Strength is a Hell of a Drug

Training
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7/14/2014
Coming off 2 weeks sans workout. At least nothing formal. I stayed active, and got some projects done. Some of those are for my home gym. I’ll clog the forum with pics later.

OHP (superset w/“Y”, 2.5#/hand, x12)
bar x 8
56 x 5
67 x 5
78 x 5
83.5 x 3
89 x 2 (+ 1 push press)

HC/FS
67 x 5/8
78 x 5/10
89 x 5/10
100 x 3/10
my mr. came and brought me a beer, hung out in the garage while I worked, distracted me enough with said beer that I forgot to superset with abs. my bad.

2" Stificits (superset w/TRX reverse fly x 10)
117 x 6
139 x 6
161 x 6
183 x 6

I rigged a home-made kettlebell and wanted to give it a swing:
31# x 40 x 3

And then there’s this rock I’ve had my eye on. In my backyard. I’m determined to pick that fucker up. I tried really hard tonight, managed to lap it, but my ass was gassed from stiffies. Couldn’t get it up. Have a video of me trying like hell. Haven’t seen it yet myself, but if it isn’t too embarrassing I’ll throw it on here later.

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Alright. I’ll just try to get these in here fast so as to not continually bump my thread.

I said I’ve been getting some nagging projects off my list.

One of them was to wire brush/spray paint my plates. They’re really rusty, and as badass as that looks, it can be inconvenient.
Just trying to take good care of my cheap stuff.

Gold spray paint? I put that shit on everything.

Also cleaned up and painted the stand. Northern tool was selling 1000# dollies for $8.99 so I ordered a bunch. Bolted one to my weight tree with a piece of scrap wood. Now it has a shelf, and a way to move easier around my ever-evolving workshop.

Looks fucking deluxe. Only 12 more plates to go…

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And gorilla tape handles for my rope…

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And I made a “kettle bell”. It’s a T-bell, but who gives a shit.

31 pounds.

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And I’m sick of dragging all my shit out, to put it back after my workout. For the time spent, I could just drive to the regular gym. So I gave it a whole bay of the garage. It’s a gym called “No Excuses”. Care to join?

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I’ll make a better shelving unit, but the step ladder is getting it done.

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Possibly the biggest bruise I can remember. Was hitching a heavy toolbox up my leg to get it on a tailgate.

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Finally got the custom collars made for the farmers handles. These are the pair I made for Hybrid. Mine are still under construction, as they’re going to be way cooler.

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These were made out of necessity. I’ve been making everything out of black pipe (or galvanized equivalent), and spring collars slide off 1 1/2" pipe.

That’s not going to be helpful for farmers carries.

I’m sure you can buy something like these commercially, but not for the price I made them. They cost about $2 each for materials. Not bad.

170

Sometimes, I even train.

7/15/2014

Had a very frustrating commute due to severe thunderstorms, and a few other inconveniences. Got to the gym super late, and focus didn’t show up to lift with me tonight.

And then there were dudes benching in the squat rack so I had to wait… and fester.

I smiled and pretended to stretch.

Deep squats, because strongman (superset w/lateral hip swing x 10/side)
bar x 10 atg
95 x 8 " "
135 x 5 " "
155 x 5 " "
185 x 5 " "
205 x 1 " "
Got deep into the hole for a second rep, wasn’t tight enough, held at my sticking point for a few seconds, and dumped it. For the first time ever. I normally get 205 for 3, was going for 5. Wasn’t sure how to feel, but definitely felt done squatting. Wow.

DB incline press (superset w/bent over barbell row)
Kept weights reasonable on incline/rows because it’s my first time ever trying them.
25’s x 8 x 2
30’s x 8 x 2
35’s x 8

Row
65 x 10 x 2
75 x 10 x 2
85 x 10

SA DB Snatch (superset w/hanging leg raise x 6)
25 x 6/side
30 x 6/side
35 x 6/side
40 x 6/side x 2

Had to skip conditioning because it was 7 and the gym was closing. Glad I at least got through all my work sets.

171

Jesus you’ve got a really good setup going.

