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To Infinity.... and Beyond!

Oh...I was going for volume at each of the previous weights too...5x215, 5x225, 5x235...I need to try it again with a spotter at 245.
Unfair advantage I had my spotter today lol.

I've been trying to preserve energy to make my volume at higher weights lately.

I really struggle figuring out how big my jumps should be over 225.

Gym math for me is always like 95, 135, 175, 205, etc.

Lately I've been increasing the jumps but my best success has been hitting a heavy single or double and then making my volume on a backoff set

Like 240 was my goal but hitting it for five was a lot easier I think after the heavier double than if I had just fine straight to 240 and stopped
 
I still seem to have my xfit capacity so it's like this balancing act trying to figure out how to apply that to heavier weights
 
Unfair advantage I had my spotter today lol.

I've been trying to preserve energy to make my volume at higher weights lately.

I really struggle figuring out how big my jumps should be over 225.

Gym math for me is always like 95, 135, 175, 205, etc.

Lately I've been increasing the jumps but my best success has been hitting a heavy single or double and then making my volume on a backoff set

Like 240 was my goal but hitting it for five was a lot easier I think after the heavier double than if I had just fine straight to 240 and stopped
I've heard of this "overwarm single" from Stronger By Science recently. I might need to implement it.
 
I've heard of this "overwarm single" from Stronger By Science recently. I might need to implement it.
I'm not sure I fully get it cause I know I'm training closer to my 1RM than I should but I'm really bad at 1RM efforts so I sorta enjoy practicing heavy loads.

I've probably only benched over 270 like 6-10 times in my life and most of them in 2023....
 
Yeah, it is also known as a potentiating warm up sets. It definitely works. Great session, by the way!
 
I'm not sure I fully get it cause I know I'm training closer to my 1RM than I should but I'm really bad at 1RM efforts so I sorta enjoy practicing heavy loads.

I've probably only benched over 270 like 6-10 times in my life and most of them in 2023....
Gotcha. The way the SBS guys prescribe it is work up to a single at around 8RPE where you could do 3 if you repped out (but only doing one), then back off to your work sets.
 
Yeah, it is also known as a potentiating warm up sets. It definitely works. Great session, by the way!

Thanks man, it felt really good. felt like I should have done a lot more accessory work but we were running out of time and had to get out of there. my triceps had a pretty killer pump from the banded press so I skipped the accessory side. Since my boy and I will hit the gym on Sunday anyways I'll likely make it a light pressing day but with a lot more variety.

Gotcha. The way the SBS guys prescribe it is work up to a single at around 8RPE where you could do 3 if you repped out (but only doing one), then back off to your work sets.

Hyde recently had a really eloquent post on it as well. I'm sure there is probably a general rule of thumb for how to approach it but for me lately I've just been trying to add 5-10lbs to my 1 rep each week, then for my drop set or "working set" (whichever one you want to call it at this point) same thing, add 5-10lbs or increase reps. lately it's worked nicely for both squats and deads.
 
Thanks man, it felt really good. felt like I should have done a lot more accessory work but we were running out of time and had to get out of there. my triceps had a pretty killer pump from the banded press so I skipped the accessory side. Since my boy and I will hit the gym on Sunday anyways I'll likely make it a light pressing day but with a lot more variety.



Hyde recently had a really eloquent post on it as well. I'm sure there is probably a general rule of thumb for how to approach it but for me lately I've just been trying to add 5-10lbs to my 1 rep each week, then for my drop set or "working set" (whichever one you want to call it at this point) same thing, add 5-10lbs or increase reps. lately it's worked nicely for both squats and deads.
What exercises do you have your kid do? How old did he start and how old is he now? My 11 year son struggles with the balance of holding the bar, keeping things in line and stable, etc., but my 12 year old daughter nails it.
 
What exercises do you have your kid do? How old did he start and how old is he now? My 11 year son struggles with the balance of holding the bar, keeping things in line and stable, etc., but my 12 year old daughter nails it.

I've had my boy bucking hay every summer since age 6. In that regards I agree with Rippetoe, I think he once talked about how people are so concerned about kids lifting too early but never bat an eye when a country boy is bucking a 100lb bail of hay at age 10.

