Hyde’s Strength Odyssey

MrKleen73 said:
I meant pushing this one due to knowing it is going to be limited by the injury, taking the hit, backing off the orals, rescheduling for the next one that fits in a good timeframe for the goal while closer to 198 than you have been in years outside of being depleted for weigh in, and going in trying for that Elite status. I would think you could probably get within weight cut striking distance in a relatively short period of time.
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Okay gotcha. Yeah I can see the logic in that, however I have never once pulled out of a meet - it is a point of pride to make a showing, regardless of what I lift. That being said, I also really enjoy being at meets, entry is paid, and now my wife is judging a Pro Strongman League show 20 minutes away the day prior (of weighins), so I’m going to be down there either way!

I began taking the 25mg Anavar daily as of Saturday, but that also facilitates collagen synthesis and will speed any repair if there is any muscle tweak. Plus helping preserve lean mass during this cut of course. I’ll take 50 on bench day, but I probably won’t be adding more orals unless I see things going the right direction with my lower lifting.
 
Hyde said:
There was a small pop in a facet joint, one with a history of fairly significant injury to the capsule, on the 8th rep pulling 496 the previous week. Then some inflammation following, and feels like either that alone or a strain to the accompanying intertransvere ligament off the right side (which is the previously injured side so it’s got some play there). You couldn’t tell without an MRI because it would express as the same radiating muscular pain outward either way, but it also wouldn’t matter because the rehab path is exactly the same.

No nerve impingement or sciatic disk issue in this case; it was a minor injury thankfully with fairly minor impact. For context, I was doing 365lb beltless RDLs 3 days after and still squat 418 without issue 7 days post. I just need to let it really catch up.


Yeah you know I told my wife I could probably stop training squats and pulls largely, show up and do better than if I dick around too much with this now, so I need to choose discretion every chance I get with it.
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Your assessment sounds solid to me . Sounds like an intraspinous ligament , fascia, capsule etc. If so…. The good news is it is unlikely permanent…. The bad news is that it’s almost entirely a time thing. A good pain management doctor with some local and steroid may be able to help the pain but I don’t see how that would be worth the squeeze as the corticosteroid would probably delay healing and the pain relief would probably set you up to injure it or something else worse
 
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Rockslide said:
Your assessment sounds solid to me . Sounds like an intraspinous ligament , fascia, capsule etc. If so…. The good news is it is unlikely permanent…. The bad news is that it’s almost entirely a time thing. A good pain management doctor with some local and steroid may be able to help the pain but I don’t see how that would be worth the squeeze as the corticosteroid would probably delay healing and the pain relief would probably set you up to injure it or something else worse
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Right, definitely that ballpark/type of issue, although like I said it would be the intratransverse as it’s to the right side of the injured joint, which aligns with the previous injury history to that facet (rotation under load on that side) as well as the asymmetrical way I pull mixed grip (with my left arm under, but it doesn’t have full extension so even full lat engagement is tougher). Essentially, just got a little too sloppy under fatigue with parts that have their share of unilateral mileage.

Definitely not permanent, not remotely to the degree of the existing facet injury there at least.

We’ll see; it will be what it is. I have blown multiple lumbar discs, I have nerve crosstalk from c-spine damage from squatting or yoke runs, torn erectors, both QL (left side twice), strained iliocostalis & psoas, displaced ribs - no stranger to back & spine tweaks after years of competition. I am very grateful this is not like any of those even!
 
7/28/26
BW 228.6

2 min Assault Bike
Band Warmup
BW Squats
Incline DB Bench
Scap Pushups
Bird Dogs

Bench, Texas Powerbar
45,155x5
221,265x3
298x2
314 3x2, 1x5

1-Board Press
298 2x5

BB RDL
55x20

V-Bar Cable Tri Pressdown
60x5
110x12,10
40x30

DB Lateral Raises
30x15
35x12

Really humid again this morning; lost a lot of sweat early on, so I’m not sure if that’s why things felt heavy later on or diet/weightloss in general. Warmups felt good, but as I got into the final doubles with 314 it became obvious things were not strong today. Got some good work in, good practice, just disappointed I couldn’t make 6 reps.

Really makes me contemplate if I should bump the Var to 50 daily from here out, or even add the 40 Tbol to the daily 25 Var (mainly just to try Tbol out since I love test derivatives historically). I’ve already decided I don’t want to mess with adding more Mast or any more oil; it would be dry orals or nothing. On one hand, it seems like it could be a bit of a waste considering I may not get to squat or pull much. On the other, I have the gear, I planned to use it, I don’t know how many more years competing I have left, and I will probably lift heavier taking more drugs. Idk 🤷‍♂️
 
The RDLs were a nice idea @Dustin07. Just grabbed a squat bar and initially could not get much ROM, but quickly & painlessly had the bar down just a couple inches from shoelaces (even after otherwise getting quite mobile for bench, air squatting to depth earlier etc).
 
Hyde said:
The RDLs were a nice idea @Dustin07. Just grabbed a squat bar and initially could not get much ROM, but quickly & painlessly had the bar down just a couple inches from shoelaces (even after otherwise getting quite mobile for bench, air squatting to depth earlier etc).
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right on! I have had days where any empty bar ROM is like.. knees.. then shin... then ankle. then finally its flat on the ground with my hands wrapped around it for a full stretch. its sorta funny but I can turn that empty bar into a sweat session lol. that and adductors always seem to be key for me on squat mobility.
 
Dustin07 said:
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This is a great movie and the leading lady.... YUM! She has the super fine girl next door vibe.

@Hyde, glad to hear the RDL's loosened things up. I use them to loosen up often too. Noting like the nice light weighted stretch to loosen the lower back and hams up. Plus wake up the area as well.
 
