My homemade "hammer"

bulletproofzulu · Post by **bulletproofzulu** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:44 pm

So I started about two months ago on an 8 lbs hammer. After about a month, I didn't really feel any challenge from that at all (I've already lifted weights for most of my life, so I might not have had a lot of adapting to do). I wanted to get a 15 lbs one, but the cost was rather insane, and the thought of having to go out and buy yet another after that gets too easy was terrifying. Thus, the modular system:

I managed to find a pole from a shelf that was made to support roughly 500 lbs. It's quite sturdy. I found some old weights and the little stoppers in the basement, and added some wrap normally used on tennis rackets for grip. So far it's worked great. I started at 12.5 lbs and just moved up to 15 lbs last week (without having to shell out an extra cent). Being able to move up by small increments is great too. I love it!

gratefuldeb67 · Post by **gratefuldeb67** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:00 am

Cool!
Good for you

Debs

Bushranger · Post by **Bushranger** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:04 am

I like the concept but I, personally, would never trust those collars. I have lifted weights on and off for many years also and I know for a fact those collars aren't designed to handle a lot of lateral force against them. They are simply to prevent weights from shifting along the bar if you happen to tilt a bit, not hold weights on in a completely vertical position. I'd hate to see one come loose while you were in full swing as even a little 5 kilo plate to the head, at the right point of impact with enough force, is more than enough to kill you.

Post by **reinhard** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:07 pm

Very cool -- but please, please, be very careful.

I don't know what your medical insurance is like, but for me an extra sledge is a hell of a lot cheaper than a trip to the ER -- or worse.

Reinhard

bulletproofzulu · Post by **bulletproofzulu** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:38 am

Yeah, I was pretty concerned at first too, but I've tested them pretty thoroughly and they don't seem to be coming off. They're some very old, solid collars that you have to screw on, they might be better than some of the newer ones.

gratefuldeb67 · Post by **gratefuldeb67** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:55 am

Hah!! You almost look like Reinhard!! LOL

Welcome

bluebunny27 · Post by **bluebunny27** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 1:21 am

Careful ... or else ... Weight plate - - to the head !

Naaaaaaah, Good work there ! Just make sure there's no way the weights can come off ... adding a fail safe or two. I like your concept and I have always liked homemade training equipment too. Even when I was 16-17 years old I was training using homemade weights quite often.

I also made my own shovelglove and it looks similar to yours except I have a wooden handle. I've been using it regularly for the past 6 months so I'm confident the weight plates won't fall off, lol ! Actually they are secured so tightly, with 2 different fail-safes that I think even if a bomb exploded right next to my shovelglove the weight plates would still remain on there, heh !

It took me 15 minutes the other day just to remove the main attachments and the 2 fail safes when I wanted to add some weight to it. I used my 14 pound shovelglove for 6 months and that was fine but 2-3 weeks ago I thought it was getting too easy for me so I added some weight to it. I now use a 16.5 pound shovelglove and I should train with it for at least 6 months before adding more weight again ... when my arms look like POPEYE's, you know.

From april to october I only shovelglove about 3 times per week ... goes up to 6 times per week during the colder months, november to march.

Cheers !

Marc

Disclaimer : I am following a more extreme version of the 'No-S' diet.
I made my own personal modifications to the original plan (Diet & Exercise)
What I am doing should not be misinterpreted as being a typical 'No-S' diet experience.
11/01/2008 : 280.0 pounds
08/14/2009 : 197.0 pounds
( 9 months 14 days / -83.0 pounds )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goal : 11/01/2009 : 190.0 pounds ( 1 year / -90.0 pounds )

Huffdogg · Post by **Huffdogg** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 2:32 pm

Marc I just saw your posted statistics on the tracking of your weight loss project and wanted to say congratulations on a truly phenomenal execution of a long-term plan. Looks like you're well within reach of hitting your one year goal, or perhaps even more! That's a huge motivator for someone like myself, who has been at my renewed fitness regime for only about 4 months and is hitting a "plateau." Anyhow, congrats!

bluebunny27 · Post by **bluebunny27** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:14 pm

Hey thanks Huffdogg, you are very kind !

It took a LOT of effort, let me tell you ... training : Approx. 250 hours since nov. 2008, (Shovelgloving, Free weights, doing calisthenic exercises, cycling, sprinting : I use interval training methods for the cardio so I get a lot of benefits even from shorter cardio work outs, I always push-push-push.)

I train 6-7 days per week non stop and I only take 2-3 days off each month.

Plus the dieting part of course, being really good and eating nutritious food so I have a lot of energy for my work outs ... over 9 months in a row now.

Here are my official stats so far :

11-1-2008 280.0
12-1-2008 266.0 ( Nov. 2008 Down 14.0, Total : 14.0 )
1-1-2009 254.0 ( Dec. 2008 Down 12.0, Total : 26.0 )
1-13-2009 250.0
2-1-2009 244.0 ( Jan. 2009 Down 10.0, Total : 36.0 )
2-19-2009 237.8
3-1-2009 234.0 ( Feb. 2009 Down 10.0, Total : 46.0 )
3-14-2009 232.2
4-1-2009 229.8 ( March 2009 Down 4.2, Total : 50.2 )
4-14-2009 224.8
5-01-2009 221.6 ( April 2009 Down 8.2, Total : 58.4 )
5-15-2009 217.8
6-01-2009 215.6 ( May 2009 Down 6.0, Total : 64.4 )
6-16-2009 211.6
7-01-2009 208.2 ( June 2009 Down 7.4, Total : 71.8 )
7-15-2009 205.4
8-03-2009 201.8 ( July 2009 Down 6.4, Total : 78.2 )
8-14-2009 197.0

Latest update : 196.8 this morning, 8/20/2009
I expect to be around 195.0 at the end of august.

That's the goal I set on the very 1st day, nov. 1st 2008 : 1 year, Lose 90 pounds. Yeah, it was a lil' bit crazy...

I'm 5'10", 37 years old.

I'll wait and see but if I keep working hard I should be able to go down even lower : 187 or 188 at that time ... and I'll remain around there long term hopefully.

Then I'll just work on staying there and turning some of the remaining fat to muscles, so I'll weigh the same but will be more muscular, sounds good to me !

Good luck on your journey, don't give up and fight through ADVERSITY alright !? Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard but when you start seeing more progress it motivates you to keep going.

I am in much better shape now than when I started, running up stairs and not being out of breath, all that ... when I look in the mirror now I think I look like a different person, really.

Cheers !

Marc

Disclaimer : I am following a more extreme version of the 'No-S' diet.
I made my own personal modifications to the original plan (Diet & Exercise)
What I am doing should not be misinterpreted as being a typical 'No-S' diet experience.
11/01/2008 : 280.0 pounds
08/14/2009 : 197.0 pounds
( 9 months 14 days / -83.0 pounds )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goal : 11/01/2009 : 190.0 pounds ( 1 year / -90.0 pounds )

Huffdogg · Post by **Huffdogg** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:46 pm

Yeah I've had a really dramatic change in body type just from the 30'ish pounds I've shed already. I have a tendency to build muscle mass very easily, and I can already see visible differences in upper body mass, so I know that in addition to the 5 or 6 inches I've lost from my waistline, I've also gained muscle up top. People I haven't seen in awhile tend to double-take when I run into them now

At any rate, I think I'm going to try to throw in a week of CrossFit type circuit training to try to crash through my wall, and then ratchet back to a more manageable workout routine (I have a new baby on the way and lots to do around the house; I can't afford to exhaust myself utterly with my fitness routine even a few days a week).