29.5 Lb sledge in Chris Rice's setup at Gripmas 2009

I will not be updating this for a week or so because i am doing an experimental gripper program and it would not be fair to post it just incase some is really reading this.

Gripmas was a blast. I only beat 1 guy and took last place in 4 of the 5 events BUT i won the sledge hammer event for the heavyweight division. I tied with the best lift in sledge with Bob in the lightweight division (thanks for pushing me Bob Lipinski) I even won the adjustable sledge Bob donated as a prize (thanks again Bob).

The set up Chris Rice built made it alot easier because there was a little bounce at the bottom (for some people it was alot of bounce) and the guide rails made it easier on the desent because you could slide the hammer down that rail and the friction helped. The good thing is this set up made it safe and easy to judge. and thats what is needed for an event to be consistent.

There has been talks about how Chris could upgrade it and change the judging in the future. But this was a great start for us sledge hammer lovers. (I know it sounds weird) Maybe next time the bumper at the bottom could be moved up about an inch so if you bump it and it moves to the bottom, the lift does not count. We will see where it goes from here, but the good thing is it was consistent for all the competitors that day, and i tied for the best lift when we all followed the same rules. Now next time will be different but i am very happy for this time. Maybe one day this can get standardized enough so someone could set a world record, but that will be in the future. So unfortunately there is nothing beyond this comp that our results can compare with but thats okay, i would rather see it get standardized and the set up be available for promoters to purchase from the same manufacture and then i will set and keep the WR. Right now i am just glad Chris got this ball rolling and there is atleast 1 event i do okay at. Thats more then enough to motivate me to get better, ALOT better at the other aspects of grip.

I also met a bunch of great guys, Mike Rinderle, Bob Lipinski, Jedd, Chris, Chad, Dave, Zach and a bunch of others, sorry my memory for names is very bad. And now have plan on working out at Jedd's with his crew. I can't wait, next year is going to be great.

One last thing, I was there to see Jedd set the WR on the 2 HP. What an experience, he is so motivataing to be around, and down to earth, i just can't wait to train with him. There is so much more i can learn from him (on top of all i learned from his blog & e-books already)

I would type more but for now i need to get off this computor for a little while

Last night i did a partial workout. Nothing serious. I am having a really hard time getting ready for Gripmas. I think its because i ruled myself out of every event but the sledge.

Sledge:
5 reps of 1 with 12 lbs
- i took off the tape and held it at the bottom of the handle.
- Bob was right (thanks Bob Lipinski) if i stand the sledge up un the handle and just put my hand low enough for the meat of my hand to touch the platform, my pinky is about 1/2" up from the bottom. It still felt pretty comfortable

RT:
141.2 R & L
151.2 R & L
161.2 R & L
165.2 Missed R & L
163.7 R only (missed with my left) PR

CoC #2
- 3 sets of 2
- way off, i need help with a gripper program that i can do without stopping all other grip work.

2" V-Bar
- 158 5 sets of 1 R&L
- just did this as my stretch, that about it.

Last nights workout was basiclly just bending. I set a PR in the reverse style

1 - 320 lb 6od nail reverse
1- 450 lb 6" Grade 5 x 1/4" reverse
1- 540 lb 6" red nail reverse PR (actualy bent it to 55 degrees, so i have more in me)

I was almost going to try a 600 lb bastard next, but it was getting late, after Gripmas i will really work on my reverse style ALOT.

22.5 lb sledge

22.5 lb sledge, YES !!! I'm still training for Gripmas but this was a big mental step for me. I'm doing it off a platform. It was sloppy but i made it

I took a couple of days off, and i just wanted to go all out tonight. I did a 12 lb warmup, 18.5 lb, 20 lb and then 21.25 lbs. Then i figured i should get the video camera. I missed my first attempt, i got it down to my forehead but it really wobbled on the way up and i stopped. Thats when i knew i could get it on th enext attempt. Now yes i lifted my shoulder, but my wrist stayed at the same level, does my shoulder help that much? Do others do it that way at the comp? We will find out soon.

I tried messing with my Blob too but only got a couple of inches again. I did do my #45 plus 5, which is my PR, but i really ant that #50 blob. Soon, real soon

#19.5 @ 31"

So far so good with my sledge today. I have completed 2 Sets of 1 rep with 19.75 lbs @ 31". No misses so far, but i am trying to spread it out a lettle bit also. Definately is harder then yesterday but i am getting better mentally ready today. I concentrate on lowering it slowley and under control, then it goes up okay from there. So today its all about the decent, it's something else every day. It seems so simple but its going to take ma all next year to really get a feel for what works.

I also ripped a deck of Bikes. It was right after my first sledge lever rep so that is my excuse for it being so tough. I still needed to pull it apart to finish it like usual. I think i will try to go back to half a deck, get a good rip and just increase from there. I'm thinking that i never built up the proper muscles to rip it all the way thru because i started with a complete deck. Proper form should help build the needed strength, lets see what happens

#18.5 @ 32.5"

I think i am burinig out with this sledge work. I don't know?

I did 5 sets of 1 okay yesterday. The first 3 reps were with the wrong weight & length. But i did the proper way for the last 2. I can't even seem to follow a basic chart, wow. i finished with #18.5 @31"

I just had a real hard time doing #18.5 at 32.5" this morning. It was just the first rep (actually second, first one failed) of the day but come on. Should i just do 2 workouts per week? I don't know now. Tomorrow i am supposed to do 5 sets of 19.75 lbs @ 31". If i can not get that done then there is something wrong.
Doing the #18.5 @ 32.5" last Friday was not that tough, now yes i missed 1 rep but the rest felt okay. Hell i missed the first rep today already.

Finished the sets today, so i will do the 19.75 tomorrow and see how it goes. I did the math and doing 18.5 @ 32.5" is like 19.4 lbs at 31". So in theory tomorrow should only be a little bit harder then today. It's a step between today & 20 lbs. If i can make it tomorrow, then i will do the 20 lbs as the next step then jump to 21 lbs and so on. I'm still contiplating going to 16 lbs only in sets of 5 during the day and try for increased reps. I really do not know. there is not enough time to experiment for this year, but watch out for next year. I will be training ALL year for next years comp.

i set up my new handle rollong thunder also. I pulled 141 pretty easy just messing around. So i added 10 lbs and pulled that with both hands. Big difference considering my previous PR is only 156. With some warm up i think i could do more, definately. I may try that next Monday during my workout. i will add it to my circut

#17.25 lbs @ 31"

Only worked out at night, sledge was part of that workout

Blob:
25 reps with my left @ 37.5 lbs
- I spaced it out as if i was doing it with both hands, i just faked the right hand, i did that to set a pace
- I chalked after 7 reps and then every 3 reps (4 reps at the end)
- I really think i could have kept going, but i need to bump up to the 40 lb next time
- this should help for the medley at Gripmas next year, LOL

Circut: 5 sets
Sledge w/ Right - 17.25 lbs @ 31"
Blob w/ Left - 55 lbs, negative hold as long as possible (1 sec?)
2" V-bar w/ Right - 158, 183, 208, 218 (Barely), 223 missed
Axle w/ Left - 150 lbs

2 Hp (after circut)
110, 130, 140, 150, 160 (Missed)

2" Vbar after 2 Hp - 223 PR
- I just pulled it without thinking it was a PR, i actually thought i took weights off but i never did
- It came up really good

Grippers w/Right
- #200 warm up - 3 reps
#2 - MM Set, 5 reps in a row
- now i barely opened it up between reps but it is still pretty good for me
- should have done more but it was at the end of theworkout and i was done for the night

#18.5 @ 32.5"

Last Friday 11/20

Sledge -
5 sets of 1 with 18.5 lbs @ 32.5" during the day
- i missed on the 4th rep so i only had 4 good reps
- i ran out of time because we went out for the weekend
- i had to skip the Sat workout so i did that workout today
- seemed pretty tough, but not max effort

Sat & Sunday i had off and did NO grip at all

#17.25 lbs @ 31"

Gripmas sledge will have a 31" handle and we have to grab it at the end of the handle. Damit, i will just have to make damn sure i have a good grip on it and that my pinky finger gets a good hold on the handle.

I started my sets with 17.25 lbs today and they felt easier but now i wonder if it because i used the 31" mark? Lets see what happens tomorrow.

I messed up my cycle, i skipped a day somewhere when i put it in the spread sheet. And i will be out of town on Sat. So i need to re-think this AGAIN

I did one rep with the 20 lb. Then failed on the next rep at 17.25. It still makes no sense. I need to worry about next years Gripmas and come up with a long term program that tries a bunch of different types of training styles. This way i can see what works and what does not. Maybe i should try high volume / lower weight, like KTA? i really do not know

I had an off night with my other lifts also. Because of the hole in my laft palm i was limited and could not follow a program anyway, but i tried lifting the 37.5 lb blob for reps. I did 2 sets of 5L / 3 R. My left is still definately stronger then my right.

#17.25 lbs @ 31"

Sledge work is alot more mental then other grip feats. Alot lore then i ever expected. On my last set of 1 today, i did not get it. When i grabbed it and started, i was not mentally seeing myself completing the lift. I said to my self the grip does not feel right, it was just off a little bit. and once it got to my forehead it felt like it was really heavy and i could not move it at all. So i stopped and put it down, because it it falls the wrong way you can destroy your wrist. A minute latter i tried it again and the grip was better, i still was not into it though. I got it half way up and then it just stopped. WOW. On Monday i just did 2 back to back reps with 18.5 lbs



The other thing is i was doing this on the end of the sledge. So that could be the other thing. How? well I'll tell you how. When lifting the sledge from your forehead to the upright position, your grip in your ring & pinky finger really come into play. And that because your hand partially opens up just to get the sledge down to your head you have to squeeze that handle more with your last 2 fingers to get it back up as well as wrist strength. (So maybe it will help with grippers Hmmmmm)



Anyway, when putting my hand at the 31" mark on a 32.5" handle it feel stronger. Maybe it's just me but when my hand is at the end of the handle it just does not feel right for my pinky. That must me why i had a hard time doing my sets of 17.25 @ 32.5" but the next day 18.5 lbs at 31" felt ALOT easier.



It's like i just had an ahaa moment. Other people may be interested in this. I wonder if others have noticed this or if it would make sense after reading this. If you actualy read this and do sledge work, please tell me what you think. If it does not make sense you can say that also, it's hard to put into words.

