Two things:
1: good news about T-levels. I like the comment from the doc, use gel it fucks less with the normal production. I hope it’ll help you a lot.
2: loved the way you turned the press around. I’ve been staring at the freaking bar like you did several times, and just cursed the life out of it. And I’ve tried a second try as well, without ever getting the reps I’ve hoped for. Well done my friend.
This could be the turning point not only for the press.
When I I think about it, you’re well on track for a three plate press arent you? That’s pretty cool, because that puts you in some good company.
@mortdk thanks mate,
This is exactly what I had in mind. It slips me from time to time but I am trying to hold on to it.
@MarkKO That is a really, really big goal of mine! I precisely remember when I chased and eventually got my first 100 kg overhead press that I thought and told a friend, I would never be able to do a 140 kg push press. At least not if I decide to stay away from steroids.
Well I don’t know if you consider TRT steroids but in any case I will prove my own ideas of limitations wrong.
17.01.
That spot on my back is still there. It scares me a little because it feels like something is compressed but in reality it is more discomfort then pain. Did mobility and heat treatment yesterday and a little workout this morning to see how movement feels.
1 air squats
2 x 20
2 band good mornings
2 x 20
3 band deadlifts
2 x 20
4 hip thrust
2 x 20
Conclusion: 0/5 pain in any movement, 1/5 discomfort. The movement felt very good. However 1) I got a huge back pump and 2) my legs are still so sore that the air squats were fucking hell and my quads are still burning half an hour after.
This workout leads me to a) calm the fuck down. Your back will be fine, it’s a very minor hick up. B) I will postpone my deadlift workout to tomorrow and add an additional rest day today. That is bad for my schedule but potentially good for my body. My back could probably handle a training session but with the overall state of fatigue, I think it would be a crap session with added risk of hurting my back.
Clinic called. I’ll start treatment next Tuesday.
I don’t know if the hormone therapy alone will fix me or not but it will take weeks to find that out so I’ll go to the clinic anyway. Can’t hurt, right? I don’t really know what to do job wise anyway and I if I refuse to start the treatment, my health insurance surely will not be happy. They already called twice to ask when I start treatment (fyi my insurance is paying 100% for my treatment but they want to get me “healthy” as fast as possible so they can stop paying me sickness benefits).
18.01.
Back still dodgy but getting better.
Decided to screw with my schedule even more. I’ll make the trip to Hanover tomorrow and pay the CrossFit box that hosted my first competition a visit. I have been there a habdful of times. The reason I am going is that they have atlas stones. I don’t care too much about the contest but at least one session with stones should be worth it. So to fit my program better, I’ll deadlift tomorrow in the CrossFit box and hit stones after. That means bench day was changed to today and my back gets an additional day to recover for deads.
Used my belt for all sets of bench to keep it safe.
1 bench press
Up to
2 @ 100 kg
1 @ 110 kg
1 @ 120 kg - fail. Supposed to be three. Hit the j hook on the way up.
2 seated log pin press, steep incline (instead of log lift to spare my back)
5 @ 55 kg
5 @ 65 kg
5 @ 75 kg
5 @ 85 kg
1 @ 95 kg
3a seated db shoulder press - no back support
4 x 8 @ 25 kg
3b lat pull down
4 x 8 @ 70 kg
4 shoulder rotation
3 x 12
Notes:
Nothing pathetic going on there. My .02
What is this?
Yeah, educate us @Koestrizer!
The Hicks press was made popular by pro strongman Graham Hicks.
It is a very close grip, paused board press. Great triceps builder. I used it last season as my main acessory to push presses.
It seemed to help my log a lot because I can’t get as much leg drive comapared to a barbell and struggle with the lockout
Thanks dude!
19.01.
1 deadlift
Up to
1 @ 170 kg
1 @ 190 kg
3 @ 200 kg - ties PR.
3 x 7 @ 157,5 kg (all mixed grip)
2 stone to shoulder (no tacky or tape on arms)
1 @ 75 kg
1 @ 93 kg
1 @ 93 kg - I just can’t get a second extension!
1 @ 93 kg - gnaaaar!
