Written with a bodybuilding slant (as admitted by the author) nevertheless it's a good read. He gives you his picks for the 12 hardest workers in the gym.
Clicky
Sunday 29 November 2009
Friday 27 November 2009
America's Strongest Man event... some sense
Yes - a good result. The boo boo of having this event run the same damn weekend of the WSM finals has been changed. It's now been moved to the Mr O date of late September and so instead of sending their best overseas providing their not too worn out they can kick fellow Yank ass and compete for the title of America's Strongest Man.
More from Ironmind
More from Ironmind
World Weightlifting Championships 2009
Thursday 26 November 2009
Your mind is your best ally
Those of you with any knowledge of sports psychology will know that in the simplest terms a positive mind is far more likely to help you succeed in your gym lifts than a negative one.
One of my habits when coaching others is to look into what 'hooks them'. I'll listen to conversations we have when not lifting, stories told and even to what is muttered by them when they are lifting big. Such things can be very telling in what makes a person tick and then, as I do, can be used to drive them harder when the time comes. I usually use it in two ways. One is max set / max weight time in training. A little dose, if you will, of a whispered comment and an extra rep is driven out of an exhausted body. The other time is in the psyching up portion pre a competition lift. Knowing what makes others tick, which while useful as a coach, means I also need to know what drives me as do you.
Now positive affirmations, words such as yes, power, success and so on and not at all limited to the usual gym phrases of 'hench dude!' or 'all you' when spotting but even open ended or non-negative comments. If 'you will fail' is full on negative and 'you will succeed' is full on positive then a neutral or open comment could be 'let's see what will happen'. Even a reply to 'how will you do?' such as 'I don't know... let's see' has something because it leaves a metaphorical door open for something successful to occur. Try to leave the BS of the world at the door. The boss, wife or whatever that is down on your ass. Fu*k them. They've never seen this you. Show them.
When talking to some new guys at Gymnation (the other gym I use) recently I said simple acts such as having a pre-written out workout, sets, reps and poundage included, will leave you with more opportunities to do well than an unplanned see how we go approach. It is because during the workout simply becoming knackered from the training will make it that much harder to recall the numbers from the previous workout. Having a simple number to aim for removes doubt and lessens the likelihood of failure. Look at the strongman event called 'the Hercules Hold'. Those that go last almost always do better than the earlier athletes. This is simply because the earlier guy acts as a pace setter and those that follow only have to do one second more. Just one second more. See how that phrase reads and sounds so simple. Unless you risk injury or death it is.
Another way I encourage guys to do their best is 'be in and of the moment'. I probably don't use those exact words (more 'now slag, now!!'). But the message is the same. For some the brutal onslaught to come, the pressure they will be under, can be daunting. They know that they might shake or feel nauseous and this can make them hold back. A reminder of what they are there for 'you want size don't ya!!' (or whatever) and a 'do this now, for this second, for this minute, then rest, grow and succeed'.
Most people hold themselves back from being what they can be. I've written before of the 'train with Arnold or Ronnie' lines people come out with. The usual guys BS thing where some wannabe will say 'if I trained with X' (chosen athlete they admire) 'I'd be all that and I'd train so hard'. I've even had it said about me - very nice but I replied 'why wait?'. Train like that NOW! The is no magic in Ronnie, Arnold and most certainly I have none. Do not wait for some golden moment, the sun, moon and stars in alignment, to train hardcore. Train as though that person is with you now. Perhaps imagine them in the corner giving you a thumbs up.
It has been said that the body does not care what it is asked to do. Sure we have nerves etc to protect ourselves but they all end at the brain. Separate the two and it'd do any old thing. Now add it back in and see what the body will do if you ask it. Don't have the man in the driving seat, your ID, sit there with cruise control or autopilot doing the job, drive that baby. Put the pedal down and see how fast it'll go.
Nuff - go do it.
One of my habits when coaching others is to look into what 'hooks them'. I'll listen to conversations we have when not lifting, stories told and even to what is muttered by them when they are lifting big. Such things can be very telling in what makes a person tick and then, as I do, can be used to drive them harder when the time comes. I usually use it in two ways. One is max set / max weight time in training. A little dose, if you will, of a whispered comment and an extra rep is driven out of an exhausted body. The other time is in the psyching up portion pre a competition lift. Knowing what makes others tick, which while useful as a coach, means I also need to know what drives me as do you.
Now positive affirmations, words such as yes, power, success and so on and not at all limited to the usual gym phrases of 'hench dude!' or 'all you' when spotting but even open ended or non-negative comments. If 'you will fail' is full on negative and 'you will succeed' is full on positive then a neutral or open comment could be 'let's see what will happen'. Even a reply to 'how will you do?' such as 'I don't know... let's see' has something because it leaves a metaphorical door open for something successful to occur. Try to leave the BS of the world at the door. The boss, wife or whatever that is down on your ass. Fu*k them. They've never seen this you. Show them.
