5x200 @8
5x200 @8.5
5x195 @8
5x190 @8.5
E1RM: 247(up 6)
Tried keeping the leg drive on all the time. It got my arch bigger but I just felt so…naked when I tried to push the bar off my chest. It didn’t feel good on the back either so I went back to my normal way for now because I’m greedy for a PR. 5x200 felt really heavy but upon review the last rep was faster than last week’s 195 so If I am cheating the RPE a little bit I still made good progress from last week. Dropped the weight a bit after to expedite the process (I was taking too long) and to hopefully not mess up my next press session too much.
Rack Pull (mid shin):
4x325 @7
4x345 @8
4x365 @9
4x365 @9
4x365 @9
E1RM: 424 (up 11.5)
The first @9 probably wasn’t really @9 if the others were and it was a bit easier but I don’t really find these that fatiguing, probably because they omit the greater part of my leg strength.
Bro Block
Barbell CurlzZz: 50 lbs x12, 40 lbs x12,12,12
Dumbell Side Lateral Raise: 15s x12,10, 10s x12,12
Tricep Pushdown (rope): 75 lbs x14,10,12
Staked out my cable machine and didn’t let the bros near it so I was able to get all 11 sets done in 8 minutes! Still hit the 2 hour mark though and didn’t have time for cardio.
That was the best workout in a while. If it wasn’t for RPE (and the philosophy that goes with it) I probably would have thought I need a huge reset after my train wreck of a last workout and then I would just detrain like crazy.
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuOGTKLSSKU
You’d sound like this too if you lived in my frozen homeland.
Thursday, 04/12/2018:
Holy shit! It’s snowing like a mafk all day. It’s not even cold enough that it should stay on the ground but it’s making up for it by brute force.
Comp Press:
5x115@7
5x120@7
5x130@8
5x135@9
5x135@9.5
E1RM: 160.5 (up 10.5)
115 @7 had me thinking shit, I probably won’t get past 120. 120 felt good so I loaded what I thought was an ill-conceived ego PR but I got it. Then I knew I had 135 in me at some RPE at least and I had to go for it because it’s a lifetime PR (and my old previous attempts were touch&go to boot) and got it with at least one in the tank. The big reason I had to is because this is my last week of fahves for at least 12 weeks.
Leg Press:
8x305 @<6
8x385 @7
8x405 @8
8x405 @8
8x405 @8
E1RM: 547 (down 61)
Legs are still pretty trashed from squats. Felt heavy and sketchy on the knee so I was cautious. I have no idea about the actual RPE.
Close grip Bench:
8x145 @6
8x155 @7
8x165 @8
8x165 @8.5
8x160 @8
E1RM: 223 (up 20)
I guess I can accept a 20lb E1RM increase from last week 
Chins:
26 in 3 minutes
34 in 3 minutes - w00t smashed my PR by 2 reps
HIIT: Elliptical 20/100 x4
Well, that was pretty awesome despite my leg press tanking. Oh well. That will allow me to be nice and fresh for the next workout. I’m actually going to do deadlifts first this time like I’m supposed to and I’m gonna destroy them.
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVEgxDad0_w
Thought it was kinda crappy at first but by the time it was done I had to play it again.
Saturday, 04/14/2018:
Comp Deadlift:
5x315 @6
5x345 @7
5x375 @8
5x365 @9
5x335 @8
E1RM: 463 (up 74 
:)
:p)
Holy crappy work capacity but I won’t argue with the top set.
Incline Bench:
4x150 @7
4x160 @8
4x170 @9
4x165 @9
4x160 @8.5
E1RM: 197.5(up 9.5)
Finally hit @9.
Squat no belt:
4x275 @7
4x285 @8
4x295 @9
4x285 @9
4x275 @9
E1RM: 343 (down 15)
Numbers suck but work capacity is trashy and I haven’t done beltless squats (or any squats after deadlifts) in a coon’s age. Probably weren’t truly @9 but they felt hard and my good knee kind of hurt. Hope that’s not becoming a thing. I long for the days of doing 5x5 on TM and 6@9 on the bridge both at 315 no belt.
