Everyday Systems

VanillaGorilla

Not to knock what these guys accomplished, but it is important to note that this routine is utterly unsustainable. The point of the routine wasn't to be sustainable -- it was to get these guys maximally buff for a movie shoot. At that, it succeeded brilliantly. But that's not what most of us here a...

VanillaGorilla

As a pure action movie, I enjoyed this film a lot. Someone called it a fictionalized retelling of an actual event and I guess that is as apt a description as any. To be honest, I get a bit tired of everyone trying to read something into every film, television show and book and sometimes block a lot ...

VanillaGorilla

That's why I like to incorporate a sandbag into my workouts frequently. It's not exactly the same, but the thing shifts just enough to keep you working and getting used to handling odd loads of weight.

VanillaGorilla

Thanks. I just keep talking until I figure I'll hit on something that makes some kind of sense. :lol: I think that even with any kind of set "system", modifications are sometimes needed to suit the needs of the individual. There are some basic truths that apply to all of us, but there are situations...

VanillaGorilla

It sounds like you have stormed right out of the gate and hit the ground running, Orvette! Congrats!! :D When I first started working out regularly, I kind of harkened back to my days in the service and also the concept of manual labor as a job...Even if you're sore, it's kind of tough to take a day...

VanillaGorilla

Vanillagorilla, You look mahvellous, dahling! Old man, eh? Not from where I sit!... Thanks very much! I'll just say I'm old enough and leave it at that. LOL So for me, fat is not the enemy - starches and sugar are. I've been trying to figure out what my week of eating would look like with that phil...

VanillaGorilla

I'm very glad if my reply was of some help. I think you hit the nail perfectly on the head when you adressed it as a lifestyle as opposed to a diet. That's the kind of thinking I was alluding to. Believe me when I say I am no saint all the time as far as strict adherance to any kind of dietary plan ...

VanillaGorilla

I think a lot of it is in the mindset. If you are going through the week and just looking forward to the weekend (Or whenever your S day is) so you can treat yourself, then you're already setting yourself up for "failure" in a way. Sometimes the best thing to do is not overthink the S day and just l...

VanillaGorilla

Looking good VanillaGorilla Thank you for sharing the picture - it is another source of inspiration. Thanks very much. :D not to sound like a perv, but you have really nice lats.. you look like you bulk up pretty nicely to me.. is no s better than the typical body building diet for you ? Thank you ...

VanillaGorilla

Congratulations, Deb! And kudos for sticking with it through the plateau! Proving once again that persistence pays off in the long run.

VanillaGorilla

And as a side note... I learned of the idea of tendon strength from a lot of the old "strongman" courses that were published many, many years ago and also from reading about Olympic lifters. A lot of the lighter O-lifters are hoisting obscene poundages and while they are obviously very muscular, the...

VanillaGorilla

Thank you, Reinhard. And I do actually agree with what you say about hitting a point of "good enough", believe it or not. I think I just have not quite hit that point yet. Cycling in and out of diets is not something I want to spend the rest of my days doing, for sure. Once I get to that point where...

VanillaGorilla

Thanks, Deb!

VanillaGorilla

You're most welcome! I was pretty satisfied with using the ultra low carb/no carb approach and will probably use it again in a cycle to try and get a bit leaner. In retrospect, I probably should have stuck with it just a bit longer or added only a minute amount of carbs in the form of vegetables, et...

VanillaGorilla

Here's a "before" pic from a month or two back before I started messing around with the low/no carb experiment.

VanillaGorilla

Thanks, David. I'm hoping to lose a bit more of the bodyfat in the navel area. If I can just stop socializing and enjoying a bit more good food and drink, I might actually get there. :lol: As far as workouts, I am a firm believer in variety these days. When I first started out oh-so many years ago, ...

VanillaGorilla

Figured I've been around these parts long enough I might as well post a pic and show where No S and SG have helped me get to. My approach to diet is a bit paleo/low carb combined with the No S mentality and I use SG in conjunction with free weight and bodyweight workouts. I won't be making the cover...

