I have been competitively powerlifting for over 20 years. Within that time I have competed raw, single ply and multi ply. I hold the highest all time total of 1930 at 148, the third highest total of 2045 at 165 and have broken over 35 world records, over 25 of which I still hold. Through the years in this sport I have learned a great deal from various training methods, met and formed long lasting friends, as well as learned the importance of balancing life, work, and training.
Elitefts accepted me as a team member over ten years ago and I am currently the longest standing still competing powerlifter on the site. I appreciate Dave Tate and Elitefts for giving me the opportunity to learn from and teach others through the Q&A and my training log.
In 2005 I opened Orlando Barbell – a 24 hour powerlifting friendly gym. As well as running Orlando Barbell I designed and sell the Home GHR and Doorway Home Gym, wrote the 12 Weeks to a Bigger Bench EBook, and produced the 12Weeks to a Bigger Bench DVD.
My latest contribution was writing the M2 Method EBook, designed to be the quintessential Raw Powerlifting training manual for beginners to advanced lifters looking to get stronger and prevent injury while incorporating the powerlifts.
A couple laps around the building for a warm up
Prehab
PVC rolled on:
Lower back, shifted to right and left
Upper back, shifted to right and left scapula w/hips up
Armpits
Hamstrings
Glutes
Adductors
Fat Bar Flat Bench-
95x5
135x5
185x10
205x8
Single Arm Cybex Incline Press-
50x10
60x10
70x10
(I’d never done these before and thought they might be a good change from using the dumbbells).
Rope Tricep Pressdowns-
50x10
60x10x2
Cybex Curls-
50x10
60x10
70x10
Well, I headed to the GI doc once again yesterday (11/28) and was really hoping that I wasn’t going to leave empty handed, but that’s what ended up happening. He bumped me back up to a descending dose of prednisone, starting with 40 mg/day, to fight my inflammation. It’s made me feel a little better, but makes it difficult to breath and thus sleep, increases my resting heart rate, and still isn’t enough to stop the joint pain. I also seem to tear something every time I’m on prednisone (even though I’ve had very few tears otherwise) so I’m going to have to adapt the little training I’m able to currently do now to hopefully prevent that.
They’re now trying to get me into the Florida Hospital Infusion Center (yes, the Cancer center) to receive infusions of Entyvio, another biologic. I really don’t feel like my situation is serious enough to have something poured directly into my bloodstream. I’m also not quite sure how another biologic is going to work when Humira didn’t. Either way, I need to get off of the prednisone and need relief from this inflammation. I’m interested to see if they’re able to get the Entyvio covered since we have Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance that only covers generics and Entyvio is clearly not generic. They’re working on getting “prior authorization” so the insurance company will cover it since it’s medically necessary. I’m guessing since it has to be administered at a hospital that this will make it more likely to happen.
In addition to working with the GI Doc to find another med, thanks to Trinity, we've eliminated gluten, dairy, processed foods, and refined sugar from our diet while focusing on lean meats and vegetables. Of course I’ve lost even more weight and strength in the process. I’m also planning to speak to a functional doctor this week (thank you again Kayla) and visit him in south Florida sometime within the next couple of weeks. I keep hoping that one of these potential solutions, or a combination of them, will provide some relief. I just want to get back to what used to be my normal, or at least a relatively close version of it. I'll get through this. It's just taking longer than I'd like. Way longer.
Appreciate what you have. It won't last forever.
The M2 Equipped Training Ebook
The M2 Method Raw Training Ebook
The Affordable and Effective Floor Based Home GHR
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12 Weeks to a Bigger Bench EBook
