Pulled 562 last week doing this sumo, and repeated today conventional so one of my guys who wasnt here last week could get a shot at it. Eeked out a small PR with the chains with 575, but missed 600 again (missed it last week at lockout). 200lbs BW this am. 9 weeks out, and I still need to decide which way I want to pull at this meet, sumo or conventional. Not bad for a cripple... 😎
17lb PR against the bands today, so pretty stoked to lock that one out. Had a Figure 8 on under the shirt, which is a sick combination of gear. 201lbs BW this am. 9.5 weeks out... 😎
Cut this one a smidge high. 😉 555 with straps up, no wraps. Normally I put my light wraps on for 550, but was feeling good today and one of my spotters had to get back to work so I just went for it with sleeves. Since I knew I wasnt getting any really heavy squats in I focused on making 505, 530, and 555 as clean and deep as possible to make them count.
But the real win of the day came after. 595 days ago I lost my balance at the top of a squat with 705lbs on the bar, and as I fell backwards I blew out both ACLs and tore both menisci. Both surgeons I got opinions from said it was the single most gruesome injury they had seen in real life, so ive got that going for me. But I have been blessed to recover well enough that today we did some static holds after squatting, and I got two sets in with :10 and 705lbs on the bar! It was kind of a big deal for me to have 705 on my back again after what happened, as there was zero guarantee that the two dead men who donated tendons were going to be strong enough to handle what I was planning to do with them. But my surgeon I chose also told me I had the single most impressive recovery from said gruesome injury that he has seen as well. I attribute my recovery success entirely to being strong before the injury and continuing to lift the entire recovery process. Its been a long 595 days, but i feel like there may be light at the end of the tunnel now and squatting 705 again seems like a legitimate possibility and not just a dream.
TL/DR: God is good and i am blessed. 💪
Got some new Elitefts short bands so decided to throw them on the rack for funsies. Hit 604 clean, but missed 630 at lockout when my grip gave out. 44lb PR for this one so im stoked. 201lbs BW this am. The band chart says its about 100lbs at the top, and it felt like every bit of that. Not bad for a cripple... 😎
I tore my large intestine in September of 2025 and have been rebuilding my squat ever since (and that was AFTER the ACL tears, so its been a shitshow) and this weekend managed to eek out a slightly high 605 in full gear. 12 weeks out from my first attempt at a meet since I blew my knees out, so I have been trying to get in full gear more often. 700 seems like a lifetime ago, but i still believe i can get back there. 200lbs BW this am. Considering how much of this is a mind game since the accident, im super stoked to have pulled this off, and a huge thanks to the crew for keeping me safe.
Not bad for a cripple... 😉
Been lowkey wanting an SG since I was in high school playing punk rock bands in the mid 90s, and finally decided im done waiting. Found this epiphone modern for $200 off list due to an unknown cosmetic issue, and took the risk. It paid off because its a teeny tiny scratch on the back from someone's belt, and I play the hell out of my guitars so its gonna get scratched up regardless. Swapped the clear knobs out for some black ones and had to intonation 2 strings, as 4 were already perfect. Couldnt be happier with this one, and as a lifelong Peter Green fan, ive always wanted a guitar with a phase switch, so this guitar checks all the boxes for me. Just need to add some wheel weights or something to he control cavity because she necks dives like crazy from the lack of a bigsby. Still, im beyond stoked about how it plays and sounds. I originally bought it just to play slide, but im pretty sure its gonna end up being in main rotation instead and I'll use my PRS S2 for slide.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk. 😉