Based on my experience with the BB Pro, I think it's time to invest in a gripper in between the IM#4 and the BB Pro, because I really just can't remember any time that adjustment from one gripper to another was so brutal. The jump from the #4 to the Pro seems almost like the difference between the Grand Master and the #4, yes it really is THAT MUCH, maybe even worse. As a result, I'm going to finally make sure to get an in-between gripper, the Robert Baraban 400, and possibly a second gripper for another purpose (like the Mash Monster replica) to bridge the gap. I will use the Pro until the new gripper arrives, but after that, I'll use the equivilent to the 4.5 until I'm ready to move up.

Lifted the 15 lb anvil three times each hand by the horn, did complete wrist work

Pinch Block loaded to 45 lbs

1R. Lifted and held for 17 seconds
1L. Lifted and held for 3 seconds

2R. Lifted and held for 10 seconds
2L. FAILED

3R. Lifted and held for 17 seconds
3L. Lifted and held for a split second

Chest Crushes with the BeefBuilder Pro

1. 4 reps, 0 clicked
2. 5 reps, 1 clicked
3. 5 reps, 0 clicked

Wrist roller loaded to 52.5 lbs, did four sets with it

Grade: B/C

Post workout commentary: Why the B/C? Well, I did show improvement, 44 seconds RH and 3.5 seconds LH is an improvement over 38 seconds RH and 0.5 seconds LH, and the new gripper is one I didn't expect to do well on, it's almost like a sacrifice workout, since the jump to the Pro is so immense that it just has to be seen to be believed, so as a result, I'm going to get a 4.5 equivilent gripper to bridge the gap. I won't be rattling off rep after rep like I was with the #4, but it won't be so bad that I look like I did in much of 2009 with the Elite, that was just awful. But then again, the improvement over last week was slight, so despite the fact I'll be using 55 lbs on the wrist roller next week, it is only a slight improvement overall, but the fact that I closed the Pro at all and am making progress, although it is slower than in previous weeks, is something to always be proud of. But a B/C is not a bad grade, it just seems it compared to all those dazzling grades I'd get last fall and this winter, it's still an 80%, which is a solid grade to get with my standards, which have been continually toughened.

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Click on the beautiful Altoona skyline to go to my website about central Pennsylvania.

I just tried military pressing a 100 lb dumbbell a couple hours ago and got it! Really helps restore a lot of my confidence.

Although this was a very ordinary bench press workout, I decided to give it a special name anyway. However, despite the fact that this is technically a "holiday" workout, the font color still remains standard, boring black, just like your income tax forms look. Now this workout? It was more fun than filing income taxes, but the result turned out to be a decent workout that showed marginal improvement, but not a lot.

Bench Press Workout with 155 lbs

1. 12 reps, all good
2. 12 reps, 11 good
3. 10 reps, 9 good
4. 8 reps, 7 good
5. 8 reps, 6 good

Pinch lifted two 25 lb plates smooth side out each hand

RH. 150 count
LH. 100 count

Pinch lifted two 35 lb plates smooth side out each hand

RH. 60 count
LH. 15 count

Pinch lifted five 10 lb plates with my right hand, 16 count

Pinch lifted two 45 lb plates with my right hand, 12 count

Pinch lifted two 45 lb plates with both hands, 150 count

Grade: B-

Post workout commentary: I also attempted three 35s, but it wouldn't quite lift for me. I think this makes it official, time to move up from two 25s to two 35s as the non-bonus part, with the rest still existing here as potential bonus stuff (as well as three 35s, which I will keep trying). Now about the bench press portion, it wasn't magnifficent, but it was a huge improvement over the previous two weeks. Finally, I cracked the 50 mark, 50 out of 60 reps and I hope that I can build upon that, it won't be easy, but I have confidence in myself to do that. I think lifting the 100 lb dumbbell gave me a huge chunk of confidence that I wouldn't otherwise have had going into today's workout. That may have been my goal line stand at Indiana or my 4th and 15 conversion at Northwestern, whichever analogy you wanna use is fine by me. However, I'm amazed at the progress I'm making pinch gripping. My right tricep seems a bit overworked from recent workouts (not injured, just tired), otherwise I could've done even more reps, so it's good that I do not have to do anything for at least a week. Also, I finished officially in 39 minutes today, which boosted the grade from a C+ or B/C borderline to a B- instead, showing that this was a decent workout.

Ever come painfully close to attaining something, and then not quite getting it feels actually more painful than not even coming close at all? That's how I feel today after my duel with the Ironmind #3, it was technically a good workout, but I can't help but have disappointment. Also, I moved up in the light department to the Super Master so it makes things interesting now to say the least, to ease me to the Elite.

Heavy Gripper Workout with the Ironmind #3 and the BeefBuilder Super Master

1R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 1/16, using a deep set
1L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/4", using a deep set

2R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 1 mm, using a deep set
2L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/4", using a deep set

3R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 2 mm, using a deep set
3L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/3", using a deep set

4R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 1/8", using a deep set
4L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 3/16", using a deep set

Light Gripper Workout with the BeefBuilder Super Master and the BeefBuilder Master

1R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 9 seconds using an intermediate set, slight overcrush
1L. Did two reps with the BeefBuilder Master using a table no set, then overcrushed it

2R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 8 seconds using an intermediate set, overcrush
2L. Did two reps with the BeefBuilder Master using a table no set, then overcrushed it

3R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 10 seconds using an intermediate set, overcrush
3L. Did three reps with the BeefBuilder Master using a table no set, then overcrushed it

Grade: A+++

Post workout commentary: Using the Super Master as a light gripper is an adjustment in its own right, with the current plan now being to use the light gripper as one that's two or three grippers below, I space it to three at first, then bring it back to two when I'm semi-close to moving up to the next one. For example, in a few weeks, I'll be moving up to the Elite most likely. Also, my grippers arrived, so you'll see a productive chest crush on Friday with the Robert Baraban 400 and I'll mix in a set with the Mash Monster replica gripper somehow. I might make the MM1 my first set every other week to get used to using it. To be honest, my MM1 is either identical to or easier than my #3 in difficulty, but a different feel, the sweep on the Mash Monster is easier, but the close is similar, possibly slightly tougher, but getting to the close is tougher on the #3, so I have more energy to attack the last millimeter or so with the MM1. It'll be great practice for certification.

The temperature when I began working out was 33 degrees, setting a new record low temperature to work out in, but unlike the December workout where it remained 35 the whole time, here it was sunny and quickly rose to 45. So is this the coldest workout I've ever done, well, somewhat, it may not be the coldest sustained workout I've ever done, but trust me, when I did that first set, it was 33 degrees, but a mere 37 minutes later it was 45 degrees. So I guess we can call it coldest with an asterisk, but in a sense, that still counts in its own way.

Heavy Rock Lifting with a 200 lb rock

1. Lifted it, walked ten steps, walked a half dozen steps, walked a half dozen steps another way for a total of 22 steps, set it down
2. Lifted it, walked fifteen steps, turned and walked twenty five steps for a total of 40 steps, set it down
3. Lifted it, walked fifteen steps, walked a dozen steps another way, walked eight steps for a total of 35 steps, set it down
4. Lifted it, walked sixteen steps, walked two dozen steps, walked ten more steps for a total of 50 steps, set it down
5. Lifted it and held it standing up straight for 151 seconds

Very Light Rock Lifting with a 30 lb rock

RH. Cleaned and pressed it for 10 reps
LH. Cleaned and pressed it for 5 reps

Grade: GOLD MEDAL

Post workout commentary: Workouts like this are why I INVENTED the Gold Medal grade. During the workout, I just felt like something was posessing me, but in a good way. From that first set, I knew it was going to be something special. A couple times I had misses, but rather than try to save those failed reps, I just stopped and waited a couple minutes, then ended up lifting the thing and walking a bunch of reps with it. But still, as great as this is, it isn't without a bit of wonder if it gets better than this. Today is a bittersweet day for me as far as rock lifting goes. On one hand, this was by far the best workout I'd ever done, so while on one hand I'm flat out overjoyed, on the other hand, it was so far out of this world that I think it's a high water mark that I'll be talking about for a long time, but needing to wait a good while to break though, much like 2005-2006 was my high water mark for working out. So that's a tough realization to deal with. However, I'm still happy to have set some great numbers with this workout, even if they will stand for awhile. But I said that in December and look.

Hey, I can sticky my threads now. Now it feels 100% like my forum, but with more activity.

BTW, I locked all of my old workout blog threads so they won't be accidentally posted in.

