Hyde’s Strength Odyssey

BennyMagoo79 said:
That was last summer.

Looking forward to seeing where things head for you this summer!
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Me too! I don’t plan to force my weight up so fast this summer so I am not trying to immediately beat those all-time numbers just yet, but rather play the longterm so I can move to new heights late in the year.
 
3/12/21 - Press 531
BW 228.0

Band Facepulls, Tri Pressdown, One-arm Rows
4x25 each

Axle Strict Press
45x15
95,135,165x5
185x3
205x4
205x2,1,1,3 over 5 min

Axle CG High Incline Press
155 3x8

BB Cheat Curls
45x15
65,85,105,125x5 PR

Perfect Push-ups
2x23

DB Rear Delt Flyes
25x20,15,12


Enjoyed the “reps over time” challenge set after my initial AMRAP. Decided to save the rows for deadlift day as well as reverse curls since wrist was a little grouchy after a lifetime best on cheat curls. Swapped in the close grip high incline bench in lieu of extensions and it was great pain-free tricep work - lowered the axle until my triceps sat on lats and forced my forearms to a dead stop on my biceps, then focused on keeping elbows close to drive it back up. Definitely doing these again next week!
 
Hyde said:
Could have taken it last night, but it would have required a competition level of exertion that would have cost more than it would have helped my training. My best squat is 285kg/617lbs last summer - this is just training to get stronger!

Before I prepped for that squat, I got down to 234 and couldn’t have squat much more than 425, bench 300, deadlift 500 or so. To be ~500/340/550 at 225 means I am decidedly ahead of that starting point now a year later.
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nice bro.

weirdly a lot of people seem to miss that progress is comparing like for like in terms of numbers vs BW (and training structure).

year on year your comparable numbers are improving which is awesome. Plus your just generally a strong mo fo 💪
 
3/14/21 - Deadlift 531
BW 229.0

Agile 8, RKC Planks, Glute Bridges

Reverse Hyper
90 2x15

Deadlift, stiffbar
135,245,335x5
385x3
425,480,525x1
560x1 with hold
435x8

Reverse Hyper
90 3x15

Pendlay Rows
245 4x6

Axle Reverse Curls
45,55,65,75,80x8

Ab Wheel
3x15

Stoked to pull 560 so easily on a stiffbar; it could have had more on it and still gone up. With a deadlift bar I am certain I could have done 600 today.
 
3/16/21 - Bench 3s
BW 229.4

Wenning Warmup

Bench
45,95x10
135,185x5
225,255x3
290x5+1 assisted
325x5 in phoenix

CGBP
225x8,8,10

Tate Press
35 4x12

Pretty disappointed I wasn’t able to bench 6 reps on 290 today, but this had to be a fast session on my lunch hour and nothing hurt, so I’ll take it
 
Hyde said:
3/16/21 - Bench 3s
BW 229.4

Wenning Warmup

Bench
45,95x10
135,185x5
225,255x3
290x5+1 assisted
325x5 in phoenix

CGBP
225x8,8,10

Tate Press
35 4x12

Pretty disappointed I wasn’t able to bench 6 reps on 290 today, but this had to be a fast session on my lunch hour and nothing hurt, so I’ll take it
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hey bro, been meaning to ask but what does ‘in Phoenix mean? Only thing I could think was using a slingshot but never heard of it before
 
Whisky said:
hey bro, been meaning to ask but what does ‘in Phoenix mean? Only thing I could think was using a slingshot but never heard of it before
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Yep, it’s essentially a slingshot. Except it’s a better product and I didn’t have to give my money to Mark Bell. Extremely comparable feel and strength, worn the same way.
 
3/18/21 - Squat 5s
BW 226.6

Agile 8, Bird Dogs, Jigsaw, Glute Bridges, Pullaparts

Reverse Hyper
90 4x15 (2 sets after squat)

Squat
45 2x6
135,225x3
285,325,365x5
285 3x5
+monster minibands
285 2x5

Laying Leg Raises
3x16

KB Swings
53 2x15

Avg Band Stomps
3x30/leg

Kinda beat up going into this but not quite deload ready, so I actually flopped my 3/5/1 scheme back to 5/3/1. Already did bench 3s the other day but whatever - this was the right call after last week’s evaluation singles. 325 and 365 moved pretty slowly tonight, as expected. Still got some great practice in and loved the new Rogue kettlebell. Definitely a warmup/speed/cardio weight as intended.
 
