Hyde’s Strength Odyssey
- Thread starter Hyde
- Start date
Dustin07
Legend
That sure seems like ample time to get loaded up!
Hyde
Legend
Definitely; I have mastered it for myself I’d say. When I did the 578 squat a couple weeks back I got up to 240 by the 6am training session in a 21 hour window.
Segansational
Well-known member
Let's go!
Hyde
Legend
Checkin bag for weighins is packed! Openers I’ll be putting in for SBD will be 534/331/540.
Went to bed at 10pm weighing 228.2, woke at 7am at 224.2lbs. I’m 225.0 now at 29 hours out. Gonna finish my coffee and probably another pint of distilled water and shut fluid down by 2pm. I think it will be easier to fast entirely from food; I will lose fat today no matter if I eat a small breakfast or not, but I’ll make it up tomorrow afternoon.
Went to bed at 10pm weighing 228.2, woke at 7am at 224.2lbs. I’m 225.0 now at 29 hours out. Gonna finish my coffee and probably another pint of distilled water and shut fluid down by 2pm. I think it will be easier to fast entirely from food; I will lose fat today no matter if I eat a small breakfast or not, but I’ll make it up tomorrow afternoon.
Dustin07
Legend
whats your pump music this weekend?
Hyde
Legend
221.6 at 9pm - gonna come in light for sure, but didn’t wanna push things later and then need to watch the scale tomorrow. Wife is competing in the Pro Strongman League’s Masters Championships! So I can help with that stress free now until I need to go to weighins.
Driving to the meet - St. Elmo’s Fire, John Parr
Squats - Before the Hangman’s Noose, Devil Driver
Third Deadlift Walkout Song - Ace of Spades, Motörhead
Driving to the meet - St. Elmo’s Fire, John Parr
Squats - Before the Hangman’s Noose, Devil Driver
Third Deadlift Walkout Song - Ace of Spades, Motörhead
Smont
Legend
I just let pandora or Spotify play my liked songs, but when a banger comes on right before a big lift or a grinder set, it always makes a difference! Sometimes when I'm about to do a big lift or a hard set and a dog s*** song comes on that doesn't fit the moment I'll start f****** with the phone a little bit and it usually screws up my set. So I guess I really should make myself a more appropriate playlist
gphagan1
Legend
Awesome…you planned the weight drop perfect. That’s definitely less stress than trying to drop lbs the last minute. Looks like everything is aligned for you to have a big weekend.
Oh, and I hope Mrs Hyde crushes the competition too….pretty cool when you can say my wife is a pro on the Strongman circuit.
sammpedd88
Well-known member
Good luck to you and your wife this weekend! Both of you go kill
It!!
It!!
sammpedd88
Well-known member
Evidently you crushed it! Can’t wait to hear the details and how your wife did.
Segansational
Well-known member
Awesome! Can't wait to hear the full download of how it went.
Hyde
Legend
Sorry for the delay; needed a day to decompress after the intensity of the weekend! Where to begin??
First, my wife - she crushes it at the PSL Masters show. With America’s Strongest Master in OKC just 2 weeks prior (where she took 2nd), she only got a squat a couple times in the gym to try to not zero the Circus Cylinder Axle Squat. Most of the other events were qualities she had already been training though (loading & carrying sandbags, backwards drag, the yoke carry, axle clean & press, this show had a regular Trapbar Deadlift & the last used one on hummer tires higher up). There was only one other woman in the lightweight class (most Masters strongwomen become heavyweight by the passage of time), and while she was very strong, my wife was stronger! It was no handout though; my wife put it all out there because every event win was $100 at this show! And all events were 75 seconds long instead of typical 60 with an emphasis on max reps, which made this show an absolute burner - you needed a stout motor to survive this one.
EVENT RESULTS:
305lb Circus Axle Hi Bar Squat for 11 reps to boxes - WIN
135lb Axle Clean & Press for 12 reps - WIN
430lb Yoke Carry 30ft down & back, then 175lb Sandbag Load over bar for 9 reps - WIN
335lb Trapbar Hi Handle Deadlift for 8 Reps - LOSS
175lb Sandbag Carry & Load x2 to Sled into Backwards Sled Drag for Max Distance - WIN
So my wife took home the 1st
place trophy, as well as $550 for winning 4 events, overall, AND the greatest distance drag!