1 @ 93 kg > drop to > 7 @ 75 kg
3 ghr
3 x some
4 tire flip
1 x 15 @ 250 kg (at least that’s what the guy said)
5 behind the back barbell hold
27 sec @ 120 kg
30 sec @ 120 kg
Notes:
21.01.
Very sore still from deadlifts. Which is no wonder because I only had one rest day when my dumb ass thought it had been two. Also I haven’t lifted those weights for those reps in a long time.
That all made squats today very unpleasent and they felt heavier than 130 kg.
The spot in my back is still there. Deadlifting neither harmed nor healed it (although initially it felt better after). The real test will probably be the log lift.
1 squat
5 x 3 @ 130 kg
2 yoke walk
3 x 10 @ 205 kg
Notes:
used my belt very liberately today to help my poor tired lower back.
Happy to just tick off the box today.
did you know there is something called pseudo dementia? I didn’t and was pretty relieved to learn that from a psychologist today. Apparently it is caused by severe depression. There is no real loss of memory or brain damage but you kinda feel like you have “fog” in your head, can’t remember things people told you minutes ago and you are less “quick” or “sharp”. It fades once the depression gets better.
I haven’t discussed it here but I suffer from that and was really worried (+ had my meds under suspicion). I don’t want to pad my own back but I have always considered myself to be pretty smart and also to have a good memory so this has been nagging on me.
My mental faculties returned after starting TRT. You’ll get there too I hope.
Went from sustaining 200% studies and a job at my peak to barely managing an office job, to sick leave where all I was able to do was exercise but neglecting my own home, to returning to soloing a joint software development/research project that’s truly up there in difficulty level at the detriment of zero other aspects in life.
Funny thing, during the trench years I had access to zero memories before then and formed during but now I can remember from before that barrier and somethings that happened during.
That sounds exactly like what I am experiencing! 
Like really spot on. I really hope I’ll have the same experience that you had!
It’s a scary process when you can basically watch and do nothing but stand by while your mental faculties diminish and you basically wonder if you’re on your way to becoming as productive as a house plant minus photosynthesis.
I hope so too!
It is. And if one’s mental acumen was at all something intertwined with one’s identity it adds to the angst that accompanies the decline. I found myself wishing that if I hadn’t been smart in the first-place I wouldn’t have suffered so much when that quality slipped through my fingers.
That’s upper echelon comedy!
23.01.
1 Log lift
Up to
1 @ 96 kg
1 @ 106 kg
1 @ 111 kg - without a struggle. PR!
Fail @ 116 kg
2 push press (beltless)
5 x 3 @ 92,5 kg - felt like an empty bar
3a incline db bench press - 3 sec eccentric + pause in stretch position
3 x 8 @ 25 kg
3b unsopported one arm db bench row - 3 sec eccentric + pause in stretch position
3 x 8 @ 25 kg
4 face pulls to the neck
3 x 12
Notes:
Video:
Hey K good to see you back on good strength, ready for the comp?
Good workouts lately, that 200 kg pull looked as heavy as it should be in training, and nice pr on the log.
I am doing an PT thing for my SI, goes like this:
Stand next to a wall about 20 cm or so away, with the side to the wall, put your shoulder and arm against the wall, bend the arm to 90 degree.
This makes the elbow a “joint”.
Now take the opposite arm pushing your hip into the wall, that way the whole hip/SI joint area is mobilised.
It’s a very small motion, to 2 x 10 reps to each side 2 - 3 times a day. In a very few days my pain disappeared. Whenever I forget to do it the pains comes back but goes away when I’m doing it.
24.01.
Light session. Trained in the different gym again that I went to yesterday as well, so no strongman equipment (I brought my own log - which is a pain in the ass).
I know the gym and his owner from way back. Bodybuilding focused but good vibe there. It’s in the city I attend the clinic in. That’s reason 1) for using it here and there and 2) is that I feel a bit of a cold coming (I mean it’s been a few weeks, right? No wonder though since everyone is sick here.) so TLDR, it’s probably good to train in the warmth while my body is fighting it.
1 deadlift (mixed grip)
5 x 3 @ 150 kg - used my belt even though it’s deload weight.
2 back extension
4 x 6 @ 15 kg
4 behind the back barbell hold
3 sets max time @ 140 kg
Notes: