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BryanSmash!
07-15-08, 9:34 pm
I always liked that quote. If anyone remembers the movie "Cyborg" from the 80's, that's where it's from. It's a VanDamme movie, one of my favorites growing up. The villain in this movie is named Fender Tremolo, (all the bad guys in this movie have names related to instruments), and really steals the show in my opinion. This guy is a total dick. The plot of the movie revolves around VanDamme's character escorting this cyborg to a place where she can give the cure to the plague that ravages the world to a doctor, so he can produce it. In the scene from my quote Fender has captured the cyborg, and she asks him why would he want to destroy the cure that she carries, that would stop all the pain and misery in the world. Fender replies with a smile, "I like the pain." What a dick.
This quote applies to me as well, which is why it's the title of my journey. Maybe I'm stupid. Maybe I'm fucked in the head. I like the pain. I like triggering a 'grow or die' response in my body. I like when the skin on my hands is peeling off after deads. Maybe I hate myself. Who the fuck cares. I like what I do.
So here's where my thought will be put to paper so to speak. Not all my entries will be related to training. I will give you a warning however. There might be some fucked up shit in here. But hey, if you don't like it, don't read it.

shizz702
07-15-08, 9:37 pm
Nice intro bro!

You just brought back a ton of memories to me with Cyborg! I fucking love that movie and grew up off it along with the rest of Van Damme's movies.

I'm defintely in for the ride here man!

BryanSmash!
07-16-08, 7:16 am
Nice intro bro!

You just brought back a ton of memories to me with Cyborg! I fucking love that movie and grew up off it along with the rest of Van Damme's movies.

I'm defintely in for the ride here man!

Thanks or the support! Also, I think Bloodsport is one of the greatest movies ever.

shizz702
07-16-08, 9:20 am
Lol don't forget kickboxer! Gotta love double impact and lionheart too!

I can honestly say that cyborg was my fav of his though.

BryanSmash!
07-16-08, 6:29 pm
Tong pooooo! Ha...kickboxer is awesome too, as are the rest of those movies.

BryanSmash!
07-16-08, 6:47 pm
Normally I work nights, but I'm at a military training school for a month, so my schedule is reversed. Now, I get up at 445am, instead of going to bed near that time. Most of the time I don't have get up that early, but I do anyway because it's the only time i get to lift. The gym here on post is good, and I get there right at 5 am when the doors open. Today it was Pull day, and before my last set of Deads, I looked up at the clock. 515am. What the fuck. Why the fuck am I deadlifting four hundred and five fucking pounds at 515am. Then I started laughing, and actually said out loud to myself,"Because you can, asshole!" Smiling, I knocked out my reps.
About 45 minutes later I was finishing up my workout, when every tom dick and harry started walking in. You see, on a military post, everyone who is in the military (or affiliated with) gets to use the gym for free. Super. This pretty much equates to taking a trash bag full of memberships to your home gym and dumping them out of a hot air balloon for everyone to grab. So yeah, you get the idea of what kind of people I have to deal with.
"Yeah sure, its great you want to get more physically fit, but could you get the fuck out of my way? Oh, and quit bouncing 135 off your fucking chest asshole."
But it's something I have to deal with, so I do. Don't get me wrong, theres nothing wrong with being a beginner. I was there once.
But for fucks sake move it!

Latimer316
07-16-08, 6:56 pm
You mentioned VanDamme, thats enough for me also you mentioned the type of shitbags that show up to the gym to use the elipticals b/c they are too fat to run on pavement...I'm in the army myself man. What school are you going to right now? I'll be following, this seems like its gonna be a good one. Keep it up

SGT. Vertucci

shizz702
07-16-08, 6:57 pm
Deadlifting at 515 AM?! That's fucking awesome bro! Reminds me of the Animal poster:
http://www.animalpak.com/store/html/product.cfm?id=284

seriouslifter
07-16-08, 8:30 pm
i love kickboxer and bloodsport. They are such motivation movies. They give you chills in a way. Probably my favorite. I also love "The Perfect Weapon" with Jeff Speakman.

BryanSmash!
07-17-08, 5:41 pm
You mentioned VanDamme, thats enough for me also you mentioned the type of shitbags that show up to the gym to use the elipticals b/c they are too fat to run on pavement...I'm in the army myself man. What school are you going to right now? I'll be following, this seems like its gonna be a good one. Keep it up

SGT. Vertucci

Ha..right? You know what Ive gotta deal with at the post gym. I have to reclass as an 88M (Motor Transport Operator) due to a reorg in my state. I basically here to learn how to drive vehicles that I already have licenses for. Gotta love the Army, right?

BryanSmash!
07-17-08, 5:43 pm
Deadlifting at 515 AM?! That's fucking awesome bro! Reminds me of the Animal poster:
http://www.animalpak.com/store/html/product.cfm?id=284

Heheh..yeah that poster about sums it up right there. I'll be saying the same thing when I'm working squats tomorrow I think.

BryanSmash!
07-17-08, 5:45 pm
i love kickboxer and bloodsport. They are such motivation movies. They give you chills in a way. Probably my favorite. I also love "The Perfect Weapon" with Jeff Speakman.

Fuck yeah! Gotta love classic Vandamme.

BryanSmash!
07-18-08, 7:26 pm
Why is it that the weights feel so much better when it's so incredibly early? Funny how when shit sucks I like it better. I hate getting up at 445am. I really hate doing squats at 510am. I guess that makes it better for me though. I must just like torturing myself. Hey why not, it's fun! One thing that is always a constant however, is having to deal with people who are trying to draw attention to themselves. Example: Today after my squats I moved to the leg press, and this guy gets into the squat rack to do some deads, a bigger muscular guy (about 6' 240 lbs). He immediately put 225 on the bar and did a set of 8, slamming the weight loudly on the ground, pretty much to bounce to weight up every rep. I thought, "Okaaaay, maybe hes just warming up or is coming up from an injury or something." I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. He then slams on a quarter each for a whopping 275 and slams out 7 reps to failure, grunting loudly, and bouncing the weight on every rep. I almost went over there and picked up the weight with one hand just so he'd feel like an idiot, but thats not my way. Many are the misguided in this land of iron, and it's not my job to show them the finer points of proper form and gym etiquette. Unless it's incredibly obnoxious, I don't give a fuck. It takes all I have to fight my own battles. I don't have the time or energy to deal with anyone else's while i'm lifting. Give me a friendly nod? Sure, you'll get one back. Ask me how I'm doing? You'll get a "alright". Other than that, leave me the fuck alone while i'm lifting. The goes for the girls too. I don't care how hot you are, or how hot you think you are. Leave me the fuck alone. I don't want your attention, and you're not going to get mine. Ask me the proper form for Power Cleans, sure. But keep your phone number in your fucking pocket.

shizz702
07-18-08, 7:38 pm
Cool post bro!

I really can relate to what you're saying. Back when I used to train at a commercial gym (train at home now) I used to see guys half squatting, trying to power clean with horrible form, etc., and in my mind I'd think about showing them the way and how to do these things properly but in the end it's like you said it takes enough energy out of one just to take care of themself. If people choose to be ignorant, not do the proper research, or take the time to do things right fuck em. Let em suffer. Most people are stubborn and don't want help anyway so no point in wasting your time. The gym is a place for a Animal to take care of his own personal business, and serious business it is! No time for small talk, just you and the bar. Keep killing it bro! Looking foward to your next post!

Cellerator65
07-18-08, 7:44 pm
quarter squats, half squats... why load up the bar, you think people are impressed how much weight is on there if you cant even do a full rep?

i feel bad for these people, because they're hindering their development by being ignorant. To each their own... i cant help someone who doesnt want help.

BryanSmash!
07-18-08, 8:35 pm
Cool post bro!

I really can relate to what you're saying. Back when I used to train at a commercial gym (train at home now) I used to see guys half squatting, trying to power clean with horrible form, etc., and in my mind I'd think about showing them the way and how to do these things properly but in the end it's like you said it takes enough energy out of one just to take care of themself. If people choose to be ignorant, not do the proper research, or take the time to do things right fuck em. Let em suffer. Most people are stubborn and don't want help anyway so no point in wasting your time. The gym is a place for a Animal to take care of his own personal business, and serious business it is! No time for small talk, just you and the bar. Keep killing it bro! Looking foward to your next post!

Right on man! Couldn't agree more. I almost cringe when I see half assed squatting. Thanks for the support!

BryanSmash!
07-18-08, 8:42 pm
quarter squats, half squats... why load up the bar, you think people are impressed how much weight is on there if you cant even do a full rep?

i feel bad for these people, because they're hindering their development by being ignorant. To each their own... i cant help someone who doesnt want help.

I used to feel bad too. I thought about becoming a personal trainer to help even. But then i thought, Id have to build my own fucking gym in order to erase all restrictions on my methods of training. Not to many places would allow stone lifting, thick bar training, and even in this day and age, the power rack seems to be hard to come by. Its pretty discouraging when you think about it. Thats why I dont think about it anymore. I just focus on me in the gym now.

BryanSmash!
07-19-08, 7:12 pm
No motivation to go lift this morning. I was really fucking tired. I thought to myself,"You can skip lifting today and go back to sleep....right?" Wrong. Fuck that, I went anyway. Thought I'd crank on my delts. Three sets of DB presses later, I felt right as rain. I should have known. Iron was the cure all long. All of a sudden, things were right where they should be. By the time I walked out of the gym, my shoulders were on fire and I had a smile on my face.
I heart torture.

shizz702
07-19-08, 7:18 pm
Haha you heart torture...cause you like the pain!

Way to get up and lift bro! It's so tempting to skip your training sometimes but you and I both know there's no excuses! Like how you mentioned thick bars, stones, and rack work. We have similar interests. I would love to get some stones, and thick bars in my home gym but too bad they are so damn expensive! Any advice on where to get some? Also have you ever read Dinosaur Training? That book is right up your alley if you haven't friend!

BryanSmash!
07-19-08, 7:29 pm
Haha you heart torture...cause you like the pain!

Way to get up and lift bro! It's so tempting to skip your training sometimes but you and I both know there's no excuses! Like how you mentioned thick bars, stones, and rack work. We have similar interests. I would love to get some stones, and thick bars in my home gym but too bad they are so damn expensive! Any advice on where to get some? Also have you ever read Dinosaur Training? That book is right up your alley if you haven't friend!

Ha...actually I keep a copy of Dinosaur Training on my desk always. I've read it about a dozen times or so.
Heres a reputable site that Ive ordered from in the past that has thick bars:
http://functionalhandstrength.com/

The bars are way expensive but I haven't seen anywhere else decent that sells them.

shizz702
07-19-08, 8:15 pm
Yea Dinosaur Training is a classic! I think Brooks is working on another book right now too. Can't wait! Sooner or later here I may have to just shell out the cash and order one of them thick bars lol.

BryanSmash!
07-20-08, 5:18 pm
Yea Dinosaur Training is a classic! I think Brooks is working on another book right now too. Can't wait! Sooner or later here I may have to just shell out the cash and order one of them thick bars lol.

Yeah Brooks is working on another book geared towards abbreviated training and older lifters. It's going to be fucking great I think. I can't wait.

BryanSmash!
07-20-08, 5:32 pm
Word to the wise: If your legs are still jello from leg day, don't try to ride a mechanical bull. I made that mistake last night and got my fucking balls repeatedly crushed into the saddle horn for my effort. It was my first time riding one of those things, and I figured the guy running the bull would take it easy on me. Yeah fucking right. The guy stops the music that was playing, goes on the loud speaker and tells everyone in this bar to take a look at the big guy on the bull. Gee thanks man, no pressure right? He didnt do that for anyone else. He then cranks the fucking bull up all the fucking way, ( hey lets see if we can buck the big guy off! whoo hoo!), and my fucking dick gets smashed into the saddle horn again and again. After the third buck I had to put both my hands on the fucking horn to prevent my balls from further damage, and squeezed the shit out of the bull with my exhausted thighs. I managed to stay on the whole run, which seemed like a lot longer than the eight seconds it was supposed to be. Today, Im walking around all bow legged. Fine fine. Lesson learned. Sometimes being the biggest guy in the bar has its disadvantages. Probably wont stop me from doing it again though. Yeah, thats the kind of guy I am.

shizz702
07-20-08, 6:11 pm
Haha hey you might be in a bit of pain but at least you showed them what's up! They couldn't knock you off! Dude called you out and you had to show him what being an Animal is all about!

BryanSmash!
07-21-08, 12:42 am
Haha hey you might be in a bit of pain but at least you showed them what's up! They couldn't knock you off! Dude called you out and you had to show him what being an Animal is all about!

heheh..this is true. Maybe Ill do it again next week.

BryanSmash!
07-21-08, 6:44 pm
You know the type. 6 feet tall, 165lbs, rocking out set after set of cheat curls with 65lbs on the bar. With a weight belt on. With wrist wraps. And of course, the latest Under Armour gear on. Yeah he was there today. I waited ten minutes to get into the rack for my bottom presses. Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on someone for how much they can lift. I was a beginner too once.
But for fucks sake, get the fuck out of the squat rack. There is plenty of other space in the gym. And if I see those goddamn ab straps hanging from the chining bar in the power rack one more fucking time, I'm going to cut them off.

BryanSmash!
07-22-08, 1:00 pm
Finally! I didn't have to deal with any fuckers in my way! Too bad my legs were still jacked from leg day and the mechanical bull, that I felt like an asshole doing Deads this morning. I lost a few reps on my usual weight, but whatever. I was just happy to lift alone for once in this gym. I made up for it on chins anyway.

shizz702
07-22-08, 1:30 pm
You know the type. 6 feet tall, 165lbs, rocking out set after set of cheat curls with 65lbs on the bar. With a weight belt on. With wrist wraps. And of course, the latest Under Armour gear on. Yeah he was there today. I waited ten minutes to get into the rack for my bottom presses. Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on someone for how much they can lift. I was a beginner too once.
But for fucks sake, get the fuck out of the squat rack. There is plenty of other space in the gym. And if I see those goddamn ab straps hanging from the chining bar in the power rack one more fucking time, I'm going to cut them off.

NOOOOOOO CURLING IN THE SQUAT RACK!


Finally! I didn't have to deal with any fuckers in my way! Too bad my legs were still jacked from leg day and the mechanical bull, that I felt like an asshole doing Deads this morning. I lost a few reps on my usual weight, but whatever. I was just happy to lift alone for once in this gym. I made up for it on chins anyway.

Lol glad you found solace brother!

Cellerator65
07-22-08, 4:48 pm
oh man i rode a mechanical bull maybe 3 months ago... pulled my groin as i got thrown off that bastard, and its never been the same haha. I still can lift, but sometimes waking up with a sore groin aint fun.

BryanSmash!
07-22-08, 7:32 pm
oh man i rode a mechanical bull maybe 3 months ago... pulled my groin as i got thrown off that bastard, and its never been the same haha. I still can lift, but sometimes waking up with a sore groin aint fun.

heheh...sometimes? I'd have thought all the time.

BryanSmash!
07-22-08, 7:33 pm
NOOOOOOO CURLING IN THE SQUAT RACK!



Lol glad you found solace brother!

I know right? There should be a sign or something!

BryanSmash!
07-24-08, 5:31 pm
Thats what I told myself in the mirror today when I thought that maaaaaybe I could skip leg day tomorrow morning and go out with some of the boys tonight. Hey, dont get me wrong, I dont mind going out here and there, but fuck me sideways, Id rather be in the fucking gym sweating my fucking ass off at five oh fucking clock in the morning. Ive always been an introverted person and never really cared about being around others that much, but even more so lately. Guess thats why I only have a few friends. But hey thats okay, thats all I need. I don't feel the need to surround myself with other people that I dont really give a shit about. Am I a lonely guy? Not at all. Its the way I want it. I'm not much for small talk, in or out of the gym. Am I the quiet guy? Sure, calm like a bomb motherfucker. If you don't like it, then get the fuck away from me.
I heart silence.

shizz702
07-24-08, 5:46 pm
Lol dude you and I are exactly alike. Yesterday a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to go to a party, and I told him no I'm not into partying. Who needs friends or parties when you have the Iron and the gym? I ain't got no time for small talk, nor do I care being around others that I can't relate to. As long as you're content that's all that matters.

BryanSmash!
07-24-08, 5:58 pm
Lol dude you and I are exactly alike. Yesterday a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to go to a party, and I told him no I'm not into partying. Who needs friends or parties when you have the Iron and the gym? I ain't got no time for small talk, nor do I care being around others that I can't relate to. As long as you're content that's all that matters.

Right on! Problem is, when I finally do feel content. Some motherfucker always seems to happen along and fuck it up for me. Goddammit!

BryanSmash!
07-25-08, 8:11 am
If you haven't seen this movie (the original one from 78) I highly recommend you do. I've always been a fan of Zombie flicks, and this one is one of my favorites. Timeline wise, its supposed to be the sequel to Night of the Living Dead, even though its made ten years after. Anyway, in the movie, there is this small group of people that take over this mall, kill all the zombies in it, lock it up, and live inside it, waiting out the zombie apocalypse. Throughout the movie, the zombies are constantly shuffling towards the mall, and banging on the doors to get in. They wear the typical zombie expression, dead eyes and slacked jawed.
Why am I writing all this you ask? Well its kind of what I experienced today. When I pulled up to the gym this morning at 5am, there was a whole ass load of slack jawed dead eyed motherfuckers all gaggled around the gym doors until it opened. Fucking zombies. They wear the same expression even when they are "exercising". Fortunately, someone must have sprayed zombie repellent on the squat rack, because every one of them steered clear of it and went straight to the machines and cables. Not one of them even walked in my direction when i was doing squats.
Moral of the story: If a zombie apocalypse ever breaks out, you still don't have a reason not to squat.

shizz702
07-25-08, 12:17 pm
If you haven't seen this movie (the original one from 78) I highly recommend you do. I've always been a fan of Zombie flicks, and this one is one of my favorites. Timeline wise, its supposed to be the sequel to Night of the Living Dead, even though its made ten years after. Anyway, in the movie, there is this small group of people that take over this mall, kill all the zombies in it, lock it up, and live inside it, waiting out the zombie apocalypse. Throughout the movie, the zombies are constantly shuffling towards the mall, and banging on the doors to get in. They wear the typical zombie expression, dead eyes and slacked jawed.
Why am I writing all this you ask? Well its kind of what I experienced today. When I pulled up to the gym this morning at 5am, there was a whole ass load of slack jawed dead eyed motherfuckers all gaggled around the gym doors until it opened. Fucking zombies. They wear the same expression even when they are "exercising". Fortunately, someone must have sprayed zombie repellent on the squat rack, because every one of them steered clear of it and went straight to the machines and cables. Not one of them even walked in my direction when i was doing squats.
Moral of the story: If a zombie apocalypse ever breaks out, you still don't have a reason not to squat.


Lol! Dawn of the Dead is awesome! One of my favorite classic zombie flicks! The original Night of the Living Dead was good, and so was Day of the Dead, but something about Dawn that just takes the cake! Romero is the king of zombie flicks!

I hear ya on the zombie expressions. Most people in the gym are just there wasting away, making no real progress or gains, just there cause they think if they curl 10 lb dumbbells or walk on a treadmill while reading a magazine once or twice a week they will have the body of their dreams. Then after a month or so they realize they have made no significant changes and they give up and quit. And so the turnover cycle continues lol.

Glad your squat rack was open. Shit one of the reasons I bought myself one was cause I got sick of my gym being hit or miss with it. So now I get to squat whenever I want in the convenience of my own home!

BryanSmash!
07-26-08, 12:58 pm
Lol! Dawn of the Dead is awesome! One of my favorite classic zombie flicks! The original Night of the Living Dead was good, and so was Day of the Dead, but something about Dawn that just takes the cake! Romero is the king of zombie flicks!

I hear ya on the zombie expressions. Most people in the gym are just there wasting away, making no real progress or gains, just there cause they think if they curl 10 lb dumbbells or walk on a treadmill while reading a magazine once or twice a week they will have the body of their dreams. Then after a month or so they realize they have made no significant changes and they give up and quit. And so the turnover cycle continues lol.

Glad your squat rack was open. Shit one of the reasons I bought myself one was cause I got sick of my gym being hit or miss with it. So now I get to squat whenever I want in the convenience of my own home!

Ha..yeah I wish the turnover cycle included no one coming back. I wish I could train at home too, but Im working on it!

BryanSmash!
07-30-08, 9:17 pm
Which am I? I always thought I'd be the unstoppable force, but Ive been mistaken. I'm the fucking immovable object. The unstoppable force is the insanity that drives me to be better than I was before. To be stronger. To be smarter. To do what others cannot.
So what happens when when they meet? Intensity. Hatred. Loathing. What fun! The burning desire to torture myself until I can no longer feel the outside world washes over me. Hey who's that fucker staring back at me in the mirror?
Who gives a shit! I hate him too.

eblnyc
07-30-08, 9:29 pm
word of wisdom up in this piece..i like it..

shizz702
07-30-08, 9:38 pm
Good post bro! Always love reading them!

BryanSmash!
07-31-08, 6:13 pm
word of wisdom up in this piece..i like it..

Thanks for the support! I do appreciate it!

BryanSmash!
07-31-08, 6:14 pm
Good post bro! Always love reading them!

Thanks man! I'll try not to get too crazy when i write. Well, actually that probably wont happen. heheh.

BryanSmash!
07-31-08, 9:33 pm
from whence we came. A wise man will tell you that unless you learn from your past, you are doomed to repeat it. But what of you don't want to relive your past? What if you want to forget who you were? What if you want to just block all that shit out? Would that mean that you are fucked?
Or is that what you do now that defines you? What you do now makes you who you are. Doing everyday what others cannot comprehend or could never do themselves makes you who you are. Not being like THEM makes you who you are.
Being yourself.....yeah thats the fucking ticket.

shizz702
07-31-08, 9:58 pm
Damn right what we do now is what makes us who we are. Fuck past mistakes, do the right thing now, repeat. Sooner or later good habits become like a routine.

Cellerator65
07-31-08, 10:07 pm
your past shapes how you are now.. without it, we wouldn't be the same. But what we do now, will shape us for the future

BryanSmash!
08-01-08, 6:12 pm
your past shapes how you are now.. without it, we wouldn't be the same. But what we do now, will shape us for the future

This may be true, but there are somethings about my past I choose not to remember. The absence of the past also molds who we become.

BryanSmash!
08-04-08, 5:21 pm
It's a count down of sorts. It's also my rep scheme for my first compound movement of the day. I had been taking it slowly and cautiously for the last couple of months because I jacked my fucking wrist up bending some steel, and it's a bitch to train around. Not anymore. There's nothing quite like the joy of going for a single at 5:15 am. Your mind is telling you that this is fucking ridiculous. 'You're going to lift THAT? At THIS time in the morning?'
Your goddamn right motherfucker. You're going to push those fucking plates until you are blue in the fucking face.
I heart telling myself to fuck off.

shizz702
08-04-08, 7:31 pm
Haha you're goddamn right motherfucker!!!

Nothing like heavy lifting early in the morning eh?

BryanSmash!
08-05-08, 6:16 pm
Haha you're goddamn right motherfucker!!!

Nothing like heavy lifting early in the morning eh?

right on that!

BryanSmash!
08-05-08, 6:30 pm
Thats what some guy said to me in the gym this morning while I was in the middle of stacking more plates on the bar for partial deads. I simply laughed and shrugged it off. I looked around and to my surprise I was beginning to draw a crowd for some reason. I looked back at the bar. Six plates. What the fuck? Hasn't anyone here seen six plates go up in a partial or otherwise before? Why are all these people hanging around me? So I said fuck it. I threw on three more plates and a collar barely dangling on, got some chalk and silently made the lift.
I looked around.
Crickets.
Everyone was gone.
Was it just time to go for them, or was it the sight of a madman training that caused them to scamper away? Who knows. I shrugged and chuckled to myself.
I dropped some plates off and knocked out a set until failure.
What the fuck ever.

BryanSmash!
08-11-08, 4:40 pm
I just cant fucking do it. I just cant be like everyone else. Is this good or bad? A little bit of both I think. I was gone with the army for a month and now Im back in the civilian world for a while and I just cant adjust. WTF? I thought is was supposed to be easier than this. Maybe I never fully adjusted from my first deployment and its just catching up with me. Maybe I should just shut the fuck up use this feeling for more fuel in the gym.
Thats the ticket.

shizz702
08-12-08, 7:50 pm
Thats what some guy said to me in the gym this morning while I was in the middle of stacking more plates on the bar for partial deads. I simply laughed and shrugged it off. I looked around and to my surprise I was beginning to draw a crowd for some reason. I looked back at the bar. Six plates. What the fuck? Hasn't anyone here seen six plates go up in a partial or otherwise before? Why are all these people hanging around me? So I said fuck it. I threw on three more plates and a collar barely dangling on, got some chalk and silently made the lift.
I looked around.
Crickets.
Everyone was gone.
Was it just time to go for them, or was it the sight of a madman training that caused them to scamper away? Who knows. I shrugged and chuckled to myself.
I dropped some plates off and knocked out a set until failure.
What the fuck ever.

LOL that's fucking awesome! How ironic though that they were all gone after the monster lift. Oh well at least you pretty much know the general consensus is you're the strongest guy in that gym!


I just cant fucking do it. I just cant be like everyone else. Is this good or bad? A little bit of both I think. I was gone with the army for a month and now Im back in the civilian world for a while and I just cant adjust. WTF? I thought is was supposed to be easier than this. Maybe I never fully adjusted from my first deployment and its just catching up with me. Maybe I should just shut the fuck up use this feeling for more fuel in the gym.
Thats the ticket.

More fuel in the gym=the ticket for sure bro. Don't over analyze these thoughts and emotions you're currently dealing with. You're probably just trying to adjust to things since you were living a different way of life in the Army. It's all good man. Just keep killing it in the gym and you'll be fine.

BryanSmash!
08-21-08, 2:15 am
heheh..thanks man. Just gotta put all that bad stuff away for now.

BryanSmash!
08-21-08, 2:25 am
Another casualty in my iron crusade. My legs have officially grown beyond the point of being able to wear boxer briefs anymore. Fuck, I guess that'll go in the category of shit I didn't see coming- like having to cut my nails every four days, no more regular cut jeans, and learning 101 ways to cook a chicken breast.
All good problems to have in my book though.

Carpe Diem P.T
08-21-08, 6:06 am
Why is it that the weights feel so much better when it's so incredibly early? Funny how when shit sucks I like it better. I hate getting up at 445am. I really hate doing squats at 510am. I guess that makes it better for me though. I must just like torturing myself. Hey why not, it's fun! One thing that is always a constant however, is having to deal with people who are trying to draw attention to themselves. Example: Today after my squats I moved to the leg press, and this guy gets into the squat rack to do some deads, a bigger muscular guy (about 6' 240 lbs). He immediately put 225 on the bar and did a set of 8, slamming the weight loudly on the ground, pretty much to bounce to weight up every rep. I thought, "Okaaaay, maybe hes just warming up or is coming up from an injury or something." I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. He then slams on a quarter each for a whopping 275 and slams out 7 reps to failure, grunting loudly, and bouncing the weight on every rep. I almost went over there and picked up the weight with one hand just so he'd feel like an idiot, but thats not my way. Many are the misguided in this land of iron, and it's not my job to show them the finer points of proper form and gym etiquette. Unless it's incredibly obnoxious, I don't give a fuck. It takes all I have to fight my own battles. I don't have the time or energy to deal with anyone else's while i'm lifting. Give me a friendly nod? Sure, you'll get one back. Ask me how I'm doing? You'll get a "alright". Other than that, leave me the fuck alone while i'm lifting. The goes for the girls too. I don't care how hot you are, or how hot you think you are. Leave me the fuck alone. I don't want your attention, and you're not going to get mine. Ask me the proper form for Power Cleans, sure. But keep your phone number in your fucking pocket.

you are very in to yourself buddy. i read through and its mostly about how your referred to as the big guy and how you cant believe how hard you work and how much you love lifting weights early in the morning because its crazy. you say a few times 'hey i was a beginner once too' but you spend a lot of time bagging everyone else out. girls coming up giving you their number? sigh. drawing crowds, guys telling you to lift cars, boxers not fitting, you being the only non zombie, man enough to deadlift.

this seems all very pompous and really just a bragging thread. your thoughts though and you are welcome to post them. I am also entitled not to like it and let you know about it.

good luck to ya.

shizz702
08-21-08, 8:49 am
Another casualty in my iron crusade. My legs have officially grown beyond the point of being able to wear boxer briefs anymore. Fuck, I guess that'll go in the category of shit I didn't see coming- like having to cut my nails every four days, no more regular cut jeans, and learning 101 ways to cook a chicken breast.
All good problems to have in my book though.

Lol that's from all the squats! I'm getting there, it's getting to the point for me where my legs fit pretty snug in them lol. Like you said though that's a good problem.

BryanSmash!
08-21-08, 1:33 pm
you are very in to yourself buddy. i read through and its mostly about how your referred to as the big guy and how you cant believe how hard you work and how much you love lifting weights early in the morning because its crazy. you say a few times 'hey i was a beginner once too' but you spend a lot of time bagging everyone else out. girls coming up giving you their number? sigh. drawing crowds, guys telling you to lift cars, boxers not fitting, you being the only non zombie, man enough to deadlift.

this seems all very pompous and really just a bragging thread. your thoughts though and you are welcome to post them. I am also entitled not to like it and let you know about it.

good luck to ya.

I'm sorry that you feel I am some arrogant bastard who is thinks he is better than everyone else. That isn't my intention here and never will be. I do always appreciate constructive criticism however, and thank you for being candid. I do however, completely disagree with your statement, so let me clear a few things up:
1: I am not a giant among men and do not refer to myself as such. When I started lifting 15 years ago I weighed 136lbs. Now I am 218. It;s taken alot of hard work to get where I am, and I never forget where I came from.
2: I don't toot my own horn about how hard I work. Hard work is the foundation for lifting progressively and this is the point Im trying to convey.
3: I do love lifting weights in the morning because it's crazy. It's crazy to ME, you see I usually don't get back from work until 1 or 2am in the civilian world and when Im back working for the Army I usually get up at 445am to go lift. So you must understand, to me, it IS crazy.
4: I don't bag on everyone else in the gym because I think I am better than them. Thats not the case and never will be. Unless their behavior is obnoxious or what I consider interesting, you won't hear about it.
5: The subjects and contents of my posts that you are referring to are what I consider interesting enough to make for good subject matter for this thread.
6: Thank you for your permission to post my thoughts in my own thread designed to post my thoughts. You are, of course, entitled to like or dislike what I have written, and to not read whatever content that I post on here. If anyone else feels the same way, feel free to let me know in a tactful manner and I will respond in kind.

BryanSmash!
08-21-08, 1:36 pm
Lol that's from all the squats! I'm getting there, it's getting to the point for me where my legs fit pretty snug in them lol. Like you said though that's a good problem.

Ha...fair warning that they are going to start choking off your quads pretty soon. I'd recommend boxers, or my personal favorite, just go commando. Let em flap in the breeze.

shizz702
08-21-08, 1:39 pm
Ha...fair warning that they are going to start choking off your quads pretty soon. I'd recommend boxers, or my personal favorite, just go commando. Let em flap in the breeze.

Lol commando!

Carpe Diem P.T
08-21-08, 4:46 pm
good reply. slightly sarcastic but very tactful none the less. you seem like a nice fella.

Cellerator65
08-21-08, 5:21 pm
old mesh shorts make for decent boxers... very comfortable and feels great

BryanSmash!
08-22-08, 2:04 am
good reply. slightly sarcastic but very tactful none the less. you seem like a nice fella.

Thanks man. I am a pretty nice fella once you get to know me, also I can be a little sarcastic sometimes as well, heheh.

BryanSmash!
08-22-08, 2:08 am
old mesh shorts make for decent boxers... very comfortable and feels great

Good idea! My junk could use a little comfort after being squished for so long. Hafta stop at the store tomorrow.

BryanSmash!
08-22-08, 3:03 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BdLnF_E5U4

BryanSmash!
08-22-08, 3:04 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BdLnF_E5U4


Yes, it's fucking awesome. Words to live by.

BryanSmash!
08-28-08, 2:34 am
Went for a PR the other other day and made the lift, but fuck, it took a long time. Ten seconds at least! I pulled and pulled and pulled (with the shittiest form ever) and it seemed like forever to get to the top. Anyway, the reason I brought this up was to say that I switched to a different rep scheme for deads and it seemed to work rather well. each set is only one rep, including warm ups. Just start piling the plates on. Good shit!

BryanSmash!
09-07-08, 11:16 pm
Man I thought it was hard to keep on a good diet with things normal, but Ive discovered that trying to eat right between deployments is downright impossible. It's like, "Well I wont be seeing that for a while, gobble gobble". Its not uncommon for me to kill a whole pizza or a bag of double stuff oreos. Ha! Well gotta ease up and relax sometime I guess. Funny thing is, when I was deployed last time the one thing I craved the most was a plain chicken breast! Fuck all the soda, candy and cookies. Weird,hunh?

BryanSmash!
09-26-08, 2:02 am
It would probably be one of these two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRA5HX7kbPM
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzToNo7A-94

or maybe both heheh.

Latimer316
09-26-08, 12:20 pm
You gettin ready to go over again?

BryanSmash!
09-26-08, 2:03 pm
You gettin ready to go over again?

Yep. Its comin up soon.

BryanSmash!
09-26-08, 2:10 pm
I felt like throwing up after my workout today, and while I was sitting there on the toilet trying not to vomit my protein shake, I realized no matter how hard I try, I always think of gross shit while Im trying to keep it down. Kinda like in the movie Ghostbusters, when Goser tells the team to pick what is going to destroy them so they try and clear their minds completely, but the first thing that pops into Ray's head is the fucking Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. For me, that episode of south park where everyone shoves food up their ass and shits out their mouth always comes to mind. Either that or puke or shit or snot or whatever.I just cant seem to think of anything else. Fuck.

shizz702
09-26-08, 2:26 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BdLnF_E5U4


Yes, it's fucking awesome. Words to live by.

Lol hell yes! That was fucking awesome!

FUCK THEM!!!!!!! LMAO!

I love how they were playing the same riff for every "type" of metal until lounge.


I felt like throwing up after my workout today, and while I was sitting there on the toilet trying not to vomit my protein shake, I realized no matter how hard I try, I always think of gross shit while Im trying to keep it down. Kinda like in the movie Ghostbusters, when Goser tells the team to pick what is going to destroy them so they try and clear their minds completely, but the first thing that pops into Ray's head is the fucking Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. For me, that episode of south park where everyone shoves food up their ass and shits out their mouth always comes to mind. Either that or puke or shit or snot or whatever.I just cant seem to think of anything else. Fuck.

That's wierd man. Funny how shit like that work eh?

BryanSmash!
10-02-08, 2:09 am
Lol hell yes! That was fucking awesome!

FUCK THEM!!!!!!! LMAO!

I love how they were playing the same riff for every "type" of metal until lounge.



That's wierd man. Funny how shit like that work eh?

heheh. Glad you liked it!

BryanSmash!
10-02-08, 2:18 am
Being a fan of Metallica for about 20 years now I was shocked when I read this article:
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/106263

Playing metal loud is the only rule of metal. See Fat ed's furry fucking guide to metal posted above if you need to be reminded.

How could you possibly complain about metal being too loud? Fucking pussies is all I have to say about that.

shizz702
10-05-08, 8:25 pm
Being a fan of Metallica for about 20 years now I was shocked when I read this article:
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/106263

Playing metal loud is the only rule of metal. See Fat ed's furry fucking guide to metal posted above if you need to be reminded.

How could you possibly complain about metal being too loud? Fucking pussies is all I have to say about that.

wtf?!

Play that shit loud! No such thing as too loud when it comes to metal!

I'll quote manowar, "hold your head up high, raise your fist up in the air, play metal, LOUDER THAN HELL!"

Cellerator65
10-05-08, 9:38 pm
music always sounds better loud

v8ftmfw
10-05-08, 10:02 pm
wtf?!

Play that shit loud! No such thing as too loud when it comes to metal!

I'll quote manowar, "hold your head up high, raise your fist up in the air, play metal, LOUDER THAN HELL!"

u mean this ?
[img=http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/5240/disturbedwallpapercc6.th.jpg] (http://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=disturbedwallpapercc6.jpg)[img=http://img129.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif] (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

BryanSmash!
10-05-08, 11:07 pm
wtf?!

Play that shit loud! No such thing as too loud when it comes to metal!

I'll quote manowar, "hold your head up high, raise your fist up in the air, play metal, LOUDER THAN HELL!"

Fuckin A right!

BryanSmash!
10-05-08, 11:08 pm
music always sounds better loud

Especially if its drowning out shitty gym music heheh.