Really proud of her, not so much for winning as just being the athlete that she is - her ability to try to adapt to different scenarios & push herself to HER limits when it’s important to her. This was a really fun show to watch & help out with (I had to leave for weighins after the yoke/loading event); it was great to get to see & catch up with so many great people we know from over the years. People we had pizza with SEVEN years ago in other states for example, or we’ve been lifting with for a decade now. It also made waiting around dehydrated go by a lot faster! Broderick Chavez was there with his wife as well, so it was very cool to get to talk to him more about a bunch of old lifting stuff like we did in Vegas last year. Wish I had more time to nerd out with him, as it’s always a treat.
First, my wife - she crushes it at the PSL Masters show. With America’s Strongest Master in OKC just 2 weeks prior (where she took 2nd), she only got a squat a couple times in the gym to try to not zero the Circus Cylinder Axle Squat. Most of the other events were qualities she had already been training though (loading & carrying sandbags, backwards drag, the yoke carry, axle clean & press, this show had a regular Trapbar Deadlift & the last used one on hummer tires higher up). There was only one other woman in the lightweight class (most Masters strongwomen become heavyweight by the passage of time), and while she was very strong, my wife was stronger! It was no handout though; my wife put it all out there because every event win was $100 at this show! And all events were 75 seconds long instead of typical 60 with an emphasis on max reps, which made this show an absolute burner - you needed a stout motor to survive this one.
EVENT RESULTS:
305lb Circus Axle Hi Bar Squat for 11 reps to boxes - WIN
135lb Axle Clean & Press for 12 reps - WIN
430lb Yoke Carry 30ft down & back, then 175lb Sandbag Load over bar for 9 reps - WIN
335lb Trapbar Hi Handle Deadlift for 8 Reps - LOSS
175lb Sandbag Carry & Load x2 to Sled into Backwards Sled Drag for Max Distance - WIN
So my wife took home the 1st
place trophy, as well as $550 for winning 4 events, overall, AND the greatest distance drag!Really proud of her, not so much for winning as just being the athlete that she is - her ability to try to adapt to different scenarios & push herself to HER limits when it’s important to her. This was a really fun show to watch & help out with (I had to leave for weighins after the yoke/loading event); it was great to get to see & catch up with so many great people we know from over the years. People we had pizza with SEVEN years ago in other states for example, or we’ve been lifting with for a decade now. It also made waiting around dehydrated go by a lot faster! Broderick Chavez was there with his wife as well, so it was very cool to get to talk to him more about a bunch of old lifting stuff like we did in Vegas last year. Wish I had more time to nerd out with him, as it’s always a treat.
sammpedd88
Well-known member
I know you’re proud of her. That’s a great showing of her hard work and competitive drive she has! Congrats to her!Sorry for the delay; needed a day to decompress after the intensity of the weekend! Where to begin??
First, my wife - she crushes it at the PSL Masters show. With America’s Strongest Master in OKC just 2 weeks prior (where she took 2nd), she only got a squat a couple times in the gym to try to not zero the Circus Cylinder Axle Squat. Most of the other events were qualities she had already been training though (loading & carrying sandbags, backwards drag, the yoke carry, axle clean & press, this show had a regular Trapbar Deadlift & the last used one on hummer tires higher up). There was only one other woman in the lightweight class (most Masters strongwomen become heavyweight by the passage of time), and while she was very strong, my wife was stronger! It was no handout though; my wife put it all out there because every event win was $100 at this show! And all events were 75 seconds long instead of typical 60 with an emphasis on max reps, which made this show an absolute burner - you needed a stout motor to survive this one.
