What training are you doing/have you done today? (Vol.3)

[biggbn]

mcelliott said:

Yesterday, tough chest workout, back doing incline since forever, worked tentatively to 110kg for 5, pretty happy with that, then some weighted dips to finish, then some huge 200m efforts on the ERG, a solid hour on Zwift and very sketchy swim in the bay.

Today, road ride just over an hour with a few hills, 33km covered, died a thousand deaths in the last 2km, F6 block headwind, then 200 pull ups on my bar in the garden, then a beautiful swim in the bay.

Stats for this week.
Biked 270km with 2600m of climbing
Walked 100km with 1500m of climbing

In the nicest possible way, yer an animal man

[MaxFromage]

Having had a week of fighting off a bout of Covid (still able to train thankfully), I'm now on week 7 of the 12 week cycling plan. Yesterday's workout was generally recognised as one of the toughest, but even with the illness, I'd been feeling strong. This workout wouldn't have got completed 4 weeks ago, but it ended up being quite enjoyable, even turning up the resistance by 20% for the last interval and adding on an extra 5 minutes at FTP to finish off.

[horsemeatscandal]

MaxFromage said:

Having had a week of fighting off a bout of Covid (still able to train thankfully), I'm now on week 7 of the 12 week cycling plan. Yesterday's workout was generally recognised as one of the toughest, but even with the illness, I'd been feeling strong. This workout wouldn't have got completed 4 weeks ago, but it ended up being quite enjoyable, even turning up the resistance by 20% for the last interval and adding on an extra 5 minutes at FTP to finish off.

Congrats on pushing through. Sometimes I'll be at/towards the end of an illness and head into a workout thinking I'm going to be slower/weaker and somehow pull something out of the bag. I failed a lift the other day when I was feeling strong and checked when I'd last managed to lift the same; turns out it was boxing day last year, fk knows how I managed that.

Plan was to go to the gym this morning but partner was up coughing all night and I slept on the sofa so sacked it off. Will go tonight, probably for the best as my shoulders still feel a bit sore from the weekend.

[horsemeatscandal]

Slight thread diversion but probably as good a place to ask as any; any recommendations on a lever lifting belt, preferably under £60?

[TheJimi]

horsemeatscandal said:

Slight thread diversion but probably as good a place to ask as any; any recommendations on a lever lifting belt, preferably under £60?

Here you go - https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/collections/lever-b...

[phil-sti]

I've come back to training after years of alcohol and kids, aged 47 but pretty driven so motivation isnt the issue.

I've shed 2 stone in 3 months and looking at another half stone. I'm just after a bit of advice, i'm working out 4 times a week, 2 upper body days and 2 lower body days with a 20 minutes cardio work out to finish ( either 10km in 20 mins on bike or 20 mins on climbwell) probably 1hr 10 mins.

does this seem like enough or too much?

[mcelliott]

biggbn said:

mcelliott said:

Yesterday, tough chest workout, back doing incline since forever, worked tentatively to 110kg for 5, pretty happy with that, then some weighted dips to finish, then some huge 200m efforts on the ERG, a solid hour on Zwift and very sketchy swim in the bay.

Today, road ride just over an hour with a few hills, 33km covered, died a thousand deaths in the last 2km, F6 block headwind, then 200 pull ups on my bar in the garden, then a beautiful swim in the bay.

Stats for this week.
Biked 270km with 2600m of climbing
Walked 100km with 1500m of climbing

In the nicest possible way, yer an animal man

Thanks! I like animals, animals are good!

[MaxFromage]

horsemeatscandal said:

Congrats on pushing through. Sometimes I'll be at/towards the end of an illness and head into a workout thinking I'm going to be slower/weaker and somehow pull something out of the bag. I failed a lift the other day when I was feeling strong and checked when I'd last managed to lift the same; turns out it was boxing day last year, fk knows how I managed that.

Plan was to go to the gym this morning but partner was up coughing all night and I slept on the sofa so sacked it off. Will go tonight, probably for the best as my shoulders still feel a bit sore from the weekend.

Cheers. It's definitely a skill knowing when to train or not...

[d_a_n1979]

phil-sti said:

I've come back to training after years of alcohol and kids, aged 47 but pretty driven so motivation isnt the issue.

