Lifting for 8-14-9

Deadlifts
5 @ 135, 185, 225 lbs
3 @ 245 lbs
2 @ 265 lbs
1 @ 275 lbs
1 @ 285 lbs
F @ 295 lbs

BB Shoulder Press
5 @ 65 lbs
3 @ 85 lbs
1 @ 95 lbs
1 @ 105 lbs
1 @ 115 lbs (Either personal best +5 lbs, or PR match)

Pull-ups
10 @ BW (personal best match, but at a much higher bodyweight)

Chin-ups
3 @ +25 lbs

Back Extension
2×10 @ 10 lbs

I was just in a really good mood. But it wasn’t just the positiveness of my mood that carried me. I felt rested. I felt relaxed. I felt calm. I didn’t feel stressed at all. I didn’t feel pressured for time at all. A perfect opportunity to pick up heavy things.

Decided to do some maximal pulls to test my “current best” for the 5/3/1 program I’m going to be doing. You HAVE to use your current max, not your best-ever lifts. I’ve pulled 300 lbs before, but it’s been a while now. I’m still pleased with a solid 285 lbs. Given how rarely I deadlift, I’ll be looking to blow past that in a couple months. Well, still need to finish the spreadsheet I made, make it show for lifts a couple cycles in advance.

My warm-ups felt REALLY good. Pulling 245 felt good, and so did 265. 275 felt solid, so I went for 285. That didn’t go up as easy, but I still didn’t feel like I had put everything I had into it. I got 295 lbs off the ground, but I couldn’t get it past three inches. That’s my thing, if I can get it past a certain point, I can always lock out. Not sure whether that’s quad strength or something else.

Decided to go for a shoulder press record. I forget whether I’ve actually gotten 115 lbs before. I don’t seem to recall pressing 35 plates before. It’s five pounds, but overhead pressing is hard.

I got ten pull-ups. YES. That felt nice. I’ve always found that doing a maximal set of pull-ups completely kills my ability to subsequent pull-ups. I’ve reached this point, so it’s going to take some initiative to maintain it.