After coming off my best meet performance of my career, I am now officially a beat up powerlifter. I'm having some minor low back issues that I'm working on mending up, and then I'll begin to find a competitive option. My goals for 2017 are to compete in a bodybuilding show and also get back to the platform 100% healthy.

For programming and coaching inquires, please email SmitleyPerformanceSystems@gmail.com or visit brandonsmitley.com

Thursday's training ended up being a combo day due to the fact that I was going to be out of town coaching over the weekend. Nothing earth shattering really, but just trying to make small improvements on my squat and deadlift. Still the heaviest I've been on both these lifts since back in December, which is crazy to think about. The weights are still moving excellent and there is no pain - so a drastic improvement. I wasn't really sitting into my right hip all that bad either this week. I'm going to give my body a minor break before getting back into these, but I've got to may goal of getting to 65% feeling good, so it's time to reward myself with a little bit of rest from these movements. I've still got ample time, and will slowly chip away from week to week. I'm trying to hit the correctives, breathing, and just being really aware of my movement when training, but at some point I have to let that go and just train. I think my body is much better off than I think it is.


Items Used in this Training Session
Texas Deadlift Bar
Mini Band

Warm Up
PRI Breathing Work - 5 min
Hip Flexor Stretch - 30 sec per leg
Leg Swings (forward and side to side) - 10 each
Single Leg RDL - 10 per leg
Bulgarian Split Squat - 10 per leg
Goblet Squat - 10
Standing Band Crunch - 15

A1) Squat
205x3
225x3
245x3
265x3
285x3
295x3

B1) Sumo Deadlift
255x3
275x3
295x3
315x3
325x3

C1) Single Leg RDL
4x15 per leg

D1) Pistold Squat
3x12 per leg (slightly assisted)
D2) GHR (Elevated)
3 sets, max reps

E1) Squat Hold with Band Around Knees
3x30 sec
E2) Standing Band Crunches
3x20