Hyde’s Strength Odyssey

I forgot Tuesday evening is gymnastics and it was my turn to take my son, so no park time or pull-ups.

But man, my son is awesome to watch grow & progress! He finally did his very first self-powered somersault. His balance, jumping, and climbing strength are all definitely improving as well, and he seems like he’s enjoying himself more than ever at class. He’s always cheered when we pull into the parking lot, but now he just seems to be enjoying every moment. He hasn’t been throwing any tantrums or trying to run off if something disinterests him.

He’s now been training it for more months he’s been alive than not!
 
Hyde said:
I forgot Tuesday evening is gymnastics and it was my turn to take my son, so no park time or pull-ups.

But man, my son is awesome to watch grow & progress! He finally did his very first self-powered somersault. His balance, jumping, and climbing strength are all definitely improving as well, and he seems like he’s enjoying himself more than ever at class. He’s always cheered when we pull into the parking lot, but now he just seems to be enjoying every moment. He hasn’t been throwing any tantrums or trying to run off if something disinterests him.

He’s now been training it for more months he’s been alive than not!
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I know this brings great joy! I remember when Sage was in Dance, Gymnastics, and Karate and how much they enjoyed them. Seeing them go from just doing them as an activity to actually training with the purpose of getting better was awesome!
 
MrKleen73 said:
I know this brings great joy! I remember when Sage was in Dance, Gymnastics, and Karate and how much they enjoyed them. Seeing them go from just doing them as an activity to actually training with the purpose of getting better was awesome!
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That will be neat. He’s definitely still just in playtime mode, but it’s a lot of fun to be a part of.
 
Hyde said:
That will be neat. He’s definitely still just in playtime mode, but it’s a lot of fun to be a part of.
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Oh yeah at that age that is the way to learn he will fall in love with the positive reinforcement and accomplishments which is a blast to watch when they get giddy about an activity they enjoy.
 
5/31/23
BW 234.8

5 min walk

GHR
2x15

KB Suitcase Carries
KB One-leg Deadlift

Squat
45x5,5
135,225,315,365x3
415 3x3
+belt
440x3
415x3 - odd feeling in left quad, cut it

Nautilus Machine Legpress, pause at bottom
200,280,320x12
360x20

DB Split Squat
BW,20,30x12

Machine CS NG Low Rows
50,60,70,80,90x20

Felt like something was rolling or tugging in my left quad on second & third reps of the 415 AMRAP, so I shut it down. I could immediately feel it was just a bit sore near where the sweep anchors at the knee. Preemptively swapped hi bar 2” high boxsquats out for some easy paused machine Legpress, which had no discomfort. Light split squats were okay as well.

Now later post shower, bottom of vastus lateralis is sore, probably a 2/10 discomfort whenever I use it, so I’m pleased I made the right call on the fly to bail (and that I got a smooth 200kg triple in prior).
 
Being aware and adjusting is such a huge part of longevity. I kind of wish I wasn't born in the suck it up boy. Rub some dirt on it and you'll be alright years. pain was an obstacle and your were less of a man if you let it deter you. So we pushed through some dumb crap... So awesome to see intelligent training modifications in practice. Watching you adjust and modify has helped me wrap my mind around a new mindset. It is more hardcore to plan well, and adjust so you can continue training, than it is to just push through and get injured. You get so much more training done, so it has to be more hardcore right. ;)
 
MrKleen73 said:
Being aware and adjusting is such a huge part of longevity. I kind of wish I wasn't born in the suck it up boy. Rub some dirt on it and you'll be alright years. pain was an obstacle and your were less of a man if you let it deter you. So we pushed through some dumb crap... So awesome to see intelligent training modifications in practice. Watching you adjust and modify has helped me wrap my mind around a new mindset. It is more hardcore to plan well, and adjust so you can continue training, than it is to just push through and get injured. You get so much more training done, so it has to be more hardcore right. ;)
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I feel hardcore just reading this.
 