When talking to some new guys at Gymnation (the other gym I use) recently I said simple acts such as having a pre-written out workout, sets, reps and poundage included, will leave you with more opportunities to do well than an unplanned see how we go approach. It is because during the workout simply becoming knackered from the training will make it that much harder to recall the numbers from the previous workout. Having a simple number to aim for removes doubt and lessens the likelihood of failure. Look at the strongman event called 'the Hercules Hold'. Those that go last almost always do better than the earlier athletes. This is simply because the earlier guy acts as a pace setter and those that follow only have to do one second more. Just one second more. See how that phrase reads and sounds so simple. Unless you risk injury or death it is.
Another way I encourage guys to do their best is 'be in and of the moment'. I probably don't use those exact words (more 'now slag, now!!'). But the message is the same. For some the brutal onslaught to come, the pressure they will be under, can be daunting. They know that they might shake or feel nauseous and this can make them hold back. A reminder of what they are there for 'you want size don't ya!!' (or whatever) and a 'do this now, for this second, for this minute, then rest, grow and succeed'.
Most people hold themselves back from being what they can be. I've written before of the 'train with Arnold or Ronnie' lines people come out with. The usual guys BS thing where some wannabe will say 'if I trained with X' (chosen athlete they admire) 'I'd be all that and I'd train so hard'. I've even had it said about me - very nice but I replied 'why wait?'. Train like that NOW! The is no magic in Ronnie, Arnold and most certainly I have none. Do not wait for some golden moment, the sun, moon and stars in alignment, to train hardcore. Train as though that person is with you now. Perhaps imagine them in the corner giving you a thumbs up.
It has been said that the body does not care what it is asked to do. Sure we have nerves etc to protect ourselves but they all end at the brain. Separate the two and it'd do any old thing. Now add it back in and see what the body will do if you ask it. Don't have the man in the driving seat, your ID, sit there with cruise control or autopilot doing the job, drive that baby. Put the pedal down and see how fast it'll go.
Nuff - go do it.
Wednesday 25 November 2009
Pre workout products... are they needed?
I'm from the K.I.S.S. school of thought (keep it simple stupid). I make up a strong coffee (2 teaspoons of some instant and 3 of sugar) and neck it about 30 minutes or so before I intend hitting the weights. Now in the last few years we've seen a bunch of products hit the market. Some are pure pre-workout and some pump/pre-workout combos. What I'm seeing more and more is an over reliance on products being used to 'get one up' before the gym. Given that the majority of trainees the world over are not going to look like Mr Olympia any time soon why then do they seem to be incapable of a workout worth a mention without taking some inevitably over-priced concoction that will help them? There's an analogy which applies here. We know that anti-biotics, if over prescribed, eventually loose their effectiveness. Ditto a healthy dose of painkillers becomes less so and thus you need more to get an effect. The same applies to most stimulants. Yes, this includes coffee and caffeine (a common ingredient in said products). You need to dose yourself carefully so that you ONLY use when required. Try and have time off.
Monday 23 November 2009
Sunday 22 November 2009
Confusing ain't it?
It ought to be quite simple. Creatine, in 99.99% of cases, works. I mean, in case there is any confusion, Creatine Monohydrate. Not the piss poor dissolving stuff (120 mesh = grainy, table sugar like) but the powdery 200 mesh kind sometimes called 'micronized'. The 200 mesh kind can be seen to more or less disappear and dissolve before it's reached the bottom of a glass and at worst requires a quick swish with a spoon and it's all nice and gone. So why is there, what at first glance appears to be, more than 20 other kinds??
A glance at an ad in MMI for a US based companies product (I'm not mentioning the name for obvious reasons... namely not getting my ass sued) shows that their list of ingredients includes:
Of the phosphate and citrate versions this article states that they are 1) more expensive and 2) of a 5g serving you'd get 3.2g (CP) and 2g (CC) absorbed where as the mono has a 4.2 rating (4.2g of every 5g serving absorbed). This makes a mockery of some 'better absorption claims). Why pay more, as they aren't manufactured in as large amounts as the mono, to get less bang for your buck??
Creatine Malate or Tri-creatine malate is a compound made from creatine monohydrate and malic acid. The substance is so named because the compound is made from three creatine molecules attached to one molecule of malic acid. A quick look shows claims of greater absorption but these seem to be from a repeated company product information release. I could not find, on quick inspection, a reference to a study showing the same in the three such bits of blurb I saw.
Creatine Leucinate: I can only find one product with it in. That says enough right there. If it was 'all that' the other rival companies would be all over it. Just googling the second part of the name makes it look like creatine has been bonded to an amino acid. Whatever for?? Indeed these are the exact kinds of questions you need to ask.
