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TL;DR

Short & sweet post about life. And, for all you noobs out there, if you don't understand abbreviations, you're doing it wrong.

Body

I did some squats, I did some deadlifts. After some time I realised that I am not satisfied with my results. I started looking into the matter. Accidentally I saw some group of PTs-in-training at the gym and I saw how they did deadlifts. I realised, that the way I did the exercise was not proper. Then I realised, that to do the exercise in a proper form, I need to deload. I was sad in the beginning. No more bragging about 1.5xBM RMs. But whatever. Let's do it properly because people say it is good for me.

Few weeks, then boom, results.

I remember reading once that GayLubeOil's post criticising some of that "Jersey Shore" show actors or something like that, comparing their posture to Arnold's and explaining, which exercises did they omit.

Proper form. That manly greek god phisique. Here I come.

Then I realised.

Some time ago I abused alcohol. That was not a proper form to live life. So I had to deload. At first, I was sad and worried about what will people think. Then boom, better life. Proper form.

Some time ago I was married. But that marriage was built on some false premises and some mythology (which is called "blue pill" by a few). This was not a proper form to build a relationship between a man and a woman. So I had to deload. At first, I felt shattered with all the money and time I've spent through 9 yrs of my failed marriage. Then boom, better life. Proper form.

Deload. Proper form.

Where do you need to deload in order to improve?


[–]BobbyPeruMRP Approved7 points8 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

I miscalculated and went up 15 lbs on squats instead of 5. After the 3rd set, I realized my error and deloaded for the last 2 sets.

It's never too late to change course or turn around in life. I need to reload my career focus.

[–]RuleZeroDADMRP APPROVED10 points11 points  (1 child) | Copy Link

An anything but manic post making a logical and cogent argument for unfucking one's life.

Where is my codependent, nihilistic DJ, and how much is the ransom?

In all seriousness, this is a good look for you.

[–]ex_addict_broDivorced - MRP APPROVED[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy Link

Where is my codependent, nihilistic DJ, and how much is the ransom?

He's becoming more and more a long gone memory.

[–]bogeyd6MRP MODERATOR3 points4 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

Dead lift hurts your ass and your upper lats. Any other pain means you did it wrong. I need to dead lift my work life ratio.

[–][deleted] 6 points7 points  (6 children) | Copy Link

Until I got fired from a 6 figure job a while back, I was living it up. I need to deload from my lifestyle and know that I will have to work my way back up from a 5 figure job. I guess Im really deloading from the persuit of money.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (5 children) | Copy Link

That is one pursuit I would not deload because mo' money is mo' better. I'd deload whatever pursuit got you shit canned. If it was for cause of course.

As an aside, if I wasn't a sort of "pensioner" I'd be looking at Cuba.

[–]bogeyd6MRP MODERATOR1 point2 points  (4 children) | Copy Link

Mo' money is also Mo' problems. Did we learn nothing from 90's era hiphop?

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (3 children) | Copy Link

Ha! I'm a problem solver. Professional grade. Hip hop I don't know. I was thinking Mo Better Blues.

[–]bogeyd6MRP MODERATOR0 points1 point  (2 children) | Copy Link

I was thinking Notorious BIG.

[–]ex_addict_broDivorced - MRP APPROVED[S] -1 points0 points  (1 child) | Copy Link

During such discussions, someone usually quotes Snoop & Dre "bitches ain't shit" or Jay-Z version of "99 problems", but there was that dude called Ice-T who had his guitar band once called Body Count and I think they nailed it.

PS: (and ladies, we just ain't talking about you, coz some of your niggers are bitches too!)

EDIT: that was the next one in the stream and it's even better https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9jXnZS3ouU

[–]bogeyd6MRP MODERATOR[M] 1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

Reminder to not use racist slurs on the sub! Although the music is good.

[–]redearththeory4 points5 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

I think life has seasons. In some seasons we add a lot of external external things thinking they'll improve things but we're frequently inexperienced in a thing at the time we add it. Inevitably there comes another season we deload the things that aren't working. I think this is the natural pattern of things like you describe.

[–]RPAlternate42MRP APPROVED2 points3 points  (1 child) | Copy Link

Once you top out on linear progression, switch to periodization; then you'll stop caring as much about PRs.

My predicted 1RM for Deadlift varies from 400 to 385. I don't know what my true 1RM is because I haven't ever tested it. My numbers are based on how many times I pulled at my peak weight for that weeks periodized schedule. I do 5/3/1, so this past week I pulled 310 8 times (with at least one left in the tank) which comes to a 385 1RM... but last week I pulled 295 10 times with at least one in the tank for a 1RM of 393. Last cycle I pulled for a predicted 1RM of 400 on my 5-3-1 week.

