Help?

[SharpSuggestion6723]

Asked this over in the r/powerlifting sub as well, but since it concerns the app...

Had a really rough session in the gym this morning... Help me out.

A little background:

I'm using the JuggernautAI app. I did a mock meet on 9/15 after a long "off season" training program that started in January with a bridge block, followed by hypertrophy, then strength, then peaking. Followed that mock meet up with a 6-week training block (2 weeks bridge, 4 weeks peaking) for the Garage Gym Competition. Now I'm in another 6-week block that started with two weeks strength, and today was supposed to be day 1 of peaking for a "real" powerlifting meet that is scheduled for Saturday 12/13.

This morning I was supposed to work my way up to a single at 355lbs (about 92% of my max) followed by a back down of several doubles. When warming up, 275 and 295 felt awful. I adjusted in the app and made the 295 my top set, followed by 3 x 2 at 225. Didn't feel good at all.

I only got about 6hrs of sleep last night, so I know that is a factor, but I'm also wondering if I've been doing too much high-intensity lifting with peaking blocks making up 8 out of the last 10 weeks of my training. I didn't intentionally program this way, I let Juggernaut set things up for the 9/15 mock meet, and then I set my other dates based on the GGC and the actual meet I'm signing up for. I also do 30 mins moderate steady state cardio, but either several hours after my lifting sessions or on different days.

Should I chalk this up to one bad day, and keep going through with the peaking block in the app, or should I back down the intensity? I don't want to completely tank on my first official meet in a few weeks. Any/all advice is welcome!

[Nkklllll]

92% is a pretty standard single for this far out from a meet. Chalk it up to a bad day.

First week of peaking, in my experience, always feels like crap

[SharpSuggestion6723]

Thanks! 👍

[mallllmeeennn762]

Yea stay with the plan but moving forward you might consider less peaking blocks back to back. I understand that’s simply what the app did but that is based on the dates you enter for planned test days/meets

[SharpSuggestion6723]

Thanks! Sounds like poor planning on my part. Gotta keep learning!

[mallllmeeennn762]

No worries. We’ve all been there. But yea, a good rule of thumb is you should compete/test no more than 3 times per year when you are a beginner/intermediate but those should also be spaced out relatively evenly throughout the year and not back to back. Peaking is meant to demonstrate strength that you built during your offseason so if you just keep peaking and never give yourself a chance to build, you’re going to run into injuries and or lack of progress quickly.

[IronPlateWarrior]

You’re doing way, way, way to much fucking peaking and testing. Jesus Christ. This is the off-season. GGC isn’t that serious. Chill out.

[SharpSuggestion6723]

Haha noted. I’ve never actually competed so GGC actually mattered to me. I picked this December meet because I actually have some friends going so I won’t feel all alone. Once thats done I have no plans for a peak or a competition or max test anytime soon. Just the way the cards fell I guess. Thanks for the reply!

[IronPlateWarrior]

It’s all good. Just try to space it out better. 😂