EVENT RESULTS:
305lb Circus Axle Hi Bar Squat for 11 reps to boxes - WIN
135lb Axle Clean & Press for 12 reps - WIN
430lb Yoke Carry 30ft down & back, then 175lb Sandbag Load over bar for 9 reps - WIN
335lb Trapbar Hi Handle Deadlift for 8 Reps - LOSS
175lb Sandbag Carry & Load x2 to Sled into Backwards Sled Drag for Max Distance - WIN
So my wife took home the 1st
View attachment 262820
View attachment 262821
Really proud of her, not so much for winning as just being the athlete that she is - her ability to try to adapt to different scenarios & push herself to HER limits when it’s important to her. This was a really fun show to watch & help out with (I had to leave for weighins after the yoke/loading event); it was great to get to see & catch up with so many great people we know from over the years. People we had pizza with SEVEN years ago in other states for example, or we’ve been lifting with for a decade now. It also made waiting around dehydrated go by a lot faster! Broderick Chavez was there with his wife as well, so it was very cool to get to talk to him more about a bunch of old lifting stuff like we did in Vegas last year. Wish I had more time to nerd out with him, as it’s always a treat.
Now, how did your lifts go?
MrKleen73
Legend
I love that he felt she deserved her own post, and agree, but now... I wanna hear all about his!
sammpedd88
Well-known member
Me too bro! She’s a beast and has killed it, I mean absolutely killed it in her last two or three comps. But I want to know how he peaked on his lifts!
gphagan1
Legend
Man that is so awesome…you guys are a family of Champions. You’re wife is so impressive…first she takes second in the event a couple weeks ago and then to turn around and put in this first place performance on such a short turnaround is what Champions are made of. Congratulations, and that is a cool trophy.Sorry for the delay; needed a day to decompress after the intensity of the weekend! Where to begin??
First, my wife - she crushes it at the PSL Masters show. With America’s Strongest Master in OKC just 2 weeks prior (where she took 2nd), she only got a squat a couple times in the gym to try to not zero the Circus Cylinder Axle Squat. Most of the other events were qualities she had already been training though (loading & carrying sandbags, backwards drag, the yoke carry, axle clean & press, this show had a regular Trapbar Deadlift & the last used one on hummer tires higher up). There was only one other woman in the lightweight class (most Masters strongwomen become heavyweight by the passage of time), and while she was very strong, my wife was stronger! It was no handout though; my wife put it all out there because every event win was $100 at this show! And all events were 75 seconds long instead of typical 60 with an emphasis on max reps, which made this show an absolute burner - you needed a stout motor to survive this one.
EVENT RESULTS:
305lb Circus Axle Hi Bar Squat for 11 reps to boxes - WIN
135lb Axle Clean & Press for 12 reps - WIN
430lb Yoke Carry 30ft down & back, then 175lb Sandbag Load over bar for 9 reps - WIN
335lb Trapbar Hi Handle Deadlift for 8 Reps - LOSS
175lb Sandbag Carry & Load x2 to Sled into Backwards Sled Drag for Max Distance - WIN
So my wife took home the 1st
View attachment 262820
View attachment 262821
Really proud of her, not so much for winning as just being the athlete that she is - her ability to try to adapt to different scenarios & push herself to HER limits when it’s important to her. This was a really fun show to watch & help out with (I had to leave for weighins after the yoke/loading event); it was great to get to see & catch up with so many great people we know from over the years. People we had pizza with SEVEN years ago in other states for example, or we’ve been lifting with for a decade now. It also made waiting around dehydrated go by a lot faster! Broderick Chavez was there with his wife as well, so it was very cool to get to talk to him more about a bunch of old lifting stuff like we did in Vegas last year. Wish I had more time to nerd out with him, as it’s always a treat.
Can’t wait to hear your adventure.
Hyde
Legend
Alright, on to the meet! As posted, I won Best Untested Male Lifter, so you all know it went great already 
Woke up Saturday weighing 220.2lbs at 6am:
Went to the strongman show to handle my wife, loading weights & helping lifters out of gear while occasionally remembering to try to sit down. Check-ins went very smoothly and weighed in at 98.3kg - 216.7lbs just after 2pm. Took 30mg Mk677 and pinned 25mg Trest Ace right away.
