Expectations for Progress Beginner-Intermediate

Hello!

I’ve been training consistently with barbells for six months.

Two months ago I was running the GPP template, and now I’m in the middle of 12 week strength.

Basically, I track my lifts and RPE, and two months ago, my 5 @ 8 on the squat and bench were pretty close to where they are now. So psychologically and educationally, I’m struggling with the subjective interpretation that I’m not really making progress anymore.

Now the caveat/albiet thing is, on another intellectual level, I’m really happy with my progress on 12 week strength so far! last two weeks, my heavy single on the squat and deadlift have really shot up. I got revenge on heavy singles that two months ago I failed (or didn’t succeed with technique wise)

So I guess:

For my deadlift, I’m really happy and I know that things are getting better because the heavy singles are going up.

To a lesser extent, so too the squat.

For bench & press, idk, it’s been a while since I saw any progress on these lifts, I’m not sure what’s going on, I’m wondering if I need more intensity or volume, even as I am doing the training.

Basically I understand that eventually progress slows down, but where’s the point where you say “hey this doesn’t seem to be working, maybe I need to do something else?”

Leon,

What are you working with weight wise right now for the big 3 now and what were you doing 3 months ago?

-Jordan

Thanks, Jordan!

Looking at late May… belt squats, I was doing (I try to write down the times so I know how long I was resting, leads to things like “aha you rested 10 minutes between a set of squats back in May?”

May 24, 2019

Squats with belt and press with belt

4x225 @ 8
1x245 @ 8
4x225 @ 8 3:22pm
4x225 @ 8 3:32pm
4x225 @ 8
4x225 @ 8

Standing Press

95x5 @ 8 4:02pm

May 23, 2019
Deadlift w/ Belt
5x269 lbs @ 8

May 17 - Friday - 2019
Deadlifts
5x5x225 @8
Bench
1x165 @ 8
4x5x145 @ 8
Squat
6x185 @ 6
6x195 @ 7
6x3x205 @ 8

and compare to now, three months later:

Monday, Jul 22nd, 2019

Squat with Belt
275 lbs 5 @ 9

225 lbs 4 @ 8
225 lbs 4 @ 8
225 lbs 4 @ 8.5
225 lbs 4 @ 8
225 lbs 5 @ 8

Standing Press w/ Belt:

115x1 @ 8, 95x4 @ 8, 95x4 @ 8, 95x4 @ 8, 95x4 @ 8, 95x4 @ 8.5

Tuesday July 23, 2019 - Deadlift with belt

335x1 @ 7, 345x1 @ 8, 4x4x275 @ 8, 4x275 @ 9

Bench 165 @ 9, 125x4 @ 7, 3x125 @ 8

Thursday July 25, 2019

Squats no belt:

185x4 @ 6, 225 x 4 @ 7, 235 x 4 @ 8, 245 x 4 @ 9, 230 x 4 @ 8, 230 x 4 @ 9

Bench with wraps:

155x4@9, 135x4 @ 7, 140x4 @ 7, 140x8, 145 x4 @9

Also last week I did 290 lbs leg press x 10 @ 8 RPE.

This looks fine to me. Carry on and keep training :slight_smile: Try and add weight each week without blowing up your RPE’s above what is recommended.

Hey just checking back in, Squat and Bench on heavy singles went up 10 lbs with a “train on” mentality… I’m going to deadlift in today, not going to kick up my deadlift by more than 10 lbs of last week, but everything seems to be developing.