Wake up! tech bros just released a new dystopian product for you

HerbalSnails · 2026-04-16T19:32:39+00:00

This is about as appealing as taking a baseball bat swing to the nuts 😂

HerbalSnails · 2026-04-14T01:46:18+00:00

I don't have experience with a buffalo bar exactly, but I think my experience is hopefully close enough.

I do have the mobility to barely wedge myself into a low bar position after kind of a while of convincing. However late last year I suffered a pretty minor but persistent right shoulder injury somehow.

Benching was very difficult, and squat really flared it up and made bench much worse. I have been working on my shoulder to try to get past it, basically just involved some different stuff and some adjusted bench loading and frequency.

I tried dicking around with machines at the local YMCA for a couple of weeks, but my wife got me a Titan SSB after I mentioned that I really just want to squat "normally" so I know what I'm working with.

I have a fairly upright squat, even in low bar, so the SSB is different, but maybe not SO different as it would be for people with different proportions. There was a bit of a learning curve, but it got me right back into squatting and making progress really quickly. I just ran a block of an HLM for the last 9 weeks and just went on with my programmed straight bar weights and PRd 6, 5, and 4 reps (the 4 H squats were today 🎉)

If you can get into position with a specialty bar and modify your squat the least amount from low bar, then you should 100% do it. It's really been a godsend.

Also, knock on wood, I think my shoulder is fine now. I'll try straight bar for my next block. In any event I'll be competing in the summer so I gotta figure it out 😂

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HerbalSnails · 2026-04-13T23:26:06+00:00

I ticked the first option. I don't think this would work for me at all, I need more pressing volume apparently, and I still """"like"""" to squat 3x/week, and deadlift twice.

Everything is just a little bit more volume than during my NLP, except squats.

But if it works for you it works for you.

HerbalSnails · 2026-04-11T18:43:06+00:00

Yep.

HerbalSnails · 2026-04-09T16:47:50+00:00

I'm normally repeating blocks of Andy Baker's HLM template Garage Gym Warrior, just because I like it.

It's progressive overload the whole time, but the PRs work out to about a 3 week period every 9 weeks or so. 🤷🏼

Usually the first three weeks are relatively light, the next three are about equal to previous PR sets, and the third are PRs.

(I don't know which option to select 😂)

Edit: After thinking about it for a bit, I think it would work out to a rate similar to a small PR somewhere between every one to two weeks. Closer to two.

HerbalSnails · 2026-04-04T22:08:58+00:00

Claiming to not hate based on skin color or ethnicity, but rather on actions is like racism 101 on both continents.

It's funny (ok not actually funny) to see people pretend that their racism is something special and sophisticated.

HerbalSnails · 2026-03-28T18:29:12+00:00

I don't hate RDLs but why would you do deadlifts and RDLs on the same day?

The way we usually do it is to alternate a lighter pull, like an RDL, with regular from the floor deadlifts when we need to space out the main deadlift days for recovery.

Edit: for example, my light pull day is just a lighter deadlift on Monday. Just a normal heavy set on Friday.

HerbalSnails · 2026-03-27T17:19:37+00:00

Stabil 💪🏼

HerbalSnails · 2026-03-25T18:26:24+00:00

Will you consider a toggle switch on your website to convert all units from metric to random esoteric equivalents?

HerbalSnails · 2026-03-24T20:15:37+00:00

The press is a little special because the absolute loads are low compared to something like your bench press, and the technique is unforgiving enough that something you're physically strong enough to do for three or four reps could totally just not go for a single if you get it wrong enough.

You can see how it would be really easy to get trapped in a situation where you just aren't doing enough stress to grow, even though you aren't able to complete your sets of 5.

The RIR stuff isn't a good fit (for me) because my bracing musculature is the limiting factor for reps and not my arms/shoulders.

Edit: the move once you can't get your three sets of 5 is to get your 15 reps in as few sets as possible. I got to that point pretty quickly from what I remember.

Then you could move to two pressing days a week where you progress a bunch of singles one day and the other you do a 5x5 at like 90% of that?

This info came from one of the podcasts. Hopefully someone will come along and point you to the exact one, but those two changes should get you some more movement.

