Tag: Hollow Hold

Seemed Minor

Sore from the pull-ups yesterday. Last hot day. Hopefully. Went to the 4:30 class.

Warm-up

  • 3×10 Reverse Hyper (140#)
  • Bottom Squat Hold
  • Dad Hang
  • 9:00 EMOM (alt)
    • 100m Run
    • 10 Glute Bridges (w/ pause)
    • 15 Hollow Rocks + 20s Hollow Hold

Strength – RDL

  • 10×45#
  • 10×95
  • 10×135
  • 10×165
  • 5x10x185

I put on the belt for the sets with 185 just to be extra safe. On rep 7 in the final set I felt a little something.

Warmed up with 6×45#, 6×95, and 3×135 cleans.

Conditioning

16:00 AMRAP

  • 5 Broad Jumps
  • 4 Burpees
  • 3 Cleans (165#)

I felt my back on the first two broad jumps, but then was fine through the workout. Made sure not to get sloppy with the cleans. I was 1 clean shy of finishing the 14th round.

Jumped back on the Reverse Hyper for another 3x10x140#. I better feel good to golf tomorrow!

25 Minutes of Exhaustion

Played a shitty round of golf yesterday and my legs were really sore. I guess walking helpd a bit. Went to the 4:30 class today.

Warm-up

  • 3×10 Reverse Hyper (140#)
  • Bottom Squat Hold
  • Shoulder Stretching
  • 4 Sets
    • 10/10 One Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press (30#)
    • 30s Hollow Hold
    • 30s Dead Hang

Conditioning

25:00 AMRAP

  • 10 Push Press (95#)
  • 10 T2B
  • 10 Goblet Squat Jumps (35# KB)
  • 10 Pull-ups

The Rx weight was 135#, which I never thought about attempting. I knew I could stick to push presses the whole way with 95 and probably keep them unbroken. I was right. My goal was to be able to split toes to bars up into 2×5 every round and do all of the pull-ups unbroken. Mission accomplished! I finished 9 rounds plus the push presses. Wore my gymnastics grips without using the finger holes so I could flip them around during the push presses. I’m still wiped the fuck out over an hour later as I type this. Really surprised and happy with how good my pull-ups have been feeling.

  • 100 calories Rowing

If that wasn’t enough we were also supposed to get in 100 calories. Jason and I swapped every 50 calories on the rower. Took me 2:30 to complete both sets, so got about a 3 minute rest between because of the extra time to swap in and out.

Tabata Holds

Golf was rained out yesterday. Really wanted to play, but it was nice to have a complete rest day. Went to the 4:30 class today.

Warm-up – 15:00 EMOM (alt)

  • 10 Russian KBS + 5 American KBS (44#)
  • 8 Ring Rows + 8 Push-ups
  • 10 Glute Bridges

Strength

Class was doing snatch grip presses behind the neck. I doubted I could do them with my shoulder impingement and after attempting 3 reps with an empty bar I was right.

Dumbbell Shoulder Press

  • 2x10x20#
  • 2x10x30#

Pause at the top of each rep.

Conditioning

18:00 AMRAP

  • 10 Box Jumps (24″)
  • 20 OHS (75#)
  • 30 Wall Balls (20#, 10′)
  • 40 DU

This programming the gym is using always has the Rx at 30″ for some reason. It definitely seems geared towards competitors. I was fine with the 24 inch box. I cut the OHS down from 95# to ease back in. I did the OHS in 12-8 every round and wall balls in 12-10-8. Finished 3+45, so 15 of the wall balls.

Midline – 8 Rounds (Tabata)

  • 20s Plank
  • 10s Rest
  • 20s Hollow Hold
  • 10s Rest

I did the second 4 hollow holds with my knees bent up into the tuck position. Not sure if it was any easier because it created a nice cramp in my upper abs.