So here I am, trying out the RB400 for the first time in a workout, and I must say, I'm pleasantly surprised. It's a little tougher than I had previously thought, I expected a stout #4 but figured any thing to help bridge the gap was worth it, but it's a 4.4 based on the results of my workout. It wasn't easy at all, I wasn't slamming out rep after rep like I was with the #4, but I wasn't struggling just to click a rep like I was with the Pro. It feels weird to have two Thursday workouts on the same page, this is a disturbing sign that nobody's reading my blog.

Lifted the 15 lb anvil three times each hand by the horn, did complete wrist work

Pinch Block loaded to 45 lbs

1R. Lifted and held for 18 seconds
1L. Lifted and held for 7 seconds

2R. Lifted and held for 17 seconds
2L. Lifted and held for 4 seconds

3R. Lifted and held for 20 seconds
3L. Lifted and held for 6 seconds

Chest Crushes with the Robert Baraban 400

1. 6 reps, 2 clicked
2. 8 reps, 4 clicked
3. 10 reps, 3 clicked

Wrist roller loaded to 55 lbs, did three sets with it

Grade: B

Post workout commentary: I'm making serious progress with the wrist roller, the RB400 seems to be a great bridge between the 4 and the Pro, being that the 4 is 365 lbs, the Pro is 450, so naturally the RB400 at 500 lbs is a 4.4, and as you can see, I did a small amount of reps, but didn't struggle just to complete one rep, either. Also, I noticed with my pinch block, I'm making a monumental amount of progress, where I was struggling just to do anything at all with it, I'm slowly getting to where I'll be doing it for over 30 seconds, and I'm looking forward to the day where I'm using 50 lbs. I'm actually beginning to view the pinch block as an assistance exercise to the plate pinching I do on bench day, but it's still important to me. However, the chest crushing and bench pressing I've noticed have had a positive affect one one another, and I'm hoping that this continues, and when I'm benching 300+, I'm chest crushing at least the Galaxy or at the least the BB World Class.

Grade B isn't bad at all knowing what a perfectionist you are! You are my exercise mentor A-Man.

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Don't ever take my kindness as weakness, believe me when I say that.

Also, did you see the rock lifting workout with the Gold Medal grade? That's equal to 150%, showing how good it was.

Due to some problem with my right arm, around the bicep or tricep that I can't figure out the origion of, I'm going to have to have a month off from benching and everything related to that including rock lifting. I will, however, be able to continue training the gripper workouts on Thursdays and Sundays since those don't aggrivate the pain in my arm, but anything else, forget it. I had this for about two weeks, it was real minor, didn't interfere with anything, can't figure out the source, though. I thought it would go away, and it was going away, then it came back today apparently, I tried benching today, first rep okay, second rep painful, third rep I had to stop because I felt like someone shot me in the arm with buckshot. So, I won't entirely be on hiatus from working out, just in some areas, it'll be like the second half of 2008 and much of 2009 all over again. I'm just hoping that whatever this is passes in enough time that I can finally work out without problems.

The last Sunday Grip Workout of 2010, and probably the second to last workout of April (with the Thursday workout likely happening on April 29), was a bit disappointing. It wasn't a bad workout, was technically a GOOD workout, but I was just hoping to finally close that stupid #3.

No Set Closes of the Ironmind #1

1R. Seven reps, all clicked
1L. Six reps, all clicked

2R. Eight reps, all clicked
2L. Six reps, all clicked

Heavy Gripper Workout with the Ironmind #3 and the BeefBuilder Super Master

1R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 1/8", using a deep set
1L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 3/16", using a deep set

2R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 2 mm, using a deep set
2L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/3, using a deep set

3R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 3/16", using a deep set
3L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/4", using a deep set

Light Gripper Workout with the BeefBuilder Super Master and the BeefBuilder Master

1R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 10 seconds using a shallow set, overcrush
1L. Did three reps with the BeefBuilder Master using a table no set, then overcrushed it

2R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 8 seconds using an intermediate set, big overcrush
2L. Did two reps with the BeefBuilder Master using a table no set, then overcrushed it

Grade: B+

Post workout commentary: As I said, technically not a bad workout, actually a fairly good one, but I'm just a bit frustrated over my failed efforts to close that Ironmind #3, I think there's a good chance that the Ironmind #3 will remain out of reach for a few months at this rate. I just want to close that stupid Ironmind #3 by my 25th birthday. That's currently a goal of mine, and also become certified as a Captains of Crush by year's end as well as certification on at least the Mash Monster Level 1 gripper. I have an unusually tough #3 and #4, both are over 3" wide and have below flush mounting, while the equivilent BeefBuilders are easier (my #3 is actually equal to my Mash Monster 1, which actually seems a bit easier, I think I actually closed my Mash Monster 1 gripper). Notice I finally did the no-set with the #1 version.

