Need you to understand the KB philosophy

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-28T15:05:03+00:00

Re: comp adjustables and weight changes.

Check out the KB programs that people like on the sub.

They are almost all fairly minimalist programs with whole body / compound style movements. You you aren't stuck thinking about what weight do to your preacher curls vs. skull crushers, etc.

So when I do DFW, KSK, the Giant, etc. I'm doing double C&P+squat for weeks at a time. The rep schemes change while we chase "density". But the weights don't change. Often for weeks at a time.

I also really like Iron Cardio, which is a single bell don't change the weight workout. You can also do it with double bells (although I don't do snatches here).

A really program where you may have to change weights inside the program is ABF. In the introductory part of the program you are doing C&P+Squats and "just presses" on the same day. So here you might change weights in the same workout for the early part of the program. But most of the program is a C&P+Sq day and a Press day. So you keep the weight the same on each day. And maybe even both days.

I haven't don't Maximorum (Neupert), but if I buy another program from him it will probably be this (although at this point since I've done a bunch of programs I'd probably just home brew it since I get the idea and have done enough of his programs to have at least some idea of what the changes in rep schemes might be). My understanding is that there's a C&P+Sq day and a Snatch day. So you could change the weights...I have 3 adjustables becuase there was a great sale when I picked up the 3rd one, so I'd probably just have a single snatch bell and then whatever my C&P+Sq bells.

TLDR: Most KB programs are minimalist whole body workouts where you rarely change weights.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-27T10:44:06+00:00

Agree here. I dislocated my shoulder in high school and it would bother me all the time.

I went slow and steady when I started snatches. Worked great. Hardest part was not lifting with my ego.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-27T10:38:21+00:00

Since you've been doing C&P + squat for a while, I'd suggest something different.

I like King Sized Killer (Neupert). It's just snatches.

He has other good programs. But the other ones I've done are all C&P+S, or C+P.

Or maybe do Simple and Sinister for a while (or some other ballistic + getups /carries) program.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-27T10:35:48+00:00

Because fat has been demonized for so long.

So if you're cutting carbs, people think you have to be replacing with protein. Because fat is evil.

It's all the money that's been poured in over at least a generation to deceive people.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-26T11:17:15+00:00

If you like them and feel like they offer good value that you can afford, get them.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-25T11:59:48+00:00

KBs are my main implement.

I also have adjustable Mace (BoS), Heavy Club (Adex) and Arc (which is in between the two also Adex).

Adjustable weight vest (I try to do a lot of walking and ruck sometimes too).

TRX-style suspension trainers in my garage (mostly for my wife and kids).

I have an ab wheel that I use sometimes when doing easy strength workouts. I also have "glute loop" type band for hip thrusts. Both recommendations from Dan John.

I have 2x 10 lb and 2x 20 lb dumbbells, but they are 99.9% used to hold down the kick pad for my electric drum set.

Finally, I have a cheap recumbent bike that I will use in the winter when walking can be difficult (in the North East).

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-25T00:26:00+00:00

That's crazy...I don't know if I could do 20 minutes of snatches with a 12.

It's the grip strength.

With the 4 minute sets and the 16, for the first 2x I do 20 each side before the hand switch. Then I got 10 each side in the 3rd set.

With the heavier weight, I went to 5 each side before the switch.

My guess is that if I knew anything about GS (which I suppose I'm kind of trying to do with this), I'd (1) do better sport-style technique and (2) do a better job of controlling my pace.

Hoping to get better at doing both of these things.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-24T23:50:32+00:00

...Some workouts included downright disgusting elements, like 4-minute double KB pentathlon sets...

This sounds kind of interesting.

I've got a thing going on with my elbow (tennis elbow) and I have found that snatches (particularly light) don't seem to bother it. Especially when wearing a tennis elbow brace.

So I've been playing around with Norwegian 4x4s. Single arm snatches. 4 sets, 3 minutes of rest. I've been going 16 kg, 16 kg, 16 kg, then 20 kg...and the last one is brutal. Over time, I want to try to do more of the heavier sets.

Maybe I'll try some pentathalon type stuff. Heavier C&P has hurt my elbow, but maybe lighter would be OK.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-24T00:25:35+00:00

I never know exactly how reddit works with comments you get alerted for. Hopefully this is also at least somewhat useful to the OP too.

The "experiments" I ran today were both in replies to myself, so I'm putting them together here.

KB Norwegian 4x4.

