He nailed most of them. A couple things I was tested for was MTHFR gene mutation. Which I have. I have to take methylated vitamin B as my body doesn’t convert it on its own. It’s hereditary unfortunately.
Also, food allergies will kick your ass. I feel like shit when I eat dairy.
Awesome, guys! Thanks for all of this information—feeling well long-term is definitely the name of the game, but if I happen to find myself getting a little bigger, a little stronger, and a litter leaner along the way, I’m all for it!
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w5d1
Sunday - 28 December 2025
Workout: Squat, 1200-1305 (65 minutes)
Jumps/“throws”
Begin: 1206; End: 1251; Duration: 45 minutes
Squat - 220x5, 250x5, 280x5, 250x5, 280x5, 310x3
CS DB row - 2x60 lbs - 10, 10, 10
Decline DB press - 2x75 lbs - 10, 10, 10
HLR - 10, 10, 10
Upright row - 70 lbs - 10, 10
Dip - 45 lbs - 10, 10
Neck extension - 30 lbs - 10, 10
Assault bike - 5 minutes
Assistance totals:
Push - 50 reps
Pull - 50 reps
Single-leg/core - 50 reps
Main work in 25 minutes, assistance superset throughout.
Yesterday was a bit more feasting that I originally planned for, and we did a replay of Christmas brunch this morning, so I came into this work really well fed. And that showed, because my energy held strong throughout.
The squats were solid but nothing to write home about, and I was pleased with the top set—they weren’t easy, but they were strong (if that makes sense), and I’m thinking there were at least two more in the tank before things would’ve got too wonky.
Not a bad morning, all things considered.
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w5d1
Sunday - 28 December 2025
Workout: Easy conditioning, 1925-1955 (30 minutes)
Walk - 30 minutes
Done!
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w5d2
Monday - 29 December 2025
Workout: Bench, 1030-1125 (55 minutes)
Jumps/throws
Begin: 1035; End: 1111; Duration: 36 minutes
Bench - (190x5)x10
BB row - 175 lbs - 10, 10, 10
Arnold press - 2x35 lbs - 10, 10, 10
Bulgarian split squat - L/R - 2x40 lbs - 10, 10, 10
Pull-up - BW - 10, 10
Lateral raise - 2x25 lbs - 10, 10
Back extension - 25 lbs - 10, 10
Assault bike - 5 minutes
Assistance totals:
Push - 50 reps
Pull - 50 reps
Single-leg/core - 50 reps
Main work in 25 minutes, assistance superset throughout.
For all of my “extra” energy yesterday, I had basically none today: I was dead-tired by the end of the lifting work, and I struggled to stay at 10+ calories/minute with the bike. (I did, in the end, but I had to work hard for that today.)
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w5d2
Monday - 29 December 2025
Workout: Easy conditioning, 1845-1915 (30 minutes)
Walk - 30 minutes
Done.
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w5d3
Tuesday - 30 December 2025
Workout: Conditioning + calves, 1200-1235 (35 minutes)
Seated calf raise - 140 lbs - 3 minutes
Reps: 86
Tabata American KB swing - 24 kg - 8x(20 on/10 off)
Reps: 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10 (80 total)
EMOM - 15 minutes
Push press - 135 lbs - 5
I tried to get excited for this today, but just couldn’t. Still punched the clock, though.
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w5d3
Tuesday - 30 December 2025
Workout: Easy conditioning, 1840-1910 (30 minutes)
Walk - 30 minutes
That’s that!
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w5d4
Wednesday - 31 December 2025
Workout: Deadlift, 1040-1155 (65 minutes)
Jumps/“throws”
Begin: 1050; End: 1135; Duration: 45 minutes
Deadlift - 245x5, 280x5, 315x5, 280x5, 315x5, 345x3
V-grip lat pulldown - 130 lbs - 10, 10, 10
DB shoulder press - 2x52.5 lbs - 10, 10, 10
Ab wheel - ramp (14) - 10, 10, 10
BB curl - 75 lbs - 10, 10
Y-raise - 2x17.5 lbs - 10, 10
Neck flexion - 30 lbs - 10, 10
Assault bike - 5 minutes
Assistance totals:
Push - 50 reps
Pull - 50 reps
Single-leg/core - 50 reps
Main work in 26 minutes, assistance superset throughout.
Another “punch the clock” workout—just not excited about much this week. (Mrs. SvenG will tell you that’s because I’ve actually relaxed a bit, and I think she’s right.) Deadlifts were solid. Grip was distracting for both sets at 315, so straps on for the top set. There were easily 2-3 more in there without any kind of undue effort.
Beyond that it felt like I was moving slowly—or without any kind of urgency, at least. But I guess that’s a good thing, and probably how I should feel during this week off from work.
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w5d4
Wednesday - 31 December 2025
Workout: Easy conditioning, 1805-1835 (30 minutes)
Walk - 30 minutes
Not quite after dinner, but I’m not sure there will be dinner: I’ve kinda been grazing all day. That’s uncharacteristic, but as I’ve alluded to already, the lack of structure in my days lately has been a blessing AND a curse, haha!
