Friday, April 30, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2410


BUIDLING THE MONOLITH Week 4, Workout 5


AM WORKOUT (0440 wake up via dog, 0645 workout)


Buffalo Bar Squats
5xBar
5x140
5x230
5x315
5x360
5x405


Axle clean and strict press (clean each rep) 141
12x5

Weighted NG chins 87.5
5x5

Axle shrugs against light bands
65,20,15

Band pull aparts
50

Band face pulls
50

Buffalo bar squats
28x275




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHAb7EoOYso


Dips
50
Pushdowns
25


Notes: Started with supersets of squats-press w/plate change rests, then chin-press.  Then shrugs-pull-shrug-pull-shrug, then squats again, recover and dips/pressdowns.  Once again, it was the need to puke that really drove the squats to complete: I'm wondering if I'm finally bypassing my muscular governor and tapping into others now.  Another thing to overcome I suppose.  It's funny how when I first ran BtM this was the most dreaded day and now it's the one I absolutely crush.  The cleaning each rep remains a total money play: so glad I went for it.  Cheat meal will be later today, so I'm keeping the fats low until I get there.

 Training Log: Entry 2409


THURSDAY


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 4, Workout 4


AM WORKOUT (0315 wake up via alarm)


Juarez Valley Front Squats 255lbs w/5 six count burpees between sets


8

1

7

2

6

3

5

4


Time: 15:36


Transition immediately to EMOM workout of daily work w/5 1 armed alternating KB swings as buy-in


11 rounds


Belt squat stripset (no lockout/no rest between sets)

30x150

5x125

5x100

5x75

5x50

5x25

5xAxle


Notes: Not a PR on the Juarez valley, but a PR for that workout at that time of day, so that’s something. I fully intended to use 235lbs, and THOUGHT I had loaded that, until I unracked and went for the first rep and noted how heavy things felt. After getting through 8 reps, I quickly re-calculated, realized my mistake and decided to just go with it. Seems like it was the right call: solid workout.


My left hamstring is PISSED. Going to will it to heal today in time for the widowmaker tomorrow.


That EMOM daily work combo is pretty legit.


Had Tang Soo Do last night as well. We went over breakfalls/rollfalls. It’s been a LONG time since I did any of those, but they came back pretty quick. Hamstring wasn’t terribly happy in class. Noticed the impact of all the neck work I’ve been doing: my neck is filling out my dobak nicely. When combined with my overdeveloped traps, I’m really getting the yoke going.

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2408


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 4, Workout 3


 


AM WORKOUT (0305 natural wake up)


 


Texas Deadlift Bar touch and go deadlifts

5x135

5x225

5x380

5x425

3x5x480


 


Axle bench press

5x136

5x206

5x236

5x5x266


 


DB rows 90

3x20

1x18


1x19


 


Poundstone curls

103xAxle+2.5 per side


 


Lateral raise dropset

20x10lbs

20x5

20x2.5

20xEmpty Hands


 


Notes: Started with giant sets of row-dead-bench with plate change rests.  Rows stopped once I hit worksets for deads, so then it was supersets of dead-bench, with 2 minutes between supersets.  Bench was better than last week: really tried to focus on technique.  Deads were BRUTAL.  Early morning pulling is always rough, and once again this was just about surviving to the end.  I see why Jim made this 3 sets, because that’s the amount that I can talk myself into doing.  You get that first set done and you know you can hold on for 2 more.  Went with the weighted poundstone curls for the sake of time, as I was cutting it close on getting out the door on time.  In all, still a solid workout, but this day is always a ball buster.


PM WORKOUT (1530)


EMOM workout mixed with daily work


Top of every minute, buy in with 5 alternating 1 arm KB swings, then use the rest of the minute to do daily work until all reps complete. Took 10 rounds. Good way to squeeze in the work AND some conditioning.


Tuesday, April 27, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2407


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 4, Workout 2


AM WORKOUT (0305 natural wake up) FASTED


Treadmill walk w/80lb vest

Distance: 2.5 miles

Time: 50:00

Speed: 3.0

Incline: 8 for the first half mile, then 8.5, then 9, then 9.5. Dropped to 4 for the next quarter mile, then went up to 6 for 1 minute, 8 for 1 minute, 10 for 1 minute, 12 for 1 minute and finished at 15 for 1 minute.


BREAKFAST


WOD (20lb DB thrusters, strict chins, burpees)

21

15

9


Time: 8:52


Notes: Being very diligent about getting in the vest walks. This was a tough one with how high I set the incline. 15 at the end was like scaling a mountain. Absolutely brutal. The WOD at the end was just something I came up with while I had 10 minutes left before I had to leave for work. 21 thrusters, then chins, then burpees, then 15s, then 9s. I was hurting on those burpees. Good way to tax the system.


Left hamstring is still bugging me pretty good. Those 5x5 squats tend to do it in. That’s the hamstring that got harvested for my new ACL, so that may in fact be a factor. Right shoulder is a bit loose in the socket these days too, and that’s the one that I had surgery on too. I seem to be running my spare parts hard here.


Doing my best to stay on top of nutrition through it all. Just having to remember ALL the stuff I’m supposed to eat. Seeing positive changes in the physique. Still adding size without much extra fluff. I can see some expansion, but nothing egregious. The approach to nutrition really seems to be paying off.


PM WORKOUT (1600)


3 mile run with the Mrs


Notes: First time running since my 10 miler. We took it leisurely, but was still nice to get in the activity.


Some food porn for a second.  I was pretty proud of these chicken fajitas I whipped up in like 10 minutes using a bag of frozen veggies and some canned chicken breasts 



And also wanted to share my nightly meal.  I have this after dinner about 30 minutes before bed every evening.



