Topic: When to call it quits for the day?

[Andy Dick]

I was doing my workout today and it was horrible.  There are probably a whole slew of variables that is the result of this, like I think I over slept today 10 hours last night.  I also just last week added in heavy snatches and cleans because we finally got the bumpers, so I may be over doing it some.  So I could not fully be recovered even though I felt ok.

So today when I started lifting I just didnt feel motivated I was just going through the motions it seemed.  When I got to squats which was my first heavy lift for the day I was to do heavy triples 3x3 I got somewhat more motivated but ended up getting 2 on the first set, cleaned off the weights got it back up and finished the last one (so like 2 minutes between) rested like 5 minutes and barely got 1.  I was like well forget squats lets work on jerks, at this point mentally I was not there and couldnt even do one at the weight I was supposed to do for the day. (my day was supposed to look like this snatch balance, squat, jerk, shoulder press).  I know it is grossly out of order with the jerk and squat but the squat is the last 2 weeks of the russian program so I figured if I was too tired to do jerks I just wouldnt cause I am currently focusing on squats.  So after not getting the jerks, I was totally not in it mentally and was like screw it I am done here.

Now, I have been contemplating trying to lift again at 2.  Would this be wise or should i just forget it for today

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Andy,

I guess this response is too late, but I would say your unlikely to do better with the squats in the same day. However, from my experience, you might do better with the other exercises. In fact, sometimes a morning workout can really prime the pump for the evening session. My general advice when something isn't going well on a given day is to change the plan and find something productive you can accomplish for the day. So, if its not squats, maybe its rack jerks, or abs, or something.....

[Andy Dick]

So I tried lifting again today and went nowhere on squats.  I then tried shoulder press.  A weight I should have easily gotten 5 on I could only squeeze out 3.  Same deal I just couldnt get going and everything just felt heavy.  So I quit for that day.  I am thinkin my nervous system might be shout from throwing the snatches and cleans in last week.  I started out right away with 85% again so I think I just smoked them.  That with the heavy squats of last week and everything else I did I think wore them out.

I am debating if I should take a few days off or try to see what I can get done tomorrow.  That day is a bit tougher on the nerves with snatches, but then I have RDL, shoulder press, back rows all are around 75% of my max so they should feel lighter.  What do you all think?

[Paul LaDuke]

I would go in with a couple of plans.  A plan to go heavy if everything feels right and a plan to do form work with light volume if you still feel off. 

It sounds like you may be overtraining or overreaching so sleep, stretching, nutrition and the ability to say no to yourself is the key to working through it.  If I were you I would only shoot for a good warm up, some snatch, clean and rack jerk work at 50-60% for easy sets of 2-3 working on speed and form.  I would maybe do 8-10 reps total in each of the 3 exercises, stretch and call it a day.  Your goal is to lift heavy later this week.

[Sean Hutchinson]

Sometimes you just gotta finish the whole workout even though you can't go as heavy as planned. It's better to finish it and not do as much then it is to get frustrated and walk out cuz you can't hit as much as you are "supposed" to do. That's one thing with programs like that I don't like. You arent' always going to be able to hit those numbers at the specific time. That's why I like the way we lift at LSUS, even though it says 10 rep max or 5 etc for an excercise it's not suppose to be a max of all time, it's suppose to be as heavy as you can go THAT DAY. Just stick with it and make sure you do everything you can to recover such as protein and creatine and getting plenty of sleep.

[Matt Erdman]

There is no reason to train daily if you don't feel well.