Weekly Challenge

It’s 5:00 to accumulate as many pounds of power cleans as you can using only 1 bar. I was definitely not attempting to clean for 5 minutes, but I figured I’d try a little test with an empty bar. I got 38 reps in a minute, which I’d definitely not be able to keep up because it would cause such a back pump. 60+ reps with 135# might be doable. If I were to do it with that weight I think I’d try doubles for as long as I could do them.

Overhead Dumbbell

Walked 18 yesterday. My shoulders started getting tight later in the day. This right shoulder impingement is getting annoying. It’s another day heavy on the barbell at the gym, so I did yesterday’s workout in the garage.

Warm-up – 3 Rounds

  • 10 Goblet Squats (53#)
  • 10/10 Bottoms Up KB Press (25#)
  • 30s Hollow Hold

Conditioning

  • 100 Banded March (100# sandbag, green + red bands)
  • 50 Sit-ups
  • 50 DB Snatch (50#)
  • 50 DB OHS (50#)
  • 50 T2B
  • 100 Banded March (100# sandbag, green + red bands)

** Switch arms every 5 reps for both movements

I did the first 100 banded marches and 50 sit-ups unbroken. The snatches had to be in 5s, so I set the dumbbell down each time and took a couple of breaths between some of the sets. For the OHS, I switched arms overhead and only set it down after 30 reps, then did the last 20. I did toes to bars in sets of 4 and was going to finish 3-3, but I failed the very last rep, so it ended up being 11×4, 3, 2, 1. After I strapped in and picked up the sandbag I could not hold it up high on my chest! Arms and core were shot. It was a fight to be able to do 2 sets of 50. Finished at 18:47.

Gymnastics Strength – 3 Sets

  • MAX Strict Ring Dips
  • 2:00 Rest

First set wasn’t feeling great on the shoulder. I think my hanging hooks are spaced out more than I space out the rings on a rig too. I did 10-14-13.

High Reps

My back still isn’t normal yet. Hit the gym at noon with the gang. Warmed up with some shoulder stretching and bottom squat hold. Would get loose in the first few minutes of the EMOM.

Volume Work

20:00 EMOM (alt)

  • 15 MB Cleans (14#)
  • 20 Push-ups

I planned to use the 20# and had it out, but switched just before we started. Figured I’d play it safe and not blow out my back. It was a good call because my legs were burning during the last 5 reps of each set in about the 6th round. It also allowed me to focus more on good positioning and keeping my head up. I did 4×5 on every round of push-ups and was starting to really slow down in the last few rounds.

Conditioning

20-30-20

  • Pull-ups
  • Step-up (24″)

Wore my grips and set a goal to do all of the pull-ups in sets of 10. Success! After each set I dropped, turned around, took a few steps across the gym, turned back around, walked back and did the next set. Wanted to do box jumps, but again, step-ups were much better for my back, especially after 150 medicine ball cleans. Finished in 6:40.

Midline

4 Rounds (Tabata)

  • 20s Bird Dog Hold
  • 10s Rest
  • 20s Hollow Hold
  • 20s Bird Dog Hold (opposite arm and leg)
  • 10s Rest
  • 20s Leg Lifts
  • 10s Rest

Death EMOM

Went to the gym at noon.

Warm-up

  • Shoulder Stretching
  • Bottom Squat Hold
  • Pendlay Row
    • 3×45#
    • 3×95#

E3M – 5 Sets

  • 3 Supinated Pendlay Rows with X231 Tempo (95#)
  • 10 OH Bar Shrugs (snatch grip) with 2s Pause (45#)

Could have done this every 2 minutes. Squeezing the bar at the top of the Pendlay row was a challenge.

30:00 EMOM (alt)

  • 10 HSPU
  • 10 K2E
  • 10 Power Snatch (95#)

I wanted to see how far I could get with 5 strict + 5 kipping handstand push-ups. The answer is 5 rounds. In the 6th round I did the 5 strict, but only 2 kips, and then I had to cut back to no strict and 7 kipping reps for the last 4 rounds. Totals out to 30 strict and 55 kipping reps.

