https://www.instagram.com/p/DGKYc1oBFZS/?img_index=3&igsh=MThwOTFyeWRiODU0OA==
2 Likes
Deadlift:
60x5
60x3
60x62 - 132.27lbs
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGNNsrGhW7E/?igsh=dmYyeTI1d2U4Njdi
Barbell Row:
60x10
Then using a 10 minute time limit, got 10 sets of 5.
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
80x5
Notes:
- today was a little scary. I paced around a bit before stepping up and getting into it. Then it was all about the grind, and not giving in. I wanted to 3-4x, but just kept going. Miscounted again. They feel so silky smooth now, the technique has Really sorted itself out now. I had a fair few reps left in me in the end.
- the rows were another situation of wanting a lot of volume in a short space of time, so I set the timer for 10 minutes and got to work with short rests.
- In other news, saw a new physio today. Actually an old physio mate of mine…who just got going again in my city. He’s sending me off for imaging - for which I won’t have to pay a cent for, a perk of being Australian
. He’s leaning towards the thinking that I may have bursitis. Having full ROM, almost even between both sides with some mild massage, and still technically having full, but painful, strength suggests I may need an injection. Wait and see…hopefully this time next week, I’ll have an answer to my chronic ailment. - Want to leave you all with this quote from Cody’s Blog, of which led me to this point in my training, and continues to resonate with me a lot.
"Maelstrom was a grueling program that I was scared of when I started. The whole thing seemed like it would swallow me up. As the cycles progressed and the volume increased, I felt as if I were descending into some bleak funnel of endless reps. Yet, the tides change. So too did the deadlifting, which came at the perfect time - when hope began to fade.
Just like the mariner in the above linked story A Descent into the Maelstrom" by Edgar Allan Poe, I came out of the storm alive but changed. Looking at it, the progression seems too much. Being in it, it feels the same, some days. Others, when the volume resets, provide a brief respite, just enough to look out into the storm and appreciate the grandness, violence, and peculiar beauty.
That is what I learned from this high-volume high-frequency deadlift progression. In the midst of it, when on rep 72 of 100 with a pump from neck to calves, and that weak voice cries quit… I summoned the will to snuff out, at least momentarily, the defeatist within me. If I can find ways to keep doing that, maybe one day I will be rid of him."
With every passing session, I’m understanding, and liking, the experience even more.
Fin
7 Likes
Just a lazy 62 reps. Quality
1 Like
You don’t think you can. Then you do it… And I’m one more step closer to the training toughness I enjoyed a few years ago before the injuries took over.
That, and the conditioning effect is becoming Real.
2 Likes
Deadlift: 
60x5
80x2
80x47 - 176.37lbs
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGPoP90B-sU/?igsh=OHg0aThueTliMmZl
Death x 1.
Bench: deload day. Fatigued quite a bit in the pressing muscles.
20x15
70x8
90x5
110x2
120x2
130x2 - 286.6lbs
Notes:
- Deadlifts went well. The pump was starting to become a problem at rep 43. I miscounted again…the target was 44. I’d have happily stopped at 44 . Traps, neck, lats, glutes all problematically pumped at that point! Took a hot minute to recover from it…
- Bench was a volume deload session. A bit of an unknown future in the short term, IF I have bursitis in the shoulder, and I get an injection, the deload will turn into about 10 days total which is fine. I’ll be able to train straight away as normal though after that, no waiting. It works or it doesn’t essentially.
- the 130x2 was a welcome ability today under fatigue, having only finished the block two days ago. I didn’t have another rep in me…but I might have had another kg or two. It’s a good spot, stronger than pre - block for sure. Good to see it building back. The next block might be a Texas method setup, so similar weekly volume, so just more frequency, for which history tells me is good for my bench…
- skipped leg day today. Knee still a bit dicky. Hit it with rehab and strengthening stuff. Made it feel great, but no need to rush sessions on it.
Fin.
7 Likes
This is awesome stuff dude. Love seeing people tackle these “Mt Everest” type programs.
2 Likes
Deadlift:
60x5
100x3
105x33 fek.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGSMrHIBvpv/?igsh=MWxzd212YWxndWd4OA==
- notes, pretty tired today to be honest. Sleep score wasn’t awesome. Don’t remember waking up at all, but didn’t feel great upon waking at 6.
- deadlifts were great until rep 20, then I had to do some digging to fend off that defeatist. Beat him off with a stick in the end. Could have ground our a few more had I needed to, and I will need to next week. And tomorrow. And the day after. I ain’t quitting this madness for no thing.