My boy is 13 now, 14 in May. We started lifting together I think around last Thanksgiving although I did have him dinking around in my gym when I owned that xfit box back in 2019.

usually I have him use really light db's to warm up with me with lateral raises, forward raises, and db curls.
Then we have a full barbell bench session together, I have him doing sets of 5s until his ego decides to try a 1rm.
I like putting the slingshot on him, not to overload him, but to pull his elbows in and dial in form since he flares.

we have done overhead press, machine dips, machine curls, machine press, machine flies, and every leg machine there is. He loves leg press and can put around 400lbs on a legit leg press right now for reps, his legs are actually bigger than mine.

I try to get him to squat and deadlift but he doesn't like either movement, I think he's insecure about "how" to do them in front of people at the gym but I'm working on it....

To really answer your question though it's less what movements I have him do, and what movements I can get him to think he wants to do lol. I pretty much just say hey wanna try these? wanna try these? and when I can tell he's getting burnt out "Ok wanna finish with some leg work and call it a day?" I'll hit the pressing machines while he leg presses/curls/ext etc then we typically finish on a treadmill for fun and grab a pizza lol.

I don't mind having him do fully body sessions since I'm just introducing every movement to him and he only lifts like once a week at most. maybe twice if we do a weds night session or his mom takes him to xfit with her.
 
I've had my boy bucking hay every summer since age 6. In that regards I agree with Rippetoe, I think he once talked about how people are so concerned about kids lifting too early but never bat an eye when a country boy is bucking a 100lb bail of hay at age 10.

My boy is 13 now, 14 in May. We started lifting together I think around last Thanksgiving although I did have him dinking around in my gym when I owned that xfit box back in 2019.

usually I have him use really light db's to warm up with me with lateral raises, forward raises, and db curls.
Then we have a full barbell bench session together, I have him doing sets of 5s until his ego decides to try a 1rm.
I like putting the slingshot on him, not to overload him, but to pull his elbows in and dial in form since he flares.

we have done overhead press, machine dips, machine curls, machine press, machine flies, and every leg machine there is. He loves leg press and can put around 400lbs on a legit leg press right now for reps, his legs are actually bigger than mine.

I try to get him to squat and deadlift but he doesn't like either movement, I think he's insecure about "how" to do them in front of people at the gym but I'm working on it....

To really answer your question though it's less what movements I have him do, and what movements I can get him to think he wants to do lol. I pretty much just say hey wanna try these? wanna try these? and when I can tell he's getting burnt out "Ok wanna finish with some leg work and call it a day?" I'll hit the pressing machines while he leg presses/curls/ext etc then we typically finish on a treadmill for fun and grab a pizza lol.

I don't mind having him do fully body sessions since I'm just introducing every movement to him and he only lifts like once a week at most. maybe twice if we do a weds night session or his mom takes him to xfit with her.

Love to here stories like this, I miss lifting with my daughter!
 
I've had my boy bucking hay every summer since age 6. In that regards I agree with Rippetoe, I think he once talked about how people are so concerned about kids lifting too early but never bat an eye when a country boy is bucking a 100lb bail of hay at age 10.

My boy is 13 now, 14 in May. We started lifting together I think around last Thanksgiving although I did have him dinking around in my gym when I owned that xfit box back in 2019.

usually I have him use really light db's to warm up with me with lateral raises, forward raises, and db curls.
Then we have a full barbell bench session together, I have him doing sets of 5s until his ego decides to try a 1rm.
I like putting the slingshot on him, not to overload him, but to pull his elbows in and dial in form since he flares.

we have done overhead press, machine dips, machine curls, machine press, machine flies, and every leg machine there is. He loves leg press and can put around 400lbs on a legit leg press right now for reps, his legs are actually bigger than mine.

I try to get him to squat and deadlift but he doesn't like either movement, I think he's insecure about "how" to do them in front of people at the gym but I'm working on it....

