Masculine Excellence Requires Discipline

Training Training Logs
1844

Yeah, I really wish I’d had some guidance on this first, but I probably wouldn’t have listened to it anyways.
Lesson learned.

A prompt I found in my attempts to define what I want my future to look like:
“What do you want your average Tuesday to be like in 5 years?”
And to describe it in excruciating detail.
Where are you waking up
Who are you waking up next to
What are you doing in the morning, afternoon, evening
Who do you communicate with
How do you feel
What do you have to look forward to
Etc.

The reason for it being an average Tuesday is that there will be far more of these than individual life “highs”.
That’s helped me a good bit so far. Answering these questions for 5 years in the future is far easier than 50 years, and it puts everything into perspective… if I want XYZ to be my average Tuesday, I need to do ABC now for that to happen.

I still don’t have all the answers as to “what do I want from life”, but I know what I want an average Tuesday to look like, and that’s enough for me - for now.

Absolutely. I fell off the horse because I didn’t see the point… knowing what I want my life to look like in 5 years requires that I do this.
Seems dumb, and it is, but I found a good enough reason to get back on the horse. I just have to stick with it.

Thank you for the insight. There’s no topics I’m unwilling to discuss in my log… I would love to help young men grow into good men, and having open and honest conversations for all to see - helps me work towards that.

4 Likes
1845

Nope. I’ve thrown myself into a few different things but nothing’s really clicked for me. Now I’m getting complacent and it’s pissing me off. What are those books? My nightstand could use some fresh material.

2 Likes
1846

I think the problem here is, almost all of the modern worlds guidance on this is: “own this, achieve that, do these 5 things” then you’ll be the person you want to be, only it’s empty.

I think almost all young men are the same, we’re naturally pretty hard headed and think we know best, experience is about the only way to get to the realisation.

That’s a good point to start, it’s better than having nothing and ending up here:

But don’t let the starting point be the end, otherwise you’ll wake up on a Tuesday in 5 years time, having achieved what you set out to, yet having the same questions again.

100% agree here, I watched a real life TV program once where this middle age mother was describing how she’d beat alcoholism because of having her son to live for (she’d become an alcoholic after becoming a mother), the problem I saw was that her son at this point was 17, I was thinking to myself, that’s great, but either your son leaves home in a year or two and has his own life, and then what holds you back? Or you place an untenable burden on your children when they are grown. Your children should be a very significant part of your life, the actions you take the way you behave, the way you plan for your future, they are however their own persons and you should be shaping them and moulding them for life without depending on you (or you depending on them). At which point if your purpose and identity is solely wrapped up in them you’re then back to having to redefine yourself, only 20 years older. It’s why the term “empty-nest” exists.

If you’re happy then I’ll start with some 3000 year old wisdom:

“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.

Ecclesiastes is a book in the bible that on skim reading seems pretty bleak, it’s honest but the the key is that the “teacher” is specifically looking at everything “under the sun”, the upshot is that all of human endeavour, under the sun (which is to say done in our own strength, for our own purposes, outside of our true purpose, which is found in God) is meaningless. In 150 years time, no one under the sun will remember our names, who we were, or what we achieved. I believe that there is a higher purpose and a deeper meaning - Augustine wrote this:

Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.

And the Westminster Shorter Catechism phrases is this way:

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

3 Likes
1847

We (most of us) do the best we can for our children. In the end, as I have found, our children find their own route, their own careers, their own husbands/wives/partner. Culturally I think younger adults are less concerned with a family name, or family legacy. However, you sound like at top notch father. Hats off.