In the bowl on the left is 1/3 cup of grassfed 2% cottage cheese mixed with 1/6 of an avocado, 2 whole organic free range eggs and 1.75lbs of grassfed ground beef.  The plate has 3 celery stalks (I normally do 2, but I've been cutting breakfast short due to working early shift so I'm making up for it here) with Nuts n More spread, a slice of keto toast with natural almond butter and sugar free apricot preserve and a keto brownie made with olive oil.  The mug has almond/coconut milk in it.  Very high fat with some decent protein; good to prevent catabolism and help me stay satiated at night..for the most part.  I still wake up ravenous. 

Sunday, April 25, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2406


AM WORKOUT (0500 wake up via dog) FASTED

Daily work

200 1 arm alternating KB swings in 5:30 w/45lb bell (unbroken)


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 3, Workout 6


Prowler Pushes w/90lbs loaded
12x40 yards w/45 seconds rest between rounds



Notes: Playing a little catch up, but got all the training in for the week.  Really digging those 1 armed swings in the AM.  Seems to help bring me back to life.  The prowler was ROUGH today: most likely a result of the heaviest training week and Juarez valley yesterday.  TMs are upped and I'm ready to do it all over again.4


PM WORKOUT (1500)


Axle grace

Time: 2:54


Notes: Another sub 3.  Awesome.  Was feeling sick around rep 25.  Been happening a bit.  Appetite is through the roof and I'm just always eating, so that's most likely part of it.

Saturday, April 24, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2405

AM WORKOUT (0545 wake up via dog) FASTED


4 rounds of

Chins: 14, 3x12

Standing ab wheel: 5

Dips: 14, 3x12 (25 pushdowns on last set)

Reverse hyper: 10


50 pull aparts


100 1 armed KB swings (alternate hand each rep) in 2:50


Notes: Little early morning workout before the family woke up. Juarez Valley on the agenda for later.


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 3, Workout 5


PM WORKOUT (1600)


Juarez Valley Front Squats 225

8

1

7

2

6

3

5

4 (10:32)

Strip weight to 135 and continue

5

3

6

2

7

1

8 (time 19:22)


Belt squat stripsets

40x150

5x125

5x100

4x75

4x50

4x25

4xAxle



Notes: Wanted to see how fast I could knock this out with the reduced weight.  Unbroken burpees through out, and had a little more gas in me so went with the 135 to round it out.  Belt squats went well afterwards.  Just solid.

Friday, April 23, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2404


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 3, Workout 4 (off sync due to work schedule)

AM WORKOUT (0500 wake up via dog, 0645 workout)


Buffalo Bar Squat
5xBar
5x140
5x230
5x330
5x375
5x420

Axle clean and strict press (clean each rep)
10x5x146

Weighted NG chins 90lbs
5x5

Axle shrugs against bands
1x60
2x20

Band pull aparts
1x50

Band face pulls
1x50

Buffalo bar squats 245
1x36



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDePPGBhdXU


50 dips
25 band pushdowns


Notes: Started off with supersets of squats and presses, then chins and presses, then shrugs-pull aparts-shrugs-face pulls-shrugs, then the widowmaker.  Plate change rests until the topset of squats: took 90 seconds there.  Brief rests for the chins supersets.  Widowmaker was close to failure.  Closest I've come to vomiting during squats in a while: weird work shifts are getting my digestion all over the place.  Was pouring sweat with the cleaning each rep on the presses, but feeling strong still.  Really hitting a stride here.

 Training Log: Entry 2402


WEDNESDAY



BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 3, Workout 2


AM WORKOUT (0430 wake up via dog, 0700 Workout)


DB rows 90

2x20

1x18

1x16

1x17


Texas deadlift bar touch and go deadlifts

5x135

5x225

5x390

5x445

3x5x495


Axle bench press

5x136

5x216

5x246

5x5x276


Reverse hypers stripset

20x360

20x270


90lb DB bench stripset

(3 Incline) 1x12

(3) 1x4 w/reactive slintshot

(3) 1x3 w/metal catapult

(Flat) 1x4

Dips (10 breath rest pause) 7+7+7+7+7+7+8


Poundstone curls

159xAxle


1000


80lb weighted vest walk with the dogs for 30ish minutes


Daily work


Lateral raise stripset

20x10lb plates

20x5

20x2.5

20xEmpty hands


1600


Tabata 1 armed alternating snatches and swings w/KB


1915-2020


Tang Soo Do class. Went over the first form and then we did some sparring combinations on the stand up bags (wavemasters). Funny enough, the instructor wanted us to use stuff he learned from Krav Maga, as he found it more effective for this scenario and, in turn, the stuff from Krav Maga was stuff from boxing…so I’m re-learning how to box in my Tang Soo Do class. I was really in my element for that. Worked jab-cross and jab-uppercut-jab combos, then finally brought in some feet with a front kick to jab-cross and a side-kick to reverse punch combo. Was a good workout, broke a sweat and taa daa Mrs and I both got our first stripe on our white belts. Did it in 3 classes. Instructor complimented us on how quick of learners we all are.


Just a moment to nerd out on martial arts, because it was my first love and it’s great to come back to it, but it’s pretty cool and a bit funny how so many of the eastern styles have defaulted to just using boxing for the hand work. No need to reinvent the wheel: boxers know how to punch and how to not get punched. Much like @kdjohn discussed in his own post: when you focus on only 4-5 techniques, you get REAL good at them.


Saw the Mrs struggling with something that took me a while to overcome on my own too: she’s so used to the chamber punch that her hand kept coming away from her face during the boxing work. I found a way to make chambering make sense to me, but really, I wish schools would drop it. It does more harm than good.


2100


Tabata DB thrusters w/20lbs DBs


Notes: 


Ok, first, details on that building the monolith workout.


