That makes it very understandable. Sorry if this hast been covered already and I missed it. I didn’t know about these specific disadvantages and would have initially thought that the harness would ne perfect for very high rep sets
Nah, no apologies, I had the exact same thought as you. It was pretty much my intent in buying it: to be able to hammer away high rep front squats. It CAN be done, but I feel like much gets lost in translation as the bar just drifts further and further away from the torso. Challenging for sure, but different.
2 Likes
My advice is do whatever Arthur Jones says. If wearing used shoes would give me maximum legs, im all for it.
1 Like
AM WORKOUT
(3) Texas Deadlift Bar touch and go deadlifts
5x135+chains
5x225+chains
3x315+chains
1x405+chains
DROPSET
9+3+3x505+chains
8+3x405+chains
Standing ab wheel
4x8
SUPERSET
Car deadlift simulator
9x6plates
8x6 plates
DROPSET
7x6plates
7x5plates
7x4plates
Dips
3x34
Notes: Seeing some growth again. Couple factors. Right hip no longer buggy, and I imagine I’m adjusting to all the craziness I’m throwing at my body. Theorized I’d either adapt or die: glad I picked the former. Felt some warning signs during the initial dropset though, so capped it at 1. Car deads moved smooth. In general, positive training day.
Woke up at 197.4. Different cheat meal: went to Taco Bell and got the $5 nacho box with a cheesy gordita crunch, and then a miniblizzard at Dairy Queen. Haven’t had ice cream in a LONG time: eye lit right up.
6 Likes
PM WORKOUT
Stone of steel over bar (20)
3xStone
3x+50
3x+75
1x+100 (3 laps, 1 over bar)
0x+125 (lapped, slipped on the load)
3x+75
Prowler high handles 90lbs
3 rounds of 50’ forward, 50’ back
Notes: Stones felt great today, but hands kept sweating and slipping. Coulda solved it with the tacky towel, but want to stay away from it as long as I can. Forces my technique to get better. Lapping the stone was strong, but I also pulled the holy hell out of my abs on the 100lb set. Interesting sensation to say the least.
Been raining the past few days and changed the drag coefficient on the street. Pushing the low handles resulted in a cartoonish moment of pushing as hard as I could and only my feet moving. Salvaged as much as I could.
Woke up at 199.4. Mega bloat going on.
2 Likes
hehe made me laugh and vision the sight. (is that the right way to put it).
“Envision” I think is the word you mean, but in either case my neighbors seemed to be having a good chuckle at me, haha. I am nothing if not entertaining.
AM WORKOUT
GIANT SETS
Log viper and press away
5xLog
3x160
3x180
10x205
1x265 (strict)
12x160
Reverse hyper 230lbs
7x16
Band pull aparts
7x20
GIANT SETS
Log clean and push press 225
1x3
1x4
2x3
Reverse hyper 230
4x16
Hammer curls 40
4x12
Notes: This actually happened on Monday, but haven’t had computer access. That 265lb press was far smoother than last week. I’m a little ashamed of the apprehension I felt approaching the log for that set. After what I grind it was last week, and with this week being heavier percentages, I was telling myself “It’s ok if you don’t hit the press: just practicing the clean is enough”. Despite that defeatist attitude, I had a solid clean and then the press moved much faster.
Mentality also plays a huge role on the clean and push press. I have to “think explosive” before I touch the log, or else it’s a slog. That’s how I managed that set of 4 in the middle. Need to remember that.
It dawned on me just how much I’m absolutely hammering my back with all the log cleans, on top of the sandbag pick ups, front squats, stones, deads and car deadlifts. I seem to be adapting, but when the calories drop, I know a lot of places where I can reduce stress.
Woke up at 198.8.
3 Likes
AM WORKOUT
SUPERSETS
Buffalo bar Squats 265lbs
10x10
Set 1: 1x36 bodyweight dips
Set 2: 1x20 Band pull aparts
Set 3: 1x1x200lb log cleans
Repeat
Notes: Weird workout. Things were moving great right until set 8, and then it just suddenly dawned on my body how awful this workout was. Had to lay down between set 9 and 10, and after that I left the garage without putting away the weights and just layed down on my bed for 5 minutes with the fan blowing on me before taking a cold shower and chugging a Rockstar to kill an exertion headache. Feeling good now, but still. Few factors. Slept at work the night before, and most likely a little dehydrated/undernourished heading in. Still stuck with sub 2 minute rests until set 10, which was just about getting through it.
Woke up at 195.8.
7 Likes
LATE PM WORKOUT
Front Squats
5xBar
3x95
1x135
1x185
1x225
REST PAUSE (12 deep breaths between sets)
7x275
3x275
2x275
1x275
5x225
3x225
2x225
1x225
Notes: Schedule is a little jacked up. Did this the day after 10x10 squats. Left hamstring feels like it’s going to snap, but that’s about normal for me. I plan to train in another 8 hours, so we’ll see how that goes.
Woke up at 198.0. Been having some GI issues, so not sure where weight is going to settle.
5 Likes
You are crazy man 
Do you have a long pause between the 275 sets to the 225 sets or is it one rep 275, 12 breaths/shifting weight, straight into 225 for 5 ?