MrKleen73 said:
Being aware and adjusting is such a huge part of longevity. I kind of wish I wasn't born in the suck it up boy. Rub some dirt on it and you'll be alright years. pain was an obstacle and your were less of a man if you let it deter you. So we pushed through some dumb crap... So awesome to see intelligent training modifications in practice. Watching you adjust and modify has helped me wrap my mind around a new mindset. It is more hardcore to plan well, and adjust so you can continue training, than it is to just push through and get injured. You get so much more training done, so it has to be more hardcore right. ;)
Click to expand...

Lol I guess I never considered what is most hardcore! I will say, I will push as hard/far as I believe I can make it. I think that’s necessary to reach new heights; you are going to have fears and take some risks, probably more often than not after a point. Like when benching Tuesday, I felt my right pec twinge again on the second rep of the 350 boardpress. I struggled to start the press off the 3-board and flared my elbow. It was pretty scary starting the next full ROM set at 285, but I had to remind myself that if I moved under control and kept my elbow in position I wouldn’t tear my pec, and I held my position every rep of every set after & everything was alright.

But last night, what I felt on the third rep was 100% not normal and definitely not imagined, and this is training, not competition.

I will say, I think it takes discipline to accept that not every day is going to let you push the same - you have to try to take what is there. Often that means it’s going to take longer than you want to get somewhere, and sometimes it means you need to push a bit harder than planned even.
 
I truly believe it takes years as an athlete to be able to recognize various pain indicators and respect them for what they are. it's one of the reasons I often question injuries because it seems like 9 times out of 10 someone's injury really is not an injury, it's just soreness that they are misreading but that 10th time, the injury is not just a "let it heal injury", but instead something actually serious. It's a very fine line between "walk it off" and "call the dr" when chasing optimal levels of athleticism.
 
6/2/23

5 min walk

DB Rear Delt Flyes
10x25
25 5x20

alt w/ Widegrip Bench
45,45,95,145x8
195 8x8

CS Tbar Row
90x100 reps over 7 sets

alt w/ Incline Bench
45,95,145,175,195x10
215,225,235x6

Seated Calves
90 5x10

alt w/ DB Rollback Extensions
50 4x12

Hammercurls
35 2x15

BB Wristcurls
50x12 overhand
50x20 underhand
50x12 reverse curls with hold at top

Volume upper day went well. Just trying to beef the base up.
 
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6/4/23

Reverse Hyper
270 2x20

KB Suitcase Carries
KB One-leg Deadlift

Deadlift, stiffbar
135,225,315,375x5
+belt
395,415,435x5

Deficit SLDL, beltless
225 2x10
245 2x10
265 2x10

HS CS Low Widegrip Row
70x15,15,17

It’s only 250 more lbs of total volume than last week, but I added 10lbs to my 4x5 on comp deads & ~35lbs to all the deficit beltless straight leg volume. Felt like both my grip & low back were a bit stronger since last week from those.
 
Missed most of this week in here, just got caught back up. Some great workouts and as always impressive weight. Totally agree with knowing the difference between a normal ache when working out as compared to a pain a potential injury can cause. Always smarter to back off and live to lift another day. Funny when I was younger, and would be going heavy, numerous times I would push myself so hard and that inevitably would sometimes lead to injuries. And I would look at that as hardcore, no that was just being stupid. It took a few serious injuries and time off to realize if I wanted to keep doing this as I aged it was time to make changes to my thinking. Glad you learned that at a much younger age.💪👍
 
gphagan1 said:
Missed most of this week in here, just got caught back up. Some great workouts and as always impressive weight. Totally agree with knowing the difference between a normal ache when working out as compared to a pain a potential injury can cause. Always smarter to back off and live to lift another day. Funny when I was younger, and would be going heavy, numerous times I would push myself so hard and that inevitably would sometimes lead to injuries. And I would look at that as hardcore, no that was just being stupid. It took a few serious injuries and time off to realize if I wanted to keep doing this as I aged it was time to make changes to my thinking. Glad you learned that at a much younger age.💪👍
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It is a hugely valuable lesson. I definitely wish I had learned much earlier.
 