Creatine Ethyl Ester: My company used to sell this. We no longer do. I've even used it and recommended it previously. Again I no longer do. Why?? Because it's as unstable as they come. Once again it was all about bonding a creatine molecule to something else to enhance it. But in doing so two things came up. One was the acid MAY rot your teeth (mind you you'd need to be swilling it around) and secondly tests showed that the bog standard mono version is reasonable stable in solution (water) for an hour or so. CEE... not so much. It started to degrade quickly. Tests were carried out at pre-set intervals and the first was 20-seconds. It had already started to degrade noticeably then. Now, as per the way some studies don't make sense, I asked 'why would you at your creatine to solution and then just have it sit there?' but 20-seconds isn't that long. I add my mono to my tea and it takes that long for me to carry the cup back to my bed where I'll sip it. In the case of the acidic tasting CEE it'd have degraded before I got back to my bedroom.
Creapure: Info aimed at the newbs. Creapure Creatine IS CREATINE MONOHYDRATE. The Creapure name is a brand name. It is attached to a certain big Creatine producing German company who use what they call patented purifying process. In simple terms when Mono first hit the scene and even just a year or so back some of the cheaper Korean and Chinese versions were not quite as sterile as we'd might like our sports supplements to be. The German processors went out of their way to ensure a cleaner, purer product. Bog standard economy versions were tested and found to be 99.9% 'pure' and the Creapure version claims 99.99%. Those that favour the product argue that it's the 'what the hells the .01%' you need to worry about (toxins, heavy metals??). However, newbs seem to think that having the Creapure label means 'better results'. It does not. The makers of it do not claim that nor should anyone else. Even if it did, as I have said in the past, it's be only .01% better. That's like a 1mm improvement in size on my biceps. Un-frigging noticeable.
Doses. One of the Brink Zone articles (see below) is entitled 'more is not better'. I've previously written up some of the mistakes people make on my Whey Consortium forum Some are as silly as pouring powder into mouths then wondering why the subject gets dehydrated, headaches or stomach cramps (not enough water retard!!) to using as much as 50g a day - why??
If you don't mind the search and even with my accusing him (on MD) of being a bit of a one trick pony (he's not but he did go on about Creatine loads) then check out Will Brink's many articles and comments on Creatine. www.Brinkzone.com is the place. Use his search function.
Feedback appreciated
A glance at an ad in MMI for a US based companies product (I'm not mentioning the name for obvious reasons... namely not getting my ass sued) shows that their list of ingredients includes:
- Creatine Nitrate
- COP (Creatine-O-Phosphate)
- Creatine Leucinate
- Creatine Malate (aka 'Tri-malate)
- Creatine Ethyl Ester
- Creatine Citrate
Of the phosphate and citrate versions this article states that they are 1) more expensive and 2) of a 5g serving you'd get 3.2g (CP) and 2g (CC) absorbed where as the mono has a 4.2 rating (4.2g of every 5g serving absorbed). This makes a mockery of some 'better absorption claims). Why pay more, as they aren't manufactured in as large amounts as the mono, to get less bang for your buck??
Creatine Malate or Tri-creatine malate is a compound made from creatine monohydrate and malic acid. The substance is so named because the compound is made from three creatine molecules attached to one molecule of malic acid. A quick look shows claims of greater absorption but these seem to be from a repeated company product information release. I could not find, on quick inspection, a reference to a study showing the same in the three such bits of blurb I saw.
Creatine Leucinate: I can only find one product with it in. That says enough right there. If it was 'all that' the other rival companies would be all over it. Just googling the second part of the name makes it look like creatine has been bonded to an amino acid. Whatever for?? Indeed these are the exact kinds of questions you need to ask.
Creatine Ethyl Ester: My company used to sell this. We no longer do. I've even used it and recommended it previously. Again I no longer do. Why?? Because it's as unstable as they come. Once again it was all about bonding a creatine molecule to something else to enhance it. But in doing so two things came up. One was the acid MAY rot your teeth (mind you you'd need to be swilling it around) and secondly tests showed that the bog standard mono version is reasonable stable in solution (water) for an hour or so. CEE... not so much. It started to degrade quickly. Tests were carried out at pre-set intervals and the first was 20-seconds. It had already started to degrade noticeably then. Now, as per the way some studies don't make sense, I asked 'why would you at your creatine to solution and then just have it sit there?' but 20-seconds isn't that long. I add my mono to my tea and it takes that long for me to carry the cup back to my bed where I'll sip it. In the case of the acidic tasting CEE it'd have degraded before I got back to my bedroom.
