Helton's Log

[JohnHelton]

Nice work!

Thanks, Jan.

[JohnHelton]

9
2.2.4
Sunday, Jan 22, 2023
BW: 91.8 kg

Conv. Deadlift
In kg
190 x 1
200 x 1
210 x 1 @ 7.5
170 x 2 x 6
Notes: e1RM = 231/509

Session Notes: I might be pulling out of my meet. I'm not looking forward to it. That is part of the reason that I'm messing with conventional deadlifts. I am interested in how much I can build up this lift. I'm much stronger with sumo at this point, but I hate how unstable my sumo is. It would be cool if I could get my conventional up to a 600 lb pull too.

[broseph]

I might be pulling out of my meet. I'm not looking forward to it. That is part of the reason that I'm messing with conventional deadlifts. I am interested in how much I can build up this lift. I'm much stronger with sumo at this point, but I hate how unstable my sumo is. It would be cool if I could get my conventional up to a 600 lb pull too.

I'm curious as to why you're not looking forward to the meet (out of pure nosiness). No judgement.

Regarding the conventional deadlifts- I'm excited to see how this goes for you since the e1RM difference between the lifts is so high right now. I suspect that gap will close pretty rapidly?

[JohnHelton]

I'm curious as to why you're not looking forward to the meet (out of pure nosiness). No judgement.

Regarding the conventional deadlifts- I'm excited to see how this goes for you since the e1RM difference between the lifts is so high right now. I suspect that gap will close pretty rapidly?

Once I put a meet on the calendar, there is always this pressure in the back of my mind to really be on point with sleep, eating, training, etc. I just get sick of that. I lift for fun, but that part starts to become not fun. I'm also not plugged into the powerlifting community. It is mostly a young person's community. I'm not really a joiner anyway. Hitting a big number on the platform is cool, but I've been there and done that. Hitting PRs in the gym is also cool and not as much of a hassle.

I think I should be able to get to 550 lb pretty quickly, but 600 will take awhile. The challenge is what makes this stuff fun though.

[JohnHelton]

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2023
BW: 91.9 kg

Bench Press
65% x 5 x 12 (H=490)
in lb
230 x 5 @ -0.5
230 x 5 @ 0
230 x 5 @ 1.5
230 x 5 @ 2
230 x 5 @ 2.5
230 x 5 @ 2
230 x 5 @ 2
230 x 5 @ 3.5
230 x 5 @ 2
230 x 5 @ 4.5
230 x 5 @ 5
230 x 5 @ 5.5
Notes: Used VBT device to get RPEs. Big pump. This wasn't easy. Sets done in <30 min. e1RM = 158/348 using Wendler's formula.

[JohnHelton]

Taking the meet off the table frees me up to make some programming changes. I'm thinking of going back to MM style programming with lots of sets and low intraset fatigue. I'm thinking of also using a 90% TM that I bump by 1.3% per cycle. 3 week cycles + 1 week deload. I'm also thinking of sticking with conventional deadlifts. This isn't a setup that will produce the strongest results in the short term, but it should work in the long term.

In other news, I may be retiring from work. Contemplating that has been the biggest thing on my mind. I've spoken with my CEO about it. It is a little complicated because it involves a structured payout of my equity in our company. If it happens, then we will be traveling more. Eventually, the plan is to sell our house in Dallas and move to our land in Montana (outside of Bozeman). However, we aren't rushing that. We plan to just feel things out for a while.

[houzi]

Tuesday, Jan 24, 2023
BW: 91.9 kg

Bench Press
65% x 5 x 12 (H=490)
in lb
230 x 5 @ -0.5
230 x 5 @ 0
230 x 5 @ 1.5
230 x 5 @ 2
230 x 5 @ 2.5
230 x 5 @ 2
230 x 5 @ 2
230 x 5 @ 3.5
230 x 5 @ 2
230 x 5 @ 4.5
230 x 5 @ 5
230 x 5 @ 5.5
Notes: Used VBT device to get RPEs. Big pump. This wasn't easy. Sets done in <30 min. e1RM = 158/348 using Wendler's formula.

Thats a lot of bench!

[CheekiBreekiFitness]

Hey @JohnHelton I was going through your log, more specifically the part where you trained using ES/RTS (I'm trying to learn by imitation in a sense) and I have the following question: do you do any isolation/bodybuilding type work (curls, extensions, lateral raises, etc.) or do you purely stick to compound movements ? If so, is there a particular reason why ?

[JohnHelton]

Hey @JohnHelton I was going through your log, more specifically the part where you trained using ES/RTS (I'm trying to learn by imitation in a sense) and I have the following question: do you do any isolation/bodybuilding type work (curls, extensions, lateral raises, etc.) or do you purely stick to compound movements ? If so, is there a particular reason why ?

I do very little accessory work. Mostly that is because I always seem pressed for time. I also have the advantage of being able to grow pretty big muscles without doing that work. With more time though I would certainly hit that stuff more often. Not excessively, but just to round things out a bit.

[CheekiBreekiFitness]

Hey @JohnHelton I was going through your log, more specifically the part where you trained using ES/RTS (I'm trying to learn by imitation in a sense) and I have the following question: do you do any isolation/bodybuilding type work (curls, extensions, lateral raises, etc.) or do you purely stick to compound movements ? If so, is there a particular reason why ?