2 Likes
1848

4char

4 Likes
1849

Push
Tuesday, Jan 28, 2025 at 1:23pm

Incline Bench Press (Smith Machine)
“Rest Pause 10-15
3010
+30s extreme stretch”
Set 1: 225 lbs x 9 [Failure]
Set 2: 225 lbs x 3 [Failure]
Set 3: 225 lbs x 2 [Failure]

Butterfly (Pec Deck)
“1xFail + partials
3010
+30s extreme stretch +max flex”
Set 1: 150 lbs x 17 [Failure]

Viking Press
“Rest Pause 20-30
3010”
Set 1: 100 lbs x 12 [Failure]
Set 2: 100 lbs x 5 [Failure]
Set 3: 100 lbs x 3 [Failure]

Lateral Raise (Cable)
“Pulley mid-thigh, partials at length, TS>BDS
3010”
Set 1: 25 lbs x 9 [Failure]
Set 2: 20 lbs x 8 [Failure]

Triceps Dip
“Getting back into it, shoulders feeling funky”
Set 1: 20 reps

Squat (Barbell)
“Upper inside R hamstring got tweaked on last set”
Set 1: 135 lbs x 5
Set 2: 225 lbs x 5
Set 3: 315 lbs x 5

Triceps Extension (Machine)
“Rest Pause 20-30
3010”
Set 1: 140 lbs x 11 [Failure]
Set 2: 140 lbs x 6 [Failure]
Set 3: 140 lbs x 4 [Failure]

@hevyapp

+30mins LISS

I’m realizing my training is too “easy”, so I’m going more along the lines of DC.

9 Likes
1850

A lot of your training seems to be to failure, so do you want to make it even herder or is this something you are saying as a general thing.

1 Like
1851

I mean that for someone who wants to look like an athlete, my training isn’t very athletic.

I need to do more hard stuff, just because it’s hard.

1 Like
1852

What do you mean by this? I think Joe Rogan has some ideas, haha.

1 Like
1853

Its thinking about thinking.

Level 1: i want this, i need that.
Level 2: i want this, i need that, you want this, you want that.
Level 3: i want this, you want that, lets trade.
Level 4: juat because we can trade, doesn’t always mean that we should trade (ie morals, objective good vs bad, law and order)
Level 5: what i think is good and bad may not be the same as what you think is good and bad
Level 6: if we all have different values based on our own cultures and experiences, who am I to tell you whats good and bad? We should all just do what we want (decay of morals, law and order) we are here
Level 7: i recognize and understand that different people have different values based on their own personal experiences, but without societal norms and restrictions, we are living in utter chaos. Restrictions must be enforced, even knowing some people will feel they are wrong.
Level 8: a more fair set of rules could be imposed if people were grouped by value systems and had their own set of rules that reflected their values, insofar as they did not impact other groups and their values.
Level 9: i recognize myself, my actions, my beliefs as a system of itself, and that everyone else has their own system.
I am my own system, which is part of a system that shares my beliefs and values, which is part of a system that organizes individuals and groups as systems. I am a system, within a system, within a system.
It goes on into evolution and development of each group and level, requiring knowledge of each, in order to work towards a unified group that no longer sees themselves as an individual, rather many versions of who they could have been in different circumstances.

Need we’re degrading as a society because we’re stuck on level 6, where too many people think we should just do whatever we want with no consequences.
If the parents of a child are on level 6, their child will not develop past level 3. We’ve been on level 6 for half a century.

After writing this, I’m about ready to take him up on the offer lol

1 Like
1854

But what sort of athlete do you want to look like? I’m assuming more akin to a linebacker than an offensive linesman

2 Likes
1855

Tbh just a bodybuilder but like actually lean, for once. I do want to be functionally capable and fit as well, which has had me considering BJJ and Boxing too.

Maybe a subjective term but i do consider bodybuilders to be athletes. Classic is really the look I’m after.

1856

Oh for sure, that’s why I asked what type of athlete. If you’d said tennis I’d have been really thrown.

For BJJ definitely start toying with some movements that add in rotational components, not specifically for strength but more for a protective element.

