Ivan Putski’s Anthems, Anecdotes, and Undeniable Truths of Garage Gym Lifting

Where I fall asleep at night, wake up to piss, and have to eat a banana, peanut butter sandwich, a yogurt, protein bar, etc... (Not just one of those things, but all of them).
ahahaha thats an awesome midnight snack though. When I break a fast I have to be really smart to dive into proteins heavily or I will over eat super easily once I trigger that hunger hormone and tell the body it's being fed again.
 
Just throw the banana on the sandwich!
I just might!

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If you have extra carbs in your diet drizzle a little honey on there too, and let me know how much you like it. :)
that's my morning hack when I'm either on a strength cycle, or just carbing up for a lift, extra locally harvested honey with my coffee...
 
4.8.25

BW FAT

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Elbow is absolutely trashed. Pain really set in on first set of push downs. Then just grabbing the 40’s for skullies was agonizing. I usually have minor “at rest” discomfort in my right elbow. M-Blue mitigated 95% of the “at rest” pain. It is on fire this wed A.M. Putting elbows on a counter/table hurts. I know it's considered rude but still hurts!
 
4.8.25

BW FAT

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Elbow is absolutely trashed. Pain really set in on first set of push downs. Then just grabbing the 40’s for skullies was agonizing. I usually have minor “at rest” discomfort in my right elbow. M-Blue mitigated 95% of the “at rest” pain. It is on fire this wed A.M. Putting elbows on a counter/table hurts. I know it's considered rude but still hurts!
It might be time to consider lowering the volume of direct arm work that exacerbates it so it can heal. Your triceps aren't going to shrink because you are not doing direct work on them. They should get enough for maintenance out of the pressing movements until some of that inflammation lets up.
 
FWIW those movements irriate my elbow too. I find using the rope attachment on push downs and also for overhead cable extensions to mimick the skull crusher are much much better on my elbow... I think it allows me to get into a better position
 
FWIW those movements irriate my elbow too. I find using the rope attachment on push downs and also for overhead cable extensions to mimick the skull crusher are much much better on my elbow... I think it allows me to get into a better position
I think it is the neutral hand position at the stretch that makes the rope feel better. The tendon is not stretched as far as in the pronated position. Also a bit more freedom to the path of resistance to find a more comfortable position.
 
I think it is the neutral hand position at the stretch that makes the rope feel better. The tendon is not stretched as far as in the pronated position. Also a bit more freedom to the path of resistance to find a more comfortable position.
I was thinking it is the incline db curls. Those r very strict at full stretch. I can 86 something next week and see what hurts. Pressing 75lb dbs on flat right now and no pain. Just when holding the weight at full lockout
 
I think it is the neutral hand position at the stretch that makes the rope feel better. The tendon is not stretched as far as in the pronated position. Also a bit more freedom to the path of resistance to find a more comfortable position.
yes me too thats exactly how I would describe it, but when I'm in the overhead extension position I go neutral grip on the descent and I let the stretch get deeper and deeper into the set (rep 15 being full extension for example) and at the top of the rep, I tend to try to separate the rope and move the hands into a pronated grip if the elbows allow. it takes some tinkering some days but elbows and knees I listen to. if they aren't happy, I don't force it, I figure out what's wrong with my ROM and adjust.


I was thinking it is the incline db curls. Those r very strict at full stretch. I can 86 something next week and see what hurts. Pressing 75lb dbs on flat right now and no pain. Just when holding the weight at full lockout

I know not every injury is the same but every time historically my elbows were acting up, I found a lot of high volume light weight db curls helped a LOT. I'm talking about running 15-20lb db curls instead of say 35-45lb. the fact that you had no pain on flat bench sounds like more of a ROM issue to me with that particular movement than an injury but hey, tread lightly until your sure.
 
4.9.25

BW 209.6

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Flat db press felt good 75’sx18x3 doesn’t suck. Elbow only hurt when standing w db arm straightened b4 sitting on bench to lay back and press.