Did giant sets of row-dead-bench until I ran out of rows, then dead and bench until I got to workset weights. Up to that point was plate change rests. One I hit worksets, I took 1.5 minutes between dead and bench and 2 minutes between bench and dead. Today was the heaviest day of the entire cycle, so I took my time. Very satisfied with the deads: attacked them with aggression but without getting pysched up, and still zero hitching/ramping. I’m saving that for when I REALLY need it. Benching was UGLY. This was a workout I survived, rather than thrived on. As I wrote: this is mid-terms and this was a wake-up call. I gotta hit 10lbs more on all of these in 3 weeks: time to up the food game.


I DID end up hitting the j-hooks on the very first set of benching which, in turn, got me to focus a LOT more on my bench set up, which was ultimately a positive. I’ve got a lot more in me on bench if I care to actually do it right.


Left hamstring at least showed up to play that day, which was good. Used a lot of willing to get it to heal. I can till get a twinge out of it, but it performs as needed.



 Training Log: Entry 2403


THURSDAY


Came home from nights, got 4.5 hours of sleep, woke up and did the following


FASTED

4 rounds of


Chins: 14, 3x12

Standing ab wheel: 4x5

Reverse hyper: 4x10

Dips: 14, 3x12 (25 band pushdowns on final set)


50 pull aparts

30 GHRs

11 neck bridges each way


BREAKFAST(LUNCH?)


50 20lb DB thrusters

50 1 armed alternating KB swings w/45lb belll

50 burpees


Time: 6:02


Notes: Had to play around with my schedule to be able to make TSD yesterday, so worked back to back shifts. Glad to get a little bit of training in. I’m thinking I’ll break protocol and do the lifting of BTM tomorrow and then back to back conditioning for the weekend to get me back on track.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2401


AM WORKOUT (0430 wake up via dog) FASTED

Fran+ (95lb thrusters, strict chins)
21
15
9 (4:25)

All daily work minus ab wheel


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 3, Workout 2

Incline treadmill walk w/80lb vest
Speed: 3.0 mph
Incline: Start art 7 and increase .5 every 10 minutes
Distance: 2.5 miles


Notes: Fran was there to get some blood flowing and help recover after yesterday.  Left hamstring is being tight/twingy.  Gonna need to watch it for deads tomorrow.  Couple of COAs if I need them: use my spud inc gateway gear briefs, wrap the hamstring with a knee wrap, or use the trap bar for tomorrow.  All assuming things don't heal of course.  Walking on the treadmill loosened it up some, as did some GHRs, so I think keeping movement up will be key.  May be running with the Mrs later: see how things shake out.


Took some apple cider vinegar mixed with green tea this morning vs my normal capsule supplement of it.  I actually thought it improved the taste of the tea.  Be sure to make it a more regular thing.


Monday, April 19, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2400

BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 3, Workout 1

Buffalo Bar Squats
5xBar
5x140
5x230
5x335
5x375
5x5x420

Chins (various grips)
4x13
4x12

Axle Strict press
5x146 (clean first rep)
5x166 (clean first rep)
5x186 (from rack)

Band pull aparts
1x34
2x33

Dips
30,25,25,20,20,20

Axle strict press from rack w/rest pause 146
10+4+3

Dips
10+10+8+8+4 (rest pause) 25 push downs on last set


Notes: Started with giant sets of squat-chin-press, then squat-chin-dip, then squat-pull apart-dip, then hit the last set of presses and chased it with dips.  Took 2 minutes between the first 2 sets of squats, then 2:30 for the final 3.  Absolutely murdered this workout.  This was the one I was the most concerned with, and it's what has inspired me to eat big, and it seems to have all worked out.  I'm feeling unstoppable.


Speaking of eat big, here was breakfast



The star of the show is the 6oz piedmontese sirloin, which I cut in half and put half in my egg wrap burrito with 2 organic free range eggs and an egg white with half an avocado, grassfed butter, grassfed sour cream and fat free cheese, and ate the other half next to 2 keto pancakes with sunbutter and sugar free raspberry jelly between them and 2 celery stalk with nuts n more.  Chased it down with a mug of cashewmilk and an energy drink.  I checked my weight on the scale the other day and it's VERY slowly crawling up, which is just insane with how much food I'm putting away.  I absolutely get why Jim just settled on the dozen eggs and 1.5lbs of ground beef a day, and that definitely worked the first time.

LUNCHTIME WORKOUT

Axle Grace
2:47 (1 second PR)

Notes: Just keeps getting better, what can I say.

 Training Log: Entry 2399

SUNDAY 

AM WORKOUT (0315 wake up via alarm)


EVIL EMOM+

Odd minute: 10 95lb thrusters

Even minute: 1 arm alternating 45lb KB swing

20 rounds


Transition immediately to

11 rounds of EMOM workout (described below in notes)


20 standing ab wheels

25 pushdowns

50 pull aparts


POST WORKOUT SHAKE


30 GHRs

10 neck bridges each way


Notes: Had to really fight my self-destructive urges on this one. Woulda been a prime opportunity to blow my brains out on some stupid conditioning workout, but tomorrow is going to be one of the toughest workouts of the cycle and I wanted to use this to prepare for it vs take away from it. Evil EMOM fit the bill. I took it 6 rounds longer, to get 100 thrusters and swings total, and it worked out about right.


After that, I wanted to get in the daily work, and figured I had a good sweat going, so I kept the clock running and would do 5 burpees at the top of every minute followed by either chins, dips or reverse hypers. Got 50,50 and 40 done through 11 rounds.


Got a good sweat going. These mid-intensity workouts tend to be pretty unsatisfying, but it’s taking my vitamins.


Regarding my tough workout tomorrow, I realized how broken my brain is as I was divising my nutritional strategy coming up for it. I was contemplating having a grassfed ribeye steak in the morning vs my ground beef, so I’d have something a little bigger and fattier for energy. It then dawned on me that most people would be thinking “carbs” to get through a workout. Funny the paradigm shift. I may actually break out the carbs for tomorrow depending on how I feel coming off my 12.