Creapure: Info aimed at the newbs. Creapure Creatine IS CREATINE MONOHYDRATE. The Creapure name is a brand name. It is attached to a certain big Creatine producing German company who use what they call patented purifying process. In simple terms when Mono first hit the scene and even just a year or so back some of the cheaper Korean and Chinese versions were not quite as sterile as we'd might like our sports supplements to be. The German processors went out of their way to ensure a cleaner, purer product. Bog standard economy versions were tested and found to be 99.9% 'pure' and the Creapure version claims 99.99%. Those that favour the product argue that it's the 'what the hells the .01%' you need to worry about (toxins, heavy metals??). However, newbs seem to think that having the Creapure label means 'better results'. It does not. The makers of it do not claim that nor should anyone else. Even if it did, as I have said in the past, it's be only .01% better. That's like a 1mm improvement in size on my biceps. Un-frigging noticeable.
Doses. One of the Brink Zone articles (see below) is entitled 'more is not better'. I've previously written up some of the mistakes people make on my Whey Consortium forum Some are as silly as pouring powder into mouths then wondering why the subject gets dehydrated, headaches or stomach cramps (not enough water retard!!) to using as much as 50g a day - why??
If you don't mind the search and even with my accusing him (on MD) of being a bit of a one trick pony (he's not but he did go on about Creatine loads) then check out Will Brink's many articles and comments on Creatine. www.Brinkzone.com is the place. Use his search function.
Feedback appreciated
Friday 20 November 2009
Grip Shit
One of our esteemed Grip nuts, Daniel Evans, has put together the eBay of the grip freaks world in the form of www.gripshit.com I've already signed up and need to add some more items. If you have grip stuff you're looking to buy, sell or swap get yer backsides over there and enrol.
Bench pressing... Whey Power Challenge
I am, it seems, on target for my 200-kilo / 440lbs December 19th Whey Power Challenge. A peruse back through old training logs showed me that my last session prior to last Decembers 190kg effort was a very nice 182.5-kilos for 4 singles. I managed 172.5-kilos for 5 x 1 as of this morning. As I attempted 200 last year but it got stuck 6-inches off my chest I aim to hit 182.5-kilos for 6 or more singles on this years last session and then go: 140 (last warm up), 160, 180 and 200 this year.
Hopefully the extra day or two has allowed the skin at the base of my thumbs to heal some more so tomorrows 2HP should be good. We shall see.
Hopefully the extra day or two has allowed the skin at the base of my thumbs to heal some more so tomorrows 2HP should be good. We shall see.
Tuesday 17 November 2009
Magazines for December
Flex has the Jay cutler as Mr O cover we've previously posted.
Here's Muscle Mag Internationals December cover
Here's Muscle Mag Internationals December cover
Striking the right balance
I'm a member of many forums and, as many know, have now earned my stripes if only by virtue of being around a long enough time. On one forum posts are edited, members banned and so on almost without reason - at least one that the mods care to mention to those having their knuckles rapped. On others we discuss the ins and outs of AAS but pay a small monthly fee for the pleasure. But on what can quite easily be claimed as among the very biggest of forums inc Get Big, Bodybuilding.com and so on there seems to be one hell of a mess.
Now I get that many, if not most, of the membership of these sites comes from our younger brethren (15-18). So one can take some of the posts with the usual pinch of salt. Indeed said sites have their versions of what are called 'pits'. In such places you go play at being an ass and no one, or at least only the sensitive, takes what is said and done there too seriously. So someone calls someone else an ass-eater and they get the same and worse back. It's a slightly amplified and crude version of the sort of good natured joshing lads training give to each other.
But, as per a post on another forum recently, said ribbing - and not the good kind - is leaking across. RX had a post about a video they were going to put up and immediately the excited and somewhat immature demanded (yes that's correct) to know when and worse.
Obviously people will post up stuff some don't agree with so we do not all 'need to get along' but I feel people need to, using an old phrase, look at the bigger picture. Posts counts and attitudes don't mean shit. At some point you'll end up being seen in person. If you lack the 'skills' (strength, size, some muscle??) then you'll only ever be a legend on a PC. From fake photos, never buying a magazine, not training (yes some legends don't even work out) and just out and out lying... some of these morons don't realise that they damage they do to the sport they chose.
More...
Now I get that many, if not most, of the membership of these sites comes from our younger brethren (15-18). So one can take some of the posts with the usual pinch of salt. Indeed said sites have their versions of what are called 'pits'. In such places you go play at being an ass and no one, or at least only the sensitive, takes what is said and done there too seriously. So someone calls someone else an ass-eater and they get the same and worse back. It's a slightly amplified and crude version of the sort of good natured joshing lads training give to each other.
But, as per a post on another forum recently, said ribbing - and not the good kind - is leaking across. RX had a post about a video they were going to put up and immediately the excited and somewhat immature demanded (yes that's correct) to know when and worse.