I do very little accessory work. Mostly that is because I always seem pressed for time. I also have the advantage of being able to grow pretty big muscles without doing that work. With more time though I would certainly hit that stuff more often. Not excessively, but just to round things out a bit.

I see. Well it's hard to argue with the results, your lifts seem to be doing great without the accessories. Anyways I'm trying to slowly learn how to get better at tinkering with my training (within the ES framework) so the info in your log has been invaluable. Cheers !

[cole]

In other news, I may be retiring from work. Contemplating that has been the biggest thing on my mind. I've spoken with my CEO about it. It is a little complicated because it involves a structured payout of my equity in our company. If it happens, then we will be traveling more. Eventually, the plan is to sell our house in Dallas and move to our land in Montana (outside of Bozeman). However, we aren't rushing that. We plan to just feel things out for a while.

Congrats!

[MarkKO]

Taking the meet off the table frees me up to make some programming changes. I'm thinking of going back to MM style programming with lots of sets and low intraset fatigue. I'm thinking of also using a 90% TM that I bump by 1.3% per cycle. 3 week cycles + 1 week deload. I'm also thinking of sticking with conventional deadlifts. This isn't a setup that will produce the strongest results in the short term, but it should work in the long term.

In other news, I may be retiring from work. Contemplating that has been the biggest thing on my mind. I've spoken with my CEO about it. It is a little complicated because it involves a structured payout of my equity in our company. If it happens, then we will be traveling more. Eventually, the plan is to sell our house in Dallas and move to our land in Montana (outside of Bozeman). However, we aren't rushing that. We plan to just feel things out for a while.

Retirement is big news. No wonder it's taken up significant mental real estate.

[JohnHelton]

Thanks, @cole @MarkKO. It is a big step. Hopefully, I can get things worked out with the company soon.

[alek]

In other news, I may be retiring from work. Contemplating that has been the biggest thing on my mind. I've spoken with my CEO about it. It is a little complicated because it involves a structured payout of my equity in our company. If it happens, then we will be traveling more. Eventually, the plan is to sell our house in Dallas and move to our land in Montana (outside of Bozeman). However, we aren't rushing that. We plan to just feel things out for a while.

Hell yeah, John! Congratulations!

[Skid]

Congrats if you retire. You're still pretty young so you'll need to find something else to do for a sense of purpose. At least you can take your time and do something you enjoy and brings you satisfaction.

[MarkKO]

Congrats if you retire. You're still pretty young so you'll need to find something else to do for a sense of purpose. At least you can take your time and do something you enjoy and brings you satisfaction.

This is really good advice, and I'm not saying this because I'm close to retirement. I'm saying it because I find it hard enough to not get bored out of my skull on two week vacation.

[JohnHelton]

Congrats if you retire. You're still pretty young so you'll need to find something else to do for a sense of purpose. At least you can take your time and do something you enjoy and brings you satisfaction.

Yeah. It will take a little while to figure things out. I have just come to the conclusion that I would like that challenge rather than continuing doing the same work I have done for decades.

[JohnHelton]

In other news, I may be retiring from work. Contemplating that has been the biggest thing on my mind. I've spoken with my CEO about it. It is a little complicated because it involves a structured payout of my equity in our company. If it happens, then we will be traveling more. Eventually, the plan is to sell our house in Dallas and move to our land in Montana (outside of Bozeman). However, we aren't rushing that. We plan to just feel things out for a while.

Hell yeah, John! Congratulations!

Thanks, Alek. As I recall you were interested in the FIRE stuff. I'm not exactly young, but it is early. Some of the principals of the FIRE movement are in effect here. However, though I am generally frugal, I have also been fortunate in business.

[alek]

In other news, I may be retiring from work. Contemplating that has been the biggest thing on my mind. I've spoken with my CEO about it. It is a little complicated because it involves a structured payout of my equity in our company. If it happens, then we will be traveling more. Eventually, the plan is to sell our house in Dallas and move to our land in Montana (outside of Bozeman). However, we aren't rushing that. We plan to just feel things out for a while.

Hell yeah, John! Congratulations!

Thanks, Alek. As I recall you were interested in the FIRE stuff. I'm not exactly young, but it is early. Some of the principals of the FIRE movement are in effect here. However, though I am generally frugal, I have also been fortunate in business.

Yes, once I learned I could retire after 25 years rather than at 60, I totally changed my retirement savings plans. In that process, I learned about the FIRE community and have taken a lot of their lessons to heart. I just passed the half way mark, and I'll be 53 when I'm eligible for retirement.

Our plans are similar to yours in retirement, i.e. more traveling and living in the middle of nowhere, although we'll probably keep our main residence and just spend roughly equal time in both places.

[JohnHelton]

Yes, once I learned I could retire after 25 years rather than at 60, I totally changed my retirement savings plans. In that process, I learned about the FIRE community and have taken a lot of their lessons to heart. I just passed the half way mark, and I'll be 53 when I'm eligible for retirement.

Our plans are similar to yours in retirement, i.e. more traveling and living in the middle of nowhere, although we'll probably keep our main residence and just spend roughly equal time in both places.

Sounds like a great plan to me.