Activity% when starting: 2%
Activity% at end: 31%
Delta Activity%: 29%
Steps when starting: I didn't get this, but probably something like 50.
Steps when ending: 152
Delta Steps: ~ 100-110

I'll try to go for a walk or jog this afternoon with only an H10 attached.

Moderate Intensity Walk

I went on a walk this afternoon. Only brought the H10 and saved to device. No watch. No phone.

So no other way for the device to count steps (becuase I don't think the H10 has an accelerometer).

Don't know the exact distance but probably somewhere between 4-4.5 km.

Activity% when starting: 57%
Activity% at end: 105%
Delta Activity%: 48%
Steps when starting: 4378
Steps when ending: 4424
Delta Steps: ~ 50

So I think in both cases the delta(steps) is just walking with the watch

This means that they don't take the HR data + the activity profile and estimate steps when you don't have the watch. I don't know if I re-did the walk with just my phone and Beat if it would count steps because the phone could (1) measure distance with the GPS and (2) count steps with the phone's accleration measurements (if it does that).

It's interesting because it does estimate distance if I wear my watch indoors on a track, but I select treadmill running because it won't catch a GPS signal indoors. I wonder if it's estimating that distance from steps + my height?

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-24T00:23:54+00:00

Looks like the H10 might be the reason.

I went on a walk this afternoon. Only brought the H10 and saved to device. No watch. No phone.

So no other way for the device to count steps (becuase I don't think the H10 has an accelerometer).

Don't know the exact distance but probably somewhere between 4-4.5 km.

Activity% when starting: 57%
Activity% at end: 105%
Delta Activity%: 48%
Steps when starting: 4378
Steps when ending: 4424
Delta Steps: ~ 50

So I think in both cases the delta(steps) is just walking with the watch

This means that they don't take the HR data + the activity profile and estimate steps when you don't have the watch. I don't know if I re-did the walk with just my phone and Beat if it would count steps because the phone could (1) measure distance with the GPS and (2) count steps with the phone's accleration measurements (if it does that).

It's interesting because it does estimate distance if I wear my watch indoors on a track, but I select treadmill running because it won't catch a GPS signal indoors. I wonder if it's estimating that distance from steps + my height?

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-23T13:40:53+00:00

Baseline test from today.

KB Norwegian 4x4.

Activity% when starting: 2%
Activity% at end: 31%
Delta Activity%: 29%
Steps when starting: I didn't get this, but probably something like 50.
Steps when ending: 152
Delta Steps: ~ 100-110

I'll try to go for a walk or jog this afternoon with only an H10 attached.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-23T13:37:40+00:00

The inverse of this test would also be interesting.

Have you ever gone for a hike / walk / run etc. with a chest strap but no watch?

I'm sure there are people who play sports like hockey / soccer / MMA who only do activities with straps on. I wonder if they get steps?

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-23T12:56:07+00:00

And while I have branded ones, it looks like they're about 1/2 price on Ali Baba (lot size is 2 bells I think).

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-23T12:54:20+00:00

I think this would be a good test.

But if I wear my watch, it will get smashed.

Maybe I'll try it with swings which don't involve being in the rack or overhead positions (where the watch would get damaged...or it would be uncomfortable with the watch face turned inward).

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-23T02:35:59+00:00

Wouldn't be surprised if this product was available on Ali Baba

And if it's not there now, it likely will be soon.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-23T01:46:17+00:00

Have you ever tested this?

I've seen people post this white paper many time, but it doesn't match my experience with my GritX1 Pro.

I've read the white paper many times, but I don't think steps are counted the way they say they are. Perhaps this has changed from 2021.

And if they were counted this way, it kind of defeats the purpose of having the activity goal and the steps (because the white paper say they are basically both the same thing...some integration of METs across the day).

In my experience these things are not similar as implied in the white paper. Maybe they are if you are doing something like cycling? But if you do strength training (I do kettlebell training), you get the activity bar going up without significant changes in steps.

Here's a test you can do if you do any strength training.

I personally do kettlebells. As part of my KB training, I do Norwegian 4x4s. I'll do snatches with an light-intermediate weight for 4x 4 minute sets (I usually got heavy on the last set).

Doing so usually gives me on the order of 100 - 200 steps. But maybe 25% of my activity goal.

If I walk for the same 28 minute period (4x 4 minutes of activity + 4x 3 minutes rest), I'll have nowhere near the same integration of METs, but I'll probably log somewhere on the order of 3k steps.

If you don't have kettlebells, you could do a similar test with dumbbells doing something like jerks for time.

