Thanks dude. Axles don’t flex so all the weight comes off the floor at once and it’s definitely tougher for most people to pull on including myself, but not by a large margin. Also, due to the thickness, you’re technically pulling with the bar slightly away from you. Not sure how much that actually comes into play.
Btw looks like you’ve got me beat on human pressing 
The trick with human pressing is the form. Start lifting girls, then start working up to crossfitters, then average people, then eventually random powerlifters you see attending strongman competitions. One light day then one heavy day works best.
Aren’t axles really expensive too? Elitefts has like a ridiculously expensive axle set up, like $3000 or so.
$3000 dollars? I was thinking more like 2 inch pipe from home depot for like 50 bucks with some couplings of sorts. Even the ironmind axle or rogue axle is like $200-300 range. I’m pretty sure nobody pays the 3000 retail price for those fixed axles. They probably get discounted hardcore to strongman promoters buying them in bulk or some shit. Even then, people make them themselves for much cheaper, so…
Yeah, I know, it’s pretty ridiculous lol. I am not sure if I am allowed to link their site, but: https://www.elitefts.com/super-axle-with-hubs-with-8-0-75-inch-plates-and-8-375-inch-plates.html .
Though it does come with a lot of plates, so I guess that is part of the outrageous price. It’s definitely not some I would buy though.
“Go bankrupt AND place 11th at your local strongman show, BUY NOW”
Yeah…I remember googling “strongman axles” back in like 2011 when I first wanted one and seeing that. Fucking. No. Thanks.
Pretty much. If you want to see something really disgusting, check out Eleiko competition bars and plates.
Also in all honesty getting on PEDs would be a better use of money that blowing 3k on a piece of equipment. 3k worth of PEDs would probably get someone’s deadlift up 100 pounds in two or three months.
To be fair, Eleiko bars are really really really awesome. Plates, eh you could probably use rogue plates instead but Eleiko barbells are second to none. Think of it as a 1k investment. Having been lifting with Eleiko bars for the past couple of months, normal cheap barbells seriously feel like crap.
12/13/16 - BW 221
Burpees to Pull Ups to Log One Motions (log 110lbs empty)
x10/x10/x10
x10/x10/x10
x10/x10/x10
Farmers Deadlifts (no straps)
210 per hand x5,3
260 per hand x3
300 per hand x2
350 per hand x1 had a double, maybe a triple, heavy.
Front Barbell Hold
45lbs x459s absolutely horrible. This needs to be a minute. Not sure why it’s so hard.
Log Clean and Press (clean all reps)
110x3,3
160x3 all one mot
210x3,2 one mot
230x8 reps in 63 seconds, first 5 were one motions, but meh not good enough. I didn’t plan to do an AMRAP set so I wasn’t being as hasty as I normally would. Definitely can fit 8 in 60 seconds consistently. I think that’s a decent number but I’m not too sure. I got 7 last time, but 8 would tie a PR.
Sandbag Carry to Load to 48"
200x20’+load, repick, run 20’ +load
200x20’+load, repick, run 20’, +load, repick, run 20’ +load
260x20’+load, repick, run 20, +load
260x20’+load, repick, run 20, +load almost failed the second load, lower back spasming real good, yay!
Sandbag Extensions (lap, and simulate a load over a bar but bring it back down to lap and repeat)
260x14 omg I wanted 15 but I was fucking FRIED. RIP posterior chain 1993-2016
Laps with the 260 were surprisingly easy. I remember that bag being so heavy. Slight issue with the load over bar with the large bag and I thought I’d struggle iwth the lap and the load would be easier. Apparently not :l
Also, the worst part about sandbags is putting them back where they came from. What’s even worse, is when you tell yourself, “instead of dropping the bag on the final rep, I’ll just walk it back to where I store them so I don’t have to relap it and move it!” except I forget every time. The misery
True, quality bars do matter a lot with Weightlifting surprisingly. Even rogue bars feel amazing compared to normal barbells.
12/15/16 - BW 220. Early morning workout. Back is still questionable. I really need to take it easy for the REST of the week, even deloading on deads. I hurt it again on the sandbags last session, but not the pick. Rather, I felt something hurt when I went to turn around while carrying the bag. I think the twisting motion fucked up my back, or at least made it worse. Anyway, did something that wouldn’t bother my back too much. I did not warm up for this workout at all besides ascending with the lift.
Strict Overhead Press
45x8
95x8
135x5
185x5
235x1
255x1
275x1 failed a second which is pretty embarrassing. I misgripped but that’s a pretty poor excuse. I’m not as fat as I was when I hit 300. I was actually WAY heavier back then. Around 10-15lbs more than I am now.
strip set (no rest)
225x9 very angry AMRAP set, and very sadly not 10.
Log One Motions
110x3,3
160x3
180x8 all in succession without relapping. Bicep=ow.
Side Laterals
x15
x15
x15
x15
Band Pull Aparts
x15
x15
x15
x15
Lol, so embarrassing, I can’t even believe you had the gonads to post such a bad lift…
the sarcasm in my statement was strong, if it wasn’t evident.
