Bobby Got Back ...

[bobmen10000]

@Jay870

[Jay870]

That looks nice.

I was trying to figure out how it slides around on you if its bolted to that plate, then I realized those are just mats.

[bobmen10000]

That looks nice.

I was trying to figure out how it slides around on you if its bolted to that plate, then I realized those are just mats.

It doesn't come with a plate, which is probably not strictly necessary but with my current setup on a sloped floor, it would help to have a 1 to 3" platform to step on to help with depth - something I can easily do with a cut up mat or similar solution - the sliding is primarily due to the floor, otherwise I don't think it would move at all even if you sit really far back.

One of Alan Thrall's recent youtube videos is a basically an advertisement for the Beast Metals belt squat machine. It looks very similar to this model only it has a little steel platform and cups to hold the arms in lieu of heavy duty bolts - honestly a better looking machine, I imagine the actual quality is similar. The caveat is that beast metals is a notoriously slow on getting product out.

I paid like $1050 for this unit, it has the leverage arms and extra handles so it was more expensive - although I save a good bit by picking it up, I think it is a couple hundred more dollars if shipped. There are holes for band pegs as well, it was extra to buy them but I have a few hanging around I may put in to see how they work.

[mgil]

@bobmen10000, is that the Edge Fitness unit?

ETA: Yes. Answered in a prior post.

Those Edge units take away every gym owners excuse for not having a hip belt unit. Good quality and a great price.

[bobmen10000]

@bobmen10000, is that the Edge Fitness unit?

ETA: Yes. Answered in a prior post.

Those Edge units take away every gym owners excuse for not having a hip belt unit. Good quality and a great price.

It really is a good value; however, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of local equipment makers put out similar designs and depending on location, they may be a similar value- I assume there is no patent issue. Edge Fitness is very competitive on shipping though.

[bobmen10000]

Deadlift 365 2x3, 385 3x1, 405 3x1
Pendlay Row 185 3x5 (form sucked, basically looked like horizontal jumping jacks if that makes sense - it really doesn't.)
Bench 205x5, 215x5, 225x5, 235x5; Slingshot 245x3, 255x3, 275x3, 225x10
SBS 165 3x5

Deadlift was way too hard...again. I was soaking wet after doing warm ups at 225. Not sure what the issue is. Can't just be fat related. I blame the Alt-Right. Or Ctrl Left. Why can't we just call them all assholes? Is it really that hard to be publicly pleasant to one another; the facade of civility is the foundation of any healthy society. I may hold similar beliefs to certain despicable folk but I have the good sense to be nice about my irrational hatred for New Zealanders.

Bench felt good, probably over did it...again. Want to hit 300+ by my birthday. Should be doable fi I don't destroy my shoulders and triceps, although the increased volume has not resulted in any additional aches, pains or noticeable fatigue.

Decided to fit in the missed back squat from a few days prior, easy even though I was really fatigued by this point. The reset is going well, knees are still wonky but depth is consistent, I think.

[bobmen10000]

Bench 205 3x8, 225 1x6
Front Squazercher 75 5x5
SBS 175 3x5, 1x2 (shirtless because...)
Belt Squat 235x5, 285x5, 300x5

Bench was sort of a grind, especially the 225. Front Squat Speciality Bar was closer to not a complete and utter shitstorm. Safety Bar Squat was overall good, a little high on a few reps, pretty low (for me) on a few as well. Belt Squat was fine, should have done more reps but am tired. Will probably just do front squerchers and belt squats next squat session, volume work I guess and moving up 10lbs 3x a week on back squats is a bit much, especially considering my "max" is likely not much higher than 175 right now.

[bobmen10000]

Fat Guy Medley - 10x, 8x, 6x, 4x, 2x with (3) Minute Rest In-between sets.

(werewolf) Kettlebell Rows 62lbs, Viking Press 90lbs, Sled Squat Pull (10 yards) 160lbs, Hex DL 140lbs, Rope Pull Sled (10 yards) 160lbs, 20lb Ball Slams.