Food DOES need to increase. Weight is holding constant, which is at least better than regressing, but gaining needs to continue to occur. Still lots of room for play in that regard: just need discipline. I think breakfast and pre-bed meals are about as big as I should make them, so the next step is to start eating more at dinner.


The body plays tricks on the mind during times like this. I constantly “feel fat” just from all the eating I’m doing, and my guts press up against my skin, but I’ll look at myself in the mirror and just be jacked. In full disclosure, I actually avoid looking at myself in the mirror because I don’t want to f**k with my head through this process, but it’s actually giving me good feedback. They say “listen to your body”, but honestly, f–k that: the body lies. I AM noticing a thickening of my mid-section compared to my waif-like waist I had at the end of my fat loss phase, but that’s also correlating with my strength going up well on all my primary lifts, which works well enough for me. Seems less a result of increased abdominal fat and more food mass in the gut and most likely a return of some lost muscle.


Was driving to work and out of nowhere I wanted to rip the steering wheel off. I then found myself unable to stop smiling, primarily because I haven’t felt that aggression in a quite a while. I keep seeing signs of improvement bouncing back from that low fat phase. Good to see, but also a big learning opportunity on my part.

Saturday, April 17, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2398


AM WORKOUT (0455 wake up via dog) Fasted


100 six count burpees
Time: 5:26 (12 second PR)


Notes: 2 huge PRs there.  Beat my time, and I did it by doing all 100 burpees unbroken, meaning at no point did I ever stop moving to catch my breath or reset.  I definitely was moving SLOW at the end, but never stopped.  It SUCKED.  I was ready to stop at around rep 30.  Definitely feeling that widowmaker from yesterday, but it's why I slot in this as something of a feeder workout.  Plan to get in the prowler today as well, as I work a 12 tomorrow.  


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 2, Workout 6


PM WORKOUT (1300)

Prowler sprints: 10x40 yards w/90lbs loaded
45 seconds between sprints


Notes: Glad I could get this in: weather was getting ready to turn.  Short rest times really turned it into something gnarly.  Always just dig the prowler: can't speak highly enough on it.  Definitely going to keep it a feature after BtM.  Be useful once summer hits and I can just use school parking lots without worry.

Friday, April 16, 2021

Training Log: Entry 2397


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 2, Workout 5


AM WORKOUT (0530 wake up via alarm, 0700 workout)


Buffalo Bar Squat
5xBar
5x140
5x230
5x285
5x335
5x375

Weighted NG chin 85
5x5

Log viper press (each rep from the floor) 125
10x5

Axle shrugs against light bands
55,27,18

Band pull aparts
50

Band face pulls
50

Buffalo bar squat
37x230




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-kEQW2ABhw 


Reverse hypers
40


POST WORKOUT SHAKE

Dips
35,15

Standing ab wheel
2x10

Pushdowns
25


Notes: Blasted through this workout.  Started off with supersets of squats and log, then went to chins and log once I ran out of squats.  Then supersets of shrug-pull apart-shrug-face pull-shrug, then finished with the squats.  It was pretty much just plate change rests throughout.  Conditioning is through the roof and is making this a joke, but next week will be the test.  That widowmaker was just about right.  Bar was slipping too far down my back at the end.  You can actually see me shrug it to high bar somewhere in the mid 20s.  


Got some big eating slated for this weekend, which should put me in a good spot for the heaviest week.  Guts are feeling much better compared to yesterday.


PM WORKOUT (1300)


Incline treadmill walk w/80lb vest

3 mph


Notes: Started at a 6 and went up half a degree every 10 minutes, finishing at 7.5.  Just staying active.


Meant to comment earlier, but those vipers for every single rep on the presses are pretty legit.  I've really enjoyed taking my presses from the floor this training block. It adds a great element to the training.

Thursday, April 15, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2396


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 2, Workout 4


AM WORKOUT (0800) Coming off night shift


Juarez Valley Front Squats of 255 superset w/5 six count burpees
8
1
7
2
6
3
5
4

Time: 13:55 (PR by 2:40)


Transition immediately to 5 rounds of

10 chins
4 standing ab wheels
8 reverse hypers
10 dips w/25 pushdowns after final set

50 pull aparts

Belt squat stripset (no rest/lockout)
35x150
Reps of 125, 100, 75, 50, 25 and Axle (somewhere between 4 to 7)


Notes: I felt awful coming into this.  Night shifts are just getting rough on my guts.  Stomach was swollen, belt was tight, and this was the closest I've come to throwing up in a workout in a LONG time.  I wonder if I actually got the workout done faster because of that: just wanting to be done with it.  I'm feeling better now, I think I forced the digestion to sort itself out.  Had some bar slippage issues to contend with on the front squat.  


Depending on how the day goes, may get in some walking or something, or this might be it. I'm staying up all day today to reset my clock.

 Training Log: Entry 2395


WEDNESDAY


Got a long one here.


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 2, Workout 3


AM WORKOUT (0700) After coming back from Night Shift


DB rows 90lbs

2x20

1x17

1x15

1x16


Texas Power Bar Touch and Go Deadlifts

5x135

5x205

5x340

5x385

3x5x445 (dead stop with controlled eccentric each rep on final set)


Axle bench press

5x136

5x186

5x216

5x5x246 (touch and go first 2 sets, pause all reps last 3)


90lb DB bench stripset (no rest between sets)

(3 incline) 1x12

(3) 1x3 w/Reactive Slingshot

(3) 1x3 w/Metal Catapult

(Flat) 1x5

BW dips w/10 breath rest pause: 8+9+9+8+9+7

25 band pushdowns


Reverse hyper stripset (no rest between sets0

10x360

10x270

10x180

10x90


Poundstone Curls

158xAxle



2nd Tang Soo Do Class (details in notes)



PM WORKOUT (2100)


1 armed alternating KB snatches followed by six count burpees


21

15

9

5-Time 5:50



Notes: Ok, this is gonna be meaty, so settle in.


