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S&S Quest

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Travelled a bit, but managed to squeeze two sessions in -- at a gym with a 28 kilo bell...

Here's July 7th, 2017:

swings: 10 x 10 (l/r) w/ 28kg

TGUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg

Attempted a get up on each side with the 28k bell. Felt okay until the hinge-to-lunge, and realized there was no chance.

Swings felt good though. Very different from mixing bell sizes at my home gym. Easier than trying to swing the 32 of course, but overall much harder in terms of conditioning.

Was not able to time my sessions because of reasons.
 
Here's July 9th, 2017:

swings: 10 x 10 (l/r) w/ 28kg

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg

Once again attempted a single get up on each side with 28 kilos. Not today either. I just hung out in the hinge position for a few seconds until it felt comfortable, then reversed everything slowly. It'll be a at least another couple weeks minimum until I'll be able to mix sets of them in.
 
Here's July 11th, 2017:

swings: 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 32 kg. 2 x 10 (2 handed) w/ 32 kg. in 9 min.

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg. in 22 min.

Strange experience with get ups today. I faulted on my first right hand one, badly. I think my shoulder wasn't packed properly. No injury, didn't hurt, I just felt really weak.

Subsequently took it very slowly. But finished all with control and quality.

But there was good news: I might have finally talked the gym into getting a 28 kilo bell... and if they don't, I'll just keep dropping the 32 until they buy one.
 
Here's today, July 12th, 2017:

swings: 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 32kg. 2 x 10 (2 handed) w/ 32 kg. -- 7:30

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg. -- 15:10

Getting those times down a bit. 24kg felt good in the get ups, not like yesterday.
 
Here's today, July 13th 2017:

swings: 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 32kg. 2 x 10 (2 handed) w/ 32 kg. -- 6:30

GUs: 8 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg -- 14:00.

Faulted on my second to last get-up and didn't feel like I had the next one, so I cut it short. Not sure what happened, maybe just fatigue from doing the swings faster.

My right side get ups feel weak again, mystified as to why.
 
Here's July 14th, 2017:

swings: 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 32kg. 2 x 10 (2 handed) w/ 32 kg. -- 7:30

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg -- 11:06

get ups were much stronger today. I think it was harder to be doing them as slowly as I was. plus I watched a video of someone fifty pounds lighter than myself doing a TGU with a 36kg bell. And read a post about someone who did two get-ups with a 32kg bell 6 weeks into S&S. The fire under my a#@ was officially lit.
 
Here's today, July 16th 2017:

swings: 6 x 10 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 2 x 10 (l/r) w/ 32kg. 2 x 10 (two handed) w/ 32kg. -- 7:40

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg -- 17:45

Had a real Saturday night last night, but I still didn't mean to be quite this slow today.

I scaled back on the number of single-hand swings I'm doing with the 32kg, from 4 sets to 2. Focusing on eccentrics and ballistic power. Hope it gets to swinging the 32 in a more sturdy fashion.
 
Here's today, July 17th 2017:

swings: 6 x 10 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 2 x 10 (l/r) w/ 32kg. 2 x 10 (two handed) w/ 32kg. -- 8:00

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg -- 17:00

Slow again today. I don't know exactly why the swings were so slow. Get-ups were going well and I was on track to finish in under 14, but I faulted on my final get up in the lunge to stand. I took a long break before re-attempting, final one was fine.
 
Here's today, July 18th 2017:

swings: 6 x 10 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 32kg. -- 11 min

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 25 min.

Intentionally took a slow, tense, grind-y day.

Found out something interesting. Turns out the 32kg bell I've been using - which looks like a gorilla - is in fact two "pood." News to me: that's 36.11 pounds. so the bell is actually... drumroll...

32... point eight... kilograms.

Confession: it did feel a little heavier than I thought 32 kilos would feel. almost 2 pounds heavier. which it is.

Today for the first time I tried a "roll to press" with the Gorilla on both sides while I was doing get-ups, per some suggestions I read around here. And as some others have noted, it made the 24kg feel lighter.

