Chasing Big Strick

Training Over 35 Lifter
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[quote]63Galaxie wrote:
I dont think it runs in the family, although, Dyslexia (or some form of it) does. Thats why I dont type long replies. Shoot, I was over 30 before I could read past say 6 grade. Thats why I say you dont know what YOU are capable of. Man if I can overcome, you certainly can, anything. That includes self perception.

My son is 25. He still has some trouble with others, but has managed to establish his own social group. Albeit its made up of people with similar problems.

Heck yeah I would make the 10# jump. That why I like the 5x5. If you dont get all 5 you still made gains. [/quote]

Christopher (my son) isn’t really old enough to form social groups yet. If he interacts, it is just with whatever people happen to be around. I can definitely empathize your son, however. I am much the same way. I do not like settings where I don’t know folks. And, I tend to gravitate towards people with similar personalities and interests. I have never been one to socialize for the sake of it. I do, very much, value interaction, but there has to be a reason besides “hanging out.” That is one of the many reasons that I love this forum…mutual interests…and with great people. Otherwise, I prefer to be alone (family being the exception).

I have to say, being a cop was very difficult for me, being as people averse as I can/could be. It went a long way to forcing and teaching me to deal with others.

For instance, when I was around 20, I used to prefer shopping at night, because there were fewer people in the stores. I can remember being in the grocery store one night, turning down an empty aisle and actually getting pissed when someone entered the aisle on the far end. They were 100’ away, but I was still having to “interact” with them, by virtue of the fact that we could see each other. It makes for an interesting life. But, as seems to be the case with your son, we can adapt and overcome. The good news is Aspies can do great things, if their focus channels in the right direction. It is believed that Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton were Aspies. Not bad company to keep.

Your personal story is very interesting, and inspiring. It is also a testament to what can be achieved with faith and perseverance! Thanks for sharing it…

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I know that some of you use 1RM calcs…and that you have the same Google that I do. I ran across a couple, though…

This one gives 3 answers. I have yet to have method 2 and 3 yield different numbers, though. Maybe at higher weights.

This one is a spreadsheet that uses 7 different formulas. There is a bit of a range in answers.
http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/contexts/sporting_edge/teaching_and_learning_approaches/1rm_predictor_calculator

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My tip on 1RM calcs: go for the one that makes you look the strongest!

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I tend to go the other way, to make sure I am not setting myself up for disappointment on max day.

Of course, I think your logic would work best for calculating loads in 5x5, 5/3/1, etc…

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[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
63Galaxie wrote:
I dont think it runs in the family, although, Dyslexia (or some form of it) does. Thats why I dont type long replies. Shoot, I was over 30 before I could read past say 6 grade. Thats why I say you dont know what YOU are capable of. Man if I can overcome, you certainly can, anything. That includes self perception.

My son is 25. He still has some trouble with others, but has managed to establish his own social group. Albeit its made up of people with similar problems.

Heck yeah I would make the 10# jump. That why I like the 5x5. If you dont get all 5 you still made gains.

Christopher (my son) isn’t really old enough to form social groups yet. If he interacts, it is just with whatever people happen to be around. I can definitely empathize your son, however. I am much the same way. I do not like settings where I don’t know folks. And, I tend to gravitate towards people with similar personalities and interests. I have never been one to socialize for the sake of it. I do, very much, value interaction, but there has to be a reason besides “hanging out.” That is one of the many reasons that I love this forum…mutual interests…and with great people. Otherwise, I prefer to be alone (family being the exception).

I have to say, being a cop was very difficult for me, being as people averse as I can/could be. It went a long way to forcing and teaching me to deal with others.

For instance, when I was around 20, I used to prefer shopping at night, because there were fewer people in the stores. I can remember being in the grocery store one night, turning down an empty aisle and actually getting pissed when someone entered the aisle on the far end. They were 100’ away, but I was still having to “interact” with them, by virtue of the fact that we could see each other. It makes for an interesting life. But, as seems to be the case with your son, we can adapt and overcome. The good news is Aspies can do great things, if their focus channels in the right direction. It is believed that Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton were Aspies. Not bad company to keep.

