Geran

I've been lifting heavy and hard for roughly a year now, and raised all of my maxes significantly. But within the last few months, I've hit a hard plateau on my bench press at 200/205. I've tried multiple different programs to break though it, but I always end up failing sets around this weight. Programs attempted thus far: 1. Stronglifts 5x5 - This is where I started, and this got me to about 150-160. 2. Effortless Superhuman (Tim Ferris, 4 Hour Body) - This worked well up until I hit the 200/205 plateau. Despite multiple resets, I couldn't break it. 3. Eating the Elephant (Tim Ferris, 4 Hour Body) - This program is supposed to be designed specifically to break bench press plateaus, but I still failed at the 200/205. My diet for roughly 6 months has been Tim Ferris's "Slow Carb Diet," to include the Saturday cheat days, and extra protein from whey protein powder + water shakes to support muscle growth. The only area I already know I struggle with is sleep, as I often times will only average 5 hours a night. I've come a long way in my journey, but I'm not satisfied, and I refuse to let 200 be my max when I know there are people out there lifting triple that or more. Any and all help would be appreciated, I can take the criticism if anyone knows something I'm doing wrong or a program that would be helpful.

I do love books.

Good stuff. Thanks everyone.

Yea, I heard that as well. I had an NCO who was all about boxing and combatives. Kept pairs of boxing gloves in the shop for lunch time and after hours PT. He was fully combatives certified. Beast of a man.

I will definitely check that out. What would you recommend if I am willing to do in-depth reading?

Definitely sound advice. Any particular sources you recommend?

I will confess to biology being a weak area of mine in terms of knowledge. What exactly do you mean by connective tissue? Are we referring to the skin over the muscles, or is there internal tissue that connects muscles?

I've spent a lot of time getting back into fitness and proper eating lately, and it got me thinking about how to train and strengthen myself as a whole person. I've been looking for ways to strengthen my mind, and have settled on pursuing chess with a fair degree of seriousness. I'm not planning to compete professionally, but I would like to be an above average player. Is anyone else in the community playing chess, willing to coach/play with a new person, or able to recommend any resources?

Yea, I had to Clinch Drill with the lead instructor who was roughly twice to 2.5 times my size and weight...it was an experience. Do you know if there any places teaching the MACP to civilians or veterans? It is a good system, and getting back into it and getting to Level 2 would be great.

Yes, I was at Bragg. The boxing Gym I went to was called Angel's Gym, if that helps. I got MACP Level 1 certified while I was enlisted, that course beat the hell out of me, even with the prior martial arts experience. It was wonderful, but I still remember how sore I was by the end. I couldn't even close one of my hands properly for a while. Good stuff though. No one can deny that a vast majority of fights will go to the ground if they go on beyond the first hit or two. I'm not a large man by any stretch of the imagination, 5'6" at most, and maybe 160 pounds (haven't weighed myself since before I started lifting heavy a few weeks ago), so I'm never going to be a grappling god. But I have been in enough situations, both serious and professional/fun, to see the value of knowing how to ground fight/grapple/wrestle.

This was refreshingly amusing. You're quite clever and talented. Keep it up!

So I !@#$%^&* up pretty hard last night. I got embroiled in a personal conflict between two people I care about so much that I barely did anything responsible. I did my own workout, but I let someone I promised to hold accountable eat garbage fast food and drink soda with the excuse that "it's late and it's cheap and simple." I didn't cook dinner or prepare food for lunch today, so I have to waste money buying lunch out here. I have failed myself and I have failed the people who depend on me. I need to get back in the game and lock in, and do things right today.

Well, I did do five years of active duty service in the Army. I went to a Hapkido/Tang Su Do "school" when I was a kid, and that was alright. What I really enjoyed was the boxing gym I used to go to when I was in the Army in Fayetteville, NC. Little hole in the wall place you wouldn't ever see unless you knew to look for it...but that place was heaven. Just sweat, mats, bags, and people who wanted to train hard. They also did Yoga and Tai Chi. I miss that. So maybe boxing is my thing? I do like striking, especially since I've struggled with anger issues my whole life and hitting the bag has always helped me.

That's solid advice, thank you. I've done pretty well with keeping junk food and sugar out of my place, but I will confess to making paleo desserts somewhat often or eating a lot of fruit because I miss the sugar. As you say, a complete overhaul overnight isn't always the best path. I'm working on cutting back on eating 3+ pears a day, for example. But I figure that's better than a soda or candy bar.

Well, I'm terribly sorry you feel that way just because I don't touch your "touchstones." I mean, nevermind that I could get into a massive rant about Star Wars alone and how Han and Leia's son being named "Ben" in Force Awakens was utter bullshit because that was Luke and Mara's son's name in the expanded universe but that's all been declared non-canon because !@#$%^&* Disney....but I guess I'm just not enough of a nerd for you.