Showing posts with label Strength. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Strength. Show all posts

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Step Ups Or Split Squats?

Aren't debates fun? Maybe not presidential debates since it's mainly who's got the bigger dick or brains to "run" the country but when it comes to fitness, debating on a good leg exercise can spark either something controversial or a elementary whinefest of "my dad can beat up your dad" mentality. To it's extent, both have their pros and cons and they work the leg muscles in similar but different aspects to work the lower body.

Now, when it comes to Step Ups, unless you utilize weight or some form of variation, I see it more of a conditioning type exercise because the big objective is to work the cardio effect of the exercise. Maybe not to the extreme level of high reps Bob Backlund does but Step Ups can be a continuous strength movement because you're moving the legs upward in a higher elevated capacity as opposed to walking up a flight of stairs which is only a few inches off the ground. When you're working a step around average of 12-15 inches high, you're utilizing most of the leg muscles (roughly the quads and hamstrings) and working the hips in a longer capacity. Going for high reps isn't easy but it does save pressure on the knees and you can keep going for an extended period of time depending on how many reps per leg. Some do a 3x15 per leg approach but others like myself work each leg to a minimum so we can keep going for sometimes up to a half hour or longer. 

With Split Squats, IMO, it's more of a strength based exercise because whether with bodyweight or even with dumbbells in each hand, you don't have to do a ton of reps to get the effect and it hits a lot more of the quads along with the repeated movement for the knees. You're going to be more sore from these than from Step Ups because although both are unilateral movements, SS focus more on elevating the lactic acid effect in the quad muscles. You can do high reps per leg if you wish but you're not going to feel all that great the next day and you're putting greater pressure on the knee joints than you would with Step Ups.

I utilize both in some capacity although I prefer Step Ups because it works better for my previous leg injuries. When I do Split Squats, I either use my strap to put one foot in and work a few reps that way or do them Isometrically which strengthens the joints and avoids the lactic acid buildup. Split Squats are my least favorite leg movement but I do see the value in them in some form while others are fanatical about them with a love/hate relationship. I would never do one or the other to failure because for one, that can lead to an injury, two, I want to be able to walk upright the next day and not feel like an 80 year old man wanting to die and three, I want to have that strength and lung capacity to keep going without tiring when I need to do something that's important or staying active without being in horrible discomfort. 

Both have their place whether for bodybuilding, sports training, rehab or whatever. Just be smart about how you do them and not let ego get the best of you. Trying to break records all the time will only cause pain and agony, let them be effective so you can stay strong in the long run. If you need more than a couple days to recover from either one, you're pushing too damn hard. Be objective and focus on making both work to your advantage and progress without needing to do a ton of recovery. The most I would ever do for Split Squats would be a few sets of 10-15 per leg and that's it. I'm not trying to go so hard that I can't walk right afterwards, that's just not my thing. For Step Ups, I pick a number I know I can do for an extended period of time and do that per leg and keep going, At the end, I'm able to do on average around 300-500 total in a workout, around 700 in just over 30 minutes and get in 1000 within 41-45 minutes. This works for me and it keeps me in solid condition and be able to hike, ruck, play and other things without gassing out quickly. You always should have some gas left in the tank after every workout. 

So which one should you do? I say go for both in some capacity but if you had to pick just one, do what gives you the best benefit. Either one will. Be amazingly awesome and work them legs. 



Monday, January 29, 2024

A Sandbell Leg Workout That Is Simple But Brutal

 I like to test out different things when I train, find a creative way to do things or get ideas and mold them to my liking. One such idea was combining an animal movement with squats using the 70 lb Sandbell. The idea is to duck walk with the Sandbell for distance and then without putting it down, do squats. 

I tested this out by doing a 5 yard Duck Walk with the bell and then do 5 Squats, rest and repeat. Managed only 3 sets before I just wanted to die, it was that nasty. It's one thing to bear hug and carry something like that like a "normal" person but to be in a full squat and walk in that position and do squats immediately after is a whole other level of crazy. The sheer burn or lactic acid in the legs along trying to breathe with a sandbag to your chest. This type of leg training builds some serious strength and muscular endurance. Add this to your arsenal or just as a stand alone and you'll feel it right away. 

Start out with a lighter weight like a 20-25 lb bag and work your way up, it's not as easy as it looks, the less weight, the more sets you may be able to do, once you get past 50 lb or more, it's going to work you with incredible prejudice because you're not just fighting gravity, you're also trying to coordinate and stay balanced while handling something awkward. It's both a strength and cardio exercise. Not to mention trying to hold the damn thing with your arms and your grip will make you stronger too so you're getting a full body workout.

Give it a go, use a Sandbell or just a heavy sandbag and see how you do. Workouts don't have to be very long and when you do something like this, rest well between sets. If you can do this with a heavy bag without stopping the entire workout, you may not even be human. It's a good challenge if you got the grapes to try.  

Friday, December 22, 2023

70 Pounds Of Fury

 Xmas is right around the corner and this year, one of the cool gifts I got was the 70 lb. Sandbell Pro. I've been wanting to increase the weight from my 50 lber that I've used for years now. It came yesterday and just immediately wanted to play with it. Even to go as far as doing a demo video showing what I can do off the bat including a one arm clean and press. You can view it below.....


I love testing my capabilities and seeing what's possible. With this bad boy that I call Beasty cause that's what it is, the possibilities to build strength and conditioning are only limited by the imagination. Carries, Bear Hugging, Slams, Presses, Curls or whatever I choose to come up can aid in my quest to get stronger. This thing is no joke and it can be a nasty bastard depending on what you do. 

Always said that training is about self discovery and disciplining yourself but also to make it interesting and consistent. Do you have to have a Sandbell, no you can always go cheaper and get a unfilled bag that fills up to 100 lbs and work things that way. I like the bells because they're just different and fun to use. For years now I've slammed, pressed, carried, squatted and other things for thousands upon thousands of total pounds moved and I'm going to continue with Beasty here. Sandbag Training is an old school form of strength training that works and is not meant to be easy. 

There are a lot of things you can do with Sandbells but the heavier you go, the more you prioritize which exercises are important to build strength because you can't do everything with a 70 as oppose to exercises with a 20 or so. It's strength that matters, not for the sake of looking good but to help others and being strong as you age. The older we get, the more reason to stay as strong as possible while still being mobile and flexible. You can be as strong as an ox but if you're stiff as a board and have bad joints, what's the point of having that strength? Not saying to go so heavy you wreck yourself but train to a capacity where you can go without sustaining injuries as much as possible and keeping the muscles, tendons and ligaments healthy. When it comes to Sandbag work, I probably wouldn't work with more than 100 lbs because there's no reason to keep going higher unless you want to challenge yourself. 

Sandbells are a lot of fun and they add a different variety to a training regimen than typical weights like a dumbbell, barbell or even kettlebell. They're safer in most regards and do many things just from one implement plus they wouldn't wreck the floor when you drop them or slam them. They can be great conditioning tools and can build some serious strength especially in your grip and your core. You don't need to be as crazy as me with this heavy of a bell, you can stop at 50 or 20 if you want but Sandbells are a great addition and has a boatload of exercises to choose from for anyone from a complete beginner to world class athletes. Get just one and see what you can do.  

