Planet Rugby Forum

newportblue wrote:

PourSomeRuggerOnMe wrote:

newportblue wrote:

PourSomeRuggerOnMe wrote:Two incredible PRs here from the last few days for anyone interested:

Hafthor Bjornsson - Elephant Bar Deadlift

Julius Maddox - Bench Press

I reckon Thor will pull over 500kg at the Arnold Classic in a few weeks.

This is particularly keyboard warriory but I’m not sure how close Thor is to pulling over 500. Elephant bar is very different than Eddie’s deadlift.

Still ridiculous tho

Ah I know yeah, but the Arnold Classic deadlift is on an elephant bar, so I reckon he'll do it there. But yeah, it won't break Eddie's record due to the different bars. I agree Thor would struggle for 500 at the moment on a normal bar. He's improving constantly though. That Makarov guy is getting close to Eddie's record too, got 501 a good way off the ground a few months back.

Ahh ok didn’t realise it was an event at the Arnold’s. Looks like he could pull 500 on it.

On a similar note I’ve never used a deadlift bar, all my pulls have been on power bars. I’d like to try for purely ego reasons

Also, I’ve just seen Eddie hall is attempting the world record in the CrossFit work out Grace. Which is floor to over head, 30 times with 60kg. Saw him post a training video and it’s ridiculous, like he’s throwing and empty bar around.

I see now Hafthor's said he's going to attempt 501kg at The World's Ultimate Strongman comp in April. He's even skipping Europe's Strongest Man for it. His reasoning is that the deadlift at the Arnold's is on day 2 when he'll already be fatigued. At the WUS it's the first event, on a deadlift bar, with suit and figure 8 straps allowed. So exactly the same conditions as Eddie's 500.

How often do you lads get sick/pick up bugs?
I’m about 6 days into a bout of the flu, and I was similarly sick the week before Xmas, and was f**ked with another bug back in September.
I do train a lot, usually up for 4.30am and off to the gym, twice a week and 3 slow 8km jogs. While not in great shape, I don’t think I’m too bad (102kgs, 6ft2, 24%BF, 5km time around 22mins).
Whenever I’m sick I don’t take time off work as there is no sick pay so that probably prolongs recovery.
Diet is generally alright. I’m in a 600-700kcal deficit cut atm with a night off each week.

Getting pretty f**ked off with the frequency of sickness bouts!

Very rarely. TBH, i think I've a fairly robust immune system, was never sick in school etc.

You have kids?

Smashed my leg session this evening. Had a bad neck spasm last night and didn't sleep well, but I managed to abuse it away with a lacrosse ball before lifting there.

Equalled my lifetime squat PR, and with better form.

Squat: 130x5, 140x3, 150x2, 155x1, 160x1, 150x2,2, 140x4
Deficit DLs: 120x8, 3 sets
DB RDLs: 40x12, 3 sets
Walking lunges
Abs

Jim Lahey wrote:How often do you lads get sick/pick up bugs?
I’m about 6 days into a bout of the flu, and I was similarly sick the week before Xmas, and was f**ked with another bug back in September.
I do train a lot, usually up for 4.30am and off to the gym, twice a week and 3 slow 8km jogs. While not in great shape, I don’t think I’m too bad (102kgs, 6ft2, 24%BF, 5km time around 22mins).
Whenever I’m sick I don’t take time off work as there is no sick pay so that probably prolongs recovery.
Diet is generally alright. I’m in a 600-700kcal deficit cut atm with a night off each week.

Getting pretty f**ked off with the frequency of sickness bouts!

How often do you handwash?

Nolanator wrote:Very rarely. TBH, i think I've a fairly robust immune system, was never sick in school etc.

You have kids?

Yes, 2 under 4 and 1 in the oven.

Le Chat, I was my hands just standard after toilet, before food prep and eating.
Ive never really focused on it though.

Jim Lahey wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Very rarely. TBH, i think I've a fairly robust immune system, was never sick in school etc.

You have kids?

Yes, 2 under 4 and 1 in the oven.

Le Chat, I was my hands just standard after toilet, before food prep and eating.
Ive never really focused on it though.

Do you come into contact with many other people? I would recommend you start hand washing and using alcohol gel pretty often through the day, I work in the NHS and i used to be lazy with the handwashing protocol and frequently would have a cold. I thought I would see what happens if I did do it properly and I've genuinely had a much better winter. Generally I would have a light cold throughout the whole of winter but this year I've been great. I also think it's worth getting the flu jab too.