Flys feel gosh darn good. Just swell

Rev grip bb rows felt great. DID NOT FEEL ELBOW PAIN, even at full stretch at bottom of the motion.

Rev grip pull downs great pump, elbow started speaking in tongues! Roughly eye level to clavicle at full contraction, the elbow was less than please w that ROM. So I have a chicken or the egg situation here. Is it the long head of the tri at the elbow as full contraction of back would be stretching the tricep or is it forearm/bicep tie in at elbow? When rist is supinated as it would be during a curl, the inner elbow closest to rib cage is where it is sore to the touch/flares up in the ROM mentioned. When I digitally manipulate the area it doesn’t seem to be above or below the elbow. Basically right on the ole nugget. Funny bone? Humorous? I’m not laughing

And to anyone that follows along here, gives advice, is a conscientious observer, etc
THANK YOU!!!🙏. Kinda been dealing w some internal shiz. I have family, work, and my weights. I can handle 2 out of the 3 not being aces. When all 3 are not going well it’s a rough run. Maybe, someday, the planets will align and The Holy Trinity will be firing on all cylinders.

You guys are all great and I’m thankful and privileged to interact w all of you in the daily.
 
4.9.25

BW 209.6

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Flat db press felt good 75’sx18x3 doesn’t suck. Elbow only hurt when standing w db arm straightened b4 sitting on bench to lay back and press.

Flys feel gosh darn good. Just swell

Rev grip bb rows felt great. DID NOT FEEL ELBOW PAIN, even at full stretch at bottom of the motion.

Rev grip pull downs great pump, elbow started speaking in tongues! Roughly eye level to clavicle at full contraction, the elbow was less than please w that ROM. So I have a chicken or the egg situation here. Is it the long head of the tri at the elbow as full contraction of back would be stretching the tricep or is it forearm/bicep tie in at elbow? When rist is supinated as it would be during a curl, the inner elbow closest to rib cage is where it is sore to the touch/flares up in the ROM mentioned. When I digitally manipulate the area it doesn’t seem to be above or below the elbow. Basically right on the ole nugget. Funny bone? Humorous? I’m not laughing

And to anyone that follows along here, gives advice, is a conscientious observer, etc
THANK YOU!!!🙏. Kinda been dealing w some internal shiz. I have family, work, and my weights. I can handle 2 out of the 3 not being aces. When all 3 are not going well it’s a rough run. Maybe, someday, the planets will align and The Holy Trinity will be firing on all cylinders.

You guys are all great and I’m thankful and privileged to interact w all of you in the daily.
Keep your head up man and everything will work out boss 💪🏻
 
Sorry that you’re going through so many challenges brother, praying it gets better for you. 🙏As far as the elbow pain, it sounds a lot like bursitis or it could be arthritis. For bursitis, early on, it’s better to rest that area or at least identify the movements that aggravate it and avoid those or the fluid will keep building up. Icing the area seems to help, especially if you can handle putting your elbow in a bowl of icy water, like an ice bath, as long as you can stand it, can reduce inflammation when it gets aggravated. As far as arthritis, I believe you take some supplements for joints already, and those can help some. I have a lot of arthritis just from being old and abusing my joints over the years. One of the things that’s helped me is I rub transdermal curcumin, like the one from XPG or Apex Alchemy Helios. It seems to help the inflammation locally when I do that, not like an analgesic cream, but actually seems to help heal. When in pain I use Apex Helios in the morning and Voltaren cream at night, and those help relieve my old joints when aching.💪
 
Rev grip pull downs great pump, elbow started speaking in tongues!
the trigger is very similiar on both of us when the elbow flares up. I'd be curious to see if you are able to do like normal barbell rows, and then if opening the palms up to suppinated irritates it. I noticed when mine were acting up the reverse lat pull downs and suppinated bb rows were no bueno as well. so basically I avoided things that caused pain, adjust rom to make sure I could enjoy the things I needed, and over time it just.... clears up. been like that for like 22 years for me
 