I've shed 2 stone in 3 months and looking at another half stone. I'm just after a bit of advice, i'm working out 4 times a week, 2 upper body days and 2 lower body days with a 20 minutes cardio work out to finish ( either 10km in 20 mins on bike or 20 mins on climbwell) probably 1hr 10 mins.

does this seem like enough or too much?

Train to what suits you; what works for me/won't work for you etc...

If you want to up it then do so, if you want to decrease as you're feeling burned out, do so. Listen to what your body tells you and go with that

[d_a_n1979]

horsemeatscandal said:

Slight thread diversion but probably as good a place to ask as any; any recommendations on a lever lifting belt, preferably under £60?

Why do you feel you need a lever belt?

A standard 2 prong belt is generally more than enough for anyone; lever belts are excellent for when you REALLY need to crank a belt on for that all out, nose busting lift; but they're incredibly stiff and uncomfortable... Been there/done that/never used it again as my 2 prong belt never failed me...

If you want one go for it; just my advice above

I've always gone to Pullum for my belts: https://www.pullumsports.co.uk/collections/powerli...

I've only ever had 3 and 2 of them have been all over the world with me, including Hull...

I'd suggest this for a first belt: https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/products/13mm-doubl...

[biggbn]

Bought my belt about 30 years ago from memory, 2 pronged full width all round, wasn't cheap at the time but still going strong albeit its been repaired once!

Just done today,
Dumbell shoulder press 35kg x 10
Shrugs dumbell 50kg x 20
Singel arm rows 50kg x 20 per side
20kg disc front raises x 20 two sets
Clasp grip 40kg dumbell front raises x 10
Clean and press 60kg x 6,5,4
Barbell curls no weight x 20
Medicine ball wall slams, squat floor slams 10,10,10.

[horsemeatscandal]

d_a_n1979 said:

Why do you feel you need a lever belt?

A standard 2 prong belt is generally more than enough for anyone; lever belts are excellent for when you REALLY need to crank a belt on for that all out, nose busting lift; but they're incredibly stiff and uncomfortable... Been there/done that/never used it again as my 2 prong belt never failed me...

If you want one go for it; just my advice above

I've always gone to Pullum for my belts: https://www.pullumsports.co.uk/collections/powerli...

I've only ever had 3 and 2 of them have been all over the world with me, including Hull...

I'd suggest this for a first belt: https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/products/13mm-doubl...

I currently just use a velcro one, quite a cheap one at that. I fancy a 'nicer' one and I've used the prong ones in the gym and I don't like the limited adjustability (i.e. one setting feels too loose, next feels too tight). Having looked into it a bit more, it looks like the lever ones can't be adjusted easily on the fly and I like to wear a belt from pretty early on in my workouts, adjusting it as I go. I think I might just buy a better velcro one as they're just so easy. Thanks for the advice

[horsemeatscandal]

biggbn said:

Now that baby's seen some action! A thing of beauty.

[d_a_n1979]

horsemeatscandal said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Why do you feel you need a lever belt?

A standard 2 prong belt is generally more than enough for anyone; lever belts are excellent for when you REALLY need to crank a belt on for that all out, nose busting lift; but they're incredibly stiff and uncomfortable... Been there/done that/never used it again as my 2 prong belt never failed me...

If you want one go for it; just my advice above

I've always gone to Pullum for my belts: https://www.pullumsports.co.uk/collections/powerli...

I've only ever had 3 and 2 of them have been all over the world with me, including Hull...

I'd suggest this for a first belt: https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/products/13mm-doubl...

I currently just use a velcro one, quite a cheap one at that. I fancy a 'nicer' one and I've used the prong ones in the gym and I don't like the limited adjustability (i.e. one setting feels too loose, next feels too tight). Having looked into it a bit more, it looks like the lever ones can't be adjusted easily on the fly and I like to wear a belt from pretty early on in my workouts, adjusting it as I go. I think I might just buy a better velcro one as they're just so easy. Thanks for the advice

My advice would be then, don't wear a belt at all...

Your core will thank you for it; it'll get stronger, as will the stabilising muscles...