Jim Lahey wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Very rarely. TBH, i think I've a fairly robust immune system, was never sick in school etc.

You have kids?

Yes, 2 under 4 and 1 in the oven.

You're going to be sick for the next 7 years.

RIP Jimbo.

Nolanator wrote:

Jim Lahey wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Very rarely. TBH, i think I've a fairly robust immune system, was never sick in school etc.

You have kids?

Yes, 2 under 4 and 1 in the oven.

You're going to be sick for the next 7 years.

RIP Jimbo.

I’m already drafting my argument to my missus to invest in a kickr core turbo trainer at the expense of my gym membership as I’ll not have the chance to leave the house by myself ever again!

Jim Lahey wrote:How often do you lads get sick/pick up bugs?
I’m about 6 days into a bout of the flu, and I was similarly sick the week before Xmas, and was f**ked with another bug back in September.
I do train a lot, usually up for 4.30am and off to the gym, twice a week and 3 slow 8km jogs. While not in great shape, I don’t think I’m too bad (102kgs, 6ft2, 24%BF, 5km time around 22mins).
Whenever I’m sick I don’t take time off work as there is no sick pay so that probably prolongs recovery.
Diet is generally alright. I’m in a 600-700kcal deficit cut atm with a night off each week.

Getting pretty f**ked off with the frequency of sickness bouts!

Sounds like you leave a fairly stressful life.( Early morning, training, kids, work, calorie deficit). Stress has a big impact on immune system I believe. Maybe try reducing stress or at least managing it.

Also, how many hours of decent sleep do you get? That'll make a big difference to your general robustness.

newportblue wrote:

Jim Lahey wrote:How often do you lads get sick/pick up bugs?
I’m about 6 days into a bout of the flu, and I was similarly sick the week before Xmas, and was f**ked with another bug back in September.
I do train a lot, usually up for 4.30am and off to the gym, twice a week and 3 slow 8km jogs. While not in great shape, I don’t think I’m too bad (102kgs, 6ft2, 24%BF, 5km time around 22mins).
Whenever I’m sick I don’t take time off work as there is no sick pay so that probably prolongs recovery.
Diet is generally alright. I’m in a 600-700kcal deficit cut atm with a night off each week.

Getting pretty f**ked off with the frequency of sickness bouts!

Sounds like you leave a fairly stressful life.( Early morning, training, kids, work, calorie deficit). Stress has a big impact on immune system I believe. Maybe try reducing stress or at least managing it.

I’ve had a pretty hectic year or so.
Hating my job and having to get to the office pre-7am every morning so I can get away early to pick up the kids from the childminders. Have a window of 5-6.30am to train Mon- Fri, and I feel I need it purely for my own sanity!
Moved house pre-Xmas as well after about 3 months of touch and go about getting mortgage approval.
So yeah, pretty full on!

I’m getting about 6-7 hours good quality sleep a night. Magnesium tablets really improved my sleep quality. Kids are great sleepers so am rarely up during the night.

Jim Lahey wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Very rarely. TBH, i think I've a fairly robust immune system, was never sick in school etc.

You have kids?

Yes, 2 under 4 and 1 in the oven.

Le Chat, I was my hands just standard after toilet, before food prep and eating.
Ive never really focused on it though.

The little germ factories are awful for that.

Bench PR this morning.

Bench: 80x5, 90x3, 100x2, 105x1, 107.5x1,1, Fail 110, 100x2,2, 90x5
Pause bench: 70x8 / Rear flies, 3 sets
Narrow bench: 60x10, 3 sets
TPD
Face pulls

The second 107.5 was better than the first, so decided to go for broke. Didn't really control the decent properly, but wasn't a million miles from getting it.

I'm slowly weaning myself off using lifting accesories at lower weights. Had got into the habit of using my wraps on bench for 60kg and upwards. I've found that if I position my grip a bit more thoughtfully, I don't get the discomfort in my wrists. The better grip then helps the pressing technique, as everything is cued up better.

Nolanator wrote:Bench PR this morning.

Bench: 80x5, 90x3, 100x2, 105x1, 107.5x1,1, Fail 110, 100x2,2, 90x5
Pause bench: 70x8 / Rear flies, 3 sets
Narrow bench: 60x10, 3 sets
TPD
Face pulls

The second 107.5 was better than the first, so decided to go for broke. Didn't really control the decent properly, but wasn't a million miles from getting it.