[bobmen10000]

Bench 225 3x3, 245 3x3; Slingshot 265x3, 295x3 (rep PR), 225x10

Bench sucked. 225 was miserable, 245 was more miserable still and the slingshot was an exercise in stupidity but: the 295 last rep was one of my proudest lifting (dumbest) moments. I understand it is only 295 and I was using a slingshot; however, the fact that I managed to get the weight up after hitting the bottom of the j-hooks, all the while shaking like a wet kitten locked outside in Siberia, is admirable. Not herculean mind you, although for a fat guy lifting light weights it was a highlight...that will likely set me back weeks. For joy. And then I did 225x10 because why not compound stupid with dumb.

After my epic battle(s), I decided to call it quits and skipped belt squats and hex deadlifts. The set back has begun.

[bobmen10000]

Front Squat Specialty Bar 115 5x3
High Bar Squat 185 3x5, 5x2, 3x3
Belt Squat 280 5x5; 300 1x5

I don't like squats. I am bad at them. I don't like macro economics. It is bullshit. And I don't understand it. Squats too. Vancian magic system makes more sense to me. Powers at will not so much.

I need to hire a coach to just judge my squats. They are driving me crazy.

[mgil]

@bobmen10000 send a PM to @KOTJ. He’s done well at cleaning up form for folks.

[bobmen10000]

Deadlift 315x3, 365x1, 405x1, 425x1, 455x1, 475x1 (PR), 405 2x1
Bench 205x5, 215x5, 225x5, 245x5, 225x3
Pendlay Rows 155 3x5

Deadlift was both shitty and great. Set a new PR, and while it was grindy as hell and likely only acceptable by strongman standards, it counts. The bad is I hate the platforms at the gym. The damn rubber tiles are at least a half inch higher in the middle and both platforms are not level. I have enough issues with own home gym and finding a relatively level area, it would be nice if the "other" professional gym had level and even platforms. I spend a considerable amount of time making sure I am even with the bar, I really think I could pull more if I had access to a level platform. That and I like to bitch and moan - YOLO, first world problems etc.

Bench was fine. The whole week was a bit tough, probably over doing it. I was shooting for 10 on my last 225 set and ended up with 3 reps - my triceps were screaming "stop it, seriously or you are on your own and we both know that your pecs and biceps are not up to the task without our help." Verbose triceps are the worst.

@mgil I will definitely think on your suggestion. I really could use the help or perhaps constructive encouragement.

[bobmen10000]

Hadn't touched a weight since Saturday as later that night I came down with the stomach flu and spent the next 36 hours with liquids exploding out the wrong the orifices - it is surreal to not urinate for two days, but rest assured the liquids were running freely otherwise. Thereafter I spent the next few days feeling fatigued, disoriented and vaguely depressed, likely dehydrated. Today I opted to go for a new 1 rep max in bench in lieu of taking it easy. Wonder how that turned out?

Bench 225x1, 245x1, 275x1, 295x0, 295x0, 285x0

275 felt easy. 295 felt impossible, although I noticed my rack slightly was crooked (the pull up rack in my eyesight was at an angle and one of my arms was hitting the interior posts), so I hoped fixing it would make a difference, didn't. While unracking the weights I forget about a 10 pound plate and noticed a large pain in my upper foot/ankle when sliding off off the 25 lb. So in conclusion: I failed completely at new prs, feel worse than I did a couple days ago and my left foot is considerably larger than the right one. Localised swelling is a gains of a sort, I guess.

[bobmen10000]

Bench
205 5x3
225 3x5
Slingshot
275 1x3

First actual workout in over a week. Really fatigued, skipped squats, will do tomorrow and work back as well.

[bobmen10000]

Squats
225 3x5, 1x3

I still hate squats and am still really fatigued. Need to work on conditioning or maybe I am still a little sick. I blame the millennials. Just because.