I never wore my belt up until a few weeks out from a comp just to get used to it again; until then everything was belt free

You can get too used to a belt and it's not the best way to use one...

And yes, lever belts need to be undone to be changed etc; a decent double prongged belt will work perfectly and they're thick enough if you want to add extra holes; that's what I did and zero issues.

[biggbn]

d_a_n1979 said:

horsemeatscandal said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Why do you feel you need a lever belt?

A standard 2 prong belt is generally more than enough for anyone; lever belts are excellent for when you REALLY need to crank a belt on for that all out, nose busting lift; but they're incredibly stiff and uncomfortable... Been there/done that/never used it again as my 2 prong belt never failed me...

If you want one go for it; just my advice above

I've always gone to Pullum for my belts: https://www.pullumsports.co.uk/collections/powerli...

I've only ever had 3 and 2 of them have been all over the world with me, including Hull...

I'd suggest this for a first belt: https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/products/13mm-doubl...

I currently just use a velcro one, quite a cheap one at that. I fancy a 'nicer' one and I've used the prong ones in the gym and I don't like the limited adjustability (i.e. one setting feels too loose, next feels too tight). Having looked into it a bit more, it looks like the lever ones can't be adjusted easily on the fly and I like to wear a belt from pretty early on in my workouts, adjusting it as I go. I think I might just buy a better velcro one as they're just so easy. Thanks for the advice

My advice would be then, don't wear a belt at all...

Your core will thank you for it; it'll get stronger, as will the stabilising muscles...

I never wore my belt up until a few weeks out from a comp just to get used to it again; until then everything was belt free

You can get too used to a belt and it's not the best way to use one...

And yes, lever belts need to be undone to be changed etc; a decent double prongged belt will work perfectly and they're thick enough if you want to add extra holes; that's what I did and zero issues.

I agree, I don't wear a belt for deadlifts, only recently started using straps. Pulled my max many years ago, 292.5 with no belt, no knee wraps and only chalk. But, the past is another country, I did things different then to paraphrase some auld author.. I've always used a belt and wrapped my knees for squats.

[d_a_n1979]

biggbn said:

d_a_n1979 said:

horsemeatscandal said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Why do you feel you need a lever belt?

A standard 2 prong belt is generally more than enough for anyone; lever belts are excellent for when you REALLY need to crank a belt on for that all out, nose busting lift; but they're incredibly stiff and uncomfortable... Been there/done that/never used it again as my 2 prong belt never failed me...

If you want one go for it; just my advice above

I've always gone to Pullum for my belts: https://www.pullumsports.co.uk/collections/powerli...

I've only ever had 3 and 2 of them have been all over the world with me, including Hull...

I'd suggest this for a first belt: https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/products/13mm-doubl...

I currently just use a velcro one, quite a cheap one at that. I fancy a 'nicer' one and I've used the prong ones in the gym and I don't like the limited adjustability (i.e. one setting feels too loose, next feels too tight). Having looked into it a bit more, it looks like the lever ones can't be adjusted easily on the fly and I like to wear a belt from pretty early on in my workouts, adjusting it as I go. I think I might just buy a better velcro one as they're just so easy. Thanks for the advice

My advice would be then, don't wear a belt at all...

Your core will thank you for it; it'll get stronger, as will the stabilising muscles...

I never wore my belt up until a few weeks out from a comp just to get used to it again; until then everything was belt free

You can get too used to a belt and it's not the best way to use one...

And yes, lever belts need to be undone to be changed etc; a decent double prongged belt will work perfectly and they're thick enough if you want to add extra holes; that's what I did and zero issues.

I agree, I don't wear a belt for deadlifts, only recently started using straps. Pulled my max many years ago, 292.5 with no belt, no knee wraps and only chalk. But, the past is another country, I did things different then to paraphrase some auld author.. I've always used a belt and wrapped my knees for squats.

Straps are another thing I've never used; I've got a set of brand new Ironmind ones in my kit bag still; bought brand new back in the early 2000s and they've been there since haha

With all the grip training I've done (direct & indirect) I've never needed for them fortunately

But belts & squats yes - heavy squats for reps without a belt really works; but coming close to comp, it's an extra peace of mind etc, more so when you're jaded etc...