Bro Block:
Barbell CurlzZz: 50 lbs x14, 40 lbs x14,12,12
Tricep Pushdown (straight): 115****lbs x15,12,12,12
Dumbell Side Lateral Raise: 15s x14,10, 10s x14,14
That took 11 minutes this time. Shame.
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcwp_yKBRHk
Sunday, 04/15/2018:
Slept like 7 hours which is probably a PR for this month but then it took another 6 hours or so to drag my ass out of bed and off to the gym. Just feeling exhausted. I think I broke my abs with the failed standing rollout.
Pullups: 12 in 1 minute, 30 in 3 minutes
Didn’t expect that many after not doing pullups for months.
Abs: 5 mins. 0.5 standing rollouts, 5 fuck the dogs, 4 diddly squats, 3 barely dick alls
Cable Rows 7 mins: Started too heavy, don’t feel like typing different weights.
Changing that up too since I haven’t done any barbell rows for a while. I think the chins are good for my vertical pulling and I might add weight or do something harder once I get 36 in 3 mins.
Upright Rows: 45lbs x16,14,12,12
LISS: Elliptical 25 min @ +/-140
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Ps-OtDdGU
HLM Week 4
BW: 203.0
Gaining a little bit faster than I want to and my waist is up a quarter inch (back to what it started at on this program). I’m not going to change anything as the gainzZz will probably be perfectly on track for the next week or two if not a bit less.
Tuesday, 04/17/2018:
Comp Squat:
4x290 @6
4x305 @7
4x320 @8.5
4x320 @9
4x315 @8
4x305 @8.5
E1RM: 376.5 (down 12.5)
Finally actually doing this program for squats. First two sets felt great and I thought I was on track for 320 @8 which would still be a slight reduction in E1RM due to the moved goal posts (which was ok because I wanted to be able to do it for 4 sets) but it felt hard, probably just due to my still lagging work capacity. Could have been @8 according to video but I’ll call it 8.5 because I decided to try to leave my ego with the old goal posts and give myself some room to increase E1RM on the 4’s even though I want to try to repeat this weight for 4 sets next week.
Comp Bench:
4x190 @7
4x200 @8
4x210 @8.5
4x210 @9
4x200 @8
4x200 @8.5
E1RM: 247(keep the change)
210 might have been @8. Felt like a grind but according to video the last rep was a tiny bit slower than last week. Once again, the ego thing. I’ll try to get 4 clean sets of 210 @8 next week.
Rack Pull (mid shin):
4x335 @7
4x355 @9
4x335 @9
E1RM: 413 (down 11.5)
355 was supposed to be @8. Was also bothering my back and knee. Tried to back off and do all my volume anyway but even 335 again was a mental struggle. Fuck this. Rack pulls aren’t worth it. Bring on the pause deadlifts.
Bro Block
Barbell CurlzZz: 50 lbs x14,12, 40 lbs x12,18
Dumbell Side Lateral Raise: 15s x15,12, 10s x14,14
Tricep Pushdown (rope): 75 lbs x16,12,12
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3vxIoCOvxQ
Thursday, 04/19/2018:
Hit a new monthly PR of sleeping 7-8 hours after my last workout. Then last night I came down with a sore throat and it doesn’t take much to prevent me from sleeping so I got 3-4 hours. I should have a full cold by now if I’m getting one. I’m usually pretty devastated by colds and get fever too but my last one was the mildest ever (so mild that I didn’t complain about it in my log and I love to complain 
) so hopefully whatever it is I’ll be over it soon.
Comp Press:
4x125@8
4x125@8.5
4x120@8
4x120@8
4x115@7
4x115@7
E1RM: 149.5 (down 11.5)
125 was supposed to @6 so I did the warmup sets as backoffs. Hopefully just following my pattern of 4 steps back, 5 steps forward.
Leg Press:
8x360 @6
8x405 @7
8x450 @9
8x430 @8
8x405 @7
8x405 @7
E1RM: 592 (up 45)
Dropped the weight again when I realised I had 4 top sets to do and I wanted to survive them.