- 103.2kg this morning, weight has stayed more or steady the past few weeks, with highs of 104.9, and lows of 103.1…rolling Average is currently 104.1kg. happy with that, need the energy to climb this big old mountain. Feels like I’m eating A Lot, but only Averaging 2900 cals. I’ll have a bigger day today, in case I’m tired from fatigue . No idea why that could be
- tomorrow we pull 125kg for 22 reps.
Fin.
6 Likes
Deadlift:
60x5
100x3
125x23 - extra rep for me.
Squats:
20x5
60x2
60x2
80x2
SSB Squat:
22.5x5
62.5x2
82.5x2
Notes:
- Deadlifts were Great. Not even difficult today.
- squats sucked badly. Have a pain in the MCL region…can’t shake it. Fuq squats.
Fin.
6 Likes
Deadlift:
60x5
100x3
140x1
150x14 - 330.7lbs
Bench:
20x15
70x8
90x5
100x5
100x5
100x5
100x5
100x5
Notes:
- this was yesterdays training. Was short on time, left straight after a shake and a shower to head out for a Millencolin/Pennywise gig, and dammit if it wasn’t the best gig I’ve ever been to!
Tim Wise on Instagram: "Millencolin...proper good! @jbensmaad"
For whatever DUMB reason the star has never aligned for me to see either band, so when this came up, I HAD to go. Only 1500 people, these intimate gigs just don’t happen these days with bands this big like they did in the old days! - deadlifts were good. Haha. Bench was ok.
Fin.
8 Likes
Deadlift:
60x5
100x3
150x1
175.5x3
DB incline 30:
26x8
26x21
DB chest supported row:
26x15
26x15
Single Arm Farmers walk:
30kg x 100m (swapped arms every 25m)
Overhead Plate carry:
20kg plate x 50m x 2
Notes:
- Deadlift was Easy. Felt like a warmup to be honest, as it should really…
- everything else was a bit meh. Trained with a mate and we just wanted to get Something done aside from the deadlifts.
- the carries were the best part.
Fin.
7 Likes
Bench:
20x15
20x8
70x8
90x5 - 198.4lbs
90x5
90x5
Deadlift:
60x5
100x3
150x1
180x1
197.5x3 - 435.4lbs
Then jumped in the pool.
Notes:
- Bench was a light day. Benching every 2 days instead of every 4, so have a light day in the middle. It was all very solid, kept it all tight, threw in a few long pauses and what not.
- deadlift was ok. Not hard, but not easy. A little slow maybe. But not bad for 197.5kg. 3rd heaviest set in recent history.
- Got the Ultrasound on my shoulder today, confirmed bursitis…not small either . Now to wait for the report and a call to book in an injection if they think it’s warranted. The sonographer seemed to think so. See what happens later this week. I talked it up a bit, said it was worse than it is lol. So far this has cost me nothing after my Physio wrote a letter to my GP declaring it a long term chronic problem. Doc backed it up, and things like that are covered 100% by our Medicare system. Another tick for the land down under! (Apparently life stinks here and we are all lacking freedoms or something, ).
Fin!
6 Likes
2 Likes
Bench:
20x15
60x8
80x5
100x2
110x1
112x5 - 246.9lbs
Deadlylift:
60x5
60x70 - 132.27lbs
Notes:
- yes, 70 reps with 60kg on the deadlift. Took almost 3 minutes. In saying that, I completed it faster than last weeks 62reps. . And once again, I definitely had even more to give. Could have made it 79-80 reps I think before wanting to kill myself.
- The Defeatest inside me continues to be pushed further back into the darkness.
- Bench was good, but not great. Tech was a bit off, should have done a back off set to push that point home. Something to consider in future on the high intensity day when I’m not happy with what has gone down. Perfection is impossible, but if we don’t ever seek it…we can’t even get close.
- short on time again today, worked from 0530 until 1600…very productive day though, so I’m not unhappy about it. More volume today though probably isn’t what I needed .
- Woke this morning with a small sore soar. Mild. But it’s there…no drugs today, wanting to see what, if anything, is coming from it. Doubled up on my Vit D, Magnesium, Zinc and fishoil supplement stack just in case. Feel ok otherwise. Tomorrow, 80kg for 52 reps. Wild. Who writes this shit.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGhjaJ2BSiH/?igsh=MzZoczh0YWVrOXBj
Fin!
6 Likes
I see what you did there.
1 Like
Sore throat evolved…
I mean, it’s gone, but it left a good head cold. Haha.
Took today off, plenty of extra sleep, kept foods and fluids up, and I think maybe I’ve turned a corner already. If I feel better, or at least Not worse tomorrow, I’m training.
Fin.
