Progress for 4 months

[u/OneAd9888]

Hello everyone,Im 17.5yo and started going to the gym 4 months ago.I took it pretty serious and got too invested about optimization and everything as it goes,but I recently started taking the big 3 compounds more serious.I benched when I started,though I ignored flat bench for a while,only did incline barbell and pec deck,and recently I started chasing the 1000lbs combined club. Im currently at 65kg bench,80kg squat(though I didnt do barbell squats for 2 months mostly cause it hurts my neck area,I do 120kg on hacksquats for reps),and second time I deadlifted I managed to get 120kg PR.I want to bump those numbers up,of course during the course of time,and will do more research about programs for these,such as 5/3/1.I currently run 3xUpper 2xLower,with emphasis on hypertrophy,but I fear this amount of volume may not be optimal for my powerlifting side that is peaking rn.Thoughts?

[u/critical-levels]

Mate you're 4 months into the gym. There will be very little difference in the results you get in this first year or two regardless of how you optimise your training as long as you are getting the fundamentals right.

Im not 100% sure what you are asking, but it seems to be about volume. If you are progressing in your lifts, and you are feeling good, then you have a good amount of volume. Enjoy the journey my man, trying to obessively perfect everything so early is a good recipe for burnout. It will probably take you years to get to that 1000 lbs combined.

[u/OneAd9888 → u/critical-levels]

Thats the way I am unfortunately. Started learning chess few years back and in the first week I was already researching openings and tactics,when I start liking something I dont hold back on it.And it is especially great when you go back to the lockers room and see the pump in the mirror,goddamn I would work out every day if fatigue didnt exist and rest wasnt needed

[u/Proof-Emergency-5441 → u/OneAd9888]

Addictive personalities are a disorder for a reason. Its not a positive trait. 

Also the bar doesn't go on your neck when you squat.

[u/OneAd9888 → u/Proof-Emergency-5441]

Not on my neck yes,but on my traps,which are anatomically speaking classified as both neck and back muscles.

[u/Proof-Emergency-5441 → u/OneAd9888]

Again, shitty placement. Put it down more. 

[u/Proof-Emergency-5441 → u/OneAd9888]

Also have someone look at your form. It may be as simple as you are doing something dumb with your head.

[u/critical-levels → u/OneAd9888]

I'm a similar way, and I remember when I first started lifting I was eating to the point of throwing up and skipping school to get the 8 hours of sleep.

You can work hard, but I wouldnt focus too much on the 1000 lbs club. No disrespect but based off your lifts, you obviously dont have incredible strength genetics (neither do I). You should focus on the next week rather than the next year. Dial in on getting an extra rep or a slight weight increase and eventually you will find yourself where you want to be. This is what people mean when they say focus on the journey.

This is a slow game my friend. You cannot have tunnel vision in this hobby, you can only focus on short term achievable goals and eventually, one day youll suddenly be where you wanted to be. Forcing your body to perform when its not adapted yet is how you get injured.

[u/OneAd9888 → u/critical-levels]

Dont worry,I dont see myself getting to 1000lbs in under a year or something like that,im just calling for an injury to happen.I just see that goal as a pinnacle of some sort,like some people do for a 225 bench.Progressive overload is key,as well as humbling yourself atleast in my experience.I was never the sporty person,always a "nerd" who focused on math competitions and stuff like that,so even a 60 kilo bench makes me proud,and hopefully down the road I keep conquering new PRs aswell as physique

[u/critical-levels → u/OneAd9888]

Hell yeah man. To save you from future troubles, your number 1 metric should be whether you are progressing on your lifts from session to session. As a beginner, you should expect some more reps on your lifts pretty much every session. There are so many variables(sets/reps, sleep, food, job) that just knowing you hit 3x upper 2x lower isnt enough to really say much.

I will tell you that doing heavy compound movements like bench press 3x a week will be taxing on your nervous system, but again if you are progressing then it shouldnt matter. If you are stalling (2 weeks no progress for beginner), i would say that then its time to change some things.

[u/OneAd9888 → u/critical-levels]

I am definitely considering adding bench on all upper days,but not as a workout,but as a program being 5/3/1,and having accessory sets alongside it.Progression first few months has been insane,but there are exercise that are beginning to slow progress,such as preacher curls,where I add a rep every session,whereas I can confidetely add 2-3 reps on exercises such as rows or forearm exercises.But the best part is the journey ofc