1/15/21
I’d done very little the last few days, nor had I gone to the gym.
I ate up. Staying home averaging 3 meals a day vs going to the gym averaging 1½.
After PT at home most of the week, it’s Friday I decide to go.
Start at handstands.
The last couple days had been wall hspu partials not freestanding handstands.
On the second kickup I go the longest I’ve ever went, close to if not 30 seconds.
Okay, end the movement on a high note.
Pullups 10×4, a set every second minute. That’s decent.
The other night I was thinking about using 10 sets, 20 minutes, to build up to 10×10.
Why couldn’t that happen in 2-3 months?
Pushups – 12 mantra sets, and a bunch of shoulder stretching.
Just under 300 pushups total, all but 5 or 7 mantra pushups. I’d done a few clapping reps to end the last two or three sets.
The machine preacher curl is taken, I walk by, I need to bridge anyway.
Wrestler’s bridge pullover 12x40lb preload.
That’s such a solid movement, full body, and you can never have a muscular enough neck.
Go fill my water bottle.
Come back.
The machine preacher curl is now in use by different people. Drat, I missed the opportunity to take the equipment.
Continue walking past.
Okay, I’ll do one set of chins.
Chins is biceps.
I realize I’d done 41 pullups, as I did 5 on the 10th set.
Okay I’ll probably hit 8 chins, so instead of one set I’ll do two sets to break 50 total reps.
The last time I hit double digits on a pullup set in any variation was neutral grip during summer 2017 at least 10lbs lighter, but possibly as much as 20-25lbs lighter.
235 or so then, I’d guess that I’m between 245 and 255 now.
I pointedly no longer step on scales.
Performance & Mirror is where it’s at.
I jump to the bar and realize it feels very easy.
I’ll pass 8.
9 reps in – I’ve hit 50.
10, 11, 12 – I drop off the bar, “yes!!!” as I pull both arms in from overhead in celebration.
3½ years, same reps, chin up instead of nuetral grip, at a heavier bodyweight.
Boo yah!
What I’ve been doing lately is working – daily :
•sledgehammer levering and holds
•chins & pullups
•handstand & hspu
•5+ sets of pushups
Occasionally a bit of cossack dancing, a wrestler’s bridge hold, or pullovers in the same position, kneeling jumps, some explosive pushups, and weighted pushups when it’s available.
I feel the chins are improving due to two things :
All the calisthenics is getting me leaner, more muscular. I see lat growth, even trap growth.
Trap growth being handstand related.
The sledgehammer levering builds pure grip strength, I’m not having force dissipate at the hands.