6/6/23

Band Pullaparts, Flyes, Presses, Facepulls, Pressdowns, Snatch


Bench
45x10,5,5
135,185x3
225,255,285,305,320,335x1
+yellow slingshot
350,362.5x1
-gear
290 4x6

Closegrip Bench
250x6,6,5,6

Wide NG Lat Pulldown
120 6x15

Got my bodyweight up 6lbs in the last 2 weeks (237.8 yesterday), so that has my bench feeling stronger for sure - the singles are getting easier even as the weights progress.
 
Hyde said:
6/6/23

Band Pullaparts, Flyes, Presses, Facepulls, Pressdowns, Snatch


Bench
45x10,5,5
135,185x3
225,255,285,305,320,335x1
+yellow slingshot
350,362.5x1
-gear
290 4x6

Closegrip Bench
250x6,6,5,6

Wide NG Lat Pulldown
120 6x15

Got my bodyweight up 6lbs in the last 2 weeks (237.8 yesterday), so that has my bench feeling stronger for sure - the singles are getting easier even as the weights progress.
Click to expand...
405 bench is just around the corner.💪😎
 
6/7/23
BW 239.8

5 min walk

GHR
2x18

ss w/ Situps on GHR
2x10

KB Suitcase Carries
KB One-leg Deadlift
Jumps

Squat
45 3x3
135,225,275,325,365,395x3
420 3x3
+belt
445x3
420x5

Nautilus Machine Legpress, paused
240x12
380x15,15,20

DB Split Squat
30 3x12

Went into this unsure how my knee would be, but no pain, and much less shifting. There was a little shifting occasionally, but ultimately a lot of solid technique was restored. Didn’t go for an AMRAP, just grabbed 5 solid reps and took the win. Volume and/or weight added everywhere overall, so good forward momentum.
 
6/9/23

Reverse Hyper
180,270x20
320 2x15

Band Pullaparts, Flyes, Press, Facepulls, Snatch

Wide NG Lat Pulldown
120x15
140 10x10

alt w/ Widegrip Bench
45x5,10,5
135x8
205 8x8

DB Rear Delt Flyes
30 5x15

ss w/ DB Rollback Extensions
55 5x8

Hammercurls
40 2x15

Couple busy days in the field but I’ve been getting the food and training in properly. Wrapping up week 3 on 300 test & 200 mast: I’m up about 8lbs and things are going well. Had to bump my belt back out a notch finally, but I’m definitely looking thicker everywhere and already seeing performance creep up in training.

Looking seriously at a meet on October 7th, 17 weeks away. The barbell club owner and one of the guys who’s been spotting my heavy bench there are already signed up so it’s probably a good opportunity with timing.
 
6/11/23

5 min walk

Back Extension
2x20

ss w/ GHR Situps
2x12

KB Suitcase Carries
KB One-leg Deadlift

Deadlift, stiffbar
135,225,315,365,385x5
+belt
405,425x5
445x6

Deficit SLDL, beltless
225x10
275 5x10

Machine CS Cable Row
Wide Pronated
100,110x25
NG
120x20
130x17
140x13

GHR
2x20

Added another set of deadlift with more weight, raised SLDL by 30lbs, knocked out multiple sets of 20 on GHR. Doing the volume to build the foundation for a PR deadlift!

Beginning week 4 of blast - added in 50mg DHB today for increased anabolism, insulin sensitivity, and neurological drive.

Invalid Link Removed

It’s basically the moonshine of the anabolic world
 
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Hyde said:
6/11/23

5 min walk

Back Extension
2x20

ss w/ GHR Situps
2x12

KB Suitcase Carries
KB One-leg Deadlift

Deadlift, stiffbar
135,225,315,365,385x5
+belt
405,425x5
445x6

Deficit SLDL, beltless
225x10
275 2x10

Machine CS Cable Row
Wide Pronated
100,110x25
NG
120x20
130x17
140x13

GHR
2x20

Added another set of deadlift with more weight, raised SLDL by 30lbs, knocked out multiple sets of 20 on GHR. Doing the volume to build the foundation for a PR deadlift!

Beginning week 4 of blast - added in 50mg DHB today for increased anabolism, insulin sensitivity, and neurological drive.

Invalid Link Removed

It’s basically the moonshine of the anabolic world
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Nice work on the deadlifts! Always impressed by your sessions and your logging!!
 
