01 Dec Brian Carroll | Offseason Week 8 | Day 1

I’m about 14 weeks out from the Arnold and in the middle of offseason! To read more about my current offseason 10/20/Life split, scroll down to the bottom of this post.

Here’s some training footage from Saturday

Squats 500×3 paused Floor press 315×3 Dead 500×3 – RPE 6 Starting to add a little bit of weight to the bar now. Still super light. No gear will be used this cycle. Not even a belt. #inzer gear will be added in 5 weeks. Still a lot of work to do! #1020life #powerrackstrength #inzer #inzeradvancedesigns #tentwentylife

A post shared by Brian G Carroll (@briancarroll81) on Nov 28, 2015 at 11:17am PST

Saturday went well! I’m feeling good and other than some arthritis in my hip, I feel fine and rested. I’m looking forward to pushing the training harder over the next 4 weeks.

Normal warm-up which you can read about HERE McGill Big 3

Pause squat with cambered bar: 500×3
Floor press: 315×3
Conv dead: 500×3
McGill big 3: cool down

Good session and the squats pushed me a little bit. The cambered bar is HARD to control in the hole and pause without pitching forward. I’m steadily increasing the intensity and I feel great.

Floor press felt great and powerful. I really feel like I’ll push some good weights over the next 4 weeks this cycle. I know, it’s only the weight I benched in 11th grade.

Deads felt good. I’m considering going conventional this cycle at least some. It will be a good change for me. They feel snappy. See video above!

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I just finished competing at the RPS Conquest Meet on 10/3/15 where I squatted 1100, benched 780 and pulled 760 for a 35lb squat PR and a 30lb total PR with a 2640tot for second all time.

Am I happy with the results? NO, but I’m content for now. I realize I have a few things I need to work on going forward as well as some things to dial in.

Get some NEW 3/4 Sleeve Baseball 10/20/life Swag HERE

What I’m doing now

I’m doing a lot of pre/rehab – back, shoulder and hip work right now. I’m at the point now where being healthy and available is far more important than significant strength gains over each cycle. Yes, I attack my weak points and put work in but your body will be a complete weak point if you push volume/intensity too hard together for too long and it falls apart.

** keep in mind, I have ZERO pain in my body. It’s preemptive. It’s prehab to prevent and the rest of the work is rehab bc my I will always be rehabbing my back. It’s a life sentence but I’m pain free and wouldnt have it any other way.

I have the Arnold next march. I have not even thought about the meet to be honest. Time will come for that but no need for that now. Right now the focus is on healing and recovery!

Here is what my BIG 3 lift day looks like

5 week block
Work all three lifts on same day – light RPE and raw. Will be good for work capacity, high volume with lower intensity and allow for LOTs of assistance work throughout the week!
Day 1 -Pause squats – work hip mobility
Floor press – great movement for me to build raw bench power
Deads – conv deads – working below the knee to keep perfect position and work the mid range.
Day 2 – crap load of upper body work/bench ass. DB presses, dips etc to add mass to triceps and pecs
Day 3 – direct upper back and quad work – leg press, piston squats etc
Day 4 – Full and buff (mostly pec, delt and tri work)

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Brian Carroll

Brian is a world-class powerlifter with over two decades of elite and pro-level powerlifting under his belt. Coming back from a devastating back injury in 2012 that broke multiple bones and that most experts said he would never recover from, he has returned to the pinnacle of world-class lifting (while 100% pain and symptom-free) and is now dedicated to helping others avoid the same mistakes that he made in the past through private and group coaching in Jacksonville, FL. Brian’s impressive recovery has given him the opportunity to teach and deliver talks to physical therapists, chiropractors, medical doctors, professional strength & conditioning coaches and experts from all facets of sport, on how to avoid injury, while building anti-fragile strength and resilience in athletes.

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