I guess I was really overdue for a break, as even the light workload was fatiguing yesterday. I started with SSB Squats to give my elbow and bicep tendinitis a break. It’s interesting that I watched Dave Tate interview Dan Green earlier in the day and Dan states he uses the SSB for the specific purpose of giving his elbows and biceps a break from low bar squatting. I think he said he actually rotates it in regularly to replace the low bar squat for that reason, and because it’s a great back exercise.
Anyway, so I worked up to a single at 182 lbs or thereabouts and then did 1 set of 8 with 145 or so. I followed that with two light sets of SSB GM’s, which I really like actually and should incorporate as a regular hamstring/posterior chain movement. I did some light back and bicep and called it a day.
I feel much more recovered today, and can actually feel the motivation to train, and that’s after only one deload session. After a full week, I should be chomping at the bit to lift.
Speaking of lifting, as I wrote yesterday, I really need a hypertrophy focused mindset for a while, because I wouldn’t compete at my current strength levels, and because I’m not swole. Dan Green joked about not getting into the sport to be smaller, which is pretty much what I’ve done for years in pursuit of being leaner. I’m going to dedicate more time to getting the volume in as I stated yesterday, while keeping the competition movements in the mix, but not focusing on them quite so specifically as Izzy would have me do. Izzy is a big fan of using the competition lifts for rep work too, but honestly it’s too much wear and tear on this old body, and probably on any body. To think I was low bar squatting three times a week. No wonder my bicep tendon and elbow tendon eventually got angry. I may switch to high bar squatting for a while, even on the competition lift.
I plan to add a 5th training day so I can get the volume in each training session without making them marathons. Fascinating to watch a few videos of Dan Green, one of the world’s great Powerlifters, training like a bodybuilder. He is a bro at heart apparently, as I watched him do Close Grip Bench, overhead Tri Extensions, seated OHP, seated DB shoulder press, lateral raises and machine dips. All for lots and lots of reps. Didn’t even remotely resemble powerlifting training!
My left quad strain moves around some, so I’m not quite sure what it is. Today, it’s on the left side, starting near the top of the femur and moving straight down the leg. I’ve got a heating pad on it now, and it’s not bad certainly, but it’s there. I thought it might be IT band, but some quick research doesn’t match my symptoms.
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