Focused on rehydration since there was so many lbs to put on (you can’t eat 20lbs+ of food). After the first half gallon of carbs & electrolytes, had some white rice with soy sauce. Things were fairly boring food-wise: dried fruit, low fat ramen, Hawaiian rolls, lifesaver gummies, rice snacks, pickle juice, cookies, Kraft mac n cheese, pasta & bread at dinner. Got about 4,500 calories in and close to 2.5 gallons through me by 11:30pm (which was brutal as you might expect). Went to bed 235.0lbs, and took 40mg Tbol.
Woke up meet day at 229.0 after bathroom. Really laid into the 7am continental breakfast: many cups of juice/soda, rice Chex with sugar, waffles & syrup, banana, yogurt, bagels with jam, made biscuit sandwiches. This got me back to 234.0 before we checked out at 11am. Did a bunch of rolling and mobility in the hotel room around 9am. Took 50mg Anadrol & 40mg Tbol at 10:15am.
234.0 Sunday:
Met friends at a local Panera for a small sandwich and apple at 11:30am, then 30mg Halotestin at 12:30. Got over to the meet at 12:45pm probably weighing close to 236lbs.
Our flight started at 2pm, so it was time for preworkout drink (30g Hooligan), 200mg Ubiquinol, B complex, 1mg SLU-PP, ATP Elite, Neurogize XT, Amentoflavone, Tums, extra AlphaGPC, a lots of sodium, 2 caps of Imodium, and to get moving. Took half a Bronkaid at 1pm in the middle of my general warmup, and got a cc of injectable Carnitine/Citicholine in before rules at 1:15pm. Then, onto squatting!
Took 165, 275, added equipment, 385, 452, and finished with 496 in the warmup area (4 reds/side). Opened up with a very fast 534, made a 15kg jump to 567, and when that moved nearl as well I knew I needed to stick to Plan A: I called 600 for my final attempt. This took a LOT of guts for me. I was only 9 weeks off the right knee tear at EFS, which happened because of hip shifting since the previous left quad injury last meet (that was still happening often in training because of some intermittent left hip pain at full depth!). Then also with the back strain 6 weeks out, there has been VERY little in the way of proper squat training with any weight of consequence in the hole. I basically squat 507 a month out, worked up to 578 3 weeks out, and did a few singles with 500 one last time 2 weeks out to get ready to handle this. I knew in my heart I could pull this off IF I could squat it properly in the groove - but also that if I shifted it could be catastrophic. There was no shift on 534 & only a tiny amount on 567. If I could correct that with 600 I would be golden.
I visualized the lift, took a big whiff of ammonia & a back slap, and flipped the switch. There was no fear, hesitation or thoughts of goals or injury when I stepped onto the platform - just execution of ritualized setup & total resolve before unracking the weight. The squat command was given, a big brace before lowering the hips to depth, then blasting upwards to stand tall at lockout! This is what this meet was really about to me. 600 was a 71lb competition PR at 220, but most importantly it truly scared me. This was not a safe endeavor, but the cost that this goal at this time demanded was to let go of my fears if I wanted to realize my current potential.
Bench went really smoothly. I took more 10mg Halotestin right after squats, then rolled right into warmups. 155, 265, and then 308 with commands was all it took to feel ready. 330 looked like the cherry opener that it was, then 352 for my second (a 5lb 220 PR) was quite the smoke show as well. Stuck to Plan A and called 375 for my 3rd. This would have been another 22lbs of PR AND chip what I did last meet at 242, but unfortunately as it came off my chest I pressed it out of the groove towards my feet! As I fought to recover it back into the groove, I felt my butt start to lift, so I told them to take it. This was really frustrating to accept afterwards, because I believe I was strong enough to make this lift & still don’t understand how I let my technique falter under max effort - but I did. My wife was a blessing to help calm me down, accept the opportunity had been lost, but now deadlifts remained front & center!
