Rebirth of the Juggernaut: Brute Force and Ignorance (Part 1)

Training Training Logs
622

No problem dude. Hope it works!

Axle strict press
5xAxle
5x83
5x123
5x138
5x161
8x181
11x138

Notes: Wore my belt for the first time on the set of 181. Didn’t feel as great as I remember. My hand spacing was a little jacked up, and I wasn’t able to get a decent rack. Not a great press day, but I’m not crying myself to sleep over it.

Also, got some new cheapo 25lb bumpers from Sports Authority (in case you weren’t aware; they’re goign out of business. Everything is cheap). They’re super low quality, but they get the job done. It’s why my warm-up sets are different.

DB rows 105
4x10
5x5

Notes: Performed in between sets of presses.

Log clean and press (clean once) 120
3x10
2x7

superset w/

NG Chins
1x20
1x15
2x10
1x15

Notes: Viper pressed the first rep of every set on the log. Really starting to hit my groove again.

Axle curls
1x110

Band pressdowns
1x50

Kroc rows 105
1x18

General notes: Woke up at 194.0. Being sick took out a bit of my energy on this workout, but strength is still high. I feel whole again. I’m still following the Doc’s orders and staying away from competition for now, but it just means when I come back, I’m coming back evil.

623

Those looked really good, man.

I’ve also noticed the difference in strength by timing workouts. I do most of my training in the morning (fasted save for coffee), but on Saturday/Sunday, when I usually want to hit a deadlift PR, I eat btreakfast and train around 10 or 11. Really seems to make a big difference to me as well.

624

Thanks man. The axle is doing a good job of reining me in on these.

I miss back when I was chubbier and would really pig out on my deadlift days, haha. It was usually a huge breakfast burrito for breakfast, and then like 1500 calories of Taco Bell for lunch, then deadlifts and squats until death. I feel like I’m rediscovering that intensity even with a cleaner diet, but where is the fun in that?

625

SSB Squats
5xBar+chains
5x115+chains
5x155+chains
3x205+chains
1x245+chains
17x315+chains

Notes: 20 was the goal, but lungs just weren’t having it. I basically threw the bar into the rack on the last rep, the fell out of the rack and stumbled out of my driveway. So, good intensity PR I suppose. Think it’s time to start moving some heavy weight.

Got video of this. Will upload later.

Reverse hyper 230
4x12

Superset w/

Standing ab wheel
4x8

Car deadlift simulator
5x1plate
5x2plates
5x3plates
1x4plates
1x5plates
15x6plates

Notes: Another awesomely intense set. Really pushed myself here; started getting close to the red zone. Strength is coming back on this one real quick. Took some video of it, will upload later.

General notes: Woke up at 195.8. Haivng some GI issues from the cold and sinus I’ve been taking. Sickness is pretty much gone though, so there’s that.

626

Video from yesterday’s workout.

Squats

Car deadlift

627

Posting this on your training log cause I would like to get your opinion on it too, formerly posted on Alpha’s log. Your mentally is something which I really look up to so I’d like to get your take on it. I’d imagine you’d say just work through it, embrace the suck but eh, why not just ask you.

Just wondering, is it every justifiable to take time off from serious training just because?

Personally, I’ve injured my wrists and it might be some tendon issue of sorts and it’s pretty much killing my intensity and desire (I want to but whenever I start, I just get frustrated and pissed at myself, example : not being able hold the bar properly for squats etc etc) to train. On one hand, I could probably fight through it, on the other hand, everyone is telling me to take a week or even an entire month off. I’m really conflicted, part of me wants to continue training, another part of me just wants to go fuck it and take a month off or something, in hopes that my wrist will be back to normal once I’m back.

628

You’re going to have to keep in mind that I really don’t have a healthy mentality when it comes to this sort of stuff. I’m essentially an addict.

That being said, you can still engage in serious training while ALSO being smart about being injured. This log is a prime example of that. When I was healing, I still trained as hard as I possibly could WITHOUT doing anything stupid that would slow down the healing process of my injury. You basically are resting the injured part while continuing with your training.