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This is how I set the bands up last night. Super mild increase in top weight since it wasn’t doubled, but this added a great feel of tension to accelerate against for the back off work.
 
Hyde said:
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This is how I set the bands up last night. Super mild increase in top weight since it wasn’t doubled, but this added a great feel of tension to accelerate against for the back off work.
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any reason for band round the plates rather than bar or was it just for the slight increase in tension?
 
I’ve yet to do any band work(even though I bought the elitefts mountain dog pack during lockdown) only chains. I might have to give it a go. Would looping them around 100lb dumbbells at the bottom work? I don’t have band pegs
 
wfreiling said:
I’ve yet to do any band work(even though I bought the elitefts mountain dog pack during lockdown) only chains. I might have to give it a go. Would looping them around 100lb dumbbells at the bottom work? I don’t have band pegs
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Usually that works great - as long as tension at the top is within 100lbs per side. If the tension gets close to the Db weight they can skid around.

I highly recommend watching a short vid on how to choke bands. There are multiple ways, but it’s important to pay attention that both sides are evenly positioned & there is always tension on the bar, even at the bottom of the lift.
 
3/19/21 - Press 5s
BW 227.0

Wenning Warmup
4x25/each

Axle Strictpress
145,170,190x5
150 3x5, 1x10

Axle CG High Incline Press
165 4x6

Push-ups
30,20

DB Rear Delt Flyes
35 3x10

DB Hammercurls
35x20,15,15

Did this one a day early to recover for bloodwork Monday morning. It’s been about 3 months since last draw & 8 weeks off blast - need to see where 150 test e/wk has all my numbers sitting on cruise.

Signed up for a WUAP meet on June 12th only 90 min from here. Entered on the 6th but didn’t get confirmation until today that I’m on the roster. It’s a monolift & wraps fed, but I’ll be walking out in sleeves per usual. May take advantage and run my gangster triple-ply Cerberus, or at least my OG Titan Yellowjackets with the outlaw cross-knee stitching.
 
I can't wait to see how you do in your meet, good luck !
 
12 weeks out today!

Signed up for 242lb class and was 228 yesterday morning. So I can gain about 20lbs by weighins to avoid any sweating to make weight. This weight will come on very easily likely, so drug and diet approach will be accordingly moderate. Not trying to gain unnecessary fat because this is just setting me up for the next meet at 275. Here’s the base of the cycle:

Wks 1-12:
-300mg test e/wk
-200mg deca/wk
-15mg mk677/day, 8 on / 4 off

Wks 5-12
-100mg DHB or 200mg mast e/wk

Planning on Triumph, Var, or Yk11 as well the last 5-6 weeks likely depending on what my body is doing, and I have plenty of other options to throw some gas on the fire near the end too if I want.

Training will continue with the 531 base until the 5th, where I am planning to go to the Lilliebridge Method 10 weeks out. I don’t really feel like I’m in a position to use 5th Set optimally right now, and I would like to experiment.
 
Hyde said:
12 weeks out today!

Signed up for 242lb class and was 228 yesterday morning. So I can gain about 20lbs by weighins to avoid any sweating to make weight. This weight will come on very easily likely, so drug and diet approach will be accordingly moderate. Not trying to gain unnecessary fat because this is just setting me up for the next meet at 275. Here’s the base of the cycle:

Wks 1-12:
-300mg test e/wk
-200mg deca/wk
-15mg mk677/day, 8 on / 4 off

Wks 5-12
-100mg DHB or 200mg mast e/wk

Planning on Triumph, Var, or Yk11 as well the last 5-6 weeks likely depending on what my body is doing, and I have plenty of other options to throw some gas on the fire near the end too if I want.

Training will continue with the 531 base until the 5th, where I am planning to go to the Lilliebridge Method 10 weeks out. I don’t really feel like I’m in a position to use 5th Set optimally right now, and I would like to experiment.
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well this will be awesome to follow along through a prep - especially where you are gaining weight coming into it.....
 
I think we need a "Before" pic !!
 
Rocket3015 said:
I think we need a "Before" pic !!
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This was this morning weighing 228.0, relaxed then flexed. Feeling small; many clothes are looser on me than ever before and my family was telling me today how good I look when they came to visit the baby - told them I’m about to get chubby again

Definitely the most muscular I’ve been at this weight at least. I have no illusions about getting any sexier with this cycle or year - I am going for 70’s big, with the numbers to back it up!
 
