Training Log: Entry 3806

AM WORKOUT (0510 wake up via Valkyrie's alarm)

OPERATION TACTICAL SLEIGHBELL

TACTICAL BARBELL MASS PROTOCOL Bridge Week, Day 4

"ROW ROW ROW YOUR BLOAT"

15 chins
20 minute recovery row (4100m covered)
15 chins
15 chins

Notes:

• I'm writing "recovery row", but I'm doing more mouth breathing than is appropriate. Keep the goal the goal.

• Retweaked my left knee doing SOMETHING yesterday (either those squats or the walk). Clicking and swollen, but not unstable like before. Changes in atmosphere are most likely impacting it as well. Just some reduced ROM and annoyance at the moment.

• Family got in ABF workout 11 yesterday: 65 clean and presses, going 2-3-5-10 for 3 rounds and then 2-3. Rolling along well.

• Weighed 82.2kg this morning, dropping .7kg from yesterday, proving that I've really discovered something with the "Ribs and cheesecake diet". On that note: the Valkyrie's pumpking cheesecake was amazing, I had 2 generous slices for myself, and finished off what the kiddo left behind. Valkyrie experimented per my request with an oatmeal crust, similar to an oatmeal cream pie, and it was an absolute success.

Training Log: Entry 3805

AM WORKOUT PART I (0510 wake up via Valkyrie's alarm)

OPERATION TACTICAL SLEIGHBELL

TACTICAL BARBELL MASS PROTOCOL Bridge Week, Workout 3

"ROW ROW ROW YOUR BLOAT"

15 chins
20 minute recovery row (4100m covered)
15 chins
15 chins

AM WORKOUT PART II

"BIRTHDAY WORKOUT"

41x185 squats into 41x185 deadlifts (Age x Bodyweight)

4+ mile walk w/20.4lb tac vest

Notes:

• My boss gave me the day off, which was awesome. Slept in until the Valkyrie needed to get up, got in a short workout on the rower, dropped one pup off at doggie daycare and the kiddo off at school and got in that second workout.

• It's been a LONG time since I've been excited about a workout. I used to have very much the opposite feeling about this: dread and fear. Headspace is in a great place.

•  Haven't squatted with a straight barbell in quite a while. It honestly feels like a toy compared to the Buffalo Bar: like I'm using one of those cement weight standard sets.

• My only "regret" was not sticking with my gameplan once the bar came off my back. I instinctively took off my belt, which I really needed to focus on just kicking off my shoes and pulling. Sliding the knee sleeves down was cope as well: I was just trying to buy time. It's funny how the rational brain comes up with these plans but then fight or flight takes over.

• I love that I can do this at 41. I remember what my dad was like at 41. It wasn't like this. And yes: I picked "Somewhat Damaged" on a loop for the song, because there's no better summary.

• After it was done, continued the celebration by taking the other dog on a long walk through nature. Fall weather is wonderful right now, and he's got short legs, so we didn't need to walk fast after this effort.

• Tang Soo Do last night was a decent workout. Focus on basics, lots of kicking techniques. Since it's the bridge week, I'm much more mobile and flexible, not coming into class recovering from training.

• Weighed in at 82.9kg, so the weight on the bar was every so slightly over bodyweight. We're doing ABF workout 11 tonight (clean and press), I've got beef ribs on the smoker, and the Valkyrie made me pumpkin cheesecake. It's a wonderful time for gaining.

Training Log: Entry 3804

AM WORKOUT (0400 wake up via alarm)

OPERATION TACTICAL SLEIGHBELL

TACTICAL BARBELL MASS PROTOCOL Bridge Week, Workout 2

"ROW ROW ROW YOUR BLOAT"

15 chins
30 minute recovery row (6070m covered)
15 chins

Notes:

• All this rowing has resulted in me re-discovering better technique and greater output. I'm seeing improvements in performance, even at a recovery level effort.

• Left hip still aches a little after prolonged time on the rower. I actually like fobbits for this, due to the break I can take every 2 minutes.

• Tang Soo Do tonight. Basics/hyungs, which can often be a decent workout. We'll be skipping Thursday's class, and Sat is going to be a Halloween themed fun class, so this will be the only "real" training for the week.

• Weighed 82.8kg this morning. Same as yesterday. That's cool to see.

Training Log: Entry 3803

AM WORKOUT (0400 wake up via alarm)

OPERATION TACTICAL SLEIGHBELL

TACTICAL BARBELL MASS PROTOCOL Bridge Week, Day 1

"ROW ROW ROW YOUR BLOAT"

15 chins
30 minute recovery row (6040m covered)
15 chins

Notes:

• Ever so slightly faster than previous efforts. Was trying to focus on driving with my legs, vs pulling with my arms.