I'm slowly weaning myself off using lifting accesories at lower weights. Had got into the habit of using my wraps on bench for 60kg and upwards. I've found that if I position my grip a bit more thoughtfully, I don't get the discomfort in my wrists. The better grip then helps the pressing technique, as everything is cued up better.

orly?

ElementFreak wrote:

Jim Lahey wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Very rarely. TBH, i think I've a fairly robust immune system, was never sick in school etc.

You have kids?

Yes, 2 under 4 and 1 in the oven.

Le Chat, I was my hands just standard after toilet, before food prep and eating.
Ive never really focused on it though.

The little germ factories are awful for that.

Yep they will be coming back with all sorts of bugs

Nolanator wrote:Bench PR this morning.

Bench: 80x5, 90x3, 100x2, 105x1, 107.5x1,1, Fail 110, 100x2,2, 90x5
Pause bench: 70x8 / Rear flies, 3 sets
Narrow bench: 60x10, 3 sets
TPD
Face pulls

The second 107.5 was better than the first, so decided to go for broke. Didn't really control the decent properly, but wasn't a million miles from getting it.

I'm slowly weaning myself off using lifting accesories at lower weights. Had got into the habit of using my wraps on bench for 60kg and upwards. I've found that if I position my grip a bit more thoughtfully, I don't get the discomfort in my wrists. The better grip then helps the pressing technique, as everything is cued up better.

Nice benching mate.

First push press session since my ankle injury. Hitting some 1rm’s this week to figure out my training for my comp in April.

https://youtu.be/4ij2OKBD1ck

mr flaps wrote:First push press session since my ankle injury. Hitting some 1rm’s this week to figure out my training for my comp in April.

https://youtu.be/4ij2OKBD1ck

Fck me that's big boy weight

We need another rower on this thread.

mr flaps wrote:First push press session since my ankle injury. Hitting some 1rm’s this week to figure out my training for my comp in April.

https://youtu.be/4ij2OKBD1ck

F**k, nice one mate
How long have you been weight training for to get to that level?

Jim Lahey wrote:

mr flaps wrote:First push press session since my ankle injury. Hitting some 1rm’s this week to figure out my training for my comp in April.

https://youtu.be/4ij2OKBD1ck

F**k, nice one mate
How long have you been weight training for to get to that level?

I started lifting 25 years ago and have been at it on and off since then. The last 5 years have been more serious and I started training for strongman about 18 months ago.

Nice press.
Axel bar? That looks incredibly awkward, compared to a standard bar where you can get more of a grip around it and wind your shoulders up.

danny_fitz wrote:We need another rower on this thread.

I follow my old uni rowing team's Instargram feed and they post most of their water/erg/gym sessions - fark knows how I ever had the time or energy to train that much!

Nolanator wrote:Nice press.
Axel bar? That looks incredibly awkward, compared to a standard bar where you can get more of a grip around it and wind your shoulders up.

If your bar path is slightly off you lose control of it very easily

mr flaps wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Nice press.
Axel bar? That looks incredibly awkward, compared to a standard bar where you can get more of a grip around it and wind your shoulders up.

If your bar path is slightly off you lose control of it very easily

Can only imagine. I find that if a regular OHP is slightly off, I lose a ton of power and control. The axel with open hand grip looks way more difficult.

I’ve been doing paused squats lately as I’ve been cutting and have backed off heavier weights. Loving them surprisingly. Managed a paused triple at 150kgs last night, down about 10lbs body weight too.

There are some seriously strong fellas posting on this forum.

(i'm recovering from yet another back disc problem and had to put nearly the full stack on the assisted chin-up machine )

I'm in love with that Axel bar, unfortunately my gym hasn't got it.

danny_fitz wrote:We need another rower on this thread.

I row for cross training, but obviously not as much as you do.

Would love to pull the trigger and buy one for the garage. Try and get in an hour a day in the morning would be ideal.

Also, I’ve just seen Eddie hall is attempting the world record in the CrossFit work out Grace. Which is floor to over head, 30 times with 60kg. Saw him post a training video and it’s ridiculous, like he’s throwing and empty bar around.

Likewise Brian Shaw on a C2 rower. If its them vs something else they are monsters. Bodyweight exercises rtc yeah nah. Shaw's wife thrashed on a scaled workout involving burpees.

fonzeee wrote:I'm in love with that Axel bar, unfortunately my gym hasn't got it.

They’re cheap https://www.titan.fitness/strength/barb ... ls-olympic

Events for my next comp.

Axl bar clean and press away 230lbs max reps in 60 seconds.

