April 2nd, 2019

Richard E. Lindner YMCA

StrongLifts B

Squat: 4/3/3/3/3 @ 315 lbs.*
Overhead Press: 5×3 @ 120 lbs.**
Deadlift: 1×5 @ 325 lbs.
Chinups: 3×5 @ BW***

Body Weight: 200 lbs.

*Alas, I only managed four squats on the first set. So, it's 5×3 from this point on.

** I felt -reel- uneasy doing this after what happened last time, but alas, I survived. But I didn't push myself to get five reps, instead settling for three.

***For some reason, I am switching up my assistance again and going back with the StrongLifts suggestions. Possibly because I got tired of the other apps. That said, I do want to do more chinups than the StrongLifts default, which I felt was insufficient. But instead, I am going to compromise by just delving into weighted chinups next time, since just did 3×5 at body weight. StrongLifts says to do weighted chinups after you are able to achieve 25 total across three sets at body weight. But the best I could ever do like that was 21, though that's also when my body weight was increasing rapidly... Lately, it's been holding steady in the 190s, which I have been reporting as 200 lbs because my gym's double-beam balance has very limited precision in that range. So, we'll see what happens.

March 31st, 2019

Richard E. Lindner YMCA

StrongLifts A

Squat: 3×5 @ 310 lbs.
Bench Press: 2 @ 190 lbs.; 5/5/5/4 @ 175 lbs.*
Barbell Row: 5×5 @ 210 lbs.

Body Weight: 200 lbs.

*I learned that my bench press form sucks. Again. When the weight gets heavy, I naturally shrug my shoulders upward for some reason. Apparently, you are supposed to do the exact opposite: push them downward. That, combined with the fact that I only got two reps at 190 lbs suggested to me that it was time to deload to 175 lbs, where I last achieved 5/5/5/5/4. The problem is, this time I only got 5/5/5/4. I blame that on my unfamiliarity with the actual form and the two reps at 190 lbs at the beginning. But whatever, I took it. So long as I am able to achieve 3×5 at 177.5 instead of 5×3, it's an improvement.

March 28/9th, 2019

Richard E. Lindner YMCA

StrongLifts B

Squat: 2 @ 330 lbs.; 3×5 @ 305 lbs.*
Overhead Press: 0 @ 132.5 lbs.; 5/5/5/4 @ 117.5 lbs.**
Deadlift: 1×5 @ 320 lbs.

Body Weight: 200 lbs.

*I only got two reps on the first squat set. Since I need at least three reps to continue, it's time to drop back down to the last weight where I failed to get five reps and get five reps. That weight was 305 lbs., and I managed to bust out 3×5. 5×5 would have been better, but it's still an improvement.

**Well, shit. I started feeling lightheaded before completing the first rep at 132.5 lbs. Not wanting to repeat the event of March 14th where I passed out with the weight over my head, I decided to re-rack the weight before completing the rep. Then I passed out. And I hit my head on the floor. And I gave myself a concussion. Goddamnit.

I was a bit dazed while I tried to figure out what happened and why I was suddenly on the floor. Then I sat up and began to feel nauseous, which is why I eventually got up and sat myself down in front of a garbage can. I messaged my parents, who then immediately called, and I spoke to them for some time before I finally felt well enough to drive myself home, where I messaged my doctor and spent the rest of the day on the couch.

The doctor says the reason I might be passing out is due to some kind of reflex syncope. These things are generally harmless--unless of course, you injure yourself during the fall. In any case, it's really annoying. The doctor recommends that I not lift alone, and he is right. But alas, lifting the damn weight is hard enough. I wish everything surrounding the activity could just be easy.

Anyway, against my better judgment, I went back to the gym to finish my lifts the next day. I probably shouldn't have, but I'm stubborn. I also de-loaded the press in the same manner as my squats above.

March 24th, 2019

Richard E. Lindner YMCA

StrongLifts B

Squat: 2/2/2 @ 325 lbs.*
Overhead Press: 1×3 @ 130 lbs.; 2×3 @ 120 lbs.*
Deadlift: 1×5 @ 315 lbs.