VanillaGorilla

"Ripped to shreds" certainly isn't the be all/end all. I'm somewhat lean but not completely ripped by any stretch of the imagination. It's very possible to have a decent physique without going overboard. Aiming for a flatter stomach with a bit less bodyfat and good general fitness is definitely an a...

VanillaGorilla

I personally don't look at a timer since I use SG as part of a workout and not usually the workout in and of itself. And when I do use just SG as my workout, I usually far exceed the 14 minutes. Usually in the 20-30 minute range, so I am not the person to ask, probably. :lol: But IMHO, I don't think...

VanillaGorilla

Soreness definitely isn't always a good indicator of a good workout, for sure. And sometimes it just takes a few days to set in as it seems you've discovered.

Either way, good luck to you!

VanillaGorilla

VanillaGorilla

Or Batman. :lol: I tend to like carrying just a bit more bulk, but I don't think much of anyone can deny that Bruce Lee had an incredible physique. If I could carry a bit more muscle than that but be that ripped, I'd be quite happy indeed. Mental note: Stop eating so much pizza, fool. :lol: (Yes, I ...

VanillaGorilla

Reinhard,

From a practicality standpoint I agree 100%. But I must admit, if income wasn't an issue, I'd love to have a few just for the heck of it. If nothing else, they'd be an interesting conversation piece until one could actually lift them.

VanillaGorilla

I've barely been able to get out of bed (not a "morning person")

I can totally relate to THAT.

VanillaGorilla

There truly is not much that is a greater ego boost and makes you feel you are on the right track with your fitness plan than when the ladies notice. I have really been watching my diet lately since I got into a habit of not making great food choices (Had the exercise thing down pat for quite some t...

VanillaGorilla

I think Reinhard posted that link or a similar one before. Those things look wicked, to say the least. I want one. Would love to purchase a 50 lb. just for laughs.

VanillaGorilla

It is one heck of a workout and quite addictive, isn't it?

I did supersets of pullups and dips earlier today. It was one heck of a workout, but I really felt the need to swing the ol' sledge later on, so I had at it and felt great and was happy I did.

VanillaGorilla

Cool. But I have to admit I like the name "Move With No Name". Reminds me of those old Clint Eastwood/Sergio Leone westerns.

VanillaGorilla

Looks very cool indeed, phayze! Looking forward to hearing how they work out for you!

VanillaGorilla

That's actually a pretty good concept, imo. I tend to stay in the same spot and sometimes it's tough to stay 100% focused on the "shoveling" aspect. I can see where even just a little bit of movement in a different direction would add to the idea.

VanillaGorilla

I don't wrap anything around the hammer, either. I was using a sledge in my workouts before I actually discovered the Shovelglove site (Just swinging it like a baseball bat and hitting the odd object outdoors, mostly...Still do those even now), so just out of habit, I left it uncovered. I find I foc...

VanillaGorilla

That works too! I like that move and have used it a lot since it kind of dawned on me.

VanillaGorilla

(nutjobs with sledgehammers, that is)

You rang?

VanillaGorilla

Sandowplus is a very cool site. I visit that one often.

I've also seen beastskills before. It's a good one as well. I can "kinda" do some of that stuff...But not very well.

VanillaGorilla

Welcome, Steve! Glad to hear shovelglove is yielding results for you so quickly. Best wishes for continued success and keep us posted!

VanillaGorilla

I found it via Bryce's board

I thought I recognized your name from The Iron Works. I'm BLSHellrider over on ezboard. Good to see you. Welcome back (Even though I wasn't here when you originally were).

VanillaGorilla

Glad you like it. There's some pretty cool stuff on that site. The reader's gallery has some pretty cool feats, as well.

VanillaGorilla

Here's another site you might find interesting.

VanillaGorilla

Shhhh!! Don't make him mad. He's one hombre I don't think we should be messin' with.

VanillaGorilla

That might raise a few eyebrows to say the least.