They say the meet doesn’t start until the bar hits the floor, and in a lot of ways I’d say there’s something to that. People take their sweaty shirts off, someone seems to turn the music up a hair louder somewhere, and all that’s left is whatever you can give to yank a weight off the floor. Did some RDLs with a plate, pulled my long socks on before hitting 265, 375, 441, & 485 in the warmup area, then went out to 540 for a fast opener. Made a jump to 584 that moved me to the last deadlifter of our flight. It moved well enough, but I felt like my underhand grip had been challenged. I knew jumping 33lbs to 617 would be reckless given that (573 was all I’d gone up to in training). At the score table I asked Albert, the president of the fed & extremely seasoned lifter, if he thought I had 611 after that. He told me 606/611 was what he’d call for me, but 611 was gonna be pushing it. I wanted to end 8/9 and get my first 600 ever at this size, so I had them load the bar to 606.
This was the final deadlift of our flight, and after a previous lifter bled all over the bar they stopped to clean it while my chosen deadlift song came blasting on. This really helped pump me up, all the tension as the audience waited for the last big pull to start; it also set me up to have the absolute best grip surface possible. I came out charged up with determination, locked in, and made a clean pull with 606 for a 27.5lb weightclass PR.
This ended the day with me going 8/9 attempts to total 707.5kg/1,559lbs @216.7lbs bodyweight for a 438 DOTS coefficient. This was a significant step up from my last meet’s 432, which was previously my most competitive total ever. It also earned me Best Lifter medal, a new pair of Lockjaw barbell collars, a cute little knit flexing Sun stuffy for my son, and a cheap (but radically expensive to me) coffee mug
️
Our buddy that used to train with my wife had an amazing first meet experience: 8/9 (missing 3rd bench as well) & totaled 1,470 raw, drug-tested weighing in at 254. Another guy from our gym did his first 600 squat ever after just becoming a father, our gym beat the home gym for Best Team award, and the whole thing was just a load of fun & fellowship. Best part was seeing the tears of joy in my wife’s eyes when I finished deadlifts - she was so proud of me! And I am proud too, squatting and pulling 6 under 220 for the first time, plus a 115lb total PR in this class
Woke up Saturday weighing 220.2lbs at 6am:
Went to the strongman show to handle my wife, loading weights & helping lifters out of gear while occasionally remembering to try to sit down. Check-ins went very smoothly and weighed in at 98.3kg - 216.7lbs just after 2pm. Took 30mg Mk677 and pinned 25mg Trest Ace right away.
Focused on rehydration since there was so many lbs to put on (you can’t eat 20lbs+ of food). After the first half gallon of carbs & electrolytes, had some white rice with soy sauce. Things were fairly boring food-wise: dried fruit, low fat ramen, Hawaiian rolls, lifesaver gummies, rice snacks, pickle juice, cookies, Kraft mac n cheese, pasta & bread at dinner. Got about 4,500 calories in and close to 2.5 gallons through me by 11:30pm (which was brutal as you might expect). Went to bed 235.0lbs, and took 40mg Tbol.
Woke up meet day at 229.0 after bathroom. Really laid into the 7am continental breakfast: many cups of juice/soda, rice Chex with sugar, waffles & syrup, banana, yogurt, bagels with jam, made biscuit sandwiches. This got me back to 234.0 before we checked out at 11am. Did a bunch of rolling and mobility in the hotel room around 9am. Took 50mg Anadrol & 40mg Tbol at 10:15am.
234.0 Sunday:
Met friends at a local Panera for a small sandwich and apple at 11:30am, then 30mg Halotestin at 12:30. Got over to the meet at 12:45pm probably weighing close to 236lbs.
Our flight started at 2pm, so it was time for preworkout drink (30g Hooligan), 200mg Ubiquinol, B complex, 1mg SLU-PP, ATP Elite, Neurogize XT, Amentoflavone, Tums, extra AlphaGPC, a lots of sodium, 2 caps of Imodium, and to get moving. Took half a Bronkaid at 1pm in the middle of my general warmup, and got a cc of injectable Carnitine/Citicholine in before rules at 1:15pm. Then, onto squatting!
