Hyde’s Strength Odyssey

jinxie said:
That’s a deal for equipment like that. I have a lifetime $99/yr deal at 24 hr Fitness (all clubs) that I keep for similar reasons, mostly in case of travel. But I never use it, lol. I probably would if they had plate loaded machines like yours. Same same regarding the crappy bars, many which don’t even weigh 44-45 lbs.
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24hr was my longest lasting gym membership. at one point I think I had 3 or 4 memberships (including owning one while attending other ones). But COVID killed our local 24hr permanently unfortunately for the first time in about 14 years I am not a 24hr member anymore.
 
Dustin07 said:
24hr was my longest lasting gym membership. at one point I think I had 3 or 4 memberships (including owning one while attending other ones). But COVID killed our local 24hr permanently unfortunately for the first time in about 14 years I am not a 24hr member anymore.
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Yeah I have always tried to have a super cheap fitness club membership. It’s worth it to always have at least a couple options in my opinion.
 
Hyde said:
Yeah I have always tried to have a super cheap fitness club membership. It’s worth it to always have at least a couple options in my opinion.
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i maintain one myself despite having a great home gym set up. Although to be honest it’s mainly so I can perv at the gym bunnies in those tiktok leggings 🤷
 
Whisky said:
i maintain one myself despite having a great home gym set up. Although to be honest it’s mainly so I can perv at the gym bunnies in those tiktok leggings 🤷
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haha fair enough. Pre covid I had a $9.99 gym near my place in Tacoma, cancelled that when planet fitness bought them out, but also kept my 24hr fitness cause it was closer to work (1hr commute), and then had an Xfit membership for similar reasons to your point above lol. ended up marrying one of them though and she still looks good in her fabletics ;) ha
 
Hyde said:
$10 a month and they have a sauna if I need to cut weight. And it’s air-conditioned. That’s why I have the membership. Bars are crap, usually very busy, but it’s good for this kind of work, cardio, “exercise”.

Not a place you’d chalk your hands or actually get big & strong



That’s a great one. I think I could do this on that one as well; 10 years ago I was pressing 2.5 plates a side on it when I was benching mid 200s. I actually prefer that one but haven’t seen one in a long time.
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We have the same commercial gym
 
Hyde said:
7/25/21
BW 231.2

10 min walk
McGill Big 3

Underhand Pulldown Warmups

V-grip Chin-ups
13,12,10,8,9 lifetime PR at this BW range

Incline Bench Chest-supported DB Rows
80x10,13

EZBar Upright Rows
45,90,100x12

EZBar Curls
50x12
70x10
80x8

Doggcrapp Seated DB Rear Delt Flyes
30x12+6+4

I have never been able to do reps/total volume like this on chins since I was around 205lbs many years ago. Curling starting to feel stronger as well after the other day. Horizontal rowing was very hard, but first time touching this in a long time so happy to begin rebuilding here without pain.
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Back on point, this is the tits! Well done, sir! That’s a boatload of chins!
 
Dustin07 said:
haha fair enough. Pre covid I had a $9.99 gym near my place in Tacoma, cancelled that when planet fitness bought them out, but also kept my 24hr fitness cause it was closer to work (1hr commute), and then had an Xfit membership for similar reasons to your point above lol. ended up marrying one of them though and she still looks good in her fabletics ;) ha
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You are thinking about PF all wrong. Some choose to view it as poor excuse for a gym, but that’s a glass-half-empty kind of view.

Me, I see it as the most affordable All-You-Can-Eat pizza buffet membership club in town!
 
Hyde said:
You are thinking about PF all wrong. Some choose to view it as poor excuse for a gym, but that’s a glass-half-empty kind of view.