The snatches were by far the worst part of this and took the longest, which then left short rest for the handstand push-ups. I thought the knees to elbows would get hard, but I easily did those all unbroken. On the snatches I did 5 or 6 rounds unbroken, then switched to 5+5. In the 9th round I actually lost my grip on the bar but was able to regrip it in midair somehow. So I did 5+3+1+1 in that round and went back to 5+5 in the 10th to finish.

I had on my gymnastics grips, but didn’t put my fingers through the holes, like I’ve seen a lot of the “pros” doing for some workouts. That way I didn’t have to worry about the tightness of the straps causing problems with my wrists on the HSPU or the extra diameter around the bar for snatches. I just twisted them around on my hands for the K2E and then back out of the way for the other two moves. It worked really well!

This is one of the worst, if not the worst EMOM I’ve ever come up with. I had it planned to do at home early in the week, but didn’t get to it. If I hadn’t been at the gym, I would have stopped after 8 rounds, so I’m glad it was with the crew, which pushed me to keep going.

Midline: E90S – 4 Rounds

  • 6 Floor Wipers (holding 45# plate)
  • 20 Russian Twists (45#)
  • 20-30s Hollow Hold

Brandi wanted me to add in some ab work so I went back and found this one from Tia. After the first round I had to do a scaled version of the hollow hold because I could not keep my low back on the ground. I need to get back to doing these because it’s obviously a weakness and not great to be able to support my already bad back.

Can’t Count to 5

Went to the 4:30 class.

Warm-up

  • 3×15 Reverse Hyper (140#)
  • 2 Rounds
    • 10 PVC Passes
    • 10 PVC OHS
    • 15 Toe Touches
    • 20 Mountain Climbers

Strength – OHS

  • 10×45#
  • 6×95
  • 4×115
  • 4×135
  • 2×155
  • 2×175
  • 3x2x185

Used close grip, slowly widening all the way up until 185 when I went to my full-width snatch grip. That was heavy enough for me on the day since they aggravate my back sometimes. On the last set I said fuck it and went closer grip again and it felt really good. Maybe all of this upper body and shoulder mobility stuff is paying off.

Conditioning

  • Buy-in: 3 Rounds
    • 5 Pull-ups
    • 10 Push-ups
    • 15 Air Squats
  • 5 Rounds
    • 6 Deadlifts (115#)
    • 6 Squat Cleans (115#)
    • 6 Push Presses (115#)
  • Cash-out: 3 Rounds
    • 5 Pull-ups
    • 10 Push-ups
    • 15 Air Squats

I had those first rounds of “Cindy” done is right around 2 minutes. Oh boy! In the 4th round of the lifts, I felt my back a little bit. Set the bar down and tried again and felt it. So I sat down for probably close to a minute. Decided to jump back in since it has never gotten worse once I feel it once. Just focused on keeping solid positions to close out the rest of the reps. Finished in 12:45.

After the workout someone asked if I knew if they did 4 or 5 rounds. Um, no, I was counting my own workout. Blows my mind how people can’t count to 5.

Midline – 3 Rounds

  • 5 Weighted V-ups (10# DB)
  • 10 Lying Leg Lifts
  • 15 Weighted OH Sit-ups (10# DB)
  • 20s Hollow Hold
  • 25 Knee Slides (Crunches)

Wasn’t sure how it would feel with my back so I went light. Took about 8 or 9 minutes.

Gymnastics

I wanted to get in some muscle-up work since it had been awhile. Plan was a 5:00 EMOM of 4-5 reps. I got a first set of 5, but then one of the straps came loose in the next round and I was getting tangled up in it so I dropped after 2 reps. Tied it up to the squat stand and did 3 more. Then I did another set of 3 after a rest and the strap came off again so I said fuck it. I was feeling tired anyway. The strap was a good excuse.

When The Song Says…

It’s been some time since I got my ass out of the house for a morning workout. Went to the 10am class.

Warm-up

We played Tic-tac-toe, using big bands for the square placements and medicine/slam balls for the Xs and Os. Men vs Women. Guys went 4-0!