#16 @ 32.5"

So i tried to do a barehand bend. This is what can happen if your not carefull. It was a 60d nail and the head went int my palm. I did this without injury a couple of weeks ago, but tonight i was bending out of anger and i did not pay enough attention to where the head of the nail was in my palm. I never even bent the damn nail, grrr

Before this i did a red nail reverse style. That was a PR at 7". But i did not use calibrated stock and the video was not clear enough to be considered for the Steel Slayer List. Next time, After my palm heals of course

I started another cycle with the sledge today, 5 sets of 1 w/ 16 lbs at 32.5". I was am really suprised that is feels a little difficult. Weird, but maybe sledge work does not need a bunch of rest because i am never doing too much work with it every day. I'll know more when i begin the next cycle, but if thats the case i just will not take a full week off before the comp? IDK

Nothing with my left hand today, not sure how many days off i will need. I do not want to rip it open.

#18.5 @ 32.5"

I am making a prediction for Gripmas. I will get 24 lbs on the sledge. And it will be the best sledge at the comp. Thats right, i will win one of the 5 events.
Today i have to do 5 sets with 18.5 lbs at 31". I did the first rep and it was easy. I'm sure they will get harder during the day, but hey, thats called training. I have off with sledges tomorrow and then i cycle back on Wednesday. So this was cold, no warm up, no adrenaline, nothing.
The next cycle puts me at 18.5 lbs at 32.5", but that almost seems to small of a jump. I may need to re-work my cycle, Nah. Slow progress is still fine, i don't want to get injured. This sysle will have me doing 5 sets of 1 with 21 lbs plus a week of rest before the comp. With a little room to still adjust if needed.

I think doing 18.5 lbs at 31" is easier then doing 17.25 lbs at 32.5". It's weird, unless it also has to do with the fact that i was framing out my basement on Sat & Sunday? The only other difference is the weight was attached to the face of the sledge, today there are 2 weights attached to the sides of the sledge. I'm just glad it is moving along so easy.

I finished the day with 2 reps with the 18.5 lbs at 31". It just felt right. Now after a day of rest the next cycle should be a breeze.

I also got my 45 lb blob +5 lbs 2-3 inches off the ground. I need to keep messing with blob, it will come around

#17.25 lbs @ 32.5"

Gripmas is getting closer and now there are 3 of the top 4 gripsters in th ecountry coming. It's going to be a great learning experience. I still think i have a chance to win the sledge but that is a long shot and would suprise everyone there. But if i can win 1 out of 5 events i may avoid coming in last place. And winning any event against this group is an accomplishment.

Sledge:
5 sets of 1 during the day - 17.25 lbs @ 32.5" handle
- a couple of the reps had to be tried a second time because i failed. But i got all the reps again today. And tomorrow i add 1.25 lbs and go back to 31" handle. Should be interesting.
- I set up a cycle that i have used with kettlebells. Lets see how it translates over to sledge work

1 Arm Axle
5 sets of 1 during the day - 130 lbs
- i went down in weight because i had a real hard time completing the reps the other day at 150. And considering my PR is 160, it was too close to use for reps. Who knows if i should even be doing it this way?
- I may just have to stop this as GTG and just hit it hard 3 times per week. Thats what i'll do and just lift the Blob for time for my 5 sets of 1 during the day

Grippers
#2 hold coin for time
- 23 sec, but i was counting so it's not official. I will use a timer tomorrow and also do multiple sets during the day. I think this may help the best using choker grippers for the comp.

#17.25 lbs @ 31"

During the Day:

Sledge:
5 sets of 1 w/ 17.25 lbs
- damn my hands is still sore from trying to put that 60d into the board, but these are going okay. Tough but do-able. And considering they are all with mo warm up, i am happy

1 Arm Axle DL:
5 sets of 1 w/ 150 lbs
- its hard to believe that 160 is my max but 150 does not feel that tough. I really need to start doing KB snatches and i think this will bet alot better

#16 @ 32.5"

During the day:
5 sets of 1 rep w/ 16 lb sledge at 32.5" on the handle
- spread out during the day like Pavels GTG

1 deck of cards into thirds
- I need to start doing 1 deck per day to get back in shape with these

PM Workout:
1 arm axle
110, 130, 140, 150, 165 (missed, got it half way up)

Blob
37.5, 40, 45, 45 for 5 sec, miss on 50, 3 reps of 37.5 HP (loose grip at the top)

2" V-bar
158, 168, 183, 198, 213 PR
- Damn 10 lb PR, it just feels good.
- My left got 198 but barely missed the 213

Hub
45 broke off ground w/ left

Grippers
3 MM reps with the #2, 1 rep with the HG300, miss #2.5, 3 BFN w/ #2.5, #3 & #3.5

Failed Blob Lift last night

I rested for the full week, plus 2 days. I soaked my hands, got pumped up listening to music, did everything i thought i was supposed to do and when i tried to lift the blob i got it about 2-3 inches off the ground on my first attempt. Great start, right - Wrong, it never broke the ground again all night. I should be happy i guess but all it did was piss me off.
So them i tried my luck at grippers, i knew the #3 would be way off so i tried for the #2.5. And i failed at that 2 times also. WTF. The 2 things i rested up for and i failed both.
Next i put a nail into a board with no hammer. And that did not go well either. I have a video i need to load today. I usually do this in my shed where my bench is solid. last night i did it on my bending table and it has a little bit of give and i think that is what made it so tough. I have done the 3-1/2" & 4" nails a bunch of times now and it took my about 5 tries to get them this time. Then i tried the 60d nail. Now yes this is larger then the nails i have seen others do it with but it is possible. I failed at that a bunch of time and i was loosing my temper. I i made sure i put everything into it. Bam, no good, but my hand still hurts. My palm feels like a big bruise and it affected the movement of my thumb (right hand). It does not seem to affect my strength, just my pain. great, it figures, i usually do something stupid like this every so often. Maybe i should get the DVD on how to drive a nail the proper way. Naaa, that would make sense.

Then came the workout, by the time i was done i set a new PR in the 2 HP (203.2) so all that thumb work did something. I also set a max with the 1 arm Axle DL (160). but my 2 hp was only at 135, may off my PR of 155. But that will come up.

Sledge - 5 sets of 1 w/16 lb (full handle)
1 Arm Axle - 110, 120, 130, 140 & 150
2" Vbar - 68, 113, 158, 183, 193, 203
2 Hp - 115, 135, 135
Hub w/ 25 lb plate - 2 sets of 5 sec

I did try the 20 lb sledge again but failed, i need to be pumped for that one, i'll get it.

Week 4 Day 6

Blob w/ Left - My hand is fried. I finished to workout, and had a pretty darn good hold with the Negative. but after i was done with the walk at the end i tried the #40 with my index & middle finger and it did not more, then i tried the #37.5 with the same 3 fingers and that did not more either. So i tried the #37.5 with my complete hand and i could not get that off the ground either. I was just fried. I shoud ahve rested more but come on, that rediculious.
The walk at the end was tough, it took 3 drops to finish the 1st walk, but only 1 for the 2nd and 2 for the rest. I'm confused, all i knowis i need the rest to see where i really stand

Grippers w/ Right - ho hum, nothing special. the calouses (and the tape of the handles) on my hands have eliminated pain, i just hate grippers compared to all the other grip things. They are just not my strength. My goal attempts were pathetic, 8mm, 8mm & 10 mm. my heart is just into it.
I have decided to get off this KTA and just do 1 killer workout each week. It makes more sense preparing for gripmas that way, i would rather increase my sledge work. I'm coming in last on the grippers no matter what i d now. i will make sure that 1 work out is a killer and see how that goes.

Sledge - i did 1 set of 5 with the 12 lbr. i really like the set up, but i think it;s harder then doing it without the table for support. Now it's all wrist & grip strength. I figure the pinky & ring finger play a HUGE role with this style. I will still break 20 lbs at gripmas. i hope for 24 lbs but that may be pushing it.

hubbing - I did 2 holds for time with the #25. approx 7-10 sec each time with each hand. My right is still in alot of pain so i should concentrate on my left. I barely got the #35 off the ground and the same with my #45 (the 45 is deeper and narower the 35). This could still be in the medley at gripmas so i need to get better.

I'm taking next week off from EVERYTHING. So let see if my sledge & hubbibg increase along with my Blob.

So my next post will have a video of my lifting the BLOB. and that will be on Monday 11/9.

Week 4 Day 5

I'll make this quick, Go Yankees, i need to get back to the game

Blob w/ Left - The Negative seemed to hold for a long time, i'm thinking 1.5 sec minimum. And the walk at the end started out with no drop for the first walk, but the second tappered off more then usual and had 1 drop, then 2 drops but on the last one it was only 1 drop. I can almost feel the blob slipping from the beginning.
I really wanted to try the #50 blob, i mean real bad. So i tried it with my right (after the Gripper workout and the sledge attempt). I've determined that my right is not as strong as my left right now. So i tried and failed about 5 times, with rest between each attempt. 2 times it almost got air, it actually slid accros the mat a little bit so it was close. So if my left is stronger as of right now, and after tomorrows workout i get 1 week rest. I feel really good about lifting that thing.
I re-read the KTA blob and Rich was lifting a #37.5 blob with his index and middle finger, and i'm doing the same for that lift. And his PR at the time of the program was #40. I have not tried that but i'm sure i could do it. So with that little bit of knowledge, it gives me even more confidence.

Grippers w/ Right - My goal gripper attempts were really poor. 8 mm then barely a 10 mm and i did not even measure the last attempt. Maybe i shoud not have messed with the sledge earlier today.
I cut down my HG #200. it seems to make a difference. I'm thinking that the extra range of motion will really help, like the program says.

Sledge work - i built a platfrom that should simulate the set up for Gripmas. I just added some 3/4" plywood to the top of the table that extends for my wrist roller. Perect height.
I messed around with my short #15, i just did a couple of reps. then i messed with the full size #20. I just tried resting it on my forehead and moving it up from there. No Go. I really think i need the negative back to my head to sort of load the spring to get it moving forward.
I tried an actual attempt with the set up and the #20 (after the KTA grippers and before the Blob attempts) I got it down to my forehead, but only moved it about 1" off my head. I think i'm a little too fried to get a good attempt.
But that makes me think, maybe i stop the gripper KTA (after i finish the Blob KTA) and move toward sledge work. I can still do 2 workouts per week with grippers but i can get a good jump on the sledge work before the contest. Especially considering i have a chance to win that event. I guess i'd rather win 1 event and come in last in grippers than do okay on both. Even my best may come in last at that comp in the grippers, but my best in the sledge will really have a shot for first.