BryanSmash!
10-05-08, 11:08 pm
u mean this ?
[img=http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/5240/disturbedwallpapercc6.th.jpg] (http://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=disturbedwallpapercc6.jpg)[img=http://img129.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif] (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

Ten thousand fists in the air!

BryanSmash!
10-22-08, 2:51 am
So I was watching Spongebob with my daughter the other day and in the opening credits they advertised a special music guest: Pantera! What the fuck! Thats awesome! The whole episode was laden with heavy ass riffs! I fuckin love it!

Cellerator65
10-22-08, 10:04 am
So I was watching Spongebob with my daughter the other day and in the opening credits they advertised a special music guest: Pantera! What the fuck! Thats awesome! The whole episode was laden with heavy ass riffs! I fuckin love it!

simply amazing haha!

shizz702
10-22-08, 10:13 am
So I was watching Spongebob with my daughter the other day and in the opening credits they advertised a special music guest: Pantera! What the fuck! Thats awesome! The whole episode was laden with heavy ass riffs! I fuckin love it!

Lol that's awesome!

BryanSmash!
10-24-08, 8:21 pm
Lol that's awesome!

ha! Right? I'm hoping Slayer will be next!

BryanSmash!
10-24-08, 8:22 pm
simply amazing haha!

heheh. Im glad to see heavy metal getting more exposure though!

BryanSmash!
10-24-08, 8:29 pm
Recently I was working out in my gym, when a guy I was passing said to me, "Hey you look huge man!". I gave him the customary nod I give anyone else and continued on my way. A little later I thought to myself that my action might have been perceived a a little dickish, so I found the dude and thanked him for the compliment. Just wanted to keep up an approachable appearance. It's funny because normally I wouldn't have went back up to him, but because I'm wearing Animal shirts in the gym now I feel like a have to represent the name to some degree. I guess clothes do make the man, heheh.

shizz702
10-24-08, 9:04 pm
Lol I know what you mean bro, I get a lot of nods and give them as well. Just got to remember to not be arrogant and stay down to earth. Most people don't understand what we do, let alone do it, but shit you got to love the compliments right!

BryanSmash!
10-24-08, 10:54 pm
Lol I know what you mean bro, I get a lot of nods and give them as well. Just got to remember to not be arrogant and stay down to earth. Most people don't understand what we do, let alone do it, but shit you got to love the compliments right!

As a former 136lb weakling, I heart compliments heheh.

BryanSmash!
11-05-08, 12:24 pm
Ive been pretty tired lately, also kinda sick. Basically ive been draggin my ass around all week. When I went to the gym this morning I brought my daughter (they have child care at my gym), and she was literally so excited to be there that she was pulling ME through the front door. Ha. I thought to myself that if she could be that excited to be here than so should I. So instead of having a shitty workout, I had a pretty good one, thanks to my kid. One more reason that she's awesome.

shizz702
11-05-08, 12:36 pm
Haha right on bro! Glad to hear you had a good session.

eblnyc
11-05-08, 7:51 pm
great stuff your doing dude..i like your style..

BryanSmash!
11-06-08, 2:10 am
Haha right on bro! Glad to hear you had a good session.

heheh..mostly thanks to my daughter!

BryanSmash!
11-06-08, 2:13 am
great stuff your doing dude..i like your style..

Thanks! Glad to see you're back!

BryanSmash!
11-07-08, 2:11 am
So I was at the gym after my workout, and I decided to weigh myself. I did, but on my way to the shower, I had to take a shit. So I took a shit, and on my way back to take a shower I passed the scale and thought, "Hmmm, I wonder...". So I weighed myself again and discovered I was three pounds lighter. With my curiosity satisfied, I finally took my shower.

Oh come on. Don't tell me you haven't tried it. Or at least thought about it.

Cellerator65
11-07-08, 9:49 am
all the time

shizz702
11-07-08, 10:02 am
Shit man I think we all weigh ourselves all the time.

BryanSmash!
11-11-08, 5:34 pm
all the time

heheh. good to know.

BryanSmash!
11-11-08, 5:35 pm
Shit man I think we all weigh ourselves all the time.

glad Im not the only one heheh.

FireFighter85
11-11-08, 9:09 pm
haha thats awesome... I always thought I was weird. I SHIT THAT MUCH?!? Im glad other people have done it too..

BryanSmash!
11-12-08, 8:02 am
haha thats awesome... I always thought I was weird. I SHIT THAT MUCH?!? Im glad other people have done it too..

Ha! Dont worry though..you are not alone!

Latimer316
11-13-08, 5:09 am
Whats up bro? Its been a while since I've stopped in your journey and it looks like your still continuing to train very hard. Keep it up man. I believe you guys have an ABC this weekend. Make sure to push MHAMMER to the max. We are good buds and were stationed together in the army. I know your in so thought you guys might be able to exchange some stories and what not. Take care man

BryanSmash!
11-13-08, 8:13 am
Whats up bro? Its been a while since I've stopped in your journey and it looks like your still continuing to train very hard. Keep it up man. I believe you guys have an ABC this weekend. Make sure to push MHAMMER to the max. We are good buds and were stationed together in the army. I know your in so thought you guys might be able to exchange some stories and what not. Take care man

Thanks for stopping by! Im always more than happy to exchange some stories. Unfortunately, I dont think we'll be having a meet this week as there havent been any responses on the wisconsin animals thread. I'm trying to push for the week instead, so maybe we can get together then.

BryanSmash!
11-14-08, 9:37 pm
Yesterday I was FINALLY able to do some direct forearm and grip work after about a 8 month layoff. Felt great! When I fucked up my wrist bending steel, I couldn't do a wrist curl with 10 fucking pounds without extreme pain so I was forced to drop all forearm and most grip work for a while. Who knows, maybe Ill even bust out the 50p nails soon!

BryanSmash!
11-25-08, 12:25 am
Woke up this morning to a few inches of snow outside. It was blessedly cold, the kind of weather that brings out your inner viking. I did however, veto the loot, pillage and burn scenario going through my mind and went to the gym instead.
Odin!

FireFighter85
11-25-08, 12:56 am
you lucky bastard.... a few inches of snow?!? I woke up to a few centimeters of snow.... doesnt do anything for the inner viking..

BryanSmash!
11-25-08, 1:06 am
you lucky bastard.... a few inches of snow?!? I woke up to a few centimeters of snow.... doesnt do anything for the inner viking..

Patience my friend. More snow is on the way for you soon. Sharpen your axe in the meantime heheh.

FireFighter85
11-25-08, 2:00 am
patience is a virtue I do not have. If I sharpen it any more it will have no blade... haha

BryanSmash!
11-25-08, 2:07 am
patience is a virtue I do not have. If I sharpen it any more it will have no blade... haha

heheh..fair enough. Perhaps you'll have to do what I do and swing around some hammers instead.

BryanSmash!
11-26-08, 2:49 pm
Today I decided to bring back the strict standing OHP in my routine. Ive been using DB's for the past couple of months and worked up to my target weight and rep scheme of 80lbs for ten reps. I had hoped that some of that would carry over into the barbell press, but that didn't seem to be the case.
I got into the power rack and set the safety pins a couple of inches below my shoulders, so I would be forced to press the weight 100% strict. I racked the bar by bending my knees, getting under the bar, and standing erect with the bar resting on my upper chest.
135 went up fast. So did 155. 175 was tough, but manageable. I failed on 185, getting it most of the way up, but not being able to lock it out. Id thought for sure I'd be able get 200 up today, but it looks like I'll be grinding it over the four weeks to get up there.
Oh well, I'll have along the way at least.

BryanSmash!
11-27-08, 7:04 pm
I feel like a blimp after Turkey day. But it feels soooo good. At least until leg day tomorrow.

BryanSmash!
11-28-08, 4:55 pm
I was finally able to hit my target number of reps on squat starts today. Maybe its because Im fatter today than at this time last week. Must've had a more stable platform to push off of ha ha.

Bootleg
12-02-08, 9:36 am
Good to know youre lifting on turkey day..my gym was closed! Keep them squats heavy bro!

BryanSmash!
12-02-08, 11:26 am
Good to know youre lifting on turkey day..my gym was closed! Keep them squats heavy bro!

Oh, they seem heavy no matter what weight I use lol.

BryanSmash!
12-04-08, 3:04 am
I put up 185 in the OHP today and almost had 190. Maybe next week.
A couple of days ago I noticed this wooly caterpillar inching his way across the indoor basketball court area when I take my cooldown walk, and today, he was about three feet further than before. I realized that he's doing a form of progressive resistance- hes doing a little bit more each day to achieve a larger goal (get across the floor). Im going to try and beat that little fucker to 205 in the OHP before he gets all the way across.
Thatll teach em.
Hope nobody steps on the fucker now, I'll be pissed.

BryanSmash!
12-14-08, 5:36 pm
Well, I got 190 up today, but my little friend was nowhere to be found. I hope he made it across the floor on his merry little way. Crawl strong my friend.

shizz702
12-14-08, 6:02 pm
Well, I got 190 up today, but my little friend was nowhere to be found. I hope he made it across the floor on his merry little way. Crawl strong my friend.

190 eh? Not bad bro, my best so far is 185, it was an epic PR for me. I just got myself a trap bar, and I got a 2" thick barbell on the way for xmas!

BryanSmash!
12-14-08, 7:11 pm
190 eh? Not bad bro, my best so far is 185, it was an epic PR for me. I just got myself a trap bar, and I got a 2" thick barbell on the way for xmas!

A thick bar?! Oh you suck! lol Iv'e been wanting one of those for forever!

shizz702
12-14-08, 7:20 pm
A thick bar?! Oh you suck! lol Iv'e been wanting one of those for forever!

Dude look how cheap I found one for http://www.amazon.com/48-Black-Olympic-Fat-Bar/dp/B0017RJH40/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1229300172&sr=8-3

Only $105!

BryanSmash!
12-14-08, 7:28 pm
Dude look how cheap I found one for http://www.amazon.com/48-Black-Olympic-Fat-Bar/dp/B0017RJH40/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1229300172&sr=8-3

Only $105!

Fuck! Thats a great price for a four footer. Looks like the price of steel came down since the last time I looked at bars. Good find shizz!

shizz702
12-14-08, 7:33 pm
Fuck! Thats a great price for a four footer. Looks like the price of steel came down since the last time I looked at bars. Good find shizz!

Hell yea bro, that's what I got on the way for xmas! It may only be 4 ft but it will still make good for some continental cleans, ohp's, and especially curls. Gonna be great for the grip curling that shit!

I just found a full size 7 ft one for $185, shit if I could've done it over again I probably would have gotten it instead, check it out here: http://www.flexcart.com/members/fatbars/default.asp?m=PD&cid=6&pid=130

and if possible bro you should jump on one of these!

BryanSmash!
12-14-08, 7:40 pm
Hell yea bro, that's what I got on the way for xmas! It may only be 4 ft but it will still make good for some continental cleans, ohp's, and especially curls. Gonna be great for the grip curling that shit!

I just found a full size 7 ft one for $185, shit if I could've done it over again I probably would have gotten it instead, check it out here: http://www.flexcart.com/members/fatbars/default.asp?m=PD&cid=6&pid=130

and if possible bro you should jump on one of these!

Fuck, I would but Ill be leaving soon, so itll just sit in my basement getting rusty. I did bookmark that store however, and if the price stays low like that, I'll be cleaning them out when I get back. Thanks for the info!

shizz702
12-14-08, 7:43 pm
Yea that looks like a great site, I can't believe I just now ran into it. So bro have you ordered Brook's new book? I can't wait to get it!

Psycho77
12-14-08, 8:00 pm
Well, I got 190 up today, but my little friend was nowhere to be found. I hope he made it across the floor on his merry little way. Crawl strong my friend.


Congrats on the 190, 200 is next ten 220, then 250 then 300. oh yeah!

BryanSmash!
12-14-08, 10:24 pm
Yea that looks like a great site, I can't believe I just now ran into it. So bro have you ordered Brook's new book? I can't wait to get it!

Ah fuck I knew there was something I was forgetting. Im going to order it tomorrow. Hope it gets here by Xmas.

BryanSmash!
12-14-08, 10:26 pm
Congrats on the 190, 200 is next ten 220, then 250 then 300. oh yeah!

Thanks! I've got my sights set on 225 by Jan 9th, and a couple of years after that, 315.