I spent the full session taking enough rest to make sure every rep was tense and smooth, which I hadn't done for a while.

the "32kg" swings felt stronger than before, maybe ever. the press with it in the get-ups did not feel strong -- no way could I even roll to the elbow with it yet.

Here's to meeting the Simple Goals with an extra eight-tenths...
 
Here's today, July 20th 2017:

swings: 6 x 10 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 32kg. -- 10:45

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg. -- 25:00

Took yesterday to do a bit of mobility and jogging. Today felt fairly good. Swings in particular. I've taken another piece of advice from around the forum and focussed on "what my body was doing, not the bell." The 32 kilo swings were not quite as high, but somehow felt more crisp.

I also did the same 4 "rolls to press" with the 32 kilo - ahem, 2 "pood" -- bell. About ten seconds with each hold. They did not feel strong. Still doubt I got roll to the elbow yet.
 
The 32 kg kettlebell has me anxious, because that is a load to have overhead with one hand. I can completely commiserate with your not feeling strong with it, yet. You are doing some good, strong work in this log. With some patience, I am sure that you will be getting up, successfully, with the 2 pood kettlebell.

Here's today, July 20th 2017:

swings: 6 x 10 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 32kg. -- 10:45

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg. -- 25:00

Took yesterday to do a bit of mobility and jogging. Today felt fairly good. Swings in particular. I've taken another piece of advice from around the forum and focussed on "what my body was doing, not the bell." The 32 kilo swings were not quite as high, but somehow felt more crisp.

I also did the same 4 "rolls to press" with the 32 kilo - ahem, 2 "pood" -- bell. About ten seconds with each hold. They did not feel strong. Still doubt I got roll to the elbow yet.
 
The 32 kg kettlebell has me anxious, because that is a load to have overhead with one hand. I can completely commiserate with your not feeling strong with it, yet. You are doing some good, strong work in this log. With some patience, I am sure that you will be getting up, successfully, with the 2 pood kettlebell.

Thanks for the encouragement Michael! Working on it. Did two rolls-to-press yesterday with the Gorilla. Again not strong, but now that it's becoming a part of every session it's getting a little more comfortable.

Here's yesterday, July 21st 2017:

swings: 6 x 10 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 32.8kg -- 10:30

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg -- 26:00

Feel the need to work on grip now that I'm swinging the Gorilla more. From now on I think I'll do S&S five days a week, then some grip and ab work on the off days.

I got "Hard Style Abs" on Kindle. I know Pavel says if you're doing TGUs there's no need to do HS sit-ups on the same days. But it seems like it might help overall -- I heard Pavel say ab work and grip work have the most carryover. Anybody blended HS Abs with S&S?
 
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Here's yesterday, July 23rd, 2017:

swings: 6 x 10 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 32.8kg -- 8:30

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg -- 25:30

Tried something unusual with the get-ups. In my frustration waiting for a 28kg bell to show up in my life, I attempted a couple of get-ups with a 60 pound dumbbell, which my gym of course has plenty of.

Interesting experience. The weight was comfortable to press, and on my left side, I was able to get into the lunge position. my right was weaker. so odd, being my dominant side.

couldn't complete a full get up but it was refreshing. and as with any move up in "bell" sizes it made the 24kg feel much lighter.
 
Ok, so I am not the only one. My get ups with my strong (left) arm are better than my get ups with my stronger (right) arm.

Here's yesterday, July 23rd, 2017:
Interesting experience. The weight was comfortable to press, and on my left side, I was able to get into the lunge position. my right was weaker. so odd, being my dominant side.
 
Ok, so I am not the only one. My get ups with my strong (left) arm are better than my get ups with my stronger (right) arm.

Glad I'm not alone either! Still need to video myself doing both swings and TGUs for tips from the forum, but I've consistently found my right (dominant) hand get-ups are more wobbly, and I'm much more prone to faulting on my right.

I wonder if I started the TGUs with my right instead of my left that it might iron it out.