Week 4 Day 4

Bolb w/ Left - Getting weaker by the day. The walk at the end has been getting constantly worse ever day. Not by alot but enough to notice. Still 1 drop on all but the last which was 2 drops. It just felt alot heavier today, but i had a bad day at work and was not mentally into it either.
I tried doing the walk with my right and made it half way before i put it down. I may have been able to do a little bit more but not much. My left is definately stronger then my right hand is. So it's not just the thumb work, it must be these holds and walks etc... Now i know for sure that its everything, not just a stronger thumb.

Grippers w/ Right - Nothing special today either. my attempts on the #3 were all at 8 mm. And that was such an all out effort my left pec started to cramp, WOW. after that i tried the #2.5 9i have never closed it yet) and that was about 2 mm. The best i have ever done on that from what i can remember. I'll have to check the blog to be sure. So i will definately be able to do the #2.5 after this cycle, but it's that damn # 3 i want to close damit.

Week 4 Day 3

Blob w/ Left - Nothing new today, still happy with my progress. My walk at the end was not as good as yesterday, 1 drop per walk except for the last set, that i had 2 drops. But with less rest that was to be expected

Grippers w/ Right - Not as good as yesterday, but close. My # 3 attempts were all at 8 mm. I think the less rest had something to do with this also. And i still did not file that gripper, maybe tomorrow.

I did a little bit of hub work. I decided to do #25 lbs for time. I did 2 sets of approx 10 sec. I need to time it next time.

I did a couple of reps with the #12 sledge Right & left earlier today. I still need to add this into the workout somehow. I'm still thinking about how.

Week 4 Day 2

So I worked out Thursday night and with Friday off, and my Sat workout being in the morning, today's workout was at night. So it was like another long rest when i worked out tonight. I kind of liked that and it showed in my results

Blob w/ Left - great workout. My Negative hold was my longest so far, thumb work made every rep and thats with the micro loading of 1 large hex net. and the blob walk, well i made it with no drops the first walk and only 1 every other rep. Now each time i made it less and less consistently but thats fine, it just shows that i was consistently getting weaker but that means i had a good workout prior and nothing left in the tank.

Grippers w/ Right - good workout also. for my 3 attempts with my goal gripper (# 3) i had 8 mm, 6 mm & 6 mm. So i was VERY happy compared to yesterday. I really think it will fall now by the end of this program. So i will not completely embaress myself at the Gripmas contest in December. I still need to file that damn gripper. I just need to walk my lazy ass out to my shed and do it.

So in all i was very happy tonight. and i will definately do it the same way every week. Workout on Thursday night, Friday off, Sat Morning & Sun night. Its like 36 hours between workouts

Week 4 Day 1

Blob w/ Left - much easier workout today. Backdown week. My thumb work is still barely making it because i have been adding too much weight, i need to micro load not 3/4 lb load every workout. So now i will use big hex nuts.
The walk at the end did alot better, only 1 drop in each rep. Bet yet. The day rest and new hand position really halps

Grippers w/ Right - tried my goal gripper as the first part of the workout. I did not measure the first rep but the second was at 12 mm and the 3rd at 10 mm. Still a long way to go, but lets see how this week goes before i get pissed off.

Yesterday as my off day really was a nice feeling, my hands only felt beat up not destroyed like they usually feel

Week 3 Day 6

Blob w/ left - YES, finally the pain has reached it's peak. I just finished the hardest day of this damn program. And it was a killer. I am definately stronger today then when i started so after some rest that blob is dead.
I tried something different during the walk. I tried gripping it with my hand centered on the top of the blob and my thumb still in the middle on the other side. (i was keeping my hands more toward the side like i have seen others do it on video's) but switching it up i was able to carry it noticeably further tonight. I put it down 3 times on the first walk and only 2 times on the others. Big difference!!!! I think it's because now i was able to engage all my fingers, before i was missing out on my pinky. just an observation that paid off. I'll see how it goes for the negative holds next week.
My thumb work was tough again. but i found that if i explode into the rep it was easier then slowely doing the rep. Slow was just not working. i had to do something to finish tonights workout.

Grippers w/ Right - the #4 seemed easier to close tonight. Not to say it really closed but it seemed like it was easier. Just an on day i guess.

I did the contrast baths today, so after these results i would have to say that they really do help. It's in the results. It may not feel all that much better but it seemed to help.

Week 3 Day 5

Blob w/ left - What the F--k!!!! my hand is killing me. It's swollen, throbbing, painfull half way up my forearm and if i was smarter i would have quit by now. But i have come this far, i have to suffer for 1 more workout so i can reap the benifits and there better be benifits damit.
The thumb reps were completed with my right (i'm doing the same thumb work for both hands) but my left failed today. Not like yesterday where re-starting helped me make it. Today starting with the first set i had to restart. After the 4th set i could only get one rep. And the last set i could not even get one rep without help.
I decided (because i'm a f'n idiot) to bump up my weights on the holds. My pinky & ring finger is now the 35 lb hex and the middle & index is the 37.5 lb blob. it's hard to believe because it is hell week and i'm already spent BUT i did it. Now i could not even do either of these lifts when i started. So after some rest i really think that Blob is mine.
I still think i have a chance with my right even though i'm only doing the thumb work. We will see what part of this hell really works.
During the walk at the end i put it down 5 times the first set, but only 3 the following sets. I learned the 5 min rest between sets reallt does make all the difference. Rest is waht makes you stronger, just like Rick Walker says in the program, rest is the key.

Grippers w/ right - Just okay i guess. not much to tell. I think the hell of my left is over ridding my right. This is still in the easy stages so lets see if i feel that way in a couple of weeks.

Week 3 Day 4

Blob w/ left - WOW, it is getting tougher every day now. More than once i saw stars and it got dark after i dropped the blob. I was squeezing so damn hard i almost passed out. The thumb work barely made it. A couple of sets i needed to start over because i could not complete the reps. The negative thumb is going to kill me. I am very carefull because it seems like i'm going to pull my thumbs out off my hands. My hands and forearms burned most of the workout, after EVERY REP. And they still do right now, an hour and a half latter.
For the walk at the end i bumped up to the 37.5 lb blob. I was using a 35 lb hex (half a 50 with a magnet holding an additional 10 lbs). I wanted to make sure i get the most out of this damn workout. It sucks so bad, i need to reap every bit of gains i can. The first walk it dropped 2 times, and the next 2 walks it dropped 3 times. What a difference at the end of the workout. I think this is the way i'll finish the workout if possible. I was cautious to do it with the 37.5 because i'm doing it in my basement and its not easy to drop that much weight. but i set it up so i'm walking over 3/4" plywood at a minimum at all times. I just moved everything else out of the way for now.

Grippers w/ Right - okay, i really need to cut my HG#200 i'm using for overcrushes. I have nt tested myself yet so for my warm up i did. Stupid to do in the middle of the week, stupid. I closed the #2 with both hands (have not lost anything with my left even without the training) then i closed the HG 300 (it's a little easier the the COC #2.5). Which ties my PR. Then when i tried the #2.5 i missed both times. Not even really close compared to my PR. but considering i'm in the middle of week 3 i should not be suprised. but it still pissed me off.

No more trying to wear gloves to bed, they did not last too long last night. And i did not feel like doing th econtrast baths tonight either. It seems like the icy hot stuff makes the biggest difference, and it's alot easier then doing those damn contrast baths.

Week 3 Day 3

Blob W/ Left - Todays workout took a little extra time because it is getting tough. My hands feel sooo swollen right now, they just ache. My holds on the negative went really well tonight but the thumb work is really getting tough. The negative thumb felt like it was going to pull my thumb off. And the reps got so touh that i had to re-start a couple of sets because i just could not get it shut all the way down.

Grippers w/ Right - Feels great compared to my left. LOL, i just can't believe it seems easy compared to the blob workout. I really need to cut down the #200 so it is harder, maybe this weekend.

I tried sleeping with winter gloves on. I only made it until 1 AM but i tried. I read somewhere that by keeping the hands warm, they recover faster. I don't know if it really worked, and i do not know if i will ever be able to tell. But i'll try it again tonight

I did not do contrast baths tonight but i seemed to warm up pretty quick. No difference before the workout. And the soreness i have now could be from the actual workout. I'll do the contrast tomorrow and see how sore my hands feel when typing this in 24 hours from now.

Week 3 Day 2

Blob w/ Left - Sore all day and then i decided to put on some Biofreeze (wraming gel) on my thumb pads top & bottom and that really loosed it up and i felt really good. I di the contrast bath before the workout again also. I actually felt really good. I struggled holding the negatives on the thumb cable, i just could not keep it down for the last 2 sets with my left (right was okay). And the walk at the end was still okay, i did not have to put it down at all. Probably because it is a hex blob, but i can not keep dropping an actual blob just to get the walk at the end. And the lightest blob i have is 37.5 lbs. That is the only thing that may limit my sucess with this program.

Grippers w/ Right - still okay as far as pain of the calouses. I'm glad they finally toughend up. I found i can get a better close on the Negative with the #4 if I use both hands and push it against my thigh.

Week 3 Day 1

Blob w/ Left - Felt great. I had longer holds (milliseconds of course) on the negative hold. And i only dropped 1.3 lbs on my thumb work from the end of last week. So that not bad. I previously started at the same weight in th ebeginning of the first 2 weeks and then added 1 horseshoe every day. So i weighed the 5 shoes and they were 3.3 lbs. I changed the 3 lb weight for a 5 lbr.
the inner part of my thumb felt better, it has caloused over nicely. And the walk at the end wasn't bad either. But i had a day off, i bet i will not be saying how great i feel tomorrow night. I hope so, but i dought it.

Grippers w/ Right - Felt pretty good. The calouse / blisters are now calouses. So i think between the tape on the gripper handle & corn huskers lotion plus the day off, really helped. They are actually caloused so much that i really need to sand them down before the next workout.

Week 2 Day 6

Bolb w/ Left - what a f-in killer. The burn is so intense i can't stand putting down the damn thing after a lift. But in a sick way i enjoy the pain. And the negative hold really seems to be getting better. But i've actually got a calous on my thumb, like a war wound.

Grippers w/ Right - the tape is really helping but the blister/calous is still there and painfull. But i know it wil go away. I came really close with the #4, i had my partner sheck and he said it looked closed but he could not say for sure and he did not hear it. I', thinking i'll get it next week for sure.