BryanSmash!
12-19-08, 5:39 pm
Today, instead of my usual leg workout, I decided to throw everything out the window and just do what the fuck I felt like instead. So, I went right for the OHP, as I failed on my max attempt earlier in the week. Long story short, I was able to set a new PR of 195, and I almost went for 200, be decided not to instead. Ill wait a week before I try that.
After that I did some goofy fucking forearm and grip work, and went home smiling.
Then I shoveled my driveway, no longer smiling.

shizz702
12-19-08, 6:55 pm
Way to get that 195 Bryan! 200 will be one hell a of a milestone and feat at that.

BryanSmash!
12-19-08, 11:22 pm
Way to get that 195 Bryan! 200 will be one hell a of a milestone and feat at that.

Thanks! I'll be missing my Wed workout due to the holidays, so Ill have a full 3 days rest from my last workout until I try to hit it on Fri. I can't wait to break that barrier!

BryanSmash!
12-25-08, 1:07 am
My gym had been closed the last three days because of a gas leak, so today, fed up with not working out, I busted out my old lifting shit in my basement for a workout, and I must say, I had a pretty good fucking workout. I threw around my rusty olympic bar with chipped stone plates for some curls and rows. I tossed off my shirt, cranked up the viking metal, and suddenly my dark cold basement was transformed into my own personal fortress of fucking solitude.
By the time I was finished, I had that wonderful feeling of being pumped, freezing my ass off, and sweating all at the same time.
Eye heart old school.

BryanSmash!
12-30-08, 8:03 pm
With my gym still closed with a gas leak repair, and fed up with not being able to hit my OHP, I dragged my plates and bar up from my basement into my garage in the middle of a snow storm. It was 18 degrees outside, and I loved every minute of it.
Sadly, I wasn't able to hit a new PR of 205, but came pretty close. I ended up half ass push pressing it up on my second try just to say I got it up over my head. I 'punished' myself for not hitting my new PR by repping out with 135 instead. 18 reps in strict form is a new PR for me in that, so I guess Ill take it until next time.
Dragging everything back downstairs was a bitch though.

shizz702
12-30-08, 8:48 pm
Damn 18 reps with 135 overhead is serious business! I think 11 is my PR with that weight. Lol it definitely must have sucked dragging the weights back down ;)

BryanSmash!
12-30-08, 9:28 pm
Damn 18 reps with 135 overhead is serious business! I think 11 is my PR with that weight. Lol it definitely must have sucked dragging the weights back down ;)

Thanks! I had 20 reps on the brain, but when rep #19 went up, I came to a grinding halt a few inches before lockout. Being angry at not hitting a new single PR always pisses me off enough to give me that extra motivation.
Hey have you tried the OHP with your new fatbar yet?

shizz702
12-30-08, 9:32 pm
Thanks! I had 20 reps on the brain, but when rep #19 went up, I came to a grinding halt a few inches before lockout. Being angry at not hitting a new single PR always pisses me off enough to give me that extra motivation.
Hey have you tried the OHP with your new fatbar yet?

I've hit some clean and jerks with them, 150 was HARD to clean! I can clean 195 with a standard bar but man with that thick bar it really puts the grip to the test on the second pull.

It's hella fun to hit the jerks with it though cause after racking it and bouncing it up it just falls right into your palms and you can just drive it straight up.

BryanSmash!
01-31-09, 8:49 am
I've hit some clean and jerks with them, 150 was HARD to clean! I can clean 195 with a standard bar but man with that thick bar it really puts the grip to the test on the second pull.

It's hella fun to hit the jerks with it though cause after racking it and bouncing it up it just falls right into your palms and you can just drive it straight up.

Nice! You're going to have one hell of a dinosaur grip thats for sure!

BryanSmash!
01-31-09, 9:02 am
Ive been at some military training out in the field for the last few weeks running 16-20 hour operations everyday watching my hard earned muscle and strength slowly wither away. With no time to workout, and usually only being able to eat twice a day, Ive got that "I feel small and weak syndrome" that bodybuilders sometimes get during precontest dieting. Yeah I know, it'll come back fast from muscle memory, and my body could probably use the layoff from the weights after pounding the iron hard and heavy for years, but in my mind it still doesn't make it any easier.
In the military, we're taught to 'always place the mission first'. Ive been using this as a positive during these operations. Ive used the opportunity to expand my soldier and leadership skills, trying to grow mentally instead of physically as it were. I think Ive managed to grow considerable in these areas, so that lessens the blow of being a little smaller and weaker for the time being. Besides, I can always pick up the weights again soon right?

Still fucking sucks though. But I'll live.

shizz702
01-31-09, 8:06 pm
Man bro, tough position you are put in there. On one hand you have no choice really but to fulfill your obligation to the military, but on the other I understand that tie you have to the Iron. You've been doing so well with your training and it must be agonizing to see all those gains slip away. Only advice I can give is if at all possible if you can find time to cut your meals in and still train, if they would allow it that is. If not, all you can do is hold off, and relish the muscle memory when you get to get back to it.

BryanSmash!
02-01-09, 7:50 am
Man bro, tough position you are put in there. On one hand you have no choice really but to fulfill your obligation to the military, but on the other I understand that tie you have to the Iron. You've been doing so well with your training and it must be agonizing to see all those gains slip away. Only advice I can give is if at all possible if you can find time to cut your meals in and still train, if they would allow it that is. If not, all you can do is hold off, and relish the muscle memory when you get to get back to it.

I try to eat pieces and parts of our carb-laden field meals (called MRE's) and lift some 5 gallon water cans or rocks if I have time, but its just not the same you know. The question for me now is that when I get back to lifting, if I can ease into it and do it the right way, or jump back in with white hot intensity and probably get injured. I am stubborn that way.
Hey hows that thick bar training coming by the way?

Latimer316
02-02-09, 9:54 am
Hey brother I feel ya man. I'm going on 7 years in the military and each time a school comes up or field time some of the first things that come to mind is muscle loss. We chose to do this job and being in the Army does come first. Like you said it always comes back but the thought I've losing what you've strived for the past year is now going to slowly slip away. I'm gonna start keeping up w/your journey..stay safe, keep training hard bro

out here..

BryanSmash!
02-03-09, 11:44 am
Hey brother I feel ya man. I'm going on 7 years in the military and each time a school comes up or field time some of the first things that come to mind is muscle loss. We chose to do this job and being in the Army does come first. Like you said it always comes back but the thought I've losing what you've strived for the past year is now going to slowly slip away. I'm gonna start keeping up w/your journey..stay safe, keep training hard bro

out here..

Right on man. I feel the same way. On top of everything else, I got sick as fuck with some sort pf respiratory infection, kind of like running on one lung for right now. Talk about adding insult to injury!
Glad you're checking in. Ill be keeping all posted on my quest to at least break even, and hopefully surpass where I was over the next year.

BryanSmash!
02-07-09, 10:17 pm
Ive was able to finally get some lifting in the last couple days, and I lost 20lbs off my OHP since the last time I lifted. Its like another kick in the fucking ass. Sometimes its hard to be so determined to get back what youve lost. Just because the weights are feeling heavy is no reason to piss and moan though. Ill get it back and then some. I dont give a fuck.

BryanSmash!
02-13-09, 7:59 pm
Had a couple more sessions in the weight room, and it feels great to be able to lift again, even if its only for a short time. I did a session of deads and single db triceps extensions, and I was sore as fuck the next day, you know, the good kind of sore that comes when you work the shit out of yourself.
Another good thing that came out of this session was that because I was using much less weight on my deads, I was able to concentrate on my form, which I discovered looks like shit when the weights start getting heavy. My hips come up too fast which turns the exercise into a stiff legged deadlift instead. I guess I better get on those fucking good mornings.

shizz702
02-13-09, 9:23 pm
Glad to see you're still able to put some work in Bryan. Fuck 20 lbs already gone on the press eh? No big deal bro, once you can get back to it full bore I'm sure you could get that back within a month. I hear you on the deadlift form, I have the exact same problem with my hips rising too fast, it seems to be common amongst tall deadlifters like myself, and if I remember correctly I think you are tall too?

As long as you maintain an arch and stay tight though, from what I gather it is not that big of a problem, really all it is, is taking your quads out of the equation, and you're basically just using less musculature that way.

There's a guy on youtube that I follow that is a "back puller" that pulls 700+ with no leg drive what so ever, check him out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neERhCtsUDA&feature=channel_page

Notice how his hips shoot right up and he just stiff legs it? It's not the most efficient way to pull but I'm seeing with myself it's a very tough habit to break, and almost inevitably happens when the weight gets heavy.

BryanSmash!
02-14-09, 12:06 am
Heheh thanks for the good words. Was it just me or the angle of that vid, but I though his stance was really close together? When he first gripped the bar I thought he was going to sumo that fucker.
Deadlift form has always been a bastard for me, I dont know why. Im a stickler for form on every other exercise, but something in me just wants to yank a bunch of fucking weight off the ground, regardless of how I do it. As you said, a hard habit to break.
Ill be look to get all crazy with that shit when I get overseas again. Its comin up soon and I like to fill my time when Im not out on a mission.

BryanSmash!
02-18-09, 8:13 pm
Fuck...I was finally able to bench press after a ten week layoff, and my chest is so sore, I can hardly move. I fuckin love it! Regaining that feeling has been one of the rare things in my favor after my layoff.

shizz702
02-18-09, 8:15 pm
Fuck...I was finally able to bench press after a ten week layoff, and my chest is so sore, I can hardly move. I fuckin love it! Regaining that feeling has been one of the rare things in my favor after my layoff.

Haha got to love the ol' DOMS after a lay off!

B-rad89
02-18-09, 8:17 pm
I just got done with deadlifts today, and let me tell you... I can't drip a damn thing right now if I tried. I couldn't even finish my last 2 sets because I just couldn't grip on the last rep. Both times it slipped on rep 10. I would try again, and nothing. Feels great.

BryanSmash!
02-18-09, 8:21 pm
Haha got to love the ol' DOMS after a lay off!

Heheh right? Must...eat...protein!

BryanSmash!
02-18-09, 8:24 pm
I just got done with deadlifts today, and let me tell you... I can't drip a damn thing right now if I tried. I couldn't even finish my last 2 sets because I just couldn't grip on the last rep. Both times it slipped on rep 10. I would try again, and nothing. Feels great.

Nice! Wait until you start peeling skin off your hands with partial deads...its even better!

B-rad89
02-18-09, 8:28 pm
Nice! Wait until you start peeling skin off your hands with partial deads...its even better!

Already am! Was biting them off in the gym (what was left of the skin). 5/3/1 boring but big 3 sets 70/75/80% 5reps. then 5 sets of 10 @ 50%. after the first set of 10 hands were nice and tore up. :D

BryanSmash!
02-18-09, 10:28 pm
Already am! Was biting them off in the gym (what was left of the skin). 5/3/1 boring but big 3 sets 70/75/80% 5reps. then 5 sets of 10 @ 50%. after the first set of 10 hands were nice and tore up. :D

Good deal! Love it when the iron bites back!

BryanSmash!
02-21-09, 9:55 pm
Well, I'll be leaving shortly for another deployment overseas. I'll be glad when I can get back into my groove for lifting, which is going to depend on how busy I'll be. Hey, who knows, maybe Ill be able to start a new Animal Chapter when I get to where I'm going.

shizz702
02-21-09, 10:01 pm
Well, I'll be leaving shortly for another deployment overseas. I'll be glad when I can get back into my groove for lifting, which is going to depend on how busy I'll be. Hey, who knows, maybe Ill be able to start a new Animal Chapter when I get to where I'm going.

Best wishes bro, eat and lift as much as possible, and definitely start a new chapter!

BryanSmash!
02-21-09, 11:31 pm
Best wishes bro, eat and lift as much as possible, and definitely start a new chapter!

Thanks! I'm looking forward to the next chapter thats for sure!

Latimer316
02-22-09, 9:59 am
Hey man, its been a while and I wanted to check in to see how things are going. Looks like your training is going good and your getting ready to head out in a bit. You should def start a chapter over there. As you know, you've got your mission to do and after that its up to you how you spend your time. Depending on the FOB you'll probably have a decent amount of weights to work with. Take that year and destory the weights and come back even better. Best of luck and stay safe!

BryanSmash!
02-22-09, 10:14 am
Hey man, its been a while and I wanted to check in to see how things are going. Looks like your training is going good and your getting ready to head out in a bit. You should def start a chapter over there. As you know, you've got your mission to do and after that its up to you how you spend your time. Depending on the FOB you'll probably have a decent amount of weights to work with. Take that year and destory the weights and come back even better. Best of luck and stay safe!