Hyde said:
Beginning week 4 of blast - added in 50mg DHB today for increased anabolism, insulin sensitivity, and neurological drive.
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what's your sleep like on cycle?
obviously my supps don't compare but between the strength and size gains I've had the past few months playing with new compounds I feel constantly like I have teenage growing pains and sleep like a 16yr old lol. I assume a lot of it is muscle recovery/growth, almost like a puppy. It's had me wondering what it feels like when you guys are pinning a legit cycle.
 
Dustin07 said:
what's your sleep like on cycle?
obviously my supps don't compare but between the strength and size gains I've had the past few months playing with new compounds I feel constantly like I have teenage growing pains and sleep like a 16yr old lol. I assume a lot of it is muscle recovery/growth, almost like a puppy. It's had me wondering what it feels like when you guys are pinning a legit cycle.
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It’s going to be person specific as well as compound & dose-dependent. Right now I sleep like a bear. My doses are low & I’m using no orals or fast esters. Plus I’m eating a lot to grow.

Things like Tren and Dienelone you could expect chronic sleep impact, and probably the same if you take enough of anything. Taking orals and fast esters late in the day generally also mess with sleep that night. Long esters I can pin at night as long as I go to bed within an hour or so, but taking a shot after work would be a good way to mess up my sleep that night.
 
That's interesting. I'm the same way right now, sleeping crazy well. Great gym sessions and I wouldn't call myself "lethargic" but come 8:30pm I'm pretty toasted and if it's 9pm and I don't think i'll crash immediately, a little melatonin knocks me out. muscle soreness and growth in really interesting areas (traps, lats) and generally very firm/hardness in areas that usually only feel that way with a pump for a half our or so post workout (biceps, pecs). any of this could be the epiandro but I suspect the phosphatidic is helping with firmness as well.
 
Hyde said:
6/9/23

Reverse Hyper
180,270x20
320 2x15

Band Pullaparts, Flyes, Press, Facepulls, Snatch

Wide NG Lat Pulldown
120x15
140 10x10

alt w/ Widegrip Bench
45x5,10,5
135x8
205 8x8

DB Rear Delt Flyes
30 5x15

ss w/ DB Rollback Extensions
55 5x8

Hammercurls
40 2x15

Couple busy days in the field but I’ve been getting the food and training in properly. Wrapping up week 3 on 300 test & 200 mast: I’m up about 8lbs and things are going well. Had to bump my belt back out a notch finally, but I’m definitely looking thicker everywhere and already seeing performance creep up in training.

Looking seriously at a meet on October 7th, 17 weeks away. The barbell club owner and one of the guys who’s been spotting my heavy bench there are already signed up so it’s probably a good opportunity with timing.
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Cool, are you entering the 242 lbs weight class? With the weight you’re moving already for reps, you should crush it.💪🏆
 
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I like to add up the Total Weight lifted dunning a workout some times.
 
gphagan1 said:
Cool, are you entering the 242 lbs weight class, with the weight you’re moving already for reps, you should crush it.
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I think I’ve decided on 275.

Not saying I will get that heavy, but it will be easier to take my wife & son to an evening check-in without having to cut weight AND I’m much more likely to PR if I let myself get as heavy as I feel necessary along the way.
 
6/13/23
BW 241.8

Band Pullaparts, Flyes, Presses, Facepulls, Rows, Pressdown, Snatch, Rotators

Bench
45x10,5,5
135,185,225x3
255,285,305,325,340x1
+yellow slingshot
355,365x1
-gear
295 4x6

Closegrip Bench
250 4x6

Not sure what my weight this morning was, but yesterday I was 10lbs up over 3 weeks ago, post vacation. The weight gain has been very smooth and I’m not struggling to get the calories in. It takes consistent attention and effort of course, but it’s very sustainable, probably 4-4,500 calories routinely. I can really feel my bench surging with the new size & fuel.
 
Hyde said:
I think I’ve decided on 275.