To really answer your question though it's less what movements I have him do, and what movements I can get him to think he wants to do lol. I pretty much just say hey wanna try these? wanna try these? and when I can tell he's getting burnt out "Ok wanna finish with some leg work and call it a day?" I'll hit the pressing machines while he leg presses/curls/ext etc then we typically finish on a treadmill for fun and grab a pizza lol.

I don't mind having him do fully body sessions since I'm just introducing every movement to him and he only lifts like once a week at most. maybe twice if we do a weds night session or his mom takes him to xfit with her.
Gotcha. Your approach is a bit different and likely better. I've just been saying "this IS what your going to do" 😆

But where's his lat work?! 😁
 
Love to here stories like this, I miss lifting with my daughter!

I love any time that I can get "quality" time with him that some how is also a healthy benefit. I do pay him an "allowance" sorta, but he's expected to haul wood in the winter and mow lawns in the summer to earn it, I try to make him "work" whenever I can so he appreciates it when he's older like I do now.

last weekend we played a LOT of video games, junk food, movies, perfect bachelor weekend. BUT when we got into the pool... we "played" but I also would "race" him lol. I figured he thinks he's playing in the pool, "we" are having quality father son time, but I'm also getting him valuable exercise and cardio!

Gotcha. Your approach is a bit different and likely better. I've just been saying "this IS what your going to do" 😆

But where's his lat work?! 😁

dude if that works, more power to you lol. reverse psychology always works better for me lolololol.....
oh we do some lat pull downs and t-rows etc. we have spent some time with db rows as well although I haven't quite got him coordinated enough for good back positioning yet.
 
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Gotcha. Your approach is a bit different and likely better. I've just been saying "this IS what your going to do" 😆

But where's his lat work?! 😁
Chucking bails of hay! Also I mentioned to Dustin a little while back that doing goblet squats is probably going to be the best way for your boy to learn how to squat comfortable. It teaches them because they have to keep a tall chest to hold the weight, and have to push/sit the hips back to counterbalance so the don't fall forward. They will naturally fall into a form and develop the core, and upper back strength to squat with a bar.
 
Chucking bails of hay! Also I mentioned to Dustin a little while back that doing goblet squats is probably going to be the best way for your boy to learn how to squat comfortable. It teaches them because they have to keep a tall chest to hold the weight, and have to push/sit the hips back to counterbalance so the don't fall forward. They will naturally fall into a form and develop the core, and upper back strength to squat with a bar.
Plus they are far less intimidating to a beginner!
 
Chucking bails of hay! Also I mentioned to Dustin a little while back that doing goblet squats is probably going to be the best way for your boy to learn how to squat comfortable. It teaches them because they have to keep a tall chest to hold the weight, and have to push/sit the hips back to counterbalance so the don't fall forward. They will naturally fall into a form and develop the core, and upper back strength to squat with a bar.
Plus they are far less intimidating to a beginner!

absolutely! I mean to be fair when my boy was 6-9 yrs old his job was to "roll" the hay into stacks then all the sudden he was so strong he was able to buck them up on the trailer. Now he's out there guiding his younger cousins and anyone who comes out to help on how to do it all
 
Goblet squats, then fronts to full depth, then box squats working depth or right to free squats if depth is fine without excessive forward shin angle (usually the posterior is weak, relatively, and people sometimes need time to develop the hips and hams).

Bench stability, put a small band around the wrists before you take the bar out. The tension will force the lifter to “pull the bar apart” and keep their lats more engaged.

Deadlifts I think people do well to start on a Trapbar, getting down to the low handles as soon as possible instead of adding any weight over the bumper they’re using, but going to a straight bar always requires some intelligent instruction that can be hard to find. People must be taught fundamentals like how to keep their abs tight, lats engaged, not drop the hips too low or put shoulders over the bar, drive the hips forward while pulling back (not up), not hyperextending, letting the arms remain long but taking a strong grip.
 
Goblet squats, then fronts to full depth, then box squats working depth or right to free squats if depth is fine without excessive forward shin angle (usually the posterior is weak, relatively, and people sometimes need time to develop the hips and hams).

