My frequency of lifting at the Cold Air Barbell Club keeps going up and up.
Lifting a barbell in the fresh air, before work adds to my day – it makes me a better person, it makes me feel better with/in/within the world.
Today I noted that I lifted, but didn’t log the exacts.
I just got good effort in, and know as time progresses so shall the weight on the bar.
I’m not rushing it.
For the first time ever I’m viewing the weights through the lense that I’ve always viewed calisthenics – a journey where you put in effort, don’t consider numbers much, and progress as a guarantee since effort is put in consistently.
The lifts make me feel good – as said above the primary concern is not a number’s chase.
I’ve given myself permission to milk light bar weights for all their worth.
I don’t NEED to snatch heavier than my 20 rep overhead squat.
I don’t NEED to clean heavier than my 10 rep military press.
When I hit those overhead portion rep ranges I’ll obviously have enough pulling base to add 5 or 10lbs bar weight to the pull and progress the overhead reps portion to progression standard again.
An easy strength type progression.
Between sets of overhead squats and presses I was visualizing myself making a living training others.
This afternoon I could see it!
– like so many see it for me.
The obstacles were known by me to be surmountable!
↑ that’s why I was lifting.
Because it put(s) my mind in alignment with the universe.
After work I swung my tree branch “maces” and did some more pushups for even higher frequency.
Working in a kitchen I’m on my feet the entire shift – this is calorie burn, and all my mini PT and lift sessions throughout the day keep me building muscle.
It’s a great combination.
In a Dan John article the power snatch into overhead squat is referred to as “the exercise”.
In another Dan John article it is stated that you could do naught but the clean and press and be awesome.
The mythical strength blog recently spoke of floor to overhead as all you’ll ever need.
Bill Starr has an article about “no form points in weightlifting”, a paen to lifting weights, becoming stronger, and not considering form past function ie good enough.
That article is the permission you need to use “ugly” disadvantageous form lifting with metal plates outdoors in the winter.
I gave myself permission to thrive with it. I’m doing so! So. Can. You.
I’ll press off of what I call an “ugly ass muscle clean”, tending to be in straight/stiff leg, and not doing multiple pulls, but one pulling the bar into the catch.
Some would see this as limiting, however – remember I’m not chasing numbers, but focusing on the effort and the journey.
There are anecdotes of higher level lifters doing such things in training, so why not me?
“Why not me?” – an outlook that immediately raises your potential, while granting a freedom in methodology.
My other main movement is a power snatch, mostly with normal power form – I don’t purposefully ugly it up generally as I tend to do with cleans, into reps on the overhead squat.
Sometimes though I do still purposefully ugly up the snatch like I do the clean.
So to you, ye who struggle with programming, ye who trys to make excuses, ye who ….. Buy ye a 300lb weight set, put it outside, and lift it overhead any which a ways year round for many reps.
Why not be the one person to overhead squat bw x 15+ off of a power snatch?
Why not slpc & press 300+?
and enjoy the journey.