Started BtM off with


DB rows-deads-bench


Plate change rests.  Once the rows ran out I was onto worksets, and used 90 second rest intervals.  I was feeling strong, which makes sense coming off a night shift, because I had a LOT of meals in me.  Belt was tight.  And this was a light workout for the cycle, so I made things tough.  Final set of deadlifts, I set the deadlift down like it was touch and go, but went deadstop and broke it off the floor again.  Trying to hit the best of both worlds there.  I'm feeling confident for next week on that.


Had some extra time, so threw in some extra assistance work.  


The Poundstone curls were easier than usual.  Got through 100 without pausing.  I imagine that's because I'm not doing 100+ underhand chins beforehand.  Kinda funny to think I'm actually training LESS with BTM.



For Tang Soo Do, we went over the first form again (got told that the Mrs and I have it down), then learned 1-step self defense drills for hand and foot strikes and learned some basic wrist grab defense.  My wife summed it up too well: "It's probably because I'm married to you, but I know I won't be able to fight with this, so I'm just having fun learning it".  It's been a blast coming back to my roots with this stuff, but also a concur: some of it can be a little silly.  But that's the thing: it's a time to not take myself so seriously and just have some fun.  Got in some decent stretching and push ups.  Focused on not keeping my body so tense.


That conditioning WOD I came up with before work was pretty solid.  Laid out like Fran, just different movements.  Had me breathing hard.  


Check in photo.  Not set under consistent circumstances due to coming off the night shift, but whatever



Tuesday, April 13, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2394


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 2, Workout 2


AM WORKOUT (0505 wake up via dog) FASTED


Tabata KB 1 armed snatches w/1 armed swings during the downtime


Daily work


POST BREAKFAST


2 mile incline treadmill walk w/80lb vest


Notes: Played around with the incline a lot.  Walked at 3mph, started at a 3% grade, kept upping it at certain intervals, was at 35 min at a 6% incline, then pushed it to 12 for the final 2 minutes.  THAT was solid.  I'm pretty sure this treadmill has a specific hill workout plan in it, so I may try that next time.  This wasn't a ballbuster at all, but was nice to have consistent incline the whole time vs natures inclines and declines.


Feeling antsy: may end up hitting the BAS later, and with me starting night shifts for 2 nights I'll get in conditioning before work.

Monday, April 12, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2393


BUILDING THE MONOLITH, Week 2 Workout 1

AM WORKOUT (0540 wake up via alarm, 0645 workout)

Work below, explanation in notes

Buffalo Bar Squats
5xBar
5x140
5x210
5x285
5x335
5x5x375

Chins (various grips)
12
8x11

Axle clean and strict press away
5x126
5x146
5x166

Dips
200 total

Band pull aparts
4x25

Axle strict press from rack w/rest pause 126
14+4+3

20 standing ab wheels
25 band pushdowns

Lateral raises (no rests)
20x10lbs
20x5
20x2.5
20xUnweighted


Notes: First giantset was

Squat-chin-press

I skipped press warm-ups to make the workout go faster, which is kinda like not paying your taxes to save money.  Once the pressing was done it went

Squat-chin-dip

Once chins were done it wen

Squat-pull apart-dip

Once squats were done I knocked out the final set of presses with press-pull apart-dip, then did dips and ab wheel until dips were done, then the lateral raises.  Got in some GHRs and neck after my shake.


The squat warm-ups felt amazing, and then the worksets crushed me.  I was only taking 90 seconds between giant sets of work sets, and only plate change rests leading up to that, so it may be part of that.  Still flew through the workout, but I'm catching myself undereating again.


Gotta remember: Poundstone.  I legit look at photos and videos of him before my big meals to remind me why the hell I'm doing this.  My appetite is through the roof, which is awesome: gotta capitalize on it.


Still crushing breakfast at least





Axle Grace on the agenda later.


PM WORKOUT (1300)


Axle Grace


Time: 2:55


Notes: Sprained something in the left wrist around rep 6 or so. Very annoying hiccup: nothing world ending, but most likely played a slight role in performance. Axle was bouncing all over the place. Yet another sub-3 time. I’ve legit never been in this good of shape in my life. Funny the things being away from competition does. It reminds me of what Joe Rogan said about Tyson when he got out of prison: his boxing skills were rusty, but he came back to the ring way more jacked than he had ever been before. We get locked up and we build the things we can.


Forgot my blueberries in my yogurt this morning. Still don’t have the habit built.


Sunday, April 11, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2392


AM WORKOUT (0415 wake up via dog)

Did a fasted weighted vest walk with the dogs. Not quite 2 miles, but still a good distance. Got in the daily work.


PM WORKOUT (1245)


Prowler pushes w/90lbs on prowler

10x40 yards-60 seconds rest between rounds


Notes: Exactly what Jim prescribes.  I measured out 40-ish yards on the school parking lot blacktop.  There's a slight incline to it, so the return trip is tougher.  This was a solid workout.  Either going to shorten rest times, lengthen distance, or add weight next time.


Tri tip turned out great.  I think I may start making an effort to get more grassfed beef into the diet.  I've been limiting it, and, in truth, I feel better when I eat it.  I've also been bad about getting in my butter.