Obviously people will post up stuff some don't agree with so we do not all 'need to get along' but I feel people need to, using an old phrase, look at the bigger picture. Posts counts and attitudes don't mean shit. At some point you'll end up being seen in person. If you lack the 'skills' (strength, size, some muscle??) then you'll only ever be a legend on a PC. From fake photos, never buying a magazine, not training (yes some legends don't even work out) and just out and out lying... some of these morons don't realise that they damage they do to the sport they chose.
More...
Sunday 15 November 2009
Who's the calibrated gripper daddy?
Me!! I had a PM via the Gripboard yesterday asking what the rating was on the 'hard 4', as it was described, at the Chad Woodall event. It was, I was told, 205lbs and the hardest closed in competition. I'd been added to the list with my 1st post event gripper rated at 194lbs and another at 199lbs. But the 205lbs clinches it for now.
JTP wins 'Bros vs Pros' events
RX Muscles 'Jeff the Producer' (hence the JTP) beat IFBB pro Mike Libertore with 41 individual reps using the 80-pounders in dumbbell curls against a valiant 39 reps and took home the 1000 dollar prize.
Put me up against a pro in grip... I could do with the cash!
Put me up against a pro in grip... I could do with the cash!
Benny gets 180-kilos log
With the heaviest lift of the event, the Super Gym Log Lift competition, Benedikt Magnússon (in the 125kg+ class0 made the mark in the sand of 180kg which is also a new Icelandic record. 180-kilos is the weight which is now considered truly world class. Closest in the other classes was 110-kilos.
Friday 13 November 2009
Proper gyms
I described a gym I use as 'spit and sawdust' and the one I run as 'just spit... we're not that posh!!' ha ha. Someone using the other called ours 'the bulky boys place'. All in all something close to the mystical, because no one ever agrees on exactly what it means, hard core gym. Some are clean and some are dirty, some have toliets and some do not. But they all have 'something'.
Here's the first of many: Iron Sport Gym
Here's the first of many: Iron Sport Gym
Thursday 12 November 2009
No more lies
As a long time fan of the Iron Game (30+ years now) I'm as aware of the next guy of the history of our sport. We are as prone to exaggeration as any field. However, in the age when you can video stuff on your mobile and with the click of a button post it to a youtube account there is no more need for the 'claimed but no burden of proof' lifts we are still burdened with.
I'm fortunate in that a few of the fans of our beloved hobby know my name. Not everyone but a few. Because of that I can. on occasion, prod people into honesty or have them prod me right back if need be, so as to be more upfront and forthright when they claim a lift. I can say 'I know you and I hope you know me. Stop playing silly buggers with those that know bugger all and be honest'.
So, as has been the case, if I am aware of someone tampering with an Ironmind coC 3 gripper then, rather naughtily, placing a video of a claimed 'CCS 3 close' on youtube I can then remind them I'm aware that they are up to no good. Said video strangely disappears from view.
Equally doing an honest lift but failing to provide sufficient evidence of the same is also not much cop as we Brits say. A five minute history lesson shows the amount of exaggeration and outright untruths that took place many years ago. What is gained now? 9/10 we're not talking about some photo shoot with the 'wooden wheels' used in Flex magazine shoots but some typical Joe making a living from a normal job but looking, it seems, to make a grand claim.
Sure one can puff up the ego and feel good for a 1/2 hour. But, as I've often pointed out, these are genuinely strong guys who one day, if patient, will make the lift for real. It's as though they yearn to be part of some imagined elite so badly they are prepared to falsify their 'club membership' as it were. I've remind the same that they have come a long way in a short time and have some way to go. To ruin their rep early on means no one will take them seriously when they actually make their mark.
Don't screw it up guys.
Here's an example of a fake lift using wooden plates (done, I suspect for a laugh). The title says 735lbs when 6 plates a side is less and the guy does 15 reps...
I'm fortunate in that a few of the fans of our beloved hobby know my name. Not everyone but a few. Because of that I can. on occasion, prod people into honesty or have them prod me right back if need be, so as to be more upfront and forthright when they claim a lift. I can say 'I know you and I hope you know me. Stop playing silly buggers with those that know bugger all and be honest'.
So, as has been the case, if I am aware of someone tampering with an Ironmind coC 3 gripper then, rather naughtily, placing a video of a claimed 'CCS 3 close' on youtube I can then remind them I'm aware that they are up to no good. Said video strangely disappears from view.
Equally doing an honest lift but failing to provide sufficient evidence of the same is also not much cop as we Brits say. A five minute history lesson shows the amount of exaggeration and outright untruths that took place many years ago. What is gained now? 9/10 we're not talking about some photo shoot with the 'wooden wheels' used in Flex magazine shoots but some typical Joe making a living from a normal job but looking, it seems, to make a grand claim.