Me, I see it as the most affordable All-You-Can-Eat pizza buffet membership club in town!
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Our Planet Fitness in town sucks. Machines are often broken and there aren’t many I’m interested in. It’s conveniently located, but that’s about it. My wife’s work paid for it and we still quit. I’d rather just train at home. With that said, I keep my all-club 24 hr Fitness membership bc its $99/year and there’s actually some equipment that adds value. Too bad, it’s a good 20 minute drive each way. So I mostly keep it for travel.
 
jinxie said:
Our Planet Fitness in town sucks. Machines are often broken and there aren’t many I’m interested in. It’s conveniently located, but that’s about it. My wife’s work paid for it and we still quit. I’d rather just train at home. With that said, I keep my all-club 24 hr Fitness membership bc its $99/year and there’s actually some equipment that adds value. Too bad, it’s a good 20 minute drive each way. So I mostly keep it for travel.
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I walked in to the gym the day PF took over and saw they had removed all free weights, all barbells, etc and painted machines purple. I said well there's literally nothing here for me to do so I'm out.
 
Your making me think we have it ok in the UK.

the chain I use (JD sports) has eleiko bars and plates (inc comp bumpers), a couple of platforms, one of those 180 degree type flip machines, plate loaded strength equipment, sled tracks etc. I do my heavy lifting at home just because I want my music and to be able to shout and sh1t but it’s a decent enough big box gym.
 
Whisky said:
Your making me think we have it ok in the UK.

the chain I use (JD sports) has eleiko bars and plates (inc comp bumpers), a couple of platforms, one of those 180 degree type flip machines, plate loaded strength equipment, sled tracks etc. I do my heavy lifting at home just because I want my music and to be able to shout and sh1t but it’s a decent enough big box gym.
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That sounds solid. But not sure we’re comparing apples here. Planet Fitness and 24 hr Fitness are sort of the bottom of the barrel here in the US.

At any rate, a chain fitness gym with Eleiko bars is not a thing over here as far as I know. I think you’d need to go to a little niche gym, that’s a lot more expensive.
 
jinxie said:
That sounds solid. But not sure we’re comparing apples here. Planet Fitness and 24 hr Fitness are sort of the bottom of the barrel here in the US.

At any rate, a chain fitness gym with Eleiko bars is not a thing over here as far as I know. I think you’d need to go to a little niche gym, that’s a lot more expensive.
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about a year before COVID my 24hr gym put in a huge olympic lifting area with 8 platforms, squat racks and all Eleiko barbells and bumpers. it blew my mind because prior to that only my CrossFit gym had invested in Eleiko.

that said, COVID killed that gym permanently. :sadface:

It really was sad to lose that gym though. for over a decade I saw the same people in there in their same shifts. (I sometimes did before work 5am crew, sometimes after work 4pm crew. ) those peeps never got any fitter. the morning crew was always way over weight. but it was their social hour before the day started I think and I still had some respect for them and their habit.
 
jinxie said:
That sounds solid. But not sure we’re comparing apples here. Planet Fitness and 24 hr Fitness are sort of the bottom of the barrel here in the US.

At any rate, a chain fitness gym with Eleiko bars is not a thing over here as far as I know. I think you’d need to go to a little niche gym, that’s a lot more expensive.
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tbh it’s pretty comparable bro, all our 24hr chains come in around $20 - $25 a month (varies depending on where you live). There’s a couple at maybe $15 a month but normally that’s just opening offers etc.

Our best known budget gym is probably pure gym which is a direct comparable to the JD I go to.

our higher end gyms are typically $60-$100 a month (and have pools)
 
I only have ever been to a single gym in the US with Eleiko equipment, and the owner was a weightlifter so half of the gym was weightlifting and powerlifting area and the other side was CrossFit/functional training that kept the lights on.
 
Whisky said:
tbh it’s pretty comparable bro, all our 24hr chains come in around $20 - $25 a month (varies depending on where you live). There’s a couple at maybe $15 a month but normally that’s just opening offers etc.