Thanks! Hopefully youll be seeing me on here soon!

BryanSmash!
02-22-09, 12:29 pm
Just hasn't really sunk in yet, but I think everything will okay. Just can't wait to get back!

BryanSmash!
02-22-09, 4:24 pm
Since I known about this deployment for so long, I've had every opportunity to get things in order for me leave. This wasnt the case last time, as I had to leave quick fast and in a hurry. I just want this to start (as crazy as that sounds), so I can start counting off the days.

BryanSmash!
03-04-09, 2:33 pm
Ive lost 10 lbs since I started all this jazz and I'm kinda pissed about it. On the plus side, I can see my abs again. Got that "I'm feeling weak and small" attitude right now. It'll pass.

BryanSmash!
03-14-09, 6:25 pm
One more reason I dont like the fucking desert.

BryanSmash!
03-27-09, 12:27 am
Today I had my first taste of real milk in about a month and was sooooo good. For the uninitiated, here in the army we usually get this box of 'milk' to drink that has been pasteurized to the point where it doesnt need to be kept cold, and has a shelf life of about, oh a thousand years. As you can imagine, it doesnt taste the best, so I was really happy to get some real milk today. Now if only I could actually have a glass to drink it out of I'd almost feel human again.

BryanSmash!
03-29-09, 10:32 pm
Well after about a month of lifting only rocks and my body armor, I was finally able to get into the gym today for a bout with the iron. Did a little benching, and some military presses. Felt weak as fuck but I knew that was what it was going to be like. Still, it felt great though. I don't know if it was just the endorphin release or just the feeling of being a little bit more human, but I found myself smiling today for the first time in a long time.

shizz702
03-29-09, 10:35 pm
Glad you could finally get a session in bro, and hope you get to have many more during your term.

BryanSmash!
03-29-09, 10:54 pm
Glad you could finally get a session in bro, and hope you get to have many more during your term.

Thanks shizz! Me too!

BryanSmash!
04-16-09, 4:21 pm
Lucky me, I came down with a case of fucking bronchitis a few weeks ago, and have barely been able to breathe since. Makes me feel like a fucking shitbag not being able to do anything. Hopefully it'll pass soon.

BryanSmash!
05-27-09, 11:46 am
It's been a while, but I'm finally underway in my second deployment. We're going full throttle over here and Ive been able to consistently lift over the past couple of weeks. Funny thing is, my lifting schedule is about the same as my last tour, I get up to lift at 0445 and it feels fucking great. I wouldn't say that I jump right the fuck out of bed in the morning, but by the time I get to the gym, I'm ready to tear that motherfucker a new asshole. Strength is coming back quickly, and lifting is really the high point of my day here. It's usually all downhill from there, but we deal with it.

BryanSmash!
06-01-09, 9:53 am
I was able to have some ice cream today. It was awesome. That's all.

BryanSmash!
07-15-09, 7:48 am
Came home for a couple of weeks recently. I was sitting at the airport for six hours waiting for my last flight home after three days of traveling, and was overwhelmed by vibrant colors of the outfits people were wearing. Not bad, just different from the lifeless environment I just spent the last six months in. I had to force myself to not stare at people. Must have looked like an idiot.

BryanSmash!
07-19-09, 9:22 am
where's your six pack?

I recently had some say that to me. I shook my head and laughed. It's not the first time it's happened and probably wont be the last. Funny how people equate having a six pack to being in shape. Sorry, just not one of my goals right now. I'd explain that to these people if I thought it would do any good. Might as well try to explain that what a person benches isn't the complete definition of how strong they are.
Got a laugh out of it at any rate.

shizz702
07-19-09, 10:16 am
Came home for a couple of weeks recently. I was sitting at the airport for six hours waiting for my last flight home after three days of traveling, and was overwhelmed by vibrant colors of the outfits people were wearing. Not bad, just different from the lifeless environment I just spent the last six months in. I had to force myself to not stare at people. Must have looked like an idiot.
Damn it has been 6 months already?! Well, glad to see you get to spend some time back home in the states.

where's your six pack?

I recently had some say that to me. I shook my head and laughed. It's not the first time it's happened and probably wont be the last. Funny how people equate having a six pack to being in shape. Sorry, just not one of my goals right now. I'd explain that to these people if I thought it would do any good. Might as well try to explain that what a person benches isn't the complete definition of how strong they are.
Got a laugh out of it at any rate.

If you have to explain it, they probably wouldn't understand. Save your breath.

BryanSmash!
07-19-09, 1:37 pm
Thanks shizz! Looking forward to being here permanently for once!

BryanSmash!
07-27-09, 1:45 pm
I was able to see a Slayer concert while on leave and had the opportunity to meet one of the greatest heavy metal guitarists ever! He signed my shirt and some other shit, was able to get a pic with too. Fucking awesome!

BryanSmash!
07-29-09, 5:06 pm
Time is so short I can count the hours until I return to Iraq to finish my tour. It was nice being home for a couple weeks, I'll be happy when I can stay here for good. I kinda like it here.

BryanSmash!
07-30-09, 1:31 pm
Here I sit at the airport for another ridiculously long layover waiting for a ridiculously long flight.... again. Traveling so much I've developed a great sense of patience, so much so that I'm almost desensitized for having to wait for anything. Well what can you do, 'hurry up and wait' has been a part of my life for a long time now. Even though I'm quite used to it, it still sucks from time to time.

BryanSmash!
08-04-09, 6:38 pm
Once again, I wake up in the middle of the night, this time by more gunfire, and can't get back asleep. I lay here, staring up at the ceiling, and my mind starts turning gears. I start to think of things I shouldn't, and the time passes. So now I try to get up and plunk around on the computer in hopes I'll be tired enough to fall back asleep soon.

N. Motta
08-04-09, 6:42 pm
One of the few personal titles that I really like.

I agree with it. Pain means, we are alive. Pain is good.

BryanSmash!
08-04-09, 6:51 pm
One of the few personal titles that I really like.

I agree with it. Pain means, we are alive. Pain is good.

Right on. Thanks for stopping in.

N. Motta
08-04-09, 7:03 pm
Thank you for fighting to protect our freedom, stay safe.

BryanSmash!
08-04-09, 7:25 pm
Thank you for fighting to protect our freedom, stay safe.

Thanks, appreciate it.

BryanSmash!
08-07-09, 4:24 am
Just one fucking day of bullshit. Thats all it takes to fuck up a weeks worth of training. The powers that be have decided that the platoons here need to conduct organized Physical Training once a week, completely fucking up everyones lifting schedule. Also, they're trying to limit the weight training of each individual soldier to be consistent with cardio days. Yup, that means three days of lifting, three days of cardio. Must be afraid of having soldiers that are too strong.
Now, this may not seem like that big of a deal, but from the average soldiers point of view, they fucking hate it. Why? Because lifting is the one thing they look forward to over here, each for his or her personal reasons. This only serves to futher demoralize them, and troubles me greatly.
Most soldiers here work 12-16 hours a day, and if they want to lift, I say let em.

I just would like to see the powers that be stop coming up with really, really good ideas.

BryanSmash!
08-09-09, 9:47 am
If you ask anyone here how they're doing they will most likely respond with "Another Day". This of course, is in the absence of "Its a good day" or, "I'm having a shitty day"
Since once you get into the groove of things, everyday virtually is the same, its an appropriate response.

BryanSmash!
08-14-09, 5:53 am
When I left for the gym yesterday morning it was actually a hair under 90 degrees. Fuck! I almost went back in and got a jacket lol!

BryanSmash!
08-17-09, 10:21 am
Just havin one of thos edays that no matter what you accomplish you're still fucked at the end of the day? Having one of those now.
Shit.

Firedrake
08-19-09, 11:27 pm
I just discovered your words, bro -- and I know exactly where you're coming from on so many of these, from the shithead curling in the power rack (happened to me Saturday when I wanted to do rack deads), to the people who obviously don't know what they're doing.

I'm an early morning trainer, too -- it's the only time I have open, and I like it before the cardio bunnies get there.

I'm also a veteran, and remember on base gyms all too clearly.

Nice to have your aboard!

BryanSmash!
08-19-09, 11:50 pm
I just discovered your words, bro -- and I know exactly where you're coming from on so many of these, from the shithead curling in the power rack (happened to me Saturday when I wanted to do rack deads), to the people who obviously don't know what they're doing.

I'm an early morning trainer, too -- it's the only time I have open, and I like it before the cardio bunnies get there.

I'm also a veteran, and remember on base gyms all too clearly.

Nice to have your aboard!

Thanks! I appreciate the support!

BryanSmash!
08-24-09, 12:13 pm
Some asshole decided it would be a really, really good idea replace all the old 45s here with newer rubber coated bullshit plates. Goddammit I liked the old ones! Yeah, yeah, I know they weigh the same. Call me old school, but I like the harmonic rattle of metal plates as they're being moved.

shizz702
08-24-09, 12:18 pm
Some asshole decided it would be a really, really good idea replace all the old 45s here with newer rubber coated bullshit plates. Goddammit I liked the old ones! Yeah, yeah, I know they weigh the same. Call me old school, but I like the harmonic rattle of metal plates as they're being moved.

Aw man I know exactly what you mean! Those plates suck! Pure, cold, iron is the only way to go!

Plus those coated plates are almost always squared off on the edges and are a pain in the ass to deadlift with.

BryanSmash!
08-24-09, 12:26 pm
Aw man I know exactly what you mean! Those plates suck! Pure, cold, iron is the only way to go!

Plus those coated plates are almost always squared off on the edges and are a pain in the ass to deadlift with.

Fuck, I forgot about deadlifting with them! Might have to do hand and thigh lifts from now on instead lol.

shizz702
08-24-09, 12:40 pm
Fuck, I forgot about deadlifting with them! Might have to do hand and thigh lifts from now on instead lol.

I would just do singles, rest pause, or touch and go sets, cause they are a bitch to set up properly.

BryanSmash!
08-25-09, 12:41 am
I would just do singles, rest pause, or touch and go sets, cause they are a bitch to set up properly.

Good thing I like singles.

BryanSmash!
08-27-09, 9:42 am
with vivid recolections of a dream. I was a noob on one of those crab fishing boats from that show "Deadliest Catch", the guy who climbs into the cages and puts the bait in. Not really sure why, Ive never had any aspiration to do such a thing. Went to the gym early at any rate lol.

BryanSmash!
09-06-09, 11:24 am
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to accomplish something, it still doesn't get done. Maybe its because of interferance from other people, or circumstances, or just dumb luck. Being able to accept this and move onto the next task is an important part of developing ones self.
Ironic how you can apply this lesson to lifting, or maybe its the other way around. Iron and life are sometimes interchangable.

burnsh
09-08-09, 4:21 am
if your not limpin out of the gym on leg day.. your not lift'n. got to love the pain!

sunny_max
09-08-09, 7:31 am
hey bro i just stumbled on to your journey today.........started reading it from begining and actually thought it was interesting.....genuine words and no bull shit.......loved the mechanical bull story though haha...good on ya for staying put on that mfuker......imma be folowing your words from now on man.......keep trucking ......
p.s ....sucks that you have to do the rubber plates thingy man...i had those at YMCA......i changed the gym cause of those plates haha.......

BryanSmash!
09-08-09, 8:37 am
if your not limpin out of the gym on leg day.. your not lift'n. got to love the pain!

lol very true. For me, that particular pain comes the next day when I'm trying to sit down.

BryanSmash!
09-08-09, 8:41 am
hey bro i just stumbled on to your journey today.........started reading it from begining and actually thought it was interesting.....genuine words and no bull shit.......loved the mechanical bull story though haha...good on ya for staying put on that mfuker......imma be folowing your words from now on man.......keep trucking ......
p.s ....sucks that you have to do the rubber plates thingy man...i had those at YMCA......i changed the gym cause of those plates haha.......

Thanks for going back that far! Glad to have you aboard! My words are straight from the heart, sometimes meaningless, sometimes thought provoking. Glad you liked reading them!

Oh those stupid fucking rubber plates! I just want to throw them right out the window! Give me iron any day!

BryanSmash!
09-08-09, 1:55 pm
Today I bought a BB mag for the first time in a long time, just needed something to kill some time. When I got up to the checkout, instead of scanning the mag, the clerk started to page through it wide eyed. I thought this was kind of weird, but before I could say anything, he turned to me and said in broken english "Are you like him? Bodybuilder?" while pointing at a pic of some dude in the mag. I thought it was funny, since I dont think I look anything like that guy, but was honored to mistaken none the less. The iron breaks the language barrier once again.