Where’s the betting pool on when you’re going to break?
I still want to be you the next time I’m 30.
@mortdk I rest as long as it takes to take off the 25s and put them back on the plate tree. Since that takes a bit of time, I don’t do the 12 deep breaths on top of it.
@biker Pretty sure the Deadpool on me right now is 2 years ago, haha. I feel like it’s a bit of insider trading to bet on myself. But “if I could start again, a million miles away, I would keep myself, I would find a way”
Always appreciate the support.
AM WORKOUT
GIANT SETS
Axle bench press
5xAxle
5x136
5x186
3x241
3x276
8x311
17x241
GB lat pulldowns 90
7x20
Band pull aparts
7x20
GIANT SETS
Axle strict press 136
4x9
1x7
Standing ab wheel
4x5
DB lateral raise 25
4x12
Notes: Played it a little smart today and cut out the sandbag to spare my hamstring for tomorrow’s deadlifts. Worked in the ab wheel instead, so I can move quicker tomorrow. Ran into an issue where the gorilla tape I had put on my j-hooks to keep them from scratching my axle ended up making the axle stick to the j-hook, so I had to unstick the axle at the start of the 311lb set. At first I thought I had fried out my CNS and simply couldn’t unrack the bar, but it was a relief once I heard the popping sound and realized it wasn’t my pec.
Strict press continues to move well.
Woke up at 198.4. I’m so done with eating. To think I wanted to be 240lbs when I was younger.
5 Likes
Sounds made up…but alright. haha
4 Likes
It only took not being able to squat for 8 months for me to give that hamstring a little more leeway than the rest of my body, haha.
Yep, that’s a relief! A full pec tear would be awful.
1 Like
@littlesleeper Thankfully, muscle and pec tears have been off my radar. I think remaining natural is a part of it in all honesty, but that could also be psuedoscience.
PM WORKOUT
Texas deadlift bar deadlifts
5x135
5x225
3x315
1x405
14+3+2x495 (lifetime PR on first set)
Car deadlift simulator
10x6plates
9x6plates
DROPSET
8x6plates
8x5plates
DIP STRIPSET
5x155 (lifetime PR)
5x130
5x105
5x80
5x55
5x30
5xBW
Notes: Very rare that I get an afternoon workout in, so I decided to really see what I could do. 2 lifetime PRs is pretty awesome, and a testament that, even though things were falling apart on the training cycle, the effort was enough to still get me strong when push came to shove.
I got the craziest lower back pump in my life after that topset of deadlifts. Dropset wasn’t happening, and even on the car deadlift I was feeling it. Spent a LOT of time staring straight up at the ceiling and saying the F-word.
Regrettably, my phone fell over while recording the dip stripset, so I only got the topset on video, but I forgot how much I enjoyed this approach to training. Heavy weight, dropsets, decent volume, all the things I dig.
Woke up at 199.2. I’m definitely looking super fluffy on video, haha.
8 Likes
You’re crazy man. Inspiring but crazy.
well done, I was spent just watching
Getting a chance to hide from the heat in the AC today and doing some internet stuff. Generally a big fan of list of thoughts you put up from time to time in your blog, but I thoroughly enjoyed your Tyranny of Freedom post. Spot on.
@mortdk Much appreciated dude. I kinda wished I captured me stripping off a plate per side, setting up, giving it 2 real honest thoughts of an attempt before saying “no f**k it” and limping away, haha.
@mr.v3lv3t Glad you enjoyed it dude. I had that one sitting in the queue for a bit, just couldn’t really figure out where I was going with it.
PM WORKOUT
Lawnwork with weighted vest
30 minutes
Transition immediately to
Stone of steel over bar (20)
3xStone
3x+50
3x+75
2x+100 (3 laps and 2 over)
lap x 125
4x+75
Prowler w/90lbs 50’ no rest
2 rounds
Notes: Lots of activity this afternoon. Stones keep getting better. Confidence high. Figured out an issue with the prowler; the traction on the bottom of my shoes has worn off on the exact spots I push off on, so it’s been smooth against the street. Had these for a few years, might be time to replace them. Don’t know if I want to do it right before the competition, but I may switch footwear for the prowler leading up so that they don’t get worse.
Woke up at 200.0 this morning. Been about a year since I weighed that, right around the end of Building the Monolith. Seems to come in cycles.
3 Likes
AM WORKOUT
GIANT SETS
Log viper and press away
5xLog
5x170
3x195
7x215
0x265 (cleaned, no press)
12x170
Reverse hyper 270
7x10
Band pull aparts
7x20
GIANT SETS
Log clean and push press away 230
1x3
1x2
2x3
Reverse hyper 270
4x10
DB hammer curls 45
4x10
Notes: Still a little fried from the Saturday workout. Clean was super slow and all over the place. Got 265 off the rack position, but it floated away and trying to save it took too much energy. I’m at peace with it. The push pressing was solid at least.
Woke up at 198.0. Deload coming up, need to play it smart.
Oh yeah, fun fact: 18 years ago today was the day I decided to quit being fat and lazy and start training. Still a significant moment for me.
6 Likes