Thursday, November 23, 2023

A Dinosaur Style Thanksgiving Workout




In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I'd get in a workout that will build a serious appetite later when me and the wife will visit family tonight. Not just a typical workout I do but one that's in the style of Brooks Kubik's Dinosaur Training. It's nothing special but it's brutal, nasty and really hard. It hits every muscle in the body and all it takes is 3 exercises. You don't need to do tons of exercises that only hit a one or two muscles at a time, just pick a few that hit multiple groups at the same time and go at it hard. In this case, it was using only one implement; the 50 lb Sandbell.

50 pounds may not seem like much, hell it's just a few pounds over a barbell plate right? The main takeaway, this is live weight and it shifts so this isn't just a solid implement, it makes you bust your ass in more ways than one. Sandbag training has been around for ages and has been used by the strongest athletes on the planet. When you work a bag hard, you're hitting the body in places that most conventional training can't even touch. Some guys work with up to more than 200-300 lbs (that's for truly elite powerhouses) but 50-100 can be just as beneficial and tough when you get after it like a madman with a thirst for hardcore training. 

This workout consists of the Clean & Press, Bear Hug Squat & Bent Over Row; it is done in a Tri Set which means you do one right after the other and then rest. Do 10 Reps each exercise and then walk it off getting as much rest as needed for the next set. It'll get you breathing hard quick so you'll want to catch your breath just enough to be fresh for the next round. The more sets you do, the heavier that bag will start to feel. It's very simple but sure as hell isn't easy. I managed 10 full sets of this workout and it was so thrilling for it to be over. I wanted to quit around the 6th or 7th set but something in me wanted to just keep going and really test my mental toughness. If I had to pick an exercise out of the three that made me rethink things, it was the Squats for sure. Around the 4th or 5th set, my legs felt heavy. 

Once it was over, instant relief, a much felt endorphin high and a high level of gratitude for it to be over. What are the benefits of this type of workout? A full blown level of strength and power, a good string of cardio because of doing three exercises back to back, Testosterone and HGH booster, great calorie burner and some serious muscular strength & endurance. Keep it simple but never underestimate what it can do especially when exercises like these with a sandbag has some real carryover into areas of regular life. 

I' am thankful for today, to my readers and to my friends and family. Have a great and wonderful Thanksgiving, eat well and train hard, earn that Turkey and those amazingly awesome sides.   

Friday, October 20, 2023

Flex Friday


 Every now and then, I'll post up my progress and show off a bit of my results. It's never a bad thing to show what you've accomplished as long as you're being humble about it and not act like a dick thinking you're hot shit. It's never easy building muscle and your body reacts differently to various types of training. I'm proud of what I've obtained and doing my best to keep at it. That's all you can do right?

Results are what you've put into it and the outcome is what it is. I've never wanted to really look like a bodybuilder and quite frankly I don't have the discipline to look like some monster out of a comic book, I'd rather look like the old timers or at least a rugged guy that can go if needed. I didn't really start putting on any real muscle till I was in my 20's because as a teenager, I was strong in some things and did shot put and discus but I looked pretty normal and didn't have much muscle to write home about. 

As great as my results have been for me at least, I don't believe I've even peaked yet. For the most part, I just do my best to stay in shape so I can do things with my wife, friends and family like going on hikes without tiring, swim and play with my nephews in Tahoe, chop wood, play basketball, play the animal dice game with one of my nieces, climb stairs without getting blown up, go on walks, being flexible and mobile and other things. I train to enjoy life as much as possible cause this is the only one we have. 

To tell you the truth, it's not easy for me having a picture taken. As long as I can remember, there was a picture taken at every damn get together with my family on my dad's side. From family photos to random moments in time, someone took a picture of it. Most of the time I didn't smile cause it just didn't seem to work in a lot of cases, being self conscious is a bit of an understatement. I didn't start really being comfortable with my pic being taken until about 10 years ago or maybe later when I started showing my results or taking a pic with friends. My smile didn't even really come out until we took engagement photos and our engagement party. Actually now that I think about, my wife was truly the one who brought out my smile. 


When it comes to my results, I do my best to find a good angle and go with it and if I smile, great if I don't, I don't fret about it. I don't have a pretty physique, shit I'd rather look like a prime Arn Anderson or a 50's Dick The Bruiser (names you normally don't see on here). With the weight loss however, I think I've got better definition and my shoulders pop a bit more but I'll take what I can get and keep improving. 


I do love having muscle on me though, I've never been shy of that and it has protected me for a long time, kind of hard to pick on a guy up close who's got some beef on him. I bounced once for a band I knew and nobody tried me, I can handle a mosh pit as much as the next guy and going to downtown Santa Cruz at night when the crazies, hookers, pimps, gang bangers, homeless and junkies were as common as a corona, never once got jumped or robbed and the majority of the time I was walking around with no back up. Around here, it's a lot more subtle and peaceful. Don't have to worry at all cause unless you're in Spokane, WA it's not as nuts as it was when I lived in California. I don't recommend testing any theories though but it's nice to feel safe when you don't look like a bean pole or a guy that seems skittish in a weird neighborhood. 

I believe in training to not always look like a Greek God (if you wish to do that, awesome but no one around this type of blog is looking for modeling jobs) but to train so you can handle yourself if needed and have enough muscle that is tough and not brittle. Strong tendons and ligaments should always be a priority but it's not so bad to have some old school muscle on you either. 

From Isometrics to Dopa Training, Hammer Work and Animal Exercises, there's something you can do to keep yourself in top condition so you can live the best life. Keep being amazingly awesome and train accordingly. Don't forget to punch in POWERANDMIGHT for your 10% Discount at Dopamineo and get some of the best resistance bands on the market today.    

Saturday, September 9, 2023

Weight Loss, Animals & Rollouts

 Yesterday I weighed in for the first time since this injury came back and last I checked I was around 248, just a touch below 249. The pain levels vary from a 3 to a 9 depending when it flares up but when I'm in pain, I literally have little to no appetite so whenever I ate, it was when it was at bay enough to eat. That didn't happen a whole lot. I'd be lucky to eat once a day, very lucky to eat 2 meals but they weren't very big. When I weighed in, I was shocked that I lost quite a bit of weight in a short amount of time. It came up at 238.8 lbs and that scared the hell out of me. It was mainly the little appetite I had and the mere fact that I haven't done workouts to maintain muscle mass.

Sometimes things like that give you a wake up call. It's good to lose weight but at the same time when you're in pain and you can barely even eat or walk around long enough to do much, losing weight can suck and not the healthy way to do it. My appetite is slowly coming back but it's no where near what I can normally eat. Regularly, I can eat a good steak and rice or have nearly half dozen eggs with bacon without issues but I haven't eaten any of that and even if I did, the stress prevents me from even finishing my food which isn't good. 

My workouts have been almost nothing but stretches, squatting down throughout the day to ease the pain from walking and occasional animal workouts. The animal training is getting better little by little since I've focused on mainly just moving with technique, coordination and paying attention to my flexibility. I did try to focus on speed at one point but something didn't click yet so I switched to being more methodical, deliberate and just the technique with a slower pace. It started working where I went from doing 7 rounds of a flow (from Movement 20XX) that was a struggle to 12 rounds (5, 5 and 2) doing movements that focused on coordination, flexibility and agility. That animal workout yesterday felt great and didn't feel pain and did some heat and ice afterwards. 