Not saying I will get that heavy, but it will be easier to take my wife & son to an evening check-in without having to cut weight AND I’m much more likely to PR if I let myself get as heavy as I feel necessary along the way.
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Yeah, that will give you the freedom to load up and fuel up without having to worry too much about cutting. It will be interesting to see your strength increases at that weight….hey PRs on everything.💪
 
gphagan1 said:
Yeah, that will give you the freedom to load up and fuel up without having to worry too much about cutting. It will be interesting to see your strength increases at that weight….hey PRs on everything.
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Deadlift just gets harder if you get too fat - your belly gets in the way of optimal position and grip suffers with fatter hands. But if you can make it up on squat and bench, it could still pay out - it’s about the total.
 
Maybe I am wrong, but I feel like from your starting point to get to too fat you would really have to work harder on gaining weight than improving leverage points. You are already pretty lean, or were when you changed gears. So you probably have a lot of room to add before the gut becomes the restrictive portion of the lift.
 
MrKleen73 said:
Maybe I am wrong, but I feel like from your starting point to get to too fat you would really have to work harder on gaining weight than improving leverage points. You are already pretty lean, or were when you changed gears. So you probably have a lot of room to add before the gut becomes the restrictive portion of the lift.
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That is a good point - gaining weight doesn’t necessarily help the deadlift, but gaining deadlift specific muscle does (even if it’s in the abs). So as long as the ratio of fat to muscle accumulation doesn’t get totally overblown, I should still expect to be a better lifting machine overall. All of the best deadlifters do have tremendously thick waistlines.
 
Hyde said:
That is a good point - gaining weight doesn’t necessarily help the deadlift, but gaining deadlift specific muscle does (even if it’s in the abs). So as long as the ratio of fat to muscle accumulation doesn’t get totally overblown, I should still expect to be a better lifting machine overall. All of the best deadlifters do have tremendously thick waistlines.
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I was listening to Dave’s table talk podcast today episode 201 with Greg Panora and Luke Edwards. It’s like 3 hrs long I’ve made it like 1.5 hrs but it’s highly entertaining and the west side stories are great. Didn’t know if you had seen it or not but I thought you might enjoy this episode!
 
akboom87 said:
I was listening to Dave’s table talk podcast today episode 201 with Greg Panora and Luke Edwards. It’s like 3 hrs long I’ve made it like 1.5 hrs but it’s highly entertaining and the west side stories are great. Didn’t know if you had seen it or not but I thought you might enjoy this episode!
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Oh dude that one was great; we were talking about it in the gym this morning - when Luke gets to the part about Louie snorting horse liniment & nobody even questioned him, I started cracking up

There’s a lot of gold in that episode, both entertaining stories but also a look at how training really was there at the time (and what ended up being more/less effective).
 
Hyde said:
Deadlift just gets harder if you get too fat - your belly gets in the way of optimal position and grip suffers with fatter hands. But if you can make it up on squat and bench, it could still pay out - it’s about the total.
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30Ib isn’t a great deal on your frame these days mate. Go ham.
 
Hyde said:
So as long as the ratio of fat to muscle accumulation doesn’t get totally overblown, I should still expect to be a better lifting machine overall. All of the best deadlifters do have tremendously thick waistlines.
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BennyMagoo79 said:
30Ib isn’t a great deal on your frame these days mate. Go ham.
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yeah dude huge difference in 30lbs of cheeseburgers vs the 30lbs you'll put on. it's a helluva commitment but zero doubt the strength gains are going to be phenomenal.
 
6/14/23
BW 241.6

5 min walk

Back Extension
1x15

GHR
2x15

ss w/ Situps on GHR
3x15

KB Suitcase Carries
KB One-leg Deadlift

Squat
45 3x2
135,225x3
315,385x1
+belt
425,455,480,505x1
425x3,3,1 *left adductor popped 3rd set

6/15/23 - morning

Reverse Hyper
210 2x20

Decided to add a few heavier singles in this session to keep some skill with greater intensity. Very happy with how that went - 505 moved just like 480 & 455, very smooth technically and no real slowdown. I hadn’t used any ammonia and thought about another hop to 530 but kept my focus - this was purely training, no testing. I am fairly confident 540+ would have been there.