Sledge - 2 reps of 1 w/ 20 lbr
- I did this with my arm supported on the ice chest
- went really well, i think i needed more of a warm up because i had 1 failed rep before the 2 good reps
- The side of my thumb is killing me, I was going to just push through it and start on sledge heave next week every day. But after talking to Bob, i think i'll start with 1-2 good organized workouts next week. Sounds like its easy to over train with sledge work. We'll see how it goes.

Week 2 Day 5

I decided to try contrast baths as a warm up. I started in the hot water and finished in the ice water. It seemed to work pretty good, but my hands are so damn fried anyway it's hard to say if it really helped.

I did it right after the workout also, just added some more hot water and used the leftover ice water. Seemed to help my hands recover a little bit more than last night. But once again my hands are killing me so it's not a definate

Blob w/Left - My thumb hurts from ring on the pully. But besides that its still a killer workout. Alot harder then the grippers KTA. The walk at the end actually hurts more when i put down the weight more then when i struggle to hold it and walk. I'm glad this is not that long of program

Grippers w/ Right - Still painfull. I find that i have to push against my thigh to some closer on the #4, i tried to crush it like a pc of steel but that does not do anything but crush my pinky. My calous / blister is still killing me too. that sould calous over after my day off on Friday, i hope

Week 2 Day 4

Blob w/ left - I re-read the program and realized i was cutting my walk at the end in half. So i doubled the length today and what a difference. The extra sets today killed and the extra walk really burned when i was done. It actually hurts more after i put the weight down for some reason. IDK, it's been like that the whole time, just alot more today.
Plus my wrist was really sore today, i don't know why but it was just sore. Could be because i did the sledge work in the afternoon, duh !!! that makes sense now

Grippers w/ Right - I still could not come very close today at closing the # 4 for the Smooth out Negatives. It seems to be going backwards every day. Good thing i know this works, but i am still questioning it because i never messed with the #4 last time. Only the # 3.5 in the last 2 weeks (approx)
I need to file down my HG #200 so i can do the Overcrushes with that. I am only hesitent because my left may not be able to use a cut gripper yet. I guess i'll worry about that when i do grippers with my left again. Maybe i'll never do my left, i really hate grippers right now anyway.


Sledge Work - I bought a 12 lb sledge today. And i did some sets / reps with it. I just needed something to do reps with to build up my strength & confidence. I'm still mentally aftraid of the 20 Lb. I've still not tried it since Texas.

3 sets of 3 reps Right & Left.

- I'll get more but i wanted to start somewhere.
- Sledge work is definately what hurts the side of my knuckle. Atleast i know now where the pain is coming from.

Week 2 Day 3

Blob w/ Left - By the end of the workout i was spent. Doing the walks at the end were really tough. It was alot harder today then the last 2 days. And now tomorrow goes up in sets, great, i'm not looking forward to that. But i just need to keep telling mysepf that is works and this is all worth it when it's over. Atleast its only a 5 week program, compared to something like 11 or 12 weeks for grippers

Grippers w/ Right - Pain, Pain & more pain. I re-read what i did the first time through and decided i needed to step it down for the over crushes. So i dropped than down to the HG #200. Not atleast it is more like what Bill describes as an over crush adn not a negative crush that i will be doing soon.
My palm where the gripper posts is killing me. I just have to suck it up and move on but it is difficult to ignore this pain. It is from going the Smooth out negatives with the #4. I did not even come close to closing the #4 on my leg today. I really started to hate grippers today and i'm only half way through week # 2. It's going to be a long cycle. Damn contest, i just have to close the #3 at Gripmas and it's all worth it.

I tried some hubbing but the best i could do was the 25 lb R & L. And that was only a few times. My hands were just too fried. I even tried to pinch 5 dimes but that barely made it off the ground. This is the first day that my grip was really fried after the workouts. So i did not even attempt the sledge hammer. I need to eventually but not right this moment.

Week 2 Day 2

Blob w/ Left - another really strong day. Definately held it for 1 full sec two times. Progress. I keep on feeling stronger. I'm convinced that after this is done i will lift the blob with my left. Especially considering my blob is not extra slick.

Grippers w/ Right - better then yesterday but still weak. I closed the #4 two different times (while pushing against my leg of course). I need someone to see it because it feels like it closed but i'm not 100% positive. Then on my last attempt while pushing against my thigh, i rolled my wrist and dropped the gripper. It does not hurt but i'll know more in the morning.
I still have a hard time with the negatives on the #2. Even with help closing it it feels like its coming open. I can't win. Maybe i should use the #200 for these?
Tape on the gripper is still helping alot, i mean they still hurt but not nearly as bad.

I think my right will benifit from this as far as blob work in concerned because i am doing the thumb exercises the same with both hands. So the Blob thumb exercises are over riding the thumb exercises from the gripper KTA.

I broke a key today. I've bent one in half before but these are tough little buggers. This time i just kept bending it to about 45 degrees, flipping it over and bending to 45 degrees int heother direction. After about 5-6 times it just snapped. I've tried that before but it hurts so much after the first time i could not keep it going. Now i think i can do it better knowing what it takes to snap them. Good training for the walnut.

Week 2 Day 1

Blob w/ Left - Feeling very strong. the extra sets today were a little tough but bot as bad as i thought. Next week is the killer week.

Grippers w/ Right - Not a good showing tonight. The tape really makes a big difference though. If you are reading this and doing the KTA, tape the handle that goes in your palm, thats the best thing i have figured out in a while.
I just felt weak, it's weird. I could not close the #2 for the overcrush without help, and then it did not feel like it stayed closed the whole time, definately not a over crushing feeling.

On another note, i put a 4" nail into a 3/4" board today. And only used a face cloth folded up in my palm to protect it. It took me 11 tries to finally get it. It's mostly mental. But it's also tough to have the nail hit straight down on the board, it kept on going in on an angle. I need to practice and maybe look for a shiny nail so it goes into the wood easier.

Week 1 Day 6

Blob w/ Left - first week down, and definately stronger. My negative hold got closer to 1 sec. So after the workout i did some misc lifting. Then i tried my #45 (half a #90). Before this week my best was 1" off the ground 1 time, thats it. Tonight i did a full DL with a hold at the top. Damn!!! Never before with my left. Basically that tied my PR i had with my right hand. Incredible !!! And that was after the workout. This really works, i ned to send Rick a PM to thank him.

Grippers w/ Right - the tape is really helping my hand, i wish i would have done that from the beginning. And i really think i'll be able to close the #4 for my Negatives. (it would show progress)

Sledge - I tried resting my arm over a chest freezer, considering thats the style for Gripmas. I warmed up with the short 15 lb'r. 2 sets of 5. then i did 2 sets of 1 with the 16 lb'r. No big deal, just wanted to mess around. I'll try and get serious next week and do reps with the 16. And once i get 5 sets of 5 with the 16, i'll bump up to the 20. The biggest thing is i need a spotter because when the sledge it straight up and your arm is resting on something, it is real easy to loose control and i do not want to get injured. (That happens anyway) Bottom line i will do the sledge work like kettlebell presses.

Week 1 Day 5

Blob - still doing well. The negative hold was atleast 1/2 a sec on the second set. Progress

Grippers - tapped the whole dog leg side of the gripper. And it helped even more. There is still hope my hands will make it again.

Week 1 Day 4 KTA

Blob work with my left is working. I know i held the negative longer today than any other day. And i did not need to stop and rest during the walk at the end. I will be able to tell on Monday how good it is going because of the increased sets. But i'm real confident.

Grippers with my right is doing pretty good too. I put athletic tape on the base of the handle that posts into my palm and it seemed to help. I've tried taping my hands last time i did the circuit and it never stayed because of all the chalk. Tapping the handle was better because it stayed and did not bunch up either.
I felt better doing the negatives with the #4 also. I'll eventually close that while pushing it against my thigh. I still can't believe people can close this at all. But that alone motivates me.

Week 1 Day 3

Day 3 of my KTA venture. My right hand is already sore where i post the gripper. It's going to be a long, long couple of months. Good thing is the new weights i used for the blob work made a big difference. The walk at the end was alot tougher. And the Negative in the beginning really seemed like i almost held it for a fraction of a second. Small fraction, but i felt stronger today then yesterday.

Kettlebell workout was short
Swings: 4 sets of 10R & 10L w/ 40 Kg
- I really think these swings will help my axle DL.
- It seems like not to long that i could only do 10 & 10 with the 32, even though it was almost 2 years ago. Progress , even though its slow, is still progress.

I tried to Hub at the end with no warm up, no can do, i could not move the 45 or the 35 with either hand. I i did not have the time to take the 25's off the bar. So i proved that i really need alot of warm ups when i hub. I'll try it again on Thursday and see how it goes

Week 1 Day 2

I started out messing around with a thick bar DL as my warm up. I think i could do better if i would have gradually increased weight. But i did 110 lbs, then 160 lbs. with a couple of failed attempts at 160 afterwards.
Still fine tunning my weights for the Bolb KTA. I increased them so i should be closer to muscle failure tomorrow. the same weights today just seemed alot easier then yesterday. So after the workout i experimented a little and increased the weights accordingly.
KTA Grippers was okay, the #4 is still tough on the skin and i used 2 hands for the #2 overcrush.
I also did a little hammer levering after the KTA's. I used a home made hammer that is only 28" long. But it is 15 lbs. I just 3 sets of 1. I'm still worried about my right knuckle but it seemed to be okay. Maybe it's more of the reverse bending that aggrevates it.

Start of KTA - Week 1 Day 1

No Weigh in (But i ate an incredible meal a new chinese restaurant)

I decided to go to Gripmas Carol 2009 so i started my training today. And for anyone that may read this, my plan due to time & injuries is: Grippers w/ Right, wide pinch w/ Left. So i started doing KTA grippers & KTA Blob today. One hand each.
Then for the Axle DL i figure doing alot of swings with the 40 Kg KB will help train for that. And the Sledge Hammer part, i will train for that after my knuckle gets better.

Grippers - felt pretty good, but the first 2 weeks are always easy
Blob - Not bad either, but this gets real hard real fast.

I must remember to keep using the corn huskers lotion so my skin can tough it out. That stuff works wonders

???

Another day of being fat, but atleast i'm eating alot of food i like. I'm sure that is also affecting my workouts lately also.
Tonight i did some swings with the 40 Kg. I'm just trying to do things that do not hurt the side of my knuckle. I also did some hub work.