I wanted to try something today that I was hesitant to do since I didn't want to fuck anything up. I wanted to see what I can do with the Ab Wheel and test out my Back & Core Strength. After the first couple reps, it started to feel good, kept going and nothing felt wrong or anything and before I knew it, I did 25 Rollouts in a row. That was enough because I didn't want to push it any further than I had to and it was a good mini workout. Didn't feel pain but I knew where the point was on my back and it was annoying than painful so I took it as a good sign that my strength is coming back even microscopically. 

The thing I really need to figure more out now is being able to sleep decently. Since this whole thing started back up, 4 hours of sleep a night was my luck of the draw and if I was relaxed enough during the day, I would doze off for a bit but not long. It sucks and the thing that helps with recovery mostly is sleep and I barely get that. It is what it is but I'm doing what's possible right now. With this weight loss as well, it may help the recovery process but it's not the ideal way to drop weight and I can't let myself develop atrophy and lose the muscle I worked so hard to build. Hasn't been easy and have had bouts of anger, depression, frustration, doubts and being on an up and down mental state. Just hate it man. 

I hate seeing anyone suffer and it's not living a good life if you're in pain to the point where you alienate yourself from loved ones. I've done it and I'm not proud of it because I can be a very social person. When you have been in such pain that you go into this dark and depressive episode where you don't want help and distancing yourself from the people you love, if you let it go on too long, it becomes something you never wanted. Do what you can if you're in pain but don't let it destroy your humanity. Keep being amazingly awesome and stay healthy physically and mentally as long as you can. You never know what could pop up on you.   

Monday, July 17, 2023

A Performing Arts Degree Unlike Any Other


 What would it be like to go to or learn from a University that not only teaches you how to perform certain feats but gives you the tools to get paid to do it? What would it feel like to bend steel, twist rebar into shapes, rip phonebooks and do other feats that not only blows people's minds but you get to do these things while learning from the very best in the field? What would it be worth it to you to learn some of the coolest feats of strength that has baffled audiences for more than a century?

Mighty Atom

Bud Jeffries

Dennis Rogers

Chris Rider

Lawrence "Slim The Hammerman" Farman

Dave Whitley

Pat Povilaitis

All these men have performed incredible feats of strength that have taken the world by storm but by today's standards, it has become a lost art. From Bending Horseshoes to Ripping Decks Of Cards and turning steel into pieces of beautiful art, you can learn all these things and more from Dave Whitley and others at Strongman University. I've had the pleasure of performing some of these feats in front of people a good few times but never as important as performing with the late Bud Jeffries in the early-mid 2010's. I've done 3 shows with the big man himself performing up here in North Idaho in Coeur D' Alene, Sandpoint & Athol. In the middle of Bud's performances for Anti-Bullying campaigns, he brought me up to show a different type of strength that even he was doing in front of hundreds of kids and their teachers. My feats were mainly ripping a phonebook in half and bending a 6 inch spike while in the wrestler's bridge.

The bending I learned from strongmen like Logan Christopher & Tyler Bramlett but the bridge feat, I took that from John Wood. The phonebook tearing I learned from watching and mimicking Dennis Rogers who had a course on phonebook tearing at one point. I got pretty good at these to the point where I tore a phonebook in half the hard way using sock puppets to make the grip even more difficult to attempt. I've also bend plenty of steel (which you can find in my early videos like this one here). Another feat that I'm very proud of was bending a 6 inch spike behind my head with very little leverage and putting a ton of stress on the shoulders, elbows and wrists. You can view that here.

If you're interested in developing strength that is unique and way out of the norm, come and check out Strongman University and learn from the very best with a combined knowledge of well over 50+ Years in the business. Be a part of a tradition that goes back to the days of Eugene Sandow, Alexander Zass, Slim The Hammerman, Mighty Atom, Edward Aston and many other Vaudeville Style Strongmen. 

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Rugged Cardiovascular Conditioning

 I'm always finding ways to test myself and what I'm capable of in terms of Strength, Endurance, Conditioning, Toughness & Durability. Yesterday was one of those crazy tests. It's not just to be strong but to keep that strength for a solid period of time and still have something left in the tank. It's putting yourself into that mindset of having a kickass workout that means something you can use later on.

Since my recovery, I wanted to see how far I can push myself without killing myself. One workout I normally do is a Superset for sometimes up to 30 minutes or more doing carries (either with a kettlebell or the sandbell) and doing Step Ups for building leg strength & conditioning. This time I took a step further by strapping 50 lbs to my body (2-5 lb Ankle Weights & 40 lb Weight Vest) and did a Farmer's carry of my 70 lb Kettlebell 2x and than 20 Step Ups. Did this back and forth for 20 minutes non stop. 

Essentially with the added weight on me, walking with 70 lbs was the equivalent to working with 120 lbs total or 240 lbs all together (Walking the bell in the left and then right hand) in one set. It's tough as hell and really tests your grip, stability and shoulder/core strength. With the Step Ups it was 10 each leg with just the Vest & Ankle Weights. This was to feel as if gravity was really pulling you down or if you were walking in a Gravity Chamber. I think even Goku might've been impressed.

This isn't typical cardio training, you're taking things to another level and seeing how you fair with utilizing strength tools along with not being able to stop as you take on endurance work as well. Combining these two elements at the same time can make someone dangerous and rugged. I'm not saying I'm intimidating or some scary bastard with maniacal tendencies but I do train hard to the point where it might scare off gym rats and the machine loving mirror posers. I train with simplicity and intent which is what training is all about. It's not complicated and it doesn't take long before you feel something. In most of my workouts, I don't ever stop to smell the roses or play little games on my phone as I rest, I keep going and sure I may slow down a bit as time goes on but I always feel there's something left in me at the end. 

This isn't meant to build a beautiful and shredded physique, it's meant to build tough as nails tendons, thick rugged muscle and a strong lung capacity. The workload is not something to take lightly and although basic, it's never easy even without the added weight on you. It's real world strength and conditioning. It's having that Labor Strength and working in awkward positions. I'm not a Blue Collar type of guy and never claimed to be but I do respect those who are (when it comes to work ethic, personality wise, some are just plain assholes while others are badass and amazing to hang out with) and I train that way out of respect and to maintain a level of strength for when I work on yards, hauling furniture, chopping wood and/or moving logs around. 

Train to be useful, not to look pretty. Some women on Tik Tok have videos where there's a voiceover that says "I don't want to strong, like man who look pretty. I want to be strong like bitch that fight bears in the forest" in a thick Russian accent. For guys, we can change the narrative to "I don't want to strong like man who look pretty. I want to be strong like motherfucker that fight lions in the Serengeti." Workouts like these jack up a man's testosterone big time and builds incredible mental toughness. 

Build real strength and muscle, it goes a long way to seeing what you're truly capable of. Keep being amazingly awesome everyone.   

Monday, June 19, 2023

Getting Back Into The Swing Of Things

With some of the workouts I've done since healing up, it's a process of just getting back into things progressively and at a pace that I'm comfortable doing to get back at the speed that I normally can do. Not easy but it hasn't been so damn slow it barely feels like anything. 

I've done the Bear Crawl Sprint Workout (10 on, 20 off for 5 min.) twice now and so far that feels pretty good but may need to cut back on doing it every 3-4 days instead of around 2 days. The loaded carries and step up workouts are getting better; while I was recovering, I would do my 2x sandbell carry and 20 step ups for 10 minutes or just do step ups for 10-15 min instead of the normal 30. Yesterday, I went a full 30 min doing the carries and step up superset, that felt incredible along with some post workout stretching to keep up with maintenance. Today, I tried out my Deck Of Cards Leg Workout of Step Ups & Hindu Squats. Been quite a while since I've done that and just wanted to see what I can do. I didn't have any expectations of beating the deck, so I managed 280 Step Ups & 130 Hindu Squats. That's a huge start in my book and didn't think I'd get that far. Normally, I'll do up to 450-500 Step Ups & 225-250 Squats within the 30 min mark or just over completing the deck.