Our best known budget gym is probably pure gym which is a direct comparable to the JD I go to.

our higher end gyms are typically $60-$100 a month (and have pools)
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I just checked and it looks like my current power lifting gym is $65/month with 1 yr commitment (I'm grandfathered in at $37.50). most of the new bars we run are PR lifting, texas bars, or other good Rogues, but no Eliekos. he got hammered during covid and barely kept the doors open but it's a good power lifting gym. best in the area really. military/law enforcement get $45/month
 
7/27/21

10 min walk
McGill Big 3

GHR
3x18

DB Lunges
25,45,50,55/hand x10/leg

Frontsquat
45,95,115x5
135 EMOM 4x5, 1x10

Laying Leg Curl
110x8
180x10,9,8 PR

Glute Bridge Machine
410x12 PR

Great morning of training. Moved to dbs for lunges so I can begin loading it heavier. Sunday was 6 weeks since the meet, so I am officially out of post-comp “no barbell/off-time” mode. Still rehabbing my back, so that is the priority of course, but I intend to start hitting the bench again and whatever I can safely do a little heavier.
 
Hyde said:
7/27/21

10 min walk
McGill Big 3

GHR
3x18

DB Lunges
25,45,50,55/hand x10/leg

Frontsquat
45,95,115x5
135 EMOM 4x5, 1x10

Laying Leg Curl
110x8
180x10,9,8 PR

Glute Bridge Machine
410x12 PR

Great morning of training. Moved to dbs for lunges so I can begin loading it heavier. Sunday was 6 weeks since the meet, so I am officially out of post-comp “no barbell/off-time” mode. Still rehabbing my back, so that is the priority of course, but I intend to start hitting the bench again and whatever I can safely do a little heavier.
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Bench PRs come easily when one does not squat or deadlift.
 
I do love glute bridges for back rehab, anything that allows me to really squeeze the glutes seems to help a lot for my particular back issues. our gym also got a reverse hypers. That + RDL's have I think saved my previous back crisis. hopefully yours is back stronger soon as well.

BennyMagoo79 said:
Bench PRs come easily when one does not squat or deadlift.
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yeah I do notice that I either PR pressing movements or leg stuff, but rarely both on the same cycle.
 
Hyde said:
7/27/21

10 min walk
McGill Big 3

GHR
3x18

DB Lunges
25,45,50,55/hand x10/leg

Frontsquat
45,95,115x5
135 EMOM 4x5, 1x10

Laying Leg Curl
110x8
180x10,9,8 PR

Glute Bridge Machine
410x12 PR

Great morning of training. Moved to dbs for lunges so I can begin loading it heavier. Sunday was 6 weeks since the meet, so I am officially out of post-comp “no barbell/off-time” mode. Still rehabbing my back, so that is the priority of course, but I intend to start hitting the bench again and whatever I can safely do a little heavier.
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Well done, man! Look forward to seeing barbells resume moving here! I’m sure this recent work will pay dividends to your body and your lifts. Progress pic!
 
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7/28/21
BW 233.4

10 min walk
McGill Big 3

Band Facepulls & Tri Pressdown
2x25/each

Bench
45x10
95,135,185,225,235,245,255,265x5

Reverse Grip Bench
135,185,205,225,245x8 PR

Dips
BW 2x25 PR

Early morning garage sesh knocking the cobwebs off of benchpress. After getting mentioned in Jinxie’s log, I decided to try reverse grip benching for the first time in a decade - turns out I’m a lot stronger now Big thanks for @wfreiling for the hack hitting dips on my reverse hyper handles - excellent!

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You never know when your time is up - this song reminded me of that. Smashed that last set of reverse grip & finished with a smile.
 
Hyde said:
7/28/21
BW 233.4

10 min walk
McGill Big 3

Band Facepulls & Tri Pressdown
2x25/each

Bench
45x10
95,135,185,225,235,245,255,265x5

Reverse Grip Bench
135,185,205,225,245x8 PR

Dips
BW 2x25 PR

Early morning garage sesh knocking the cobwebs off of benchpress. After getting mentioned in Jinxie’s log, I decided to try reverse grip benching for the first time in a decade - turns out I’m a lot stronger now Big thanks for @wfreiling for the hack hitting dips on my reverse hyper handles - excellent!

