ExRx.net

Yes, that's my PR. It's not that bad actually but it's just I think I should have done better.

Yeah, well. Don't emphasize "should have". Emphasize "I did".

I second what Jungledoc said. That was a good, solid rep! You won't crank out an earth-shattering PR every day, but even getting that single rep was nice. It's more than I lift!

Thanks for the encouragement!
I kinda have a fixed idea in my head that I should be able to do at least equal to the last workout since I train consistently. It's hard let go of my ego.

Yeah, I know. Most of us are like that.

What kind of weights are you using? I was trying to figure out if you had metric weights and are converting to pounds to report in your journal, or if maybe this is KG! Any way I convert it, it comes out to an odd fraction. How do you end up with these odd weights?

Yes, my weights are in metric. I just multiply it by 2.2 for simplicity.

Forgot to mention that the DBs I use are adjustable DBs with increments of 3lb 5lb 8lb and 10lb so the numbers in my journal might seem weird.

Update my measurements.

Chest 41"
Waist 37"
Arm 14.5"
Thigh 25.5"
Hip 41"

Getting fatter.

Nice!

Thanks. I felt super great after the lift.

I see you have stalled on your bench press. Here's a collection of answers from Jim Wendler reagrding stalling, and stalling on bench press in particular with regards to 5/3/1.

Gone through a number of cycles…. Stalled. What do to?

o If you've done 5 cycles... Take the weights from the 2nd or 3rd cycle and repeat...do 5 more cycles. Take 5 steps forward, 2-3 steps back...and repeat.

o 1. Start lighter - this is probably the best advice. 2. Pick your battles - don't have to max out on the last set all the time. I go "all out" two or three times a cycle. 3. Do more or do less - Too many workouts in a week sometimes do more harm than good. Make sure you are recovering properly. Fixing one or more of these things will help you.

and

Bunch of tips for breaking through stalled bench press using 5/3/1

- For example, if I'm getting ready to have a big week pressing, I'll take a week or two OFF from any kind of pressing accessory movements. This allows my chest and shoulders some time to recover and not stress them. This doesn't mean I don't press or bench press; it means that my accessory work is usually a lot of lat and upper back work.

- So with this example in mind, understand that the best solution is not always to do more. It might be best to back off a bit and let your body recover instead. This might mean to lower the training max of your program, or keep the same training max and only do the prescribed reps. But since 1% of you will never do this and will choose the more volume route, here are two suggestions:

- Perform the bench press sets as written, then repeat the first set again, but go all out on this set, too.

- Perform the bench press sets as written, and repeat the percentages on the way down. For example, on the 3x5 week you would do 65% x5, 75% x5, 85% x5+, 75% x5, and 65% x 5+.

- I assume most of you are doing chins and pull-ups between all your pressing sets. Be sure to continue to do this with these extra pressing sets to keep everything in balance.

Hope that helps.

Nice job on the 418 pull!

(green with envy!)

Cheers Doc. Although this isn't my journal comments.

I'm hoping to pull 450-460 before the end of the year. Watch this space (or my journal to be specific).

Thanks for the advice, Phil.
Think I'll back off to where I can finish all the reps.