For those that think I'm lying, here's a video of completing 450 & 225 so I'm quite capable of doing this. 

It's a journey and forming a perspective on healing up and doing what's possible onward until you're 100% at your best. There are days where you may only do a little of something, others you just go nuts with the energy you have. It's also important to be aware however of what your body tells you and not to push further than you have to. It's not a sprint to get back at your strongest or even your best condition, it's a marathon and making sure you're doing the right things and being intuitive. Things will come back when they're ready, forcing it may come back to bite you in the ass. 

That DOC workout is no joke and it will condition your legs like crazy, it just takes little steps to get better at it and consistently beating the deck. That one workout doing 1000 Step Ups and 500 Hindu Squats within an hour made me humble that's for sure and only did that just the one time. As far as that goes, it's one of the most brutal leg workouts you can do and it's only two exercises. How does it go?


2-10 Each Leg or Set of Squats

Face Cards: 10 Each Leg or 10 Squats

Aces: 16 Each Leg or 16 Squats

Jokers: Superset of 25 Each Leg & 25 Squats

Full Deck is equivalent to 500 & 250 Total. You can double the deck to reach 1000 & 500 Respectively or go back and forth between two full decks (Double Decker). Either way, you're working your ass off and let the speed be natural and not try to break world records. If you can blast through it with ease, you might as well be Superhuman. Give it a go if you dare.

In all seriousness, be adaptable and let things flow naturally, some things you may pick up on quick, others take time so remember to take in the journey and you'll never know where you'll end up. Be bold but smart, don't try to break a record every workout, progressively add workload but on certain days go a little light depending on how your body responds and be respectful to the technique and the exercises themselves because if you don't, you'll not like what follows. Kill it and keep being amazingly awesome.


If you're interested in getting some bad ass decks of cards, check these out.

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Healing Up Well

 Training to get back to your full strength is never easy and can be frustrating because you're at limited capacity. Some of the simplest tasks can be difficult but you push through because you don't to just lay around and not do a damn thing. With the way my hip has gone, it's healing up pretty damn well. Been seeing a chiropractor and going for a few more adjustments and had a massage yesterday which really loosened everything up.

Little by little I'm doing what is helping with recovery like the Isometrics, Stretching, Step Ups, some Crawling and other things. Yesterday, I did some sledge striking for the first time in a while with my 31 lb Giants Hammer, getting in 120 reps. Could easily do more but didn't want to push it any further than I had to. I felt it for sure but I wasn't in pain (merely discomfort). I expect things out of myself and not to prove how tough I 'am or trying to hide the pain but to progress little by little while being aware of what I can and can't do. Sometimes we push ourselves beyond what we know is right to do and rarely it comes out good, most of the time it ends up biting us in the ass.

It's not just knowing your limits either, it's about understanding them and finding ways to adjust so you can maintain or get better as time goes on. It's easy to act all macho and that pain is temporary and keeping that "pain is telling you you're not dead" mentality but unless it's under severe circumstances, for normal everyday life, there are ways to make the pain worse and add time onto it and not get rid of it completely. Learn the difference between pushing through pain as if your life depended on it and recovering so you can be efficient. 

My hip is getting better to the point where my flexibility is coming back and it's not shooting down my leg so much along with not being able to sit right. When you know things are working, it gets better as time goes on. When it's not working, you need to reassess so you can find the right "formula" for you to recover. Experiment and be aware of what feels right and what doesn't. We all recover differently and it's not a good idea to push the same direction of a method because some things don't work for certain people and injuries and pain tolerance is different. Work with your own style to get back to your strongest again without pain and suffering.

Train to be efficient, don't train to suffer more pain than what you're already dealing with because that could lead to problems not just in the physical but the mental as well. I know what it's like to be in pain but also take the frustration with that pain onto others which is never a good idea cause you might say things in the heat of a moment that can never be taken back. Pain can do a number on us and no matter how much we deny it, it can put us on a path that hurts others along with ourselves in the end. So train to get yourself out of pain so it doesn't cost you more time later. 

Keep being amazingly awesome and have a kick ass day.   

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

A Few Benefits Of Rucking



Us humans have been doing this particular activity since the dawn of man as hunter/gatherers. Military men and women have done Rucking in order to keep them in shape so they can be as tough as they need to be when all hell breaks loose. A few benefits that everyday people can have when they practice this bad ass type of training....

1. Unbelievable Endurance & Work Capacity

Not the same as weight training as it aids in building endurance while fatigue is at the bare minimum. The overload for Work Capacity helps build a foundation that gradually progresses as you get stronger just like in the gym. Even the late Louie Simmons was a huge advocate for Work Capacity which included multiple variations of loaded carries, sled pulls and other things.

2. Wicked Awesome For Posture

Believe it or not, adding weight can help aid in building a better posture when it's done properly. It strengthens our muscles that are responsible for keeping us upright. This allows the body to stay in that position much easier when removing weight.

3. Powerful Calorie Burn

With recent studies done by the Compendium of Physical Activities, by rucking its possible to burn up to 650 calories within an hour, a massive 300 more calories than just regular walking. If you were to do about 5 hours a week of rucking, that's 3250 calories burned (nearly the equivalent to losing a pound a week alone). 

4. Let The Sun Shine Bright

Being out in the fresh air is always a huge benefit. It lowers stress, weighs down the cortisol levels and heightens Vitamin D and Testosterone Levels. As us guys age, maintaining and balancing our testosterone becomes more crucial. 

5. It's Safe & Pretty Easy To Do

Screw jogging since it's more exhausting than Rucking is. In fact, it may be even more enjoyable and can be done with better consistency. We all know regardless of your goals, consistency is the key along with eating right (I didn't say diet, just eating right meaning better but not completely depriving yourself). Another added benefit is that rucking is actually safer on the joints than regular jogging. 

Where do you start? Well, a good foundation would be to start with wearing about 10% of your bodyweight (say for a 200 lb man, it be a 20 lb Vest or Backpack). Work your way up little by little. Hell, I'm only using a 40 lb vest when I go out on my rucks. You don't need to go around looking like you're carrying a piano on your back, gradually build up until it feels more than enough to walk with. Very few people will ever use more than 100 lbs to ruck with. The only two people I know of who walked with 300 lbs was Bud Jeffries & Steve Justa. You don't need to push it that far, even on a hike, 50 lbs would be more than enough for most people. It's tough as it is and it can give you the workout of your life. If you could go a good distance with 100% or more of your bodyweight, that's pretty damn impressive and shows some serious strength and conditioning. 

Grab the Kensui Weight Vest to progressively load up using weighted plates. The smallest loadable is up to 80 lbs. The heaviest is loadable to 300 lbs. Save yourself a few bucks by using my Discount Code POWERANDMIGHT at checkout to get 10% OFF your order. If you order the 300 lb loadable, this saves you close to a whopping 25 bucks. Have a wonderful day and keep being amazingly awesome. 

