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Monday, June 26, 2023

400-lb. Bench Press Club Membership Plus Massive Overhead Press PR

Partial lifts continue to deliver full-range results. Following four weeks of travel, I ran another 4-week cycle and set PRs in both presses.

I have had to modify my training a bit to accommodate the insanely heavy loads. Lower the volume to only 2-3 "working" sets, and really re-think exercise selection in general. Next time I do a partials program, I'll cut out all triceps exercises because the added strain is just too much.

Seated overhead press 245 lb. x 1, then 260-270-280 lbs. x 1 (all three lifetime bests)

Bench Press 355 lbs. x 2, 380 lbs. x 1, 400 lbs. x 1 (PR)

Squat - worked up to 540 lbs. 2x2

Front squat 385 lbs. x 1 (maybe PR?)

Deadlift 540 lbs. x 2 singles

I followed up my overhead press PR with 225 lbs. x 6, which is probably also a PR unto itself. This strained my right triceps (part where it attaches to the elbow) pretty severely. By Saturday, I managed to rehab it sufficiently to make bench pressing possible, but it still hurt like hell. Even during warmups with 225 lbs. Finally broke the 400-lb. bench press barrier, with a little strength to spare, but was in a lot of pain. I hope I didn't damage my tricep tendon permanently.

Squats are moving quickly and explosively. Deadlifts less so, but at least I'm not losing strength. May buy some extra weights around the New Year and try to set squat/deadlift PRs in 2024.