Silver and Steel

Just like the Army. But this sounds like the rest of the world’s problem! …just like the Army. I’m in!

Chest & Shoulders

Warm-up: 5 minutes elliptical

  1. DB Incline Press
    30/20
    50/10
    70/6
    85/8
    100/8
    That last rep was close, but I got it after what felt like 10 minutes

  2. Incline Press
    45/6
    135/6
    185/8
    205/6

  3. Stretch Push-ups
    From handles instead of steps this time
    BW/20 x 3
    Superset with:

  4. DB Rear Laterals
    20/20 x 3

  5. Machine Flye
    85/12 x 3
    Superset with:

  6. DB Laterals
    25/8
    30/8 x 3

  7. Landmine Press
    45/8 x 3

  8. DB Skullcrusher
    Pause at bottom
    30/8 x 3

  9. Pressdown
    Started with DB Tate Press, but it hurt my shoulder, so 3 sets of 8 here

I have lifted fasted (I mean, I eat dinner) the last couple days, but then eat a carb and protein breakfast after instead of doing the IF - I feel 1000x better immediately, so I think I’ll do this. I also don’t binge eat as much later. I was not man enough for the fasting all day.

The Army sent me a letter informing me I was not selected for Lt. Col. For this to be funny, you have to realize I haven’t done anything at all, including any reserves, for at least 5-6 years. It’s like an ex-girlfriend from high school calling me up out of the blue to tell me we won’t be going out Friday; I did not realize me showing up in front of a promotion board was an administrative possibility. My last two Army interactions was them calling me to ask if I wanted to lead a team, and when I said “yes,” telling me “oh, never mind - you’re too old,” and then this. I’m not sure what’s going on with HR over there, but it’s kind of amusing.

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I’ve settled into this style of eating, as well. Some days are tough (like today) and I wake up hungry but it goes away eventually. Hitting my sessions fasted helps me avoid that awful nausea that’s shown up along with these new super and giant sets.

I still haven’t mastered the art of not bingeing late in the day, though…

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It seems to be working out for you, though… You’re every bit as lean as when you were trying, if not more so, and you’re still getting some beers in. That’s the holy grail.

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Well, I ate a bunch of crap at work after my riot experience. People flooded our stations with food and it was 90% salty snacks. There was also a lot of cookies, donuts, cakes, pizza, and Chick-fil-A sandwiches.

It caught up to me. I just need to drop 5-6 lbs before I gain another 5 lbs. 225-230 lbs is the window I’ve created for myself and I’m 230+ now. I’d like to get back to 225 so I have more room for errors.

As well they should have. Your profession has had an unfairly tough time

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Reverse Front

Warm-up: 5 minutes elliptical and greatest stretch

  1. Meadows Row:
    -/10
    25/6
    50/6
    75/6
    100/8 x 2

  2. Pull-ups
    BW/12
    BW/10
    BW/8
    BW/8

  3. DB Rows
    75/6
    100/8 x 3
    Kind of a funky straddle the bench stance this time

  4. Stretch Pulldowns (MAG handle)
    85/6
    130/8 x 3

  5. Back Extension (GHR)
    32kg KB/ 10 x 3

  6. One-arm Cable Curl
    50/4
    37.5/8 x 2

  7. HS Preacher Curl
    1p/10
    1p+10/10 x 2

  8. Standing Calf Raise
    8 reps + 8-second flex + 8-second stretch 3 times through is one set
    120 for two of those full sets, then only through two rounds on the last set

My workouts have been fantastic the last couple days. My eating, I believe, is a difference maker right now.

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If anyone is reading this, I’m running a thought in my head: would anyone be up for “challenge” programming? Someone picks something (preferably 4-6 weeks so the commitment isn’t insane) and we all do it. You have to put it in your log so we have something to beat (picker trains first). Would be pretty amazing for those of us that are competitive, even if we lose every day because you pick Murph or just some insane deadlift numbers I don’t have.

Just a thought.

