Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Classic American PL cycling and getting "stuck" on a number...

One of the issues with my first plan for the PL meet in March was the fact that I got stuck on a number. That number was 5. 5 sets to be even more exact. Why? I'm not quite sure but I had become enamored with 5x5. Usually I shift volume and stay very low in volume but I got "stuck".

Looking back at it - on consecutive weeks I hit four pretty damn hard weeks of squatting and should be very happy with my results. Now with tweaking the form and getting serious again I will be going after a more classic PL cycle.

Each week I will work up to a work set of 2 reps and add a bit to the top set each week (basically working back from a goal double that I want to hit at the end of the cycle) for each lift.
Squat and bench on Monday - DL and some assistance work on Thursday - and KB swings in between.

Simple is best.

8 comments:

  1. Brett,

    You have mentioned FMS so many times that it's finally beginning to sink in through my thick skull.

    My specific question is how effectively could I screen myself? If so, which resources (dvd, book, etc.)are absolutely essential?

    I ask this because I'm sure that I have imbalances, but there is no screener (that I'm aware of) that's closer than a 5-6 hr drive from here.

    Of course I know that ultimately there's no substitute for being screened in person by an experienced screener (which someday I will do), but I'm trying to find a way work with what I have available right now.

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  2. Get Athletic Body in Balance by Gray Cook (and DVD if you can) - it will walk you through the process of self screening and some corrections.
    Hope you are doing well

    ReplyDelete
  3. Simple is best especially when consistently applied

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks. I just ordered book and dvd.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I totally understand that compulsion with a set of numbers but I finally came to realize that the only number in powerlifting that really mattered was 1.Cause that's all that you get to do on the platform.
    that and seeing what a poor predictor of compeition 1 RM or any other group of numbers was.
    That was one of the best parts of having a max effort day and regularly only having to focus on a one rep max effort in a lift. really attuned you to that type of effort.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Rif,
    thanks - you are right 1 is the number that matters.
    Doubles for training make sense in my mind (squat and bench - singles for DL).
    This will get me back to my low volume ways...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Brett,

    Didn't you tell me that anything over four was a waste of time? Or wast that 5....

    ReplyDelete
  8. Fawn,
    I fell victim to my own stupidity - a horrible thing I don't recommend to anyone. I think the original quote was something along the lines of - "anything over 3 reps is cardio"

    Congrats on your meet this past weekend!

    ReplyDelete