3 sets of 5 - one hand swings
1 set of 10 - one hand swing
- the swings felt real good, i figure they will help with my 1 hand axle DL at gripmas
- Go for sets of 10 next time, its the easiest these have ever felt. (Maybe snatches soon)

Hub 25 R & L
Hub 35 R & L (PR on L)
Hub 45 - 1" off the ground R & L (PR R&L)
- I learned that it takes alot of reps to warm up my hubbing. I could not get any movement on the 25 foe the first 5-6 attempts. Once i was warmed up i did the 25, followed by the 35. And then got air on all 3 attempts on the 45. So in total i did about 13-15 attemts / reps.

I tried the 16 lb sledge with my left (because it's my right that still hurts) - almost went through my head. I hit it pretty hard too, i was seeing stars, LOL. I really think my sledge work needs warm ups. So i will grab the little 10 lb'r from the gym in th enext couple of days. Maybe that will help

???

I don't know my weight and i really don't care either. I'm eating everything that is easy to make because my wife has been out of town for 3 days. Next weel will suck also because she is getting her foot operated on. I'll staet dieting again, ummm!!, Mid October?
Doing really bad with my grip ever since the comp. I got the 16 lb sledge yesterday and i could not even do one rep. Bending on Monday sucked also, i got a 7" red nail to 15 degrees but my hand is really painfull. Its the side of the knuckle of my index finger. That may be why the hammer went so porely also
I need to concentrate on kettlebells, maybe bump up my press weight to 88 lbs (40 kg) to help my grip. Also maybe a cycle of grippers and some thumb work for wide pinch. Anything but reverse right now. And i'll hold up on heavy levering also.
I'ts just depressing to not have anything working for me right now, atleast i peaked at the comp like i wanted to.

I just wanted to update with with how i did at the steel slayer showdown last week. I took 2nd in the heavy weight division. If there were no weight classes i would have taken 3rd out of 12 guys. It was alot of fun, and i met some great guys down there. I set a PR in the reverse style. I did the 500 lb 1/4" grade 8 bolt on my second bend, then did a 5-1/2" x 1/4" grade 8 on my next bend. My elbows were killing me but i did it. DO was not that great, i did a 510 bastard after i failed to do more then kink the 555 lb x 7" Edgin. That was a dissapointment. PR in the braced bending by doing the 8" x 500 lb spike. And horshoes, well i really need to practice them alot more before next year.
After the comp they got me to try sledge hammer levering. I've messed around with the 1o lbr at the gym, but never had a structured workout with them. And never tried anything more then the 10 lb'r. I did the 12 lb'r and it was pretty easy. Then i did the 16 lb'r and that was easy, Paul asked if i had that on video yet. I said no, because it's no big deal, it's only a 16 lb'r. So i put it on video. Then Casey say that and said it was way to easy and i should do the 20 lb'r. I told him i could not do it, i tried but it almost went through my forehead. When i showed him the sledge he laughed and said that was a 25 lb sledge. So i ended up trying the 20 lb sledge. and to everyone's suprise i did it. Form was not the best but it was not terrible either. So then everyone gathered around and then Rex showed up. they went over all of the rules now so i could do it the right way (Texas style) i did it, wow that felt great, i was so punped. when they reviewed the video at the :52 sec point my wrist dropped about 1/2" lower then my elbow. damit, now i have to do it again. My next attempt failed miserably. But thats alot of sledge work considering i don't do it, and i had been bending all day. anyway they agreed it was a good job, not official but still with a little practice i could do better, alot better. So when i got home i wwent to the store and bought a 20 lb sledge. the 16 lb is also on order so i'll have that soon. Just another grip hobby that will not help me loose weight, but i'm having fun.

283.4



Yeah, yeah, yeah, i went up in weight again. I know, this blogging still does not help me to get motivated to loose weight. I'm to excited just working on grip stuff. But as soon as my wife get her foot operated on and all healed up, i will start paying attention to my weight. She helps motivate me and her foots been broken now for over 3 months. I no its no excuse but it my easy way out. I still love eating food, alteast i have not smoked in what? 4 years? i stopped counting. That was easy to quit because i just stopped. Eating is so much harder to control because you still have to do it a couple of times every day. When did you hear someone come back from re-hab saying the doctor saif i can only have 3 drinks a day? or no more then one line a day for me. NEVER, every other addiction has you stop that addiction completely. That the only way to overcome those demons. But not people addicted to eating, we just have to suffer. And that is why i feel most people who diet always go back to gaining weight eventually. very few are sucessfull. Some, but very few compared to all of us who fail, time after time.

This does not mean i'm quiting, i'm just saying why it is so hard for me. I'll get it again. It's not loosing the weight thats hard (shit i've lost 100's of lbs over the years) the hard part is maintaining it after i loose it. Like the last 2 years when i lost 60 lbs, then i gained back 70, lost 25, gained 15. I am the perfect example of a rubber band. Just last year i was working out 2-3 times per day for 6-7 days a week for about 4 months. And lost nothing!! why, because the more i worked out, the more i ate. I was in great cardio shape but i was still fat. I must have been the fatest person that could still run at a decent pace. I was at about 260 when i ran a 5K in about 28 mins. Nothing supburb but not bad for my weight.

281.4

Well i lost a little from last week, not as much as i wanted but with the Holiday weekend, anything is better then gaining weight. I will keep it going and hit it hard this week. I did not do any cardio either since last Friday because i have been fighting a cold.
Great bending night last night. I got a video of the Grade 8 reverse bend (1/4" x 6"). And then i followed that up with a 610 (6" Bastard) DO for the SS List. It was way too easy. Then i finished off my Edgin that stopped last week at 2-3/8". I used crush pads but it closed to 1-13/16" pretty easily. So at that point i gave up on my KB press / grip work out and Bruce convinced me to go for the 655 (6" Bastard) DO for the List. I did it and and even crushed it well past the 2" mark. Then i calibrated it and only came up with 630 lbs. Thats okay, i'll take a 630 bend for the list. That should stay on the list for a while. Besides, now i can increase that because it crushed real easy compared to the hex's, G 5's or Stainless. I think Gazza was right on when he said prectice with Stainless and CRS will feel like butter. Thats the goal.

???

After a really good pig out eating day yesterday, i'm back eating better today. And today i just messed around with alot of calibrating bending stock. So i did ALOT of partial DLing. Up to 800 lbs for a G5 x 5/16 linear "S". Doing that is a really good workout, alot more then i expected.
I did some bending also. I got a 535 Edgin to 2-3/8". All that did was confuse me a little bit. It was harder then the 525 hex, so maybe the G5 is as hard as a hex to crush. And i think the Brass is also harder to crush then CRS. I guess it is like CRS is just easier then everything!!!!!!!
I also got my Blob delivered the other day. Finally!!!. I'll try it tonight but i dought it will even break the ground. It has a rust colored finish so it has some friction compared to some of my others, but i still think it will be a while before i get this off the ground at all.

Tonights workout went well
5 sets of 1 / 1 presses with the 32 kg
5 sets of 2 pull ups with the 1-3/4" rubber band
5 sets of 2 for the 2hp @ 115 lbs

1 complete horshoe, 2 misses
reverse 1/4" x 6" Stainless Steel Square to 30 degrees
reverse 7" red nail, barely wobbled
500 lb spike, iso's over knee, 2 times of 6 sec each, slightly more of a wobble (with old leather wraps)

Blob:
37.5 R & L
40 R & L (PR for my Left)
45 half lift R & L (PR for my Left)
hard 45, 47.5 & 50 never made it off the ground

282.2

My first official weigh-in in a couple of months. Not that great but atleast i lost weight this week. I went to the gym 2 nights and took KB class. So i'm starting back on the right track again. I feel like a drunk that keeps falling off the wagon, getting back on again etc..
I killed the 525 lb x 7" Hexabastard DO, i think i actually have a little more in me. Next is the Edgin at the comp !!!! But atleast i am on the Steel Slayyer list for now. 3 rd place for the moment but i do not thank that will last too long.
Then i tried for a Red Reverse and i barely got a wobble. There is such a difference when you compare weights in different sizes. I'll get it eventually.
I also rolled up a little T-fal frying pan. I needed something else on Youtube so my non bending friends had something they can appreciate. I tried fr a 1,250 pg phone book but i could not get it. I think my habds were just spent at that point. Maybe next time i'll try that before i do a bunck of bending.

283.0

Ok, the weight is coming down a little bit. I'm finally trying again this week.

Tuesday i did a kettlebell class at the gym. It really kicked my ass. I need to get back into cardio. But i made it even though my leg is really sore.

Last night, 2 huge PR's for me in bending

DO:
Red Nail (420) - No problem
7" Hexabastard (525) - PR (Steel Slayer rules) - crushed it to 1-15/16" and it was not bad on the crush. The kink seemed tough, and so did the sweep, but i lowered my hands on the crush and it made a hue difference. I got the idea from watching Eric Milfeld's video.

Reverse:
60 D (320) - Very easy
Grade 8 (6" x 1/4") - Not calibrated - PR - 2 hits took it to 42 degrees. Alot easier then i expected.

Bad thing is i did not get any video's because i did not think i could really finish either bend. Oh well. Atleast i'm making some realy good progress.

285.0

Wow, i need to get back on track and fast. This is my first weigh in in a long time. And now it will serve as motivation to loose some weight again. I will be working out tonight, tomorrow etc... I can't go back up to 300.

Bad night for bending & kettlebells. I did 1 set of 1 rep with the 32 kg for presses. And then i jumped into bending, i started with a St Croix Lite 2. I just it started okay and even got it to 90 degrees pretty good. Then the battle was on. I could not move it at all pulling it on my knee so i went back to my thigh. Nothing. So i switched to my left thigh, and while i was pushing i felt something move under where i was putting all the pressure, but i kept on pushing and it moved a little bit. Bad part is now i have a hole in my thigh. It seems like i pushe apart the muscle fibers. I don't know but it hurts and keeps getting worse. I'll know more when i wake up in the morning.
So i should have been done for the night but after a 15 min rest i figured i needed to do some DO. I know i was not able to jump on that 525 hex so i tried a 475 bastard. It was unusually hard to kink. And even the crush took all i had. But i got it. So then i did some iso's on some older crushed red nails, and they would not move at all, So i put them one in the crush pads and i got it to 1". So my weakness is definately the crush in the leather wraps. I will try and work that every night really hard and take a week off before the comp. Lets see how it goes.

