Reality Check
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 5:05 pm
I've been doing Christian Thibaudeau's 915 workout (http://www.t-nation.com/workouts/915-workout-program) the past few weeks. I'm on week 4 now and have finally plugged the numbers into my spreadsheet for the remainder of the cycle. My numbers are based on the following:
Starting maxes
Bench max: 405
Squat max: 550
Deadlift max: 630
The workout piqued my curiosity because it's claims of progress seemed borderline unrealistic, and the set/rep scheme looked, at least on paper, to be unsustainable. So, of course I decided to try it out. It's worked surprisingly well the first three weeks, and I expect weeks 4 and 5 will be doable too. But weeks 6, 7, and 8... the poundages don't seem realistically achievable. But that's what I thought going in (even for the first three weeks)! So...wanted to get a bit of perspective (a second opinion) from the board here. I am still game to try it out...but if the consensus here is that I'm courting injury to even attempt it...discretion is the better part of valor.
Week 8 specifically just goes to 105% of max, a third of the predicted 15% performance increase, but the numbers I calculated are giving me pause:
Bench: 425 (three sets of 2)
Squat: 580 (three sets of 2)
Deadlift: 660 (three sets of 2)
Give it a try? Or call it good after week 5 and move on to the next cycle?
To answer the customary questions: I'm 42, 290lbs, yes, I've gotten all the starting maxes in the last 6 months, no existing injuries or obvious deficits. I train for general health (read: power) and mobility. I train the way I do because the best workout is the one that keeps me coming back into the gym (which is why I'm doing this one, it grabbed my interest). I am not competing in any sport (other than life) and I don't have any serious strength goals. I'd love to lose weight, but that particular battle will be fought in the k-word, not the weight room. My primary goals are to stay healthy and injury free, secondary goals...sustain interest in my training to keep me coming in.
Thanks in advance for feedback.
Starting maxes
Bench max: 405
Squat max: 550
Deadlift max: 630
The workout piqued my curiosity because it's claims of progress seemed borderline unrealistic, and the set/rep scheme looked, at least on paper, to be unsustainable. So, of course I decided to try it out. It's worked surprisingly well the first three weeks, and I expect weeks 4 and 5 will be doable too. But weeks 6, 7, and 8... the poundages don't seem realistically achievable. But that's what I thought going in (even for the first three weeks)! So...wanted to get a bit of perspective (a second opinion) from the board here. I am still game to try it out...but if the consensus here is that I'm courting injury to even attempt it...discretion is the better part of valor.
Week 8 specifically just goes to 105% of max, a third of the predicted 15% performance increase, but the numbers I calculated are giving me pause:
Bench: 425 (three sets of 2)
Squat: 580 (three sets of 2)
Deadlift: 660 (three sets of 2)
Give it a try? Or call it good after week 5 and move on to the next cycle?
To answer the customary questions: I'm 42, 290lbs, yes, I've gotten all the starting maxes in the last 6 months, no existing injuries or obvious deficits. I train for general health (read: power) and mobility. I train the way I do because the best workout is the one that keeps me coming back into the gym (which is why I'm doing this one, it grabbed my interest). I am not competing in any sport (other than life) and I don't have any serious strength goals. I'd love to lose weight, but that particular battle will be fought in the k-word, not the weight room. My primary goals are to stay healthy and injury free, secondary goals...sustain interest in my training to keep me coming in.
Thanks in advance for feedback.