Two days ago I had Kirk put myself and Trevor through a workout. Trevor leaves for the Air Force basic training next week so we wanted to get one more day in of lifting together. It was tough.

Trying to keep fresh legs from running, we followed Kirk’s program of 4×10 squats paired with 4×12 Log clean and press. I did 285 squats and the log was 90lbs. Next exercises were burpie sumo pulls for 5×12 and 5x:30sec db press. Lastly, we did 4×20/side sledge hammer paired with 4×10 plyo pushups.

I couldn’t walk very well yesterday and my glutes are still really sore today. Trevor could barely bend over yesterday to pick up darts when we went out for a couple drinks last night. It was actually pretty funny.

Today’s goal is to get a good warm up in and see what I can do. If I am still pretty sore I will opt for some shirt bench possibly or some stones. Good luck on training today!

” Struggle is a necessity of life. Strength evolves from struggles. The more we struggle, the stronger we grow.”

This quote is so true from the strongman contest we put on last weekend. Lifting stones or pulling a truck is not easy, but the more you practice, the more you struggle every time you are in the gym you are getting stronger.

The next time you go for a walk, is it a struggle? “Strength evolves from struggles.”

Putting this into a diet and weight loss context: you need to work hard to get the results you desire.

If you are not seeing the results you want we have what you need. Warrior Training! We are offering a FREE workout tomorrow morning at 5:30am for everyone to come and try. This is late notice but set your alarms earlier and start your day with a sweat and not another “losing weight” complaint. This is not an easy workout and I would expect people to probably quit. This isn’t for you then. This is for people who want results!

“The more we struggle, the stronger we grow!”

This past Saturday we hosted a Gold Strongman contest. The event was a lot of fun despite the rain. All of the events were indoors and the intensity of the competitors was awesome.

We started with the Farmer’s walk. LW did 265lbs a hand and HW did 290lbs a hand. Next was the arm-over-arm truck pull. The third event was a max log press. The fourth event was 455lb deadlift for reps for the LWs and 500lbs for the Heavies. The final event was a 9 stone load series with the final stone at 380lbs.

I finished 2nd in the heavy weights behind lightweight pro Jake Bodi. Everyone did well at the contest and there were a ton of spectators. I want to thank everyone for coming out and enjoying the day. And also a big thank you to the Picknic Basket for having lunch at the event.  A lot of pictures are posted on facebook from the event so you should check those out if you are on facebook. You can friend me, Glen Rogers to take a look at them.

It looks like it will rain tomorrow. So today Kirk and I will move and shift the weight room around so we have room to do the contest indoors. Instead of doing arm over arm, we will be doing deadlift for reps. HW will be doing 545 and LW will be doing 495. I hope my suit fits since I am a little heavier than I used to be when I powerlifted at 198 and 220lbs.

Everything else will pretty much stay the same. Farmers will be 100ft, no drops. And tire flip will be 5 flips down and 5 back. Heavies will most likely be using the 867lb tire. That is pretty heavy and not really looking forward to it. All-in-all, this will be a top notch contest with contestants coming form Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Looking forward to a great showing!

Monday I decided I would do the strongman competition that will be held this weekend at Wisconsin Barbell. I have been training the last month to get in strongman shape and am hoping to do well. Since there are a ton of light weights, I will be moving into the heavy weight category. I am only 225lbs but if my ultimate goal is to be a heavy weight, why not start now?

It is supposed to rain Saturday but the events can move indoor. The events right now are Arm over Arm, Tire, Max Log, Farmers, and Stones. I have been working on my weaker events which is the Log and Stones so we will see what happens. I am excited and nervous for it but when it comes game time, it is time to play!

” People come into your life for a reason; the negative people usually are there to teach you what you don’t want to become, treat you how you don’t want to be treated, and to show you what you don’t deserve. Embrace them, let them teach you, and then let them go.

I’ve had many great coaches and co-workers, and also a lot of D-bags. Running into and having negative people in your life is a good thing because it reminds you of what you will not or do not want to become. You learn from these people and let them go, move on.

In a recent email I said I was the sum of everyone I have met and learned from. That is why there are great coaches out there, they probably had pretty shi*&y ones and a few great ones.

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There is a paradigm shift in my training goals. Almost every person who comes in the gyms doors wants the same thing: tone up, lose weight, Kelly Ripa arms, small butt & inner thighs… Well, I am going to go in the opposite direction and gain as much weight as possible.

Why am I going to gain weight? To get strong. I have been eating whatever I wanted the last 3 weeks and have been setting personal records every week. I do not want to explain why because I don’t have the time and most people still do not get why it works.

But I will ask all of you who cannot lose weight for this: Give me your diet, because I am desperately trying to gain weight and if you can’t lose weight than that is what I need to be on! Seriously… If you are not losing weight than I need that diet. What are YOU eating to not lose weight?

Think about it… It comes down to work;)

Yesterday’s workout:
Bench: NEW PR* 315×7, 225×19

“Success is hidden under a rock of hard work. Keep digging with patience; it’s up to you, only.”

Lately for my workouts it has all been about small victories. I can go on and make excuses about being tired, back hurting and legs are sore. But all this would make me is weak in body and mind. You may hear excuses from a lot of people, including myself, but you need to be patient and take it one step at a time.

Today’s small victory was getting to the gym early and double overhanding 495 on deadlift, something I have not done in a long while. When I woke up this morning my back was sore from a 5 minute bridge hold last night but I made myself get up and get going. There is no secret to working out or training, it all takes hard work.

Training:
Deadlift – worked up to 495 dbl overheand, 545 fail
Rack pulls – 3×5 @315

” On a quest to start a new life, you will face a lot of challenges and uphill battles that will try to bring you down. Fears will arise that will make you stumble and the only way to stop them is to face them! As a friend, I would like you to know that life will knock us down but we can choose to get back up. Remember, always, be strong. Root that in your heart.”
Written in 2010 by Kiplimo Chemirmir

When is the perfect time to start? There will never be a perfect time. But there will always be obstacles and fear in starting something new. You must overcome those and face those challenges.

I have a client who first told me she was scared to do her first bootcamp and almost didn’t come. She ended up doing well and breaking the ice. The next day in bootcamp she wasn’t there because her friends didn’t come. This was her fear. After a few more classes with friends she decided she was ready to do it without them, because of how she felt exercising and seeing the results.

This gal ended up winning her corporate fitness challenge and is making the commitment to continue to exercise regularly even after the challenge.

I saw a great “chick flick” yesterday called Love Happens. Besides the mushy stuff where he gets the girl in the end like most flicks of this calliber, the more important message was to face your fears. This guy was so good at talking about the fears others face and how to face them yet he had his own fears he never overcame. In the end, he started learning more about himself and finally faced his fears.

When it comes to real life and not movies, yes, there is a lot of fear. I myself have a huge fear of rejection. This has spawned from childhood days and why I push myself so hard in my workouts. Recently, I have been talking to friends about this and it is helping me with reaching my goals for training, relationships, and getting the most out of life instead of fearing what others think.

Everyone has a fear of something. Face it! and over come it. Share your daily struggles with others whether it be with diet, exercise, family, work or love, and talk about it. A huge weight will be lifted off your chest and you can feel the sense of being able to take a full breath.

Rent the movie Love Happens and get the message. It is not just about love, it is about living.