For once, I did the Thursday Grip Workout on Thursday. I say it was about damned time, given all the non-Thursday ones. My forum actually has trouble getting it to fill in all info, so I'm thankful it wasn't on Wednesday this week. Feels great to not need to cram information in tight.

Lifted the 15 lb anvil three times each hand by the horn, did complete wrist work

Pinch Block loaded to 45 lbs

1R. Lifted and held for 20 seconds
1L. Lifted and held for 9 seconds

2R. Lifted and held for 21 seconds
2L. Lifted and held for 6 seconds

3R. Lifted and held for 28 seconds
3L. Lifted and held for 10 seconds

Chest Crushes with the Robert Baraban 400

1. 7 reps, 3 clicked
2. 10 reps, 5 clicked
3. 12 reps, 6 clicked

Wrist roller loaded to 55 lbs, did three sets with it

Grade: A+

Post workout commentary: Good workout overall, if you wonder why this looks so hasty it's because I hate rewriting garbage over again, I mint to click reply and ended up hitting refresh (don't ask), but this workout was good, pinch block superb improvement, chest crushes great improvement, wrist roller fantanstic. But especially pinch block - I now do great overall and no general struggles. I also do the chest crush timed holds still but use the #4 for timed holds of 30 seconds, not ready for RB400 timed holds yet, but I'm very close to being semi-ready, doing 30 second timed holds and not 20-25 like when I used the Ironmind #4 as my gripper. But good overall, finished in 64 minutes.

Rather than starting May off with a bang, I didn't even start off with a whimper. I started off with a stumble, trip, and fall landing facedown in the mud. Observe just how much standards changed with my workouts when comparing this workout to the past three Sunday workouts.

Heavy Gripper Workout with the Ironmind #3 and the BeefBuilder Super Master

1R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 2 mm, using a deep set
1L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/4", using a deep set

2R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 1/8", using a deep set
2L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/4", using a deep set

3R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 1/16", using a deep set
3L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 3/16", using a deep set

4R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 2 mm, using a deep set
4L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/3", using a deep set

Light Gripper Workout with the BeefBuilder Super Master and the BeefBuilder Master

1R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 8 seconds using a shallow set, overcrush
1L. Did three reps with the BeefBuilder Master using a table no set, then overcrushed it

2R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 9 seconds using a shallow set, overcrush
2L. Did two reps with the BeefBuilder Master using a table no set, then overcrushed it

3R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 12 secodns using an intermediate set, big overcrush
3L. Did two reps with the BeefBuilder Master using a table no set, then overcrushed it

Grade: D+

Post workout commentary: I know this must be a bit of a shock to read, I did a workout that a month ago would have been considered top of the heap, but almost closing the #3 isn't good enough anymore. I want to actually close the thing. Remember when I said that the best I can do without closing the #3 is a C-? Well, I was serious, except I ammended it to C+ in some rare cases, such as if all attempts are down to 1 mm. I am hoping to close the #3 before my birthday (May 22), if not then standards will get even tougher in a whole leap once again, not slightly like every week usually, the best I will be able to hope for without closing the #3 at least will be an "F". I look at it this way - a close of the Ironmind #3 is long overdue, and if I don't close it soon, then I'm not doing as good as I should be. The one highlight of today's workout? I finished in a record 37 minutes. Witout that, my grade would have been even lower, maybe a D/F or even an "F" believe it or not.

Today's workout was not only surprisingly good, it was SHOCKINGLY good. This was a good friend's birthday, so that good luck probably boosted the workout itself. Most of all, I was shocked at how much good energy was just SURGING through my veins. What a day to work out! But overall, I'm looking forward to little by little my arm getting better. Hopefully, we start seeing an influx of good workouts for good, and even the Sunday Grip Workouts are good and once I return to them, the bench workouts are good, also the rock lifting and dumbbell.

