Before getting really sick with Covid (forcing me to take off 6-8 weeks), I was only benching around 225 lbs and hex bar DLing close to 400 lbs. But then I lost 20 lbs in 25 days, reaching as low as 162 lbs for the first time in many years.
Well, the weight came roaring back and about one month later, I’m back up to around 175 lbs. Still sort of weak, but strength is building predictably. And oh yeah, I just recently turned 53.
Bench Press: 95x10, 125x8, 155x6, 185x6, 205x4, 225x2, 240x1 (heaviest push since surgery — went up nicely)
at 175lbs, post surgery, when you were benching 225 pre-surgery(?) a 240 x 1 seems damn respectable to me...
Always good to start easy on deads. I have the V2 SSB from Titan and it’s excellent.
Yeah, thanks, I’m really looking forward to it given my perennial shoulder challenges! Mine is V2 too, I’m pretty sure. Like new condition, but a few years old.
I’ve managed to keep my legs reasonably developed just hiking and walking hills regularly the last 2 years. It will be interesting to see how that translates. Still have a little fear after the myofascial tear a few years back. Man that hurt, and then it recurred months later. In any event, this is long overdue — just need to man up, haha.
You don’t need to train to failure. Leave sets and reps in the tank. As long as there is progression over time, you should expect a stimulus eventually. Especially as far as waking up/restoring old/previously built muscle.
It can be very, very difficult to build brand new muscle, but getting back to 80% of old previous size is usually comically easy.
Lookin sexy old man.
Lookin sexy old man.
maybe you could start with assisted dips either on the "dip machine" or with bands and work your way up to legit dips?
maybe you could start with assisted dips either on the "dip machine" or with bands and work your way up to legit dips?
LMAO!Thought this was hilarious!!!
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Looking strong brother!Progress Pic — back is broadening; need to start incorporating dips, which I’ve avoided bc they’re hard on my recovering shoulders.
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I’ve run out of gym room and am actually selling my nice dip station. But I ordered some handles for my rack. The last ones I tried were too wide, but these have 2 sets of handles, so they might work. We’ll see — they arrive today; I’ll return them if I don’t like them.
This wouldn't be my recommendation for a newbie recovering from an injury but going back to my xfit days of course we always had gymnastics rings hanging from the rigs for dips... doesn't take up any space. you may or may not gain more from the added use of stabilizers, you may or may not increase risk of injury. however you can still use bands on ring dips as well.
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Had me scared reading that![]()
WTF you doing in here? Jinxie's Injury Scare Odyssey to compete with Hyde's Strength Odyssey?
Even though I have strong reservations about any doctor that says "never again" seems like some more prehab work might be on the agenda for you to make sure those shoulders are BOTH super happy.
Good advice! I have one more trip (leave on Wednesday) and then things settle down such that I’ll have more time! I seem to be on the mend, using the polar ice cooler while I sleep, rotating shoulders. Took an epsom bath after this morning’s session, lol! Thanks brother!
Hey gang, it’s been a while! Hope everyone is flourishing!
Things are sort of par for the course for me. I’m 5 months post a very major left shoulder repair, my second surgery in the last 1 & 1/2 years (right repair @ 11/22). Completely ruptured supraspinatus (near the bone) and infraspinatus while db benching in December 2023. This was my 8th shoulder surgery — I have a connective tissue disorder and have been rather obstinate about it as of late.
Ortho said repair was very tenuous and he wasn’t sure it would hold — but it has, though I’ve been extremely conservative with my PT! He says if I tear it again, they’ll probably have to transfer tendons from my quads — or worse yet, a replacement, which would put an end to benching and overhead pressing, which I can’t have at the ripe age of 54, lol.
As such, I’ve pledged not to be an idiot and risk this, which means, at least for the time being, that I’m not going to bench more than 185 lbs (or 80 lbs dumbbells) or overhead press more than 135 lbs (or 60 lbs dumbbells). (I’m not close to push these levels ATM given recency of surgery.) I also bought dumbbell holders for my rack — no more throwing back heavy dumbbells.
For now, I’ll just be using dumbbells for benching and OHP — it still hurts to use the bar, even the Kadillac bar I picked up while convalescing. I also intend to be judicious with all other movements, for the time being at least. So this log will be rather boring, but I need to start
This is my first DL sesh since surgery. I’ve mostly been using bands and light dumbbells in connection with PT-directed workouts. Time to branch out!
Hex DL: 100x10, 150x10, 170x10, 200x10, 225x10 (felt good, pretty light)
Lat Pulldowns: 3x100-130x10
Hyperextensions: bwx25, +16.5x20, +26.4x15
Seated Curls: 16.5x10, 20x10, 25x8 (minor pain at left shoulder)
Thanks for looking!

Thanks man — if only I could move weight like your gimped-out version, lol. Look forward to checking out your and other logs! Appreciate it!It’s alive! Welcome back jinx. That’s quite the run you had, sorry to hear. Keep it light and clean and join the rest of us gimps![]()
Welcome back! Sounds like quite the operation and number 8! Hope recovery goes good and stay injury free!
Glad you’re back; sorry to hear about the long road you’ve been down. But nice work focusing on your recovery, and remember to try to just enjoy the ride!
I myself am in the middle of rehabbing my back; popped a facet joint a few months back and it has a nerve all pissed off. So if it helps you enjoy it more, you deadlifted a lot more than me today!
Glad to see you back around here. Sorry to hear about the surgery again though. But keep it light and just keep going man.
he's back!!
love the attitude brother, finding a way!
Thanks for the warm welcome back, Hyde! I still need to catch up on your log to see all you’ve accomplished, trophies won! And so sorry to hear about the facet! Did you get injections? I got some years back and they helped immensely, though I don’t think I actually popped one. And haha, me lifting more than you, that’s funny!
I’m sure you’ll be back, stronger than ever, soon, my dude!
Haha, thanks my guy! It’s the only way, right? You benching 325 yet? Still need to take a gander at your manly log!
This is great to hear! Time for nakeds, haha!Good to see you back! 300lb has been the local PR as of late, 325-330 sling shot. Bench has definitely been the more enjoyable PR for me the past 12 months for sure!