Yeah sometimes I think I need a little more feedback to make some better progressions. I could go back to a linear progression, or the wave like progression but I think leaving myself a little flexibility by having a starting and finishing point and leaving the 8 week variation up to feel.
Well, flexibility makes things harder to measure. But if flexibility helps motivate you to work out, that's more important that measurability, I would think. The weekly wave and micro-loading makes everything very precise, but most importantly for me, it makes everything doable and mindless, which is motivating, which is most important for me. I no longer have to approach a lift and wonder if I will be able to finish the set. Now I tell myself, "of course I can finish it, it's only a pound or two heavier than last week!" In the past, if I bumped up five or ten pounds and then find I can't do all the reps, do I go back down? Do I work to add reps each week until the sets are complete? If I do the latter, I'm no longer controlling for volume. Plus, it sucks to fail. My transition from 5x115 to 5x120 and again from 5x125 to 5x130 was frustrating, as it takes many weeks before I can do the next increment up for full reps and sets. So for me, micro-loading has been a great solution to the problem of applying a progressive overload consistently, while keeping volume and intensity pretty constant, per workout and per week. It's a bit boring, but very smooth.
For some reason I have a hard time seeing some progress that's why I think I will keep track of a couple of extra items, plus kilometerage running and biking. Might give me a better idea of the whole picture.
Well, it seems like every cycle you try something new, so it's going to be hard to track progress that way. I think if you're going to continue to experiment with different protocols, then yeah, it would be a good idea to test the easily measurable lifts at the end of each cycle. Then you could see which program led to the greatest increases. But you still need a more objective basis for loading. For example, how are you deciding how many reps at weight x to do for your bench? For me, the bottom line is usually the 5RM or the 8RM. Like yesterday, it would've been really hard for me to do another rep on either the press or bench press. So, if 5RM = 85%, then it's pretty easy to project all the other loads at each rep-count. Is the 2RM really exactly 95% of the 1RM, or 10% more than the 5RM? No, probably not, but close enough for training maxes, right?
Ok so I will do total weight per lift and workout for the lifts that are easily measureable
DL-SLDL-PC
Squat-Gob Squat-TB DL
Bench-CGBP
Press-Inc Press
I may also add some ramp up sets for the bigger lifts. But I am not sure as then it will be hard to compare starting and ending loads
Yah, it's easiest if you stick to straight sets across or descending sets based on specific percentages, like my 1/2/3 descending sets at 100%/95%/90% 1RM. I could just take off five or ten pounds and see how many reps I can do at each increment, but then it gets hard to measure and program. Not that it really matters. I used to do descending sets by feel, dropping five or ten pounds until I didn't feel like doing it any more. The nice thing about having everything programmed in advance is, once again, for me anyway, that it makes the workouts really mindless. I can get into more of a zone and not think about anything. Just follow the chart and daydream in between sets.
I really want to monitor weight to figure out how loss really affects my lifts, or should we do weight belt holes for monitoring! Yeah time probably doesn't matter to much maybe just lift/run/bike days per week may be enough. I'll put it together in a database and build some charts maybe the visual will help give me some clues?
Yah, once I can see a chart I may be able to give more constructive feedback.
Yeah those bar graphs are what made me start thinking a little more about. Visuals can sometimes make you notice things that don't stick out with numbers. And if you build up enough cycle the trends can be interesting. The only difficult thing in comparability.
So to clarify your 90% comment, you take your rep max x 90% for your training load? I need to look more closely at your spreadsheets.
For me, 90% isn't an exact number as in Wendler's 5/3/1. It's more akin to Tuchscherer's 9 RPE. It's the idea that I'm trying hard, but I'm never at risk of failure. I can always complete the set, but the last rep is a bit of a struggle. Perfect. It's the idea of always leaving a little in the tank, and just counting on volume and progressive overload over time to produce improvements. I mean, yesterday's workout didn't feel any harder or easier than last Monday's, but I added one or two pounds to each of my lifts, so I made progress. It's really an Easy Strength sort of model, with DUP, microloading, full-body, Texas Method, and moderate to high frequency and volume thrown in as a possible optimization of lifting parameters that also conforms to my motivation, time, and energy constraints.
Hey speaking of belts, I think I am going to look for a new squatting belt. The one I have is really digging into my pelvis when I am down and it prevents me from doing more than 2-3 reps at a time. unless I want a big red irritation on my hips. Do you have a recommendation for size? I think the one I am using is a 4in 10mm belt.
I haven't gotten my 10mm Inzer belt yet. But for comfort, you can't go wrong with the Spud 3-ply belt. It's nylon so it doesn't dig in around the edges. I wouldn't be surprised if I keep using it even after the Inzer arrives, but I thought I'd give the lever belt a try before I make a final belt decision. You could also try a 3" belt, right?