Took 165, 275, added equipment, 385, 452, and finished with 496 in the warmup area (4 reds/side). Opened up with a very fast 534, made a 15kg jump to 567, and when that moved nearl as well I knew I needed to stick to Plan A: I called 600 for my final attempt. This took a LOT of guts for me. I was only 9 weeks off the right knee tear at EFS, which happened because of hip shifting since the previous left quad injury last meet (that was still happening often in training because of some intermittent left hip pain at full depth!). Then also with the back strain 6 weeks out, there has been VERY little in the way of proper squat training with any weight of consequence in the hole. I basically squat 507 a month out, worked up to 578 3 weeks out, and did a few singles with 500 one last time 2 weeks out to get ready to handle this. I knew in my heart I could pull this off IF I could squat it properly in the groove - but also that if I shifted it could be catastrophic. There was no shift on 534 & only a tiny amount on 567. If I could correct that with 600 I would be golden.
I visualized the lift, took a big whiff of ammonia & a back slap, and flipped the switch. There was no fear, hesitation or thoughts of goals or injury when I stepped onto the platform - just execution of ritualized setup & total resolve before unracking the weight. The squat command was given, a big brace before lowering the hips to depth, then blasting upwards to stand tall at lockout! This is what this meet was really about to me. 600 was a 71lb competition PR at 220, but most importantly it truly scared me. This was not a safe endeavor, but the cost that this goal at this time demanded was to let go of my fears if I wanted to realize my current potential.
Bench went really smoothly. I took more 10mg Halotestin right after squats, then rolled right into warmups. 155, 265, and then 308 with commands was all it took to feel ready. 330 looked like the cherry opener that it was, then 352 for my second (a 5lb 220 PR) was quite the smoke show as well. Stuck to Plan A and called 375 for my 3rd. This would have been another 22lbs of PR AND chip what I did last meet at 242, but unfortunately as it came off my chest I pressed it out of the groove towards my feet! As I fought to recover it back into the groove, I felt my butt start to lift, so I told them to take it. This was really frustrating to accept afterwards, because I believe I was strong enough to make this lift & still don’t understand how I let my technique falter under max effort - but I did. My wife was a blessing to help calm me down, accept the opportunity had been lost, but now deadlifts remained front & center!
They say the meet doesn’t start until the bar hits the floor, and in a lot of ways I’d say there’s something to that. People take their sweaty shirts off, someone seems to turn the music up a hair louder somewhere, and all that’s left is whatever you can give to yank a weight off the floor. Did some RDLs with a plate, pulled my long socks on before hitting 265, 375, 441, & 485 in the warmup area, then went out to 540 for a fast opener. Made a jump to 584 that moved me to the last deadlifter of our flight. It moved well enough, but I felt like my underhand grip had been challenged. I knew jumping 33lbs to 617 would be reckless given that (573 was all I’d gone up to in training). At the score table I asked Albert, the president of the fed & extremely seasoned lifter, if he thought I had 611 after that. He told me 606/611 was what he’d call for me, but 611 was gonna be pushing it. I wanted to end 8/9 and get my first 600 ever at this size, so I had them load the bar to 606.
This was the final deadlift of our flight, and after a previous lifter bled all over the bar they stopped to clean it while my chosen deadlift song came blasting on. This really helped pump me up, all the tension as the audience waited for the last big pull to start; it also set me up to have the absolute best grip surface possible. I came out charged up with determination, locked in, and made a clean pull with 606 for a 27.5lb weightclass PR.
This ended the day with me going 8/9 attempts to total 707.5kg/1,559lbs @216.7lbs bodyweight for a 438 DOTS coefficient. This was a significant step up from my last meet’s 432, which was previously my most competitive total ever. It also earned me Best Lifter medal, a new pair of Lockjaw barbell collars, a cute little knit flexing Sun stuffy for my son, and a cheap (but radically expensive to me) coffee mug
️ Our buddy that used to train with my wife had an amazing first meet experience: 8/9 (missing 3rd bench as well) & totaled 1,470 raw, drug-tested weighing in at 254. Another guy from our gym did his first 600 squat ever after just becoming a father, our gym beat the home gym for Best Team award, and the whole thing was just a load of fun & fellowship. Best part was seeing the tears of joy in my wife’s eyes when I finished deadlifts - she was so proud of me! And I am proud too, squatting and pulling 6 under 220 for the first time, plus a 115lb total PR in this class
Dustin07
Legend
I think if you compiled your lifting career up until now with training, injuries, successes and struggles, you could write a really great book. That was pure joy to read man, honestly phenomenal work and you are seriously looking lean AF right now. You're really starting to move over to that Dan Greene side of things been so damn lean while also an absolute rhino of strength. Its not easy to be strong even with excess fat, but here you are tearing it up while leaning out.
