T3hPwnisher's Log


And now a very special update.

Early AM training

Death medley
400’ total

Notes: Just going to explain this.

-Start with a 100lb keg and 205lb sandbag at starting line.
-Run keg 50’
-Run back to sandbag, clean from floor 3 times
-Run back to keg
-Run keg back to start, clean and press keg twice
-Run keg 50’
-Run back to sandbag, clean from floor once
-Run back to keg
-Run keg back to start
-Dry heave

Only took one of those to fry me out. Did an abbreviated one afterwards, where I ran the keg, ran back to sandbag, cleaned it once, ran back to keg, ran keg back to start. After that, I was done.

LATER AM TRAINING

Yoke 500lbs
2x100’ (50’ with turn)
2x50’

Notes: Hit this about 3.5 hours later. Don’t think it was enough time to rest. Only thing moving fast was my heart. Might still keep this 2 a day events thing going, but think I gotta start eating more.

General notes: Woke up at 191.0, so clearly my prediction on weight was wrong. Feeling good, although my right lat is a little pissed off. Had some time to shoot some photos. I don’t have any magical lights in my house, so shadows are non-existant and my camera is blurry, so these are outstanding baseline shots with no trick photography. That said, soon as I can find some magic lights, I’m going to myspace angle the crap out of myself.

Getting bodyfat% measured on Wed, so I can attach a number to the image, and then after that I’m thinking of changing things up nutritionally now that I’ll have some numbers to play with.

First was front, this is side

Back and quads.

Took photos close as an easy way to obscure my face, but meant I missed out a bit on the traps and biceps in the rear double bi. Oh well, such is life.


Finished the day with

Pull ups
1x30

Dips
1x68

Band pull aparts
1x136

Notes: And now a photo that, unlike those last ones, is sure to appeal to my female viewers: a clean garage. Had the day off work and decided to do some re-organizing. Had a lot of wasted space in the old set-up and my wife’s car door kept hitting the reverse hyper since it was in the middle of the floor. If I could get some small enough hitch pins I could actually break down the yoke and store it in a corner to take up even less space, but I’m still really pleased with the footprint left behind now. Room for more toys.

As a result of spending the afternoon moving all this equipment around, my back is pretty fried, so I called the pull ups at one set.

(4) Mat Pulls 600+chains
13 reps total

(4) 495+chains
1x3 deadstop

Notes: Wasn’t really firing on all cylinders today. Left 2 reps on the 600lb set. Could’ve had them if I fought for it, but a voice in my head told me it was a bad idea. Managed this with 3 pick ups. 7,3,3. Still, progress from last week in terms of reps. If I can hold 7 strong, I’ll be happy.

Rolling thunder 90lbs
80 seconds

Notes: Figured I might as well break this thing out since I got it. It’s a nice change of pace for grip training. Probably keep it in the rotation. Will go heavier next time, just wanted to see what it was like.

Squats 410
1x8
1x4
1x2
1x1

stripset 320
1x8

Notes: 15 breaths between all sets, to include strip set. Intended to chase this further, but I was done at this.

General notes: Woke up at 190.8. I’m reaching my limit for sure, every session is a fight, I’m in zombie mode, and all I can think about is food. After I get my bodyfat measured, I’m going to have to soul search a bit to see how I want to handle my future nutrition. I do know that, if I choose to put on weight, I’m not going to go batshit crazy and will instead take it gradual, applying the lessons I learned from this experience.

Cheat meal today was 2 BBQ beef ribs and the biggest baked potato I have ever seen in my life with full on butter, sour cream and chives. Also finished off my wife’s cobb salad on top of that. Wanted a “cleaner” cheat, getting burnt out eating junk.

mythical strenght
great blog post i found it to be really good and made a great point on training

[quote]cavemansam wrote:
mythical strenght
great blog post i found it to be really good and made a great point on training
[/quote]

Appreciate that man. I notice you rarely post, so it means a lot that you comment on my work.


No training log related post, but this was awesome so I wanted to share it. Figured out a way to make my lat pulldown more workable. Before, it was too low to the ground to get a decent stretch at the top, and it had no leg catch, so I couldn’t go very heavy with it.

Ended up putting it up on cement blocks, cutting out a hitch that was used to hook a bench up to it so I could sit lower, and padding and tapping the feet plates previously intended to be used for seated rows. It works out really well now, think I’ll be seeing heavier lat pulldowns in the future.

i listen, i read,i watch,i learn, i want to know why
do this [why]
do that [why]
how can i accomplish my goals if i dont know why i do something
am i wasting time doing this or is my time an energy best spent doing that
i find that the way you present your material helps answer why
thank you for mythical strenght

That means a lot man. I appreciate it.


Weighted chins 55lbs
23 reps

Notes: Felt light and easy today. Just sticking with the plan of gradual progression, but I had some more in me.

Swiss bar floor press 275
10 reps

Notes: Hate unracking the swiss bar, wish they built it with rotating sleeves. Elbows pretty pissed off. Still, this was a heavier effort than last week, coming back into full form with this routine. Paused every rep at the bottom.