Sounds Ike a good idea. If I wasn’t training for a comp in September I would have a go. Maybe if you get enough Interest I will still do it later in the year.
Isn’t there a competition thread in here somewhere, where people lay down a challenge and others try to beat it?

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That is an outstanding idea! How have I missed this? I log in on my phone most the time, so I just see whatever happens to be at the top.

There was a quarantine lunge challenge that was awful. I did it and then felt like poo and forgot to report back. I think I had a bad time, so I’m sure that was also a factor in me not reporting back.

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I think people have titled the threads that specifies the challenge - like lunges with bodyweight on the bar.

I suggest calling it “Tommy Topper”. It’s the perfect title for a thread where people try to one up each other.

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Gotcha - I’m going to keep a better eye out.

I like your thread title. Separate, but related joke: my friend and I were talking about LIDAR coming to cell phones and how some anatomy pictures were going to get a really harsh dose of reality now that measurements can be perfectly mapped

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Overlay that with some of the genetic ceiling equations about muscle mass and we’ll finally know if we’re supposed to be impressed!

Scientific fake natty debates all over again!

Legs… kinda

Warm-up: 5 minutes stationary bike and world’s greatest stretch

  1. HS Seated Leg Curls
    1 minute or less between sets
    1p/15
    1p/10
    1p+25/8
    2p+5/12
    2p+5/8
    2p+5/6
    Hamstring/ butt weren’t feeling great here. Like a pump, which is good, but also a tweak, which I am to understand is not good.

  2. SSB Squats
    Started this with a bad attitude
    65/10
    155/6
    245/3
    245/3
    Hamstring/ butt really didn’t feel good, and this was all I could do. I probably could have just got some volume in with some machines, but I just decided to hang it up. I don’t know if I’m being mature or wussy, but there you go.

After we move out of the house in a couple weeks, we are going to stay in Florida for a month or so. Our timing is apparently bad, as they’re shutting things down again, but I think just the change of pace will be good for all of us.

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Finally did something different! @Frank_C, maybe my next step will be to actually do my own thinking. We’re months away from that, though.

I had a conjugate bodybuilding from CT on my iPhone from some time ago (I don’t know where it came from), so I decided to just jump into that. I watched Westside vs. The World on and off over the weekend, so timing was perfect.

My hamstring still hurt, so I just did everything without a belt to limit myself somewhat.

W1 D1 ME Lower

Warm-up: 5 minutes bike & greatest stretch

  1. Squat Overcoming Isometric
    Knees ~90, but probably a little higher
    4 sets of 6 seconds

  2. Zercher Squat
    45/10
    135/5
    185/3
    225/3
    275/3
    Probably had more in me, but I’d never done these

  3. Upper Back Deadlift
    225/6
    275/6
    315/4 x 2
    This is basically the Dorian deadlift from a Paul Carter article. Pause at the bottom or it’s useless, I feel.

  4. KB Swings
    40/10 x 4
    superset with:

  5. GHR
    BW/12 x 2
    BW/10 x 2

  6. BB Shrug
    Cheated a little so you come on your toes
    225/10
    275/8 x 3
    superset with:

  7. Bent-over DB Laterals
    25/10 x 4

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Easy, buddy. You’re in danger of doing a clean pull from the hang.

I’m finding a way to do calf raises no matter what, just to show you what cool is about

Consider my cleans and clean pulls calf work then.

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See? All training principles essentially align

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W1 D2 Optional Double Stimulation (mouthful)

Warm-up: 5 minutes bike

  1. Horizontal Leg Press
    2pps/30
    2pps/30
    2pps/20

  2. Standing Leg Curl
    20/10
    30/10
    40/10 x 2

  3. MAG Seated Row
    2-second flex
    144/6
    120/8
    96/10 x 2

  4. BB Curl
    Slow eccentric
    60/8
    60/7
    60/6 x 2

  5. Ab Machine
    60/10
    60/10
    60/10
    60/6
    Superset with:

  6. Hanging Leg Raise
    BW/10
    BW/10
    BW/6
    BW/6

Cardio: 15 minutes incline treadmill

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