172

Have you ever seen that PBS show called “Alone in the Wilderness” about the wise old man who retires to a cabin in Alaska with no women and just hand crafts the shit out of everything he needs? You know, the one narrated by the guy whose voice makes you want to get up early, make a really hearty breakfast and then spend the day getting shit done.

If you have not seen it, google it and see if you can find it for free on an internet somewhere. It is a great show, and all of your north woods strength training ingenuity really reminds me of that wise old man and his sweet do-it-yourself setup out in the woods.

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Glad you escaped your captors . I really envy your skill at creating work gear. I must be dense this morning, but, would you go into a little more detail about the collars on the farmers walk handles? are you using them to prevent the weight from slipping off the bar? I hope to build my own setup one of these days. I once got a similar injury rappelling out of a helio, was told if it turned much darker, get checked out for a possible blood clot. Not something to take lightly, so you might want to get checked out.

174

[quote]csulli wrote:
Jesus you’ve got a really good setup going.[/quote]

Thanks, csulli!

It’s coming along nicely. Next on the list, buy a sledgehammer, finish my farmers handles, make an axle, and build a yoke.
Putting that all in one sentence makes it seem like it’ll happen fast. Hilarious.

BTW, I very much enjoyed your leotard video (nice squatting, too). Then I got to the swingers party a few posts down, backed out slowly and shut the door…

175

[quote]twojarslave wrote:
Have you ever seen that PBS show called “Alone in the Wilderness” about the wise old man who retires to a cabin in Alaska with no women and just hand crafts the shit out of everything he needs? You know, the one narrated by the guy whose voice makes you want to get up early, make a really hearty breakfast and then spend the day getting shit done.

If you have not seen it, google it and see if you can find it for free on an internet somewhere. It is a great show, and all of your north woods strength training ingenuity really reminds me of that wise old man and his sweet do-it-yourself setup out in the woods.[/quote]

Why, thank you, twojar! I haven’t seen it, but he sounds positively dreamy. I’ll find the show and probably watch a marathon.

Speaking of hearty breakfasts. I’ve always been the kind of girl to get the ‘lumberjack plate’ out to breakfast, and when I was younger and fat, my mom would make hog-calls when I’d order it.

“SouWEEEEEEEEE”

I don’t know why I typed that story, really. Girls say the damnedest shit.

Anyways, looks like you’re having a good Summer so far. That hike with the pond at the top is pretty cool. Went up to Belgrade last week to visit my in-laws. Thought of you as I drove by a Lewiston sign.

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[quote]idaho wrote:
Glad you escaped your captors . I really envy your skill at creating work gear. I must be dense this morning, but, would you go into a little more detail about the collars on the farmers walk handles? are you using them to prevent the weight from slipping off the bar? I hope to build my own setup one of these days. I once got a similar injury rappelling out of a helio, was told if it turned much darker, get checked out for a possible blood clot. Not something to take lightly, so you might want to get checked out. [/quote]

Barely got out alive :slight_smile:

And thank you. I sometimes wonder what all this would have cost me to buy commercially. It’s not like I’m any expert craftsman either. I just wing it. I have very basic skills but a lot of determination.

Things don’t always come out awesome on the first try. But never a failure, always a lesson. My MO is to just say yes and figure it out on the way. If I can’t do something, I know someone who can, and I bribe them to teach me. If I can be of any help with ideas/whatever when you start building let me know!

You had it right, the collars are just to keep the plates on. The spring style clips are just barely not tight enough, as the outside diameter of 1 1/2" pipe is just under 2". So I bought a couple 12" lengths of 2" pipe, cut it into 1.5" slices, drilled a hole, welded a nut there, and got “thumb screws” to tighten them on.

Even my husband (who’s been in a plane crash) said “Shit, that’s a doogan bruise!”. It feels pretty benign at this point, starting to change color, no swelling downstream, painless. The day after it happened though, I found myself saying aloud “these jeans are too tight on my bruise”. I wish I’d got mine rapelling. A bruise like this needs a better story, dammit.
Luckily I work in a cardiology office, so if it starts feeling/doing anything strange I don’t have to go far for an evaluation :slight_smile:

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[quote]Mighty Matron wrote:

[quote]csulli wrote:
Jesus you’ve got a really good setup going.[/quote]

Thanks, csulli!