Bench stability, put a small band around the wrists before you take the bar out. The tension will force the lifter to “pull the bar apart” and keep their lats more engaged.

Deadlifts I think people do well to start on a Trapbar, getting down to the low handles as soon as possible instead of adding any weight over the bumper they’re using, but going to a straight bar always requires some intelligent instruction that can be hard to find. People must be taught fundamentals like how to keep their abs tight, lats engaged, not drop the hips too low or put shoulders over the bar, drive the hips forward while pulling back (not up), not hyperextending, letting the arms remain long but taking a strong grip.
Well there you have it. "Breaking into the Big 3 101" by @Hyde
 
Sorry for the long post all up in your thread! I've had tons of experience with that middle school age though so thought some input could help a little.

all great stuff and you actually reminded me of training my nephew recently. he's 7 lol.
my two nephews and niece (ages 7, 5, 4) always want to go to "grandpas gym" on weds nights with my boy and I. so I had one of them do a squat. I adjusted his feet and made him do it again. adjusted his chest and made him do it again. adjusted his knees, etc. I basically had him in perfect form at about rep 5 or 6. then we did push ups. etc lots of bodyweight stuff. of course in grandpas gym they mostly hang from the lat pull down or jump on the bike lol.

I did have the 7 year old sit on my 13 yr olds back though while my boy did push ups... I was shocked at how strong he is.
 
I love any time that I can get "quality" time with him that some how is also a healthy benefit. I do pay him an "allowance" sorta, but he's expected to haul wood in the winter and mow lawns in the summer to earn it, I try to make him "work" whenever I can so he appreciates it when he's older like I do now.

I did this with both of my daughters, they are 50 & 40 now both own very nice home and appreciate the value of a hard earned dollar. I am very thankful !
 
Warm up

DB laterals, forwards, db curls, db snatch

OHP
2 x 10 x 65
3 x 95, 95, 115
1 x 135, 145, 155, 165, 175, 185
195 x .... Failed lol
@GreenMachineX

Push press
5 x 195
5 x 135
10 x 135

Bb rows
3 x 10 x 135

Machine dips
3 sets

DB curls
3 sets

Ez bar curls
3 sets to failure

Lat pull downs
3 sets

Notes
Weight 193

Contemplated a rest day instead of three days in a row but my buddy wanted to hit it so I figured bro day.

Opened up with OHP despite benching yesterday cause I figured it wouldn't weigh that much but once I got into it I wanted to see what I could do....

Honestly just about had that 195. Was so damn close I just kept the bar bell and did the 5 push presses before racking it. 190 would have been in the bag for sure.


Time for pizza with my boy!
 
I did this with both of my daughters, they are 50 & 40 now both own very nice home and appreciate the value of a hard earned dollar. I am very thankful !
Unfortunately I grew up with the you will do what I say because I said it, not because I bribed you to do it." Parenting mentality and it carried over a lot with my kids. I didn't really get it until later how much it would have helped not only me, but them in realizing a great work vs reward mindset. I have a good work ethic and have always tried to instill the importance of that to my kids but to associate that with reward all of the time as well would have been a much more positive experience for them, and myself and probably would have led to more success.
 
Unfortunately I grew up with the you will do what I say because I said it, not because I bribed you to do it." Parenting mentality and it carried over a lot with my kids. I didn't really get it until later how much it would have helped not only me, but them in realizing a great work vs reward mindset. I have a good work ethic and have always tried to instill the importance of that to my kids but to associate that with reward all of the time as well would have been a much more positive experience for them, and myself and probably would have led to more success.
You never know. I didn't really agree with how my step kids sorta had everything handed to them with zero chores or work but they've all turned out to be fantastic working adults making their contributions to society. Two of them might be liberals but all the sudden tunes have been changing since getting jobs lol

My situation young was dirt floor poor. My parents literally burning furniture for heat one winter so I learned to be an entrepreneur young. First lemonade stand around age 8, paper route at 9, and various business endeavors every year thereafter.

We ended up in a very good place around high school so my brothers didn't see the poverty I did.