Deadlift 455lbs max reps in 60 seconds.

Husaffel 270lbs/Duck walk 300lbs medley 50’ of each.

Yoke walk 100’ 550lbs

Atlas Stones 196-210-225-240-275

Quick question - I've been focusing on core and, whenever I do any exercises that involve having legs bent at 90° to body (a lot of Pilates stuff like double knee fold crunches etc) I keep getting 'grabbing' from the front top of my thigh. This gets really uncomfortable really quickly, and I can't seem to release the muscle.

Anyone any idea what I'm doing wrong? Is it just poor core causing other muscles to try to compensate (i.e. should I just crack on until it strengthens) or is it a restriction to flexibility? If latter, are there any stretches or exercises that would help?

I've found that for core exercises it helps if I do a gentle cough just before I do the movement. Not emptying the lungs, but the contraction in the diaghragm also tightens the core musckles in your abdomen, so when you do whatever the exercise is, they do most of the work, rather than hip flexors or whatever.
It helps prime the mind muscle connection. For something like an ab rollout, I'll do it every rep, as I'm inclined to let my hip flexors do more of the work if I don't concentrate on the movement.

In time, you just instinctively get it right.

Final session of my heaviest ever week this morning.

DL: 150x6, 170x3, 190x2, 200x1, Fail 210, 205x1, 190x3
Pause DL: 140x6,6
Bench: 90x6, 4 sets
Pull ups: 10x5, BW x5, 3 sets


210 is my all time PR, which I got about 6 months ago. First time I've attempted it since then. Happy with the 205, though, first time I've attempted that since the same session in which I got 210. Only the second time I've ever lifted that.

New powerlifting total of 472.5kg this week, shade under 1042 lbs. Big goal now to hit a 500 total.

Also, during the second half of my session, the "fat guy with bad deadlift form" came in with his buddies and maxed out on the trap bar.
I'm fairly easy going about everything, but fuck me sideways he does my head in. Big fat hairy twat who lifts big weights with obscenely bad form, shouts his head off and is generally a pain in the tits to be near. Uses ammonia and the bit like he's Brian fucking Shaw or something.
Today he was maxing out with a crowd of 7 gimps standing around filming him and let out a roar into the face of one of the girls who was walking by after the rep.


Christ, I hate him.

Nolanator wrote:Also, during the second half of my session, the "fat guy with bad deadlift form" came in with his buddies and maxed out on the trap bar.
I'm fairly easy going about everything, but fuck me sideways he does my head in. Big fat hairy twat who lifts big weights with obscenely bad form, shouts his head off and is generally a pain in the tits to be near. Uses ammonia and the bit like he's Brian fucking Shaw or something.
Today he was maxing out with a crowd of 7 gimps standing around filming him and let out a roar into the face of one of the girls who was walking by after the rep.


Christ, I hate him.

Sounds like a case of roid rage.

(What on earth is ammonia for?)

Nolanator wrote:I've found that for core exercises it helps if I do a gentle cough just before I do the movement. Not emptying the lungs, but the contraction in the diaghragm also tightens the core musckles in your abdomen, so when you do whatever the exercise is, they do most of the work, rather than hip flexors or whatever.
It helps prime the mind muscle connection. For something like an ab rollout, I'll do it every rep, as I'm inclined to let my hip flexors do more of the work if I don't concentrate on the movement.

In time, you just instinctively get it right.

Ta, will try- think it's just bad technique and weak core, but will consciously try to activate core - I'll give coughing a go. People will think I've got the bat soup virus which should help get some mat space as well

inactionman wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Also, during the second half of my session, the "fat guy with bad deadlift form" came in with his buddies and maxed out on the trap bar.
I'm fairly easy going about everything, but fuck me sideways he does my head in. Big fat hairy twat who lifts big weights with obscenely bad form, shouts his head off and is generally a pain in the tits to be near. Uses ammonia and the bit like he's Brian fucking Shaw or something.
Today he was maxing out with a crowd of 7 gimps standing around filming him and let out a roar into the face of one of the girls who was walking by after the rep.


Christ, I hate him.

Sounds like a case of roid rage.

(What on earth is ammonia for?)

This guy is so far from being on gear.

Increases alertness. Sniff a bit and it feels like someone's kicked you in the back of the throat. Aggravates/stimulates the mucus membrane in your nose, which gives a bit of an adrenaline spike.
It does genuinely help when going for a max effort lift, but it doesn't excuse roaring your head off in a uni gym with lots of non-meatheads present.