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.
15 mins treadmill
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
Raw Speed Deadlifts-
135x3
225x3
315x2x3
315+40 lbs of chains x2x3
As I mentioned before, last week sucked for my joints. I seem to have good weeks and bad weeks and last week was definitely a bad one. I honestly couldn’t even remember the rest of the very little training I did. I went to the Rheumatologist on Friday in hopes that he might be able to give me something to reduce the joint inflammation that wasn’t a corticosteroid (since they make me feel like crap and more injury prone) or an anti-inflammatory (since they have a good chance of aggravating my digestive issues). He ended up giving me Methotrexate. Methotrexate is actually a med used to treat cancer since it stops the growth of cells. It’s even used as a chemotherapy med in high doses. It’s also used to suppress the immune system which is why it can help treat autoimmune issues. It’s pretty scary if you read about it, but it’s still a drug that I’ve actually been wanting to try. It can take as long as 4 to 6 weeks to see the positive effects, but I’m looking forward to potentially being done with this joint pain. We’ll see.
My next post will be covering the Inaugural Andy Blackton Memorial Strength Challenge which we held last weekend in memory of one of our OBB family who passed last October. We’re very used to running Powerlifting meets (after hosting at least 2/year for the last 15 years), but not so much events like this. Either way, it came together very well and was a great way to remember Andy.
The M2 Equipped Training Ebook
The M2 Method Raw Training Ebook
The Affordable and Effective Floor Based Home GHR
Buy your own Doorway Home Gym and never miss out on your accessory work again
