Darryl - You Look Really Weak!

Darryl - You Look Really Weak!

I had to get this off my chest. 

I remember feeling quite proud when I achieved a 70kg (154lb) deadlift about 8 years ago, especially as I never felt like a strong individual and at the time I had been suffering from chronic low back pain since my twenties.

Someone messaged me a few days ago [repeatedly :-)] telling me I didn't look very strong and that instead of all this playing around outside I should try deadlifting some real weight in the gym! He boasted about lifting 160kg (350lbs) at his bodyweight of 90kg and sent me a nice photo of his shining muscles.

Well I am not really a gym person anymore, and I don't care so much about the absolute weights lifted or the size of one's muscles - but he stopped hassling me when I told him that my last deadlift 1 rep max attempt was 220kg (485lb) at a bodyweight of 92kg. Not bad for a weak guy who plays outside a lot...

Lifting The Dinnie Stones!

These stones do not look that heavy but looks can be deceiving. A combined total of 333kg.

According to his account on gordondinnie.com, very few strong men of the day could lift the heavy one (187kg) with both hands. However both stones were lifted and carried the width of the Potarch Bridge (4 metres or so) by Donald Dinnie in 1860 across the River Dee in Potarch, Scotland.  They have since been known as the 'Dinnie Stones'.

I was challenged to this yesterday by my friends who said they had a surprise for me. :-)

There were several "be careful, I've seen many men carried off to hospital pulling their backs out" warnings from the locals but I was able to safely deadlift the heaviest stone (twice my bodyweight) to full height for a few repetitions but absolutely no chance of lifting both stones together!

Regardless I am more than happy with my result. :-)

Primal: Weak Is The New Strong?

For the person who private messaged me today and said I looked really weak.  Well I am weak enough to do this --> http://youtu.be/eE1O9lOdQU0 (the above video) and I am even weaker now with my current deadlift 1RM of 220kg (485lb).

 

My goal is 227.5kg (500lb).

The reason I mention this is because I always used to think of myself as quite a weak guy - not old-fashioned strong like my Dad used to be.  

8 years ago I could only deadlift 70kg (154lb).  Now I realise I can be as strong as I want (and need to be) by removing the self-imposed constraints I applied to myself - without any artificial help, without being genetically-gifted and without sacrificing my health in the process.  

So to "private message guy" if I am still really weak then I am ok with that.  I used to be much weaker...

Workout: Thursday 100

Workout:

Complete all reps of one exercise before moving onto the next, rest as required

• 100 Jump Pull-Ups
• 100 Kettlebell Swings (American Swing)
• 100 sec (1 min 40) - Plank
• 100kg Deadlift (10 single reps)

Repeat once

--

Recommended Weight:

Men: 24kg Kettlebell

Women: 12kg Kettlebell, 50kg Deadlift

Note:

Please scale all Fitness Explorer workouts and playouts to your current ability.  This may mean increasing or decreasing the weights prescribed, modifying distances and times, or changing number of sets and reps to complete.  Get adequate rest and sufficient nutrition to fuel the activity and to aid in recovery.  Work hard and play hard but never sacrifice correct form.

Please visit the exercise FAQ for details on individual exercises or consult the advice of a registered exercise professional to ensure safe execution of the above movements.

If you are new to this mode of exercise, try one of the beginner's circuits

Perform a warmup prior to activity, here's an example Fitness Explorer warmup

Watch    Fitness Explorer video's here on YouTube