3/22/21 - Deadlift 5s
BW 228.0

Rolling, mashing, over & backs, fire hydrants, hip stretches

RKC Planks
3 holds

Reverse Hyper
90 3x15

Deadlift, stiffbar
135,225,315,365x5
415 3x5 + hold

RDL
265 3x8

Reverse Hyper
150 2x12

Yoke Chins
9,8,7,6,5

Axle Reverse Curls
45,55,65x8
80 2x8

Axle Holds
225x2

Did the same amount of deadlift volume as a 5th Set technique day, in my soft belt. Just hammering all the weak links best I can on this day: technique, forearm/thumb/grip strength, ab strength, erectors, bracing. This day is a bit of a slog, but if I want to PR I must bring up the pieces holding me back.

Knee has been swollen randomly since squat last week, so I brought my old veterinary friend out to lend a hand tonight:

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Hyde said:
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This was this morning weighing 228.0, relaxed then flexed. Feeling small; many clothes are looser on me than ever before and my family was telling me today how good I look when they came to visit the baby - told them I’m about to get chubby again

Definitely the most muscular I’ve been at this weight at least. I have no illusions about getting any sexier with this cycle or year - I am going for 70’s big, with the numbers to back it up!
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Dude you got some big ass traps. I’m more than slightly jealous. Also, chubby is the new cut...at least that’s what I tell myself
 
wfreiling said:
Dude you got some big ass traps. I’m more than slightly jealous. Also, chubby is the new cut...at least that’s what I tell myself
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“Working on my dad bod”

You’re not the first person to tell me that, thank you. I’d love to say something macho like it’s from a decade of deadlifting, but they’ve been like that ever since my first cycle whenever I’m on anything at all. I always lose them off cycle but within a week or so back on and they blow up - apparently staying on just 150 test though now I get to keep them year round! Which is awesome, cosmetically.
 
Hyde said:
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This was this morning weighing 228.0, relaxed then flexed. Feeling small; many clothes are looser on me than ever before and my family was telling me today how good I look when they came to visit the baby - told them I’m about to get chubby again

Definitely the most muscular I’ve been at this weight at least. I have no illusions about getting any sexier with this cycle or year - I am going for 70’s big, with the numbers to back it up!
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Shoulders and biceps are popping!

Good base to build from, excited to follow along with this prep!!
 
Looking lean and powerful !
 
3/24/21 - Bench 531
BW 229.4

Wenning Warmup

Bench
45x12
95x10
145x5
195,225x3
245x5
275x3
305x4

CGBP
245 3x5
250x10

Tate Press ss w/ Tempo Pec Flyes
35 4x15 each

Second shot of test/deca tonight. Began MK677 last night. Lots of appetite today. If anyone has ran 531 before and following my training you may be wondering wth is going on with the rotation, but I am just using this to provide some structure to get prepared to prep starting the week of April 5th. I need to start that healthy, prepared to train, and also get my rotation back to a 7-day microcycle (currently eod training has me on 8-day splits), so this was my last heavy bench day before then.
 
wfreiling said:
So you essentially did your FSL as a bench accessory
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Spot on. I have had a teeny but terrifying amount of pain in my right pec on all of my comp grip bench work for months (at any weight always). Right where it attaches in the armpit. My comp grip is already pretty narrow by necessity - pinkies on rings of a power bar. Any wider and I get strains, and I really need to maintain tricep dominance in my bench regardless of grip to help avoid another strain.

So the logic is it’s still a very manageable weight with a closer grip (see the set of 10, for a challenge), so just a little change. Takes away the pain and emphasizes the most important muscle in a slightly longer ROM.
 
That’s really cool. I like how you think outside the box and adjust as necessary. I wish my brain worked like that.
 
Hyde puts a loT more thought into his training than a lot of us. (It's a good thing)
 
3/27/21 - Squat 3s
BW 233.0

Rolling, mashing, fire hydrants, over & backs, bird dogs, hip stretches, band pullaparts

Reverse Hyper
90 4x15

Squat
45x10,5
135x5
205,255x3
305 2x2 knee said nope

Quite the bummer. Rested an extra day before this, lots of rest and food and curcumin, swelling had gone away it seemed and knee was barely stiff in daily activity. Still, I was moving very slow on squats to protect it and everything felt heavy, like my nervous system was pulling back to protect me. Just 305 had unmistakable pain/instability when I would unrack the weight and lock it out, and every set leading up to it felt worse and worse. Even 225 after 305 was a no-go. I was supposed to go up to 390 for a set of 8 or so and then CAT work with 300 after.