Lifted the 15 lb anvil three times each hand by the horn, did complete wrist work

Pinch Block loaded to 45 lbs

1R. Lifted and held for 34 seconds
1L. Lifted and held for 13 seconds

2R. Lifted and held for 48 seconds
2L. Lifted and held for 20 seconds

3R. Lifted and held for 52 seconds
3L. Lifted and held for 25 seconds

Chest Crushes with the Robert Baraban 400

1. 10 reps, 5 clicked
2. 14 reps, 7 clicked
3. 16 reps, 9 clicked

Wrist roller loaded to 55 lbs, did four sets with it

Grade: BRONZE MEDAL

Post workout commentary: What a great workout through and through, the kind of workout I always want to see myself doing. Not only did I do fantastic overall, doing great chest crushing, out of this world pinch block lifting, ready to go to 57.5 lbs wrist roller lifting, but I finished in 47 minutes, something exceptional for the kind of workout I do. I just missed a gold or silver medal, but that's okay, I'll take 135% any day of the week. I hope to someday close the BeefBuilder World Class with a chest crush, but that'll likely come well after I'm using the Pro for my reps and sets, since I think the Robert Baraban 400 is the last stop of the ones that I'll be able to handle without it taking a long time to advance from there. I have a feeling that once I get to the Pro, the journey to the World Class will take a much longer time, I'll likely close the BeefBuilder Super Elite with one hand before I chest crush the World Class and one hand close the Ironmind #4 before I do the BeefBuilder Galaxy. But for now, I just want to think about what a good job I did. Regardless, great workout overall. Amazing job from me.

I never know how to grade these things, really. It's always so tough to say how to grade them, or even how to write them out, but I've deided that because of some stuff found inside of this one and the general content, that this one is worthy of a super good grade, so we have so far this spring to complement the golden rock lifting workout and the bronze Thursday workout to make this silver since silver suits it perfectly. In a sense, this workout was perfectly like a help for the silver haired folks that needed it, something I'm glad to do when I can.

-First Portion (At Home)-

Carried the entire Chimenea furnace up all 14 steps to the house (weighed over 80 lbs, plus bulky box)

-At The Gym (Side Issue)-

Pinch lifted three 35 lb plates with both hands, 26 count

Pinch lifted three 45 lb plates with both hands, 4 count

-Second Portion (At Lowe's)-

Not for my workout but an act of kindness: Helped load a 60 lb sack of soil on the cash register

Six 60 lb Sacks of Potting Soil, loaded them on the cart, wheeled it out, then loaded them into the truck

-Third Portion (At Home)-

Carried all six sacks up one at a time, up fourteen steps and into the yard, a total of 100 feet

Grade: SILVER MEDAL

Post workout commentary: Was glad to do the manual labor workout, and still had time to do my side project as perhaps a bonus and also did an act of kindness, not for myself, but just because someone needed help. An elderly woman needed a bag of potting soil, so instead of her waiting for some time, I then volutneered to help her out and I used my strength to make someone's life better, and also talked about different things such as how good the weather is and how it's a good day to do gardening. It's always good to help people. Actually, the whole workout was helping people in general. I helped my mom and dad out by carrying the bags of soil up, my mom isn't in shape to do that stuff for now (she didn't even go along) but her knee problem will be operated on later in this month, also my dad was operated on for a hernia a couple weeks ago, so I'm always doing what I can to help out with what I can. So I decided to make today's helpful endeavor into a workout. The only reason I did the gym thing is because the car needed gas and my dad went to get the gas as I worked out briefly. This is the best kind of workout to do IMO, for yourself and others. Not only did it build me strength, but helped people out some which is good.

Purely by the grades, this is the worst Sunday Grip Workout I've done since September 3, where I got a 0 for that grade, and if this trend continues, my streak of no failing grip workouts since Columbus Day of last year is in serious jeopardy. But that's not what I'm concerned about, it's the monotony of this workout itself, continually missing the #3 by tiny amounts. I might still be working on the #3 in ten years.