I'd say end result difference between my step kids and myself at age 20 is less work ethic probably and moreso I was still very conservative morally, politically, and economically vs their very liberal stance but I think the difference is I was raised in the church and they didn't understand finances until ten years later than me
 
You guys have any thought on timing for TDs in terms of pre workout ? Hyde has suggested the UH as a preWO and I've been hitting it 1-2hrs before I lift but I notice on days I take it I still feel awesome in the evening on my commute.

Makes me think taking it first thing in the morning would probably be just as good?
 
You guys have any thought on timing for TDs in terms of pre workout ? Hyde has suggested the UH as a preWO and I've been hitting it 1-2hrs before I lift but I notice on days I take it I still feel awesome in the evening on my commute.

Makes me think taking it first thing in the morning would probably be just as good?

Don’t be shy, experiment. If you feel it’s still helpful taken earlier and that’s more convenient, go for it. Worst case you “waste” maybe one or two doses, but you’re not going to miss out on the actual training session regardless.
 
You guys have any thought on timing for TDs in terms of pre workout ? Hyde has suggested the UH as a preWO and I've been hitting it 1-2hrs before I lift but I notice on days I take it I still feel awesome in the evening on my commute.

Makes me think taking it first thing in the morning would probably be just as good?
I can't recall...are you using it daily, twice per day, to avoid suppression?
 
Don’t be shy, experiment. If you feel it’s still helpful taken earlier and that’s more convenient, go for it. Worst case you “waste” maybe one or two doses, but you’re not going to miss out on the actual training session regardless.
It's been a fun supplement to play with. No idea if it's having any effect on the lifting but the way it effects my mood I could even see it useful before major meetings, speeches, large group interactions etc.

Dermacrine I'd say was extremely similar to me but definitely put weight on me faster and probably therefore did contribute to positive strength gains.

Sustain Alpha I thought had positive effects at a slightly overdose but I think far beaten by the dermacrine and UH so that and anything else I'm taking I just don't notice right now.

The UH though, awesome on the mood for sure.
 
I mean, why not daily?
Lol cause Hyde suggested preWO and I didn't argue ?

I think the point though is to not risk suppression. After I finish this bottle and to a month or two with no dhea or epi etc I'll see how I feel and I want to see what it feels like as things are back to normal / natty then decide next step. (such as daily use or a different product, or nothing etc)
 
Very respectable approach!
 
Bb rows
20 x 95
10 x 135, 155, 175
15 x 135

Ez bar curls
4 sets of 10

DB curls
3 sets

Nautical row machine (?)
4 sets

Star Trac unilateral row (lol)
3 sets

Never even noticed this machine before but it hits the lats nice!

Notes
Screw off Sunday afternoon with my boy while he hits bench and legs. Invalid Link Removed
 
I think I need to start hitting bis twice per week now. My arms lag compared to everything else.
I damn near hit them every day tbh. I almost have to do curls to loosen up my elbows for squats and press, and I like to warm them lightly for pulls so basically I'm always doing it lol

But that said, I don't sit down and do a hard core arms day hardly ever. I want to just bro out rich Piana style someday
 
I damn near hit them every day tbh. I almost have to do curls to loosen up my elbows for squats and press, and I like to warm them lightly for pulls so basically I'm always doing it lol

But that said, I don't sit down and do a hard core arms day hardly ever. I want to just bro out rich Piana style someday
Gotcha. My hard-core arms day consists of less than your warm ups lol. 3 sets of Curls is enough to get me sore.
 
I have never seen one of those machines, but I would like to try it out!
 
Gotcha. My hard-core arms day consists of less than your warm ups lol. 3 sets of Curls is enough to get me sore.

I have to do a lot of sets to failure now, + drop sets to find soreness in the arms tbh. I do them so often for grip and elbow health that on days that I actually want to hit biceps direct I'm almost lost to as what to do and bored with it cause I've done so many curls lol So I basically just go for the pump to failure and force as much protein down my gullet as I can 😅

I have never seen one of those machines, but I would like to try it out!