Well, flexibility makes things harder to measure. But if flexibility helps motivate you to work out, that's more important that measurability, I would think. The weekly wave and micro-loading makes everything very precise, but most importantly for me, it makes everything doable and mindless, which is motivating, which is most important for me. I no longer have to approach a lift and wonder if I will be able to finish the set. Now I tell myself, "of course I can finish it, it's only a pound or two heavier than last week!" In the past, if I bumped up five or ten pounds and then find I can't do all the reps, do I go back down? Do I work to add reps each week until the sets are complete? If I do the latter, I'm no longer controlling for volume. Plus, it sucks to fail. My transition from 5x115 to 5x120 and again from 5x125 to 5x130 was frustrating, as it takes many weeks before I can do the next increment up for full reps and sets. So for me, micro-loading has been a great solution to the problem of applying a progressive overload consistently, while keeping volume and intensity pretty constant, per workout and per week. It's a bit boring, but very smooth.
For some reason I have a hard time seeing some progress that's why I think I will keep track of a couple of extra items, plus kilometerage running and biking. Might give me a better idea of the whole picture.
Well, it seems like every cycle you try something new, so it's going to be hard to track progress that way. I think if you're going to continue to experiment with different protocols, then yeah, it would be a good idea to test the easily measurable lifts at the end of each cycle. Then you could see which program led to the greatest increases. But you still need a more objective basis for loading. For example, how are you deciding how many reps at weight x to do for your bench? For me, the bottom line is usually the 5RM or the 8RM. Like yesterday, it would've been really hard for me to do another rep on either the press or bench press. So, if 5RM = 85%, then it's pretty easy to project all the other loads at each rep-count. Is the 2RM really exactly 95% of the 1RM, or 10% more than the 5RM? No, probably not, but close enough for training maxes, right?
Ok so I will do total weight per lift and workout for the lifts that are easily measureable
DL-SLDL-PC
Squat-Gob Squat-TB DL
Bench-CGBP
Press-Inc Press
I may also add some ramp up sets for the bigger lifts. But I am not sure as then it will be hard to compare starting and ending loads
Yah, it's easiest if you stick to straight sets across or descending sets based on specific percentages, like my 1/2/3 descending sets at 100%/95%/90% 1RM. I could just take off five or ten pounds and see how many reps I can do at each increment, but then it gets hard to measure and program. Not that it really matters. I used to do descending sets by feel, dropping five or ten pounds until I didn't feel like doing it any more. The nice thing about having everything programmed in advance is, once again, for me anyway, that it makes the workouts really mindless. I can get into more of a zone and not think about anything. Just follow the chart and daydream in between sets.
I really want to monitor weight to figure out how loss really affects my lifts, or should we do weight belt holes for monitoring! Yeah time probably doesn't matter to much maybe just lift/run/bike days per week may be enough. I'll put it together in a database and build some charts maybe the visual will help give me some clues?
Yah, once I can see a chart I may be able to give more constructive feedback.
Yeah those bar graphs are what made me start thinking a little more about. Visuals can sometimes make you notice things that don't stick out with numbers. And if you build up enough cycle the trends can be interesting. The only difficult thing in comparability.
So to clarify your 90% comment, you take your rep max x 90% for your training load? I need to look more closely at your spreadsheets.
For me, 90% isn't an exact number as in Wendler's 5/3/1. It's more akin to Tuchscherer's 9 RPE. It's the idea that I'm trying hard, but I'm never at risk of failure. I can always complete the set, but the last rep is a bit of a struggle. Perfect. It's the idea of always leaving a little in the tank, and just counting on volume and progressive overload over time to produce improvements. I mean, yesterday's workout didn't feel any harder or easier than last Monday's, but I added one or two pounds to each of my lifts, so I made progress. It's really an Easy Strength sort of model, with DUP, microloading, full-body, Texas Method, and moderate to high frequency and volume thrown in as a possible optimization of lifting parameters that also conforms to my motivation, time, and energy constraints.
Hey speaking of belts, I think I am going to look for a new squatting belt. The one I have is really digging into my pelvis when I am down and it prevents me from doing more than 2-3 reps at a time. unless I want a big red irritation on my hips. Do you have a recommendation for size? I think the one I am using is a 4in 10mm belt.
I haven't gotten my 10mm Inzer belt yet. But for comfort, you can't go wrong with the Spud 3-ply belt. It's nylon so it doesn't dig in around the edges. I wouldn't be surprised if I keep using it even after the Inzer arrives, but I thought I'd give the lever belt a try before I make a final belt decision. You could also try a 3" belt, right?