Thanks for the explanation, small difference but its there. I like that plan, its simple. I should just follow yours. I need to follow something starting next week. I still like to do singles and doubles for the DL for some reason?
Hey check out this article for a press variation you can use. Savickas?
https://www.t-nation.com/training/overhead-press-your-body-weight
Yah, we'll see. Might be a good idea to keep the 5-8-3 weekly wave for 'performance' lifts, and then just do everything else five reps, two sets a piece. Get in a little more variety, I dunno. It will probably take another few weeks of experimentation, but I can feel a good modification of the old routine coming together. Of course, if the doc I see next week says squats and deadlifts are OK, then that will change things a bit, but I think a little more variety will still be a good idea. The trick, as always, is to get a nice balance and yet still be able to do everything in less than an hour. I also don't like having to think too much, so if, for example, each lift had a different variation each workout, it would be too much for me. In any case, I'm back doing something close to a fullbody routine again, and that's pretty satisfying.
That press variation looks interesting, but it's not a whole lot different from the unsupported seated press, and with my small power rack, it would be harder to set up. The idea of working in BN Presses is something I've been intrigued with for a while though. I'm pretty sure I have decent shoulder mobility. One possibility would be working in the variations on Wednesday, the higher rep day, like dips subbed in for the bench press, BN OHP for presses, OH Squats (if I can do them) for the Back Squat, and so on.
Here's one guy who thinks you can still run on a torn meniscus if properly managed:
http://www.9run.ca/2011/08/running-with-torn-medial-meniscus.html
Here's an interesting idea for outdoor aerobic work:
http://www.streetstrider.com/summit-8r-p-161.html
I just wired $619 for one direct out of the factory. That's less than half the retail price, so if I don't like it, I can probably unload it for no loss or even a small profit.
I think I like the SLDLs better than the RDLs. I tried Rack Pulls yesterday, but they didn't feel right. I might try High Pulls instead, or even the dreaded Upright Row.
I don't know if I'll ever try singles or doubles again for DLs and Squats, but we'll see what the second doc says. I'm thinking of always keeping them in the 5-8 range, but you're right, the singles and doubles are really fun. It just feels good to lift a really heavy bar once in a while, and I'm sure it's good for the CNS to have to marshall one's forces like that. Seems like there's a wide range of opinion on what a meniscus tear can mean for continued activity. I realize now that I've been managing it reasonably well for a couple of years, so maybe I can just continue and rest it whenever it feels achy or stiff? I'm somewhat haunted by the memory of my very solid 275 squat a month or so ago. Didn't feel anything wrong at the time, so there's a lot of desire to do it again.
For lifting, I respond well with goals, so the goal for this cycle will be either getting my OHP up, building up my back, or both. It's been surprising how much I've lost on the OHP. Some of it is the difference between the Tall Kneeling version and the Seated version. I wrote my first doc and his assistant said Tall Kneeling should be OK with a pad, so I dunno. I'll wait to see what the second doc says, but I was really enjoying that version. Another possibility would be to do standing presses with a cambered bar, but even then, the palm of my hands can touch my garage ceiling, so I'd have to bend my knees, and the weights would probably swing a bit. Maybe I could just use Chains?