Strength – Thruster

  • 6×45#
  • 6×95
  • 3×115
  • 3×135
  • 3×155
  • 3×175
  • 3×195
  • 3×215

Wore the belt with 175+. According to BTWB that was a PR for 3 reps. I thought maybe I had done 225 before, but guess not.

Conditioning

Today was all about trying some different stuff. It was fun.

“Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.

Lunge throughout the song. Drop and do a push-up whenever they say “ghostbusters” during the song.

I did walking lunges. Not very many push-ups until the final 30 seconds. Could really do it whenever “ghost” is said, which includes “ghostbusters.”

“Thunderstruck” by AC/DC

Hang. Drop and do a burpee whenever you hear “thunder” in the song.

I did my hanging on the rings, which is easier on the hands. In the beginning you wonder if you’re ever going to hang, but then you quickly start to want to do some burpees. I was able to keep up as well as hold on through all of the long hanging sections.

“America” by Neil Diamond

Start with a hollow hold and switch to superman hold whenever he says “America.”

This one did not work at all. He rarely says the word so you’re holding way too long.

Gymnastics

I did 5 legless rope climbs after that stuff.

Fuel

My hips, legs, and lower body in general is tight from yesterday. Put in a lot of work yesterday and a lot of loaded squats. Tough one today that I know is a long grind, but I was actually excited for the chance to redeem myself after what I felt like was a pretty poor time last year. Much cooler day today, with the temperature around 40-45°, compared to last year (May 3) being one of the hottest days of the year.

Warm-up

  • Crossover Symmetry Activation
  • Bottom Squat Hold
  • 3 Sets
    • 5 ATYs (5#)
    • 10 Shotguns
    • 50 DU

Got every round of dubs unbroken.

Strength & Midline

E2M – 6 Sets

  • 4 Pendlay Rows (165#, supinated)
  • 30s Hollow Hold

Did 10×45# and 4×135# to warm-up. Second week in a row I went with the underhand grip since I had gone two in a row pronated. I feel these rows just a bit on my left shoulder.

Conditioning

kelly“Kelly” – 5 Rounds

  • 400m Run
  • 30 Box Jumps (24″)
  • 30 Wall Balls (20#, 10′)

There were some complications with the music last year so it wasn’t even a true time for me, but I called it 29:59, which I thought was actually shortchanging myself for how long it took me to fix the tunes. Could I push harder on the runs this year?

The first run started out a little faster, but that’s to be expected fresh. Tried to keep a steady pace on the other 4 runs. I did all step up/down on the box since that many jumps will lock up my back. They were 8 right, 8 left, 7 right, and 7 left every round. Wall balls were 4 rounds of 18-12 with a quick 5-10 second breather and unbroken to finish.

Wore my watch so I could see some of the heart rate data and get an idea of my round times. Unfortunately the HR data had a bunch of drops down near or under 100 bpm so the average is pretty useless. Does show a max HR of 166 for the workout, which should be pretty accurate.

Not easy to tell because the GPS data jumps all over the place while inside the gym doing the reps, but looks like my splits were 4:35, 4:48 (9:23), 4:57 (14:20), 5:02 (19:22), and 4:44 (24:06). During the workout when I checked my watch on each run I kept waiting to hit a wall but it never happened. I felt much better throughout than I was expecting. Really happy with how consistent those round times stayed for a long workout. The last round time came down because I did the wall balls unbroken.

I thought if I was able to PR by 3 or maybe 4 minutes that would be great. I thought a 5 round average of 5:00 was a pipe dream, but I was well under that. Improved by almost 6 minutes! I think I could almost walk fast and get that 30 minute time from last year. haha The heat could have been a big factor too.

Definitely looking forward to ROMWOD tonight!