Bagged the session. There’s nothing I could have did in my garage besides more reverse hypers that wouldn’t have loaded my knee, and better I rest it now than push and get injured.
 
Also, got an In Body scan Wednesday morning - bodyfat remained at 21% and I had lost 7lbs more bodyweight, 4 of which was muscle, since the end of last cycle 8 weeks ago. ALL muscle loss was in the upper body: legs had technically grown, probably from the reintroduction of squats and deadlifts.

Total muscle was 4.5lbs higher than last May and 7lbs lighter bodyweight, and 8% less bodyfat! Quite an improvement in the base over 10 months. Looking forward to the coming gains.
 
Having to nix the work sets is always a pisser man. Hate to hear the knee is bugging you. Old injury? I don't remember seeing anything about it bugging you.
 
Hyde said:
3/27/21 - Squat 3s
BW 233.0

Rolling, mashing, fire hydrants, over & backs, bird dogs, hip stretches, band pullaparts

Reverse Hyper
90 4x15

Squat
45x10,5
135x5
205,255x3
305 2x2 knee said nope

Quite the bummer. Rested an extra day before this, lots of rest and food and curcumin, swelling had gone away it seemed and knee was barely stiff in daily activity. Still, I was moving very slow on squats to protect it and everything felt heavy, like my nervous system was pulling back to protect me. Just 305 had unmistakable pain/instability when I would unrack the weight and lock it out, and every set leading up to it felt worse and worse. Even 225 after 305 was a no-go. I was supposed to go up to 390 for a set of 8 or so and then CAT work with 300 after.

Bagged the session. There’s nothing I could have did in my garage besides more reverse hypers that wouldn’t have loaded my knee, and better I rest it now than push and get injured.
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Do u know why the knee is playing up?
 
Hyde said:
3/27/21 - Squat 3s
BW 233.0

Rolling, mashing, fire hydrants, over & backs, bird dogs, hip stretches, band pullaparts

Reverse Hyper
90 4x15

Squat
45x10,5
135x5
205,255x3
305 2x2 knee said nope

Quite the bummer. Rested an extra day before this, lots of rest and food and curcumin, swelling had gone away it seemed and knee was barely stiff in daily activity. Still, I was moving very slow on squats to protect it and everything felt heavy, like my nervous system was pulling back to protect me. Just 305 had unmistakable pain/instability when I would unrack the weight and lock it out, and every set leading up to it felt worse and worse. Even 225 after 305 was a no-go. I was supposed to go up to 390 for a set of 8 or so and then CAT work with 300 after.

Bagged the session. There’s nothing I could have did in my garage besides more reverse hypers that wouldn’t have loaded my knee, and better I rest it now than push and get injured.
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smart move though.
 
3/28/21 - Accessory
BW 235.0

Reverse Hyper
90x15

GHR
2x12
2x15

Laying Leg Curl
90x15
120,130x12
140x10

Standing Cable Low Rows
100,120,140,160x15

Hammerstrength Row
45,90x10
100x8
110x6 -> 90x4 -> 45x8

Fat handle Widegrip Pulldowns
120x12
165 3x8

DB Rows
70,90x6
100x20/side

Laying Leg Raises
2x17

First session in a commercial gym since pre-baby quarantine! Got up early to slip off for this short session before the wife’s training, which felt great to get some accessory work in (especially after last night’s knee woes). The Nautilus GHR at the new commercial gym here is terrific - it even has band pegs.
 
Day 8 of 300 Test/200 Deca/15 Mk677

-BW 237.6 post bathroom at 10am

-BP 118/67 w/ Pulse of 59

-Blood Glucose was 80 still fasting at 12:30am.

Up 10lbs in 8 days. Lots of quality meals with fruits and veggies, but a bit too many sweets with family stuff + crazy hunger. Not sure I’m going to be able to fit DHB at wk 5 into this cycle at this rate of weight gain, but we’ll see. May need to go with some old oral Trendione instead for the collagen synthesis & IGF1 interactions for this knee (and to promote a recomp instead of more growth going forward). I have some Var I can add for the knee as well now, but didn’t want to hit my lipids this first month at all with the short 8 week cruise. We’ll see what bloodwork shows from last week first.
 