Here's today, July 24th 2017:

swings: 6 x 10 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 32.8kg -- 8:30

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg -- 26:00

Dumbbell GUs: got to lunge position with 60lb. dumbbell (l/r)

The 60lb. get ups felt a little better today. Unlike yesterday, I was able to get to the lunge on my right side. They're a lot harder to balance in one's hand than a kettlebell, but the challenge is interesting.
 
Was moving the last three days, finally got back in today. Here it is, July 28th, 2017:

swings: 6 x 10 (l/r) w/ 24kg. 4 x 10 (l/r) w/ 32.8kg -- 9:30

GUs: 5.5 x 1 (l/r) w/ 24kg -- 18:00

Dumbbell GUs: got to lunge position with 60lb. dumbbell (l/r)

On my right side, I felt an ache when I was up on my sixth TGU (third on my right side) so I stopped. Not sure what that was about. Going to investigate tomorrow with slow, light get-ups. Hope it's not serious.
 
Here's today, July 30th 2017:

swings: 4 x 10 (l/r) 24kg. 4 x 10 (l/r) 32.8kg. 2 x 10 (two handed) 32.8kg -- 9:30

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) 24kg -- 24:00

Dumbbell GUs: got to lunge position with 60lb. dumbbell (l/r)

I tried to refine my right side Get Up today, drilling with a very light bell before even warming up. I didn't feel the same twinge in my right shoulder when I started get ups. However, my first two on my right side, for some reason I had to bring the bell down halfway through. It wasn't pain, I just wasn't able to keep the bell up as I was going from lunge to stand. I couldn't tell if it was my shoulder or my elbow.

I focused on staying as tight as possible throughout, and did two on my right side in a row. Wasn't a problem after those first couple.

I've gone back to mixing in a couple sets of two-handed swings with the Gorilla.

Tomorrow I intend to cry at the front desk of the gym until they agree to buy a 28 kilo bell.
 
Here's today, July 31st 2017:

swings: 4 x 10 (l/r) 24kg, 4 x 10 (l/r) 32.8kg, 2 x 10 (two handed) 32.8kg -- 10:00

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) 24kg -- 19:00

Think I've been going over-slow on my get-ups. My rests are relatively long, but I think the reason the entire set has been running over 20 minutes is because of the speed of the TGUs themselves. I read somewhere recently that Pavel recommends a steady pace, not a yoga / tai-chi speed. I'll keep them under 20 minutes from here on, that's plenty of time to finish every rep strong.

No get up attempts with the 60lb dumbbell today. But I talked to the owner of the gym... about a certain kettle bell size they don't have...
 
Here's Tuesday, August 1st, 2017:

swings: 4 x 10 (l/r) 24kg, 4 x 10 (l/r) 32.8kg, 2 x 10 (two handed) 32.8kg -- 11:00

GUs: 10 x 1 (l/r) 24kg -- 19:00

Felt a surprising amount of bell slipping in my swings. Guess I wasn't using as much hand chalk as I should have.

Didn't attempt a dumbbell get up that day either, just tried to make the 24kilo ones smooth and strong.
 
Here's today, August 4th 2017:

swings: 4 x 10 (l/r) 24kg. 6 x 10 (two handed) 32.8kg

Dumbbell GUs: 1 (left handed) 60lb. 3 attempts with right side, faulted 3 times.

Kettlebell GUs: 8 x 10 (l/r) 24kg

Forgot my phone so I didn't time these. Decided to switch up swings and see how going two handed on the 32.8 bell felt rather than mixing with single hands.

I was surprised by how much two handed swings still worked my grip. I guessed they'd be as hard as single hand swings in terms of ballistics in the glutes, abs etc, and that was true. But I could feel it work my grip more than I expected.

Complete my first 60lb dumbbell get up. I came close on my right side, but no cigar. I faulted in the lunge to stand, which I think was a function of the bell waving around too much, resulting in my elbow buckling. I'll give it another shot tomorrow.

Needless to say the 28kilo bell is never showing up, so I need to make best buddies with the 60lb dumbbell until I can use the Gorilla.
 
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