??? (still no weigh in)

It has been a while but i am back from Vacation and i will do a better job of updating this blog.

My weight is way up, i have not stepped on a scale for a long time. Starting tomorrow i am back on weight watchers because this vavation really put my over the edge with my eating. Hopefully writing about it will help me also.

Bending is doing pretty good. I've been training for the Steel Slayer Showdown (SSS) and i have noticed progress in all of my bends. I recently made a devise for calibrating also so i can see my progresion more accurately. It make a BIG difference. Now i have found that my 7" shiny's were onle at 440 and the bastards were at 475 and the hex's at 525. That explains why i never could do a hex, and why the 6" shiny seemed easier than the 6" bastard and 6" golden bastard. But it is all doo now because i calibrate every batch i bend now. It is sooooo much better that way.

I am almost at 530 for my DO. I came real close with a 530 pcs of stainless that eric sent me, i just needed crush pads for the last 3/16". So i think i can finish that soon, definately by the comp.

My Reverse is actually around 440 for a 6" pc of 1/4" square CRS. I only got that to 26 degrees but 40 degrees is not far off now.

Braced, i did a 475 lb 8" spike. That took EVERYTHING i had. So i'm thinking the 455 at the comp but a goal of 500

Horse shoes are still a question. The problem is i have never done any of the shoes at the comp so i do not know how they rate. I do know that i killed a Diamond Classic 0 and when i first started it took me 3 aorkouts to get that same shoe to almosy 90 degrees. So all of those used shoes really helped so far. I'll just keep doing the used ones and see what happens. Yhe only problem is all of the EASY looking shoes are bend. So now i am making a pile of shoes that i can not do (after i try them) so if nothing else i am getting alot of ISO work for the starting position. I should add some ISO at the mid point and the end position.

Kettlebells have been off for about a month also. Between Bruce and I going on vacation seperate weeks, and both of us being injuried at different times. It has been over a month since a good Kettlebell press workout. I plan on starting them up again tomorrow and hopefully doing some manmakers (snatches & running) to get back in shape. And i need to go to class again on Tuesdays at the gym.

I still have a lump on my left palm (below the base of the pinky finger where the grippers post against the plam). I've tried teatree oil, it helped but the lump is still there. It does not seem to be as sore so hopefully i can do a full KB workout. I'll know soon. But i am still staying away from grippers & wrench bending for now. After the comp i will go and see a doctor (maybe).

I did make progress with my Dead Lift. I was talking to Eric Milfeld and when he heard my PR was 475 and my grip was my failing point. He said to try a mixed grip. I did and i pulled 500. I still have not done a DL workout in a while so i was very happy. I'm thinking i can get that number up if i can start an actual workout routine. The bar never even left my palm using the reverse grip. What a difference. Now it is my back & leg strength i can work on. Finally, i can get motivated about DL again. It's been over a year, and that time only lasted about 2 months.

Bottom line is i am still training for bending and i am going to start on my weight next. Plus i will start up with the kettlebell presses tomorrow also and maybe DL.

???

Another bad week with my damn eating. I am just not motivated to loose weight for some reason?
Last nights work out
Warm up: Ripped 2 books (Architectural digest, not thick but the colored pages make it tough)

Presses: with 32 kg bell
1/1/2/2, 1/1, 1/1, 1/1, 1/1
2HP 120 lbs 5 sets of 2
Pull Ups with a 1-3/4" band 5 sets of 3
DO with IM wraps - 3 pcs (one at a time) 1/4" square x 7"
Horshoes - 3

I did ISO's on the DO with a G2 x 5/16" x 7" in IM wraps - 2 sets of 3 sec
ISO's with horshoe with an un movable show - 2 sets of 3 sec

*** I will try going the ISO's as a warm up between the first 2 sets of presses and then bend between the last 3 sets and see how that goes. If it is too intense for a warm up i will go back to doing them at the end, i'm just trying different things. Maybe ISO's are just for non bending days? Who knows?

???

I am definately weighing in next week. I finally started running today, so i am using that as the turning point. I only completed 3 laps today before i popped out a rib and went to the chiropractor. He said my wrist pain (actually the vertebre that affects the wrist) was 100%. WOW first time in over 2 years. So that functional movement from that RKC a couple of weeks ago really did work. I need to start a thread on DD to thank him next time i get a free moment.

I braced bent a 8" x 3/8" spike yesterday. It was very hard to crush between my legs, but i got it. I looked at my video from a while ago on youtube and i did that one in like 30 sec's. this one took everything. Tough thing is i do not know what either calc'd at. I really need to do that set up!!! Plus i was not wearing any shoes, so i think that makes a big difference. I need to do a spike every day or so now, plus all those ISO's.

Presses:
1/1/2/2 rest 3/3
jog 1/4 mile
1/1/2/2/ rest 3/3
Jog 1/4 mile
1/1/2/2/3/3
jog 1/4 mile
1/1/2/2/3/3 Popped rib, done for day

???

Still no weigh in for a while. I will try to get back on track again next week. I plan on starting my jogging again on Saturday, so i will know more at that time.
Last night work out
32 kg Bell
5 sets - Press 1/1/2/2

Between sets:
5 sets of pull ups 2 reps with 1-3/4" band
5 sets - 2 hp - 3 reps @ 115 lbs
Reverse Bend - 60 d nail (leather wraps 2" from ends) total of 5 nails
Horshoes - used - Leather wraps - total of 3 shoes

After Presses were done:
1 Frying Pan ($10 Pan from Grocery store - 12" Dia)
37.5 lb Blob r & L
1/1 - not full pull
1/1 - full pull
1/1 - 3 sec hold
1/1 - 5 sec hold
40 lb Blob (only brike it off floor, not by much with either hand)

All together it was a good workout, i need to increase the bending between the sets. And i will do DO & Braced on Mondays & Reverse & shoes on Thursday. But i need to do ISO's every day of each type on other days.

No grippers because of a painfull lump on my left palm right where the grippers hits my palm. I really should try them for just my right, it will help with the frying pan.

???

Still no weigh in recently, and definately not tomorrow!!! I need to get back on track with my damn eating.
Did my first "work out today" and i only had pain for the first set of presses. But it went away after that. Now granted it was an easy night of presses so i can get back on track, SLOWLY

*** Presses - 5 sets of 1 with the 32kg bell (felt really good overall)
during the 5 min rest between sets:
** Pull Ups - 5 sets of 2 with the 1-3/4" rubber band (not easy but i did them, atleast i did not go backwards during my break / revovery peroid)
** Rolling Thunder - 5 sets of 2 with 141.8 lbs (started to get tough with my left on the 4th & 5th sets but i made them)

*** Blob 5 lifts with the 1/2 of a 75 lb
- held for the count of 3
- left missed on the first rep & only count on 1 on the second set, good after that

*** Bending
- Finished the 16oz x 12" framing hammer (felt really good about this even though it too me a couple of days to do it, i will get another one to kill it in one shot on video next time)
- Could not move the 24" x 5/8" bar that was already at 90 degrees. VERY painfull ISO's should help to kill some nerve ending.

???

My weight is a question at this point. Ever since my wife broke her foot, standardized weight watcher meals have been tough. It just proves i need to try harder to stay on track. There is always something throwing me off track but thats life, i need to get on with this somehow!!!

Last nights workout was mostly trying to get a double door into my basement. But because i did not account for the fact that the double door is bigger then the stairway, we had to completely take the new door apart and then re-assemble it once it was in the basement. Damit!!!

But considering i needed to start working out again after my recovery time, we did some stuff.

2 Hand Pinch - 5 sets of 2 with 135
*** Started out slow, we need to incorperate some kind on a warm up for this.
*** We did not do our presses between because we had no time, but i really think those presses fire up the hands just right to be used as the warm up. For some reason i always do better with grip exercises during my 5 ladder press workouts with a kettlebell

Bending
- Killed another horse shoe. And this one i was supposed to be using for ISO's. My training partner helped me tweek my technique a little bit. I was trying to do what everone on Grip board / You tube does but now i have adjusted my technique. The beginning is the same but after it goes half way, I do something i have not seen on you tube yet, but it works. And works well. I will try and see if Dave Wigren from Grip Board can watch a vidoe for me to see what he thinks. I figure he is not going to the steel slayer showdown so they will still be suprised, and he is he is really good with shoes. I'll check with him latter today.
- Killed an 8" wrench. It was a monster, not like the cheap wrenches i brake at party's, this one was a real challange. So now i will go buy a couple more so i can work on them, plus it helps me train for the SSS also.
- I found a 22 oz framing hammer, i will be getting it and see how it bends. I would like to add that to my youtube page, it should look really cool. Unfortunnately it costs $23 so i can not afford to get a whole bunch of them to do at partys, but it adds to my list of cool stuff to do.

271.8

Bad day eating yesterday but i still lost some weight. I considered it bad because my wife broke her foot and my daughter cooked. And she used way too much butter when she made us grilled cheese. I need to learn how to cook, or my wife needs to heal up really fast.
I have decided to take a break form all working out! Not my first choice but i need to heal myself. My right palm still feels like it is a deep bruise, my fingers on my right hand still feel numb every so often. And my right heel feels like it is bruised now too. I donlt know what i did to hurt my heel but i am limping around and it will not seems to go away. So my heel stops me from running or Dead Lifts, my palm stops me from kettlebell presses, horse shoes, grippers, DO bending. Basically every kind of exercise is affected. And after hearing from Ben & Tim on Grip Board (2 of the top benders) both suggested i just rest and heel up. And they have both experienced something similiar so i am not alone. Whick makes me feel better.
So now i really need to watch what i eat so i do not baloon up again. I really need to keep loosing this damn weight. It is getting on my nerves.

