Just finished 2 weeks of 15's on my 2nd HST cycle and would like to share my results.
15RM 15RM
Exercise 1st cycle 2nd cycle
A
Deadlift 125 150
Bench Press 135 145 (12 reps)*
DB Row 40 50
DB Press 25 30
Incline Curls 20 25
B
Squat 135 135 **
Romanian DL 85 135
Dips (BW) 0 0
Cable Rows 95 120
Military Press ------ 65
Hammer Curls 20 25
* Disappointed - couldn't get 15 reps on the Bench Press with this weight. Did 1x12 and 1x11. I'm going to continue on to the 10's and see if I can meet my 10RM goal.
** I had real trouble with squats this meso-cycle. After a 3 week SD (too long) my goal for the 3 squat workouts was 125, 135, and 145lbs. I struggled to get 2x15 with 125. Had severe DOMS and could hardly walk for 2 days. Strangely, I only had minor stiffness in all other muscle groups. 2nd w/o (using my previous 15RM) I had to cluster the last 5 reps. 3rd w/o - after warm up I knew I couldn't do 145, so I dropped to 135 and could only do 12 straight reps. I was too exhausted to try to cluster. I couldn't understand what was happening. I reached or surpassed my goals in every exercise except Benches. I do squats in a power rack and set the safety bars to the depth I want and squat till the barbell taps the safety bar. This keeps me from inadvertently cheating as I get tired and I consistently squat to the same depth every rep. On the 1st cycle I squatted deeper than I ever did before, and as deep as I thought I could. After my disappointing lack of progress with the 15's in this cycle, I was looking at the power rack and the reason suddenly struck me. During this cycle I had been setting the safety bars 1 notch lower than I did in the 1st cycle. In other words, I have been squatting 3 to 3.5 inches lower than I thought I was capable of! Although it's a blow to the ego to have to lower my goals for the 10's and 5's, I'm happy about being able to squat so much lower.
I never did Deadlifts before the 1st cycle and was really weak in this move relative to my bench press. I thought it would take 2 -3 cycles to get to where I could DL more than I could BP, but I surprised myself. I did 1x15 and 1x14 with 150lbs in the DL and couldn't get 15 reps with 145 in the BP.
On the Romanian DL it took me a while to learn to do it properly and I went really light in the 1st cycle. I found that the secret is to not think about raising and lowering the bar and to concentrate on sticking my butt out while maintaining an arched lower back. The bar will go up and down on its own.
On dips I got 1x15 and 1x14 with body weight. The 1st cycle I got 1x13 and 1x11. I didn't do military presses the 1st cycle.
Overall, I'm happy with the progress I'm making. I'll post my results again after the 10's which I'm extending to 4 weeks instead of 2. I'll post my weight and measurements after the complete cycle and maybe some picts if I can drum up the courage.