Shoulder circuit
3 rounds

Close grip swiss bar bench 245
12 reps

Notes: This felt a little easier on the elbows. It’s “tricep” work, but it hammered the chest pretty decent, which was my intention.

DB rows
Sets in between everything x 3
1x28

General notes: Woke up at 191.4. Didn’t have a huge rebound from my cheat meal, which is nice. Feeling a little beat up from all the non-lifting work I’ve been doing (cleaning garage, modifying lat pulldown, went to the beach yesterday and ran around a bunch). Not logging all the warm-ups I’m performing for my main work, but it’s how I’m trying to get in a little more volume.

Finished the day with

90lb lat pulldowns
1x35

Dips
1x51

Band pull aparts
1x102

Notes: Bench workout took a lot out of me, and new set-up on dips needs some work. Head kept rubbing against a poster on the wall, threw off my concentration. Easy fixes.

(12) Chain Suspended SSB Squats
4x425+chains
6x355+chains

Notes: Paul Carter’s article on fat loss really resonated with me, and today’s heavy set showed some evidence of what was being written. I felt plenty strong on the movement, and then after rep 4 it was like someone shut off the power. I think if I were carbed up I’d be seeing a few more reps, but my base strength is doing well.

Been thinking about this for a bit now, and I think my plan moving forward after this cycle is to keep the ROM progression going by alternate each week between SSB and Buffalo bar. I’m pretty much just maintaining right now, and I think it’s because I’m at a weird place weight wise with the SSB. Any lighter and I don’t get the desired training effect, any heavier and I don’t get the volume I want, and at my current weight I’m just spinning my wheels. I should be able to go much heavier with the buffalo bar, which will be good for my core and legs, while the SSB will keep hammering my upper back. In theory, the two should compliment each other. This will mean training in a 16 week cycle versus 8, with deloads on the 8th week.

Reverse hyper 5 plates
3x11

superset w/

Standing ab wheel
3x8

Car deadlift simulator 8 plates per side
1x14

Notes: So pleased with this, especially considering I’m just feeling beat down these days. Took a lot out of me, but got it done. Don’t know if I’m going to increase the weight next time or try for 16, eventually topping out at 20.

Neck harness 45lbs
1x50

General notes: Woke up at 191.6. Weight is maintaining well. I feel absolutely fried. My bodyweight work is falling apart, but I think it’s probably time to deprioritize it a bit. Just going to go for effort instead of reps for a week or 2 and see what happens. Bodyfat gets measured tomorrow. May be able to compete in October due to a schedule change, I’ll see if I can work it. It’d be a light show, which is probably for the best.

Finished the day with

NG chins
3 sets

Dips
1x55

Band pull aparts
1x110

Notes: Just going by feel on the chins. Dips still need to be figured out for placement, but things are getting better.

Axle clean and press (clean each rep) 188lbs
1x8
1x6

Axle clean and press (clean once) 188lbs
1x6

Notes: Got a contest in a month with this event/weight, so wanted to see where I stood. I really should learn how to continental, but this was all just straight up power cleans. Contest is going to be with an Ironmind axle, so that’s something I’ll need to factor. Thinking about breaking out my old galvanized steel pipe just to get used to an unfinished smooth axle.

None of these sets were to death. I did as many reps as I could in one shot, then rested as long as I needed to hit one more rep. The contest is a partner contest, where we alternate each rep, so I’ll actually get to rest a fair amount in between reps comparatively. The final set was more a backoff, nothing major, just grooving my leg drive.

Incline DB bench 105
(5)1x8
(4)1x4
(3)1x8
(2)1x8
(1)1x7

superset w/

D ring lat pulldown/kelso shrug combo 140
5x10/5

Notes: Right elbow gave out on the second set of DB benches, and was a little pissed off through out the rest of the exercises. Still a little tender, probably up the motrin and glucosamine. May have to start culling the dips with the contest coming up. Lat pulldowns are heavier, making kelso’s a little more difficult. May play around with this.

Curl dropset
10x30lbs (Hammercurl)
10x25lbs (curl)
10x20lbs (HC)
10x15lbs (c)
10x10lbs (HC)

Notes: Time crunch again, but this was a blast. Awesome pump, big fan of the powerblocks.

Miniband pushdowns
1x100

Notes: Since the elbow is pissed off, thought this would be a better choice. Might actually consider alternating each day between dips and pushdowns.

General notes: Woke up at 191.2. With a contest on the horizon, thinking about starting to up my protein intake slightly. Was planning after my bodyweight measurement to do a month of a surplus-ish and then back to the fat loss, so this might actually time out very well.


As for the contest I keep speaking of, here are the events for my weight class. It’s a light show, which should suit me well with my current bodyweight.

  1. Alternating Axle Clean and Press. Partners will attempt to clean and press an axle for as many reps as possible. Each rep will start from the ground. The bar can be cleaned directly to the shoulder or brought to the sternum in a continental style. Bar may not rest on the belt, although incidental contact may be allowed if it?s clear that the contact isn?t being used to gain an advantage. 60 second time limit. Partners must alternate reps. Knee sleeves, one belt, elbow sleeves, chalk and wrist wraps are the only protective equipment allowed unless otherwise approved by the promoter. The men?s classes will use an Ironmind axle and the women?s classes will use a Rogue axle.

