Thursday, May 17, 2012

nothing, giving, unworthy offering


        There are some things in this world that I've pretty much given up on.  I'm not going to enumerate them here, if you want to know that, buy me several shots.

AM
  • A1. DB Bench: 65 5x5
  • A2. Hammer Curl: 30 5x5
  • B1. DB Flye: 25 3x10
  • B2. Incline Curl: 25 3x10
  • C1. Close Grip Pushup: 2x15
  • C2. Std Concentration Curl: 20 2x15
PM
  • Deadlift: 95x5/115x5/135x5/155x5/175x5/195x15
  • T-Bar Row: 105 4x5/1x8
  • Face Pull: 57.5x4x5/50x8
  • Uni Shoulder Press: 50x4x5/40x8
  • DB Row: 70 4x5/1x8
  • Clean: 105 5x5
        I told myself when i started this blog i wouldn't post song lyrics because it's easy and i wanted this to be my thoughts, but right now, this is all i've got.  I'm kinda emotionally drained, turned inside out, and hung out to dry right now.  We build ourselves cages from the bones of our naivete.

Today's TrainingTune: Swimmers Can Drown (Iris Mix) - i:scintilla

Swimmers Can Drown - i:scintilla
My timeline is a wire wrapped tight around my neck
Slowing apathy swells, give in to disconnect
Unworldly transmission fed to relive the shame
I don’t want a trial, I’ll take all the blame
A stone stolid council Speaks dogmatically
Bullets and antidotes divided evenly
A chilling consciousness wakes me from the trance
It redefines my mind I’ll never have a chance

Nothing, giving, unworthy offering
Losing, feeling like a bird with clipped wings
Sinking feeling, pushing down on me
Swimming, drowning, neurotoxic red sea


The blow shatters my remission
Fracture patterns show through the skin
Please understand this was not the plan
No, I gotta know
Does it matter where my heart has been
Fracture patterns show through my skin
Please understand this was not my plan
No, I gotta go

Weightless restraint floating away, evaporating
The impulse grows in clouds below, cascading
Dripping whisper, falling faster, raining

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

power lines

        Almost a full day of training today, ditched out on Crosspit just because I'm trying to pace myself a bit.  Well that and I'm elbows deep in implementing Jos Stam's Real-Time Fluid Dynamics For Games.  Anyone doing any sort of technical presentation (myself included), take note of this paper.  He explains every step in terms that anyone with even a basic math background can understand (as proven by me) and gives you the code in the process.  Man...i have been schooled in so many ways by this paper.  Here's hoping my implementation ends up doing the thing i need it to do.  Following in the good Dr. Stam's steps, I'll be putting as much of this project online as I can and hopefully be able to offer a simple, easy-to-follow explanation of anything special I end up doing.

bearfluid
Man, can you believe this river is all real-time? Thanks Jos Stam!

        Honestly, i do feel a bit jank about not training tonight, but the combination of fasting and ramping up on workouts has definitely caught up to me, so tonight, we code and eat protein.  I take solace in the fact that my work schedule has cleared up a bit and i'll be able to make good on this idea of regular training.
AM
  • A1. DB Shoulder Press: 45 5x5
  • A2. DB Rev Curl: 20 5x5
  • B1. DB Lat Raise: 20 3x10
  • B2. DB Skull: 20 3x10
  • C1. Bent Flye: 15 2x15
  • C2. Rope Ext: 42.5 2x15
PM
  • Press: 65x5/75x5/85x10
  • Incline Bench: 95 4x5/1x8
  • EZ French: 55 4x5/1x8
  • Pendlay Row: 115 4x5/1x8
  • Pushdown: 87.5 4x5/1x8
  • Lat Pull: 130 4x5/110 1x8
        Gah, not sure what else to say tonight, coding beckons...Tonight is definitely one of those nights where I can definitively say "Toniiiight! There Will BE...SLEEEEP!"  Oddly enough, i'm almost too tired to thaw chicken...I say almost, because I'm actually about to go do this thing right now.  Right now.
Today's TrainingTune: Nazca - Ivardensphere

Monday, May 14, 2012

first light

        Proper day of training almost, only made it to one class at Tribull tonight but I'll try and hit up a few more tomorrow.  Conditioning and kickboxing if the gods are friendly.  Eh, forget the gods, I decide what I do, and today, I decide that I'm going to sleep well, train good tomorrow, and hit up a full session of Tribull madness.

bearmode
Bear Mode: A specialized variant of Beast Mode, strictly for the hardcore.