Monday, April 3, 2023

The Difference Between Being Euphoric And Being A Zombie

 


The first 3 workouts of my current sprint training program didn't start off on the right foot so do speak. I started out at 10 sprints a session and without realizing it, it just didn't seem right. Something was off especially after the sprints and walking back home. When I did my third session and finally understood what I was feeling, I changed it up and went down a few notches. After each of the first three sessions, I was feeling like a zombie walking home. No energy, walking on fumes and feeling dead inside. It felt like shit and my body didn't completely respond well until I decided to make one change. Reduce the amount of sprints to half of what I was doing and progressively build up to 8-10 again.

When I made this one small change, it became something bigger than the previous three workouts. Cutting the sprints down to 5 not only changed my outlook on the workouts but felt the complete opposite of what I was doing before. I felt that I did enough but still had something left in the tank. I felt a sense of euphoria, that happy energy and bustling with life and vitality. Walking back home felt great and easy. Here's the main difference between the two opposing effects of being euphoric and feeling like a zombie: The feeling of euphoria is like a 70's Hippie in a meadow, just feeling great and high without an ounce of hate or negative feelings towards the world. Feeling like a zombie however; feels like nothing matters, the world goes on but you have no life in you, there's no usefulness and the feeling of no purpose, you just don't give a shit. Your body is moving or being still but there's nothingness as well, the energy feels empty and no sense of vitality whatsoever. 



This isn't just a feeling from sprint training, these can happy during any form of training or having such a long day at work or during work that it either sucks the life out of you or give you a reason to be happy and full of life. To me, training is about having something left in the tank but also feel like there's vigor and power that still runs strong while feeling great at the end. If your workout ends where there's nothing left and there's no life or energy coming from you internally or externally, there's something wrong there. If you're a competitor training for a sport, sure you want to work hard and make efforts to go against the competition but if there's no energy left for when the game even starts and you're just playing without an ounce of vital energy, what good was all that practice for? Practice with the intention of being at your best before, during and after whether it's a workout, training for a sport, at your job or whatever that keeps you being vitally strong. 

Now when it comes to awareness, you should always be aware of your surroundings. When you're naturally high and full of euphoria, you still know where you are and what's going on. When you're high out of your skull and have no sense of awareness whatsoever, that has a very high risk of killing you. Overdosing and things like that is what I can't condone and taking drugs to feel good just isn't right. Be vital and strong in your euphoric state with a solid sense of awareness. Don't go so far that that not only life is sucked out of you but there's no energy and strength left to do anything that it seems like you're dead but still moving. Be amazingly awesome and live with happiness and strength.   

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

100 Seconds Of Fat Melting Training Like Nazis Standing Next To The Ark


 


Certain aspects of training can be hard as hell and you do the best of what your body allows you. Even with a strong mind, your body is quite capable of more than we give credit but there's always a limit that reaches maximum. In Sprint Training, no matter who you are, your top speed only lasts mere seconds. In those seconds however, you are training your body to tackle fat like Kevin Greene took down quarterbacks; hard, fast and with ferocious intensity. 

Sprints separate the men from the boys and turns them into lean, mean fighting machines nearly as fast as the Flash. You can have your life flash before your eyes and still see what it would be like to go so hard that you are fighting for your life at the same time. Sprints are primal, intense and full of benefits that we often ignore because of the various things that it does or doesn't do. In simple terms, Sprint Training gives off Warrior Vibes.

For 10 seconds at a time, you can imagine many things to make this as intense as it's meant to be: Chasing down somebody, running from an animal, racing your shadow, being a character, being a real life superhuman or whatever you choose to do, make it so you're creating the fastest version of yourself. Those 10 seconds can determine the ability to burn off fat at a rate that's almost unbelievable to comprehend. Now imagine working those 10 seconds multiple times and rest 2-3x as long in order to recover. It's Strength Training in its simplest form; no complicated things to do, no machines, no gym noise, nothing but you and the ground. 

Hill Sprints however make fat burning the ultimate workout that ground sprints doesn't get passed. Even by mere inches, Hills make your ground work better and you take on a whole new meaning to the words "Mental Toughness." This past Thursday and yesterday, I took on a Hill nearby the house and went as hard as my body allowed me for 10 Sprints at 10 seconds at a time. I wasn't always my fastest, but went hard as I possibly could and made each sprint and my recovery count. It's that time of year where flowers bloom, the weather gets warmer and the days are longer. It's time to hit the Hill to really make the most of what you want to achieve in having a lean physique fast. 

Like the Nazis standing and getting melted by an ancient and powerful box, your fat won't stand a chance with Hill Sprinting. Like always, pay attention to form but at the same time, pay attention to your intentions as well. This isn't some climb up a hill and going for a hike, you're going to work at the hardest you can possibly make it for those few seconds of training. Intensity is the key and your will to go hard as if your life depended on it. 100 seconds is all of the time it takes to induce the largest amount of Growth Hormone and Testosterone possible. Be able to breathe better, sleep better, eat more and feel that urge of sexual energy that every guy wants to feel. 

Training this way is only needed 2-3x a week and it's best to start off with a small number of sets and seconds if you haven't done them in a while. 4x8-10 seconds would be a good starting point, that's a max of 40 seconds of work. Each month, add one sprint and a few seconds to progressively get more out of it. Max sprints IMO shouldn't be more than 20-30 seconds and on most days, 10-15 is more than enough. Max amount of Sprints shouldn't be more than 10 because you're training merely to get leaner and stronger, you're not trying to match Walter Payton who did so many damn sprints it's a miracle his legs didn't fall off his body. At full speed may not be more than a few seconds and probably no more than 10. It's very difficult if not impossible to stay at 100% speed for 30 seconds. 

To build a program on Hill Sprints, check out Josh Bryant's 6-Week Sprint Training Guide to get you started. Also check out his Speed Training book.

Be fast, run hard and keep being amazingly awesome. 



Thursday, March 16, 2023

An Ideal Look At How To Strengthen Your Structure


 Let's set aside the typical muscle building stuff for a moment and look at the idea of strengthening the body that's unorthodox, old school and forgotten in today's world where you build real strength in your bones, tendons & ligaments. The true masters of this concept aren't your run of the mill personal trainers and gym-goers that go by textbooks more than real experience. The true masters were the Old-Time Strongmen of yesteryear that made strength not only a priority, but a product of health and longevity. 

Believe me it is possible to achieve a level of strength that would make just about any bodybuilder or "influencer" run home and hide under their beds and be able to do so without the use of steroids or PED's. Most of us weren't born with genetic gifts, even me. I was sick when I was little if you've ever heard or read my story and it took me a long time to achieve the strength I've attained but I did it and don't underestimate the fucking fact that you can too.

You see, I tried the dumb bodybuilding workouts and had some decent strength but nowhere near the level I wanted and should've had stupid strength and vitality by the time I was 18-20; I didn't. I didn't understand the real old school ways of Strength Training until I had my accident and started researching everything on how to heal myself. I learned some bad ass stuff from the strongest people on the planet and I got to perform some crazy feats of strength along with building a level of knowledge that is almost lost if not forgotten in today's Gen Z society. Strengthen Your Structure is a product of what the Old-Timers used to build strength that would fathom even strongmen today. 