Saturday, April 10, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2391


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 1, Workout 5


AM WORKOUT (0303 natural wake up)


Full workout listed, details in notes


Buffalo Bar Squat

5xBar

5x140

5x230

5x310

5x350

5x400


Axle clean and strict press (clean each rep)

10x5x136lbs


Weighted close grip NG chins

5x5x80lbs


Axle shrugs against light bands

2x50


Band pull aparts

1x50


Band face pulls

1x50


Buffalo Bar squat

32x200lbs


End of required work time: 54:45


50 dips

20 standing ab wheels

25 pushdowns

40 reverse hypers


POST WORKOUT SHAKE


30 GHRs

10 neck bridges each way


Notes: Alright, here’s how it shook out. Went with supersets vs giant sets. First was


Squat-press


Once I finished the topset of 400lbs, transitioned to supersets of


Chin-press


Once that was done, transitioned to supersets of


Shrug-pull apart

Shrug-face pull


Then ended the workout with the squat widowmaker. Interesting decision point there. The program calls for 20 reps. I knew I could do more, and at first I thought I’d make those 20 reps challenging by making them breathing squats without a belt, but right before executing that I realized I’d be hitting Deep Water after this program, and that these widowmakers were actually my only opportunity to keep higher rep squats “grooved”. Otherwise, I’d become very dialed in at sets of 5 and then most likely find myself falling off a cliff when it came time to knock out the higher rep stuff, so figure the best call was the play these straight and just go into the red on reps. 32 was challenging, but, in truth, I’ve got some more in me. By the time this program is done, I’ll make sure to bury myself on this.


In all, this workout was far less challenging than it was the very first time I ran it, and I even cleaned every single rep of pressing vs just the first rep. For the record, cleaning each rep is awesome and everyone should do it. Also for the record, I started actually trying to “clean” the reps toward the middle of the sets vs just stand-up reverse curling the weight, because I realized this could ALSO be a chance to set me up for success for Deep Water, so cool there.


I came into this “overprepared”. Had my cheat meal the night before: same keto pizza crust, this time it was a “backyard BBQ pizza”, which had pork burnt ends, pork shoulder, baked beans, coleslaw and BBQ sauce drizzle, with a cream cheese sauce vs pizza sauce. I REALLY dig this place we found. Was honestly torn between this and the awesome burger they sell. Too many options: great problem to have. Also snagged a few curly fries from our appetizer. Feeling good to feel more normal. Taking my kid out for Golden Corral next week, so that’ll be another golden opportunity to fuel up.


Working a 12 hour shift today, then prowler tomorrow, and that will be the first week done.

Friday, April 9, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2390

AM WORKOUT (0540 wake up via alarm) FASTED


Tabata KB swings and snatches


BREAKFAST


100 six count burpees

Time: 5:47


Notes: Mrs had to get up a little earlier than usual, so I got in the 4 minute workout before breakfast.  Spent a lot of time telling myself the burpees were a bad idea, then went and did them.  I hit a PR for unbroken burpees: 90.  Traded time for them, as I took them smooth, but it was a worthwhile sacrifice.  I know how to do them fast: doing them WITHOUT a break is the challenge.  Similar to how I could probably run faster if I took some breaks and got some water, but the goal is to run unbroken.


Quads were what were limiting me at the end.  On fire.  Abs too for that matter.  Had a HUGE ab cramp yesterday: need to watch hydration.


Body doesn't seem to be liking the berries.  I'm going for half a serving a day to 1/3 of one to see if I can build up a tolerance.  I'd really like to add some form of diversity into the diet.  I get locked in too easily, and then stuff like this happens.

Thursday, April 8, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2389


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 1, Workout 4


AM WORKOUT (0310 wake up via alarm)


Juarez Valley front squats 255 w/5 six count burpees between sets

8

1

7

2

6

3

5 (bar slipped on rep 4, had to re-rack briefly to get rep 5)

4


Time: 16:35


Transition immediately to 10 rounds of


5 chins

2 standing ab wheel

5 dips (25 pushdowns after final set)

4 reverse hypers


50 pull aparts


Belt squat stripset (no rest/no lockout)

30x150

5x125

5x100

5x75

5x50

7x25

7xAxle


30 GHRs

10 neck bridges each way


Notes: I’m calling this the bike work that Jim suggests, simply because I sold my airdyne. 255 is a weight reaching the “just because you can doesn’t mean you should” sorta level. I think next time I’m gonna keep the weight at 225 and try to absolutely blitz the workout. I wanna keep the reps on the lower side still so that I’m not pushing recovery hard right before my final lifting workout of the week. Goal is to use this workout to recover before the next one: not tax myself. Still, got it done, and then used my daily work to keep heart rate up.


I’ve got most my extra assistance work slotted. Would still like to get some heavy reverse hypers in at some point. Maybe on my prowler day.

 Training Log: Entry 2388


WEDNESDAY


BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 1, Workout 3


AM WORKOUT (0310 wake up via alarm)


Once again, will write out the work, then detail it in the notes


DB rows 90

1x20

1x18

1x16

1x14

1x15


Texas Deadlift bar Touch and Go deadlifts

5x135

5x225

5x365

5x420

3x5x470


Axle bench press

5xAxle

5x136

5x206

5x231

5x5x261


Poundstone curls

101xAxle+5lbs


Total time: 1hr 5min


POST WORKOUT SHAKE


30 GHRs

10 neck bridges each way


Notes: Here’s how this shook out: start the workout with the following giant set with only plate change rest


Row-dead-bench


Once I finished the 4th set of rows, I was at the work sets for deads and bench and didn’t want to come into them with any fatigue from rows, so I moved the final set of rows to the end and switched to a superset of


Dead-bench


With about 2 min rest between giant sets, but no rest between the two movements. Hit the dead, go straight to the bench. Once the third superset was done, I was definitely feeling the fatigue, so I kept it to sets of bench with about 2 min rest between sets to finish the last 2 sets.


After that, I originally planned to do a set of Kroc rows for the final set of rows, but figured that’d put me in a poor place for Poundstone curls. It also let me wonder if I should have a rule of only ONE named exercise per workout to keep me honest (Kelso shrugs, Yates rows, kroc rows, meadows rows, Poundstone curls, Z-press, etc etc). Might be an interesting policy.


But anyway, hit the final set of rows, cleaned up the weight room for a rest period, then hit the Poundstone curls. Final time was 1hr and 5min.