Body Weight: 200 lbs.

*This was an unusual situation because I had to share the rack with others. I usually have it all to myself. Consequently, plates were arranged in non-ideal ways, I was distracted and missed reps, and I didn't record my first overhead press set! That really sucks, because it was a PR...

March 14th, 2019

Richard E. Lindner YMCA

StrongLifts B

Squat: 5×3 @ 305 lbs.*
Overhead Press: 5×3 @ 125 lbs.**
Deadlift: 0 @ 350 lbs.***

Body Weight: 202 lbs.

*I only managed four reps on my first squat set, so I switched to 5×3. I'm still making progress since I managed to get 5×5 at 300 lbs. last time! Next time I deload, I'll drop back down to 305 lbs., and try for 5×5. I think I'll get it.

**I passed out! Bad! Well, it wasn't worse than any other time, but I dropped the bar from about the highest point possible. Fortunately, it seems to be fine. And I'm fine. And I became a little closer to the guy I always nod with whenever we see each other. I don't know his name, but I really appreciate him. He did tap the bar during my last rep, so technically I can't count it, but, I probably shouldn't count the one I passed out on, anyway. So I might redo this lift next time. And I'll set the safety pins higher.

It's worth noting that I did have warning signs before I lost it. I found myself on the verge of blacking out after the first reps of my first two sets. Moreover, I knew it was happening in real time. If the safety pins were higher, I might have been able to drop the bar down on them instead of the floor. So, that is what I shall do from now on.

***I knew I wasn't going to get all five reps, but I hoped I'd get at least one. However, after my last warmup set and noting how hard it was, I am not surprised by the outcome. So, it's time to deload and work back up, and once again I will find myself in the situation where I am squatting more than I am deadlifting.

February 28th, 2019

Richard E. Lindner YMCA

StrongLifts B

Squat: 3/2 @ 325 lbs., 2×3 @ 305 lbs.*
Overhead Press: 5/5/4 @ 117.5 lbs.**
Deadlift: 1×5 @ 345 lbs.

Body Weight: 204.5 lbs.

*I missed the last rep on the second squat set at 325 lbs. So, I switched to the 1×3 scheme, which is one heavy set of three followed by two lighter sets of three.

**I missed the last rep! Therefore, I am switching to 5×3 at 120 lbs. next time.

February 23rd, 2019

Richard E. Lindner YMCA

StrongLifts B

Squat: 5×3 @ 315 lbs.
Overhead Press: 5×5 @ 115 lbs.*
Deadlift: 1×5 @ 340 lbs.

Body Weight: 206 lbs.

*Two sessions ago, I failed to get three consecutive overhead press reps at 127.5 lbs. By my rules, that meant I had to try it again today. Well, I did, and after the first rep, I experienced the very familiar sensation of being on the verge of blackout. Nonetheless, I lifted it again. But I couldn't, or just didn't, raise the bar a third time. Thus I had the feeling that I wasn't going to do any better than I did the time before, and trying would be a waste of time. So I opted to make progress on a different front--increase tonnage. The most recent weight where I failed to get five sets of five reps, and therefore switched to three sets of five reps, was 115 lbs. So I deloaded back to that and shot for 5×5. And I got it! Barely, but I got it. Hopefully, I get it next time, too.

February 19th, 2019

Richard E. Lindner YMCA

StrongLifts B

Squat: 5×3 @ 305 lbs.
Overhead Press: 2/2/1 @ 127.5 lbs.*
Deadlift: 1×5 @ 335 lbs.

Body Weight: 204 lbs.

*Well damn. I blew up the overhead press! I was shooting for 5×3, but I couldn't get more than two reps on the first two sets, and after getting the bar up once on the third set, I experienced the sensation I get before passing out. So, I thought it wise to stop there. Next time I am going back down to 115 lbs., but I'll shoot for 5×5. Wish me luck.