        Decided to take a slightly more measured approach to the weights today, meaning 5x10s are out for a bit, until my muscles are used to being back under the bar.  Gotta say, i think last sunday i was also rolling off of bad sleep, because going to the gym today felt totally different.  You know how dogs are when they know they're about to go for a walk?  That's totally how I felt walking up to the gym today, i almost broke into a trot i must admit.  It's a good feeling, the feeling that says "Time to go home".  It's weird, I feel like i spent so much time working the last month that I had to let myself swing back the other way, taking a weekend and just vegging before i EQd back out and was ready to do normal life things.  But i feel like I'm all cured now, so that's awesome.

AM:
  • Squat: 155x5/175x5/195x10
  • DB Incline Press: 50x5/60x5x3/60x8
  • OverheadX: 50x5x3/60x5/40x8
  • Seated Row: 130x5/140x5x3/130x8
  • EZ Curl: 60x5x4/60x8
  • Push Press: 115x5x4/115x8
PM:
  • A1. DB Decline Press: 55 5x5
  • A2. Hammer Curl: 30 5x5
  • B1. Decline Flye: 20 3x10
  • B2. DB Incline Curl: 20 3x10
  • C1. Chest Pull: 32.5x15/37.5x15
  • C2. Kneeling NG: 82.5x15/87.5x15
        It's amazing what a different exercise curls are when you focus on certain aspects of techniques.  I'm not entirely chasing the pump yet (i'll get there, just want to get form and some foundation back), but i'm trying to set myself up for good gains when I start moving real weight.  The squeeze is crazy, nice to get a bit of a burn...

Today's TrainingTune: Demon Core - Phosgore

Sunday, May 13, 2012

240lb Stones and Sore Biceps

Worked on stones yesterday. My goal was to get the 240# stone up and over the bar once:


Nailed it.

A1. Atlas Stones

3 x 135#, 16" over 50" bar
2 x 175#, 16" over 50" bar
1 x 240#, 18" over 50" bar

The stone hit so hard and I screamed so loud that a neighbor's dog freaked out and caused the neighbor to come make sure I was OK. Whoops... I need to buy crash pads for the stone, at least.


Today I am battling right bicep pain/overuse soreness. Ice, heat, Icy Hot and compression wrapping seems to help. I have a week to rest it. Probably won't train much this week, if anything it'll be warming up, mobility and recovery.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Lots of Training, Not Lots of Posting About It

I haven't logged any training on here in a couple of weeks. Not because I haven't been training, mostly because after training I have been too wiped out to do more than compile my videos and update my training excel sheet.


A few things that have happened over the past few weeks:
  1. Finally found a strongman competition to do
  2. Molded a few more Atlas stones (135#, 240#)
  3. Was defeated by the 240# stone
  4. Learned a new Log Press technique
  5. Bought supplies for a Chain Yoke and a 2" Axle Bar
  6. I trained a lot
Anyhow, I'm wondering if I should start making this a weekly digest. I guess we'll see. For now, here's my training, working sets only, with lots of video!

Saturday, April 28

A1. Deadlift for Time

  • 7 x 350# in 40s
  • 7 x 350# in 50s 

This was before I had an axle and want to test what I could do in a minute.
 
B1. Max OH Axle Press

  • 1 x 165#
  • 1 x 195#
  • 1 x 215#
  • 0 x 230# 

used Fat Gripz, so about a 2.5" grip. Real axle is 2".

C1. Pinch Grip Holds

  • 30s x 35#
  • 30s x 35#
  • 30s x 35#

Video:


Tuesday, May 1

A1. Log Clean & Press w/Swiss Bar

  • 1 x 115#
  • 1 x 130#
  • 1 x 140#
  • 1 x 150#
  • 0 x 160# 

Used the older clean technique and couldn't get 160# cleaned up. Researched new technique that night.

B1. DB Bench

  • 4 x 8 x 80#

C1. Pullups

  • 4 x 6 x bw + medium band
 
D1. Blast Strap Ab Fallouts

  • 4 x 10 x bw 
 
E1. Farmer Holds

  • 20s x 230#/hand
  • 15s x 230#/hand
  • 15s x 230#/hand

The 230# was a PR! Sweet.

No video on this one, I think I got home late and just wanted to train.


Thursday, May 3

A1. Log Clean & Press w/Swiss Bar

  • 1 x 115#
  • 1 x 135#
  • 1 x 150#
  • 1 x 165# 

New "Squat Clean" technique worked great! Just need to work on it more.