Your personal story is very interesting, and inspiring. It is also a testament to what can be achieved with faith and perseverance! Thanks for sharing it…[/quote]

My niece is a very high performing Aspie. She even got herself into the navy in a technical position but became a disciplinary problem and was medically discharged because past a certain point of tension or fear she couldn’t follow orders. Literally could not respond. Bright, bright girl, great head for minutiae but can’t manage her own household, so she still lives with her parents.

I know exactly what you mean about ‘having to interact’ from 100’s of feet away, Strick. Had the same thing myself and still have it. I much prefer to be alone and don’t make friends easily. At one point I was choosing to work night jobs exclusively so I wouldn’t have to be around people. I have a few good friends and enjoy their company but don’t feel the need to be around them much. The extreme sensitivity to people has faded somewhat over the years but it’s always a challenge to go out in public and just ‘be myself.’

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{Nods in concurrence} I know exactly what you mean.

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[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
I tend to go the other way, to make sure I am not setting myself up for disappointment on max day.

Of course, I think your logic would work best for calculating loads in 5x5, 5/3/1, etc…[/quote]

No, I’m just kidding with you. Wendler recommends being conservative.

128

This has proved the very educational thread.

Looks like birds of a feather- find similar interests.

I am dislexic - and have real number issues
phone numbers, big numbers - anyting past say 3 digits and I have real , issues.

Couple that with a good case of ADDHD
I was kind of an angry kid.

Turns out my dad, and my older brother
both erwere diagnosed with manic depression-
but we are thinking more aspergers for the both.

I needed sports, and athletics in HS and college - to be socialized and to find motiviation to get through school.

Lots of wore off post puberty but some behavioral issues did not…

just interesting to find plenty of
“loners” very into lifting.

kmc

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i’m dislexic as well. i remember when i was in elementary school, i kept messing up on my multiplication tables. i would say 9 x 9 =18. they put me in a class called “catch up”. i thought it was “ketchup”. i guess i wasn’t too bright anyway. i wasn’t labeled dislexic until college.

maybe dislexia is the source of my strength:)

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Just saw the new bench vids.

Looking really strong. 260 looked like 240 did. you got a lot more in there, man. Don’t let anybody tell you you aren’t strong - not even you.

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Just as I was starting to think that I had veered too far off of the core purpose of the log (all the Autism, Aspie, ADD, etc… talk) I find that we may be the majority here. And it is comforting to find myself in good company!
kmc, I too used sports (football) as a focal point. Given my hyperfocus, though, my grades would plummet during the season, but skyrocket afterwards. That is the problem with my hyperfocus, it revolves around one thing at a time. I am still trying to learn to multifacet it.

I think it is a perfect activity, vent, what-have-you for those who aren’t raging extroverts. It is fun, fulfilling, makes a difference, even if only to oneself, and doesn’t REQUIRE others.

Also, my mom was originally diagnosed with manic depression. They later revised it to Bi-polar disorder. Fortunately, neither my brother nor I have shown any symptoms.

Meat, if dyslexia is the source of your strength, where can I learn it??!

The…“they put me in a class called “catch up”. i thought it was “ketchup”.” is classic. My brother, who runs a nuclear reactor (really), still calls ballbearings, ballbarians :slight_smile:

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[quote]skidmark wrote:
Just saw the new bench vids.

Looking really strong. 260 looked like 240 did. you got a lot more in there, man. Don’t let anybody tell you you aren’t strong - not even you.[/quote]

Thanks, skid. Cheating and looking at the youtube account before I post, huh?
I can tell you, though, the 260# felt a heck of a lot heavier than 240#. I wasn’t sure that I was going to get the 5x5. You can see the stress in my form breaks. If it had been 265#, I probably wouldn’t have.