Sorry that you’re going through so many challenges brother, praying it gets better for you. 🙏As far as the elbow pain, it sounds a lot like bursitis or it could be arthritis. For bursitis, early on, it’s better to rest that area or at least identify the movements that aggravate it and avoid those or the fluid will keep building up. Icing the area seems to help, especially if you can handle putting your elbow in a bowl of icy water, like an ice bath, as long as you can stand it, can reduce inflammation when it gets aggravated. As far as arthritis, I believe you take some supplements for joints already, and those can help some. I have a lot of arthritis just from being old and abusing my joints over the years. One of the things that’s helped me is I rub transdermal curcumin, like the one from XPG or Apex Alchemy Helios. It seems to help the inflammation locally when I do that, not like an analgesic cream, but actually seems to help heal. When in pain I use Apex Helios in the morning and Voltaren cream at night, and those help relieve my old joints when aching.💪
Thanks!!!🙏
When I had x-rays after the tricep tear he could see arthritis in the elbow and was surprised I hadn’t had issues sooner. When it is pissed the area is HOT to the touch. Today, day after previous posted workout I have zero at rest pain. So I think not doing things that aggravate it would be prudent. I have a Velcro ice pack for my wife’s knee but fit my arm just fine. Ive used that before. My wife has had carpal tunnel surgery on both wrists so we keep Voltaren(generic version) in stock at the house.
I have to look into the T.D. curcumin!!!!
 
the trigger is very similiar on both of us when the elbow flares up. I'd be curious to see if you are able to do like normal barbell rows, and then if opening the palms up to suppinated irritates it. I noticed when mine were acting up the reverse lat pull downs and suppinated bb rows were no bueno as well. so basically I avoided things that caused pain, adjust rom to make sure I could enjoy the things I needed, and over time it just.... clears up. been like that for like 22 years for me
Makes sense as reg grip pulls don’t bother it. I’d imagine if I did rev grip bench it would hurt. Broke radius and ulnar in this arm and was in a 90 degree cast for 8wks. I was 13 and this arm has been an issue since. Right handed and right upper body musculature is less developed than my left. You can’t notice until pointed out but pt drs and trainers notice. The trained eye peeps I guess. Also this arm has the unrepaired torn bicep. Could be a stability issue. For now. Not gonna poke the hornets nest and try to work around it. Good looks man!!!

Did you play baseball on the “A” level? I know you raced BMX
 
You grabbed some if memory serves(in the mail thread?). When you break into it let me know what you think.
Just posted my thoughts in the Lean GLP thread. Been using it the last couple weeks or so and it’s definitely lowered appetite. Kind of crazy.

Thanks!!!🙏
When I had x-rays after the tricep tear he could see arthritis in the elbow and was surprised I hadn’t had issues sooner. When it is pissed the area is HOT to the touch. Today, day after previous posted workout I have zero at rest pain. So I think not doing things that aggravate it would be prudent. I have a Velcro ice pack for my wife’s knee but fit my arm just fine. Ive used that before. My wife has had carpal tunnel surgery on both wrists so we keep Voltaren(generic version) in stock at the house.
I have to look into the T.D. curcumin!!!!

Oh it can helps for sure!
 
Makes sense as reg grip pulls don’t bother it. I’d imagine if I did rev grip bench it would hurt. Broke radius and ulnar in this arm and was in a 90 degree cast for 8wks. I was 13 and this arm has been an issue since. Right handed and right upper body musculature is less developed than my left. You can’t notice until pointed out but pt drs and trainers notice. The trained eye peeps I guess. Also this arm has the unrepaired torn bicep. Could be a stability issue. For now. Not gonna poke the hornets nest and try to work around it. Good looks man!!!

Did you play baseball on the “A” level? I know you raced BMX

Baseball, football, wrestling went up into high school, where I also attempted a little track and quickly realized I was a thrower, not a runner, but those sports largely stopped there and BMX continued until I was about 26 I think when I had my last bad wreck. post high school we built a mens league softball team which doesn't sound like much but we built a tourney squad and had some sponsors so we hit all the big tourneys we could and qualified for state a couple times. Never made it to B ball in softball though. Honestly not sure why I didn't go after that, I played the hot corner and didn't have an issue poking bombs over the fence, I think I just ran out of time to pursue it any deeper.
 