Sure one can puff up the ego and feel good for a 1/2 hour. But, as I've often pointed out, these are genuinely strong guys who one day, if patient, will make the lift for real. It's as though they yearn to be part of some imagined elite so badly they are prepared to falsify their 'club membership' as it were. I've remind the same that they have come a long way in a short time and have some way to go. To ruin their rep early on means no one will take them seriously when they actually make their mark.
Don't screw it up guys.
Here's an example of a fake lift using wooden plates (done, I suspect for a laugh). The title says 735lbs when 6 plates a side is less and the guy does 15 reps...
Monday 9 November 2009
Stop faffing about
Inspired by another of Romano's scribblings (Enough questions - go train) I thought I'd add my own 2p's worth - UK style. On occasion I have been known to have a teeny weeny bit of an ego (I know, you're all in shock LOL). Sometimes said ego allows me to think 'you must be special cos you can do X, Y and Z and others cannot'. On my more modest days I think along the lines of 'you ain't doing anything that fancy so how come others aren't doing what you do or close to it?'.
I mean I do not abuse 'gear' (very low dose and a healthy (I hope) approach), I stick to the basics - what works, works! I eat sensibly but still enjoy the odd indulgence and so on. So how come the gyms are full of guys a million miles away from where they should be. Sure I understand we wont all have the same goals, life gets in the way and so on. But how come so many lack the ability to apply the basics in a consistent manner long enough and well enough to get some way towards what they set out to achieve?
I have, on occasion, coached people and John Romano has, like me no doubt, been asked a million times about this or that (as per his article). is the truth, eat well, train hard, don't over do it (guilty sir, sorry...) and rest... repeat, so complicated??
Perhaps the one thing lacking is drive. If I'm not so outstanding physically or genetically then perhaps the spark that's needed is that drive to succeed. Take my mind set pressing today - I wanna stack the machine so the idea of '60-kilos for 8, then 65-kilos' becomes in my head 'add weight BITCH, FILL IT RIGHT UP!!'. Or, as per Saturday, when I was doing heavy lat pulldowns and had a 10-kilo plate pinned to the 140-kilo stack my mind was thinking '180kg one day... oh yes... repped!!'. Do others think 'oh this burns... I'll do a few pumpers and I'm done??'
When I'm coaching and have the odd willing (as opposed to one-time wonders) I'm able to show them that they are capable of so much more then they think they are. I'm no 'rep counter' when I coach. I'm far more of a 'get it done NOW!!' type trainer and while that doesn't suit some it does others and those do a hell of a lot more when they walk through the door than they may have thought they could. I don't charge a huge amount so am of the opinion that I do not want to waste my time with those that, as per the title, faff about. Ron Harris, of MD, once alluded to the idea of training with a champ. Even he succumbed to this when he did a train with Ronnie weekend. I used his example by saying 'why wait until Ronnie's about, get it done now!!'. Sure it's damned hard work but that';s how to make it happen.
I mean I do not abuse 'gear' (very low dose and a healthy (I hope) approach), I stick to the basics - what works, works! I eat sensibly but still enjoy the odd indulgence and so on. So how come the gyms are full of guys a million miles away from where they should be. Sure I understand we wont all have the same goals, life gets in the way and so on. But how come so many lack the ability to apply the basics in a consistent manner long enough and well enough to get some way towards what they set out to achieve?
I have, on occasion, coached people and John Romano has, like me no doubt, been asked a million times about this or that (as per his article). is the truth, eat well, train hard, don't over do it (guilty sir, sorry...) and rest... repeat, so complicated??
Perhaps the one thing lacking is drive. If I'm not so outstanding physically or genetically then perhaps the spark that's needed is that drive to succeed. Take my mind set pressing today - I wanna stack the machine so the idea of '60-kilos for 8, then 65-kilos' becomes in my head 'add weight BITCH, FILL IT RIGHT UP!!'. Or, as per Saturday, when I was doing heavy lat pulldowns and had a 10-kilo plate pinned to the 140-kilo stack my mind was thinking '180kg one day... oh yes... repped!!'. Do others think 'oh this burns... I'll do a few pumpers and I'm done??'
When I'm coaching and have the odd willing (as opposed to one-time wonders) I'm able to show them that they are capable of so much more then they think they are. I'm no 'rep counter' when I coach. I'm far more of a 'get it done NOW!!' type trainer and while that doesn't suit some it does others and those do a hell of a lot more when they walk through the door than they may have thought they could. I don't charge a huge amount so am of the opinion that I do not want to waste my time with those that, as per the title, faff about. Ron Harris, of MD, once alluded to the idea of training with a champ. Even he succumbed to this when he did a train with Ronnie weekend. I used his example by saying 'why wait until Ronnie's about, get it done now!!'. Sure it's damned hard work but that';s how to make it happen.