VanillaGorilla

I wonder what "spear tossing" would feel like with a Shovel glove> Hmmmm . . . .

Probably pretty lousy if you were on the receiving end of said "spear".

VanillaGorilla

Very interesting concept, Reinhard. I like the "medal" idea...I'm always trying to set goals in a fitness related sense and this idea is just one more to add to the arsenal.

VanillaGorilla

So...NO steps now?

VanillaGorilla

I like the TBK site. I've checked out a lot of things there. Good stuff, indeed.

VanillaGorilla

Great job with the registry and the links, Reinhard.

VanillaGorilla

Those are incredible results. Congrats to you!

VanillaGorilla

Vanilla, have you noticed any changes from eating paleo other than the digestive ones? The main thing people cite seems to be an increase in energy on the paleo plan but I get that from No-S. Definitely increased energy, yes. But as you said, No-S can do the same thing for you. Just the mere fact t...

VanillaGorilla

Looks like you're doing quite well, Phayze! Congrats to ya.

I agree with the crowd that variety is a good thing. I was just addressing this very issue with someone the other day, actually.

VanillaGorilla

I only mentioned the cirucumstances to be a bit more honest about why I lost the extra weight.. Not intentionally, I guess, but for a few days there, my body actually had to use it's extra fat, and I felt some hunger... That really wasn't a bad thing though... I'm feeling very good now.. I think th...

VanillaGorilla

Congrats on the weight loss, Deb! I am sorry to hear that the circumstances aren't exactly ideal ones, though.
My best wishes that things turn around quickly for you!

VanillaGorilla

I have an eating plan for myself that includes some of the paleo philosophy. I try to stick to mostly meat, veggies and fruit Sunday-Thursday (my work week) and confine my "junkier" foods and starches to the weekends. Part of it was experimentation on my part after some health issues last year. I wo...

VanillaGorilla

THAT even a simian can understand.

VanillaGorilla

I'm starting this next week when I return to work on Monday and Tuesday..But it will be a measely three flights!!! :lol: Beats my mere three steps. :lol: But...My job requires me to be on my feet all night and go up and down those three steps at least 60-70 times each way per shift. Must count for ...

VanillaGorilla

Thanks for the info, Deb! I have heard stuff like that before (I think...lol), but have a hard time making heads or tails of some of it. The price of being a lowly gorilla, I guess. :lol: Regarding "fitness myths".... It seems that for every one out there, there is one to debunk it. I guess the best...

VanillaGorilla

Hand is ok for the most part. Aches every once in awhile and annoys me, but overall, it's not too bad. Yes, I'm still using SG as part of my workouts. :D I use it in conjunction with other forms of exercise, per usual for me. Been doing SG and a lot of other higher rep work lately to take a break fr...

VanillaGorilla

Very impressive! My hat is off to you.

Congrats!

VanillaGorilla

I find that when I'm excessive on at S day, than unpleasant feeling strengthens my resolve to make my N days count. My feelings on that are similar. After 4-5 days of eating decent foods and not in massive quantities, if I overindulge in junk, I tend to feel really lousy and revert back to a better...

VanillaGorilla

Congrats, Deb! I've been eating a bit junkier than usual as of late myself (a lot of social events, concerts, etc lately), but by limiting the quantities and keeping pretty active, I think the damage has been minimal. Hot dogs must be the "junk du jour"...I've been eating them quite a bit too! :lol:...

VanillaGorilla

There's a lot of talk about static stretching being useless or even dangerous when done before a workout - I think it's because the muscles stretch better when "warm" because there's increased blood flow through them, so I usually do some dynamic stuff before doing statics. I've always avoided stre...

VanillaGorilla

Came up with something a bit different tonight. I dubbed it "The Pool Cue"...lol I'll see if I can explain it: Basically, grasp the sledgehammer the way you would a pool cue. The handle of the hammer will be right against your forearm, kind of acting as a brace (How close or far away from the head o...

VanillaGorilla

Happy belated birthday to you, Freakwitch!!

