153.68 RATED AT 149.50 BODYWEIGHT
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
GOOD TRAINING WEEK
149.50# on the scale today, so I guess it happened. I'm in the 140s! I do hope to get out of the 140s soon. I've increased my eating, but still all clean. There has been no rebound in weight despite the increased intake. Hopefully, then, it's just helping me recover and grow.
I lifted heavier this week and I feel that went well. I felt strong and got nice and sore. Even things like pull ups I tended a little heavier, doing sets of 8 with a 15# dumbbell hanging. Push ups I used a 25# plate on my back. Otherwise I did some heavier benching, dumbbell rows, and a bunch of other stuff. Heavier dead lifts tonight.
That GHP Level 7 from Adam was 153.68. Lighter than I expected, but I suppose you have to overcome that 3" spread. Maybe that's what makes it feel a little more. I do hope to get a solid close on that Sunday. Watch for the video.
I lifted heavier this week and I feel that went well. I felt strong and got nice and sore. Even things like pull ups I tended a little heavier, doing sets of 8 with a 15# dumbbell hanging. Push ups I used a 25# plate on my back. Otherwise I did some heavier benching, dumbbell rows, and a bunch of other stuff. Heavier dead lifts tonight.
That GHP Level 7 from Adam was 153.68. Lighter than I expected, but I suppose you have to overcome that 3" spread. Maybe that's what makes it feel a little more. I do hope to get a solid close on that Sunday. Watch for the video.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
TIME TO LIFT HEAVIER
Weight has been holding right at 150# despite the fact that I not depriving myself of any clean eating urges. For the first time I had to drop the balance on the medical scale to 100# and double check that I was not in the 140s! I have absolutely no desire to weigh 140-anything, but still have some body fat on the mid section that I would like to lose. Not much, mind you, but it is there.
So I have switched my workouts to try and balance this a little. For the past 8-12 weeks I’ve been doing EDT workouts which have been extremely effective in stripping fat while increasing strength. For a few weeks I am going to use increasingly heavy weights with decreasing reps in the 6-10 range. If fat loss stalls for a few weeks, that’s fine. I’ll be looking to gain a little size and brute strength (although nothing I do should be called “brute”).
Core workouts are still 3 times every week.
In gripping news, I’ve got a bunch of grippers from Adam Glass to rate, including some GHP grippers. I played with them last weekend and had a great attempt on the Level 7, which Wade felt was inconclusive for a good close. I agree, it’s hard to tell. I will hit a good reps-based workout tonight and then rest grippers until Sunday and try again. I’ll probably postpone my next pinch workout until that day as well. I’ll post the rating for the Level 7 as soon as possible. My guess is that it’s 156. The video of my GHP attempts from last week is below.
Finally, I’m looking for gripsters to follow on Twitter. My username is @GRIPMASH. Give me a shout.
So I have switched my workouts to try and balance this a little. For the past 8-12 weeks I’ve been doing EDT workouts which have been extremely effective in stripping fat while increasing strength. For a few weeks I am going to use increasingly heavy weights with decreasing reps in the 6-10 range. If fat loss stalls for a few weeks, that’s fine. I’ll be looking to gain a little size and brute strength (although nothing I do should be called “brute”).
Core workouts are still 3 times every week.
In gripping news, I’ve got a bunch of grippers from Adam Glass to rate, including some GHP grippers. I played with them last weekend and had a great attempt on the Level 7, which Wade felt was inconclusive for a good close. I agree, it’s hard to tell. I will hit a good reps-based workout tonight and then rest grippers until Sunday and try again. I’ll probably postpone my next pinch workout until that day as well. I’ll post the rating for the Level 7 as soon as possible. My guess is that it’s 156. The video of my GHP attempts from last week is below.
Finally, I’m looking for gripsters to follow on Twitter. My username is @GRIPMASH. Give me a shout.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
155# BBGM and 2x35s pinch
Hit these in a semi-casual workout today!
This is the highest over-bodyweight gripper close I've accomplished so far. I was 162 when I closed a 164 BBE. This was 155# BBGM at 151# bodyweight. Grippers are coming back nicely. Middle finger felt great.
The 2x35s also came up again today, both hands. That felt really good. RH slipped a little at the top. Pinch is probably as strong as it's ever been.
My son, Mr. Meatball, is a big help.
This is the highest over-bodyweight gripper close I've accomplished so far. I was 162 when I closed a 164 BBE. This was 155# BBGM at 151# bodyweight. Grippers are coming back nicely. Middle finger felt great.
The 2x35s also came up again today, both hands. That felt really good. RH slipped a little at the top. Pinch is probably as strong as it's ever been.
My son, Mr. Meatball, is a big help.
Friday, January 13, 2012
FORGOT
I totally forgot to mention some other stuff I've been doing recently.
After I took that pinch vid below, then I got 157.5 about half way up.
I tried to pinch 2x35s as well and got those about half way up. They'll come up all the way again probably next workout. I have not been able to pinch 2x35s for quite a while so it's nice to see that come back.
Also closed my 139# BBSM last night easily, closed my 151# BBGM, and almost closed a 155# BBGM. So gripper strength has hung on okay despite taking all of December and January so far off from grippers. The time off is because my middle finger was bothering me and I wanted that to heal. It feels great lately even after testing myself some on grippers.