Your question about regarding justifiability is really going to be a personal one. I keep training because I am diseased; it doesn’t make me better than anyone else. Other people have other priorities and they base their life around those. If not training meets your priorities, go for it.

Were I in your situation, I’d let the wrist heal and blast away at everything else that I could. Essentially, I’d make it a form of periodization, where I use the injury downtime as a time to focus on another aspect of training. Maybe it’s time to blast the conditioning, or really crush the lower body lifts, or build up a ridiculous upper body with some bodybuilding stuff, etc etc. I’m actually doing something similar right now, where working through a shoulder issue I’m doing a bunch of partial pressing (log and floor press) so that the shoulder can heal AND I can get better at this part of the lockout.

Changing absolutely nothing about your training when you are injured isn’t hardcore; it’s just stupid. You NEED to be flexible and adaptable in training (and in life) if you want to survive. The guys who just do the same thing all the time burn out way early in their career, whereas you got guys like Mark Felix who learned how to deal with changes (and, consequently, took 2nd in Britain’s Strongest Man, got to the Finals of WSM 2015 and won the Masters WSM…at 50).

1 Like
629

I understand where you’re coming from. It’s more of a mental thing to be honest, part of me feels like I should probably take a break yet I just can’t seem to stop myself physically, I have to do something or it feels ‘off’. I think you know what I mean right? Like taking time off and taking things easy causes me a fair bit of discomfort.

630

Why not just take time off of the things that are hurting the wrist while still training the things that aren’t?

Don’t take things easy; just take things easy on the wrist.

1 Like
631

That’s pretty much what I’m doing right now but taking things easy on the wrist kinda makes everything feel easier too or maybe I’m just not creative enough.

That and having to deal with the fact that I’m ‘mortal’ is just a little frightening to me. I know getting hurt is inevitable. I just never thought it’d happen to me this early and hell, this is a small injury, it’s not even a missing ACL (friend just went through ACL surgery yesterday) or anything serious. If a small injury holds me back this much, I’m fearful what’ll happen when I actually get injured injured. Get what I’m saying?

632

You’re having some pretty normal thoughts right now. I wrote up a post on my blog a while back called “THE 7 STAGES OF INJURIES” that you might find helpful to read/re-read. This is all just part of the process, and you’re not alone in it.

In terms of creativity; you’ve got it. NOW is the time to try out new things and learn. Injuries are a blessing; they force you to try something new, and you have nothing to lose if it doesn’t work out. The only way to waste an injury is to either do nothing or to just stupidly keep doing the same things that get you hurt. If you try out something new and different and it doesn’t work, at least now you KNOW it doesn’t work.

I asked you before but I don’t remember the answer; can you do push-ups on your knuckles with your wrist injury? If so, think about setting a stupid high daily number to chase after. Start with 100 and work up to 300. If you can do rows with straps, start doing the highest volume back workout you can possibly come up with, since now your upper body won’t be as taxed as usual from recovery. If the entire upper body is out, do smolov or 20 rep squats. Become some sort of conditioning juggernaut. Beat your plowshears into swords and your prunning hooks into spears. Let the weak man cry out; I am a warrior! Proclaim this among the nations; prepare for war!

…sorry, kinda ended up in a weird place there.

Axle bench press
5xAxle
5x75
5x115
5x165
5x205
3x220
3x250
11x285
16x220

Notes: Slight misgrip on the set of 285, but it was still a super strong set. Came in wanting 10, got 11.

NG chins
2x25
1x20
2x15

DB lateral raises 25lbs
5x8

Notes: Performed in between sets of benching.

Axle floor press 195
2x10
3x8

superset w/

Incline DB hammer curls 40lbs
3x8

T-bar rows
5x1 plate
5x2 plates
5x3 plates
5x4 plates

DROPSET Pyramid
5x4 plates
5x3 plates
5x2 plates
5x1 plate
5x2 plates
5x3 plates
5x4 plates
5x3 plates
5x2 plates
5x1 plate

Notes: Oh wow that was awesome. Sternum was acting up a little, so this was a nice way to still get some intensity in without blowing it out. Back was pumped at the end.