It’s coming along nicely. Next on the list, buy a sledgehammer, finish my farmers handles, make an axle, and build a yoke.
Putting that all in one sentence makes it seem like it’ll happen fast. Hilarious.

BTW, I very much enjoyed your leotard video (nice squatting, too). Then I got to the swingers party a few posts down, backed out slowly and shut the door…
[/quote]
Ahahaha! Thanks; it can be a mixed bag in there.

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figured you would just make your own sledgehammers.
get some 3"-6" pipe. cut to length. cap one end, fill with what ever, cap the other end and weld on a handle or threaded nipple so you just change handles when you want to change weights or handle lengths.

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[quote]silverblood wrote:
figured you would just make your own sledgehammers.
get some 3"-6" pipe. cut to length. cap one end, fill with what ever, cap the other end and weld on a handle or threaded nipple so you just change handles when you want to change weights or handle lengths.
[/quote]

That’s actually an excellent idea, hadn’t thought of it. I figure with how cheap a sledge is and how long my ‘things-to-make’ list is that I’d rather just pay for a regular one now. I do like the idea of making an adjustable weight sledge in the future. So it’s going on the list, but closer to the bottom :slight_smile:

TL;DR but here’s an idea of where my head is at lately if you want to waste time reading… currently tits-deep in any/all of the following:

-gutting a vintage Airstream to renovate to be my new workshop
~ripped out the interior, next I have to drill hundreds of rivets to remove interior skins, drop the belly pan, and lift the shell off. Just to replace the rotten floor. (It’s a '77). no big deal.

-bought a shitty old boat on craigs and have to build interior/refinish teak
~my mr. just has to make sure it floats and goes. took him a week. he’s a genius, makes me look un-handy. right now we just bring a cooler and some coleman chairs. redneck yachtclub, indeed.

-farmers handles, yoke, log, and more stones
~farmers are halfway done, sourcing the metal for the yoke/log, and holy fuck, plaster of paris makes me want to throw things. I started trying a 8" stone (for Hybrid) and couldn’t even get the ball halfway covered in plaster before screaming and smashing and throwing the whole thing in the woods. total tantrum meltdown status.

-building a new mantle for my fireplace
~should’ve been done months ago. it’s like 4 cuts with a jigsaw and a little sanding. slab’s just sitting across my table, covered in boat parts.

-recutting the Hybrid Fitness outside signage
~so pissed. the $130/gallon allegedly paintable marine epoxy resin didn’t last one winter. 80+ hours, gone. so I’m recutting them in a really fancy PVC board where the color is solid through. no painting no finishing, and never going to have to do it again.

And I have a 40 hour 9-5er, train about 6-7 hours a week, have 2 dogs, a husband, and a property to maintain.

I love this shit, or I wouldn’t do any of it. Definitely not complaining. I’m a very lucky and grateful girl. I just have to be careful because I like to say yes to all the things. I’m learning to control myself, prioritize, and leave time to enjoy the fruits of my labor.

“You can do anything, but not everything.” -David Allen(?)

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7/17/2014

DOMS=7/10 in the hips, ass and upper thighs. Looking in my notebook, I see I haven’t deadlifted (conventional) in a month. A MONTH. Da fuq?

I now have everything I need to do 2 of my strength workouts at home every week. I’ll still go to the gym for squat night tuesdays and a metcons circuit on fridays.

Conv. DL (superset w/band pull aparts x10)
95 x 8
139 x 5
161 x 5
183 x 5
205 x 5 overhand grip PR?
227 x 4 mixed grip
238 x 2 " "

Pull-ups: wide overhand (superset w/slider mountain climbers x30/side)
haven’t done overhand pull-ups so numbers will be abysmal
5 (amrap)
3 three second hold at top, slow eccentric
4 slow ecc.
4 (amrap)
4 (amrap)

Dips (superset w/barbell curl 45# x10)
8, 8, 7, 7

super sweaty. had to hurry this workout so I could get to the bank before it closed.
payday.
holler.