Interesting thing with my 5x5s. The weight seems to get a bit lighter on the 3rd or 4th set. I don’t know if it is because I am just getting used to the weight or what. Kind of annoying, as it screws with my head.

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I made the 10# jump, again, to 260# on the 5x5. I got the reps, but as the video will show, it wasn’t easy. I sacrificed some form at the end…but, dadgummit, I got the bloody reps in. Next week will only be a 5# jump.
Also, I added pin presses (I think that is what they are called). This is the first time I have ever done them. I struggled, mightily, with getting the bar in the right position over me. Again, evident on some of the reps in the vid.
The really high pin preses would have seemed pointless, except that I was able to move considerably more weight than I otherwise could. At least getting my wrists, elbows and shoulders accustomed to higher stress/weight. Is that the point of them?

The workout…

Bench
barx15
barx20 - did 10 shoulder dislocates between these sets
95x15
135x12
185x5
225x5
260x5x5
I changed the angle of the vid on set one, to better show where the bar was hitting. It is hitting over my sternum, at the bottom of my pecs.
1st Set - - YouTube
Last Set - - YouTube … wasn’t sure I was going to get them going into it.

Really High Pin Presses
295x5
345x5
365x5
- YouTube … cool thing about these is that it is 40# more than I have ever even attempted on a bench…flat, pin, incline, decline, whatever.

Medium Pin Press
295x4
300x5
- YouTube … you can really see me struggling with bar placement on these.

Close Grip Bench
185x10x2

Supersets
Machine Flyes
140x12
140x10

Pushdowns
90x10
90x9

That was it. It felt good to get the reps, but wish my form had held better, especially the arm positioning.
Any comment on the pin presses? Again, they are new to me. I don’t even know if I am doing them right…

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[quote]LittleStrick wrote:

I have to elevate. Besides the bench being too high, I am a hair over 6’1" but have an inseam of 30-31", depending on brand. I am all torso…[/quote]

Sounds similar to me. Are your forearms to long to do front squats with your hands under the bar. Mine are, can’t get the elbows up so I do it cross armed like Meat.

135

[quote]streamline wrote:
LittleStrick wrote:

I have to elevate. Besides the bench being too high, I am a hair over 6’1" but have an inseam of 30-31", depending on brand. I am all torso…

Sounds similar to me. Are your forearms to long to do front squats with your hands under the bar. Mine are, can’t get the elbows up so I do it cross armed like Meat.[/quote]

You know, I have never done front squats. Possibly related, though…I have often heard (have no idea if it is true or not) that your span (finger tip left to finger tip right) should be equal to your height. I am 6’1" tall, but have span of just over 6’4".

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Nice session LS!

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Fantastic numbers, Strick.

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SteelyD/sfp- Thanks. It is getting there. But, oh man, are my shoulders and traps tight and achy this morning! It feels great! The pin presses put a hurtin’ on me.

I don’t know if you can tell from the vids, but when I setup for bench, I actually arch up onto the back of my head and then roll down onto my traps/shoulders. Trying to get the arch as tight as possible. A double workout.

Also, the Surge arrived yesterday. Can’t speak to if it felt like it made a difference, but I definitely need more liquid in it next time. That stuff is stout. Not to mention, the maltodextrin, D-glucose (whatever has the “sugar effect”) was more than evident. I felt like I had just downed 32 oz. of chocolate milk, with extra sugar and a snickers mixed in.

139

[quote]sfp wrote:
LittleStrick wrote:
I tend to go the other way, to make sure I am not setting myself up for disappointment on max day.

Of course, I think your logic would work best for calculating loads in 5x5, 5/3/1, etc…

No, I’m just kidding with you. Wendler recommends being conservative.[/quote]

Trying to confuse me, huh? It worked. It’s a small victory, though, as I am easily confused.

Fortunately, I plan on maxing the last full week of this month. So, hopefully, there will be no guess work.

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You’ll be in good shape to begin, then. Just make sure you follow Skid’s advice, not mine, for the initial arithmetic.