VanillaGorilla

Great pics and excellent results! Congrats to you!

VanillaGorilla

Speaking of "degraded beast," my 23 month old daughter and I did "Degraded Beast -- with Rider" last night (not recommended). She perched on my lower back while I was doing push-ups, giggled like hell every time she went up, and demanded "more!" every time I flopped on the ground from shear exhaust...

VanillaGorilla

No fair. That's favortism!!

VanillaGorilla

I think that is the tendency of most of us when trying something new...We go all out and end up a bit burnt initially. As they say, that seems to be why some people lose interest in things. Too much, too soon.

VanillaGorilla

I vary tempos from time to time in all my training whether it's weights, bodyweight exercises or sledgehammers. If for nothing else it's at least a different form of stimulus and helps stave off boredom with my training.

VanillaGorilla

Deb,

Just for the above comment I am going to start a "Save Our Scales" drive...

VanillaGorilla

Union Rally - As if picketing the corrupt mine-owners treatment of you, hold your SG like a protest sign and pump it up and down rhythmically. Chanting protest songs would be optional. I actually do something like that from time to time. I hold the hammer as close to the bottom of the handle as I c...

VanillaGorilla

Not much else I can add to what everyone else has said beyond welcome to the forum! I agree with the idea of sticking with the hammer you have. I think you will find you adapt to it quite easily. If need be, just take it a bit easier for a spell...Don't get too caught up in enthusiasm and burning ou...

VanillaGorilla

For those you might want to throw in some "degraded beast" (aka push ups).

Would a gorilla count as a degraded beast? I've been known to do a pushup or two in my day, after all.

Anyhow, I digress...lol

Welcome to the forum! Good to see shovelglove catching on with even more people!

VanillaGorilla

You da be all and end all VG!!! :wink: I'm just trying to keep the conversation lively like :) Seeya! Peace and Love, 8) Deb And keeping it lively you are! ;) Like I said, I don't use them a lot, but I do like to have an idea of what ballpark I am in weight-wise. Just call it a curiosity factor or ...

VanillaGorilla

Thanks for the link. I'll definitely have to check it out!

As far as the stopping thing goes...It really is surprising how much even a lighter weight can kick your butt when you aren't used to training in that manner.

VanillaGorilla

I just may when I have some extra fun money kicking around! I'll go out on a limb and conservatively say it'll be "really, really heavy" though...

VanillaGorilla

Yeah, a lame tool!!!

Now, if you read my post, I did say they were definitely not the be all/end all...

Hello, Deb.

VanillaGorilla

I agree with the thought that scales are just another tool in the box. I jump on one occassionally, but I tend to go by how I look in the mirror and how my clothes are fitting. Remember also that lean muscle weighs more than fat. So even if your weight is up, it might be more lean mass than fat if y...

VanillaGorilla

Changing weights and tempos, etc is good regardless of the program you are using, imho. I'm a big advocate of cycling through and doing heavier stuff, then lighter for a few days, etc. Gives the muscles some new stimuli and allows the nervous system a break to recover. I'd even mess with the time to...

VanillaGorilla

I try to vary the bend of the waist when taking the slapshots, but mostly I just use a slight bend. Probably less than a 45 degeree bend most times, I'd estimate. Sometimes I go a bit "deeper" for a really hard shot, but mostly I'm trying to focus on the twist motion...Trying to work the oblique are...

VanillaGorilla

Good thread here. I can dig this... 8) To be a little stronger than I was yesterday To look a little better than I did yesterday To feel a little bit better than I did yesterday To hopefully inspire someone and most especially my daughter every day. I actually took some pics tonight and I have to sa...

VanillaGorilla

Vanilla, I think you are right on about the plyometric idea. Recently I've begun using plyo pushups and plyo squats(leaps, basically) after my normal pushups and squats and I'm seeing/feeling noticable results after just a few weeks. Shovelglove seems to work in a similar way, at least for me. I li...

