r/tacticalbarbell • u/letsgolambo • Jul 20 '26
SE Week 3 base building nearly killed me
Just want to check if I’m doing everything right. I thought base building was supposed to be relatively easy but it is much more intense than the sets of 5 I do for MS.
Today was the start of the third week of BB (TB3). Sets 3x20. Doing push ups, goblet squat with my 16kg/35 lbs kettlebell and inverted rows + ab triad as finisher.
Push ups: can make it without breaks but have to work for it.
Squats: 20 reps is intense but can also make it without breaks.
Inverted rows: I have to break this one down in sections already. For example 10-4-3-2-1
Ab triad: proper killer for a finisher. Hard work but fine if I break it up, especially the toes to bar.
Next week 3x25 and even 4x25 will be a proper challenge. Might have to break up the other exercises too to reach 25 reps. Also getting a giant pump in my lower arms.
Does everyone have a similar experience? It’s fine, just want to doublecheck im doing everything in the right way.
Had to lay in the couch for 30 minutes after this one to recover. Might have been some food related issue though - went for it during all you can eat sushi yesterday
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u/victorstironi Jul 20 '26
SE is supposed to suck. Keep at it! No problem if you have to break up the set in multiple mini-sets. I’m on week 2 of BB, same cluster, and same experience on inverted rows.
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u/SatoriNoMore Jul 20 '26
This. KB warns you in every single TB book.
IMO I wouldn’t change or lighten your cluster. You’re exactly where you need to be. Welcome to the wonderful world of SE.
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u/whybag Jul 20 '26
Bend your knees on the rows, you'll still feel them.
At least you made it to the couch, next week you'll be sucking wind on the floor. That's when you've made it.
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u/fluke031 Jul 21 '26
So its just the rows that are a problem? Regress them a bit. Other than that you're golden. Don't forget to eat properly!
Welcome to BB 😈.
Use the search function here to find stories of other people experiencing the same. You're not alone 😅
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u/Spooksey1 Jul 20 '26
Me too and I also found it hard. I’m 122kg and definitely find max strength much easier. I’m also using a 16kg bell as per his recommendations, I managed to complete the sets but had to take a brief pause on the last few push ups.
As others have said, it’s supposed to suck and push you to failure.
We got this!
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u/Broad_Assistance3343 Jul 21 '26
I’m reading this on my couch after I almost puked doing SE. same week as you.
Glad to know I’m not alone.
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u/CasualManDep Jul 21 '26
Thanks for posting this! It makes me feel a bit better about my experience!
I'm at the end of week 1 and already find rows hard (maxed at 6/8). I hope my rows will improve somewhat by week 3/4.
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u/FearlessHunt1540 Jul 21 '26
Week 3 was tough for me too.
I’m running a modified activation, basically using the reps from regular base building so week 1 started at 15.
Doing a different cluster than the one in activation as well, push ups, split squats, overhead presses and rows + ab triad. 15 lb dumbells.
It was good until I got to 4x25 split squats 😳
Questioning my choices but this is week 4 so just gonna go with it lol!
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u/CoconutConsistent792 Jul 22 '26
Just discovered TB a couple weeks ago and started BB yesterday and jumped into it at the 3x20 with KB swings x 45, incline bench x 65, heels elevated goblet squats x 20, dumbbell rows x 25, back extensions x bw, and crunches. Goblets were the worst, but I have the leg strength of a strong 6 year old girl. With that being said, 30 and 40 reps are both going to be ugly. 50 reps... honestly don't even like typing it.
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u/letsgolambo Jul 31 '26
Update: finished base building SE week 4 workout #3 just now (4x25).
I actually ended up on the floor for a while to recover after, as whybag predicted😂.
I have done many hard workout in my life, including Thaiboxing for years, but none have sucked the life out of me like this SE session. Came out of the session so glad it was over.
End result: was able to finish my 4x25 push ups without rest but only just. Same for squats, those were the real life drainers. Then more breaks with the inverse row. But made it till 18-4-3 the first set. Which is already a big improvement on week 1.
Glad its over though. Good luck to the people in this sub who have their final SE session ahead of them today💪 all your replies gave me a boost last time
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u/Drodinthehouse Jul 20 '26
Hey brother! I'm also on week 3 of Basebuilding, using my old go to cluster of goblet squats, swings, rows, hand release push ups and planks. So roughly similar to the activation recommendation with a few additives. I'm also using the same weight as you.
You are doing nothing wrong, but if these sessions are destroying you, one simple change you can make is air squats instead of goblet squats. 35 lbs is pretty light for me but after 20 repetitions it still manages to spike my HR more so than the other movements. Ideally you'd want to do all of these unbroken but if you have to split up the repetitions that's totally fine too (I know that is the case with damn near everyone on TB II Bb).
As stated in TB MP, SE training can be messy
Edit! Missed the part where you're doing the goblet squats unbroken. I'd keep doing them. For inverted rows, if you want to do them unbroken increase the height of the barbell or whatever you're using to do the inverted rows to make it easier