I've been trying to give my readers an update of my training at the end of each month. 15 years ago, when we kept our training logs initially on the old elitefts website, I had so many folks that followed along... rep for rep. Really awesome to hear after all those years of putting in work.
While we don't really keep full training logs on here anymore, I like to give an update on what I'm doing. I always find it fascinating what people like me, who've been training for 20+ years, are doing year after year to continue to progress.
As some of you know, I hired a coach last year as I was stuck in limbo on what I really wanted my training to be. I didn't have any comp plans and I wasn't really wanting to go super heavy (at the time). And frankly, I didn't want to think about my own training. I write programming for 20-25 athletes, as well as my own in person training clients, so writing a program for myself was not fun anymore.
The month of January was a continual build on some similar exercises that I had been doing. Incline bench has been a staple. I started the first 6 weeks going off Reps In Reserve (RIR) and now I'm working off the top number I hit with that.
The week I had 0 RIR, I hit 135 for a really tough 8. The weeks that followed, I did 3x6, 3x7, 3x8 and an AMRAP of 10 at that same weight. Fun to see that progress build.
My lower body days rotate weekly as well with some banded squats and trap bar work alternating with high bar tempo and SSB squats. I've been using a combination of Oly shoes and flats. Initially the Oly shoes felt better as I was reworking my stance and pelvis position. But I'm slowly feeling more comfortable in flats again.
My goal the past few months was to just become comfortable squatting again. Working on my weaknesses at submaximal weights, but perfecting position. Not pushing heavy and just putting in work.
It's paying off.