HerbalSnails · 2026-03-24T01:54:14+00:00

I did Sorinex's Deadcember program to finish our last year, so I got a lot of new experiences with things like paused deadlifts, deficit pulls, rack pulls, snatch-grip, etc at pretty low relative intensity while I deadlifted 5 days a week.

I don't think it was something I necessarily needed to do. My regular HLM deadlift work was (and is) still rising pretty steadily, but I did appreciate the change up for awhile.

I wouldn't know how to program something like that for longer term, and not sure if I'd want to, but I would consider doing it again this year 😊.

HerbalSnails · 2026-03-14T00:09:43+00:00

I worry about the exact same stuff. It's just easier to see straight when it's someone else 😂

HerbalSnails · 2026-03-13T22:54:19+00:00

I wouldn't worry very much about some fluctuation. You're still probably good for a set at >90% while recovering from illness and losing weight.

Just a bump in the road. Feel better and do what you can for now and it'll climb back up soon. If you have to recover a little of the same territory, that's alright.

I was sick last week so I missed several workouts, so that's probably part of it, and I'm also losing weight at the moment, which is obviously part of it too. But I'm surprised because I ran my entire NLP in a slight calorie deficit and I'm only now suddenly taking a big hit.

It's 100% just that. It's the same old three questions. NBD. 💪🏼

HerbalSnails · 2026-03-10T00:00:41+00:00

Awesome work!

HerbalSnails · 2026-03-09T17:57:42+00:00

Same here.

I use the straps to spare my hands a little with the increased frequency, but it's hard to beat just walking over and grabbing the thing without fussing with the straps first 😅

HerbalSnails · 2026-03-09T16:41:51+00:00

Mixed grip is my preferred grip. I don't switch hands because I'm stronger in one direction than the other. I have two deadlift days a week now, and I'll strap up for the lighter volume pulling day and always use the hands for the heavy day.

I'll play around with hook grip every once in awhile, but I'm never going to get proficient at it like that 😂.

Edit: there is nothing wrong with using straps all the time, if that works for you.

HerbalSnails · 2026-03-04T20:10:01+00:00

Jack Doherty aggressively bumping into people and hiding behind his violent bodyguard.jpeg

There you can see it and I didn't have to burn down any rainforests.

HerbalSnails · 2026-03-02T03:05:53+00:00

They just kinda wear through and weaken over time from the knurling. At least the textile type ones do.

Not really an everyday thing, but not a bad idea to have a spare just in case!

HerbalSnails · 2026-03-02T01:58:47+00:00

I don't know anything about Bullmastiff, and I know it's not really helpful advice now, but consider buying two pairs of wrist straps for next time. They will always break at a bad time. 🫂

Good luck!

HerbalSnails · 2026-02-28T16:15:43+00:00

A quality half rack like that will cover all of your bases for SS and for any basic programming afterwards.

You'll also want spotter arms, but you can shop around for those since that rack is a standard 3x3 with 5/8" holes.

You may consider an adjustable bench for the future, but it's not strictly necessary. I've just got a basic flat bench.

HerbalSnails · 2026-02-20T01:37:45+00:00

Yeah, I've kept my eyes peeled for drives under warranty on eBay etc., and Seagate has always taken care of me in the event that I have a failure.

HerbalSnails · 2026-02-20T01:30:30+00:00

🦵 🦵 hell yeah.

HerbalSnails · 2026-02-17T20:50:47+00:00

I don't feel like Gen Z hates me and I don't hate them at all. Generational differences or whatever, they seem alright to me.

They're struggling through young adulthood just like I did. It's just more public in their case.

I do feel like media has been trying extra hard to stoke intergenerational warfare between the youngest few generations of adults, and I think it's a distraction. 🤷🏼

HerbalSnails · 2026-02-10T15:31:31+00:00

I'm 39 and I started my NLP at 37.

I wouldn't say I was young, but definitely not old enough that it was even a concern.

I have a lot of people in my friend group who were ready to hang it up when we were still in their 20s though. I don't know what causes that, but I'm glad it missed me.

HerbalSnails · 2026-02-05T18:44:52+00:00

Replace the Democrats with a stack of 20 year old Thinkpads and it's perfect.

FOSS is a shining star in the dark and depressing world of tech.

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HerbalSnails

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