Men?s LW 185

  1. Farmers Walk. Partner 1 will carry two farmers implements for 25 meters as quickly as possible. Once the weight is completely across the line, Partner 2 will pick them up and head back towards the finish line. The winner of the event is the team who crosses the finish line fastest. Unlimited drops are allowed. 60 second time limit. If the athletes don?t complete the course in the time limit, their score will be their distance. Chalk is the only grip aid allowed.

Men?s LW 185/hand

  1. Yoke Walk For Max Weight. Partners will choose one weight and get one attempt to carry this weight for 30ft, drop the weight, turn around, pick it up, and carry it back. Partners may choose to ?tag out? at any given time between themselves as many times as they like during the 90 second time limit. Unlimited drops. So pick the most weight you and your partner can carry for a combined 60ft and let?s do this. Yoke weights will be kept top secret and will be loaded in a rising bar format from lightest to heaviest. You won?t know what your other competitors are doing until they?re doing it.

The way the event will be scored is by ranking teams who finish the course with the heaviest weight. If two teams choose to carry 600lbs, the faster team will win. In the event that a team does not complete the 60ft in the time limit, they will be scored below all the teams who completed the course, regardless of weight. So, if a team chooses 800lbs and they can?t finish, they?ll be scored below teams that finished with 400lbs. Choose weights wisely! Only the front of the yoke must cross the line. Both partners must carry the yoke; one can?t have all the fun. For the Couples Division, one team member must carry the yoke the entire way and then the other team member carries it back - no tag outs.

  1. Front Carry. Partner 1 will carry an odd object for 25m, then Partner 2 will carry it back across the finish line in the fastest time possible. Drops are allowed. Object can be passed between partners; it doesn?t have to be set down. 90 second time limit.

Men?s LW 200lb stone

  1. Deadlift for Reps. Partners will attempt to deadlift a barbell, one at a time, as many times as possible in 90 second. Partners may tag out at any time between themselves. Belt, chalk and straps are the only lifting aids allowed. Conventional stance only. Weight must be locked out and held until the judge?s down command before being lowered to the ground. Bar cannot be dropped.

Men?s LW ? 315lb

BOOM!

I’m going to be annoying and spam this a bunch I’m sure, but I’m pretty psyched about this. 8.4% bodyfat at 5’9 and 190lbs. As a former fat kid (and always a fat kid at heart), that’s pretty crazy, and one great final push before I turn 30.

This puts me at a Fat Free Mass Index of 25.9 apparently. That’s honestly something a little more disheartening but something I’ve been suspecting as well. I’m not really sure how much bigger I can reasonably expect to get, but at least I can know that all the years of training have meant something (I mean, I knew that from performance too, but give me this).

Now…I need to make sure I don’t completely relapse and balloon up to 220lbs, haha.

[quote]T3hPwnisher wrote:
BOOM!

I’m going to be annoying and spam this a bunch I’m sure, but I’m pretty psyched about this. 8.4% bodyfat at 5’9 and 190lbs. As a former fat kid (and always a fat kid at heart), that’s pretty crazy, and one great final push before I turn 30.

This puts me at a Fat Free Mass Index of 25.9 apparently. That’s honestly something a little more disheartening but something I’ve been suspecting as well. I’m not really sure how much bigger I can reasonably expect to get, but at least I can know that all the years of training have meant something (I mean, I knew that from performance too, but give me this).

Now…I need to make sure I don’t completely relapse and balloon up to 220lbs, haha.[/quote]

Nice work and congrats on the long term transformation. You’re ripped now, haha. I want to get this done too.

Thanks man! It’s definitely a process, and as you’ve read in all my “general notes” portions of the last few entries, it gets in your head quite a bit, but it’s rewarding. Seeing the scale move down is still pretty fun, as just another data point to get excited about.

Finished the day with

NG chins
1 set

Dips
1x56

Pull aparts
1x112

Notes: Just feeling pretty fried out, and schedule was a little jacked up from the bodyfat measurement. Will be scaling this down anyway most likely with the contest training.

[quote]T3hPwnisher wrote:
This puts me at a Fat Free Mass Index of 25.9 apparently. That’s honestly something a little more disheartening but something I’ve been suspecting as well.[/quote]

Congratulations man.

And for the record, I believe an FFMI of 25.9 is up there with competition level Frank Zane and Eugene Sandow. Hardly something to be disappointed about for someone who’s focus is mostly strength.

Much appreciated man. The stats you quote are actually why I am somewhat let down. I am proud of those numbers, but also realize that it is where natural trainees tend to cap out. I still want to be bigger, and the reality is that, most likely, I can take up more space by getting fatter, but not that much more muscular. It’s a bittersweet pill to swallow.

It’s not going to stop me from training hard and pursuing my goals, just a reality check.

Take Heart!
All those times you “skipped calves” over the years, you were just saving them as an area for dramatic “future gains.”