Na, still allowed to talk to you, I’m just not allowed to like you.
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All your posts going forward will have to go through customs and I might charge you some VAT.
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Merry Christmas!
Work for today:
Press:
5 x 40kg
5 x 50kg
5 x 55kg
5 x 60kg
12 x 50kg
12 x 40kg
Notes:
- Lifes been beyond busy these last few weeks, because reasons, some of them alluded to above. This was just a session to remind my muscles how to press. Nothing too challenging here. I plan to do a proper max test on press on Thursday morning along with a few tests on hang cleans and front squats to establish some TMs ready for my next program. I’m scrapping the fake meet for this year because I don’t have gym access for the foreseeable future to safely testing squat or bench and I don’t intend to do any of the big 3 for a while, so a max is irrelevant.
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@Chris_Colucci Transformation Challenge 2021
Am very hesitant to post this and enter this year but my sense of “completeness” is pushing me into it. And I guess I’ll never have a better “before photo” than this.
Couple of shitty weeks have me ballooned up to 208.6lbs as of 5mins ago which is comfortably the fattest I’ve been is several years and the worst place I’ve been coming into one of these challenges.
In terms of strength levels, I know that press has increased significantly in the last year, deadlift and squat have probably stalled or regressed slightly. Bench has probably taken a nose dive because I’ve gone from benching twice weekly in 2019 to less than 5 times in the last 9 months.
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Good on you for posting it mate. Think about it this way, why not use this as an opportunity to have a red hot fkn go at it. Organise yourself and get your meals sorted and then train consistently and hard for 6 months. You won’t end up being Ronnie Coleman but you might surprise yourself.
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Was the 40kg effortless and the 50kg hard?
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Goals for this year:
As already stated, I want to pass all the tests in the following article, ideally with flying colours:
This is going to require a balanced approach to training, hence a year of 531 seems to fit the bill.
My first template has to be pretty flexible, non-ego related and straight forward because while life is calmer, it’s not calm. My plan is a mash up of Morning Star and Krypteia with Couch to 5K for conditioning.
Day 1:
Jumps
Hang Clean 5 x 5 FSL
Front Squat 5s PRO
Press BBS supplemental ss. Loaded carries/Goblet Squats Krypteia style
Day 2:
Jumps
Hang Clean 5s PRO
Press 531 PR sets
Front Squat BBS supplemental ss. Pull ups/dips Krypteia style
Rotate between these two whenever sessions allow.
@simo74 Meal plan is already sorted, I’ve started adjusting my body to it over the last few days and should be all systems go by next week, I’ve already got rid of all the Christmas chocolates that won’t upset anyone if I bin it (apart from the Guylian, because Guylian). I know I can make massive changes, because I’ve done it before while being far weaker. I’m frustrated that I keep finding myself having to do it though. Anyway, enough whining, I am where I am and if anyone stands a chance of a drastic transformation this go around, it’s me. I know how to do it, I’ve done it before and I’ll never have a worse before photo. Time to get working.
@kdjohn That was indeed the reasoning. Thought I’d do the “research” for him, but turns out I’m not sure what the question was so I didn’t bother posting in the thread. I reckon 50kg x 12 is more difficult than 40kg x 12 if anyone asks though.
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Mate these goals are begging for the tender care that only Tactical Barbell can provide
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Phew! Well, we can all rest easy now. Your dedication is duly noted.
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531 goals, 531 methods mate.
Also: I know 531, less chance to overcomplicate stuff.
You can implement the 531 framework within TB mate, just saying 
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If your press has increased, I wouldn’t bet on this.
Now that’s the spirit! Let’s do this! Also the tests from the article… These are great goals. Still haven’t reached the BW press…
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Good on you Dagill, never pleasant to have to do but motivation in the long term. I’ll post mine up tomorrow!
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Arms, shoulders and upper chest are looking thick. The focus on the press paid off. I was starting in a similar place when I dropped all the weight this past spring/summer. I think you’re going to see some awesome results.
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Late merry christmas/happy holidays. Is 80kg press still on the table for 2021 or nah?
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@ChongLordUno I probably could, but given the mess I’m already liable to make with 531, I don’t need more complications.
@aldebaran I have no way of testing for the foreseeable future anyway. I’m not very emotionally attached to the bench anyway at this point, although BBB benching tends to do good things for my chest so will probably make an appearance once it’s an option.
@alex_uk honestly, this was just about completeness. I’m not convinced these challenges do much for my motivation but these yearly markers are pretty useful for judging progress.
@T3hPwnisher I’m dubious about the “starting in a similar place” part, but thank you. The photography and weight gain make it hard to tell, but there’s definitely been muscle growth, most obviously triceps. I seem to actually have triceps now, which is nice. I’m convinced the press focus is “correct” for me and my goals, but that doing it to the exclusion of all else was a mistake.
@guineapig happy holidays to you man. I’d be pretty gutted if I didn’t hit an 80kg press by the end of 2021, I’ll be pretty gutted. That’s one of the goals. I’ll test my max tomorrow, but I expect it to be 70-75kg.
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You’re braver than I am with photographs is all. My wife showed me one of me with the kiddo sitting on the floor right around the peak of my weight gain, and we both remarked how “full” my face was. I could also see the changes simply in the videos I posted. But the plus of it all is that the belly will shrink while the top will stay thick.
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I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to back out this year because I was scared to put a picture I was embarrassed by online or whether I actually believe these challenges do very little for me. Decided to play safe and take it.
Last time I lost a load of weight, it came off pretty proportionally and abs stayed soft looking. Time before, my abs came out fairly early. The difference may be age or it may be the cardio. I’m hoping it was the cardio.