Just about most training ideals focus more on the muscles than anything else and damn it me and several others have an issue with that. The muscles may grow in size, but does size also equal strength? Muscles and even Strength are just parts of a puzzle that goes beyond what many trainers do today. A major set of keys is to build Bone Strength, the Tendons & the Ligaments as well. It's the structure that holds everything together. Think about the most common injuries; torn ACLs, ripped Cartilage, fractured ankles and hips. With SYS, you can work on training these areas to reduce injuries as much as possible. Although it's not a complete program or meant to be, it can still aid in building a powerful body beyond just good looking muscles.

It builds connective tissue but did you also know it helps aid in boosting your hormones? Think about it, the amount of Testosterone and HGH you can achieve with some of the exercises in this course is incredible and do a better job than what the classic Squat will do. Add in the intensity to "Structure Training", holy shit talk about jacked stimulation. This is partly based on doing Partials as you can use more weight than a full range of motion. 

Back to injury proofing...Because of the great loads you can utilize more than a full lift, this has the high potential if not certain to actually thicken the bone structure. This can aid in avoiding Osteoporosis as we age. These exercises also put you in awkward positions under the load. If you do this consistently in a safe manner of course, you'll be in far more condition and ready to tackle things when you are in those positions. 

If there was a question of how powerful the old-time strongmen really were, this was part of the puzzle in their journey. I've done some exercises where I did a partial press of 405 overhead, partial deadlift of nearly 500 lbs and even rowing a 130 lb dumbbell for multiple reps. They can be brutal. Because of these along with the other things I've done, I've bent spikes, torn phonebooks, slammed tires with a 75 lb sledgehammer and deadlifted a thick handled 125 lb Dumbbell. 

Power up learning from this bad boy and get strength that would make the old timers proud and show what these "influencers" today are missing out on. Keep being amazingly awesome everyone. 

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Close Grip Pull-Ups: An Elusive Bicep Building Exercise

 Many experts in the fitness field believe that one of if not the best bicep builder is by doing Pull-Ups. When it comes to specifics, the Close-Grip Pull-Up/Chin-Up target the biceps at their peak for strength and building muscle. Is the Close-Grip superior for the biceps? Let's take a look....


It's also noted that they can be very beneficial once you've practiced them. So why the Close-Grip? How can they be superior for arm development or more importantly targeting the Biceps? Maybe it has to do with the Lats being in a mechanically awkward and even a disadvantaged position when the arms are so close together. Because of the awkward position, the arms are doing the majority of the work if not all of it. Because of this, they're tough to pull off and if you haven't done regular pull-ups or chin-ups, I wouldn't recommend you start out with Close-Grips, build that foundation to take that next step.


Once you've got the regular ones down or even a neutral grip, start testing out the Close-Grip style, for building the strength and understanding the mechanics of them, I would start with Isometrics whether by hanging or hitting the three positions (low, middle, top) for a period so your body can get the idea of what it's like being in those positions. After a period, go after full reps if possible. Listen to your body and don't force it, let the strength comes naturally cause there's a lot more than just getting your chin up and over the bar. Once you start doing reps, you may notice some development in the forearms, brachialis and biceps when you utilize the Close-Grip Pull-up/Chin-up. Even the great Arnold Schwarzenegger thought the Close-Grip was a great exercise.

Here's another good question, how close should the grip be? It's recommended that the hands are hitting each other directly or around 6 inches apart. Some people may have some issues due to shoulder alignment and possible injuries or previous injuries so I would say if you could work around that great but don't put yourself at risk otherwise things could get worse. Make it a point to have healthy shoulders, hands, wrists, elbows and obviously the back. Everyone has different areas of mobility as well so use what gives you the best quality of the movement along with being comfortable to do them. 

What would be a good routine for Close-Grip Work? Commonly the 21's have been the most effective for people but like I said before, some work their body differently so adjust accordingly. What are the 21's? Remember this is where you have evolved to doing a good amount of reps at this point and have the strength to do them...The 21's is where you perform reps at a 7-7-7 ratio in this format...7 Reps bottom to half pulls, 7 Reps mid to top (as in start at the middle and hit the top of the movement) and 7 Reps at Full Movement from the bottom to the very top. Do all 21 in a row performing 3 sets each. Now if this is too much especially in the beginning when you are just starting to rep them out, you can start at a 6-6-6 ratio or even a 5-5-5 but if you're a complete beginner, it's recommended to use some assistance to build the strength such as using bands like the Lifeline Pull Up Revolution Assistance System

If the Close-Grip Pull-up/Chin-up is really uncomfortable for you because of wrist issues, the Swissies & Swisses45 can do great things for you and you can still build incredible strength and muscle. You can get these at 10% OFF when you use my discount code POWERANDMIGHT at checkout. My gift to you. I want you be evolve and progress comfortably, meaning let it be natural and let the speed and performance build up without pushing so hard that you either end up injured or doing too much too soon. Have fun, build some killer muscle and keep being amazingly awesome. 

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Isometrics In The Days Of Zass Compared To Today


 Isometric Training has gone through many variations over the years from the days of the Shaolin, Yoga and throughout the 60's. The man that took Isometric Training to a peak until many decades later was Alexander Zass who utilized Isometrics to create the best strength program for building tendons and ligaments which evidently helped solidify him as one of the greatest strongmen of all-time. Using handles and an adjustable chain, Zass turned simple and advanced exercises into a powerhouse of training modalities that still baffles those in the Physical Culture World today.

Although he was around 5'7 and 170 lbs, Zass had strength that many today can't even fathom. The way he bent steel was extraordinary and the musculature would make even today's physique contestants look weak. His style of Isometrics can still be seen today from another perspective. Very few famous strongmen since then have really dug into the very depths of Isometric Training and some even refer to Charles Atlas as an Isometric Advocate. Although Atlas did practice certain aspects of Isometrics, Dynamic Tension wasn't an actual Isometric intended program. The exercises done in DT can be used as Isometric Exercises but it was never programmed that way. 

In today's world of miss/complicated information, gadgets, gizmos, gimmicks, equipment that is sometimes a little out there and costs more than a down payment of a car, Isometrics is pushed more to the side and even fewer people truly practice it as an art and programmed training system. I would think in some ways, Zass would be rolling in his grave in shame to what has become in Physical Culture. Don't get me wrong, some of the stuff today is good and some people really go after Isometrics with a vengeance such as the Bioneer, Matt Schifferle of Red Delta Project, Johnny Grube, the mysterious Paul Wade with the Iso-Chain and others. The two biggest advocates of Isometrics in their time were Bud Jeffries & Steve Justa. In their time here on this big blue, green and crazy rock we call earth, they were experimenting with Isometrics more than anybody else. They came up with stuff some of us are still doing today and there were things they were doing most wouldn't even try to attempt cause of how crazy they were. Justa himself was doing workouts that lasted hours, did holds that ranged from 3 seconds to over 5 minutes and exercises that hit angles more than the Wonkavator went around a city in England. They were revolutionary in the modern era, they were our generation's Zass.

More studies have been done in recent times on Isometrics but it's still not so much a taboo in fitness but more of a Black Sheep in the world of Fitness in the sense that it's pushed to the side and doesn't get the attention that it deserves. It isn't sexy or glamorous looking unless you see some crazy motherfuckers at a playground in New York where exercise is treated like the badassery of Basketball in Rucker Park. One of the best authors today on the subject of Isometrics is Matt Schifferle of Red Delta Project who's enthusiasm is just contagious. His take on using your bodyweight and/or minimal equipment goes to another level of building muscle and strength. His style of Hybrid Isometrics takes strength training to another realm of 21st century Physical Culture. Although guys like Steve Maxwell gives a ton of credit and powerful admirations to Isometrics, Matt brings that youthful and simplistic approach that's relatable to a younger audience. Maxwell is a legend no question and his style works great with most people, I'm just a bigger fan of Matt's approach. I find he brings more energy and excitement as oppose to Maxwell who's a bit more low key, still simple and full of knowledge since he's been training longer than most trainers today have been alive. 