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You never know when your time is up - this song reminded me of that. Smashed that last set of reverse grip & finished with a smile.
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Welcome back to the barbell! Nice benching, including reverse — particularly impressive for first time in a decade. Seems contagious, haha.
 
This is what 105kg/231lbs at 22.3% bodyfat is looking like flexed on me currently:

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Not optimal lighting, but that’s about as good as it gets presentation-wise besides not spreading my lats out fully or trying to entirely vacuum my stomach.

3,2-3,300 calories per day has been slowly dropping weight.
 
Last Breath is a song saved for prs for me, also I almost immediately break into tears after hearing it. Shits goes hard and is for all my fallen brothers.

Looking good big homie. Thicc af! I gotta get back after reverse grip myself as it’s been a minute. Your progress is sick.
 
Hyde said:
This is what 105kg/231lbs at 22.3% bodyfat is looking like flexed on me currently:

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Not optimal lighting, but that’s about as good as it gets presentation-wise besides not spreading my lats out fully or trying to entirely vacuum my stomach.

3,2-3,300 calories per day has been slowly dropping weight.
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Looking large and lean; substantial change! I’d place you at around 15% based on appearance. You look great!

Are you using calipers, bioimpedance or water displacement? Fwiw, my scale says I’m 23% BF, which is probably about 10% high.
 
Hyde said:
This is what 105kg/231lbs at 22.3% bodyfat is looking like flexed on me currently:

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Not optimal lighting, but that’s about as good as it gets presentation-wise besides not spreading my lats out fully or trying to entirely vacuum my stomach.

3,2-3,300 calories per day has been slowly dropping weight.
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No more presentation needed. Thiccc, saucy and sexy.
 
I'm curious for fun how your neck and arms compare size wise. I measured today for shits and giggles and found my neck and arms to be almost identical in size. That's with my arms about 1-2" smaller than I'd like tho lol
 
Dustin07 said:
I'm curious for fun how your neck and arms compare size wise. I measured today for shits and giggles and found my neck and arms to be almost identical in size. That's with my arms about 1-2" smaller than I'd like tho lol
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Mine are about the same as well, both low to mid 16”. I have a pretty long thin neck though, IMO.
 
jinxie said:
Mine are about the same as well, both low to mid 16”. I have a pretty long thin neck though, IMO.
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your neck appears to be thicker than mine or I'm measuring wrong. Usually I can measure things to be bigger than they actually are lol.

I do wear a 16.5 neck in shirt size but I'm pretty sure it was sub 16" when I measured today.
 
Thanks for the kind words gents!

jinxie said:
Are you using calipers, bioimpedance or water displacement? Fwiw, my scale says I’m 23% BF, which is probably about 10% high.
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This would be an InBody bioelectrical impedance. No abs showing at all so I suspect it’s fairly accurate.

Dustin07 said:
I'm curious for fun how your neck and arms compare size wise. I measured today for shits and giggles and found my neck and arms to be almost identical in size. That's with my arms about 1-2" smaller than I'd like tho lol
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Neck is 18”. Fortunately it’s fairly long to help offset my traps, which have always been pretty substantial responders.

Arms are 17” or so cold. Can’t remember my wingspan, but I have ape arms for sure.
 
Dustin07 said:
about a year before COVID my 24hr gym put in a huge olympic lifting area with 8 platforms, squat racks and all Eleiko barbells and bumpers. it blew my mind because prior to that only my CrossFit gym had invested in Eleiko.

that said, COVID killed that gym permanently. :sadface:

It really was sad to lose that gym though. for over a decade I saw the same people in there in their same shifts. (I sometimes did before work 5am crew, sometimes after work 4pm crew. ) those peeps never got any fitter. the morning crew was always way over weight. but it was their social hour before the day started I think and I still had some respect for them and their habit.
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Not to get too off topic, but where the **** is our administration???? I mean all these assholes up there keep talking about student loan forgiveness. But where is the small business loan forgiveness? Millions literally lost their businesses and their income because of the bullshit shutdowns but it’s as if our administration has not even noticed. It’s these businesses that keep our economy afloat.
 
