Anyone Else have any crazy intense strength training programs they have done?

[RON]

I've always been a push/pull guy, sticking mostly to the 8-10 rep range. I usually throw in a few supersets, but for the most part my routines have been the same for years.

My daughter was a college athlete and later a coach/head coach. Her fiance played college football and then became a collegiate strength coach. Both of them train using a pretty hardcore powerlifting style, and they finally convinced me to try something they do every year called Squatober.

I ran the program this year and absolutely loved it. I added 40 lbs to my squat in one month.

For anyone unfamiliar, Squatober is created by Pen and Paper Strength App. They post the daily Squatober workouts on their social media throughout October, releasing each day's training about 24 hours ahead of time. They also run similar themes like Deadcember (all about deadlifts). On top of that, they sell various specialty programs.

I picked up one for this month called "All I Want for Xmas Is a Big Bench." I was loving it, but had to put it on hold due to my surgery.

My plan for the next year is to run a handful of their month-long programs, switching the focus based on whatever body part I feel needs the most work at the time. All their programs still include full-body training at least once a week, often twice, and the focus muscle gets hit every day.

During Squatober, even with some brutal leg sessions, I was squatting every single day. By week two I thought I tore something because every rep felt like fire. My daughter just laughed and said, "Nah pops, that's just Squatober." So I pushed through and took an ice bath over the weekend to help my quads heal up. Looking back, it was an amazing experience.

Anyone else have any crazy or unique programs that really pushed you to the limit? Looking to break out of my comfort zone this next year and get realty really strong.

[almostgone]

I don't do anything too crazy, my body is too banged up/beat down right now. I'm hoping while I'm off at Christmas to get the shop gym all cleaned up and in order and just do the basic 2-3 warm up sets and then a couple of working sets (except for biceps and triceps). Biceps and triceps will get more volume... somewhere in between HIT and GVT.

I'd like to get back to doing the multiple sets of breathing 20 reps of squats pyramiding up in weight and then back down. My neurosurgeon gave me the go ahead, but I will have to see how the C spine feels. If I can't tolerate the pressure of the bar, I'll be spending a lot of time on my leg press.

[wango]

I've always been a push/pull guy, sticking mostly to the 8-10 rep range. I usually throw in a few supersets, but for the most part my routines have been the same for years.

My daughter was a college athlete and later a coach/head coach. Her fiance played college football and then became a collegiate strength coach. Both of them train using a pretty hardcore powerlifting style, and they finally convinced me to try something they do every year called Squatober.

I ran the program this year and absolutely loved it. I added 40 lbs to my squat in one month.

For anyone unfamiliar, Squatober is created by Pen and Paper Strength App. They post the daily Squatober workouts on their social media throughout October, releasing each day's training about 24 hours ahead of time. They also run similar themes like Deadcember (all about deadlifts). On top of that, they sell various specialty programs.

I picked up one for this month called "All I Want for Xmas Is a Big Bench." I was loving it, but had to put it on hold due to my surgery.

My plan for the next year is to run a handful of their month-long programs, switching the focus based on whatever body part I feel needs the most work at the time. All their programs still include full-body training at least once a week, often twice, and the focus muscle gets hit every day.

During Squatober, even with some brutal leg sessions, I was squatting every single day. By week two I thought I tore something because every rep felt like fire. My daughter just laughed and said, "Nah pops, that's just Squatober." So I pushed through and took an ice bath over the weekend to help my quads heal up. Looking back, it was an amazing experience.

Anyone else have any crazy or unique programs that really pushed you to the limit? Looking to break out of my comfort zone this next year and get realty really strong.

That sounds damn cool. I?m just curious how your joints (particularly knees) responded and also your back. Generally tendons need more recovery & don?t like to be ?surprised ?by a huge increase in load. And of course, the back will always be chirping in. Congrats on the gains & it sounds like you?ve got some darn capable coaches!

[almostgone]

@Wango. Good to see you online, man. Hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving!

[RON]

My knees are strong. Backs in pretty good shape. My family has a history of back issues. I think I have the healthiest back amung us. My elbow joints were in pain. My shoulders are shyte so my grip is ass wide as I can get doing squat. Need to go to physical therapy. Arthritis in my left and shoulder gap off in my right. Have had cortisone shots and they help immensely but they have been good since the shot. Just need to work on flexibility.

I have great form and that helps a lot. Started lifting at 15 and had great trainers. Did some olympic lifting. Wouldn't mind getting back into that someday maybe. Plus I have a thick lifters build. I just got a scan and my bones are thick and healthy. Almost like I was made for lifting.

[wango]

@Wango. Good to see you online, man. Hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving!

Thank You AG. Thanksgiving is going great thanks; just enjoying some NFL games before our friends arrive. I hope yours & your wife?s goes great as well!

[wango]

My knees are strong. Backs in pretty good shape. My family has a history of back issues. I think I have the healthiest back amung us. My elbow joints were in pain. My shoulders are shyte so my grip is ass wide as I can get doing squat. Need to go to physical therapy. Arthritis in my left and shoulder gap off in my right. Have had cortisone shots and they help immensely but they have been good since the shot. Just need to work on flexibility.

I have great form and that helps a lot. Started lifting at 15 and had great trainers. Did some olympic lifting. Wouldn't mind getting back into that someday maybe. Plus I have a thick lifters build. I just got a scan and my bones are thick and healthy. Almost like I was made for lifting.

Congrats; some body?s are better suited to squat. Still though, surviving that increase in volume without issue is damn impressive. Take care of those shoulders, I?m in the same boat, just further down the river. How are the MRI?s /x-rays of them?

[RON]

I managed competitive fastpitch softball for 12 years. Plus I scouted for my daughters college team a little bit. So my right shoulder is caused from that. The xrays show the gap being slightly to open. The doc said if I was a pro athlete they would operate. I'm not though

The left is just arthritis. I lifted from the time I was 15 and pushing myself to go heavey. My thoughts...Biceps are one of my strengths. I used to curl 45s on a straight bar all the time. Probably not the brightest idea. I garentee I used shit form and that is probably one of the many reasons for my shoulder arthritis.