Daily training. Annual improvements.

[Hardartery]

A bunch of grip lifting in here including a really old dude who has some world records. Seems somewhere in the 75-100% BW range would be very respectable for the Saxon bar. Flex your wrists to get your fingers more under the "bar".

Odd Haugen. Former Olympian and WSM competitor. He's also the guy who "Discovered" Licis and got him to compete, among other things. He is a nice guy in person as well. Everyone interested in strength should know who he is and be annoyed by this sort of video. Not the least of which because virtually everything in that title is incorrect. I don't understand this current "Unliftable DB" thing going on, plenty of people have lifted it.

HardArtery, I wondered if Odd was as friendly and nice in person as he comes across on YouTube. Thanks for the confirmation! I haven’t gotten to the part of the video with the unliftable dumbbell yet and am not familiar with the controversy.

I am sure that I am unreasonably cranky about it, it was a thing that went around IG and now "Influencers" on Youtube are having a go. Like he's some random undiscovered guy and there are bunches of random guys capable of abnormal feats . And the constant thump of something being "Unliftable" or "Never in history", when it's really just not in the memory of 20 year olds.

[cgeorg]

I love Magnus' climbing stuff but a lot of his recent strength challenges on Venice Beach are pretty meh. I get it, YT is his living so he needs to do what he needs to do. It is fun to see what a guy who purely trained grip through climbing can do next to people who have put a lot of time into it. His pinch strength is unreal, near WR levels on his first go at that bar.

[hector]

I love Magnus' climbing stuff but a lot of his recent strength challenges on Venice Beach are pretty meh. I get it, YT is his living so he needs to do what he needs to do. It is fun to see what a guy who purely trained grip through climbing can do next to people who have put a lot of time into it. His pinch strength is unreal, near WR levels on his first go at that bar.

There’s another video where Jujee and Magnus go to a climbing gym. Magnus breaks the world record on the hub (pinch grip) the first time he tries it.

[hector]

2023 June 2028 Wed Evening

Main
Deads: 425 x 5 x 5
Bench: 265 x 5 x 5
Bench: 240 x 5 x 5
T-Bar Rows: 210 x 5s x 10r

Aux
Tib Bar Curls: 25 x 3s x 12r
Skull Crushers: 85 x 5 x 5

Tonnage
Deads: 10,125
Bench: (6,625 + 6,000) = 12,625
T-Bar Rows: 10,500
Skull Crushers: 2,125
———————————————————-
Total: 35,375

########################}}###

F. Life happened, workout cut short. Hopefully will get in ab wheel before bed and update my log.

[hector]

2023 June 29 Thursday

Fat Grip Deads: 215 x 5 x 5
Saxon Bar Deads: 70 x 5 x 5
Saxon Bar Curls: 60 x 5 x 5
Fat Bar Wrist Curls: 150 x 5s x 10r
Barbell Finger Curls: 150 x 5s x 10r

##############################

Good times.

I have three long term, multi-year fitness goals.

(1) Run an ultra
(2) Deadlift 600
(3) Pull 200 on Rolling Thunder

First two I imagine (however improbably) can be accomplished this year.
The third, no way to have any idea.

[hector]

2023 July 01 Saturday Afternoon

Main
Ssb Squat: 310 x 3 x 3
Ssb Squat: 260 x 5 x 5
Bench: 265 x 3s x 5r
Bench: 240 x 7s x 5r
T-Bar Rows: 210 x 5s x 10r

Aux
Skull Crushers: 85 x 5 x 5
EZ Curls: 105 x 5s x 6r
Reverse Hyper: 160 x 5s x 10r

Tonnage
Ssb Squat: (2,790 + 6,500) = 9,290
Bench: (3,975 + 8,400) = 12,375
T-Bar Rows: 10,500
Arms: (2,125 + 3,150) = 5,275
—————————————————————-
Total: 37,440

##############################

Good times. Session took longer because of heat. Thinking of buying one of those massive industrial fans. Hope Costco still has them.

I only slept 2 hours on Thursday night. Definitely found my limit. I was an idiot all day at my job and then too exhausted to lift after work. So my Friday lifting was done today (Saturday) which has messed up my grip and running sessions.

[hector]

2023 July 02 Sunday Morning

Run: 6 miles

Had a minor sort of victory. Fitbit finally upgraded my VO2Max from “fair” to “average.” Since your body weight is the denominator in the VO2Max formula, and my body weight is far above normal, I’m actually kind of pumped about this feat.

[hector]

2023 July 02 Sunday Afternoon (Grip Day)

Fat Grip Deads: 220 x 5 x 5 (PR!!)
Saxon Bar Deads: 85 x 5 x 5 (PR!!)
Saxon Bar Curls: 65 x 1s x 5r
Saxon Bar Curls: 45 x 4s x 8r
Fat Grip Barbell Wrist Curls: 150 x 5s x 10r
Standing Barbell Finger Curls: 150 x 5s x 10r


Saxon Bar Curls at 65lb were not excessively difficult, but I could feel a heavy strain on some tiny bone or joint in my wrist. So I scaled back and went lighter for more reps.

[DanCR]

Fat Grip Deads: 220 x 5 x 5 (PR!!)

You’re very close to pulling more with the fat gripz than I can DOH, period.

[hector]

Fat Grip Deads: 220 x 5 x 5 (PR!!)

You’re very close to pulling more with the fat gripz than I can DOH, period.

DCR, but some Fat Gripz!!!!!