I'm crazy proud of you, too. This is perfectly excuted brother, and should be an inspiration to men. you did the thing! I absolutely love that you pulled back in training so that you COULD compete, and then knew the appropriate time to give it hell and go for broke, I LOVE THIS. We too often f up our training and fall injured before competition, or go to safe in competition and leave it on the field. you did neither and crushed it!!
I'd love to see it!!!!
I'm crazy proud of you, too. This is perfectly excuted brother, and should be an inspiration to men. you did the thing! I absolutely love that you pulled back in training so that you COULD compete, and then knew the appropriate time to give it hell and go for broke, I LOVE THIS. We too often f up our training and fall injured before competition, or go to safe in competition and leave it on the field. you did neither and crushed it!!
I'd love to see it!!!!
gphagan1
Legend
Man I knew you were going to blast some new PRs, and not only did you obliterate your previous PRs you get Best Lifter and one of your most complete meets ever. And I love hearing about your wife’s tears of joy after deadlifts. Her victory was yours as well and your victory was hers. I think you guys had the perfect competitive weekend….something to always be able to share and be proud of with your family.Alright, on to the meet! As posted, I won Best Untested Male Lifter, so you all know it went great already
Woke up Saturday weighing 220.2lbs at 6am:
View attachment 262823View attachment 262824
Went to the strongman show to handle my wife, loading weights & helping lifters out of gear while occasionally remembering to try to sit down. Check-ins went very smoothly and weighed in at 98.3kg - 216.7lbs just after 2pm. Took 30mg Mk677 and pinned 25mg Trest Ace right away.
Focused on rehydration since there was so many lbs to put on (you can’t eat 20lbs+ of food). After the first half gallon of carbs & electrolytes, had some white rice with soy sauce. Things were fairly boring food-wise: dried fruit, low fat ramen, Hawaiian rolls, lifesaver gummies, rice snacks, pickle juice, cookies, Kraft mac n cheese, pasta & bread at dinner. Got about 4,500 calories in and close to 2.5 gallons through me by 11:30pm (which was brutal as you might expect). Went to bed 235.0lbs, and took 40mg Tbol.
Woke up meet day at 229.0 after bathroom. Really laid into the 7am continental breakfast: many cups of juice/soda, rice Chex with sugar, waffles & syrup, banana, yogurt, bagels with jam, made biscuit sandwiches. This got me back to 234.0 before we checked out at 11am. Did a bunch of rolling and mobility in the hotel room around 9am. Took 50mg Anadrol & 40mg Tbol at 10:15am.
234.0 Sunday:
View attachment 262825
Met friends at a local Panera for a small sandwich and apple at 11:30am, then 30mg Halotestin at 12:30. Got over to the meet at 12:45pm probably weighing close to 236lbs.
Our flight started at 2pm, so it was time for preworkout drink (30g Hooligan), 200mg Ubiquinol, B complex, 1mg SLU-PP, ATP Elite, Neurogize XT, Amentoflavone, Tums, extra AlphaGPC, a lots of sodium, 2 caps of Imodium, and to get moving. Took half a Bronkaid at 1pm in the middle of my general warmup, and got a cc of injectable Carnitine/Citicholine in before rules at 1:15pm. Then, onto squatting!
