Mike's Log

On Mondays and Thursday I have to train on base at the base gym during lunch, because I go to college at night on those days. I’m only able to train for about 40 minutes, but it usually turns out OK.

On Monday I pressed for volume and did 170 2×3, 175 3×3. The typical TM protocol is 5×5 or 8×3, but I simply cannot handle that much volume. My diet is quite good (IMHO), and I sleep well enough (7 hours usually). If anything, I could sleep more, but at this point in my life, my hours are non-negotiable as far as I’m concerned. So the presses went easy. I haven’t had a volume press day in over a month, so I was fairly pleased. I’m confident I will make it to 190/195 for sets across before early March, when I will start to taper my volume slightly before competing.

I did a light set of incline bench after for some accessory work, and due to time constraints, did them as a super set with chins. I did 3×5 +25 for weighted chins easily, so I was mildly satisfied. Somewhere around 45 it seems to get slightly more challenging to perform perfect reps at 250 pounds. After I got off work I was irritated about some things, so I went downstairs and did a super set of bis/tris (fairly light). I generally do biceps and maybe some supplemental tricep work Monday, and this was nothing crazy. I think I did one arm curls on a preacher curl and pushdowns, but don’t hold me to it.

Yesterday I volume squatted for the first time in a month, and I’m sort of happy with how it went. I did ascending sets at 425, 440, and 455 with the goal of doing 3×5. The 425/440 were easy, but I couldn’t get set up right with 455. I did three which felt terrible, and racked it. I waited a few minutes, and then did another two, which still didn’t feel good. I think one of two things happened. Chris thought like it liked like that bar was too low on my back, and I also think I just got tired too quickly. As I mentioned above, my recovery is shit, and it takes me time to get used to volume squatting every time I take a break from it. If I don’t hit it next week (which there’s no way I won’t), I’ll go back to the drawing board. For now, I need to at least triple 475 on Saturday.

Nothing crazy today, just trying to get used to training heavy again.


Squatted and worked up to 475×1, walked out 485×1 and got about halfway down before I decided to come back up. I drifted forward for some reason. I’ve never done this before…I haven’t squatted heavier than 455 for over a month, so I’m not too irritated. I’d like to hit 475×3 next Saturday, and then work up to at least 505-510×3 by March. We shall see.


Pulled heavy after that, and worked up to 500×3 EZPZ. I haven’t pulled over 455 in two months, so I was happy with this. I need to work up close to 600 by the end of February if I want to pull over 600 in March. This is ideal.


Then I did some light Romanian Deadlifts and Good Mornings.


Then Chris and I decided to push my Tacoma down the street. This sucked. We both did two trips, and that was enough. My legs were insanely pumped after doing this, and breathing was rather difficult. The subsequent blood-shot eyes were also sweet.