Diet

I’m not sure if I’ve written about it, but I’ve been counting macros for about 4.5 months now. I used to absolutely hate all of the counting and keeping track, so was never able to stick with it for more than a week or two. Something shifted this time around and I’ve actually enjoyed it. My previous “diets” worked, but usually ended up with me falling off the wagon and I’d gain back the weight. My “go to” was always low carb and try to stay cleaner. Doesn’t really work in the long run for me though because I enjoy food too much.

So I read about Renaissance Periodization and figured I’d give it a shot. It’s been working brilliantly so far and I feel much better mentally and physically. I give almost no care to the quality of what I’m fueling my body with as long as the quantity lines up with my macro number goals. The fancy term for it these days seems to be “flexible dieting” or what a lot of people call IIYFM (If It Fits Your Macros). Another popular company besides RP that will help you is Working Against Gravity. While I can see the value in paying RP or WAG for help, it’s really not that hard to do on your own if you have some discipline. If I can do it, so can you. 😉

Progress was steady for the first 2 months. It leveled out during the Open, when I was having a massive 36 hours way over my macros after doing each week’s workout. I didn’t track food on a week vacation so gained a little bit there, but quickly lost that and have been stable at 203# since. The trend lines are still heading in the right direction and body fat % seems to be decreasing. We’re getting towards the end of an 8 week hypertrophy cycle at the gym so this means the muscle building has been working and muscle gain + fat loss are leveling each other out. Will be interesting to see what happens when we switch back to lifting heavy shit during our strength work. I’d like to drop closer to 195# and get the body fat down to 10-11%.

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Sunday Extra

Still seemed a little sore this morning but didn’t feel it by the time I got to the gym and was moving around.

Warm-up

  • Crossover Symmetry Activation
  • 3:00 Jump Rope
  • 3 Sets
    • 5 ATYs (5#)
    • 10/10 Monster Walks (small red band)

Midline

8 Rounds

  • 20s Hollow Hold
  • 10s Rest
  • 20s HS Hold
  • 10s Rest

I expected this to get tough, but it was really no issue. My hands were up really close to the wall and felt like I was barely using the wall for any support.

Strength

Warmed up with 6 reps of each using 45# and then 95#.

5 Sets – Every 2:30

  • 6 Pendlay Rows (135#)
  • 6 Good Mornings (135#)

I was supposed to go with a supinated grip this week but once I got into my warm-up sets I completely forgot. Whoops!

Worked up the hang power cleans with:

  • 3×135#
  • 3×155#
  • 3×175#
  • 3×195#

Conditioning

6 Rounds – E3M

  • 3 Heavy Hang Power Clean (205#)
  • 100m Row Sprint
  • * Rest additional 4:00 b/t sets 3-4

Based off some OPEX stuff again. Wore my belt for these and loosened or threw it off while moving to the rower. In the second set I tried going too fast and didn’t get the bar high enough so had to bail. After that I took an extra second to reset between reps and do the hang closer to my knees instead of such a high hang. Didn’t have intervals set on the rowing monitor, but the rows were taking me about 16-17 seconds.

First day golfing with the guys tomorrow so had to restructure my week. Didn’t want to miss pressing strength so added in a PM session. Did a ROMWOD after lunch.

Warm-up

2 Sets

  • 5s of StrongFit Tricep & Bicep Openers (8#)
  • 9 Shoulder Press (45#, 75#)
  • 6/6 OH Weighted Reverse Lunges (45#, 75#)

Strength

E3M – 6 Sets

  • 9 Shoulder Press (95#)
  • 6/6 Overhead Reverse Lunges (95#)

Haven’t felt any discomfort in my wrists with this combo and it’s now been 3 or 4 weeks. Press reps will keep increasing for a few weeks, but should still be ok. Imagine all of this overhead time should help with jerk stability too.

Murph Prep

  • E30S – 10 Sets
    • 8 Air Squats (40# vest)
  • E30S – 10 Sets
    • 4 Push-ups  (40# vest)

Set the clock for continuous intervals, so no extra rest going from the squats to the push-ups. Had no idea how this would go, so was a bit conservative with the rep counts.