Firedrake
09-08-09, 6:40 pm
Congrats on being recognized by the average joe! I guess I don't look enough like a bodybuilder yet, in regular clothes. <grin> It's a goal of mine, I guess, because people don't expect someone my age to be one.

sunny_max
09-08-09, 11:43 pm
Today I bought a BB mag for the first time in a long time, just needed something to kill some time. When I got up to the checkout, instead of scanning the mag, the clerk started to page through it wide eyed. I thought this was kind of weird, but before I could say anything, he turned to me and said in broken english "Are you like him? Bodybuilder?" while pointing at a pic of some dude in the mag. I thought it was funny, since I dont think I look anything like that guy, but was honored to mistaken none the less. The iron breaks the language barrier once again.

haha thats awesome man.....good on ya to be recognized bro........its cool when someone appreciates your hard work......it just motivates the hell out of ya and makes you wanan push those fukin weights harder......keep up the good work bro.....


Congrats on being recognized by the average joe! I guess I don't look enough like a bodybuilder yet, in regular clothes. <grin> It's a goal of mine, I guess, because people don't expect someone my age to be one.

keep trucking man you will get there....good luck

BryanSmash!
09-09-09, 2:46 am
Congrats on being recognized by the average joe! I guess I don't look enough like a bodybuilder yet, in regular clothes. <grin> It's a goal of mine, I guess, because people don't expect someone my age to be one.

Ah, youll be looking like the Texas Shredder in no time!

BryanSmash!
09-09-09, 2:47 am
haha thats awesome man.....good on ya to be recognized bro........its cool when someone appreciates your hard work......it just motivates the hell out of ya and makes you wanan push those fukin weights harder......keep up the good work bro.....

It certainly helped me this morning lol!

BryanSmash!
09-09-09, 5:16 am
You know, I've always really enjoyed olymplic lifting for some reason, even though I not real good at it lol. Ive never really had the space before to do the lifts properly, but in lifting on the cheap ass platform that I did today, I realized that I had a pretty good time doing it.
So, I think I may do these more often now, even though I wont have the platform shortly. We'll see what happens here.

BryanSmash!
09-09-09, 2:38 pm
I think I've finally figured out what the problem is. I want the functionality of an olympic lifter, the brute force of a powerlifter, and want to look like a bodybuilder. This limits me to being average to good in all things, but never great in anything.
I'm guilty of wanting it all, I'll admit. Mia fucking culpa. But maybe the time has come to switch to one style, or have my routine at least predominantly one style with a little bit of other things sprinkled in.
I'll have to give this some thought.

Firedrake
09-09-09, 3:00 pm
It's rough -- do you love the pain and sweat of lifting more, or the look of the bodybuilder?

I know I -want- the look, but I LOVE being in the gym and pushing till my vision greys out and I feel dizzy and lightheaded.

I'm not so big on the 3 big lifts, though, just as tests of strength. At my age, I go more for the look, I guess.

BryanSmash!
09-10-09, 2:49 am
It's rough -- do you love the pain and sweat of lifting more, or the look of the bodybuilder?

I know I -want- the look, but I LOVE being in the gym and pushing till my vision greys out and I feel dizzy and lightheaded.

I'm not so big on the 3 big lifts, though, just as tests of strength. At my age, I go more for the look, I guess.

Its a bit of a pickle thats for sure.

sunny_max
09-11-09, 12:59 am
I think I've finally figured out what the problem is. I want the functionality of an olympic lifter, the brute force of a powerlifter, and want to look like a bodybuilder. This limits me to being average to good in all things, but never great in anything.
I'm guilty of wanting it all, I'll admit. Mia fucking culpa. But maybe the time has come to switch to one style, or have my routine at least predominantly one style with a little bit of other things sprinkled in.
I'll have to give this some thought.

I HEAR YA ON THAT BRO...I WANT THE STRENGTH OF A POWERLIFTER AND STILL LOOK LIKE A BODYBUILDER HAHA.....HELL I EVEN TRIED TO LOOSE BELLY FAT AND KEEP BULKING UP WHEN I STARTED NEW......THEN I GOTA REALITY CHECK.....YOU JUST GOTTA FOCUS ON WTCHA REALLY WANT....FROM THE EARLY STORY IT SEEMS LIKE YOU LOOK LIKE A BODYBUILDERT MAN......GO FOR THE POWER THEN...GO WITH YOUR INSTINCTS....I KNOW I HAVE STARTED BULKING UP NOW FOR THE WINTER.......GOOD LUCK MAN...BUT YEAH REAL TRUE THOUGHTS.....WE ALL WANNA BE BEST AT EVERYTHING HAHA....

BryanSmash!
09-11-09, 8:01 am
I HEAR YA ON THAT BRO...I WANT THE STRENGTH OF A POWERLIFTER AND STILL LOOK LIKE A BODYBUILDER HAHA.....HELL I EVEN TRIED TO LOOSE BELLY FAT AND KEEP BULKING UP WHEN I STARTED NEW......THEN I GOTA REALITY CHECK.....YOU JUST GOTTA FOCUS ON WTCHA REALLY WANT....FROM THE EARLY STORY IT SEEMS LIKE YOU LOOK LIKE A BODYBUILDERT MAN......GO FOR THE POWER THEN...GO WITH YOUR INSTINCTS....I KNOW I HAVE STARTED BULKING UP NOW FOR THE WINTER.......GOOD LUCK MAN...BUT YEAH REAL TRUE THOUGHTS.....WE ALL WANNA BE BEST AT EVERYTHING HAHA....

Thanks! Its hard just to pick one thing and stick with it thats for sure lol.

BryanSmash!
09-13-09, 1:03 am
I was dead ass tired last night, but as soon as my head hit the pillow, all the problems of life seemed to seep into my mind, kept me up another couple of hours. Hopefully I'll just fall right asleep tonight though.

BryanSmash!
09-13-09, 5:47 am
That's the conclusion I came to today with my aforementioned dilemma. Get fucking stronger and the other bullshit will come later. I'll be revamping my routine slightly in order to accomplish this. Not too much will change, but added sets and intensity will push me towards my goal.
I'm excited to be lifting again, the one good thing from my layoff. Still keeping the intensity down a bit this week until I get into the swing of things, and then I'm going to show up in the gym in the morning ready to bite the barbells in half.

BryanSmash!
09-17-09, 3:02 am
If you know who Bob Hoffman is, or have read the last two novels by Brooks Kubick, you'll know what Iron Pills are. If not, it's another way to reference what lifting does to the body. Such as:
"Wow! He's really getting big! Must be all those iron pills he's taking!"
or
"She's really getting lean, looks like those iron pills are working for her!"

The reason I bring this up, is that yesterday the subject of my age came up, with someone here absolutley not beleiving I was 34. Nope. No way. I've got to be 24. I look way too young to be that old.
I showed this fella my ID card which has my birthday on the back for proof, and just said, "It's the iron pills." and walked away.

lol.

The iron strikes again.

sunny_max
09-17-09, 3:14 am
If you know who Bob Hoffman is, or have read the last two novels by Brooks Kubick, you'll know what Iron Pills are. If not, it's another way to reference what lifting does to the body. Such as:
"Wow! He's really getting big! Must be all those iron pills he's taking!"
or
"She's really getting lean, looks like those iron pills are working for her!"

The reason I bring this up, is that yesterday the subject of my age came up, with someone here absolutley not beleiving I was 34. Nope. No way. I've got to be 24. I look way too young to be that old.
I showed this fella my ID card which has my birthday on the back for proof, and just said, "It's the iron pills." and walked away.

lol.

The iron strikes again.

hell yeah bro...those are just some of the rewards of all the sacrifice we go through especially the frequesnt urge to eat vanilla cake with strawberry icing...haha....and the sweat we drip down in the gym every week......i din know about the iron pill thingy...sounds solid......good on ya brother.....since we are talking about brooks kubik lemme ask you this...which book would you rate better...starting strength by rippetoe or dinosaur training by brooks...just curious on your thoughts brother....

BryanSmash!
09-17-09, 4:01 am
hell yeah bro...those are just some of the rewards of all the sacrifice we go through especially the frequesnt urge to eat vanilla cake with strawberry icing...haha....and the sweat we drip down in the gym every week......i din know about the iron pill thingy...sounds solid......good on ya brother.....since we are talking about brooks kubik lemme ask you this...which book would you rate better...starting strength by rippetoe or dinosaur training by brooks...just curious on your thoughts brother....

I own both these books and have read both several times over the years. Both are great in their own respects, Ripptoes book works well with beginners or persons getting back into lifting after a long layoff.
Brook's book is more applicable to my style of lifting, so I prefer it to Ripptoes. Dinosaur Training at its most basic is defined as Hard Work with compound lifts, very easy to follow if you've been lifting a while. It's also a very raw, basic book intended for those who with experience, so if you're looking on the specific mechanics of a particular lift, I'd go with Ripptoes book.
Dinosaur Training is my favorite though.

sunny_max
09-17-09, 6:17 am
I own both these books and have read both several times over the years. Both are great in their own respects, Ripptoes book works well with beginners or persons getting back into lifting after a long layoff.
Brook's book is more applicable to my style of lifting, so I prefer it to Ripptoes. Dinosaur Training at its most basic is defined as Hard Work with compound lifts, very easy to follow if you've been lifting a while. It's also a very raw, basic book intended for those who with experience, so if you're looking on the specific mechanics of a particular lift, I'd go with Ripptoes book.
Dinosaur Training is my favorite though.

hey i appreciate the info brother...if its the raw iron pills we talkign about then i am definitely gonna go with the dinosaur training.......hard work with compund lifts is good info....no matter what people say i have seen and experienced that old school hard work and good diet works....there is no magic pills out there.....your insight is appreciated....dinosaur training it is!!

BryanSmash!
09-17-09, 8:25 am
hey i appreciate the info brother...if its the raw iron pills we talkign about then i am definitely gonna go with the dinosaur training.......hard work with compund lifts is good info....no matter what people say i have seen and experienced that old school hard work and good diet works....there is no magic pills out there.....your insight is appreciated....dinosaur training it is!!



Good deal. Give it a good read, apply whats inside. If you have any questions about it, feel free to ask.

Firedrake
09-17-09, 9:31 am
*snip*

The reason I bring this up, is that yesterday the subject of my age came up, with someone here absolutley not beleiving I was 34. Nope. No way. I've got to be 24. I look way too young to be that old.
I showed this fella my ID card which has my birthday on the back for proof, and just said, "It's the iron pills." and walked away.

lol.

The iron strikes again.

If it weren't for the grayness and the sparseness of my hair, people wouldn't believe I'm 55, either. I've been pegged at anywhere from 40-50. Though I got a bit of a comeuppance yesterday on Facebook -- someone saw my picture and said he wanted to be friends because we were both into iron and looked about the same age -- 65!

. . . I friended him anyway -- he's a BB journalist from the 60s. . .

BryanSmash!
09-17-09, 11:18 am
If it weren't for the grayness and the sparseness of my hair, people wouldn't believe I'm 55, either. I've been pegged at anywhere from 40-50. Though I got a bit of a comeuppance yesterday on Facebook -- someone saw my picture and said he wanted to be friends because we were both into iron and looked about the same age -- 65!

. . . I friended him anyway -- he's a BB journalist from the 60s. . .

Hmm maybe it's time you should put a hat on and buy a 'old people suck' t-shirt then lol. That'll show em!

A BB journalist from the golden age? Thats awesome! Bet he's got lots of stories!

BryanSmash!
09-19-09, 2:59 pm
Was standing around waiting for some food at the PX area today, when a couple of guys new to this place walked past me, and I heard one say to the other in a hushed tone "Wow they must sell some good roids here."
I looked around, nobody else was standing around but me, so I can only assume the comment was directed my way. I almost shouted back "No, asshole, it's called sixteen years of hard work" but didn't. I shrugged, got my food and left.
Thanks for the compliment I guess.
Felt pretty good about eating some taco bell after that.

sunny_max
09-20-09, 3:14 am
Was standing around waiting for some food at the PX area today, when a couple of guys new to this place walked past me, and I heard one say to the other in a hushed tone "Wow they must sell some good roids here."
I looked around, nobody else was standing around but me, so I can only assume the comment was directed my way. I almost shouted back "No, asshole, it's called sixteen years of hard work" but didn't. I shrugged, got my food and left.
Thanks for the compliment I guess.
Felt pretty good about eating some taco bell after that.

haha all the hard works paying off aint it bro.....shit i am gonna eat taco bell 6 times a day now ......