Took 165, 275, added equipment, 385, 452, and finished with 496 in the warmup area (4 reds/side). Opened up with a very fast 534, made a 15kg jump to 567, and when that moved nearl as well I knew I needed to stick to Plan A: I called 600 for my final attempt. This took a LOT of guts for me. I was only 9 weeks off the right knee tear at EFS, which happened because of hip shifting since the previous left quad injury last meet (that was still happening often in training because of some intermittent left hip pain at full depth!). Then also with the back strain 6 weeks out, there has been VERY little in the way of proper squat training with any weight of consequence in the hole. I basically squat 507 a month out, worked up to 578 3 weeks out, and did a few singles with 500 one last time 2 weeks out to get ready to handle this. I knew in my heart I could pull this off IF I could squat it properly in the groove - but also that if I shifted it could be catastrophic. There was no shift on 534 & only a tiny amount on 567. If I could correct that with 600 I would be golden.
I visualized the lift, took a big whiff of ammonia & a back slap, and flipped the switch. There was no fear, hesitation or thoughts of goals or injury when I stepped onto the platform - just execution of ritualized setup & total resolve before unracking the weight. The squat command was given, a big brace before lowering the hips to depth, then blasting upwards to stand tall at lockout! This is what this meet was really about to me. 600 was a 71lb competition PR at 220, but most importantly it truly scared me. This was not a safe endeavor, but the cost that this goal at this time demanded was to let go of my fears if I wanted to realize my current potential.
Bench went really smoothly. I took more 10mg Halotestin right after squats, then rolled right into warmups. 155, 265, and then 308 with commands was all it took to feel ready. 330 looked like the cherry opener that it was, then 352 for my second (a 5lb 220 PR) was quite the smoke show as well. Stuck to Plan A and called 375 for my 3rd. This would have been another 22lbs of PR AND chip what I did last meet at 242, but unfortunately as it came off my chest I pressed it out of the groove towards my feet! As I fought to recover it back into the groove, I felt my butt start to lift, so I told them to take it. This was really frustrating to accept afterwards, because I believe I was strong enough to make this lift & still don’t understand how I let my technique falter under max effort - but I did. My wife was a blessing to help calm me down, accept the opportunity had been lost, but now deadlifts remained front & center!
They say the meet doesn’t start until the bar hits the floor, and in a lot of ways I’d say there’s something to that. People take their sweaty shirts off, someone seems to turn the music up a hair louder somewhere, and all that’s left is whatever you can give to yank a weight off the floor. Did some RDLs with a plate, pulled my long socks on before hitting 265, 375, 441, & 485 in the warmup area, then went out to 540 for a fast opener. Made a jump to 584 that moved me to the last deadlifter of our flight. It moved well enough, but I felt like my underhand grip had been challenged. I knew jumping 33lbs to 617 would be reckless given that (573 was all I’d gone up to in training). At the score table I asked Albert, the president of the fed & extremely seasoned lifter, if he thought I had 611 after that. He told me 606/611 was what he’d call for me, but 611 was gonna be pushing it. I wanted to end 8/9 and get my first 600 ever at this size, so I had them load the bar to 606.
This was the final deadlift of our flight, and after a previous lifter bled all over the bar they stopped to clean it while my chosen deadlift song came blasting on. This really helped pump me up, all the tension as the audience waited for the last big pull to start; it also set me up to have the absolute best grip surface possible. I came out charged up with determination, locked in, and made a clean pull with 606 for a 27.5lb weightclass PR.
View attachment 262828View attachment 262829
This ended the day with me going 8/9 attempts to total 707.5kg/1,559lbs @216.7lbs bodyweight for a 438 DOTS coefficient. This was a significant step up from my last meet’s 432, which was previously my most competitive total ever. It also earned me Best Lifter medal, a new pair of Lockjaw barbell collars, a cute little knit flexing Sun stuffy for my son, and a cheap (but radically expensive to me) coffee mug
View attachment 262830
Our buddy that used to train with my wife had an amazing first meet experience: 8/9 (missing 3rd bench as well) & totaled 1,470 raw, drug-tested weighing in at 254. Another guy from our gym did his first 600 squat ever after just becoming a father, our gym beat the home gym for Best Team award, and the whole thing was just a load of fun & fellowship. Best part was seeing the tears of joy in my wife’s eyes when I finished deadlifts - she was so proud of me! And I am proud too, squatting and pulling 6 under 220 for the first time, plus a 115lb total PR in this class
And bro you’re a Beast at 220, and rockin’ a thick set of abs too.