Making Solid Progress

Completed a solid workout today:

• Bench: 215 lb x 3 x 5 (first time I’ve ever completed that, ready to move the weight up next week to uncharted territory of 220 lbs)
• Squats: 200 lb x 3 x 5 (still cycling back up on this and making sure my form is good)
• Chin-ups: 15 reps, 15 reps, and 13 reps for a total of 43 unweighted chin-ups

I feel like I’m making good progress. I’m enjoying my workouts and gaining well. For once, I know that I am going in the right direction in weightlifting, and it is mostly due to the invaluable knowledge on both technique and programming presented in Starting Strength and Practical Programming.

Also a note on squats: I’m finally grasping what Rippetoe talks about in Starting Strength regarding hip drive. It occurs when one drops into the bottom position of squats slowly to produce stretch in the hamstrings and glutes, and explodes out of the bottom with a sharp upward drive of the hips. That technique alone has unlocked a massive amount of power in my squatting. Squats feel much easier and I can definitely tell the difference.