Push ups I've been doing with 17.5# sitting between my shoulder blades. Those are feeling strong and I'll keep going up in weight. During a 15min EDT session I'll do 50-100 pushups depending on where I am in the cycle. Paired with a bicep exercise.
Pull ups I've been doing wtih 10# hanging on me, but honestly more than that because I'm using a chain to hold the weight. Durning a 15min EDT session I'll get 50-100 pull ups as well, paired with a tricep exercise. Pull ups feel real strong as well.
Here's to good-ole-hard work! Cheers!
After I took that pinch vid below, then I got 157.5 about half way up.
I tried to pinch 2x35s as well and got those about half way up. They'll come up all the way again probably next workout. I have not been able to pinch 2x35s for quite a while so it's nice to see that come back.
Also closed my 139# BBSM last night easily, closed my 151# BBGM, and almost closed a 155# BBGM. So gripper strength has hung on okay despite taking all of December and January so far off from grippers. The time off is because my middle finger was bothering me and I wanted that to heal. It feels great lately even after testing myself some on grippers.
Push ups I've been doing with 17.5# sitting between my shoulder blades. Those are feeling strong and I'll keep going up in weight. During a 15min EDT session I'll do 50-100 pushups depending on where I am in the cycle. Paired with a bicep exercise.
Pull ups I've been doing wtih 10# hanging on me, but honestly more than that because I'm using a chain to hold the weight. Durning a 15min EDT session I'll get 50-100 pull ups as well, paired with a tricep exercise. Pull ups feel real strong as well.
Here's to good-ole-hard work! Cheers!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
PINCH TONIGHT
I've mostly been doing rep work in gloves, but decided to see what I've got for a max lift right now. I pulled 152.5# at 151# body weight. Not stellar when my PR is 179#. HOWEVER, this is just about as much as I've ever pulled on MY plates. They are still pretty slick. From past experience, when I go pinch at Adam's gym for example, I gain about 20# on his seasoned plates.
Monday, January 9, 2012
NEW PINCH GOAL - 120% BODYWEIGHT LIFT
Weighed myself at the gym again today and down to 152 pounds! That’s the lightest I’ve been since I came through that weight growing up.
So now I’m wondering if I need to hit the panic button?
My goal here was to trim body fat and I’ve certainly done that. I have not reached my physique goal--which is admittedly intangible--but I’m basing my satisfaction of this goal on what’s in the mirror. I’m likely sitting at 10-11% body fat right now.
The 152 bodyweight is also coming off this past weekend where I didn’t change WHAT I was eating, but I was more generous with portions in the spirit of recovery.
For the next couple of weeks, I think I am going to up my protein intake and see what happens. I’m worried about losing muscle at this point even though I have no evidence that is happening. Any lift I train is improving in my EDT workouts.
In other news, I have a new primary 2HP goal. This nifty list was just started at David Horne’s site.
>>>LINK<<<
I am currently training pinch harder and with more purpose than I ever have in my life. A 3 pound PR at my current bodyweight would be a 120% bodyweight lift. I’d like to take first place on that list. I feel it represents my current goals. Owning my body type and being as strong as possible with what I’ve got!
So now I’m wondering if I need to hit the panic button?
My goal here was to trim body fat and I’ve certainly done that. I have not reached my physique goal--which is admittedly intangible--but I’m basing my satisfaction of this goal on what’s in the mirror. I’m likely sitting at 10-11% body fat right now.
The 152 bodyweight is also coming off this past weekend where I didn’t change WHAT I was eating, but I was more generous with portions in the spirit of recovery.
For the next couple of weeks, I think I am going to up my protein intake and see what happens. I’m worried about losing muscle at this point even though I have no evidence that is happening. Any lift I train is improving in my EDT workouts.
In other news, I have a new primary 2HP goal. This nifty list was just started at David Horne’s site.
>>>LINK<<<
I am currently training pinch harder and with more purpose than I ever have in my life. A 3 pound PR at my current bodyweight would be a 120% bodyweight lift. I’d like to take first place on that list. I feel it represents my current goals. Owning my body type and being as strong as possible with what I’ve got!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
PINCH PULL UPS
Here is my pinch and thick bar pull up rig:
And here is a video of how I have to train pinch pull ups right now. I can't quite hang on them yet unassisted, so I've been doing sets of assisted by lifting with a leg. It's most taxing at the bottom of each rep where the leg is the least help. Training this way is helping me get used to the motion and is still very taxing on pinch strength. I usually do about 5 sets of 5 this way on my pinch days (twice per week right now). Here is the video, during a G'n'R guitar solo no less that happened to be on the radio ;)
And here is a video of how I have to train pinch pull ups right now. I can't quite hang on them yet unassisted, so I've been doing sets of assisted by lifting with a leg. It's most taxing at the bottom of each rep where the leg is the least help. Training this way is helping me get used to the motion and is still very taxing on pinch strength. I usually do about 5 sets of 5 this way on my pinch days (twice per week right now). Here is the video, during a G'n'R guitar solo no less that happened to be on the radio ;)
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