Hated wearing a belt for deads though; gets in the way. Same with stones; just becomes a faff and it fecking hurts when it nips you

[horsemeatscandal]

Food for thought, cheers both. I'll try and phase out use of a belt during warm-up sets and higher rep working sets earlier in my program, see how that goes. Same for straps really, I've relied on them too much to the detriment of grip strength and I can't use the excuse of 'safety' for that. I reckon I could, at a push, get ~75% 1RM on deadlift without straps.

Might do a bit of grip training in the gym tonight.

[TheJimi]

d_a_n1979 said:

horsemeatscandal said:

Slight thread diversion but probably as good a place to ask as any; any recommendations on a lever lifting belt, preferably under £60?

Why do you feel you need a lever belt?

A standard 2 prong belt is generally more than enough for anyone; lever belts are excellent for when you REALLY need to crank a belt on for that all out, nose busting lift; but they're incredibly stiff and uncomfortable... Been there/done that/never used it again as my 2 prong belt never failed me...

If you want one go for it; just my advice above

I've always gone to Pullum for my belts: https://www.pullumsports.co.uk/collections/powerli...

I've only ever had 3 and 2 of them have been all over the world with me, including Hull...

I'd suggest this for a first belt: https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/products/13mm-doubl...

I disagree on the first point.

In my opinion, you can set up a lever belt to create as much or as little tension as you like - largely as you would a prong buckle. The difference with a lever is that you have the ability to go further with the tension and it's easier to put on and off - regardless of tension - in comparison to a prong.

Edit: like for like, a prong style belt will most likely be less stiff, however, and thus more comfortable.

Wait, did I just do a 180 and agree with you?

Edited by TheJimi on Monday 8th April 14:40

[d_a_n1979]

horsemeatscandal said:

Food for thought, cheers both. I'll try and phase out use of a belt during warm-up sets and higher rep working sets earlier in my program, see how that goes. Same for straps really, I've relied on them too much to the detriment of grip strength and I can't use the excuse of 'safety' for that. I reckon I could, at a push, get ~75% 1RM on deadlift without straps.

Might do a bit of grip training in the gym tonight.

Get some of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fat-Gripz-Pro-Forearms-Ma...

Use them on everything (you'll need to adjust the weight); your grip will improve massively with little effort bar training with them

A lot of the grip training I do is with thicker bars (custom made) as well as pinch blocks, Ironmind Rolling Thunder etc and the rest is just using finger-grip only, no thumbs etc

I'm old hat to it now; but it was a superb habit to get into when I first started taking training seriously and started competing; it's never let me down

Spit n chalk is all that's needed

[d_a_n1979]

TheJimi said:

d_a_n1979 said:

horsemeatscandal said:

Slight thread diversion but probably as good a place to ask as any; any recommendations on a lever lifting belt, preferably under £60?

Why do you feel you need a lever belt?

A standard 2 prong belt is generally more than enough for anyone; lever belts are excellent for when you REALLY need to crank a belt on for that all out, nose busting lift; but they're incredibly stiff and uncomfortable... Been there/done that/never used it again as my 2 prong belt never failed me...

If you want one go for it; just my advice above

I've always gone to Pullum for my belts: https://www.pullumsports.co.uk/collections/powerli...

I've only ever had 3 and 2 of them have been all over the world with me, including Hull...

I'd suggest this for a first belt: https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/products/13mm-doubl...

I disagree on the first point.

In my opinion, you can set up a lever belt to create as much or as little tension as you like - largely as you would a prong buckle. The difference with a lever is that you have the ability to go further with the tension and it's easier to put on and off - regardless of tension - in comparison to a prong.

Edit: like for like, a prong style belt will most likely be less stiff, however, and thus more comfortable.

Wait, did I just do a 180 and agree with you?

Edited by TheJimi on Monday 8th April 14:40

They both have their places

My best ever squat at 302.5kg was with a lever belt; it left its mark on me for weeks... I did a 300kg squat not long after with my normal belt and no issues at all; it was on just as tight but it just felt better

It is a personal preference; they're just not for me and I'm not an advocate unless you're really going to go all out hardcore with one rep maxes etc and even then, I'd think twice