[hector]

2023 July 03 Monday

Main
Deads: 430 x 5 x 5
Bench: 265 x 5 x 5
Bench: 240 x 5 x 5
T-Bar Rows: 210 x 5s x 10r

Aux
Skull Crushers: 85 x 5 x 5
EZ Curls: 110 x 5 x 5
Reverse Hyper: 160 x 5s x 10r
Ab Wheel: 2s x 10r

Tonnage
Deads: 10,750
Bench: (6,625 + 6,000) = 12,625
T-Bar Rows: 10,500
Arms: (2,125 + 2,750) = 4,875
————————————————————-
Total: 38,750

#############################

Heat slowed me down. Humid AF today. This session took a LONG time.
Remembered the Huberman-Lab trick of holding a cold soft drink in your hand for a minute between sets. Did this double fisted. Definitely think it helped.

No PRs today, but deadlifting 430 and curling 110 are both the highest I’ve done for 5 x 5 in quite awhile. I think.

Between Deads and ab wheel my core is wrecked.
Ab wheel remains a MF.

[DanCR]

Fat Grip Deads: 220 x 5 x 5 (PR!!)

You’re very close to pulling more with the fat gripz than I can DOH, period.

DCR, but some Fat Gripz!!!!!

I actually have a pair, gotta dig em up.

Do you think they’re doing anything for your curls? That’s my current obsession.

[hector]

2023 July 05 Wed (Bare Minimum)

Main
Ssb Squat: 310 x 3 x 3
Ssb Squat: 270 x 5 x 5
Bench: 265 x 3s x 5r
Bench: 245 x 5 x 5
T-Bar Rows: 210 x 5s x 10r

Aux
Ab Wheel: 2s x 10r
Captains or Crush #1: 2s x 8r

Tonnage
Ssb Squat: (2,790 + 6,750) = 9,540
Bench: (3,975 + 6,125) = 10,100
T-Bar Rows: 10,500
—————————————————————
Total: 30,140

##############################

Just finishing up now, a little before 11pm. I hate working out at night, don’t think it’s good for my sleep.

It’s amazing how distinct the grip strengths are. Right now my open-hand/fat-bar strength is at an all time high. At the same time, I picked up an easy gripper tonight, and it was not nearly as easy as it was a few years ago, the last time I picked it up.

[hector]

2023 July 04 Tuesday

Run: quick 30 minutes

[hector]

2023 06 July Thursday Evening (Grip)

Fat Grip Deads: 225 x 5 x 5
CoC #1 Gripper: 3s x 8r


Not much volume. But something is so much more than nothing.

[hector]

2023 July 07 Afternoon (Bare Essentials)

Main
Deads: 435 x 3s x 5r
Bench: 265 x 4s x 5r
Bench: 245 x 5 x 5
T-Bar Rows: 210 x 5s x 10r

Aux
EZ Curls: 95 x 5 x 5 (Misloaded bar. F!)
Reverse Hyper: 160 x 5s x 10r

Tonnage
Deads: 6,525
Bench: (5,300 + 6,125) = 12,425
T-Bar Rows: 10,500
EZ Curls: 2,375
————————————————————
Total: 31,825

#############################

Hot and humid AF during my garage session. The 3s x 5r of deadlifting 435 felt more like 15 singles than 3 sets of 5.
I was wondering for a second if the challenges i felt from this heat were a sign I was getting old. Then I read that the past few days were the hottest for Earth in modern times. So, maybe it’s not just me. Idk.

I was curling 105 and it felt super easy. “Progress!” I thought to myself. Then I realized I had misloaded. False positive. F the world.

Will upload log with ab wheel if I’m able to get it in before I pass out.

[hector]

2023 July 08 Saturday Morning

Run: 6 miles

Ab Wheel: 2s x 10r

After the run I was so soaked you’d think I’d fallen in the pool with my clothes on. Hopefully this kicked off the “heat shock protein” cascade with all its health benefits. Idk.

[hector]

2023 July 10 Monday Evening

Main
Ssb Squat: 310 x 5s x 3r
Bench: 265 x 5 x 5
Bench: 245 x 5 x 5
T-Bar Rows: 210 x 5s x 10r

Aux
Tib Curls: 25lb x 3s x 12r
Skull Crushers: 85 x 5 x 5
EZ Curls: 100 x 5s x 6r
Reverse Hyper: 160 x 5s x 10r
Ab Wheel: 2s x 10r

Tonnage
Squats: 4,650
Bench: (6,625 + 6,125) = 12,750
T-Bar Rows: 10,500
Arms: (2,125 + 3,000) = 5,125
————————————————————
Total: 33,025

#############################

Legs were exhausted yesterday after running. Exhausted when I woke up today. But somehow felt great in time for squats this afternoon. It’s like John Broz says, “The way you feel is a lie.”

Had wanted to do some backoff sets of squats, but cut them out of time concerns.

I’ve reached my max weight on t-bar rows and reverse hyper, no more room to load weight. I need to buy some skinny 45s so I can go heavier.

[hector]

2023 July 11 Tuesday

Run: 5 miles


Got busy. Missed grip session today.

[hector]

2023 July 13 Wed (Basics)

Main
Deads: 420 x 5 x 5
Bench: 270 x 5s x 3r
Bench: 245 x 5 x 5
T-Bar Rows: 210 x 5s x 10r

Aux
Tib Curls: 25 x 3s x 12r
Reverse Hyper: 160 x 3s x 10r
Ab Wheel: 2s x 10r

Tonnage
Deads: 10,500
Bench: (4,050 + 6,125) = 10,175
T-Bar Rows: 10,500
————————————————————
Total: 31,175

#############################

Hot AF in the garage while lifting today.
During a bench set I heard a buzzing. A mosquito was walking in my ear. Sadly, it didn’t drown in sweat.
Set or two later, during rep 2 and 3 of a 5 rep set, the mosquito went in my mouth! I think I swallowed it? I’m not as grossed out as I would have thought I’d be. At least it didn’t bother me afterword.