I could probably easily pull 2x my body weight, at least (I weigh 200.)

I don't worry about my 1 RM because of how many times I'm pulling: On any given week I deadlift at least 70 times on the prescribed day.

Once you periodize, you only care about true maxes about twice a year when you decide to test yourself.

I deload once every 6 weeks (after 2 cycles.)

Now, I realize that this post wasn't specifically about weight lifting, and neither is this comment: Once you stop trying to be the best at something and just start being your best at something, you'll find you are far more successful overall than you would be if you are only successful once with that one thing.

Think of life this way: would you be happier with being able to deadlift 400 lbs once every few months or lifting 85-95% of that several times, every week?

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy Link

Or, alternatively, you get a fixed number of 9s say 6. Do you want to be 99.9999%ile in one thing or 90th in 6 things (or soemwhere between.

This balance has been the hardest part of my journey. Realizing that the vast breadth of my goals means not being the best (literally) in any.

[–]PurpleVeteranMRP APPROVED1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

That point where you realize that your expectations no longer line up with reality -- whether it's failing reps at the Iron Temple, or the kick in the balls when swallowing the red pill. Getting knocked down during training (or on the field), and accepting the lesson with gratitude, because failure is the best teacher.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

I do crossfit 3X a week, its great therapy, you can't think about work or life when you're in the middle of a WOD.

Also: currently in the middle of the Hatch Squat routine.

its A LOT of squats. all at 40 to 75% of my 1RM.

proper form is the ONLY way to get through.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (9 children) | Copy Link

The other week I thought it was a good idea to go from 125 to 235. I was very wrong. I know. Weak. Point stands.

[–]bogeyd6MRP MODERATOR1 point2 points  (8 children) | Copy Link

Makes me feel good that 235 is someone's high point and halfway through my warm up.

[–]weakandsensitive0 points1 point  (7 children) | Copy Link

yeah - but you're not a cripple.

[–]bogeyd6MRP MODERATOR0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy Link

not really sure what you were going with there. 235 is a respectable number for a lifter of any weight.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (5 children) | Copy Link

Neither am I. But spending some of my most productive years for working out as nearly one didn't help.

[–]bogeyd6MRP MODERATOR1 point2 points  (4 children) | Copy Link

Easy, new guys always putting in for that "omfg, imagine a year of lifting" and then the mile stone approaches and ego's are disappointed. I went to two power lifting competitions and quickly found out that a 365lb bench for my age and weight is basically shit. Laughable even. I look back and see that I was at my happiest when I was just strict sl5x5 and hoping for that next 5rm. Those days are over, and unless I am willing to quit work and lift full time. That's just the way it is.

What to do though? Learn to love all the little things. That grip on the bar, the setup of your feet on the squat, the high energy you get the rest of the day, a feisty lady, and a good sip of whiskey in the evening.

[–]AechzenMRP APPROVED1 point2 points  (1 child) | Copy Link

I look back and see that I was at my happiest when I was just strict sl5x5 and hoping for that next 5rm.

Same thing happens with some runners. I've known some college runners who graduate college and are essentially burned out and have trouble finding the joy again for a while. Don't want to see another track or road race for a while. Some of them discover trail running, and when they can take away the more 'hamster in a wheel' aspects can find the joy again.

What to do though?

I might get exiled from this forum for mentioning it, but some guys really like intense cardio. I do think there's a human, maybe animal impulse to see just how damn fast you can cover land. Comes in handy running away from something that wants to eat you, and the same accomplishment feeling that comes with being really strong exists among those who are really fast.

Maybe the equivalent of trail running for power lifters is those competitions where you arm curl the fire truck with a harness and put those enormous boulders on increasingly higher pikes? Or maybe it's straight up being a lumberjack, and working with the power of your body to reshape the earth.

[–]bogeyd6MRP MODERATOR1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy Link

Some people think cucumbers taste better pickled.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy Link

We may be talking about different things I think...

[–]bogeyd6MRP MODERATOR0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy Link

Perhaps not.

[–]Aaren_Augustine0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy Link

It's a Fuzzy point. But it get's clearer, especially with the no alcohol thing.

[–]commit2rpoys0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy Link

Good post, and I completely agree with regards to lifting. An occasional deload is essential for me. I love chasing the numbers, and while it has helped me to progress fast in the last year, the thoughts of "this is too heavy - form isn't tight - I'm going to snap some shit up" must take priority over my usual internal motivator of "beast this bar up, you fucking fat faggot".

Wendler puts across in 5/3/1 to apply the concept of 'a few steps backward to keep moving forward. I'll pay some thought to how this can be applied in other areas of life.

[–]dagar_the_dragon0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy Link

Good words brother. Good words.

You can kill a man, but you can't kill an idea.

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