273.4 (271 last friday)

I have been VERY busy lately but i think i will be okay for a while now. Bruce and i decided to take this week off from our normal workout but we layed out how we are going to proceed in the future. His body just needs some rest, that all. My right hand needs rest too but thats too bad. i can rest on vacation (maybe)
My weight has still been doing okay. I took 2 weeks off recently and i only gained 2.4 lbs. And then the first week back on track i lost that plus 3 lbs more. So now i am thinking this week i can finally be in the 260's. That will really make me feel like i did something.
Since my last post i have added some items to my grip workouts. I now have a fbbc pinch block, FBBC 2" V-bar and an Iron Mind 2" loading pin and Rolling thunder.
I pulled approx 178 on the V-bar in my first workout and 156 on the Rolling Thunder. But now i need to train for a while and try PR maybe every other month or at most every month.
We decided that there will be 3 main grip exercises, so 1 per workout, and that will be 2 times per week until the weather gets cold again. We will still do the KB presses and follow my schedule of slow by steady progression. Inbetween the sets of presses we will do sets of grip, and also the sets of pull ups. The grip will be as followes: 2 HP, 2" V-bar & RT. We will start at a given weight (approx 75% of our max) and we will do 5 sets of 1. Then the next time we use that implement we will go for 5 sets of 2, and finally 5 sets of 3. In a perfect world we will increase the reps each work out, and after 5 sets of 3 we will increase the weight the following workout and go back to 5 sets of 1. How much we increase the weight will be a guess at that time, but i think maybe 10 lbs. I will know more after the first weight increase.
I am also starting up the KTA gripper program again. I am half way into my first week of Phase 1. I am using different grippers for each hand because i am going for the #3 with my right and #2.5 with my left. It worked really good the first time so i think i need 2 more times completely through to be able to finally close the #3. maybe a 3rd time to do it as a CCS (credit card set) which i need to get certified as a COC on Irom Minds web site
And this is my first week of my Dead lift program. I got the idea from someone on Grip Board. It is from the Dragon Door Website. I like the concept because it is only 3 times per week and i do not have to change the weight every workout. actually the first 3 weeks i use the same weight the whole time. I joined a race to DL 550 lbs. Everyone else can already pull 500 so i am way behind at 475 but atleast it has me motivated to start DL again. I need to training for the TSC anyway.
I am also training for the Steel Slayers Showdown (SSS) in Texas this October. It has 4 events: 1) 7" DO 2) 6" Reverse 3) Horshoes 4) 8" Braced. The catch is that the wraps can only be 1-14" DIA when rolled up without any steel. This is going to be really tough. I have never done Reverse, and i am still new at horseshoes plus the wraps are so thin i can not do anything better that a red nail. It is my kink i need to work on.
So instead of always writing a novel, i will use this to post my workouts and written updates on Fridays, the day i weigh in.

274.0

I am down from last week, but i am not happy about it. I was at 272.6 yesterday and even though i did not go over on my points, i gained weight. Damit. I need to get to 269.8, i just want to be in the 260 for change. This 270+ weigh in's are getting old. I has 10 weigh in's in the 280's (9 in a row and one after i was in the 270's) and now this is my 7th weigh in that is in the 270's. It has really put me in a bad mood.
And not i have memorial day weekend so i will be eating ALOT on Sunday. So come Monday i need to get back to running, but more then 1 time per week. I will still run on Wednesdays but do them as man makers and start keeping time on them so i can see my progress. I will also get back to doing cardio / snatches atleast 3 times per week, some how, some way but 3 times min. Then i will also keep trying for the Saturday stair runs at the High School, but of course the next 2 saturdays are out already (fishing trip & then Rich's wedding).
I have rested for the last 2 weeks on my presses & pull ups and bending. So now i am ready to give it my BEST shot at the Grand Shiny today. I will have Paige video me when she gets home from school. Then i can move on to training for the Steel Slayer Showdown (SSS). If i can not get this bend after all this rest, i need to take a step back and bend other 5 1/2" stock first. And i also wanted to kill a 6" Edgin. I think that will be easier for me anyway, and it is rated higher on the Nailmans Top 20 list.
I got my 45 lb Bolb today. And it was the numbered side. That was a nice suprise. So i will know next Thursday if i can lift it. I'm thinking i will break it off the ground and thats it. But if i start there i will be happy. My 42.5 lb is easy because it really old and has a rougher finish (it almost brown instead of black).
Last night i did the 37.5 again with my left. I actually got it a couple of times to a full dead lift. Then i got the 40 # about 1" off the ground. That is the first time i broke it off the ground with my left.
In the pinch block, i only got 57# with my left (PR 60#) but it felt tough all night with both hands so i think it was ust an off night. That may also be because i did not do any presses to fire up the muscles. I think next week i will start the contrast baths as a warm up before workouts and see it that helps. Not all workouts, ust grip workouts.
Earlier in the week i got the 2HP up to 145. So that is gradually getting better. And the hub lifting is getting there also. I really need to micro load that 25# hub so we can work toward the 35 lb'r. We did try adding two 21/2" plates and Bruce did it with his right & left, but i had no chance because i did a gripper workout just prior to this workout so my grip was already fried.
Grippers. I got the #2 down to 4 mils with my left and the #2.5 to 4 mils with my right. I still have another week left on the KTA program and then i will rest for a week and i think that will be my best shot at closing them. I am so confident that i will get those attempts on video. Considering the most rest i have had from grippers in the last 2 months is 1 day, a full week should do the trick. I have definately gotten stronger doing the program, ust not as strong as i thought, but like i said it is not over yet. Some progress is better then nothing.
I just can not wait to get done with these grippers so i can get back to Dead lifting, ripping cards etc. Next time i will make sure i do not start in unless i have 2 months i can sacrafise my other training for. (like maybe never) I'm not saying i am going to give up on grippers, i ust want to see if i can still make gains doing them 2 times per week, thats all. If not, that should atleast maintain the strength i have gained and then i will try it again some time in the future.

274.6

Finally, i broke the 275 mark, Yes!!! Next is to get into the 260's. One step at a time, atleast it is still coming off. averaging 1.3 lbs per week.
Tuesday i did class at the gym. We finished up with 144 snatches with the 24 Kg. Hy hands felt great but my shoulders were kind of sore.
Wednesday night i did Man Makers at the track with he 16 kg. I finished all 5 sets & laps. So now i can start timing myself and get faster & faster. they are a good way to really burn fat. Now i just need to mix some 15:15 in the morning and i will be set to really start taking this weight off. But i can not start that until after i finish the KTA gripper program. And that has 2 more weeks to go. Then it is all snatches, deadlift and bending. Grippers will take a back burner for a while. I'm thinking just 1-2 times per week for grippers, that will halp me maintain my gains until i have 3 months again to really hit it hard.
My shoulders are really sore, i did not do presses past night either beause of it. They were sore on Wednesday so i really concentrated on driving my hips with ever rep during the man makers. But it has not gotten better, so i will take a coule of days off from lifting. Plus it could help me rest up for my Grand Shiny bend i want to do next friday. It's just hard not to bend this weekend but i have to hold off. I have had my best bends with long rest between.
So i need to do alot of running this week i guess, not a bad thing, i can only help.

281.2

Okay, i gained again over the weekend but what's new about that. I will take it off again and then some. I need to break 275 this week, some how. But i need to figure out my lunches again. I have been slacking lately. Time to start making an extra meal just to pack up for lunches.
Grippers are still moving along, just 3 more weeks of this and i will see if it worked, more like hom much it worked. Because i know it is working but i still can not close the #2.5 Anyway, i am now using the #3.5 for the Negative crushes with my right. Now that is a challange. And i started using the #2 for the overcrushes with my right. I am so fried with my grip i can not quite close the #2 right now but it is within 1 mm so i use it anyway and just help it closed with my left.

276.0

It is okay but not a great weigh in. Yesterday i was 275.2! So i tried to experiment with having the wings at lunch again. I guess it did not work this time. But the other thing is that i did no cardio last night either. There is always another damn variable that messes me up. Bottom line is i need to just pay attention to what i eat all the time, and thats that. Hey, it is coming off, slowley but it is coming off and that is all that counts.
Last night was the hardest night for the whole 10 week gripper workout. bar none. Bot because i did pinch work before the workout. Just the amount or reps total i needed. Plus i just got my #3.5 so the negative crushes really sucked. I had my palms all taped & chalked and after every rep it hurt to stop more then it hurt during the rep itself. And i kept on questioning why i ever wanted to do grippers in the first place. I still did not get any closer to closing the #2.5 but lets see after i have some time to rest up. I'm thinking 2 weeks after the program is done will be my best shot.
Bruce and i set up a board with our workouts on it so we can follow our progression with the KB's & grip training. It lists our PR's and our current workouts. It will be very helpfull for the future. We decided to split up the grip and do it during the rest for our presses (with the pull ups) So Monday's are 2 HP & hub lifts and Thursdays are pinch block & blobs. Then when we get the rolling thunder & 2" V-bar we can mix them in if we can or just add them to Saturdays workout. We will see how it goes
We also did some ripping last night, another thing that fried my grip before my gripper workout. I did 1 deck of cards, 2 small 1/2" books and the tool catalogue (with colored glossy pages).

276.4

WTF? That is 2 days in a row that i ate 20 wings at Whistlers (near my office in NJ) and 2 days i lost ALOT of weight. Lets see how i do for the rest of the week but i would be happy if this weigh in was on Friday. Maybe not because it is only .6 lbs below my lowest, but to get this far already this week is a big suprise. If nothing else, i know what i am eating when i go out to eat when i am at the office. It tastes great (i got the wings extra crispy this time) and i is just the right amount for lunch. Not too much, just right.
The question is why is this working? i would love to try it for a 3rd day in a row but i am working from home today. I still think it is because i am motmixing any carbs with all that protien! I am doing the protien shake in the morning and all that protien for lunch abd only a couple of carbs at night.
I did class last night at the gym. It was a great workout. We did some overhead holds (with a 24 kg) and also some farmers walks with the 32kg. the farmers walks were for 3 sets of 1 min with a plank inbetween. Killer. I barely made the last set. I mean barely.
We finished up with a bunch of snatches, my favorite. We just did 5/5 every min for 4 min then rested for a min (actually 1:30 rest) and repeated 4 times. So the last 2 sets i did the last set straight through so i did an extra 10 reps per last 2 sets. The best i did was 5/5 3 straight times with no rest. So i am getting there again. The best part is the fact that i did not wear any gloves and my hands felt great. I mean i did not have any pain at all. It is the new style i figured out (not letting it hit my fingers, just the tips by closing my fingers more). It went so well i am thinking i may try messing around with the 32 kg soon. If it works for that, i am going after the SSST in both the 24 & 32 by the end of this year.
Grippers went okay. I am feeling stronger but i still think i need alot of rest before i actually close that #2.5. I got to 8 mils today. Nothing great, but i am getting there mentally. I bet i could close it if i rested for a week before i tried again. I will know more when i am done with this program in a couple of weeks. I am still not close to the #2 with my left. It's sad because i am about 16 mils away. My strap holds are even sad with my left. I do them for 7 sec but a can barely make it with 10 lbs for my left but my right starts at 12.5 lbs and finishes at 15 lbs. IDK
I did learn a new exercise from Brian for my thumb strength. It is doing presses but hanging the bell off of my thumb. It is tough. I started with 3/3 at 20 kg's. I think as i can max out this weight my thumbs will really explode with strength, which will really helb the grippers and pinching work. Nice.

