Ssssssshhhhhhh...

I'm watching you...

And of course...

As soon as I say I am sticking with Juggernaut, I am back on 5/3/1. 

BUT WAIT

I can explain.

It's not you, baby, it's me. It's always been me.

Me, me, me. Mine, mine, mine. 

That just happened.

Anyhoo, the ol' jamesnasium announced the other day that they are holding an unsanctioned meet in mid-July. While I am not yet committed to participate, where I am with Juggernaut just ain't going to cut the mustard as far as getting back under semi-heavy weights in the short term, and there just isn't enough time for a standard block/conjugate cycle. Figured I would run a few cycled of 5/3/1 without deloads (tentatively), should get me approaching maximal weights in the shortest amount of time without completely winging it. 

That being said, I also took last week off because I have been feeling a low back/upper butt muscular pain lately that has only been getting worse, not better. Sure, one could argue that stretching and low back work would help take care of that, but let's face it

and I haven't been keeping up with it as I should. So the story goes. Squatted last night for my 5/3/1 sets, then a few heavier singles and back down to my last working weight for a few more sets, then some yoke bar good mornings. Tonight, Thor willing, I'll get into some bird dogs or supermans to work on that low back. 

Go forth and word to your nearest relative.

WELCOME BACK! 10K! SILLY BUSINESS! HAPPY OSTARA! ET CETERA!

Hey kids!

Yeah, it's been a while. Dear leader has been a busy bee lately, but I hope to be able to get you some content for your grubby little internet paws soon. Some photo updates, maybe a quick do901, etc.

As first order of business, let's talk about a little milestone we hit a few days ago - the ol' bloggety blog here hit 10,000 page views, without the use of a bot or some other silly ass social media thingamajig. I'm sure that some of those are automated hits from searches, etc, but there you have it- we really pulled together and made it happen, so 

thanks

Second, let's talk about training. First cycle of the Juggernaut Method has been wrapped up and in the books- more on that in a minute. Looking at what's going on in the year and where I am with my general strength, I am looking toward trying to do another meet somewhere in the September - November time frame. If the jamesnasium does a November meet, I will probably just call it that one, but the SPF calendar has a good handful of options in that time frame. 

Let's see if we can get a repeat of this moment... That's my bar, silly spotter.

As to how the strength is coming along, I am, of course, not happy with it currently (any lifter should tell you the same thing, regardless of injury status) BUT I feel like it is coming along decently. Taking a look at what has occurred over the last X number of months on Juggernaut, I am feeling pretty decent about how I am progressing- while I think my training max is closer to my actual max, my calculated three lift "training total" (90% of 1RM on each of the three power lifts) is up a little more than 150lbs.

Bonus points if you know where that is from.

Or from where that is referenced. 

Or what have you.

Since I am a person that has access to way too much information (welcome to the internet) AND I am currently coachless, I am feeling the urge to program bounce.

BUT

Did you see what I typed above? 150lbs added to my training total?

Come on, man.

Seriously?

I don't know if that rate of continued progress is sustainable or not, but

seriously.

There is no reason for me to program hop. I will be sticking with the Juggernaut Method for at least one more cycle, then probably move into some good ol' 5/3/1 closer to meet time. In fact, I am already halfway through the second week of the new 10s wave and, while that first week of squatting was still freaking torture, I didn't pull anything or whatever it was that happened in my first week of Juggernaut AND I managed to get an extra rep or two in on the last set.

That's a heck of a lot better than my first week went. That was a shit show.

But I digress.

No, I progress.

Boom.

I should note here that I am not following the Juggernaut Method to the letter - I am utilizing the rep scheme at the heart of Juggernaut, currently on a 3x/week template with deathlifts and OHP on the same day. I am not following the full warm up protocols and I totally forget what the accessory work spelled out was in the book, but there you go.

And I need to do more work to lose the belly. But there you go.

Anyhoo, April Fool's day was the other day. Some of us did this. It's tough to love a powerlifter sometimes.

Then, Easter. Good ol' Ostara. Took some family time off, and combining that Thursday with my normal Friday off, turned into a four day weekend. What I didn't realize was that there would be an egg hunt every day over the Ostara holiday.

Thursday at the daughter's school after their Fun Run, then Friday out east at a favorite spot of the little lady's...

Saturday at the Botanic Garden,..

then Sunday at our place before some family came over for steaks and what not.

So there you have it. That gets us caught up to about two weeks ago.

Stay tuned- more lifty shenanigans and other goodness to come.

Oh- and the Grizzlies are in the playoffs.

Go forth and grit and grind and stuff.