Close grip Bench:
8x135 @6
8x145 @7
8x155 @8
8x155 @8.5
8x150 @8
8x150 @8.5
E1RM: 209.5 (down 13.5)
Same deal, just trying to get through all these sets with 3 minuteish rests. Don’t have all day ya know?
Chins:
26 in 3 minutes
34.5 in 3 minutes - failed the 35th by a few inches
HIIT: Elliptical 20/100 x4
Ouch, that’s br00tal when only done once per week. I feel like puking.
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaIUcAVos5Y
Saturday, 04/21/2018:
I feel so fucked up. I thought my last cold being so mild meant the training had toughened me up. I guess not. Sleep has been shit. Coughing and hacking shit out all night.
Comp Deadlift:
4x315 @6
4x325 @7
4x335 @8
4x335 @8
4x335 @8
4x335 @8
E1RM: 399 (down 64)
I always try not to nocebo myself when I’m having a day like this then I overshoot the RPEs and wreck myself so I can’t do the volume. Well I know better now. Weights suck but it’s the first time I ever hit 6 sets of deadlifts. Maybe deadlifts aren’t uniquely fatiguing but they sure are uniquely sensitive for me. Rip would be disgusted, maybe I could have hit a PR if I tried Let’s see if I can continue the pattern of E1RM being down 60 then up 70
Incline Bench:
4x135 @6
4x150 @7
4x165 @9
4x160 @8
4x160 @8
4x160 @8
E1RM: 192(down 5.5)
Added an extra set cause I was waiting for the squat rack and I didn’t make it back to @9 again. Still didn’t hit it with like 2 minutes rest before the last one. Weird.
Squat no belt:
4x245 @6
4x270 @7
4x285 @8
4x285 @8
4x285 @8.5
4x285 @9
E1RM: 352 (up 9)
Didn’t expect E1RM to be up but I guess the deadlifts kind of woke me up a little. Since I did an extra set of bench I thought why not make it 6 of errthang but I worked up to the @9 as a repeat instead. I’m so vintage RTS.
Bro Block:
Barbell CurlzZz: 50 lbs x14, 40 lbs x14,12,12
Tricep Pushdown (straight): 115****lbs x14,12,12,12
Dumbell Side Lateral Raise: 15s x12 10s x14,14,14
Glad I noceboed myself. Instead of grinding against heavy weights I just got lots of work done within 95 minutes and I feel better after. Easy, breezy, beautiful.
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqR4CZj0mJQ
Best ever unbeatable version of a popular song to copy.
Sunday, 04/22/2018:
Slept for 7 hours. Score. Still tired af though.
Abs: 5 mins, 2x5 rollouts, 2x 30s side plank, 8x deadbug 1x30s forearm plank
Cable Rows (cambered D bar) 7 mins: 80 lbs x14,12,12,10,10,10,8 Total = 76
Upright Rows: 50 lbs x16,12,14,?
LISS: Elliptical 25 min @ +/-140
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3muBS3BqVk
HLM Week 5
BW: 202.2
Been sleeping fairly well. Still sick I guess but not nearly as bad as before. I thought I was past its affecting my strength but I guess not. Was really looking forward to this workout and expecting to kill it.
Tuesday, 04/24/2018:
Comp Squat:
1x355 @9
4x315 @9
4x305 @8.5
4x295 @8.5
E1RM: 366 (down 10.5)
Still have no idea how to gauge the RPE of a single and select weights based on it. I’m pumped that this program will give me 28 chances practise it instead of 12 like those other programs.
Comp Bench:
1x205 @7
1x215 @8
4x195 @8
4x195 @9
4x185 @8
E1RM: 232 (down 15)
Bawls.
2 count Pause Deadlift:
1x315 @7
1x335 @8
3x315 @9
3x315 @9
E1RM: 358
Pathetic half second pause on the top single according to my video.