Heavy Gripper Workout with the Ironmind #3 and the BeefBuilder Super Master

1R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 1/16", using a deep set
1L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 3/16", using a deep set

2R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 2mm, using a deep set
2L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/4", using a deep set

3R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 1/8", using a deep set
3L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/3", using a deep set

4R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 1/8", using a deep set
4L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/4", using a deep set

Light Gripper Workout with the BeefBuilder Super Master and the BeefBuilder Master

1R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 10 seconds using an intermediate set, overcrush
1L. Did two reps with the BeefBuilder Master using a table no set, then overcrushed it

2R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 8 seconds using a shallow set, overcrush
2L. Did three reps with the BeefBuilder Master using no set, then overcrushed it

3R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 12 secodns using an intermediate set, overcrush
3L. Did two reps with the BeefBuilder Master using no set, then overcrushed it

Grade: D-

Post workout commentary: Although this is the worst workout since September 3, 2009 and we risk soon the first failing grip workout since Columus Day of that same year, which was October 12, not much more than a month different. Granted, we have had failing workouts since, but they were all bench press workouts, indicating that the problem is not my grip workouts. Anyways, we may have some problems here with these workouts, I'll be slowing it down a bit so I don't risk overtraining, which may be why I'm stalling. The problem is not that these workouts are bad, per se, it's just that my standards have to keep changing or else I'd still be doing my sets and reps with the Sport and pretending I'm accomplishing something. I have to keep making progress in order for workouts to matter, hence the tough grades you see.

Much better than any workout in a long time. At times, it seemed too good to be true. Hope this isn't the high water mark before downhill.

Lifted the 15 lb anvil three times each hand by the horn, did complete wrist work

Pinch Block loaded to 45 lbs

1R. Lifted and held for 41 seconds
1L. Lifted and held for 21 seconds

2R. Lifted and held for 53 seconds
2L. Lifted and held for 30 seconds

3R. Lifted and held for 68 seconds
3L. Lifted and held for 45 seconds

Chest Crushes with the Robert Baraban 400

1. 13 reps, 8 clicked
2. 20 reps, 12 clicked
3. 25 reps, 15 clicked

Wrist roller loaded to 57.5 lbs, did three sets with it

Grade: GOLD MEDAL

Post workout commentary: What a workout! Everything just seemed to go right at all the right times, plus the timed holds with the Ironmind #4 indicated that I'll soon be doing this with the RB400 afterwards. However, in addition to doing this great with my workout overall, I also finished the entire thing within a shockingly meager 49 minutes, just falling short of what I'd done last week. "Impressive" does not begin to describe the amount of progress that I've been making overall, the chest crush, pinch block, and wrist roller are all much better than before.

Well, today's workout just royally sucked, and on my other forum, I'm now getting Perry Como based error messages in the mean time. Bah!

Heavy Gripper Workout with the Ironmind #3 and the BeefBuilder Super Master

1R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 2 mm, using a deep set
1L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/4", using a deep set

2R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 1/8", using a deep set
2L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 3/16", using a deep set

3R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 3/16", using a deep set
3L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/3", using a deep set

4R. Got the Ironmind #3 down to 1/4", using a deep set
4L. Got the BeefBuilder Super Master down to 1/2", using a deep set

Light Gripper Workout with the BeefBuilder Super Master and the BeefBuilder Master

1R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 9 seconds using an intermediate set, overcrush
1L. Did two reps with the BeefBuilder Master using no set, then overcrushed it

2R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 9 seconds using a shallow set, overcrush
2L. Did two reps with the BeefBuilder Master using no set, then overcrushed it

3R. Closed and held the BeefBuilder Super Master for 10 secodns using an intermediate set, overcrush
3L. Did two reps with the BeefBuilder Master using no set, then overcrushed it

Grade: F

Post workout commentary: Not much to say except this workout just plain royally sucked. My workouts are getting worse and it's becoming a free fall. I just hope that what was said once abouthaving to accept that this is the pinnacle of my achievement isn't true at such a sad point in my strength training career, if it is, then I'm a sad, sad little boy who should give up on trying to be strong. Strength is for real men, not stupid little boys like me. I suppose I should get used to looking with envy at actual MEN who do things I'll never get to do, which sucks.

I'm a workout nut myself. I've hit the same wall you have several times. Not sure of your overall goal, but if it's strength you want, as I did, eat. Eat a lot and often. If you eat five or six times a day and you're not getting stronger in a month then I recommend increasing fat (healthy fat, ie nuts) and protein. Also increase your intake, ie two cups of ground turkey should increase to three. It worked for me.

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Curtis D. Tucker

Silence is golden but duck tape is silver.