Dustin07 said:
your neck appears to be thicker than mine or I'm measuring wrong. Usually I can measure things to be bigger than they actually are lol.

I do wear a 16.5 neck in shirt size but I'm pretty sure it was sub 16" when I measured today.
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My neck is just around 16” but I wear a 16.5” bc of my alien upper traps.
 
Hyde said:
Thanks for the kind words gents!



This would be an InBody bioelectrical impedance. No abs showing at all so I suspect it’s fairly accurate.



Neck is 18”. Fortunately it’s fairly long to help offset my traps, which have always been pretty substantial responders.

Arms are 17” or so cold. Can’t remember my wingspan, but I have ape arms for sure.
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You look leaner than that to me. Maybe no overt abs, but you can see the structure. (Actually, I can see your obliques. I’m pegging you at 18%.) You don’t have any meaningful chunk on you. Anyway, you look like a massive, moderately lean freak of nature!!!
 
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it's insane to think about the Austrian Oak sporting 22" arms considering your guns look like .50 cal death machines. you hold some awesome size in the biceps, shoulders, and quads for sure. even at that BF you carry it really well. I forget how old you are but I tend to hold the worst flappy fat at or just below the belly button and yours looks far better. what do you think you'd weigh at a sub 10% cut?
 
Hyde said:
This is what 105kg/231lbs at 22.3% bodyfat is looking like flexed on me currently:

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Not optimal lighting, but that’s about as good as it gets presentation-wise besides not spreading my lats out fully or trying to entirely vacuum my stomach.

3,2-3,300 calories per day has been slowly dropping weight.
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You’re massive as hell! One big bear.. I can’t believe you’re saying your arms are 17 inches... mines at 17.5 in the morning and bro yours are looking twice as big... they look like 20s
 
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Dustin07 said:
it's insane to think about the Austrian Oak sporting 22" arms considering your guns look like .50 cal death machines. you hold some awesome size in the biceps, shoulders, and quads for sure. even at that BF you carry it really well. I forget how old you are but I tend to hold the worst flappy fat at or just below the belly button and yours looks far better. what do you think you'd weigh at a sub 10% cut?
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Age 31, 5’10” for reference. Front delts have always been a strong point, mass-wise (the opposite of my pecs). I have nearly always done some kind of overhead strict work the last decade too.

The math tells us I would be ~200lbs at 9% bf, provided I could retain every ounce of muscle while shedding 31lbs of fat - unlikely!

Mathb33 said:
You’re massive as hell! One big bear.. I can’t believe you’re saying your arms are 17 inches... mines at 17.5 in the morning and bro yours are looking twice as big... they look like 20s
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Thanks Math. No bodybuilder, but there’s definitely some quality dense muscle under that blubber. Like a wooly mammoth!

I’ll try to remeasure, but I know they aren’t bigger than 17.5”.
 
Hyde said:
Age 31, 5’10” for reference. Front delts have always been a strong point, mass-wise (the opposite of my pecs). I have nearly always done some kind of overhead strict work the last decade too.

The math tells us I would be ~200lbs at 9% bf, provided I could retain every ounce of muscle while shedding 31lbs of fat - unlikely!



Thanks Math. No bodybuilder, but there’s definitely some quality dense muscle under that blubber. Like a wooly mammoth!

I’ll try to remeasure, but I know they aren’t bigger than 17.5”.
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Dustin just wants us all to suffer with him as he cuts on his starvation diet!
 
Congrats on the benching, and I agree with you, your composition measurement looks pretty spot on. Most people really underestimate their body fat levels. Heck I am probably 15% in my avatar, no less than 12%.
 
F*ck I have to start training harder. And eating more! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!

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100kg x35 reps on Lat Pulldowns baby
 
Hyde said:
F*ck I have to start training harder. And eating more! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!

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100kg x35 reps on Lat Pulldowns baby
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All those pull-ups are paying dividends! That’s damn impressive.
 
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