Bro Block
Barbell CurlzZz: 45 lbs x14 (power rack lawl, 50s were all taken) , 40 lbs x12,12,10,10
Dumbell Side Lateral Raise: 15s x14, 10s x14,12,12,12
Tricep Pushdown (rope): 75 lbs x16,14,12,12
HIIT: Elliptical 20/100 x4
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW4TJKSS7Jk
Meal Prep: Almond Chicken Korma. Continuing my war against boring lean proteins this dish sees diced chicken breasts marinated with tons of spices before simmering in a smoothie of pureed onions, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, almonds and coconut. Macros (including rice): 104C, 26F, 46P.
Thursday, 04/26/2018:
Comp Press:
4x120@7
4x125@8
1x137@8
4x125@8
4x125@8.5
E1RM: 149 (keep the change)
Trying the alternate way of warming up for a single laid out by Jordan, but I had to add an @6-7 set first to help me calibrate. It helped me hit everything bang on instead of grinding out the single and having no idea what to do after.
Front Squat:
6x175 @6
6x185 @7
6x195 @8
6x195 @8
E1RM: 247
First time doing front squats heavier than myoreps. I find it super hard to keep my chest up and not let the weight fall ahead of my midfoot. It felt like I kind of had to actively pull up on it with the straps I was using to hold it so it doesn’t roll off.
TnG Bench:
6x165 @6
6x175 @7
6x185 @8.5
6x180 @9
6x170 @8
E1RM: 231 (down 2)
I don’t know if it’s just the fatigue from pressing or if my TnG bench is actually worse than my pause now.
Chins:
26 in 3 minutes
35 in 3 minutes - PR!
HIIT: Elliptical 20/100 x4
Kinda bummed that I’m in a downturn for a second week in a row after it took me weeks to get things moving again after my cut. Usually after a bad week I jump even farther ahead than I was before. Feeling like a “non-responder” to training.
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Os9CUFFmYY
Saturday, 04/28/2018:
Snow falling, snow on the ground. Abs are still ridiculously sore from front squats. No better than yesterday. Traps were tender to the touch yesterday but fine now.
Comp Deadlift:
4x335 @6
4x385 @8
1x405 @9.5
4x365 @8.5
4x345 @8
E1RM: 458.5 (up 59.5)
Maybe this method of working up to a single doesn’t work for deadlifts because I still fatigue so fast on them. Felt like a near max. Or maybe I was full of shit on the 4x385 @8.
2-count Pause Bench:
3x195 @8
3x200 @8.5
1x210 @8
3x205 @9
E1RM: 233 (up 0.5)
Single was so smooth.
2-count Pause Squat:
3x275 @8
3x285 @9
1x305 @9
3x285 @9
E1RM: 323 (down 8.5 depuis longtemps)
Happy with the form. Depth was perfect. Definitely legal and not 2 inches deeper. Maybe 1 inch. No rebound. Single still felt like a grind for some reason. Probably just not used to how slow they are with the pause.
Bro Block:
Barbell CurlzZz: 50 lbs x14,12, 40 lbs x12,12,12
Tricep Pushdown (straight): 115****lbs x14,105****lbs x14,12,12,12
Dumbell Side Lateral Raise: 15s x12 10s x14,12,12,14
Deadlift is not back where it was but I think I’m starting to get out the hole. I guess I kind of needed the lower stress week. Gonna have an extra set on everything next week.
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHO40HywOlM
Sunday, 04/29/2018:
Another lazy Sunday.
Cable Rows (straight-ish bar) 7 mins: 90 lbs x14,12,10,10,10,10,10 Total = 76
Upright Rows: 50 lbs x12, 4****0 lbs x12,12,12,12
LISS: Elliptical 30 min @ +/-140
Will do abs later. Out of time at the gym and my abs are too boned to use the roller anyway which is the only thing I can’t do at home.
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glgPZmSwC4M
HLM Week 6
Weekly avg weight: 203.26 (up .61)
Tuesday, 05/01/2018:
Comp Squat:
4x295 @8
1x320 @8
4x295 @8
4x295 @8.5
4x295 @8.5
E1RM: 351 (down 15)
295 was supposed to be a feeler set, hopefully @6.
Comp Bench:
4x185 @8
1x205 @8
4x185 @8
4x185 @8
4x185 @8.5
E1RM: 220 (down 12)
Same deal here.