Sunday 8 November 2009
Friday 6 November 2009
2HP World Record
So I mention yesterday my intention to, if need be, crawl over the road to do my best to break the world record (David's 115-kilos effort) with a target of 117-kilos. Now David and I, both in posting and via a chat on MSN had talked about my idea of retiring from competition following the Euro's in August.
David said, quite truthfully, that I might find it difficult to give up the competition scene come the time. So it was a little amusing (deffo eyebrow raising) to see a declaration of his intent to, and I quote, ''If you break my record, I will take it back, and very quickly. My training lifts right now are very strong''. Now if David is, as he says, capable that's all well and good. But I've also been thinking of the idea that at some point one has to give up the idea of a record never being broken by anyone else.
With the rare exception most records end up being broken. It is the lot of a former record breaker to see someone come along and take your record from you. It is what it is. If David has it in him to do more, then great, the bar gets raised and those that follow have some more kilos they need to add to their bars in order to beat him. But at some point David, myself and any other wanna-be record holder will have to take it on the chin. Our records will fall.
David said, quite truthfully, that I might find it difficult to give up the competition scene come the time. So it was a little amusing (deffo eyebrow raising) to see a declaration of his intent to, and I quote, ''If you break my record, I will take it back, and very quickly. My training lifts right now are very strong''. Now if David is, as he says, capable that's all well and good. But I've also been thinking of the idea that at some point one has to give up the idea of a record never being broken by anyone else.
With the rare exception most records end up being broken. It is the lot of a former record breaker to see someone come along and take your record from you. It is what it is. If David has it in him to do more, then great, the bar gets raised and those that follow have some more kilos they need to add to their bars in order to beat him. But at some point David, myself and any other wanna-be record holder will have to take it on the chin. Our records will fall.
Tuesday 3 November 2009
World of Grip awards
So David Horne has posted up his World of Grip awards and put some suggestions of his own. I'm doing ok with a few votes. But some of the guys must think it's a 'who do you LOVE the most' comp cos they're putting up names of guys who asses I WHIPPED. I mean Paul Knight, who is a great easy going guy and a good gripper man - have no doubt, I whipped his butt but good. Gabriel Sum, again a guy and a good all rounder, but I won 4 of the 5 events last time we met and Sam Solomi beat him on the other. Now my German buddies might love him but did he beat me? No. So what the hell??
And one guy chose Jedd Johnson as his best newcomer for 2009. Jedd is probably the US's best pincher, number 3 as an all rounder in the US and has been helping to hold as well as compete in the US nationals since, what, 2004?? So a new comer?? What are ya - morons??
Only cos I can't vote for myself did I add Chad Woodall, Andrew Durniat and Gabriel Sum for my top 3 in 09. Otherwise it have been a toss up between Chad and I for the first 2 spots then Andy with Gabriel in 4th.
All this is without getting into those that forget which country some of the guys come from - clue Sam Solomi is from Devon, England ya numpty!!
And one guy chose Jedd Johnson as his best newcomer for 2009. Jedd is probably the US's best pincher, number 3 as an all rounder in the US and has been helping to hold as well as compete in the US nationals since, what, 2004?? So a new comer?? What are ya - morons??
Only cos I can't vote for myself did I add Chad Woodall, Andrew Durniat and Gabriel Sum for my top 3 in 09. Otherwise it have been a toss up between Chad and I for the first 2 spots then Andy with Gabriel in 4th.
All this is without getting into those that forget which country some of the guys come from - clue Sam Solomi is from Devon, England ya numpty!!
Monday 2 November 2009
Offering up old news as new
And this weeks favourite is a combination of 'BSN under fire' and 'news' about CEE (Creatine Ethyl Ester).
The BSN part relates to a story from February where someone filed a paper accusing BSN of making false claims about a form of Creatine they said was in one of their products. The result of which was they couldn't prove it even existed as they described it. So only 10 months old... do keep up people.
The CEE part relates to it degrading into a waste product, Creatinine, in solution VERY quickly. Far, far more quickly than mono. So even those products with bells and whistles added will do the same. You'll get more from the additives than from the CEE. This news is from... 2007!!
Both snippets came from the Brink Zone.
The BSN part relates to a story from February where someone filed a paper accusing BSN of making false claims about a form of Creatine they said was in one of their products. The result of which was they couldn't prove it even existed as they described it. So only 10 months old... do keep up people.
The CEE part relates to it degrading into a waste product, Creatinine, in solution VERY quickly. Far, far more quickly than mono. So even those products with bells and whistles added will do the same. You'll get more from the additives than from the CEE. This news is from... 2007!!
Both snippets came from the Brink Zone.