• Left hip is a little buggy. Waking up and transitioning to seated cardio can be a little rough.

• Got in all my chins last week, so this is the week of 5x15. Also got in ABF workout 10 last night (12 ABCs) and then a 2.3 mile ruck with the 20.4lb tac carrier. Staying active.

• Weighed in at 82.8kg this morning. Gain train is still rolling. Also did OMAD all last week, and I will carry that through the work week this week. Last night we did sourdough pizza, topped with leftover kalua pig among other meat toppings. I had 5 slices, and then 6 baked treats from the Valkyrie, ranging from sourdough cookies to apple fritters to oatmeal cream pies, all topped with some raw local honey with honeycomb. I find that, this morning, my desire for coffee is stronger, whereas on previous mornings I was averse to it until about 0830. Unique how it unfolds.

Training Log: Entry 3802

AM WORKOUT (0400 wake up via alarm)

OPERATION TACTICAL SLEIGHBELL

TACTICAL BARBELL MASS PROTOCOL Grey Man, Cycle 2, Week 3, Workout 7

"ROW ROW ROW YOUR BLOAT"

15 chins
30 minute recovery row (6000m covered)
15 chins

Notes:

• Ever so slightly faster than yesterday (took an extra 10 seconds to get 6000m that day). Body is continuing to feel good.

• Still working early shifts, and still sticking with 1 meal as a result. Setting myself up for bigger feasts.

• My in-laws are coming into town tomorrow, so I may try to talk the family into ABF workout 10 tonight so that we aren't trying to do it while they're here.

Training Log: Entry 3801

AM WORKOUT (0400 wake up via alarm)

OPERATION TACTICAL SLEIGHBELL

TACTICAL BARBELL MASS PROTOCOL Grey Man, Cycle 2, Week 3, Workout 6

"ROW ROW ROW YOUR BLOAT"

15 chins
30 minute recovery row (6000m covered)
15 chins

Notes:

• Since I have to come into work early, I got in a rower workout before I left. Typically I use weekends to sleep in/have family time, but I'm making the most of this situation.

• Also means I'm skipping my traditional weekend breakfasts. This is going to be a week of one-meal a day, which has also been a week of consistent gaining, so maybe that's something.

• I was moving slower than last time, but it's also still just a recovery effort.

• Ideally, we should be getting in ABF workout 9 tonight.

Training Log: Entry 3800

AM WORKOUT (0400 wake up via alarm)

OPERATION TACTICAL SLEIGHBELL

TACTICAL BARBELL MASS PROTOCOL Grey Man, Cycle 2, Week 3, Workout 5

15 chins

Buffalo Bar Squats
4x3x385

15 chins

Notes:

• This is what I had time for this morning, before having to leave for work. I get off early, so I'll look to finishing up the rest of the workout later, but if all I get done is the heavy squats, that's still a win. My elbows/forearms feel awesome, which is very atypical after 6 weeks of low bar squatting, so I'm going to hit the bridge week official next week to REALLY make sure I'm in a good way and go for an unprecedented 3rd cycle of Grey Man.

• On the subject of Grey Man and Mass Protocol, been getting a lot of comments on my physique recently, referencing dinner last night, and the Valkyrie came up to me unprompted and remarked "you're looking huge again...like, in a good way", because women always have to navigate that space so delicately. She tends to make those remarks as I get deeper into gaining phases, as I never clue her in on what I'm currently training for and just let it roll, so having her notice it unprompted is a positive sign that things are rolling well.

• Which checks with the fact I weighed in at 83.3kg this morning. I saw consistent growth with every single weigh in this week.

• Valkyrie and I got in ABF workout 8 last night, followed by a 3 mile ruck. Kiddo was in a choreography camp, so not able to attend. This was 15 ABCs EMOM. Valkyrie is crushing it.

PM WORKOUT (1410)

OPERATION TACTICAL SLEIGHBELL

TACTICAL BARBELL MASS PROTOCOL Grey Man, Cycle 2, Week 3, Workout 5 part II

Axle strict press from rack
4x3x178

(3) DB incline bench
4x8x75s

DB row
4x8x160

GHRs
4x8x50

Notes:

• Got the rest done after work before needing to get the kiddo. Sped through the rest periods and cut out the ab work to make for time. Pressing felt very strong.

• So now I'll begin the bridge week in earnest, having actually completed the full training cycle.