2 count Pause Deadlift:
3x295 @9
1x315 @8
3x295 @9
3x295 @9
E1RM: 335 (down 23)
And here.
Bro Block
Barbell CurlzZz: 50 lbs x12, 40 lbs x12,12,12,14
Dumbell Side Lateral Raise: 10s x14,14,12,12,2
Tricep Pushdown (rope): 75 lbs x14,14,12,12
HIIT: Elliptical 20/100 x6
That felt good and I had time to kill so I did 2 extra. Maybe I should become a cardio bunny.
Well that fucking blew. Numbers are down 3 weeks in a row, 38 total on squat and 27 on bench. Shitty sleep last night is not a good enough excuse especially since I slept well for 2 nights before. I’m not sick anymore. I have no idea what’s wrong. I’m not overshooting everything and beating myself up. I’m not doing little enough volume that I should be detraining either. Some intervention may be required if this situation does not improve soon.
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdzmGq4_IM0
Thursday, 05/03/2018:
Comp Press:
4x115@6.5
4x125@8.5
1x135@8
4x122@8
4x122@8
4x122@8.5
E1RM: 147 (down 2)
Front Squat:
4x175 @fuck off
Quit because it felt too heavy and I can’t do the damn things properly. Did 3 sets of 6 with 4 plates on leg press. Motivation is at an all time (since I started logging) low and I was already 20 minutes in to my second slot by the time I worked up to a top set.
TnG Bench:
6x155 @6
6x165 @7
6x175 @8
6x175 @9
6x165 @7.5
6x170 @8
E1RM: 221.5 (down 9.5)
Chins:
24 in 3 minutes
Everything feels creaky and stiff. I don’t know if I’ve been underrecovering or if it’s all in my head. Or maybe I got lazy and cut the weight too much in my first bad week, it left me detrained a little by the next week and I did it again creating a vicious cycle. I don’t know if the solution is a low stress week or stop being a baby and push the weight higher.
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewc1hixzYPY
Saturday, 05/05/2018:
Comp Deadlift:
4x345 @8.5
4x335 @8.5
4x315 @8
E1RM: 406 (down 52.5)
345 was supposed to be an attempt @6. Don’t feel like doing an embarrassingly light single.
2-count Pause Bench:
3x185 @8.5
1x195 @7.5
3x190 @8.5
3x195 @9
E1RM: 221.5 (down 11.5)
2-count Pause Squat:
3x275 @9
3x275 @9
3x275 @9
E1RM: 312.5 (down 10.5)
275 was supposed to be a feeler set too. Not doing a single cause I was in the rack where I have to use the spotter pins as the hooks because the hooks suck.
Bro Block:
Barbell CurlzZz: 50 lbs x12, 40 lbs x14,12,12,12
Tricep Pushdown (straight): 110lbs x14,14,14,12.12
Dumbell Side Lateral Raise: 10s x14,14,12,14,14
Well, that’s it. Not disappointed or calling this a crappy workout because I’ve already decided I’m bailing on the last 2 weeks of this program. For whatever reason I’m just digging myself deeper in the hole. Does that mean I’m undertrained? I don’t know, but I’ve been feeling icky and achy everywhere. Gonna take 2 full days off before we change everything up next week.
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi7ACLrM9Nc&index=5&list=PLd5MHnEFzb4tcOWw4nNtSz4PFB1LyK_s2
The Montana Method week 0.5
Weekly avg weight: 203.20 (down .06)
So I took up John Hanley on his amazing offer at the Leftist Land forums. @Sean_Herbison can’t be wrong, right? Hanley programmed me this sort of bridge (not THE bridge) workout before I start in earnest on Friday.
Tuesday, 05/08/2018: Hypertrophy Ramp up
Comp Squat:
5x245 x2 sets (70%)
4x245 x3 sets
Sets every 2.5 minutes (including working time) All felt like @6 but I don’t think anything can ever feel much lower for me.
TnG Bench:
1x187 @7ish (85%)
5x155 x2 sets (70%)
4x155 x4 sets
Every 90 seconds. All sets @nothing.