280.6

I ate really bad yesterday but i still lost weight because the 20 wings i did for lunch was not mixed with any carbs. I really think that is the trick. Every time i do that for lunch, i still loose weight!!! I will have to keep an eye on this, i think i found the trick to my body, or atleast one of them.
The workout last night was alot of fun. After the presses (easy day - 5 sets of 1 w/ 32) I also did 5 sets of 1 with the 1-3/4" rubber band. It seems like it took me forever to get to this but i am here. I made all 5 sets but it was not easy. I think it was more of a mental thing, i'll get there
We also did a bunch of pinch work. I did not have to worry about grippers so we had at it with pinching. I got a bar and set up the 2 hand pinch devise. It was real cool to finally do it. I maxed out at 115 plus the bar. there was no collars so the br was only about 5 lbs. i will weigh it once i get the collars all set up.
I also did the blobs toward the end and i did the 42.5 again with my right but even better is i did the 37.5 with my left hand. We also did 2x4 pinch blocks. I think we maxed out around 65 lbs. I did it only with my right but Bruce did it with both hands. My left was not even close. We really need to get a board so we can start keeping track of this stuff. It would be alot easier.

???

I went out for sushi last night, and followed up at the American Bar & Grill with appetizers, Martini and Bannana Fosters for desert. So it was a great eating night for me. We actually had a Kettlebell Group outing so that it made it that much better. There is something about being part of that "team". They are all great and i think now that there is such a great group that is always there week after week, i can use them as kinda like a support group. We are all working out to get in shape or be in shape after they lost a bunch of weight (Dianna). So considering we all have dieting & exercise in common, i feel like i would be letting them down if i started putting weight back on.
Anyway i went to the HS this morning and we did the hard day for presses. I did 1 rung of 4 and 4 rungs of 3 all with the 32 kg. We do 1/1, 2/2 rest about a min then 3/3 etc. Then we rested 5 mins between sets. So during the rest we sprinted the stairs for 3 sets. That was a killer but by the tme my heart rate came back down it was time to press again. After the last set we jogged a lap at about 10/mile pace.Now that was really a killer. I would like to be able to job after the sprints between every set but it will take some time to get there.
After that i took my daughter to the gym for another kettlebell workout with Brian. That was a killer too. So i can only hope i burned off what i ate last night.

278.2

OK, i am up from last week, but only by 1.4 lbs. Considering i ate real bad all week, that is great. I had a box of pizza for lunch on Wednesday and a box of Pastina on Thursday. So it is a good confidence boost for me. I will do really good next week and i will be down around 275.
Grippers are still moving along. I did all single workouts this week and they were a killer. The strap holds on my left kept dropping in weight during the workout. the first set was 10 lbs, then 7.5 lbs and finally 5 lbs and each set barely made it. actually the first set last night missed by 2 sec. But my right hand stayed steady at 12.5 lbs straight through.
I still do not know how far i am really progressing with the grippers. I will know more in a couple of weeks.
I ordered the COC 3.5 & 4. So i can start using the 3.5 in my workouts for the NC. that is what i am supposed to use anyway considering i am going for the 2.5 close. They will be here soon.
We did the medium press day and it was actually pretty easy. Because last week was only a partial week we are still sticking with the 5 sets of 2 for the medium day.
For my pullups i did 5 sets of 5 with the wide band and they were real easy. So easy that i put on the next size down band and got a single rep at the end of the workout. YES. So now next week i will start with my 5 sets of 1 and see how it goes from here.
I had a great night with the blobs also. i just started last week adding them inbetween the sets of presses. I maxed out with my right hand by doing the 42.5 to a full Dead Lift for the last 3 reps. My left only did the 35 lbs each rep, i never could get the 37.5 all the way up. It broke the surface but that was it, maybe 1/8". But considering last week the best with my right was getting the 42.5 about 1/2" off the gound, to do 3 full reps (1 per set) this week was incredible. I think that shows doing it once a week is good for me. Even with the gripper workouts.

???

I still have not weighed in this week. I can not be good but it has been so hectic, and will be so hectic all week the weight thing is taking a week off. So next week i will have to loose what i gain this week. Same old, same old. But i am not giving up damit!!
My grip sucks right now. I had to do the gripper workouts in one workout per day for Sat, Sun & monday and now i will do that today also. It makes the workout so much harder, and i can tell by how the strap holds go down in weight after the first set. Not good.
I tried some bending last night. Bad idea. I did a 5.5" x 5/16" stainless rod. I got it to 90 degrees in 20 sec but it never moved again. I even tried using my legs to brace bend it and it would not go anywhere. I would like to blame it on the fact that my whole body id still sore from the full contact basketball game on Saturday or the face that i slet for 6 hours the 2 nights prior to the bend or that i was up at 2 AM yesterday morning, but i still got the kink with no problem. I measured it and it is exactly 1/4" off center. But i think there is a sticking point at 90 degrees that is my problem area with DO bending. It is the 3 time something got stuck there at that same exact spot. Once with a 5" grade 5 bolt and once with a 6" bastard now this, hmmm
I gave up on my kettlebell workout last night. the press (1 L & L with the 32 kg) was way too hard, then i only got 3 pull ups with the rubber band. So i was obviously not having a good night.
Now in hind sight i should have just waited until Friday again. That seems to be my strongest nights for bending.

???

No weigh in because it is Saturday and i really pigged out last night. I will eat all weekend and get back on track on Monday.
Very strong the last couple of days. Thursday was the great blob workout that i already wrote about. Yesterday, my day off from grippers, was a great bending day. I know i shuld not have done it but i will be away today so i had to.
Only one bend but it was a good one. I killed the Huge Shiny Bastard! It is 6" x 5/16" Round Stainless Steel. Kinked it realy easy, sweep was good, crush was okay. On my last crush it just stopped and was going no further. Luckily it was under the 2" mark. Only by a 1/16" but it was under. The good part it that it only took just over a minute (maybe 1:15) so if i had to i could have kept on hitting it. It just felt like i wasout of power though. but considering i have 5 min to do it i could have rested and kept going.
I posted it on Grip board and i am getting a pretty good feed back. They all think i should go kill the Grand (5.5") next . Everyone seems to think i can kill it pretty easy but we will see. I was only the 9th person to ever finish the Huge Shiny. So that alone is a great feeling. It also puts me on the top 20 list for 6" steel, YES. I just need to figure out how that works next.

276.8

I finally got below 277, but i did not loose that much since yesterday! I was kind of pissed off but a little progress is still progress.
Grippers last night went okay. I added the magnet to the strap hold and still barely made it. My left hand is still so far behind my right hand. I can not even some close to closing the #2 with my left. It is over 10 mils easy. And on my right i got around 2 mils last night as my second warm up. I still think that is not bad considering it was the end of the week for the grippers so i was at my weakest PM workout. Considering at my best before this program i could close it 2-3 times but only with about 3-4 days rest.
We did our hard workout for presses last night and it went along pretty easy. (no sat workout this week so i skipped the medium day) and inbetween the presses i bumped my pull ups to sets of 5 with the think rubber band. i felt really strong again on pull ups. I think i can move down to the next size band real soon. If it goes good again next Monday, i may try it next Thursday. Just because how easy the first couple of reps feel, i'm ready.
We tried something new before the pullups this week. Bolb lifts. Yup and they actually kept on increasing during the work out. I started by juggling the 25. That was not bad until the chalk rubbed off, then there was no chance to grab it. Next round i did a full dead lift with the 37.5 with my right. My left actually broke it off the ground, barely!!! The next round i was feeling good so i did the 40 to a full deadlift with my right for the first time. Yes!!! So for the last round i tried the 42.5 and i actually got it to about an inch off the ground. OMG i can not believe how far i am progressing with these blobs. It must be from the Dynamic Thumb exercises during the gripper workouts. It's the only thing that makes sense.

277.4

Another 2 lb loss day, Yes!!! Now i just hope i can have another day like yesterday and i am good for the weigh in tomorrow. It is alot easier to be good with my eating on Thursdays knowing i have a chance to loose weight for the week. Ever since i started the protien shakes again, i have been loosing pretty steadily (so far) I was stuck in the mid 280's for ever, it was about 10 weeks i was in the 280 to 289 range. That was getting very tough to stay motivated but i got through it and now i am making progress again. I just want to get down to 269 soon, I think mentally to be in hte 260's is a big deal for me moving forward.
My grip training will make it through the week but next week will be a killer. The workouts have progressively increased in reps this week and then next week they will continue some more. I barely made the strap hold with my left (at 10 lbs) last night and missed it by 1 sec this morning. My right made it (@ 12.5 lbs) but not by much. So tonight i will add the magnet and next week start adding very small amounts of weight. I still could not close the #2 in the warm up again. It was a good 4-6 mils away even on the 2nd rep with my right. I think it is these Negative Crushes this week, they are a killer.

279.4

I still think i will make weight this week, not by much but i will make it. Yesterday was kind of tough for me, alot of stress at work so i snacked all day. Good thing is i only went over on points by 4 points so it was not all that bad. I just felt really fat at night. So i was very happy this morning when i realized i still lost weight and am still on track for the week. I can suck it up and make it today & tomorrow.
My grip seems to be recovering a little bit. I used tape on my palms last night & this morning and that really helped. I pushed my strap hold up this morning to where it was on Sat 10 & 12.5 lbs. I barely got the 10 and not much better on the 12.5. Now i need to start micro loading, somehow? I will start with the super magnit i have and then that can hold a plastic bad with coins in it i guess?
I did nothing with grip yesterday except for the gripper workouts, and i will do the same thing today. I think that will give me the best chance to make gains on the grippers.
My warmups have 2 reps with the #100, 200 & #2. It seems the 2nd rep with the #2 is my strongest rep. I take a brake between the reps on the #2 only. and night time is still the best results. Last night i almost closed the #2 (maybe 1 mil) on the second rep compared to this morning i did not come that close (maybe 4 mil). But with how fried my grip has been lately, i am not concerned at all. The next 2 weeks only get tougher, so after that i will see how much i really gained, if any!