And with today, the fall 2016 bulk comes to an end.
I hit 300 on my bench, and 405 on my squat today.
No video of the squat, though. Because it took me two tries. First time, I set up recording, go to do the squat. I get down to parallel, start to rise......and then dump it maybe a third of the way up, and I'm seeing stars.
It was mental. I was psyched out and intimidated by those four plates sitting on either side of me.
I sit down, and for a minute I'm thinking "well, shit. I guess it's not going to happen today." But then I just shake my head and say "nope, fuck that." So I rest for 10 minutes, and forget about recording myself, as it's just one more thing to be thinking about. I give it another go, and I come back up cleanly and smoothly this time.
So, I end up with 505 DL, 405 squat, and 300 bench.
When I started, I would have liked to advance more than that in 2.5 months. But I think given how much other than pure strength training I have going on, and the level of strength I was already at, that thinking probably was too ambitious. I am pretty conservative with my max testing though, I might have a *tiny* bit left in me for deadlift and squat.
Now, for 2017's fitness goals. While there is that tiny voice saying "Go for a 600 Deadlift!", it's not going to happen. I think to progress further in my strength, I'd really have to cut back the other activity, which is backwards for my priorities. That, and I can't handle bulking any more. It's actually tough to eat enough for this sort of thing (and not feel like my digestive system is rebelling against me), and any more bulking and I'd have to buy a whole new wardrobe of pants. Things are getting pretty tight there for me at 202lbs.
So, instead:
1) Back into prioritising proper Jiu-jitsu training. Joined a new local club, and the young hungry fuckers there nearly ate me alive the first two days. But it's a good feeling.
2) Get lean and sexy again.
3) Focus a bit more on olympic lifts.
4) Maintain as much of my strength as I can given goals 1-3.