General notes: Woke up at 195.4. I’ve noticed I’m less “aware” of my knee these days. I’m just living my life like I used to, don’t really have to think things through.

2 Likes
633

Pretty sure the ending is the best part haha. I’ll take your suggestion into consideration. Right now, I think I’ll just take the entire of next week off, from the gym at least. I feel it might be the best course of action for me right now and there’s no harm in that eh.

634

Wow, you get pretty intense sometimes. I feel there’s definitely a dark side in there somewhere. Thank christ you lift weights instead of anything more dangerous.

635

Haha, I DID use to train for MMA and fought in 1 tournament, but it just wasn’t my calling.

And in fairness, a lot of that is a Bible verse. That said, when it comes time to psyche up for a max deadlift single, I can get pretty evil. My wife knows to give me my space and not hold me accountable for my actions until the bar hits the floor.

@Benanything Sounds like you got a plan moving forward. Hope it works out well for you.

636

Conditioning workout today.

EMOM
Minute 1: Unloaded backwards prowler drag 50’
Minute 2: Keg run 50’
Minute 3: High handle prowler push 50’
Repeat

This really wasn’t as intense as I was hoping. The bakcwards sled drag was too light, or the rest periods were too long. I’m getting somewhere with this though. Honestly though, I think it’s time to bring events back to training. I think I’m ready.

Woke up at 195.2

637

(5) Axle Mat Pulls
5x123
5x156
5x246
5x336
1x426
1x516
5x536 (deadstop)
13x426 (touch and go)

Notes: Morning workout. Ate a larger breakfast (2 slices of peanut butter toast) beforehand, but this was still murder. I’ve learned lower body lifts are really nutritionally dependent for me. I’ve gotten smart through this injury process and learned the value of simply pushing to my limit for that time and situation, rather than getting fixated on numbers. Auto-regulation; what a concept.

Buffalo bar squats
5xBar
5x100
5x140
3x190
1x230
1x280
1x320
6x370

Notes: Wanted to see what I could do with 370, but I was just toasted. I had more, but I could feel my knees wanting to shake something good on these, and it woulda been a dumb idea. Got a vacation coming up for the long weekend; going to be doing a lot of walking, probably be good to not be limping all over the place.

General notes: Woke up at 194.8. No scheduled cheat meal this week; just going to let my diet be looser on vacation.

Need to really come up with a solid plan for squats. Been just kinda screwing around, but I think I’ve gotten back to the point where I can really start focusing on strength.

Most obvious choice is to grab something from 5/3/1, and that might happen. Otherwise, might implement the idea I had before I got injured; for squat day, 1 week heavy partials, 1 week high rep full ROM. Then, on deadlift day, heavy on the high rep week, high rep on the heavy week. Still want to keep rotating between SSB and buffalo bar. My shoulders are getting real inflexible these days; even the buffalo bar can get tight, and I don’t want to lose the mobility I got by only using the SSB. I got in a bad way during the injury because of that.

Front squats keep whispering in my ear too. They might make an occasional showing.

638

DC? You could rotate the hell out of your lifts and have room for experimentation.

639

I did DC before. I liked my time with it, and I use a lot of the principles. It’s actually pretty similar to how I trained my heavy squat day (work up to a heavy weight, then hit a widowmaker set). I probably won’t run it straight, but I might be able to pull something from it. Thanks for the memory jogger.

640

read your article on AM training
i have been training mornings for quite awhile now have not had any problems
so i really do not understand why people have trouble figuring out how to train in the morning

i hate training before work

so when i get off of work at 7 or 8 in the morning
i go home
eat
coffee
train
still a good article

641

Hah, you raise a good point in my post. It should’ve really been titled “Training after sleeping” or something similar. Thanks for the read!