B1. Snatch

  • 3 x 3 x 105# 
 
C1. SSB Box Squat w/ 2 20#Chains

  • 4 x 6 x 255# 
 
D1. Complexes (Front Squat, OH Press, GM)

  • 3 x 95#
  • 2 x 95#
  • 1 x 95#

Video (Youtube won't let me direct link it due to some crummy licensing):




Saturday, May 5

A1. Axle Deadlift

  • 4 x 1 x 225#
  • 0 x 275# 


Used Fat Gripz. This session SUCKED. I was highly discouraged and contemplated backing out of the meet on May 19. Jess convinced me to go to Home Depot and get a real axle (with a 2" grip), so we did Monday.

B1. Sled Pull 50' up, 50' down

  • 6 x 295# 

 
C1. Atlas Stones

  • 6 x 0 x 240# 


New stone. It defeated me, but I will get it this weekend.

Video of Stone Fails:






Monday, May 7

A1. Axle Deadlift

  • 6 x 290# in 30s
  • 4 x 315# in 30s, dropped #5 


That's more like it. Not a great rep count, and some of the lockouts were questionable, but it was my first time doing these. Activated my biceps a bit too much so I need to work on that.


315# is the weight for the meet.
 
B1. 1-Arm DB Row

  • 4 x 6 x 120# per hand 

 
C1. Front Squat

  • 3 x 8 x 185# 

Video:





Wednesday, May 9

A1. Log Clean & Press w/Swiss Bar

  • 1 x 115#
  • 1 x 135#
  • 1 x 155#
  • 1 x 175#
  • 0 x 200# 


More work with the new technique. The 175# felt easy, so I went for 200# but failed. I think I can get 190# up.


The meet starts at 140#, so I think I am rrady for this event.

B1. SSB Squat w/ 2 20#Chains

  • 3 x 2 x 315# 

 
C1. Pullups

  • 4 x 6 x bw + medium band

 
D1. Blast Strap Ab Fallouts

  • 3 x 8 x bw 

 
E1. Complexes (Front Squat, OH Press, GM)

  • 3 x 95#
  • 2 x 95#
  • 1 x 95#


Video:




Overall, training for the competition is going well, knock on wood. I woke up this morning with some tightness and aching in my right bicep, so I cam going to take it easy till the weekend. Then I'll tackle the 240# stone, do some light medley work (yoke/sandbag/sled), and then take next week easy leading up to the competition on Saturday.





     


         




     

Sunday, May 6, 2012

this i say each day

        I've been off the mats for a month and out from under the bar for too many more months and I've definitely suffered for it.  If the folks I grapple with are to be believed, I haven't lost too much strength, but then, after moving to the bay, i wasn't starting from a particular high mark anyway, so i guess it would've been really hard for me to slide too far back, eh?  I've definitely paid for it in the aesthetics department, i'm not sure i can remember the last time i was this fat and unattractive, but that's fixable.

        You know, i'm the worst person in the world about throwing myself into work and training when life starts to get a bit suck on the personal side, but the sad realization I've come to after the last couple weeks is that...I don't think I'm that guy anymore, it just doesn't have the same numbing effect it used to.  That may be a good sign though, yet another path on the road to growing up??  Arrghh!!  Ah well...at least I can still console myself with the idea that no woman would ever want to have kids with me, so I'll only ever have to grow up so much anyway, hehe...

suckitup
Your whining is incredibly undignified sir...if i can suck it up, so can you

        I do love being able to live the simple life tho...At the end of the day, i have a great job, i'm living in a cool-ish part of the country, I can still train.  I can still do all the things that matter, and for me, those aren't huge things, you know?  I don't need to be rich, famous, dating a supermodel, whatever, just not bored with work and able to move around.  So on with the training.  Going to follow the 5/3/1 Boring But Big Challenge template, just because i feel like it's a good combination of alot of things I want to do and 5x10 of big lifts just sounds like good ol fashioned fun.
  • Squat A: 155x5/175x5/195x5
  • Squat B: 115 5x10
  • DB Incline: 45 3x8
  • Overhead X: 80 3x8
  • Seated Row: 120 3x8
  • Hammer Curl: 20 3x8
        Funny thing was I only did my warmup set on squats then went straight to the 5x10, so i had to double back at the end of the set and do the actual 5/3/1 work set.  It actually worked out better than i thought, but then, these aren't incredibly huge numbers...Sure felt like it tho!  I'm going to start depleting too, so tonight is the last time i eat food for a while.  Already my co-workers think i'm weird because I don't eat lunch that often...i guess that's just something i have to contend with, my diet is always going to be a subject of discussion amongst co-workers, hehe...

Today's TrainingTune: Honest Eyes - Black Tide