Great update mate. It is always nice to hear a little of what is happening outside of the gym. Daughters flu sounds horrible but sounds like you and your wife and both in a really good place with work. Enjoying work and limiting stress outside of the gym is a great place to be, especially if you want to gain some muscles.
1 Like
Thank you good sir. I’m pretty blessed overall. I had two work environments that weren’t positive over the last two decades; that’s not bad. Things are in a good place. Now I just need to get you on a plane to Midwest America… I’ll even spring for dinner (no appetizers!)
If you dont mind me asking, what part of America are you in (mid west is a large area and to the uneducated like me, you may as well say somewhere other than LA or NYC. LOL
My kids are desperate for me to take the to America, mostly for theme parks obviously but we are waiting for my son to grow a little first.
1 Like
I’m in Ohio. I’ve lived all over, and I’m never leaving here. That said: DO NOT take your kids here for their America visit. It’s an awesome place to live; it would be very underwhelming as a tourist.
If I were doing one city to visit and wanted to include theme parks, it would probably be Orlando. You can do do Disney and Universal, maybe sea world and Lego land, and still go to the beach, see some wildlife (less of a draw for you), and see some historical markers (old Spanish forts, etc) without much of a drive. Super stereotype American tourist world.
You could do similar in LA, without history or wildlife, and it’s a shorter trip for you; it’s also disgusting.
NYC is obviously a fabled city, but I think you may as well just go to Sydney.
Yes LA and Florida where the obvious choices. Last time my wife and I where there for a month (pre kids) we did a bit of a drive around the East coast. Started in San Fran, then went Yosemite, Vegas and Grand Canyon, Lake Havasu, Palm Springs, then ended in LA (Rendodo Beach).
I would to explore more and maybe take the kids on a big drive around and see more of real America
1 Like
You and your wife did a real trip! I can definitely give you my “real” places, as I’m sure many of us can, but you already did the western side for sure.
1 Like
Yes I figured something mid, south and east with a combination of driving and some flights would allow for us to see a lot more. Just need to start saving up some dollars.
2 Likes
That’s because NASA was basically 70% German scientists post-WW2, so i imagine Freedom Units would feel uncomfortably ironic lol.
^“Operation Paperclip”, if you like conspiracy theories that came true. The US and Russia went halfsies on the scientists after the Third Reich fell, good times were had by all.
Very true. You’d do better by planning a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway to see the best parts of CA. LA doesn’t rank in the best places, despite what the delusional people who live there say.
2 Likes
Savannah, GA would be high on my list. It’s America’s most haunted city, a significant site in both our revolution and civil wars, the backdrop of Forrest Gump, and where I got married. It’s a fun town!
1 Like
Only a bit over 300 miles from Orlando, could easily combine the two. Then fly or drive on from there.
1 Like
If for any reason you do your vacation around Saint Patrick’s day, the parade I’m savannah is AMAZING. The whole city goes all out, it’s a total blast.
(Perhaps not the best for children though…)
2 Likes
would most likely time it for summer over there so wouldn’t hit paddys day
1 Like
The one I hear most these days in Wales is the Five-O which of course is an American term. Strange how it beats out all the old British terms. I blame TV!
2 Likes
Back lifting today!
It was leg day. I had my son just pick me a Meadows program day based on the superhero names he titles his programs. He was between Taskmaster and Program X (Wolverine, I guess); I went with X because I wanted to do box squats. Will I stick with it? Only the shadow knows… but don’t tell my wife I call her that. She also doesn’t like when I tell her as a solipsist I can’t be sure she exists; when she gets mad, I tell her that’s exactly what I thought she’d say…
Anyway, @Andrewgen_Receptors, please don’t give up on giving me advice. There’s every chance I revisit Fortitude Training, I consider it a solid option and value your opinions; I just needed something low barrier to entry today.
-
Seated Leg Curls
Several warmups
100/15
115/12
130/9
145/6 -
Speed Box Squats
60s between sets
Chains on all sets (so heavy!)
I did a 15" box that was slightly too low, but I felt like 18" was slightly too high
45/3
135/3
225/3 x 8 -
Leg Press
Red bands on all sets
I used the high pegs for loading weight. I like these better when there is an option; I feel like it’s more quad and less lower back tweaky.
2pps/4
4pps/4
6pps/8 x 3 -
Leg Extensions
2s flex on all reps
Warmup set or two
3 x 10
Cardio is going to be weighted doggie walking in a bit - it’s cold and a little snowy!
5 Likes
I would never <3
Whether or not you choose to follow my ramblings is entirely up to you - I only offer opinions that I think would match goals. Fortitude certainly isn’t “fun” and I believe any program that you find fun is the best program 
2 Likes
I forgot to talk about the use case for my 10mm belt! The speed squats really proved its value. If I had the 13mm, I just wouldn’t have worn it. That would have been fine, but I likely wouldn’t have braces as hard by the latter sets. Having the 10mm belt was perfect for cueing, without it being too much.
3 Likes
Saw this and thought of you (and me).
2 Likes
Volume on volume today, gents. I also managed to stick with a program for two whole days! Let’s see where this newfound dedication takes me.
Chest and Tris
-
Banded HS Press
Used double red bands on this - ended up being pretty aggressive
Bands/ 10
1pps + bands/ 8 x 3
1pps + bands/ 5 -
Incline Press
45/6
135/6
165/6
185/6
205/6
This wasn’t a crazy struggle, but it was a solid rep to end on -
Reverse Band Bench
I finally set these up perfect, so it was all me bro at the top
135/4
185/4
225/5 x 5 -
Reverse Band CGBP
185/8 x 3
185/5
165/8 -
Grip4rce Rope Pressdowns
37.5 (weird weight stack!)/ 10 x 5 -
20 minutes elliptical while watching Geralt of Rivera slay monsters
I got home in time to see my daughter (she’s feeling better) all bundled up and walking to school with her friends in some snow flurries - very cute.
My son got bullied a little yesterday, and then he got mad at the bullies, which upset him that he might be the bad guy, so he ended up crying in the lunchroom. Poor kid is such a stressball. He is very worried that I’m a mean person (I truly don’t think I am anymore), so he doesn’t want to hear me tell him it’s ok to stand up for yourself. Anyway, I’m taking him to Black Panther 2 tomorrow so he’s at least excited about that.
7 Likes
Oh, that’s tough! My son was bullied a few years ago, grade 6 I think it was, and it really broke my heart.
Hopefully it doesn’t happen again !
2 Likes
My son is the youngest and one of the smaller kids in his year and gets a fair bit of stick from some of the other kids. Nothing to serious but enough to upset him sometimes. My wife seems to think it is unacceptable when my advise involves just smashing the kid in the nose I am no longer allowed to give relationship advise.
4 Likes