BryanSmash!
09-20-09, 4:29 am
haha all the hard works paying off aint it bro.....shit i am gonna eat taco bell 6 times a day now ......

I recommend bean burritos lol.

Firedrake
09-20-09, 1:17 pm
Was standing around waiting for some food at the PX area today, when a couple of guys new to this place walked past me, and I heard one say to the other in a hushed tone "Wow they must sell some good roids here."
I looked around, nobody else was standing around but me, so I can only assume the comment was directed my way. I almost shouted back "No, asshole, it's called sixteen years of hard work" but didn't. I shrugged, got my food and left.
Thanks for the compliment I guess.
Felt pretty good about eating some taco bell after that.

::chuckle:: I had a guy at the Auto Club, of all places, ask me about training advice while I was talking to -him- about insurance . . . and I don't think I'm that big!

mcbeast
09-20-09, 1:27 pm
Just found this...Good stuff!

BryanSmash!
09-21-09, 12:52 am
::chuckle:: I had a guy at the Auto Club, of all places, ask me about training advice while I was talking to -him- about insurance . . . and I don't think I'm that big!

Looks like all that hard work is paying off in more ways than one!

BryanSmash!
09-21-09, 12:53 am
Just found this...Good stuff!

Cool, thanks for stoppin by!

BryanSmash!
10-01-09, 12:56 am
So I ordered a few things over the internet a little while ago, and now I find myself somewhat excited about mail call everyday lol. Seem like the stuff takes forever, but it's really not that long. I've only gotten one package since I've been here (thanks Animal), so I usually don't even bother to check if I have something in the mail, but now I do it everyday lol.

sunny_max
10-03-09, 7:23 am
i lknow it man...its pretty exciting to wait for new stuff you just ordered.....i am like a lil boy on christmas mornign when i open them packages haha......i usually track em pnline like every fucking hour lol.........plus you know what its so cool to go online and look at the signature proof picture when you have got the package lol......

BryanSmash!
10-03-09, 12:59 pm
i lknow it man...its pretty exciting to wait for new stuff you just ordered.....i am like a lil boy on christmas mornign when i open them packages haha......i usually track em pnline like every fucking hour lol.........plus you know what its so cool to go online and look at the signature proof picture when you have got the package lol......

lol Ive totally done that.

mhammer12
10-04-09, 1:47 am
I know we’ve talked back and forth a couple times but I’ve been lacking motivation this past year and I’m trying my best to get back into the iron life. I read about the first five pages of your journey and skimmed through the rest (even saw that my buddy Latimer316 mentioned me in a post, lol) and I’ve got to say I like your style, no bullshit straight to the point like every Animal should be. I will definitely be following your journey from now on, keep up the good work!

BryanSmash!
10-04-09, 2:11 am
I know we’ve talked back and forth a couple times but I’ve been lacking motivation this past year and I’m trying my best to get back into the iron life. I read about the first five pages of your journey and skimmed through the rest (even saw that my buddy Latimer316 mentioned me in a post, lol) and I’ve got to say I like your style, no bullshit straight to the point like every Animal should be. I will definitely be following your journey from now on, keep up the good work!

Thanks for the support! I do appreciate it. If you're looking for motivation hit up the Wisconsin ABC thread (link below) and hit up movin'bricks, he's works at a ballys in your town on 60th. Maybe you two could get together and train animal style. Lookin to get an ABC together there when I get back.

mhammer12
10-04-09, 2:44 am
Way ahead of you brah! Right after I posted on here I went over to Wisconsin ABC page and checked it out and added movin'bricks as a bro. Are you deployed right now? I'm actually going to through training right now at Fort Sam Houston, should be back at the beginning of December. Once we're both back in Wisconsin we definitely need to get something together!

BryanSmash!
10-04-09, 2:45 am
Recently I was on the receiving end of another mortar attack, my 80th indirect fire incident by my count, including my last tour. I've forgotten the small arms incidents, funny, the trivial shit just doesn't seem to matter that much.
My TBI screen was negative, I find that people worry too much about that shit nowadays. Don't get me wrong, it's always good to make sure you have documentation of incidents so if they end up giving you problems down the road, you've got some ammo to fall back on, but that doesn't mean every soldier who gets a bump on their head needs a cat scan.
Assholes shooting mortars or rockets into our base or at our aircraft have always really pissed me off, as I consider those kind of tactics incredibly cowardly. They haven't learned yet that our resolve will not waiver no matter how many rockets and mortars they throw at us, no matter how many IEDs they cowardly detonate from a distance, no matter how many vehicles laden with explosives they drive into our convoys.
They can go fuck themselves.
We will not fail.

BryanSmash!
10-04-09, 2:46 am
Way ahead of you brah! Right after I posted on here I went over to Wisconsin ABC page and checked it out and added movin'bricks as a bro. Are you deployed right now? I'm actually going to through training right now at Fort Sam Houston, should be back at the beginning of December. Once we're both back in Wisconsin we definitely need to get something together!

Cool man! Yeah I'm deployed...again. Looking forward to another good ABC meet!

mhammer12
10-04-09, 9:30 pm
Recently I was on the receiving end of another mortar attack, my 80th indirect fire incident by my count, including my last tour. I've forgotten the small arms incidents, funny, the trivial shit just doesn't seem to matter that much.
My TBI screen was negative, I find that people worry too much about that shit nowadays. Don't get me wrong, it's always good to make sure you have documentation of incidents so if they end up giving you problems down the road, you've got some ammo to fall back on, but that doesn't mean every soldier who gets a bump on their head needs a cat scan.
Assholes shooting mortars or rockets into our base or at our aircraft have always really pissed me off, as I consider those kind of tactics incredibly cowardly. They haven't learned yet that our resolve will not waiver no matter how many rockets and mortars they throw at us, no matter how many IEDs they cowardly detonate from a distance, no matter how many vehicles laden with explosives they drive into our convoys.
They can go fuck themselves.
We will not fail.

I've had three deployments myself and I hear you. I was in Iraq in 2003 when it was normal to get 20-30 mortars at one time, so I have to laugh when a FOB or even worse one of the main bases gets one or two and every soldier on post puts in for their CAB. It is amazing how and what we can accustom ourselves to when need be. Hang in there brah, you’ll be back to beer, cheese, and brats in no time!

BryanSmash!
10-04-09, 11:03 pm
I've had three deployments myself and I hear you. I was in Iraq in 2003 when it was normal to get 20-30 mortars at one time, so I have to laugh when a FOB or even worse one of the main bases gets one or two and every soldier on post puts in for their CAB. It is amazing how and what we can accustom ourselves to when need be. Hang in there brah, you’ll be back to beer, cheese, and brats in no time!

Yeah we have plenty of CAB chasers here too lol.
Man I could go for some cheese right now, now that you mention it.

BryanSmash!
10-12-09, 1:50 am
You know, I used to read a magazine, or the paper when I was taking a shit back home, it was kind of nice to have that time time to myself.
Here, I just realized, that when I shit, it takes about 30 seconds to a minute because I don't want to hang around with a bunch of assholes in our flushable shitters.
In the port-o-johns, I usually break into a sweat within 10 seconds because the heat is amplified so much from the plastic walls, so I don't want to hang around in there either.
All I want to do is take a shit and relax for a while.
Fuck.

sunny_max
10-13-09, 7:14 am
You know, I used to read a magazine, or the paper when I was taking a shit back home, it was kind of nice to have that time time to myself.
Here, I just realized, that when I shit, it takes about 30 seconds to a minute because I don't want to hang around with a bunch of assholes in our flushable shitters.
In the port-o-johns, I usually break into a sweat within 10 seconds because the heat is amplified so much from the plastic walls, so I don't want to hang around in there either.
All I want to do is take a shit and relax for a while.
Fuck.

lol this is the funniest shit.......

BryanSmash!
10-13-09, 7:42 am
lol this is the funniest shit.......

lol thanks.

shizz702
10-13-09, 7:53 am
You know, I used to read a magazine, or the paper when I was taking a shit back home, it was kind of nice to have that time time to myself.
Here, I just realized, that when I shit, it takes about 30 seconds to a minute because I don't want to hang around with a bunch of assholes in our flushable shitters.
In the port-o-johns, I usually break into a sweat within 10 seconds because the heat is amplified so much from the plastic walls, so I don't want to hang around in there either.
All I want to do is take a shit and relax for a while.
Fuck.

Lol I guess it's the simple things in life we take forgranted.

Nothing like being able to have that quality time to yourself in the comfort of your own home. Hope you get to experience that again soon bro.

BryanSmash!
10-13-09, 7:56 am
Lol I guess it's the simple things in life we take forgranted.

Nothing like being able to have that quality time to yourself in the comfort of your own home. Hope you get to experience that again soon bro.

I may have to install a TV in the bathroom when I get back lol.

sunny_max
10-13-09, 8:26 am
I may have to install a TV in the bathroom when I get back lol.

haha dude tv is fine.....but my ex-gf had a phone in there cause she was soo busy she din ever wanted to miss a call.....most of the time i cld hear her flush........man that was a turn off......i undersatnd its the most relaxing place but hell dnt call me from it...lmao

BryanSmash!
10-13-09, 8:28 am
haha dude tv is fine.....but my ex-gf had a phone in there cause she was soo busy she din ever wanted to miss a call.....most of the time i cld hear her flush........man that was a turn off......i undersatnd its the most relaxing place but hell dnt call me from it...lmao

Lol yeah that would be a little much.

mcbeast
10-13-09, 11:08 am
Lol yeah that would be a little much.

I always made my calls from the toilet...

BryanSmash!
10-13-09, 1:51 pm
I always made my calls from the toilet...

I don't anymore, I once dropped my cell in the toilet while taking a piss, lol.

mcbeast
10-13-09, 1:55 pm
I don't anymore, I once dropped my cell in the toilet while taking a piss, lol.

Same here, it fell out of the kangaroo pouch of my hoodie..Shame Shame..

BryanSmash!
10-13-09, 2:07 pm
Same here, it fell out of the kangaroo pouch of my hoodie..Shame Shame..

lol hope it wasn't expensive.

mcbeast
10-13-09, 2:08 pm
lol hope it wasn't expensive.

Insurance ftw!

sunny_max
10-16-09, 11:42 pm
Insurance ftw!

aaaah insurance...i know i shld have got it when the cute lil customer care lady told me to.....but no i din wanted to spend 5 more dollars lol.....now i spilled peanut butter oil on my phone and its screwed up .....oh well i will just go ahead and spend $400 rather than $5 sucks...lol

BryanSmash!
10-17-09, 3:25 am
aaaah insurance...i know i shld have got it when the cute lil customer care lady told me to.....but no i din wanted to spend 5 more dollars lol.....now i spilled peanut butter oil on my phone and its screwed up .....oh well i will just go ahead and spend $400 rather than $5 sucks...lol

lol at least you got a new phone out of it.

BryanSmash!
10-17-09, 11:16 am
It's funny that a fictional cartoon death metal band has rekindled my love of all things metal. They've just put out they're second album, and it fucking rocks. One of the songs is called "I tamper with evidence at the murder sire of Odin", how fucking metal is that?
You can listen to a couple of songs here:
http://www.adultswim.com/music/dethalbum2/index.html
I recommend watching the show as well, there's two seasons so far. You can watch some of them here:
http://www.adultswim.com/video/index.html

Heavy fuckin metal!

sunny_max
10-20-09, 11:53 pm
rekindled your love for metal? dude metal rocks.....cradle of filth, in this moment, slipknot and slayer to name a few.....they gotta keep rocking for me to push heavy weights....haha......but yeah those are good music.....good find!!....i din know it existed though.....oh well i guess i will catch this music too on the side while i am watching spongebob and pokemon...lol

BryanSmash!
10-21-09, 5:20 am
Right on man. Heavy fuckin metal!

Firedrake
10-21-09, 8:35 pm
Hey, I'm just your basic middle-aged metalhead -- my iPod still has Slayer, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, Manowar, Dragonforce, Oblivion, Slipknot, Stratovarious, Alice In Chains, Metallica, Megadeth, Black Sabbath (yeah, I'm dating myself), and anything with pounding drums, screaming guitars, and enough rage to keep me pumped up!