That's the way to do it man. Don't worry about everyone else. Set a goal and reach it then set another goal. I say get to where you can curl that 36# 15-20 times and bump it up to 45. :-)

I would only use that for sports-specific training. I have seen some bodybuilders who want a thick neck mess themselves up with those, Chris. I stick to heavy shrugs and other exercises for that general area.

Thanks for the feedback Tom! I really want to build my yoke. This just looked like a good way to do it...

Take a look about 3/4 of the way down this page Dunno about anyone else, but I really shy away from neck exercises other than stretching. I'll work shoulders and traps till the cows come home, but hanging weights off my head gives me the heeby-jeebies.

Thanks for the page reference. I read that article a while back but forgot about it. Definitely a good one to revisit! :-)

Get a neck harness and get yoked. Quit messing around get yo yoke on son!!!!

No training tonight, taking the week off as planned. I was going to hit the gym for a little treadmill work. But I feel that a FULL week away from the gym is as needed as a week away from the weights.
Plus my bodyweight, is between weight classes and I do not feel like cutting weight. So I'm in a holding pattern there.

Hope everyone is doing well.

I know that I ruined my back by doing leg lifts with weighted boots in college. Sometimes staying with the tried and true is best!

Going in for some long runnin tonight for the first since I got sick. (two weeks)

Inspired by the faster-paced, more "athletic" workout yesterday, I decided to pick up the pace on upper back today.

1-arm HS low-rows @ 70# + machine weight, for 3 sets of 10 & held for 1-sec at the top ... superset with overhead 20# big medicine ball throws (like chopping wood)

old skool t-bar w/25# plates, from 4 up to 10 plates, to failure each set

1-arm DB rows @ 100, 125, 125

1-arm DB @ 65 on a stability ball (1 leg on floor, 1 leg and hand only on ball), 3 sets of 10 focusing on explosiveness off the ground ... superset with 20# big medicine ball brought from behind/above the head to the knees with straight arms while lying down

underhand grip BB rows @ 135, 185, 135 to failure

hammer curls @ 35, 40, 35 for 10 each time

1-arm cable curls @ 40 for 3 sets of 7-8

foam roller

all in about an hour

my heart was working pretty hard just about the whole time. I thought that was kind of neat ... a definite change of pace from the low-rep, heavy heavy workouts I'm used to. :-)

Dokk was Rockin' the Rows! :-)

if you don't row, what's the point?!? :-)

I only row on back day. :-)

yeah ... but you're a master. I'm still an apprentice. :-)

When you can snatch the dumbbell from my hand, you will be ready to leave, Grasshopper.

:-) :-)

Was gonna just run last night but I ran two miles then supersetted dips and pull-ups, over to heavy shrugs, and finished up with some seated rows

Great ... now if I could only stop myself from aging, I figure your body will start going downhill and I can catch up in about 30 years. :-)

You haven't seen my portrait of Dorian icehog Gray, have you? :-)

Sh*t.

did strength yesterday... felt just fine today... not even a little stiffness. Went to the gym to do cardio, ended up running/walking 3mi total (ran more than half) and then hit the whole strength routine again, but harder than yesterday. And to think, I didn't even want to go to the gym today... :-)

I started trying some variations of things too... for curls, the machine allows you to have your hands facing each other also, so I threw in 10 of those... I could have done a LOT more at the weight I was at in that manor. For leg extensions, I went from 60 - 72 lbs and did 10... I am pretty sure I could go up another on those as the 10 I did felt simple even after running as much as I did.

I pushed myself hard today... I was so drained at the end I felt like crying (not a 'sad' or 'ouch' crying, just like a biggest loser 'I've got nothing left to give' kinda thing... I didn't, but it's funny...)... I feel absolutely ****ing great.

Now on the balcony w/ coffee and a 2000 RGPC... yum.