NOW, I was dragging during this workout, and for good reason: I worked an 8 hour shift from 1400-2200, got home, got in bed around 2240, saw my alarm clock tell me I was getting 4hr and 29min of sleep at that point, got up when it went off, pounded 2 eggs/1egg white, a 4oz elk burger, half an avocado and a keto waffle with sunbutter and got after it. It was one of those workouts that you just hold on and try to survive. The deads were the most daunting, and I treated it like a distance run: telling myself little lies along the way to keep me going.


Gotta get in the daily work, and then got my first Tang Soo Do class later tonight. Perhaps some sort of Tabata something along the way, and then Juarez valley tomorrow morning at way too early to start it all over again.


“I wake up/on the floor/start it up again/like it matters any more/I don’t know/if it does/is this really all/that there ever was?”


PM WORKOUT (1400)


Fran+ (95lb thrusters, strict chins)

21

15

9


Time: 4:18 (PR or close to it)


Lateral raises (no rest)

20x10lbs

20x5

20x2.5

20xUnloaded


Tang Soo Do class at 1915


Notes: I’m shocked at that time with Fran, because I was sucking wind and misgrooving reps, but apparently I brute forced my way into a fast time. I’m really digging the shape I’m in these days.


For Tang Soo Do, they were really cool with the wife and I, and actually made the class a focus on basics for us. Went over low block, middle punch, high block, front kick, clinch and knee and side kick, along with front stance and “fighting stance”, which I’ve known as back stance.


My background shone through and I got asked “do you have any previous martial arts experience?” I just said “yes” and left it at that. I’m trying really hard to get the white belt experience here: I don’t want to be treated special.


I’m moving WAY too stiff. I’ve had this issue for a bit. In lifting, you want to keep your whole body as stiff and tight as possible to transfer as much power as possible and have no leaks, but in martial arts you wanna save that tightness until the very end and otherwise move fluid. My muscles were tense as hell during the whole thing, like I was posing. Something I gotta watch for.


We learned our first form all the way through, so I got that to work on.


Beginning of class warm-up was a nice circuit of some push ups and ab work. Not much stretching, which was nice.

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2387

BUILDING THE MONOLITH Week 1, Workout 2


AM WORKOUT (0530 natural wake up) FASTED


Tabata 45lb KB workout (1 armed snatches for the 20 seconds on, 1 arm swings for 10 seconds off, alternate arms each rep)


BREAKFAST


80lb weighted vest walk outdoors


2 miles in 43:08

2.1 miles in 45:29


Notes: Got the tabata work in because I really dig doing SOMETHING before breakfast.  I feel like it improves nutrient uptake.  Got in the walk.  Mrs let me have on old GPS watch so I can actually track distance and time, so that's cool.  2 miles was the goal, but they legit closed the sidewalk down for road construction on my way back so I had to take an alternate route.  Leisurely pace: just getting in the reps.  Still owe daily work and wanna get in some sort of quick conditioning workout before work.  


Much like BBB Beefcake, I will do the absolute minimums of this program for sure, but also allow myself additional work once that's done.  The workout is the main course, everything else dessert, and you don't get dessert if you don't clean your plate.


On that note, figuring out where to slot things in.  Since BtM has a 20 repper in it, I'm going to cut that out of my Juarez Valley workout and instead slot the belt squats in there.  Lateral raises need to find a home: I'm thinking day 1, just because it's a little lighter on shoulder work.  I'd like to put it on day 2, but I'm going to do Poundstone curls for my curl work there, and after that my arms tend to be dead.


With me doing daily neck bridging, I may cut out the neck harness work.  I'm doing far less rows than I was doing before, but I'm not too torn up about that.  I think working on cleaning reps from the floor will answer the mail there.


PM WORKOUT (1300)


Tabata 20lb DB thrusters for 10 rounds


Notes: Wanted to try something different to get some blood into my legs. The DBs are light enough that I can make it through all the rounds. I was breathing pretty hard when it was all done. This works well enough.

Monday, April 5, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2386


BULIDING THE MONOLITH Week 1, Workout 1


AM WORKOUT (0500 natural wake up, 0700 workout)

I'm just gonna list stuff out now and explain it in the notes


Chins (various grips)
10x10

Buffalo bar squats
5xBar
5x140
5x230
5x310
5x355
5x5x400

Axle strict press
5xAxle
5x136
5x156
5x176

Band pull aparts
2x33
1x34

Dips
3x25
3x20
1x25
2x16
1x8 (25 band pushdowns at end)

Standing ab wheel
2x10

Reverse hyper
2x20

Axle strict press 136 (w/12 second rest pause)
10+4+3

Times:
* 58 min and some seconds to complete bare minimum (all required main work, 100 chins, 100 pull aparts and at least 100 dips)

* 1 hour 1 min to complete the rest pauses in the strict press

* 1 hour 13 min to complete all work


Notes: Alright, here is how it shook down.  I started my timer before my very first set of chins, which I do as I walk into the garage after dropping my kid off at school.  Once I hit that, I changed out of my sweats, put on my sleeves and shoes (I wear my rehband warm up pants under my sweats because I'm an OG like that) and then hit another set of chins, kicking off giant sets of 


Chins-squat-press.


I took plate change rests from there, rolling straight from chin to squat to press over and over again.  With the way my rack is set up, I can literally drop to my feet from the chin, walk straight under the bar, squat it, rack it, back out of the rack and start pressing, so it's super fast.


I finished the top set of presses before the 355 set of squats.  Once I finished presses, the giant set became


Chin-squat-dip


I finished chins around the second set of the 5x5 sets of 400, at which point the giant set became


Squat-dip-pull apart


Once the squats were done, I did the final set of presses.  In 5/3/1 Forever, Jim gives the ok to use rest pausing for upper body widowmakers, so I figured game on and did that, but I took times on if I didn't do that to demonstrate that this program can STILL be done in under an hour.  I was honestly being pretty leisurely with me time here, as I'm in MUCH better shape than the first time I ran it and didn't need to push as hard to move as quick.  I was taking about 2 minutes of rest between topset squats and it worked out perfect.  The weight WAS heavy, but manageable, and I'll be in a good place if I allow myself even more rest.


