Sunday 23 October 2016

Advantages of weighted dips

No one should overlook the advantages of dips. Bar dips produce excellent upper body mass and power gains, largely because of the exceptional mechanics required from the movement.

Dips have the following advamtages:

Dipping is a CKC exercise.  A CKC exercise means that you are moving your body while your hands (or feet) are in a set position and do not move. Dips are among the few chest muscle CKC workouts. As a CKC workout, dips concurrently also work opposing muscle group making them very versatile.

Dips are a tough exercise by themselves. But without additional weight, you are going to outgrow dipping your bodyweight in no time, which brings me to my purpose: It’s so simple to incorporate weight to your body. I recommend buying a dip belt. But it is also possible to hold a dumbbell weight between your legs or you can wear a backpack with weights inside.



By doing this, you can continually overload muscle tissue, since you happen to be able to constantly add extra pounds to your dip belt and thus increase the amount of weight moved.  This website has more much more detail on dip belts: http://powerliftingbelts.org/best-dipping-belts/

The push up is a body weight exercise that is great. And it is the most comparable CKC workout to dips. Yet, you might be capable to lift your entire body weight with dips (and then some, if you add extra pounds). You only lift a fraction of your body weight with press-ups. And while it’s not impossible to do push ups that are weighted, it’s not always practical.

A dip repeat isn’t fully accomplished until your lockout and by performing dips, your lockout power improves considerably,. This strength transfers directly to the other related exercises like the overhead press and the bench press.

Thursday 20 October 2016

How I Injured Myself

So I was doing yoke runs for speed Saturday as I know the key to improve myself as a strongman is to get faster/more conditioned I was getting myself to move pretty fast! lots of runs in the 7s and 8s up to 520lbs big PRs for me for sure. midway through I felt some discomfort in my abdominals but that is nothing uncommon doing beltless Yoke. Few hours later when finally leaving the gym  while driving I feel a lump right above my belly button. Great, feels like a hernia..... it progressively got worse over the weekend and I went in to get it checked out first thing Monday morning.

The first Dr. Was less positive and thought it was pretty bad. That I would be out for 6+ months and he referred me to the best surgeon in the area. He really bypassed some channels so I could get this done quickly and I really appreciate it Dr. Slater! Went off to get an Ultrasound, I always thought I'd be a nervous wreck waiting for an ultrasound but didn't think it would be like this.  Got it and waited around for Dr. Denmark to be done with surgery as he was fitting me in between surgeries. I had a lot of time to think during this time. I stayed positive and reflected on this whole year which has by far been the most amazing one of my life. I've accomplished things I once only dreamed of and have grown so much as a man yet still have so much to learn.

Dr. Denmark said it could have been a lot worse. I have an encapsulated umbilical hernia and the tear is about a 1/2" if it was about an inch it would be a lot more serious. The encapsulated bit is just fatty tissue and fluid and it has blood flowing through it so it is not constricted  All of these are good things. He said I should be cleared to lift and train by Jan. 4th so possibly could still have enough time to prepare for the Arnold. He actually recommended I do body weight exercises after surgery. That still gives me hope but honestly I am just thankful I went to the DR. right away, Am healthy, have people in my life to lean on when things are hard, Having insurance is much appreciated as well too! Thankful I didn't end up getting laid off like I almost did!

I will use my time off to focus on aspects of my life that I have neglected this year pushing so hard and remember why we do all this in the first place. One of my main goals is to actually learn to swim, lol I figure at 27 it might be a little past due to learn that basic skill.

Thanks to anyone who reads this and any advice on this issue would be much appreciated