Moved onto backdown sets to get my volume in. Everything was moving well, no shifting, but while coming down during my 3rd set my left (previously torn) adductor started to tear on rep 1. I instinctively cut it high & reversed to lockout successfully. I hoped I had just popped the seam on the leg of my boxer briefs, but the mild pain came pretty quickly to confirm.

Not really sure why this happened - my sincere hope is that it was just scar tissue breaking free. I did not collapse during this squat like the original tear 20 weeks ago, nor am I in as much pain or disability, so this is still plausible to me. Took 15mg Mk677, 900mg Curcumin, & injected 5mg TB500 into my adductor before bed.
 
Hyde said:
6/14/23
BW 241.6

5 min walk

Back Extension
1x15

GHR
2x15

ss w/ Situps on GHR
3x15

KB Suitcase Carries
KB One-leg Deadlift

Squat
45 3x2
135,225x3
315,385x1
+belt
425,455,480,505x1
425x3,3,1 *left adductor popped 3rd set

6/15/23 - morning

Reverse Hyper
210 2x20

Decided to add a few heavier singles in this session to keep some skill with greater intensity. Very happy with how that went - 505 moved just like 480 & 455, very smooth technically and no real slowdown. I hadn’t used any ammonia and thought about another hop to 530 but kept my focus - this was purely training, no testing. I am fairly confident 540+ would have been there.

Moved onto backdown sets to get my volume in. Everything was moving well, no shifting, but while coming down during my 3rd set my left (previously torn) adductor started to tear on rep 1. I instinctively cut it high & reversed to lockout successfully. I hoped I had just popped the seam on the leg of my boxer briefs, but the mild pain came pretty quickly to confirm.

Not really sure why this happened - my sincere hope is that it was just scar tissue breaking free. I did not collapse during this squat like the original tear 20 weeks ago, nor am I in as much pain or disability, so this is still plausible to me. Took 15mg Mk677, 900mg Curcumin, & injected 5mg TB500 into my adductor before bed.
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Awesome numbers as usual…..man I hope you didn’t re-injure your adductor, hopefully all your healing compounds will help. It was definitely good you got on top of it so quickly.
 
Yeah hopefully you just bust through a little scar tissue and will resolve very quickly.
 
A guy from the gym I’ve known for years referred me to his ART guy the other week that he swears by. I completed all their intake paperwork today and got the first available appointment in 10 weeks They have also put me on the waiting list for any cancellations, with a few people ahead of me.
 
Hyde said:
A guy from the gym I’ve known for years referred me to his ART guy the other week that he swears by. I completed all their intake paperwork today and got the first available appointment in 10 weeks They have also put me on the waiting list for any cancellations, with a few people ahead of me.
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Yeah, I just made 2 appointments for my ART guy next week when I get back. It is the best thing I have found out of all of the treatments I have undergone.
 
6/16/23

Widegrip Bench
45,135,155,175,195,215,225,235,245x8

BB JM Press
45,95x20
115x15

Straightbar Tri Pressdown
10 rep sets working up to:
88x10
104x7

alt w/ Wide NG Lat Pulldown
99,110x20
121,143x15
165x9

Reverse Pec Deck
Warmup
160x10+4+3 rest pause

Hammercurls
45x12,10

Back Extension
90 2x12

ss w/ GHR Situps
+25 2x10

BB Wristcurls
50x14 underhand, 13 overhand

10 min walk

Woke up hacking green snot yesterday (no surprise as it’s week 2 of a new summer daycare program for my boy). Feeling fatigued from whatever sinus bug I have, so I slept in a bit later & kept this session a bit easier/abbreviated.

Between all the carbs I’m eating these days & the Mk677 last 2 nights, my pumps are absolutely insane.
 
BennyMagoo79 said:
How’s the adductor? Can you feel any bumps in it when you poke it?
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I’ve had 3 sleep cycles now and I feel it’s doing really well. I can squat to depth without pain in a close/medium stance, but I can’t get wide yet without discomfort. If I load my leg harder in a wide position it may bark.

No bumps, no bruises!

All that considered, I’m still hopeful it was scar tissue; either way it’s essentially the best case scenario. I plan to pin more TB500 tomorrow night.
 
Sounds good, hopefully full recovery with no further issues!
 
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