Meet up

Met with Mike (helterbot) tonight. He came over to pick up a gripper I sold him, and also brought some grippers to calibrate. Messed around with some grippers and was able to close his 154lb #3 which felt nice because my max crush has been off lately. Great guy, and he brought a Baseline Dyno that was fun. I think I pulled 190 or something.

I'm also checking my blog here to see what I did in the weeks prior to May 6, which was the day I had an excellent workout and closed my MM1 replica 5 out of 6 tries. I figure I've got maybe 2-3 weeks for my shot at the certification.

Here is how it broke down:

April 18 - Grippers
6 days rest
April 25 - Grippers (BBGM PR close)
3 days rest
April 29 - Pinch workout
6 days of rest
May 6 - MM1 closed

Luke has recommended that I don't do another pinch workout prior to the certification. From looking at this, I think the important thing is that I get 6 days rest to be in top form. So, starting from today, I am going to do a grip workout every 6 days until it's time to certify. I'll probably do a RT workout this weekend, though, since I've got probably 2 weeks to figure this out. Then a grip workout on the 5th, and again on the 12th. Hopefully it works out.

Heavy Hammer

Dirty buggers = Heavy Hammer.

• 2.5# x10 side-to-side
• 2.5# x10 to the front
• 2.5# x10 side-to-side
• 2.5# x10 to the front
• 5# x5 side-to-side
• 5# x10 to the front
• 5# x10 to the rear
• 7.5# x10 to the rear

I actually did this last night while the kids were tubbin, of course.

Crazy workout

Went to Luke's today for a workout. Hoped Brouse could make it too, but he was not able. Maybe another time. As has been the trend, I didn't set any PRs at Luke's! Oh well, it was a good workout.

First, I just want to talk about my new favorite grip toy. I got 3 new grippers with the 5/8" handles. BBSM, GM and E. I really like the feel of these grippers. They fit my hand better than normal grippers. I also like the fact that they train BTR. They also seem easier to set. They have nasty sharp knurling. The close is tough. I could close the SM, but the GM is a good step up. I see myself training with these quite a bit! These are SWEEEET grippers.

Otherwise, did lots of stuff. Didn't write any of it down, but here's a shot:

• Warmed up with a bunch of no set singles with the #1 and #2.
• Took about 5 attempts at 5x10s. I got movement once, but for the most part it wasn't happening. I thought my recent blob work would have put me over the edge on this. Video below.
• 2HP: 80x1, 120x1, 130x1, 150x1, 160x0x2, Got some movement on the 2nd attempt of 160, but lost it. Minor skin tear to go along.
• Grippers: 5/8" SM xbunch, 5/8" GM x0, MM1 x0, #3 x0. I was a bit torched from previous stuff.
  
• Wrist roller, 25#, 3 trips forward, 3 trips backward. Forearms were going to expload.
  

There are probably a few other things I can't remember. I'm fried. MM1 in a few weeks, probably. Maybe as little as 2-4. Max crush has been off so hopefully I can bring that back.

Rolling Thunder

This is feeling good and tonight I had a noticable gain while doing reps.

• 70# x10
• 105 x3
• 130 x1
• 140 x0, x1 assisted it just enough to get it moving, x1 assisted as before
• 120 x15, made it through on the right! Left was split 10/rest/5.
• Pony thumbs x3

I was really happy to get the 15 reps righty at least. This definitely felt stronger than last time. 140 felt better too, but I was not able to get a full lift. The first attempt I did hover about 6" so I feel good about that.

Yes I also think it's weird that I can lift 120 for 15 reps and can get 140 for 1 rep!

BLOB Workout

So I figured out that it takes 82.5# to balance the weight of the BLOB on the deloader. It's probably a very inexact measurement, but at least it allows me to measure my progress as a percentage of deloading. For example, 50lbs would be -60% of the BLOB's weight (50/82.5). All single attempts:

• -60% x3, warm up
• -48% x2
• -36% x2, lost the first at the top
• -30% x1, left only
• -24% x1
• -18% x2, both misses. Good movement on the first, did a neg on the second.
• Pony thumbs x3

So right now, I guess my PR is -24% or 20lbs on the deloader. I might be good for a new PR next workout simply by moving up quicker.

Cryinmind

This rubbish was recently posted on Ironmind News. LINK.

Dr. Strossen is clueless about service and ignorant about his own product. Whatever purpose this editorial was meant to serve--I don't care. It is not offensive. It is not surprising. It is not even interesting.

It is also not very motivating.

I mention it here because possibly you noticed that I updated my goals. One of these days; I will lift the BLOB. I also hope to climb the Mash Monster ladder of grippers--which is a superior certification because every athlete at every level has closed the exact same gripper. I'm currently signed up for Level 1.