I got about 135 total dips in the under an hour mark.  Wanted to get the full 200 and finish up daily work, so I did just that.



Breakfast was stellar.  Finally working on some elk burgers I picked up on my birthday a while back.  Mixed them in with half an avocado, 2 whole organic cage free eggs, 1 egg white, fat free cheese on a creppini egg wrap, along with 2 stalks of celery with some nuts n more, a keto waffle with sunbutter and a cup of almond milk



Perfect fuel to build the monolith.

Sunday, April 4, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2385

AM WORKOUT (0520 Wake up via dog) FASTED


30 GHRs

10 neck bridges each way


MEAT EATER II from Tactical Barbell


10 rounds of

20 1 hand KB swings (alternate each swing)

10 burpees

1 min rest


Time: 19:49


20 chins

15 dips


Notes: Right hip was bugging me from the race, so instead of my traditional 100 burpees I got them in with Meat Eater. Had something of a tonic effect. I was taking this at a leisurely pace, but still got my heart rate up pretty decent. Got Easter Brunch buffet inbound, and I feel like that may be the fuel I need to start BtM on Monday.

---


PM WORKOUT (1400)


Prowler

2 lengths w/180 loaded (2 minutes rest between)

2 half lengths w/90 loaded (1 minute rest between)


Notes: Weather was good and school was closed so I used the local school parking lot for some pushes.  No idea on distance, but this is what it looks like





And it felt like hell.  Needed some breaks on the way down.  Way back was better, but still took some breaks.  Good to find some limits.


This workout followed my first legit cheat meal in quite a while.  Went out for Easter Brunch.  Going from memory I had


3 slices of prime rib

1 slice of ham

5 strips of real bacon (no turkey)

2.5 sausage links (kid didn't eat half of theirs)

Scrambled eggs

A made to order omelette with every veggie imaginable plus ham

2 pieces of bass

2 pieces of chicken in some sort of sauce

Crab louie

Lots of veggies

4 deviled eggs

A few bites of banana/strawberry bread pudding and oreo poundcake

And an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie


Felt good to "revist" my old self like that.  Had the ability to eat more, but knew the reasonable call was to cut it at that point. A little bit of gut distress later and I was good for the prowler.

 Training Log: Entry 2384

SATURDAY

AM WORKOUT (0430 natural wake up, 0730 workout)


10 mile race with Mrs 


Time: 1:32:29


PM WORKOUT (1530)


30 GHRs

10 neck bridges each way


4 rounds of

Chins: 14,3x12

Standing ab wheel: 4x5

Dips: 14, 3x12 (25 band pushdowns on final set)

BW reverse hyper: 4x10


50 band pull aparts



Notes: Run felt awesome today.  Coming into it recovered and having it be the first workout of the day went a long way.  Breakfast was a chicken breast patty, egg whites, fat free cheese and half an avocado in a crepinni egg wrap burrito with a slice of subutter toast and some nuts n more on celery, then a Finibar and Birthday Cake Bang an hour before the run.  Perfect fuel: stomach wasn't upset and I felt energized but light.  Wasn't running at a breakneck pace: something comfy that I could chat with the Mrs with.  Just a solid day.  Definitely had a half in me.


Got the daily work in.  Also got the whole family signed up for Tang Soo Do now.  

Thursday, April 1, 2021

 Training Log: Entry 2383


BBB BEEFCAKE Week 6, Workout 4 (final workout of program)


AM WORKOUT (0645, 0530 wake up via alarm)

CIRCUITS (chin-bench) plate change rest between sets


Chins (underhand)
100 total reps

Axle bench press
5xAxle
5x136
5x226
5x251
5x281

SUPERSETS (bench-row) 2:00 between sets

Axle bench press 226
5x10

DB row 90s
5x10

90 DB bench dropset w/12 deep breath rest pause
(Upright) 1x5
(5) 1x4
(4) 1x4
(3) 1x4
(2) 1x6
(1) 1x5
BW dips w/10 breath rest pause 8-9-8-8-8-9
25 band pushdowns

Poundstone curls
157xAxle

POST WORKOUT SHAKE

30 GHRs
10 neck bridges each way


Notes: Program is done.  Review posted soon, but in all this was a success.  That topset of 280 was a big one, and gives me a slight pause about BtM.  I've got a month to get 275 for 3x5, which may be in the cards, or I may take the TM down.  Still got time to tell.  Things were strong, and I made sure to really focus on technique.  The DB presses took a dive, but that's to be expected.  I was technically supposed to do 220 for 5x10, but the meathead in me wouldn't let that happen.  225 for 5x10 is always a great milestone for me.


First, a breakfast photo



Bottom right is a crepini egg wrap with half an avocado and 2 cage free organic eggs mixed with 2.25 ounces of grassfed piedmontese steak tips that I folded into a breakfast taco with some fat free cheddar.  The mug is a combination of cashew and almond milk (ran out of cashew milk), and the left is 2 stalks of celery cut in half with some nuts and more spread along with a slice of keto friendly toast with organic no salt added sunbutter.  I found out I like it more than the stuff with salt: how cool.  And, of course, an energy drink.

End of program physique shots





Not sure why that one is so small.  Oh well.





PM WORKOUT (1500)

50 band pull aparts

Tabata KB workouts (1 armed snatches for the 20 second intervals, 1 armed swings for the 10 seconds)

40 minute 80lb weighted vest walk

Notes: Just finishing up the day.  Got the race on Saturday: have to avoid the temptation to blow my brains out with conditioning the day before.  Will still get in the daily work and maybe something light as well, but have to be smart-ish.