Peaking too early? (update with Test Day)

[Deleted]

Hey guys, right now I've just completed the 8th week (9th if you include the conditioning week) of Dave's beginner routine and I'm loving it so far. Due to my PE class/injury, I had to switch out the squats for leg press and the deadlifts with rows, but I haven't changed a thing to the bench. Well on day 2 of this week, the 3 sets of 2 with 85% felt easier than I thought it should. I'm on spring break now, so I haven't had to worry about school work and I'm getting plenty of sleep, so that could be the reason.

I just tend to over analyze things and I wanted to make sure I wasn't peaking too early. Anyone else experience this? Either way, I can't wait until the skills evaluation on Wednesday! Thanks for the help.

[Deleted]

You're doing fine. There's always going to be variation. Some days everything feels good and some days everything feels hard. Just finish out the rest of the program. It should work out fine.

[Deleted]

Mar 20, 2010 0:26:34 GMT -5 @dougschurman said:

You're doing fine. There's always going to be variation. Some days everything feels good and some days everything feels hard. Just finish out the rest of the program. It should work out fine.

Thanks! That's what I thought, but I just wanted to make sure. I'm looking forward to the skills evaluation and then my testing.

[Deleted]

The fact you are on break makes a huge difference.
When i was off work, bench especially was so much stronger. Go back to stress, less sleep, less food etc etc and id say 2.5% less strength for my bench straight up.

[Deleted]

So today was my test day and I did not hit my projected weight. My previous max was 235lbs and I failed on 245 and I know that I wasn't even good for 240, possibly even 235. I know part of it was maxing on a different bench which psyched myself out (I've never hit a PR in this school gym), but I just wasn't with it. I'm not sure if I peaked too early, but 215 felt heavier than 225 did during my skills evaluation. Does anyone think I peaked too early, or did I just psyche myself out? Thanks for the input.

[Deleted]

Anybody have any ideas?

[benburgess]

Was it the skills test or the meet day?

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2010 5:27:02 GMT -5 benburgess said:

Was it the skills test or the meet day?

This would have been a meet day, but I don't compete so it was just a day for me to test. Also, I was squatting or deadlifting either. I only tested on my bench. On the skills day, I worked up to 225 and it felt very light. On my test/meet day, 215 felt really heavy and I only got 245 about 4" off my chest twice.

[benburgess]

Sorry this isnt going to be that much help but i did a similar thing for a kid i know who wanted to increase his bench. I took the benching from #37 and added in some bench-specific upper SPP excersises. It didnt work for him, i dont know why.

If i was going bench only i would run a bench specific sheiko routine, there are a couple around.

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2010 15:36:58 GMT -5 benburgess said:

Sorry this isnt going to be that much help but i did a similar thing for a kid i know who wanted to increase his bench. I took the benching from #37 and added in some bench-specific upper SPP excersises. It didnt work for him, i dont know why.

If i was going bench only i would run a bench specific sheiko routine, there are a couple around.

Ben, it is actually more help than you think. The member Athos on here has sent me a bench specific routine, but I wasn't sure whether or not I should do it and you and him have helped me answer that. Now, it is a 4 day per week program, and my bench is currently in the 235-245lbs range, so I'm not highly rated. Should I do all 4 days, or should I cut out the 4th day and just do it 3x/week? Thanks for all the help!