Baseball, football, wrestling went up into high school, where I also attempted a little track and quickly realized I was a thrower, not a runner, but those sports largely stopped there and BMX continued until I was about 26 I think when I had my last bad wreck. post high school we built a mens league softball team which doesn't sound like much but we built a tourney squad and had some sponsors so we hit all the big tourneys we could and qualified for state a couple times. Never made it to B ball in softball though. Honestly not sure why I didn't go after that, I played the hot corner and didn't have an issue poking bombs over the fence, I think I just ran out of time to pursue it any deeper.
Co worker of mine raced BMX and was sponsored by Skyway then cosponsored by GT later on. Then he took a digger and broke his clavicle in multiple spots
 
4.12.25

BW 206.9

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Db press and flys went great. Only elbow pain was w db hanging in arm b4 sitting on bench for pressing. No pain during ROM

Front and side raises for delts felt great, good pump, no joint pain

Lat prayers felt fine in warmup sets. When I went for the acclimation set which is 4 reps of working weight, elbow said “No Bueno!!!”

Iced it post workout. No resting pain, when I extend to full lockout some slight discomfort in the elbow.
 
4.12.25

BW 206.9

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Db press and flys went great. Only elbow pain was w db hanging in arm b4 sitting on bench for pressing. No pain during ROM

Front and side raises for delts felt great, good pump, no joint pain

Lat prayers felt fine in warmup sets. When I went for the acclimation set which is 4 reps of working weight, elbow said “No Bueno!!!”

Iced it post workout. No resting pain, when I extend to full lockout some slight discomfort in the elbow.

Nice...

The elbow pain sucks, very limiting... Hopefully pain-free soon...
 
Wish I was smart like that. My moronic thinking has always been "eat 4 advil, rub horse ointment on the area, wrap it" and wince my way thru it... :confused:

Im not very bright...
I think it’s the forearm tie in at the elbow. It hurts the most when I make the motion of a wrist curl. 🤔
 
4.14.25

BW 205.8

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Lat pulls felt nice. Used Versa Gripps to mitigate the strain on forearm.

Seated shoulder press felt good. No elbow pain even at bottom of ROM bar touching clavicle

Rear delt work felt fine

Shrugs went well. No spasm in trap again. That’s a good thing. Some sort of a world record for me not going into spasm. Slight discomfort in elbow on shrugs. Didn’t used the Versa Gripps prob should have.
 
You grabbed some if memory serves(in the mail thread?). When you break into it let me know what you think.
Yeah, but will be a little while before giving it a go. On that bulk train now to support strength. Pepti-bolic + Formeron (new) is probably my next stack coming up to test out.
Wish I was smart like that. My moronic thinking has always been "eat 4 advil, rub horse ointment on the area, wrap it" and wince my way thru it... :confused:

Im not very bright...
Just rub some dirt on it!
 
I’m going w the “if it hurts, don’t do it” mentality.
Yeah, if it hurts while doing it and can't be worked through by just getting warm that is the right mentality. Just find something else that works the area.
Wish I was smart like that. My moronic thinking has always been "eat 4 advil, rub horse ointment on the area, wrap it" and wince my way thru it... :confused:

Im not very bright...
I wasn't either, I wish I had been now. I am beat the fug up at 52 after 40 years of this abuse, and 30 of it being brutal "Rub some dirt on it Boy, You'll be alright!" mindset training. You might want to adjust slightly. I actually learned a lot about when to push, when to adjust, and when to just call it from watching serious performance based trainers like @Hyde who sets an amazing example for this. The way he approaches training shines some light into the training mindset of professionals. He has that exposure via his highly competitive wife, and half a lifetime of his living this sh*t and being around other competitors!!! I would say learning from him on that side of things has probably prolonged my effective training life by at least 5 years.
I think it’s the forearm tie in at the elbow. It hurts the most when I make the motion of a wrist curl. 🤔
Can you take a picture and circle where it hurts? I keep trying to picture where it is to try to give a little more guidance or possible ways to work around it. However exact area of pain is needed to get a better idea.
 