Sunday 1 November 2009
What Steve did last night
Saturday
PM... as in 9.32pm or so. Just back from the 'Kingfishers Got Talent show' were I was a guest 'artiste' (on just before last years winner). Well what a shocker! It was amazingly professional. All 200 seats sold out, people standing down the sides, a full PA and professional lighting system... you get the picture. Combined with 3 local faces acting as Ozzy, Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden, 2 very good MC's and a little stage crew I was worried my 'put it together as you go along' plan was going to look absolutely rank. I need not have worried.
The 'talent' was very, very enjoyable. A great little rock band, a dance group, a Kate Bush impersonator, more dancers, more singers... all much better than whatever I'd imagined. I was due to go on before the youngster winner from last year (there was a youngsters winner and an adult winner) while the crowd voted for their favourite.
A quick word with the MC's about rolling the bell out and milking it as though it weighs a ton (was in fact a Baby Inch, a thick handled 53-kilo / 118lbs dumbbell), some background rock music and there help working the crowd... BOOM!! I rocked!!
I made sure to the get the crowd behind me with a 'wow, how good has it been thus far and you've all been great... don't let down cos I'll need your strength to get me through the act... he he' Baring in mind my back was aching even with painkillers right up to the walk on stage and then... nothing cos I was in the zone! I had the kids come to the front with a 'who wants a souvenir??!!' and bent a few nails to get them and the crowd going (usual ahhs for the kids he he), then broke (so much easier when the buzz and adrenalin is pumping) and tore 3 Argos Catalogs in twain. I then milked a one hand lift, either hand, of the dumbbell, then a clean pull to my chest and finally 'but only if you cheer loud enough' (much waving at crowd and me shouting like a stabbed bull 'C'MON!!!!!!!!!) I then pick it up, drop it and catch it in the same hand before it hits the ground, then switch hands (by throwing it across) and do the same with the left (also lets one side and the other of the audience see what you're doing). Huge cheer and me buzzing all night ha ha.
After wards I signed an autograph (on a portion of the catalog), bent loads more nails (inc one which made my palm bleed but that only made it seem harder - it also meant if I clapped the winners my hand got all bloody ha ha) and even posed for a photo or two with a special needs girl.
Gavin, one of the lads I coach, did me a huge favour of dropping off and picking up and taking back of the dumbbell etc. Cheers Gavin. All in all a good night and I think they liked it. As IFBB pro Lee Powell won it last year they must like zee muscle ha ha. Icing on the cake was a little gift back which include a bottle of Newcastle Brown which you know will not be touching the sides (as indeed the first Bitter already done did not ha ha). Pizza and Ben & Jerries will end the night nicely.
The 'talent' was very, very enjoyable. A great little rock band, a dance group, a Kate Bush impersonator, more dancers, more singers... all much better than whatever I'd imagined. I was due to go on before the youngster winner from last year (there was a youngsters winner and an adult winner) while the crowd voted for their favourite.
A quick word with the MC's about rolling the bell out and milking it as though it weighs a ton (was in fact a Baby Inch, a thick handled 53-kilo / 118lbs dumbbell), some background rock music and there help working the crowd... BOOM!! I rocked!!
I made sure to the get the crowd behind me with a 'wow, how good has it been thus far and you've all been great... don't let down cos I'll need your strength to get me through the act... he he' Baring in mind my back was aching even with painkillers right up to the walk on stage and then... nothing cos I was in the zone! I had the kids come to the front with a 'who wants a souvenir??!!' and bent a few nails to get them and the crowd going (usual ahhs for the kids he he), then broke (so much easier when the buzz and adrenalin is pumping) and tore 3 Argos Catalogs in twain. I then milked a one hand lift, either hand, of the dumbbell, then a clean pull to my chest and finally 'but only if you cheer loud enough' (much waving at crowd and me shouting like a stabbed bull 'C'MON!!!!!!!!!) I then pick it up, drop it and catch it in the same hand before it hits the ground, then switch hands (by throwing it across) and do the same with the left (also lets one side and the other of the audience see what you're doing). Huge cheer and me buzzing all night ha ha.
After wards I signed an autograph (on a portion of the catalog), bent loads more nails (inc one which made my palm bleed but that only made it seem harder - it also meant if I clapped the winners my hand got all bloody ha ha) and even posed for a photo or two with a special needs girl.
Gavin, one of the lads I coach, did me a huge favour of dropping off and picking up and taking back of the dumbbell etc. Cheers Gavin. All in all a good night and I think they liked it. As IFBB pro Lee Powell won it last year they must like zee muscle ha ha. Icing on the cake was a little gift back which include a bottle of Newcastle Brown which you know will not be touching the sides (as indeed the first Bitter already done did not ha ha). Pizza and Ben & Jerries will end the night nicely.
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