Close Grip Bench:
15x145 @8.5 AMRAP (65%)
Comp Deadlift:
2x285 x8 sets (70%)
Every 90 seconds for the first 4 sets then 2 mins for the last 4.
Bro Block 10 mins:
CurlzZz/Laterali
6 sets/6 sets
That felt good. No grinding today. Got a bunch of work in within 65 minutes (before the bro block). Some part of me is sceptical that this will do anything for me since I used to do this kind of volume at 80% and above but look where that got me. My joints are thanking me too. Geezers like me have to watch the intensity.
Song of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfrhnjAkaRE
This one’s for @Squib
So I follow your logs because I’m the same age, very similar body comp and strength (to when you started your cut) and pretty similar goals lol. Independently I had decided to do the same template progression as well: Bridge 1.0, GppH, HLM. Am I reading right HLM was pretty unsuccessful for you? Any thoughts yet on why, if so?
Thanks for the logs and going through recomp first!
Yeah, well at least I was pretty unsuccessful on HLM. It took me a few weeks to get things moving, things were going good for a few weeks then I started tanking and had 3 weeks in a row with my lifts lower and lower.
I hate to say it but I think the reason is probably too much stress. Well, I don’t want Jordan to kill me so maybe I’ll just say “applying the wrong type of stress”? I know Jordan doesn’t believe in overtraining and if by that we mean a clinical condition that ruins your life and makes your cat hate you then I would have to agree. But I definitely think it is possible to do more than you can recover (and supercompensate from) within a reasonable timeframe. Or failing that, there can always be an amount of stress where with all other things being equal, a little less volume or less intensity would get you better GainzZz and that’s the zone I think I was in for whatever reason. I kind of got caught up in thinking that I’m training resistant (and how training resistant people need MORE work) and all the memes about undertraining not overtraining which kind of prevented me from realising what was going on.
Reading through the Montana Method threads at leftist land I discovered the Hanley Normalised Fatigue Metric, expressed by this formula:
H=reps×(100[100− intensity (in percent)])^2
And explained more in depth here:
https://www.exodus-strength.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=60806#p60806
According to the formula the very lowest stress lifts on HLM score about 450 on the HNFM which is supposedly pushing the boundary of what is recoverable within 48 hours. That is just on the low stress week. Much more common values are over 500 all the way to 800+. Now HLM never promises to have you recovered within 48 hours (like the Montana Method tries to do) but it’s easy to see how multiple consecutive workouts that are not recoverable from within 48 hours could add up to not recovering before the next week starts.
Now this is of course just a tool and not gospel, and lots of people do seem to do well on these high stress programs. That is just my analysis of why it probably went wrong for me. And that is not to blame it all on the program either because there are likely multiple compounding factors and I didn’t do the program exactly as written anyway.
For one I did an extra slot of benching instead of barbell rows. I also did a lot of extra bro exercises which I thought shouldn’t interfere much but the pushdowns probably didn’t help with the tricep fatigue. Now those are all upper body exercises but I wonder if it is possible for that to cause some general fatigue that can spill over into lower body lifts. I don’t know. As for recovery, I tried really hard but there were a few several day long stretches of really crappy sleep and I did get a really bad cold at one point but I wouldn’t expect those things alone to completely derail me. Oh yeah, the last thing I just remembered is that I added 3 weeks to the development phase (though I ramped up the squat and deadlift volume slower than the program called for) which means I went 8 weeks without a low stress week (was trying for 10) instead of 7 as the program specifies. However I was already running into problems in the sixth week past the initial low stress week. I was doing pretty well with fahves for the competition lifts. The trouble seemed to coincide with the switch to fours which could be a coincidence or it could be the extra intensity and slightly higher stress did me in.
Anyways, I’m tired of making practically no gains for 6 months (though I did consider it a success to lose 20 lbs while maintaining strength) and I’m eager to try out a new system more volume at lower intensities and overall fatigue. I’m glad to have someone to help me get back on track if I fuck up again :o
How are you doing with the templates so far? Are you still on the Bridge or on to GPP? I hope I didn’t nocebo you.
Dangerous assumption there.
