From marginal success to Flat out Fail

EvanKeel

I recognize that the failure is a good thing as it represents the possibility for progress. That aside, I'm simply astounded that my OHP on Monday was a little challenging but I got all my reps and sets in, but today (5lbs heavier), my sets went like this.

3,4,3,1,1

I must have looked ridiculous standing there, stationary, straining to extend the barbell even an inch more when I didn't have nearly so much trouble the last time I performed the lift.

Mind=blown.

DaveRCF

As you progress to more challenging weights 5 lbs can be challenging on OHP. You will see lots of advice to microload with large washers so you can go up by 2lbs per workout.

Or, you were just having an off-day. How much time between sets? When I am hitting the wall, I go the full three minutes. It really helps.

EvanKeel

I was feeling a little pressed for time, so I went 2.5 min between sets. I guess I'll see how next Wednesday goes at the same weight and go from there.

mmapags

It happens Bro. Just shake it off and get back the next workout. Who knows if it's nutrition is a little off. Not enough sleep, whatever. It'll happen once in a while. Yesterday I hit a PR on squats at 215 and couldn't get 155 up for more than 3 reps on the bench! Meh!

sjohnny

I did almost the same today on overhead press. 5 5 4 4 3. Last time I did 5 on all 5. It was like a whole different exercise.

chuckyp

Same happened to me today at 105lb on the OHP. I'm taking 5 minute breaks between sets on that exercise now. I'm sure the rows are next because that last workout was rough.

EvanKeel

Oooo k. So I'm an idiot. I took a week off, mostly due to some annoying construction issues between my house and the gym, but it was about time for a rest anyway. I go back to the OHPs today at the same weight as my last failure, and they were completely doable--challenging but I got all my reps and sets in.

I'd like to say, "Awesome! I love progress." Unfortunately, what I really have to say is, "Sorry, I'm a moron who can't do simple addition at 5:30am." This is because it became quite clear to me that in my previous attempt I was lifting far more than I should have for the OHPs.

When trying to figure out how many of what plate to put on the bar, I apparently have a fairly consistent problem of adding too much weight. For example, today on deadlifts, I was supposed to try 185lbs. I know that the bar + 2x45s is 135lbs. So, adding 50lbs seemed easy enough. I mindlessly went on to add 50lbs per side instead of 50lbs total (25lbs) per side. Once I actually attempted the lift, wondered why the hell it was near impossible for me, and redid my math, I saw my error.

Clearly this is an argument against early-morning lifting.

mmapags

Or an argument against a career in mathmatics! Great job!

MoveTheMountain

Or an argument against a career in mathmatics! Great job!

It's easy to get messed up juggling the plates - sometimes adding 5lb can involve changing nearly every freakin' plate on the bar.

mmapags

Or an argument against a career in mathmatics! Great job!

It's easy to get messed up juggling the plates - sometimes adding 5lb can involve changing nearly every freakin' plate on the bar.

I as teasing you but I totally get it! One day I really strugged on my deadlifts and I was discouraged because the session before I killed it and I was progressing weight the whole while. Well when I unloaded the plates, I have put on 2 25s instead of 2 10s to get the weight to add up. So, yeah, it would have been a little harder seeing as how I added 30 extra pounds!! lol