Thanks so much for taking the time to write a well considered response @MarkKO that made lots of sense.
By the Pioneer belt I assume you mean the one that has two rows of holes that are slightly offset that allows for minor changes in the circumference of the belt.
Have you seen the iron tanks hellraiser version of this belt. It has the same pioneer patented buckle, is made from Texan leather !! Fk that sounded like a TV infomercial!!
Any idea what sort of $$ you manages to find one for ??
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Mate your waist is so small you need every mm you can get !!!
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I think in total I paid around 170 AUD
That is a steal. Even if I buy it direct with the exchange rate it’s like $150 before shipping !! Hmm need to do some more searching
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Try signing up to Shopmate. Then you get a US shipping address. Then it’s a pretty decent rate to ship to Aus through them. Free sign up, too.
I got my Harris stability systems belt for about 80ish I think
It’s ugly as sin but it does the job
I reckon it came with knee sleeves bundles in too
Yer … No
You must have bought when the exchange rate was more favourable. I’m looking at $220 what ever way I cut it !! Hmm might have to pay for this holiday first !
I did get mine almost a year ago now…
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Added my after photos for the transformation today. Going to start adding weight slowly now so now more cutting for me.
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Friday 24th May - Med intensity block week 0 - primer
Deadlifts
Bar x10
65 x 5
85 x 5
105 x 5 (231 lbs) - double overhead, moved nice and quick
95 x 8 x 3 sets (209 lbs) 1 2
Deads were good today. Weight was pretty light but reps all felt good.
Squats
Bar x 5
65 x 5
85 x 6 x 4 sets (187 lbs)
Tried a few tweaks to the form after watching an @alpha video the other night. Seems to be going ok but weights are light at the moment. Legs felt this tonight !!
Bench
Bar x 10
65 x 5
75 x 6 x 4 sets (165 lbs) all reps done with a definite pause. Focusing on tightness and drive.
SS row
75 x 8 x 4 sets - did the first 2 sets with a pause at the top but could t pause for the last 2.
This superset really gets the chest, back and lungs pumping.
Still have this cold and chesty cough. Deadlifts and the bench / row superset really made the lungs burn tonight. Happy with this little primer session tonight. The training block starts proper next week
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Why? Genuinely curious. It seems like everyone is either cutting or bulking. What happened to maintenance?
The plan for this year was always three stages, 1) lose some fat and train hypertrophy. 2) gain some more strength 3) do a powerlifting comp and set some base numbers
The first part of the year is finished and I am happy. I’m the lightest I’ve been in nearly 3 years and have at least maintained levels of muscle, maybe even gained an ounce !!
Now it’s on the part two get stronger. Part of this means I need to eat a little more carbs and not train in a depleted state. I’m not specifically bulking (i don’t like that term). I’m still watching what I eat and not tiffing junk down my throat. I know the outcome of this is that I will add a little weight and I’m ok with that. I’ll try to keep it under 85kg.
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Just to add to the discussion of belts: I love my single prong from Lifting Large dot com. “Texas Training Power Belt 4"” $60, but not sure what they charge for shipping to AUS (or if they do…).
It was under their “Economy Powerlifting Gear”, because that is how I roll.
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I bought an eliteFTS single prong for $50 and it checks all the boxes for my mediocre lifts! Shipping would probably be the issue, if there was one, but it broke in quickly, and is solid (in my opinion.)
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@Despade and @littlesleeper thanks for chiming in guys, it’s always good to have other options/opinions. I am assuming these belts don’t have the micro adjustment that the pioneer has. How do you find having the holes 2cm apart ? Can you always get the right fit ?
Honestly, I’ve never had an issue.
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Woke at 80.8kg this morning. Usuall post training day drop in weight. Going to try upping the hydration after training but not too much otherwise I’ll be up night having a slash.
Back and traps are really feeling the deadlifts and rows from yesterday. Feels bloody good.
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Hopefully you enjoyed the vacation
Rob is was amazing. Best holiday we have had in ages. The people there are very friendly, it is super cheap (dinner for 4 adults and 3 children including beers for guys and cocktails for girls was $70us), as the kids are now older (6,7,9) it’s also a lot more relaxing. The kids played nicely together and didn’t want dad with them all day.
The last 9 years since having kids have been hard (every parent knows they feeling), but now it’s starting to get enjoyable. Sure they are still hard work but they are also heaps of fun.
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It gets even better in a few years when you can leave the kids at home 
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