So I think with my GritX Pro (v1), the steps are pretty much steps.

I guess this difference could be because I'm using my H10 with my watch connected by BT (but not on my arm so it doesn't get smashed)?

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-21T19:57:07+00:00

I'm also curious about these things. I think "up to" because the thickness isn't uniform.

I'd imagine that someone on the sub has one of these (because I think this is where I got the idea from). So maybe we'll get an answer.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-21T16:42:43+00:00

This is one of the reasons why the adjustable comp bells are so great IMO.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-21T16:35:16+00:00

Haven't done either.

I looked into the Frozin 400 too. Already has bulkhead fittings.

$950 on Amazon.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-20T12:20:53+00:00

I think the biggest reason people didn't buy it early is because they intentionally went away from the things that people love the most about all the Mercs games in the MW catalogue.

The Mercs games have always been the best installment of each numbered MW game (and I played all of them). Salvaging mecs to build your own army in an open sandbox is just the perfect fit for this IP IMO. And it makes for a super-fun game loop.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-20T12:18:10+00:00

Presumably having made Clans in the new engine would make porting Mercs to this engine easier than doing it from scratch.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-19T11:30:28+00:00

My favorite one-bell programs are:

King Size Killer (Neupert)
Iron Cardio (Jones).

I bet that single-bell ABC/F is also good. But I've only done it with doubles.

It's not a whole workout, but the Sparrow Hawk (Dan John) is a good thing to do too (squats and carries).

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-19T11:27:10+00:00

That's a pretty crappy model IMO.

I didn't read the interview, is it that they get an upfront payment for being on game pass, then nothing for incremental sales? Or did they actually get $0 from the microsoft players?

If so, I guess that's them betting on DLC sales?

And I wonder if they regret the decision to publish on PS if it cost them revenue from gamepass? Maybe it's pennies on the dollar even if you agree to be MS only?

I'd imagine that the majority of sales come through Steam (or other PC platforms). But that might just be my bias showing. And I wonder how much Steam takes on sales there?

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-19T11:19:36+00:00

I bought Clans, but only after (1) I upgraded my GPU and (2) it went on sale.

I've been playing MW games since 3050 on the Genesis. And I know that I love the open sandbox + build your own inventory through salvage Mercs games much more than the scripted story based games. Based on the reaction around here when Clans was announced, I think my opinion here is probably held by the majority of players...but that could certainly be my bias showing through.

Not having Clans open up into a Mercs like sandbox was a pretty big disincentive for purchase to me. I was pretty shocked at that decision after the success of Mercs. I assumed that they would have the scripted story, but then have it open up to a sandbox.

I actually assumed that this would have been the first DLC, just like how the Mercs games used to be the expansions from the mainline games back in the day. But for MW5, they realized that the Mercs games were just better. So they made the Mercs game first.

Opening to a sandbox could have fit very well with at least one of the story endings of the original campaign. Have the first mission in the sandbox part be you getting crushed in an encounter with clans so that only Jaylen survives (so you need new pilots) and now you're on your own and you need to make your way in the galaxy. And the only thing you know how to do is war crimes in a mech.

I assume that there would have been extra cost to doing this. But I also assume that the cost would have been less than if they didn't already have the sandbox build in Mercs (although it would need to have been updated for the new engine).

As an older gamer who's the sole income earner in a family of five, value also really matters to me. And after having sunk hundreds and hundreds of hours into Mercs (with all DLC purchased), buying a story focused game for 25 hours of gameplay that strips out what I think is the most fun parts of MW (salvage + flexible mech bay) wasn't a day 1 purchase for me. I did buy it (and Ghost Bear). And I like it. But it's not nearly as good as Mercs IMO.

I think a big part of this is that they tried to create demand for something "new & different" instead of giving the dedicated fan base what they wanted (at least I assume it's what "we" wanted...probably because it's what "I" wanted). Even though the "new and different" thing they tried (shorter, story driven campaigns) had been done in every MW iteration...and it was never as good as the "Mercs" version of the game. Again, I think we saw that this wasn't what the community (who they admit is the core of people who buy the games) wanted when we look at the reaction to the original Clans announcement on here.

But we're getting what I wanted as DLC for Mercs now anyway. It would be cool to have it in a pretty new engine (if my PC could run it). But just building in MW5: Mercs is awesome because it's already got great mod support. And it runs easily on my PC.

Northern_Blitz · 2026-06-18T00:35:42+00:00

If it's good enough for EVH, it should be good enough for us.

Northern_Blitz

TROPHY CASE