I’m going further than I’ve gone before, and I’m starting a log here to keep me on track.
About me- I’m pushing 36, have three little ones and a wonderful wife, and shoot competitively in long range tactical, USPSA, and 3 gun. I was a country boy growing up and wrestled intercollegiate some in college, and did farm work and construction while at home. Never worked out much back then, but I was stronger than almost everyone I knew that did. As couple years after getting out I got married and my first ‘professional’ job, and that all changed.
I’ve been in IT over 10 years now, and sitting at a desk all day has taken a toll. Several years ago my wakeup call was when I passed 250 with little muscle at 5’11". I started watching what I ate with some success, and later started Crossfit. That’s the best thing I’ve ever done for my health. I did it for about a year before work schedule interfered, but my diet was never good and I never got below about 215. A great deal of that weight changed from fat to muscle, but I never go ta flat stomach. After my work schedule changed I did Starting Strength for a while and had some very good strength increases.
Early last year I started a project at work that required me to travel 3 weeks per month, and I spent way too much time sitting in restaurants late at night before crashing in the hotel for a couple hours sleep before getting back to work early the next morning. I felt guilty for being away so much, and ended up working out only 2-3 times most months. I lost some of the gains I had, and packed on around the midsection again.
So now I’m hitting it again. I just bought the 5-3-1 book, and am going to use that progression. My gym sold some surplus equipment and I snagged a nice flat bench and squat rack. I made a homemade thick bar, and ordered an older model Again Faster team bar on clearance today. I need to pick up some more plates too. With this in my shop, I have no excuse to miss a workout now. My maxes today:
Squat: 315- had a little left, but that’s as much as I was comfortable with without a spotter
Bench: 265
Deadlift: 365- had a lot left in my back and legs, but ran out of grip abruptly
Strict press: 165
My goals are slow but steady gains. By the end of the year I want to bench 3 plates, squat 4 plates, deadlift 5 plates, and press my bodyweight. And lose this spare tire!