Yeah, if it hurts while doing it and can't be worked through by just getting warm that is the right mentality. Just find something else that works the area.

I wasn't either, I wish I had been now. I am beat the fug up at 52 after 40 years of this abuse, and 30 of it being brutal "Rub some dirt on it Boy, You'll be alright!" mindset training. You might want to adjust slightly. I actually learned a lot about when to push, when to adjust, and when to just call it from watching serious performance based trainers like @Hyde who sets an amazing example for this. The way he approaches training shines some light into the training mindset of professionals. He has that exposure via his highly competitive wife, and half a lifetime of his living this sh*t and being around other competitors!!! I would say learning from him on that side of things has probably prolonged my effective training life by at least 5 years.

Can you take a picture and circle where it hurts? I keep trying to picture where it is to try to give a little more guidance or possible ways to work around it. However exact area of pain is needed to get a better idea.
Pretend you are holding a straight bar for barbell curls…. The elbow joint that would touch your side
 
Pretend you are holding a straight bar for barbell curls…. The elbow joint that would touch your side
On the inside of the top of the forearm near where the biceps meet it, or on the bottom inside part of your elbow crossing the elbow bone??
4.15.25

BW 207.6

Attempted bi’s and tri’s.

Didn’t get very far
It seems like someone recently told you to lay off of arms that they won't actually shrink, and will get what they need for maintenance from other movements that use the arm. I think it was... "THIS GUY!" Take care of yourself before you dig yourself into such a hole you can't train upper body effectively at all. If doing direct arm work, focus on getting 2-3 reps to failure around 30-35 reps. Just get blood in there with no risk to the connective tissue. It will drive a little something and the weight is light enough you will be able to feel when to stop based on when it starts really triggering the pain. If anything does, then I would take a full week from doing anything that stresses them, and another full week without direct arm work. Take some NSAIDs the whole first week, and break back in slowly on the other side. Other than that, look into some horse liniment, or something like Transdermal Curcumin for a little extra help.
 
You have to be able to use your arms to have decent-sized ones. You will of course have the largest arms possible for you if you do direct arm work, but if you can’t & undo any use of the arms, you will get small all over.

When it comes to size, never sacrifice your time spent on the cake for the icing!
 
man I hope that elbow issue clears up for you.

Co worker of mine raced BMX and was sponsored by Skyway then cosponsored by GT later on. Then he took a digger and broke his clavicle in multiple spots
yeah back in the day GT was big out here, my home track was Gary Ellis's hometrack, I believe his dad built it and was the longest running track operator for ages. The "Lumberjack" was a team GT guy for like a decade or longer. I got my start on Redlines, eventually picked up sponsorship basically through SBS who acquired Redline and Torker so after I cracked my 540 XL in half, they gave me the new John Purse Signature aluminum pro xl frame, which I snapped in half at the stem after racing nationals in Boise, lol. Then they gave me a new Torker Pro XL frame (I wish I still had that, it's a museum artificat now!) and my sponsor/manager felt it necessary to teach me how to crash better (haha). It was around 2006-2008 that I snapped my clavicle into 3 pcs, had a steel plate installed (still have it) around August, then in December blew out my ACL (lol) snowboarding but never did the ACL surgery.

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5.31.25

BW 200.3lbs

So it’s been a minute. I am just going to post my progression metrics from my last meso. During my workout on 5-3 between sets of incline db press the Bowlfex adjustable db fell off the bench, hit the floor, several of the “retainer tabs” that hold the weights to the db and allow adjustable weights broke off. I blasphemed a lot!!! Wicked “sad face”. I had those db’s since 2007. Dick’s Sporting Goods had 1 left in stock. $400 later I was whole again!!!
 
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