Also, awesome work with the sandbags, I need to start playing with mine a bit more but the fact that it is outside and currently -22 degrees Celsius, I’ll wait for a bit.
That is still a crazy press, irrespective of bodyweight. You’ve been putting out some awesome stuff dude. You got a show on the horizon?
Thanks man. I’ve definitely put on some strength at a lower body weight and it’s nice to not feel completely fat all the time weighing near 240. 215-225 actually seems so much more natural and I don’t feel weak at all like I would be worried about when I was heavier.
Anyway, I’ll be competing on the 14th of January at Brute’s Strongest Man IX in Virginia. Been a while since I’ve competed, should be interesting.
12/19/16 - Became a bit sick the previous few days and I ended up skipping a deload squat workout for my back. Was able to do cardio on the day that it wasn’t freezing balls outside. BW 219, sort of deload deadlifts but clearly not really.
Sumo Deadlifts (kind of)
135x5,5
225x3
315x1
405x1
500x2 felt ok, back feels fine.
Side Plank to Front Plank Twists
x10
x10
x10
x10
Burpees to Pull Ups
x15,x10
x15,x10
x15,x10
x15,x10
12/21/16 - Well this back injury has stifled all of my lifts tremendously. I have no power. I’m not sure why this is happening.
Log Clean and Press (clean all reps)
110x3,3
160x3
200x3 actually getting kicked in the dick by a 200lb log, I feel like I’m not in my own body atm.
200x3 walked up to this and just stopped being so contrived and “perfect” and just launched it over my head.
250x2 almost died on the 3rd clean. Lower back just gave out
250x3 pathetic, i can triple 300 on a log clean and press. That ambition is long gone clearly. How can I go from
270x3 beltless, easy but my left hand got in the way of a falling log and the lip that houses the inner handles hit right above my radius on my hand and cut it open.
It’s on these days that my aggression and discontent just fuel a momentary fire. I’m very chronically injured, albeit nothing too serious, but it’s persisting and I guess it’s a good time to lay off. I mean all the training I needed most is done already. 3 weeks out and there’s not much else to do but rest and try to just master repetition of proficiency. The sets felt weak, but mostly because any time you get close to a contest you start looking back on how hard you trained, and because time went by so fast, it makes you forget the days you payed your dues and busted ass. Now isn’t the time to become frustrated, or preoccupied therein. It happens every time a contest is looming. Oh well.
Band Pull Aparts and laterals, done.
Rest up and heal fellow North Carolinian. Strong work all around.
I’m too dealing with various ailments right now. Sometimes it just hits hard. You’ll be on the other side soon.
Thanks dude. Wish you well also!
12/23/16 - I skipped front squats last week so this week I wanted to give it all I had but with a light weight to give my back a break. Definitely pleased with how this went.
Burpees to Pull Ups
x15/x10
x15/x10
x15/x10
Front Squat
135x3,3
225x3,3
275x1
275x25 PR by 9 reps with this weight, wow.
I’m hoping my PR today was as much of a testament to conditioning as it was with a strength increase.
Front Plank to Side Plank
x15
x15
x12
x12
x12
12/25/16 - Still trying to hammer conditioning in any way I can. Will likely end up having two more weeks of only moderate training (which turns out to actually be contest weight anyhow lol) followed by a week off and then the contest weekend. BW 222
Deadlifts (10 conventional, 10 sumo stiff leg)
135x10,10
135x10,10
135x10,10
Pull Ups
x10
x10
x10
Sled Drags (can’t put weight in today, street is wet, sun is gone, tire is full of water anyway.)
280x50’
280x50’
280x50’
280x120’ hey, naturally, this sucked. so that’s cool.
Log Clean and Press
110x3,3,3
160x3,3,3
210x3,3,2 these felt pretty disgusting, last set of 2 was swift and I hit the groove pretty good.
230x2 I seriously cannot stand this implement…
230x5 took belt off on 3rd rep, simply cannot clean a log with one on.
230x5 finding a weird thing where if I squat down but not too little, and just right, I can get a super powerful and conservative clean, but I don’t know how or if I can even tap into that accurately and reliably at show time.
230x5 much better
Had plenty more sets, but finding the groove on the cleans is actually a great thing for me. I’m not sure why I failed to hit that exact spot on the clean before. Saves time and energy.
Carry Medley (atlas stone and sandbag)
180x50’, 200x25’
90 sec rest
180x50’, 200x50’
90 sec rest
180x50’, 200x50’
90 sec rest
180x50’, 200x50’
90 sec rest
180x50’, 200x50’
Gah, can’t wait to rest. Just not now.
12/27/16
Split Jerks out of rack
135x10,8,8,8,8
185x5.5,5,5,5 surprisingly very difficult
Log Split Jerk
110x5,5,5,5,5
160x5,5,5,5
Neutral Grip DB Shoulder Press
40x25
40x25
40x25
40x25
Side Lateral
40x12
40x12
10x20
10x20
Band Pull Apart
x20
x20
x20
x20
x20
You okay sir? Those are my kind of weights…