[bobmen10000]

Bench
225 5x3, 2x5
245 1x4 (failed last rep)

Need to get into a better groove, haven't failed on 245 in a long time.

Seeing a trainer/coach tomorrow about squat form. He wants me to bring a piece of paper to write a goal statement.

Dear person I am apparently paying to watch me write affirmation statements in lieu of actually fucking training me,

I want to squat better. And discover a cure for testicular cancer; make said cure free to the public; write a book entitled "I Saved Your Balls, You Owe Me" and live off the residuals. I would like a t-shirt too.

Sincerely,

The Guy Who Currently Squats Less Than He Benches - which isn't saying much.

P.S. I want a refund for the time it took me to write this spiel.

[bobmen10000]

Bench
205 x5, x3, x5, x3
225 x5, x7
Slingshot
265 x5
295 x2

had my first "training session this morning. Not promising. Did expose my poor work capacity by doing bar only deadlifts for high reps. Why would someone do bar only deadlifts? Anyway, still wore out with that and similar bullshit. Trainer thinks he is a self help guru - all I want is for someone to critique and help with my squat, is it so hard...

Session this evening was fine save for one issue at the end. Had my first leg cramp doing bench on slingshot 295. Had to extend my leg out fully so no leg drive there mid rep. I am really bad at lifting.

[bobmen10000]

Safety Bar Squat
145 3x5
225 8x2
315 x0 (first failed squat ever, fun times)

Belt Squat Machine
275 3x5
230 1x5, 1x7

Second training session this morning, "coach" said my squat looked superb. He was wrong and if he was right, why was I there? I asked him to work on my squat form and depth. To be fair, I was using 65 pounds so perhaps the bar and dos tens did look great - thankfully he overbooked our session so I could watch his small woman client squatting significantly more weight (85 lbs)- likely superbly as well in his estimation. He did have me bring my feet in quite a bit and point them out straight. I videoed a few sets tonight with that setup and think I did decent with depth (most of the time) but it causes a little knee pain. Not sure that is a good trade off. Failed squat was sheer stupidity, thought I loaded up 275 and was wrong. Too big of a jump and I haven't squatted (or even half squatted) more than 275 in a couple years. I suck at squats.

[bobmen10000]

Ruck Walk with 45 pound weight plus pack, say 50 lbs total to be cool
2 miles (1/2 mile consisted going up a fairly steep incline.)

I don't like walking with a 45 pound plate hanging from my back. I used my could very kill you strap refund me to buy a ruck plate from Titan. It was listed at 45 pounds so it likely weights in between 30 and 100 lbs. I was going to do some benching but then decided no and watch The Andre the Giant doc on HBO. Learned a few things, most of what was stated is already known but still a good overall watch.

Had my third training session this morning, focused mostly on stretching, kettlebell swings and body weight box squats. Since I am proficient in two of those things, I spent most of the hour telling the trainer how to run his business (no idea what I am talking about) and recommended new gym equipment to purchase (see above mention of Titan Fitness equipment as it relates to my expertise in the gym equipment industry.)

Even though I disliked the ruck walk, think it may have some value when paired with hills, if my back doesn't give out would work as a very high intensity but relatively low impact (lower body at least) exercise to improve work capacity. Since my programming is shit anyway, will likely cut even more back on actual lifting and focusing on not being so fat and being able to walk up several flights of stairs without seeing the grim specter of death - the second cousin twice removed of the actual Grim Reaper.

[bobmen10000]

Walked for a 1 1/2, beautiful day, spring is here (until tomorrow.)

Bench
205 2x8, 1x6
225 3x3
Lat Pulldowns, Face Pulls, Long Pulls 120 Total Reps or something close. at least 80, no less than 75. Probably.

Triceps were on fire, not sure why. Did do several sets of pushups on Thursday with the trainer, perhaps that is the culprit. Pushups crush me now apparently. For joy.