I will always say that the best Isometric Equipment is the Transformetrics Isometric Power Belt but it's hard to promote that since it never really got off the ground. You can use just about anything to do Isometrics with and some have made DIY equipment like Maxwell, Schifferle and the late Bruce Tackett that made the Hook. Today's big products on Iso Training is more geared towards the Bullworker (like the Iso-Bow) and the Worldfit Iso Trainer. These are incredible for training Isometrics and can be used by anybody from the couch potato to the world-class athlete. Create workouts that take your fitness into the stratosphere. Zass would be a big fan of these. 

Practice Isometrics regardless of your age and make them interesting, simple and as low-skilled as they can be because those are the best exercises that will get the job done. Build strength most would be baffled by and lessen your chances of injuries. Keep being amazingly awesome everyone. 

Another piece of equipment that is great for Isometric Training is using The Rings, grab a set and use my Discount Code POWERANDMIGHT at checkout to get 10% OFF. 

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Results Of My Blood Tests

I didn't want to say anything until I got my results back but I had some blood tests done because I wanted to check where I'm at for Testosterone Levels in my age range and what I need to do to either maintain, improve or cut back on in order to be in the normal ranges. Quite frankly, I was surprised with the results.

They only told me one thing that was concerning and that was my triglycerides were a bit high which I kind of knew would be and just need to continue losing weight which is manageable and I already have set goals for where I want to be at. It was basically taking a look at my BMI which for the most part is pure bullshit because it doesn't take into account of muscle mass, just pure height and weight "charts". 

For my testosterone levels? I'm literally at the bare minimum for my age range which is 352-478, I'm at 353 which I'm actually really happy about. I could jack it up a bit and I have ideas on how to do it without that TRT and Steroids crap. For now, I'm just happy I'm in a good range for a 35-39 year old. All thanks to my training and utilizing the best methods to keep my body healthy and strong. From the research I've looked into, the numbers for a normal human being overall is 300-1000 and I'm at 353 so for a human being, that's pretty damn good. Hammers, Isometrics, Cables, Kettlebells, Slamballs, Step-Ups, Squats, Animal Moves and others have made this possible. I'm already losing weight since I've been at 270-275 and now I'm at around 257 and counting. 

I needed to find out where my levels were for the main reason because if it was too low, something needed to be done and I knew what I had to do. Since I'm actually in the normal, the best thing I can do is maintain it and keep losing weight which isn't the easiest for me but it is manageable and just need to make small changes to my eating that I'm happy to do. If I want to bring my testosterone up, I can with the right tools and eating habits along with training like I said. Training with intensity is a key and understanding how to utilize it with quality rest and recovery. HIIT is incredible for developing solid levels of Testosterone and HGH and no more than 3x a week is enough so go do Hill Sprints, Burpees and other explosive movements like slamming a medicine ball or a Sandbell, 10 on 20 off of Bear Crawling and workouts from Darebee would work as well. 

Loaded carries with Kettlebells, Dumbbells, Sandbells and Weight Vests build incredible bone strength and conditioning along with keeping great levels of testosterone. Being an active man does get the job done but it's not always that simple; quality rest, eating good are a priority but also your stress, your training and other things are all connected together to form a healthy lifestyle. 

For the rest of my results, not one fucking thing was concerning that came up, I have great cholesterol, my blood runs smoothly and efficiently, I have no problems with my cells, no suggestion of parasites and I don't have anything cancerous. Healthy as a fucking horse man. For those out there who may be reluctant to take a test like I did for so many years, get it done and see where you're at. Take care of yourself and do what you need to do to maintain, reduce or bring up. Your health matters and keep being amazingly awesome. 

If you're seeking some good suuplements to aid in building testosterone, check out Lost Empire Herbs & Funk Roberts' Sipplement Shop. These are high quality and believe me, I've used some stuff at LEH and they work. FR is one of the best trainers out there today and has some awesome stuff especially for those over 40 and beyond. 

Monday, February 27, 2023

Recent Workouts With The Weight Vest

 There are times you want to challenge yourself or take on a different approach to training to not only be stronger externally but also internally. This will be my last year in my 30's and I want to get a head start on developing stronger bones and tendons & ligaments. I'll still do some of the same things I'm currently doing but add a thing or two to really bust out some awesome strength & conditioning. 

As we get older, we want to maintain a solid level of testosterone and natural HGH to prevent strength loss, letting our bones get bridle and getting injured quicker. Some people take supplements while training, some train and just eat better and others do what's possible. Compared to those in their 50's, 60's and beyond, I'm still young but also need to wise up otherwise I could become another stereotypical older guy with injuries and talking about how great of shape I was in my 20's but can't do jack shit now that I'm older; I want to prevent that as much as possible. There are already many men my age who're already banged up, had more injuries that would make a pro wrestler smirk and have trouble going up a flight of stairs.

Lately, I've been in awe of some of the things Brooks Kubik is doing with his log walks, dragging them, carrying, holding in various positions and going for miles at a time. The man is in his mid-60's, that's insane. I've even seen a few people on my feeds using weight vests for training. Some are impractical and others are admirable but you can't deny the type of results you can get if done right. I've done Weighted Vest training before, mainly going on hikes and walks with my 40lber and even walked a couple miles with over twice that a time or two. It beats running and burns off way more than regular walking. 

A couple workouts I've done recently with my weight vest was carrying an implement while wearing the vest & doing step ups and just step ups with the vest. They were tough and took my training to a different level especially mentally. The first workout was back on the 24th where I did my 2x carry with a 70 lb Kettlebell and 20 step ups (10 each leg) for 20 min. nonstop but I also wore the vest. I would walk with a total of 110 lbs for ten yards, put the bell down, pick up with the other hand and walk another ten yards, put it down and do 20 step ups. Repeat this for 20 minutes without stopping, it's not as easy as it looks. The other workout was today doing as many step ups as I can while wearing the vest. In 22 min and 12 sec I did 416 step ups, that's a new PR for me. That's basically working with nearly 300 lbs of bodyweight when you add the vest. Gives you a different perspective on Strength & Cardio at the same time.

These workouts already feel incredible and knowing that I'm building my bone strength is a bonus. I didn't rush these and just went at a pace that I was comfortable at doing, as I get stronger, the pace may be faster but naturally faster. You never want to force anything. Train at a pace that you can do and then expand on it as you get better. Do you want to get too comfortable, no but you also don't want to be going speedy Gonzales and get hurt in the process. The idea is to train to prevent injuries, not cause them, that no pain no gain  thing is bullshit. 

Grab one of the best Vests on the market today with the Kensui Weight Vest where you can progressively add weight plates. Do all your bodyweight movements with this on to add some more strength based training to your regimen. The smallest loaded vest maxes out at 80 lbs and the highest loads up to 300 lbs (which quite frankly the only two people to ever be crazy enough to walk with that much weight was Bud Jeffries & Steve Justa). Use my Discount Code POWERANDMIGHT at checkout to get 10% OFF of these vests, you can save up to about $25 when you grab the 300 lb loader vest. Want to know how to utilize a simple progression system, grab Progressive & Weighted Calisthenics: Simple Bodyweight Exercises For Building Real Muscle and Strength by Red Delta Project. 