VanillaGorilla

It is a good thread indeed. I am enjoying reading everyone's ideas on why this seems to work so well and soaking up the info. It kind of strikes me as doing plyometrics (i.e. clapping pushups), only the impact on the joints isn't as tough. It's a somewhat ballistic movement with all the starting and...

VanillaGorilla

Definitely sounds like an interesting theory and I can kind of see where you're coming from.

VanillaGorilla

I think it's great to get motivated for a second workout from time to time. I had already worked out once the other day, and then I ended up stopping by here and felt motivated to do some sledgehammer work. I ended up going at it for about 20-25 minutes at around 2AM!

VanillaGorilla

Reinhard makes an excellent point. It is the getting started that is the most important part. Once you've started something, you can move onward and upward from there.

VanillaGorilla

Hello, Reinhard! Good to be back even just a little bit and glad to see Shovelglove is still going strong!

The hand is ok except for the occassional ache during bad weather. Other than that, no complaints, though!

VanillaGorilla

Hello, Deb! My summer is going ok so far (Other then the obscene amount of rain and humidity! lol). Hope yours is going good too!

VanillaGorilla

The one advantage to using a regular sledgehammer one-handed is that it can be an incredible grip workout.
I like to use mine as a sort of Indian club.

VanillaGorilla

Long time, no see! I hope everyone is doing well! :D I have been tied up with a lot of "real life" things since hurting my hand last year and have not been online a lot, but I have been sticking with my weight training, bodyweight workouts and of course plenty of shovelglove and sledgehammer swingin...

VanillaGorilla

I don't have a tire to beat on, but I will oftentimes "pretend" to be hitting a tire or driving a spike, stopping just short of "impact". It definitely takes a lot to stop that if you have a pretty good swing going.

VanillaGorilla

Oh, I gotta get me one of those....

VanillaGorilla

'ello, shuggers! long time, no speak (post? lol) just figured i would check in for a moment...hope everyone is well. i've been in therapy for my hand for a little over a week now and it is slow going. there were no fractures thankfully. it appears the middle finger got dislocated at the time of inju...

VanillaGorilla

i've set myself up to work lefty when i am online. i'm not on much, though...it's still very diffucult working one-handed.
i've been icing and elevating it per doctors instructions....it's still quite a mess at this time, though.

VanillaGorilla

the way this hand feels right at this moment, it's going to be awhile before i am doing anything. the top of the hand is extremely painful and swollen today and i can hardly feel my fingers. especially the tips.

VanillaGorilla

i'm looking right now at doing mostly core and leg work once i am able hopefully.
i went to the doctor this morning and they've referred me to a specialist. they think there might be quite a bit of damage in there. hopefully they are overestimating that, but we shall see i guess.

VanillaGorilla

i just went to the doctor and it looks like this hand is going to be fairly useless for awhile...it's a mess, so yes you are right.....eventually it'll be an opportunity to work on "weaker" areas.

VanillaGorilla

just when i felt i was getting somewhere with my fitness goals again, i had to go and fracture my hand friday night at work. :x looks like i'll be doing lots of dumbell work, levering and maybe some one-handed pushups until my right hand heals. i guess while it is a hinderance of sorts, i can look a...

VanillaGorilla

This means WAR!!!

Congrats and enjoy!!

VanillaGorilla

Managed 2 sets of 10 on the HSPU's yesterday. Coming along fairly well, I think.

Followed that with some work with my new dumbbell, abdominal work and bridging.

It was a blitz type workout due to time constraints. Had to blast it out and get it done. lol

VanillaGorilla

Ah, gotcha. The primate in me came out on that one....lol

VanillaGorilla

Wouldn't it be easier to just beat on an old tire or something?

VanillaGorilla

For a fellow my size I guess I am, but there are plenty out there who are stronger, for sure. I just try to improve in small increments in different areas whenever I can. I guess "strong" is sometimes relative to the individual. As I said, for the longest time I couldn't do a handstand pushup to sav...

Everyday Systems

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A recent "during" pic

Greetings all!

one handed shovelglove