3/29/21 - Press 3s
BW 237.6

Wenning Warmup
x4 rounds

Reverse Hyper
90x15

Dynamic Axle Highpulls
45,95,145,165x5

Axle Strictpress
95 2x6
135,155,175x3
200x5
160 3x8

Axle CG High Incline Press
170 4x6

alt w/ DB Rear Delt Flyes
35 3x12

Use the explosive high pulls to get everything firing and move hips and knees through a full deep ROM, which was successful. Really nice garage session with the door open to the spring evening.

Wife started getting sick yesterday with some COVID symptoms and stayed home from work today. Her rapid test this afternoon was negative, but the coworker she worked directly with all day Saturday tested today too and was positive, & he’d had some minor symptoms then it turns out. So she probably does have it, but will take a more thorough test in a couple days. She’s doing fine enough, just achey and tired now. Baby & myself are doing great.
 
Hyde said:
3/29/21 - Press 3s
BW 237.6

Wenning Warmup
x4 rounds

Reverse Hyper
90x15

Dynamic Axle Highpulls
45,95,145,165x5

Axle Strictpress
95 2x6
135,155,175x3
200x5
160 3x8

Axle CG High Incline Press
170 4x6

alt w/ DB Rear Delt Flyes
35 3x12

Use the explosive high pulls to get everything firing and move hips and knees through a full deep ROM, which was successful. Really nice garage session with the door open to the spring evening.

Wife started getting sick yesterday with some COVID symptoms and stayed home from work today. Her rapid test this afternoon was negative, but the coworker she worked directly with all day Saturday tested today too and was positive, & he’d had some minor symptoms then it turns out. So she probably does have it, but will take a more thorough test in a couple days. She’s doing fine enough, just achey and tired now. Baby & myself are doing great.
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Best wishes for your wife mate.
 
Hyde said:
3/29/21 - Press 3s
BW 237.6

Wenning Warmup
x4 rounds

Reverse Hyper
90x15

Dynamic Axle Highpulls
45,95,145,165x5

Axle Strictpress
95 2x6
135,155,175x3
200x5
160 3x8

Axle CG High Incline Press
170 4x6

alt w/ DB Rear Delt Flyes
35 3x12

Use the explosive high pulls to get everything firing and move hips and knees through a full deep ROM, which was successful. Really nice garage session with the door open to the spring evening.

Wife started getting sick yesterday with some COVID symptoms and stayed home from work today. Her rapid test this afternoon was negative, but the coworker she worked directly with all day Saturday tested today too and was positive, & he’d had some minor symptoms then it turns out. So she probably does have it, but will take a more thorough test in a couple days. She’s doing fine enough, just achey and tired now. Baby & myself are doing great.
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Glad to hear the knee was comfortable through the high pulls.

Hope all stays well with the family's health! I'm sure you're doing a good job keeping the immune systems functioning at a high level.
 
Best wishes for the missus brother

those lat flow tests are pointless, I know someone who tested positive on the pcr test and then did 5 lat flow ones over a couple of days - all negative.
 
Sucks to hear about Jess man. I know she’ll do fine with it, but having a little one while fighting it off has to be very difficult.
 
Looking Good Hyde, hope Jess gets to feeling better quickly and of course congrats on the birth of your little one!
 
MrKleen73 said:
Looking Good Hyde, hope Jess gets to feeling better quickly and of course congrats on the birth of your little one!
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So glad to see you around! Link us here if you have any log you’re updating life in.

Thanks for the well wishes everyone.

Wife went for a PCR COVID test. Still sick with aches & lethargy. As of yesterday, me too: sore throat, occasional wet hacking cough, achey & weak, fatigue. Temp is low & feeling quite cold. Stuffy nose, and no appetite despite hunger - very much like I’m on methyl orals. Hunger has been crazy on Mk677 until yesterday, where I had to play all the methyl tricks for calories (blended shakes, ice cream, junk food). Yesterday was day 8 of Mk so that is rotated off today for 4 days total.

Just resting whatever I can with work & the baby. I was planning Deload sessions until next Thursday anyway when prep officially starts so this is a good time to be under the weather & skip training some at least. Just quarantining with the fam.
 
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