If you also want to add some awesome supplements to help aid in your strength training, snatch up some herbs from Lost Empire and at Funk Roberts' Supplement Shop. Be safe, get strong and keep being amazingly awesome. 

Thursday, February 16, 2023

A Simple Isometric Workout That Tackles Practically Everything

 Isometrics are not as complicated as some may think and they go beyond just holding positions and contracting. They're rehabilitating, they save time, give you strength in places you didn't realize needed strength and the amount of exercises you can do are virtually limitless. I've written before that my personal favorite form of Isometrics are Overcoming & Hybrids. Tried many workouts and have stayed consistent with some exercises where it's mainly in the 7-12 sec range at peak contraction for one set in multiple positions. Some workouts are just 1 set of 1 position but one in particular I did yesterday was a mixture of longer held Isometrics with 7-12 sec exercises which made me learn a different set of focus.

The first three exercises I did was a Push, Pull, Squat and than just do Core Exercises. The main 3 were done for 3x30 sec each and the Core Exercises were for one set each at 7-12 sec Contractions. It was actually a really good workout and gathering strength from different perspectives. I always do Core Isometrics towards the end of Isometric Training because they provide the ability to build my posture and I can hit the muscles with very few exercises to make them effective. Here's the workout I did....


3x30 Sec Hybrid Push-Up

3x30 Sec Deadlift

3x30 Sec Zercher Squat

7-12 Sec Dead Bug Crunch

7-12 Sec Side Plank

7-12 Sec Arch Body 

7-12 Sec Side Plank (Other Side)

7-12 Sec Hollow Body 

7-12 Sec Side Bends

This was about as close as to a full body workout as you can get and it gave me a hell of an endorphin high. The hardest was actually the Hybrid Push-Up because not only are you pushing against an immovable object but also fighting gravity at the same time and keeping a peak contraction for 30 seconds feels like an eternity and everything is working in order to also stabilize. It's like going to war and in order to stay in that position, you can't just use lower intensity like in a yielding exercise, it forces you to contract the muscles at a specific level otherwise the body won't stabilize as much. 

The deadlift was used with a dowel as a "mimicked" barbell and pulling at around knee high for about 50-65% of my strength. Still a great exercise for the lower back, grip and legs. The bigger the percentage of contraction, the harder it is to hold on. The Zercher Squat was around the same percentage of contraction but you're pushing against the strap while also making your legs work with such great force and intensity that you're giving the tendons and ligaments the fuel they need to withstand impact from other activities. If you want stronger knees to go up flights of stairs, hills or whatever, this is a great exercise and tackles the Core and Back muscles to strengthen the posterior chain as well. It's more than just a squat. 

For the Core Exercises, to me they're a key factor in how you maintain posture for all the other exercises beyond just the abs and obliques. To build incredible strength, it takes some form of aligning the body in solid positions to really kickstart the contractions. You have to flex everything while maintaining focus. If you're going for lesser intensity, the principle still applies to contract every muscle but not as hard....Point the toes and extend the arms overhead in the hollow and arch holds, press into the thighs with your hands or fists in the Dead Bug Crunch, utilize the whole body in the side planks whether on your hands or forearms, maintain posture as you extend and also flex in the side bends. Every exercise needs full attention otherwise you could throw yourself off and if you don't contract every muscle, the alignment may not be there and the results won't be as effective. 

If you can't do the full alignments of the exercises yet, do what you can and work from there. Isometrics are simple but they're not easy by any means. Some exercises are difficult to hold because the control isn't there yet and the practice of Mind/Muscle Connection needs to be practiced in the moment and with laser-like focus. Even a small percentage of not focusing can throw off the entire exercise despite not moving. If you're more advanced and want to do the first three a full 90 seconds than do what you can do (if you can hold a 90 second Hybrid Push-up, you got some serious strength). You can vary the time and intensity however you want just keep in mind that the higher percentage of contraction, the less time you'll be able to hold a position. To learn more about Isometric Training check out Overcoming Isometrics by Red Delta Project and for some of the exercises in the book, you can use a towel, a sheet, Rings or get one of the best Isometric apparatuses around the Worlfit Iso Trainer.

Be amazingly awesome in your journey and make the most of what's possible and get stronger little by little. Don't forget that if you click on the link to Rings, be sure to add in my Discount Code POWERANDMIGHT at checkout to get a cool 10% OFF your purchase. 


Lost Empire Herb Of The Day: Albizia Powder

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Does Vascularity Determine How Strong You Are?

 When we see those influencers on Instagram or the ads on Facebook and YouTube, are they as strong or as fit as they claim? Most of the time, not necessarily. They look great (to an extent) and I admire the hard work they put in but looking good and actually being strong and fit are entirely different things. Sometimes it's more of an illusion to convince people to follow them in order to build a "Brand" but those that actually give a damn about teaching others to get strong and fit are few and far between.

One of the common things we see in magazines and videos of those who are training hard are those who have every muscle and/or vein popping out of their skulls showing these angles of making people believe what they're seeing is something so hardcore and show what strength they may possess. It's not always easy to read between the lines but they're there especially those who use fake weights. Vascularity most of the time really only shows a certain level of bodyfat that has been lowered. Having visible veins in most cases are from Bodybuilders which in reality are not very strong guys. Having extremely low bodyfat can actually be very dangerous as can having an extremely high level of bodyfat (ever see the 1000 lb sisters). It's damaging to the organs and is at high risk for problems not just internally but on the outside as well.

There's also a difference in having visibly powerful veins and having steel like cords that determine someone's strength. If you took let's say Dennis Rogers and some 185 lb Physique Mr. Olympia contestant, which one do you think has a better strength ratio in comparison to their body type? For those who may not know, Dennis Rogers is pound for pound the strongest man of his time. He looks like an ordinary guy but his strength is anything but. He can bend the toughest wrenches into an S, tear the thickest phonebooks, shape steel like a clown shapes balloons, tears decks of cards like sheets of paper and pound nails into thick pieces of wood like a hammer. One look at him without ever knowing what he's capable of, you'd think he's just one of those guys you see often on the street with a pair of glasses on with a t-shirt and jeans. 

What does constitute with demonstrating strength? Moving heavy weights can be a factor and it doesn't matter if you're a 165 lbs skinny guy or a 300-400 lb beast. Bending steel takes a great deal of strength and maybe 1-50,000 bodybuilders today can maybe do a little of that and I'm being generous about that statement, carrying moderate weight for long periods of time shows great strength endurance, slamming tires with sledgehammers more than 40 lbs shows incredible strength and doing other things. Strength in this case is about what you can do as oppose to just looking like it and having the illusion of strength. That's not to say some people with heavy visible veins aren't strong, look at Arm Wrestlers and muscular Sprinters and Football Players. Being vascular is not the complete determining factor of how fit and strong you are. There's also nothing wrong with showing results and becoming fit with an awesome body but to just show your vascularity and not your strength to go with it, it's just that, a picture of how veiny you are. 

Be as strong as you look or give off that vibe of "looks can be deceiving" and be deceptively strong despite not always having a strong looking body. Take care of yourself and keep being amazingly awesome.  

Lost Empire Herb Of The Day: Hercules Pre-Workout Formula


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