IHI
Elite
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2015
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- 1,677
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Now granted I'm an old bastard (42) on trt (legit due to no source) and I have a goal of hitting 300 flat bench since I've never done it, and ultimately goal is 6 cookies on the bar.
3rd yr lifting and have come a long ways since I started my trt journey as far as weight increases and people are making comments on my growth which obviously makes a guy feel good to know others are seeing the results of all those 4am wake up calls to lift.
My question, I've always seemed to progress slow and get stuck for long periods, even in high school when I lifted all the time because I loved it then as I do now that I've got time. Started 3 yrs ago doing the stronglift 5x5 program and it really progressed me quickly strength wise. I stuck with it for quite awhile actually due to kids busy schedule the 3hr/3 day a week routine just fit my life good. Now with my new workout, try to hit it 4-5 days a week and have switched up to isolated body parts per day, and more reps and sets. While I have noticed growth, strength is ehhhh. 3 weeks ago I printed off the ibf charts that some guys at work use, did the 285 bench routine week 1, had to do the 295 routine last week and repeated this week because I was 1 rep short at heavy set but got that today since I was able to stay tight form wise and will begin the 305 routine monday.
So, as a newbie compared to most of you meatheads do you found on building size first with more reps and then after a point when the muscle is there, switch gears to heavy low reps...or just the opposite? I know big gains aren't realized overnight and that's why we put in work, but just frustrating seeing the initial spurt of strength when I began phase 2 of lifting in my lift 3yrs ago and hitting 200lb bench was my goal which I realized pretty quick considering, but now it's like molasses in January and strength gains are creeping slooowly.
3rd yr lifting and have come a long ways since I started my trt journey as far as weight increases and people are making comments on my growth which obviously makes a guy feel good to know others are seeing the results of all those 4am wake up calls to lift.
My question, I've always seemed to progress slow and get stuck for long periods, even in high school when I lifted all the time because I loved it then as I do now that I've got time. Started 3 yrs ago doing the stronglift 5x5 program and it really progressed me quickly strength wise. I stuck with it for quite awhile actually due to kids busy schedule the 3hr/3 day a week routine just fit my life good. Now with my new workout, try to hit it 4-5 days a week and have switched up to isolated body parts per day, and more reps and sets. While I have noticed growth, strength is ehhhh. 3 weeks ago I printed off the ibf charts that some guys at work use, did the 285 bench routine week 1, had to do the 295 routine last week and repeated this week because I was 1 rep short at heavy set but got that today since I was able to stay tight form wise and will begin the 305 routine monday.
So, as a newbie compared to most of you meatheads do you found on building size first with more reps and then after a point when the muscle is there, switch gears to heavy low reps...or just the opposite? I know big gains aren't realized overnight and that's why we put in work, but just frustrating seeing the initial spurt of strength when I began phase 2 of lifting in my lift 3yrs ago and hitting 200lb bench was my goal which I realized pretty quick considering, but now it's like molasses in January and strength gains are creeping slooowly.
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