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w5d5
Thursday - 01 January 2026
Workout: Press, 0950-1055 (65 minutes)
Jumps/“throws”
Begin: 1000; End: 1042; Duration: 42 minutes
Press - (110x5)x10
One-arm DB row - L/R - 62.5 lbs - 10, 10, 10
Incline DB press - 2x75 lbs - 10, 10, 10
Deficit reverse lunge - L/R - 2x40 lbs - 10, 10, 10
Alternating DB curl - L/R - 2x30 lbs - 10, 10
OH tri extension - 69 lbs - 10, 10
Ab mat crunch - 10 lbs - 10, 10
Assault bike - 5 minutes
Assistance totals:
Push - 50 reps
Pull - 50 reps
Single-leg/core - 50 reps
Main work in 36 minutes, assistance superset throughout.
Moving slowly again today, but I was a bit more “into” training this morning than for the last few days. Happy with the press, too: First set was the hardest, but once I was warmed up, I felt strong—they were all good, clean reps, start to finish.
Happy New Year, T-Nation! I can’t believe it’s 2026 already.
Here are my T-ransformation 2026 before photos:
I was 211.5 lbs this morning, and that’s probably my best starting point in years.
For reference, here’s what I looked like at the start of God Sven is a Beast in early October:
That’s me at 219.6 lbs.
And, since we’re comparing, here are my T-ransformation 2025 before photos:
I don’t know my weight in those photos, but it can’t be good.
I didn’t finish last year—you might remember the tree on the house—and the first part of 2025 was spotty training-wise… I don’t even remember what I was up to, but I’m thinking it was a half-assed effort 99% of the time.
In any case, I’m in a good spot now, and my goal is to remain consistent throughout the challenge.
If I do that, the physique will follow.
And even if it doesn’t, at least I’ll be healthier!
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w5d5
Thursday - 01 January 2026
Workout: Easy conditioning, 1900-1930 (30 minutes)
Walk - 30 minutes
Done.
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w5d6
Friday - 02 January 2026
Workout: Conditioning + calves, 1050-1125 (35 minutes)
Seated calf raise - 140 lbs - 3 minutes
Reps: 104
Tabata American KB swing - 24 kg - 8x(20 on/10 off)
Reps: 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10 (80 total)
EMOM - 15 minutes
Push press - 135 lbs - 5
That felt much better than Tuesday’s, I think, but that’s not necessarily saying much (haha!).
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w5d6
Friday - 02 January 2026
Workout: Easy conditioning, 1955-2025 (30 minutes)
Walk - 30 minutes
Done!
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w5d7
Saturday - 03 January 2026
Workout: Easy conditioning, 1030-1105 (35 minutes)
2 rounds of:
Thruster - 2x35 lbs - 8
Chin-up - BW - 6
1-pump burpee - 6
Weighted vest walk - 30 kg - 20 minutes
That’s the end of Week 5. One more to go in this second leader, then a deload, and finally the 2 anchor cycles.
Strong work and physique shows it! 
Which vest and weight do you use?
I have a 20kg plate that I use in a hiking backpack, super uncomfortable. Want to get a vest that can hold my plate.
Thanks, my man!
Some generic brand, USA Fitness, that I found through a distributor in Georgia at the height of the pandemic. I wanted one with fine-grained weight increments, and this one goes from 1kg-30kg in 1kg increments.
Weighted vests are a lot more popular now and so are a lot easier to find. If I had it to do over again, I’d probably buy one from Titan Fitness. Certainly their options are the most like the one I ended up with…
I’m not sure about plate-loadable ones, though. Upon reflection, those would probably be just fine in terms of weight changes—1kg increments are almost too fine-grained!—and would hopefully work with “standard” plates.
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w6d1
Sunday - 04 January 2026
Workout: Squat, 0950-1055 (65 minutes)
Jumps/throws
Begin: 1000; End: 1042; Duration: 42 minutes
Squat - (235x5)x10
DB squeeze press - 2x55 lbs - 10, 10, 10
HLR - 10, 10, 10
T-bar row - 120 lbs - 10, 10, 10
Dip - 45 lbs - 10, 10
Neck extension - 30 lbs - 10, 10
BB shrug - 155 lbs - 10, 10
Assault bike - 5 minutes
Assistance totals:
Push - 50 reps
Pull - 50 reps
Single-leg/core - 50 reps
Main work in 33 minutes, assistance superset throughout.
Squats felt really good today, like I could’ve just kept going and going—Energizer bunny style. The DB squeeze press was a miss today, which is frustrating, because they’ve been spot on the past few times. I’m not sure what the difference is, but the stimulus just wasn’t there today.
Rest of it was solid, including the BB shrugs—it’s only the second time I’ve tried those (give or take), but I think I’ve got them figured out now.
God Sven is a Beast - 2025.c5w6d1
Sunday - 04 January 2026
Workout: Easy conditioning, 1915-1945 (30 minutes)
Walk - 30 minutes
Done.
Life returns to normal tomorrow.
*sigh*
I managed to get bored, stay bored, and indeed genuinely enjoy being bored.
Mrs. SvenG would likely call that “productive rest,” but honestly I think that’s overused. Instead, I prefer to call a spade a spade: I was lazy.
It was well-earned laziness, yes, but laziness nonetheless.
Regardless, I’m going to work hard (haha!) to carry the new-found lack of stress into the beginning of the work year. Come what may, I’ll be okay in the end.
Onward and upward!
