It's a New Year!

Hello again! Time to start logging workouts again.

I've been fairly active in the past couple of weeks and probably should have done less. My right bicep pull is still not better! I definitely aggravated it with the gripper workout I did on Monday 1/4.

Here are some of my plans for early this year:

Grippers
Right now I only have a long-term goal on grippers. Like a 2-year plan. It's based on Kinney's ideas and right now I just want to plow away and see where it goes. What I want to do is crystal-clear in my head, but I don't think I could type it out if I tried. So you'll just see the posts here and I'm sure you'll see a pattern pretty quick.

There are some key elements that are specific to me, however. One is that I have worked a great deal on retraining my handle position. The form I'm using resembles no-set and I have strictly been closing grippers from the widest starting position possible. I do set the gripper enough to get my ring finger on. Even on negatives, I start by trying to close the gripper as far as possible, then forcing it in and doing the negative. Using this handle position and the increased range of motion, I am performing in the #2.5 range of gripper strength currently. That's with no chalk as well. So as I progress, I'll be able to "re-celebrate" PRs that I have passed before. Like right now, technically my goal gripper is my adjustable BBGM set at 1/4".

When I'm back to closing the #3 in this style, certification will be a breeze. Then it's on to the MM1 and revenge will come in the form of a borderline no-set, hydraulic, handle-griding smack down. See where I'm going with this? Point me at the sky!

Squats
Not surprisingly, I've worked squats into my routine. 20 rep sets. Right now I'm working in the 100# range and it's not very taxing. But I have my 'sploaded disc and sciatic problems to consider. I have been working on form, trying to build a base, and getting my lungs accustomed to the work. It's going pretty well overall. Bullitt's "form check" thread at the GB really helped me dial in my form better. I had some very similar issues. I'm not interested in a max squat, but rather conditioning my body to move the weight and handle the work load. I do plan on pushing myself in a responsible way and that will mean increasing weight to remain challenging. If I had a goal here, I would love to hit 225x20 at some point. I have strong legs. I just have also neglected them for many years.

RT and Pinch
These I will throw in as before on off days from grip. I have not touched either in more than a month because of my bicep issue. My left arm is fine, but I can't see myself coming back to these until my right arm is better. It's just hard to get pumped for a left-hand-only pinch workout!

Here we go!
I will get back to posting as before. Any training that could possibly involve my bicep too much will be left-handed only. That includes grippers. I have to get this thing healed!