Grip workout

Managed a decent workout last night. Max crush was not quite there.

• HG150 x20 x20 inverted
• #1 x5
• #2 x2, x2, x2
• T6 @1/4" x1, x1
• #3 (148#) x0, x0. I was surprised that I missed this. It feels a lot harder than 148#. The sweep kills me.
• BBE (164#) in 20mm choker, x5 attempts. Each one missed by <2mm>
• T6 @1/4" x2 reps with hold, then x1 overcrush.

In other news, I did some of the physical therapy and stretching that I'm supposed to do every day. My back really feels much better today. I knew I would know where this was headed by the end of the week. Here we are, and it seems to be heading the right direction.

Back-to-back pain

Two years in a row!

Last August, I chased some kids around at a family get-together and was promptly riddled with a number of back issues all related to an L5/S1 disc extrusion. This was followed by about 6 months of (expensive) physical therapy.

Last weekend, I chased my kid around my yard only to get seriously pwn3d by my back yet again. This time I'm having a lot of right leg symptoms.

So here we are, back to back pain. I think I'll know by the end of this week which direction this will head. I'm feeling rather injured right now.

A self-awareness reminder to myself:
Hey dumbass! Grip workouts do not combat sedentary habits.

Heavy Hammer

Tubbin kiddos.

My neck and back are pretty tight and uncomfortable today, so I took it easy and also did this standing up for once and was surprised that it offered a much better workout.

• 2.5# x10 side-to-side
• 2.5# x10 to the front
• 5# x8 side-to-side
• 5# x8 to the front
  

I Heart The BLOB.

I finished my deloader last night, which is a dream to use. It's based on cemery's idea using two pulleys hanging from the ceiling. The only difference is that I used the lat pulldown part of my rack. Since it's a compound pulley system there is not a pound-for-pound offset. For example, I put 70# on the weight carriage and it didn't lift the BLOB off the floor.

Of course I had to goof with this last night and--with no real warm up and still feeling my previous RT workout--I got a full lift with only 40# on the carriage.

I'm not sure what that means, except that obviously the goal is to work toward zero pounds on the carriage. The assistance is such that 5# is barely noticable. 10# is noticable.

I think what I will have to do is keep adding weight to the carriage until it elevates the BLOB. Whatever weight breaks it off the ground will be 100%. Let's say it's 85#. Then possibly I can consider 40# on the carriage a 47% deload?

It was also good to finally fiddle with my hand position. I think I found a good spot and my guess is that fresh I will be good for only 30# on the deloader.

Rolling Thumbs

Good workout tonight! It's muggy here. I know at least one person who reads my blog loves to hear about the local weather.

• 70# x10
• 105 x2 singles
• 130 x1 easy
• 145 x0, x3/4 lift, x1 assisted
• 130, assist and hold, x2
• 120 x15, had to take a few rests with the right, had to assist many on the left.
• BLOB50, 2 hand lifts x5
• Rolling Thunder 105 x15
• Pony thumbs x3

Hey you Blob-lifters; Do you put the more rounded side on your thumb or fingers? This was a great workout. My hands were F-R-I-E-D.

Kettahbeh

Kettlebell again last night, forgot to post. 10mins, kept moving, mostly swings, squats, snatch, cleans, etc. Really basic stuff and it was still pretty difficult. Good stuff.

GRIPPERS

Good grip workout. Maybe a little bruising on the fingers, which I have not had in a while. I think I forgot to write everything down as I went along:

• HG150 x20, x20 inverted
• #1 x3
• #2 x1, x1
• T6 x1, x1 CCS (<1mm>
• GM x1 (this curiously calibrated at 147 all of a sudden, felt harder than that)
• MM1 x0, x1 (2nd attemt felt good)
• BBE 164#, x0, x0 both forced in for a neg
• BBE 174# severe neg x1

Forgot to do pony thumbs! Ding dang.

Kettlebell

In an effort to do more full body stuff, this is one of the main things I have added. I hope to do this often.

• 20# Kettlebell x10mins. Just tried to keep moving doing swings, presses, squats, whatever seemed possible as this was relatively difficult for me, believe it or not.
  

Considering a grip workout.

Another side effect of this workout is that we bought pie and ice cream for tonight and now I think I would puke if I ate any. Good times.

Kids in the tub.

Now, I know what you're thinking... The last Heavy Hammer workout was on 5/11. While that was indeed the last workout, I assure you--and any Child and Family Service officials reading my blog--that the children have had many, many, baths since May.

• 2.5# x10 side-to-side
• 2.5# x10 to the front
• 5# x8 side-to-side
• 5# x10 to the front
• 7.5# x10 to the rear

This workout felt pretty good for not having done this in a while. I need to keep it in here consistently.