Self awareness at its finest haha
Hitting myself in the shin with the sledgehammer twice yesterday helped reinforce that, haha.
AM WORKOUT
Log viper and press away
5xLog
5x145
5x165
14x190
7x190 (push press)
20x145
(14) Chain suspended buffalo bar squats
5xBar
5x140
5x190
5x230
3x280
1x330
1x370
10x450
Axle rows 206
8x7
Dips
2x50
Notes: This was a good day, but those squats just about murdered me when I was done with them, and it took the wind out of my sails for any other work. I imagine Iām just out of conditioning for this sorta work after my break. I have plans to start working in some backoff squats and reverse hypers where I can.
Woke up at 197.6 this morning.
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Can I ask another question?
I donāt always like talking about lifting this and lifting that.
But I do read your blog from time to time, and Iām extremely curious about your views on existentialism.
Iām very familiar with how the whole philosophy behind it works, I just want to know how you personally view it and apply it.
Always happy to field questions, even non-lifting ones.
Iām a big fan of existentialism as a field of study. Itās truthfully about the only area of philosophy that really interests me, as I find metaphysics and morality too academic.
Itās pretty fascinating how weāre the only species that is aware that we will one day die, and reading the thoughts of others regarding finding meaning in an existence we know will ultimately end against our wills is interesting. Iāve tended towards a blending of nihilism and stoicism in my works, believing that there is no higher calling but taking solace in knowing that and continuing on to find MY calling.
And thatās pretty much how I apply it. People see me call things āsillyā often, as itās my go-to reference toward absurdism ala Sartre and Camus. And people get upset when I refer to the things they hold dear and cherish as āsillyā, but I feel itās a silly existence we lead. I spend my free time trying to build my body to be as big and strong as it can be, knowing full well one day I will be old, weak and broken and all of this effort was for nothing and could have been applied toward anything else; how incredibly silly, haha. But itās the āreasonā I have chosen.
Hope that answers the question; I tend to ramble.
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Whatās funny too is that we have nothing more to do in a day that we have to make extra work for ourselves essentially so we feel fulfilled. Our forefathers worked so hard that we have to do something to make ourselves sweat and ache for at least an hour a few days a week. And people are still worried about overtraining. Talk about silly.
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No itās quite alright. I enjoy the rambling. I typically donāt have much to say, so Iād rather listen to others.
I too find it interesting how humans are waaaaaay more cognitive than anything other living thing on this planet.
Itās quite alright with me pal. Iām not one to debate people on how life is viewed. I just have no one to talk to half the time, and people automatically assume Iām very close minded when they find they out about my own beliefs. As hominem attack much? Lol. If anything, I always try to let others know that when I converse with people, thereās never the intent of trying to force my own viewpoints on others, or that me talking to you is only a means of me wanting to hear myself talk for the sake of me hearing myself talk. I like considerations to be had, but itās not necessary.
I get called silly for my beliefs, but the only time I start to get irritated is when thereās no actual effort to understand. If you understand and still have your differences, I welcome that. Thatās thinking at it finest.
Surprisingly enough, I fully understand nihilism, and stoicism. Beyond death, or just death in general makes you realize how tangible life is. A few people have looked at me weird, because while those philosophical viewpoints tend to have their own key themes as opposed to Theology, believe it or not thereās quite a few similarities.
Youād think I too was a misanthropist, but I typically donāt find much value in anything concerning humanity. Most of anything concerning humanity from our biology to our innate behavior (if it even exists), seems vicious in most aspects. At least to me. If none of that made sense I can elaborate.
But thanks for the viewpoint. I find it interesting.
No problem; always happy to chat.
AM WORKOUT
7 Rounds of the following circuit
Log viper and press away 200
1x5
Buffalo Bar squats 260
1x8
Band pull aparts
1x20
Circus Dumbbell clean and press 115 (right arm only)
1x1
Finished off with Kroc rows: 20x105
Notes: Actually did some warm-up sets this time around, which cost me a round of heavy work, but I think was the smarter move. As the weights get heavier, itās been harder to find my groove without it. My press is getting just plain silly at this point, but I suppose itās time for some good PRs there. Tried some high bar squats during warm-ups and my right knee (the good one) wasnāt liking it one bit, so I went with what works and hit low bar.
Woke up at 196.2.
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I think youāve got your head screwed on correctly such that you shouldnāt have any regrets at 60. Until then, just try stay injury free as much as possible.
And weigh whatever you want.
Appreciate it dude. I donāt see injury free in my future, haha, but Iāll keep pushing until I canāt.
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Opens up an interesing question:
How would this look like for you? Just until you loose your drive to get better or is there something that you can think of that would end it for you? Like a certain injury?
Basically, once I can no longer get better. I see no joy in simply slowing down my decline by training; when my time has come to be over, I want to be done.
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But you wouldnāt quit training alltogether?
I imagine I would. I get no joy out of it; I just like being big and strong. Once that canāt happen, I could shift my interest more towards reading full time.
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That is interesting. I know about your view of training through your blog posts but this still surprises me.
Although it makes sense, when you think about it. Still, no training of any sort is hard to imagine for me. Especially if you think of all the hours and all the pain that went into it in your case.
Itās why I talk to the existential silliness of the whole endeavor, haha. No matter what though, all the time and effort will be ultimately meaningless, and thatās ok, so long as during the time it had some meaning.
I am exactly the man I wanted to be right now when I was growing up. I honestly donāt know many of my peers that can say that, but this is who I wanted to be and I made it. But the man I admire in their elder years arenāt like this, and they are who I want to be when I grow to be that age.
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I can relate to that a bit. Did bike road races for about 10 years.
The thrill was the races, not the 20+ hours of training each week.
When I couldnāt race anymore (two kids, full time job and a wife that didnāt think it was funny I was on the roads every day)
I stopped riding my bike almost from day to day.
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I totally get that. When I was small I watched Hulk Hogan and I wanted to be big strong and muscular. I drank raw eggs and other crap. Sad it took me until my mid 40s to decide I would try and lift to get strong. I wish I had done it younger, but I will do it until the body shuts down and wonāt let me. Then Iām done and will move on to something elseā¦Iām proud that I didnāt go to my grave never trying to get strong.
@mortdk I went through that with boxing/martial arts. It was my life from age 9-21, and then I got married and a career, and realized that spending 2-3 hours a night 2-4 nights a week away from my spouse so I could be mediocre at fighting just made no sense. Hung up the gloves, picked up the weights. Maybe, when itās all said and done, Iāll just come back to the martial arts, haha.
@losthog Hogan was HUGE for my childhood. Him and Arnie were my role models. My earliest memories are of wanting to be big and strong like them.
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Agree 100%. It could be argued that this is after all the meaning of everything one does.
Wow. This is very impressive! You sound very āeven/ balanced/ satisfiedā (sorry I have the right German word but donāt know an appropriate translation). I envy you for this.
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Those are all good words. I think ācontentā might fit the bill the best. Iām not really happy, because Iāll always want more, but Iām incredibly content with where and who I am.
And no need for envy; maybe I am this way simply because I set small goals, haha. But I have the family, job and body I wanted.
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