Project: Get Stronger

I want to get stronger.  In the next year, I would like to get to a 400lb deadlift, a 200lb bench press and a 300lb squat.  At the moment these numbers seem so far away from anything I can attain.  But they aren't.   

Here's my back story.  The past six months, have been the most stressful and challenging months of my entire life.  I found out I had to move, which meant moving my house and my business, while keeping my business running, my two children happy, putting in a lot of work, and rushing to Seattle after a lucky near death accident my brother was in (there was a lot more, but I will keep this short)  

Right before summer, I had hit some strong numbers: squat 245lb, bench 175lb and deadlift 350lb.  During the summer I trained hard and worked hard.  When I finally moved into my house the end of August, I crashed.  I crashed hard.  I was unmotivated and threw a lot of tantrums during my workouts.  I ate not so good food, I drank more, and I was tired every day.  But luckily, I was able to maintain my strength and squatted 240, benched 170 and deadlifted 345.   

October came and I was tired of being tired.  I was done with it.  I took out the regular indulgences and left them for the weekends (both food and alcohol).  I stopped drinking coffee in the afternoons, and I went to bed earlier.  At the same time I decided to try high volume/heavy weight at every workout.  After two weeks my body just said NO.  I listened and started training using Brandon Lily's The Cube Method.  I love it.  It is very similar to what I had done all summer but with a little more structure.   

Project: Get Sronger
I just finished up a deload because I was having some hip issues.  Friday, my mom (who is a Physical Therapist) worked on my hip and Saturday I was honored to have Eric Cressey work on my shoulder.  And then it hit me, I am going to get stronger by back tracking.  I am going to take about three HUGE steps backwards in hopes that I take about 10 steps forwards. 
1. Deadlift:  I am only going to conventional deadlift.  First of all, even though sumo has been my preference, it is not good for an antroverted hip, which is what I have.  Second, I don't have a 1RM for the conventional, which means I can't really throw a tantrum when I think it shouldn't feel so heavy.  
2. Squats:  I am going to work volume at a lighter weight, keeping my core tight and butt in close.  I will work in Anderson Squats, Pause Squats and Front Squats, maybe even a few Zerchers.  

For Bench and Deadlifts I will continue with the CUBE and I will work the squats in similarly.  I also do a day of chin ups an pull ups, which I will keep on keeping on.   

Tomorrow is Monday and I am so excited to see how this project turns out.