You’ll be significantly stronger than most average dudes, but you’ll also be moving in some unique ways. I don’t mean replace everything with Turkish get ups and stability balls, but working in lateral lunges to warm ups, landmine rotational presses, half kneeling single arm cable rows etc will be gold

1 Like
1857

Have you considered that maybe what you want isn’t hard? People who emulate the behavior you want are common, and often you see it in people who haven’t stressed greatly over it. It’s a sign you might be going about it a harder way than you need.

A lot of what you seem to complain about would be well tackled by just having a consistent routine that you’re able to modify. As dumb as it sounds, when was the last time you had a daily to-do list that you checked off item-by-item?

1858

Pull
Wednesday, Jan 29, 2025 at 1:34pm

Seated Cable Row - Bar Wide Grip
“TS>BDS
3110”
Set 1: 150 lbs x 18 [Failure]
Set 2: 130 lbs x 16 [Failure]

EZ Bar Biceps Curl
“Rest Pause 20-30
3010”
Set 1: 80 lbs x 14 [Failure]
Set 2: 80 lbs x 6 [Failure]
Set 3: 80 lbs x 3 [Failure]

Rear Delt Reverse Fly (Machine)
“Kroc Style, retracted scaps
1010”
Set 1: 100 lbs x 33 [Failure]
Set 2: 100 lbs x 26 [Failure]

Lat Pulldown (Cable)
Set 1: 150 lbs x 15 [Failure]
Set 2: 120 lbs x 12 [Failure]

Single Leg Romanian Deadlift (Barbell)
“Trap Bar
3010”
Set 1: 95 lbs x 5
Set 2: 145 lbs x 5
Set 3: 195 lbs x 5

Shrug (Dumbbell)

@hevyapp

+2mins stairmaster lvl 7. Felt like my heart was going to explode… clenbuterol is no joke.

+40mins LISS

Kept most of these JP style or just regular failure as i dont feel the contraction well with rest pause sets.

4 Likes
1859

I still have one that i pay for so its easier.
I haven’t touched it in like 3 months because i just didn’t want to.

I’ve tried the list thing MANY times and it works phenomenally, until it doesn’t.

This is 100% a “me” problem that i just haven’t figured out yet. Id rather procrastinate until the absolute last minute, then go maximum effort to get it done on time.
Works fine for deadlines that i have meet, but it doesnt work for self-imposed deadlines, because i dont hold myself to them.

1860

I mean, human brains are blobs of fat literally powered by bagels, it’s never a “you” problem because humans are inherently trash. It’s always the system because you can’t expect much from any person, so, why did you stop all those times?

1861

Feel this 100%, did being on ADHD meds help at all? Did you try modafinil? I’d love there to be a pill to resolve this but I somehow doubt it works like that.

I feel so switched on and work so well when I’m working like that with lists but I always seem to hit a wall and regress taking probably twice the amount of time procrastinating than I did being productive. I’ve managed this by having enough knowledge to cover for lack of preparedness (I tend to be nigh on indispensable in most roles I take on), and wisdom enough to know where I can procrastinate, for how long and which parts need serious focus immediately. This ensures I do though to be productive enough that my various employers over the years think I’m pretty awesome, but for me I know I have the ability to do more - yet lack the drive and desire to do so.

I have historically however changed jobs every 2 years out of boredom (currently in two employments that I’ve held for a record breaking 7 years each, but I’ve taken promotions in both jobs so technically different roles).

3 Likes
1862

I’m not into CrossFit but I find a lot of their conditioning stuff pretty appealing, and plan on working some in coming up. I think bodybuilding and being “fit” are compatible. Arnold used to run and bike all the time (if what he says is true).

I think incline walking is the best for bodybuilding as a sport, but not for getting in shape if you know what I mean. I’m seeing this myself as I’ve been basically just walking for the last 4-5 months. Not in the shape I’d like to me, although I’m happy with the looks.

1 Like
1863

I’m really not sure what the question is here. Why did i stop using the list? Because i just didnt want to. I have no logical reason for it.

I know humans are highly imperfect.
I just want and need to be better.