Alright, made a decision to add more orals. A half measure is a half result, and taking some drugs to fall short of my goals is worse in my mind than committing to the bit at least without regret. If I can’t even attempt a decent bench goal on the day this would be in vain in my mind.

So often I try to do stupid things like just take some caffeine when I am tired before a Wednesday evening training session, then have poor training AND still not go to bed on time. What I’ve found is taking enough to get the effect I’m after and then executing to be entirely more beneficial. I almost think it’s self-sabotage, people self-limiting their buyin because then if they still fall short they can say, ‘Well, I didn’t do x, y & z so I’m happy with it overall.’ What if we just did those things, and then whatever happens we can say we didn’t leave any stone unturned??

Anyway, going to take 50 Var per day going forward for the moment, or possibly some combination with Tbol even the last month.
 
Hyde said:
Alright, made a decision to add more orals. A half measure is a half result, and taking some drugs to fall short of my goals is worse in my mind than committing to the bit at least without regret. If I can’t even attempt a decent bench goal on the day this would be in vain in my mind.

So often I try to do stupid things like just take some caffeine when I am tired before a Wednesday evening training session, then have poor training AND still not go to bed on time. What I’ve found is taking enough to get the effect I’m after and then executing to be entirely more beneficial. I almost think it’s self-sabotage, people self-limiting their buyin because then if they still fall short they can say, ‘Well, I didn’t do x, y & z so I’m happy with it overall.’ What if we just did those things, and then whatever happens we can say we didn’t leave any stone unturned??

Anyway, going to take 50 Var per day going forward for the moment, or possibly some combination with Tbol even the last month.
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I think adding the orals will pay off…Var and Tbol are my favorites when I compare risk vs reward. It’s been a while since I’ve taken any Tbol, but it’s definitely a performance steroid. The East Germans loved it and really put it on the map, and a lot of UFC fighters have put it to use as well. But you can’t go wrong with either one, Var or Tbol, so it would be interesting if you ran both. 💪😎
 
Oh yeah, I think you will get more out of the TBol than the Anavar regarding performance. I love TBol, I haven't had any in a long while, but I really enjoyed it when I ran it a couple of times.

I agree, if you are committing to the meet then no half measures, do the damn thing to the best of your ability. Knowing you, you would not be happy with anything less than a full out effort whether it works out your way or not. So, give it hell!
 
MrKleen73 said:
I agree, if you are committing to the meet then no half measures, do the damn thing to the best of your ability. Knowing you, you would not be happy with anything less than a full out effort whether it works out your way or not. So, give it hell!
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I appreciate you saying that; I think that’s what it boils down to. If I’m going to show up, I want to do my best - I’m going to pack my lunch and just be ready to call an audible.
 
7/29/26
BW 227.6

8 min Incline Walk
Scap Pushups
Cat Camel
Bird Dogs
BW Squats
KB One-leg DL

BB RDL
45,115,205x10

Nautilus Hacksquat w/ lifters
Empty,90,180x10
+tripleply sleeves
270,320x8
+deadlift belt
360x6
390,410,430x5

RFE Split Squat
BW,20x3
+40 2x10

GHR
12,10

V-grip Chin-ups
BWx2
1x21 PR
3x10

CS T-bar Row
90x12
125x10
150x6

DB Rear Delt Flyes
40,45x10

Took 25mg Var this morning as planned, and decided to try out the Tbol tonight, 40mg. Took it 3 hours preWO between meals to give time for blood levels to peak. No issues or sides, felt good with great mood heading into the gym for whatever that’s worth, and had a great training session. Felt really productive overall.

Warmed up with some RDLs waiting for the Hacksquat to open up, which I chose to just get some good deep leg work in pushing hard with no back load (as well as challenge the knee with low/close stance & lifters). Very happy with how this went, and especially the lifetime best set of chin-ups. I’ve never hit 20 reps, so it’s pretty cool to conquer that finally at 36 years old weighing 230lbs.
 
Congrats on that PR, and man I love my deadlift belt. Best overall use belt I have ever used. It is just the right thickness for my no waist having self. My bottom ribs and my hip bones are wildly close together. Like about an inch. If I put 2 fingers on the top of my hip bone the 2nd finger touches the bottom rib with a little overlap. So the more flexible but still strong deadlift belt works wonders for me. I only used a really stiff competitor style belt during peaking and the actual contest due to the digging in and bruising it always did.

Good to hear the knee did well on this outing too!
 
gphagan1 said:
Man 21 pull-ups is impressive, especially at 227 lbs. That’s some heavy hack squats too. Glad the knee held up and is getting better.😎👍
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You better believe I was well over 230 in clothes, hydrated in the evening doing those! My recorded bodyweights are always taken dry in the morning in underwear, lowest possible number like a weighin. I bet I was 233 at the gym; I drink a half gallon intra.

MrKleen73 said:
Congrats on that PR, and man I love my deadlift belt. Best overall use belt I have ever used. It is just the right thickness for my no waist having self. My bottom ribs and my hip bones are wildly close together. Like about an inch. If I put 2 fingers on the top of my hip bone the 2nd finger touches the bottom rib with a little overlap. So the more flexible but still strong deadlift belt works wonders for me. I only used a really stiff competitor style belt during peaking and the actual contest due to the digging in and bruising it always did.

Good to hear the knee did well on this outing too!
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Yeah it was a great trust moment for my knee undoubtedly!

Truthfully, I only use the deadlift belt because it doesn’t help me nearly as much as my powerbelt. Similar to the way I will use lighter knee sleeves vs my comp ones - it’s intentionally less supportive. But it still helps cue bracing a lot, so I usually try to use it for things like RDLs where I am trying to build muscle but still need to stay safe.
 
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