- To live a long life and be there for my son, wife, and family until he is older (my dad died at 47 and I was very young)
- To have a six pack (wanted one since I was a teenager, came close once or twice, like a classic car I could never afford)
- To have as much or more energy than my peers, to play a sport, or help dig a ditch if I wanted to without passing out
- (I’ll add one more) To show people health is possible and maybe inspire them
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100% with you there. I want my babies to look up to me. Not as some sort of ego trip for me, but because I want to be able to help shape them in a positive way.
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That sucks about your dad! Mine died at 67 so also young. Your doing it right man. It’ll be so cool to know our kids as adults. I really look forward to those years too.
Can you tell I’ve been in the car for 6 hrs. Sorry I’ve gone post crazy… going through photos from the weekend and this might be the first time I’ve ever not thought that my legs are way skinny compared to the rest of me although I’m a little fluffier than I like to be. Guess I’ll accept it and continue the bulk.
I’ve always been hamstrung and glute dominant, which in my opinion makes me look like a twig with a butt.
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Top 3 reasons
1: To be a good dad and husband. To be strong enough to support my family physically and mentally.
2. I want to get stronger, I guess really I just don’t want to get weaker and want to stop the ageing process a little
3 because I love the process. I love the work, I love the planning, I love seeing the progress.
Top 3 goals
Short term:
1234 - need a 4 plate deadlift to tick this off
Mid term (this year)
Compete in a powerlifting Como and not completely suck
Long term: (next year)
Go over to the dark side and gone Strongman a go.
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The dark side is going to turn a beast into a total monster! Remember less is more though. Is it bad that I can’t wait for this haha!
Lol I don’t think it’s bad and I appreciate your words of caution and encouragement. I totally get your comments around less is more and I guess that’s why the goals are not rushed. I’ll hit the deadlift in training this year, I’ll plan a novice comp for the end of the year at the local powerlifting and Strongman gym and that will be a good introduction to the gym so I can work on the next goal.
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Oh, that’s a good question to revisit periodically. Right now, I would say the top 3 are:
- Get a 6-pack before I’m too old.
- Compete as a lightweight strongman.
- Hit a 500# deadlift.
I always want to set a good example for my kids, and I want to stick around to meet my great grandkids, but those factors are always there, so I’m answering in terms of goals rather than overarching motivation. I’m not going to ever hit one of the goals I had in the back of my mind, a 2/3/4/5 plate press/bench/squat/deadlift, because I don’t think my shoulder will ever be healthy enough for a 3 plate bench. I’ve done a 4 plate + squat, and I will hit a 5 plate deadlift, though. A 2 plate strict press might not be in the cards since I don’t want to push my weight into the 200’s again, but I have done a 2 plate push jerk.
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I think I’m good with allowing any movement that gets the weight overhead for the 2 plate press. I’m in the same boat. I don’t think I’ll ever do 2 plates in strict fashion. I’m not sure I’ll hit 3 plates on bench if I stick with this lean physique. A 4 plate squat is out unless you count a high box squat. Damn, I’m 1 for 4 on those goals…but I crushed that 5 plate deadlift!
Are your goals in order? 6 pack and strongman seem conflicting. 
They’re in chronological order. I’m going to hit a 6-pack by the end of or shortly after the end of the challenge, then work on building strength back. Also, trying to stay lightweight, I want as much of my weight as possible to be muscle.
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That would be a happy lifetime goal for me. Many, many years of training to go yet though. I think it sits in the “possible, but not likely” category for me as it stands.
I didn’t actually fill in my specific performance goals for this year. Mine are very focussed, I want a 4 plate squat and 3 plate bench by year end and I want to still be able to comfortably fit in my 32" waist work trousers. I have to admit, as the year wears on, they are looking increasingly unlikely to be hit though.
4/22
Woke at 182.6
Honestly I thought it would be higher after the weekend of fatty fried things, buttered everything washed down with wine that I had.
I can definitely tell that my gut isn’t as happy as it is normally and was glad to see chicken, rice and greens again.
Today’s crazy playing catch up from the weekend away so I only have about 20 minutes for a quick session.
2 exercises for bis and two for back
Wide grip lat pulls 3 sets of 15 @ 200
Straight arm lat pulls 3 sets of 15 @ 140
Standing isolation curls 3 sets of 15 @ 30
Alternating curls 3 sets of 15 @ 35
4/23
Woke 180.6
Had a tinge of hunger first thing in the morning which means eating clean yesterday is starting to get my stem back to normal. Think I’m gonna stay a little low on calories this week and let the body process all the crap I gave it last week.
Chest and triceps today. Gonna do my normal routine with four supersets. Two chest, two triceps, and two finishers. Not enough time to post details, but gonna get it done none the less
- Pull 700lbs; As soon as I hit 600lbs, the quest for 700lbs began. It is so close, I can taste it.
- Vanity; Looking “big” or “jacked”. I’ve always enjoyed being referred to by these adjectives.
- Satisfying my addictive personality; If I did not direct my addictive personality to lifting, it would likely be directed to ‘gaming’. I’m a closet nerd for video games. Lifting has definitely helped me in strength and health. It has kept me from being a lazy couch slob.
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Ain’t that the truth. I sometimes wish o didn’t have such an addictive personality. My wife can do a little of this and a little of that. I’m like… that was fun, I want to do it everyday for the rest of my life lol.
Out of curiosity what games to you like? I also have the closet gamer vice. I like RPGs like Skyrim, mass effect, elder scrolls etc. not much of a FPS fan.
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I’m addicted to games that have the online competitive vibe to them. Years ago I played a lot of Diablo and Starcraft, then through University I spent a ridiculous amount of time playing Call of Duty. Recently, a few buddies of mine started playing Fortnite and got me into it.
It is fun to be able to jump into a squat together and play. We all have mics/headsets so we can shoot the shit for a couple hours while gaming. My wife likes it when I play video games, because then she can spend this time watching her shows that she knows I really don’t enjoy.
I haven’t played it for a few weeks now, as we have been spending all of our screen time getting caught up on Game of Thrones. Two more episodes left before we can finally start this new season that just came out!
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New episode was pretty good. Haven’t watched the second one yet., probably tonight. Solid series for sure
I am sorry to say I have never watched even 1 minute of game of thrones. I have no idea how you guys find enough time to watch that much TV
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I was thinking the same thing. I mean, I’m still watching GoT, but that’s my whole TV time for the week. A gaming habitnon top of that is an absolute no go.
I haven’t played on a gaming device for 20 years and have no idea how people have time to game. I have managers who work for me who are in their 30’s and will take a days leave to buy and play a new game on the day it is released !! This makes no sense to me !!