1 Like
Back on board…
feel like it was Covid. Hit me hard, fast, and now its almost gone…
Actually it didnt hit me that hard. But the effect on breathing was a problem friday/saturday/sunday. Decent walk this morning got me feeling likes it over. So will return to the weights properly today.
I did still train daily…but Very light, and nothing particularly difficult beyond just keeping me moving, with more effort put towards just moving about and keep the metabolism burning.
Definatley feel like i’ve hurried the process along! Unfortuantely for a colleague i travelled with last thursday, has been struck down a lot harder…Pays to be healthy.
Training later today. Will update.
3 Likes
Deadlift:
60x5
80x3
80x53…176.37lbs
Bench:
20x15
60x8
80x5
100x1
101.5x5 - 223.77lbs
101.5x5
101.5x5
101.5x5
101.5x5
Chest Supported DB Rows:
30x12 - 66.14lbs
30x12
EZY Curls:
30x13 - 66.14lbs
Notes:
- Yeah about 97% recovered from whatever weak arse virus tried to put me down. Only missing 3 days of training is an Outstanding result, well down immune system. I sort of saw it coming, it messed with my gut for a few days before cold symptoms arrived. Weird one.
- Deadlifts were ok. I feared my breathing would be out. It wasn’t. Zero sum fitness lost I think. But like I said, I didnt give in, and didn’t stop moving the past three days. Average step could was 11k…They moved Well, hit a wall at 30reps…didn’t give in. Wanted to, but also consciously didn’t Want to. That improves weekly. Tomorrow is disgusting, 105kg x 39. Why? I’ll beat that one, too.
- Bench was really good. Although still light, no issues at all with the 5x5 after week 1 unusually kicking my arse - assuming now it was the virus doing its thing behind the scenes. Well I beat that, too. I’ll just continue with the 1.5kg jumps, they worked well last block with the 3x5, so no reason not to, will allow me to keep on accumulating that sub max volume, leaving the heavy day later in each week for the struggle.
- Accessories were quick and simple, antagonist muscles, followed by a quick bicep finisher. They were dead by the time I picked up the ezy bar. Deads, into bench, into rows…didn’t expect much more to come from curling.
- Good day. 103.5kg this morning, literally have maintained my weight for the whole of the deadlift block so far. And I’ve not really been shying away from food…just sneaking in 24 hours fasts here and there maybe every 10 days to keep the cal intake in check. (Eating dinner one night, then nothing the time, and not eating again until after that time the following night - wanting to try a 36 hour fast soon (just won’t eat at all next day, until breakfast the day after, pretty easy if these 24 hour fasts have been anything to go by). I might creep my regular day calories up another 100-200 when I start doing those.
Instagram is being screwey, and is mixing up the vids I posted. I’m not fixing it.
I might. Edit. I fixed it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGui8beBBz8/?igsh=eGlyNTQzbDY5MW5h
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGufHt9BHTr/?igsh=MXcwcmFyaTZneWJhMg==
Fin.
4 Likes
Forearms seem to benefitting from the daily deadlifting…have grown just over 1.5cm already this year without getting any heavier bodyweight wise.
Getting Juicey. Probably needing bigger biceps. They have only grown 0.5cm. that’s here nor there IMO.
3 Likes
Gym Dog update:
Shadow and Winter both doing well…getting big!
Have taken to the pool like ducks…I leave a bit of the cover on and they go Mad for it lol.
Been tough training two at once, but Everytime we see them hanging out, enjoying the company, and have a blast together, feels worth it haha.
Both have taken up residence in the camping chairs, same as my old girls once did. Must be comfy.
Fin.
6 Likes
Bench:
20x15
60x8
80x5
91x5 - 200.62lbs
91x5
91x5
Deadlift:
60x5
100x3
105x41 (target was 39). - 231.48lbs
Notes:
- Closest I’ve ever come to Vomiting after a set… diabolical experience. And bloody lost count again! They were good deadlifts though. So crisp.
- bench was the light day, as per Texas Method. Always feels a bit off lol. Probably why it’s needed.
- skipped training yesterday…had a bit of a relapse of the virus or whatever the fark it is or was. Felt better again today so had at it. Not completely out of the woods, but I think with extra food and sleep and walking, it will go away this week as it was trending yesterday. Actually think MAYBE it impeded today’s set of deads. Maybe. Was reaching for air a bit more than I felt I should have been, and the feeling post set was Not nice. Proper not nice actually. But we survived, and the defeatest gets pushed a little further back into his hole.
Also, IG is fucking with me again. Keeps changing the first vid of every post…and replicating the second vid. Two days running now. Not impressed. Lol
Fin.
6 Likes