I'm feeling it today!!! lol
 
after the workout I took my boy to a bbq joint where we had around a 1lb+ of briskset and shredded pork. when they asked if we wanted dessert we said yes, we'd like another half lb of brisket and some cornbred 😅

whats weird is my metabolism must be up quite a bit. my wife got home from a long weekend in Yosemite and I got us some pad thai, chicken satay, fresh rolls, and I crushed the peanut sauce. so Friday I had pizza with my boy, Saturday a half lb each of ground lamb burgers, sunday was brisket, pork, and pad thai. normally a weekend like that would send the scale up EASILY 4lbs. maybe 6+. I woke up at 195 which is more or less my average lately +1 maybe. I have a feeling if I went on a cut I'd drop 6lbs in like 2 weeks without trying.
 
Gotcha. My hard-core arms day consists of less than your warm ups lol. 3 sets of Curls is enough to get me sore.
It might be enough to get you sore but it isn't going to be enough to grow your arms the way you want them. You are definitely going to want to give them some more volume if you want them to grow. During this hypertrophy focus, I am going to concentrate a bit more on Arms and Shoulders. I need these pipes to be able to handle the holding and pressing of heavy weights... Plus I have never really focused on pushing them so I think I have some room to grow there.
after the workout I took my boy to a bbq joint where we had around a 1lb+ of briskset and shredded pork. when they asked if we wanted dessert we said yes, we'd like another half lb of brisket and some cornbred 😅

whats weird is my metabolism must be up quite a bit. my wife got home from a long weekend in Yosemite and I got us some pad thai, chicken satay, fresh rolls, and I crushed the peanut sauce. so Friday I had pizza with my boy, Saturday a half lb each of ground lamb burgers, sunday was brisket, pork, and pad thai. normally a weekend like that would send the scale up EASILY 4lbs. maybe 6+. I woke up at 195 which is more or less my average lately +1 maybe. I have a feeling if I went on a cut I'd drop 6lbs in like 2 weeks without trying.
You have got to love that and pretty awesome you are holding around there. You must look pretty beefy for your frame now too!
 
It might be enough to get you sore but it isn't going to be enough to grow your arms the way you want them. You are definitely going to want to give them some more volume if you want them to grow. During this hypertrophy focus, I am going to concentrate a bit more on Arms and Shoulders. I need these pipes to be able to handle the holding and pressing of heavy weights... Plus I have never really focused on pushing them so I think I have some room to grow there.

You have got to love that and pretty awesome you are holding around there. You must look pretty beefy for your frame now too!

Thanks man, I appreciate it.
It is sorta surreal to me when I see myself in the mirror at the gym. I've always had a bare minimum requirement that my arms fill out my shirt sleeves but lately these sleeves are looking cinched down 😅😅 I tried my best yesterday to pull the shirt in and show my boy what a solid v taper should look like to inspire him while he was doing rows. He laughed at me 😅😅
 
Leg press to warm up, waiting on rack

20 x +90
10 x +180
10 x +270

Squats
5 x 135, 185
1 x 225, 245, 265, 285, 305, 315, 325
3 x 295
2 x 5 x 225

Notes
Contemplated a rest day but got work in. Added 5lbs but only hit 3reps. Buddy felt I had 4+ in me but honestly today was a bit of a grind.

Did practice reps at 225 to work on form then had to split.

Dude in the locker room decided to stand five feet from me and blow dry his junk off. I'm perplexed but also intrigued maybe thats not a horrible idea
 
Dude in the locker room decided to stand five feet from me and blow dry his junk off. I'm perplexed but also intrigued maybe thats not a horrible idea
Nice workout.

Dude, manscaping is the answer, blow dry your junk at home! What was he trying to do increase the volume of his pubes. "Babe' you are in for a real treat... Just wait until you see this beautiful quaft of hair pop out of my drawers...
 
Nice workout.

Dude, manscaping is the answer, blow dry your junk at home! What was he trying to do increase the volume of his pubes. "Babe' you are in for a real treat... Just wait until you see this beautiful quaft of hair pop out of my drawers...
bringing back the 70s fro! 😅😅

I swear the things that go on this locker room are not normal 😅😅
 
How about the old men who can't wrap a towel around there waist !!
 
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