Starting Strength

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: lucasorion
really? I would want to perfect what I'm trying to do before moving up. For instance, in my OH press, I was stuck on 150# (stronglifts 5x5) for a couple weeks, doing push presses to finish sets when I couldn't do a clean OH. If I had added 5 pounds, I just would have performed worse and had to do more push presses. The first time I did 5 clean sets at 150, I moved up to 155, and only had to stay there for 1 extra workout.

nope, that was my old philosophy and it got me no where.
i was stuck on 155# bench press for over a year (didn't really have a routine) with that mentality.

i'm finally stalling a bit now at 230# and i'm going to give it a rest since i met my personal goal of two 45# plates each side (repping, not maxing).

if you force yourself to go heavier, you will build more muscle and you will be able to do 3x5 on the lighter weights when you go back down after a stall.

 

[lucasorion]

So when you went to 160, you were able to complete less reps (or with less ideal form/lifting speed) than at 155, right? And then the same at 165? It seems like it would be hard to determine when you are stalling, if that was the case.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: lucasorion
So when you went to 160, you were able to complete less reps (or with less ideal form/lifting speed) than at 155, right? And then the same at 165? It seems like it would be hard to determine when you are stalling, if that was the case.

if i recall correctly, i started stalling at around 200. but it wasn't like i did perfect 3x5 all the way from 155 to 200. it was just done without stalling, meaning i upped the weight every week.
from 200 to 225 it must've taken me 3 stalls/resets and a few months (i started back in feb).
but now i've hit my physical and genetic limitations i believe after all these stalls.

the reason i wasn't able to progress past 155 on my previous workouts was because i kept trying to successfully completely 3 sets of 10. my workouts became stagnant and i wasn't getting stronger. plus i wasn't doing squats/dl's.
now, i can toss 3x10 @ 155# with ease.

i am still cutting right now, so i may be able to go to 250 after cutting and resuming bulking.

 

[Riverhound777]

I have to agree with Blahblah on this. I was stalled at 155 on bench for the last couple months. I deloaded twice and then when I went back up to 150 the second time, I did worse than I did the month before. The next week I said screw it and slapped on 160. Did 5/5/4 and felt great. Its all mental man.

 

[lucasorion]

okay, I will try this out when I go for 5x5 bench @ 225 today (I did 5x5 at 220 for the first time last week), and even if I don't get all 5 sets clean, I'll try for 230 next time.