Ready

I am set to compete at South Australia's Strongest Man 2015!!!

The past 6 months have involved lots of ups and downs, plenty of injuries, and a roller coaster of emotions. One thing has stayed consistent though, and that is my training, nutrition and recovery protocols. There has also been a lot of time to indulge and enjoy life, and I am feeling stronger  than ever before! My career as an educator has officially begun, and I am set to make the absolute most out of 2015!

120kg Axle, an Overhead PB

On the physical side of things, I'm feeling pretty good. I've managed to block out the annoyance of my right leg and the dead nerves in my knee, hips and face! I have a feeling these things will be giving me grief for some time to come. Will I return to strongman fully? I'm yet to see. I know one thing: I will definitely be doing this upcoming competition  with a heart full of pride and a body I can trust to hold out. The mental side of things has been much harder, dealing with the uncertainty of what I want out of all this training, not knowing whether I want to commit to strongman or powerlifting, constantly changing my schedule, getting injured (SI joint twice, among other little niggles I can attribute to the accident). I have only been getting back into strongman training for about 2 months, after I was cleared of needing more surgery. Before that it was a strength program involving mainly barbell compound lifts and a focus on powerlifting. As soon as I got my first taste of strongman, knowing I didn't have to worry about any serious injuries, I was back in my happy place. I realised that I love this kind of training, and I know I will continue doing it, whether I decide to keep competing or not!

 

The strength sports scene in SA continues to grow, and I am glad that I can continue to be involved in it whilst having the support of such great people. Training partners, good friends, fellow athletes, gym owners, and of course my sponsors Australian Muscle; I have all these people to thank for making my life so great since my accident, and allowing me to get the most out of my training. So thank you everybody!!!

I feel as if I am back to 100% , even though that may not be the case. So the accident set me back by a about a year, not bad for how messed up I was. I still stand firmly by my belief that it was my training that saved my life during that very critical injury.  A strong body saved me initially, and a strong mind is what helped me recover so quickly. Also yoga, that has been just awesome in my recovery as well! I couldn't be happier right now, and I've never felt more ready to kick ass!

Really though, as long as I keep hitting PBs, I'll be happy....

Thanks for reading. Will post results of SASM 2015

- Eli

Strongman Yoga

If there is one thing that has allowed me the same kind of release I get with training, it's Bikram Yoga. It's been great for my injuries, and is helping me build back my core strength and balance. I feel I have gone beyond where I was with my flexibility before the accident, apart from the hindrance of my right knee, and I am feeling an all-encompassing sense of mental and physical clarity. My practice of Yoga has developed a whole lot over the past few months, and I am coming to understand the introspective journey that results from regular practice, and hence its popularity. I'm becoming much more familiar with all the postures, and as my flexibility increases, I am able to get deeper into them and correctly execute more and more. I am drawn to this kind of hot Yoga, as I am really learning to consciously meditate, whilst in a state of physical exertion. I have noticed that my larger muscles in my legs (mainly thighs) and arms actually hinder me being able to fully twist them together as is done in Eagle pose. I especially have trouble with my right leg, because of my knee injury. Nevertheless, I push on! I am loving my journey into Yoga.

Got a way to go, but Standing bow pulling pose is one of my faves.

When I went up and attempted the 150kg stone at training, I tried using a lot of focused (I think of it as Qi / Chi) energy when attempting the lift. I instantly noticed that the stone came up with ease! I have noticed this a few times before when performing strongman lifts. Doing Yoga has helped me connect a lot with my own inner strength and energy, and I am feeling quite strong! I was so happy after getting this stone, which I hadn't lifted since before the accident (~8months), and especially happy with the fact that it felt relatively easy. I played around with shouldering the 113kg stone as well.

It seems to just the knee which is still holding me back. I have been prescribed 1.5iu Scitropin (HGH) per day, in hopes of a speedier recovery. I am definitely feeling the other good effects of it, but I worry that it hasn't really helped my knee a whole lot. I'm going in for an MRI next week to assess how it has healed, so I will keep everyone updated. I am pretty keen to not go back to surgery, and rather aim for adaption. I am going back to basics and doing a 10 week program based around squats/bench/deadlift...with relatively light weights only (apart from bench).

Thanks for reading!

Training entry

I've been slowly getting back into the swing of squatting again, getting my balance back and rebuilding my right leg muscles. My last couple of training sessions have looked like this:

Monday:

Pendlay row
60kg x 10
100kg x 5 x 2
100kg x 8

Klokov press:
40kg x 10
50kg x 10
60kg x 5 x 3

Bench press (all paused reps)
80kg x 5
100kg x 3
110kg x 3
120kg x 2 x 3
100kg x 8 (not paused)

Underhand grip chins
BW x 8 x 3

Incline DB bench
30s x 10
36s x 10
38s x 8 x 2

Tuesday:

Stretching and foam rolling (20 mins)

Single leg glute bridging
10 x 3

Squats
60kg x 10 x 5 (to bench)

RDL
60kg x 10
100kg x 10
120kg x 10
150kg x 5 x 2

Glute Kickback machine
40kg x 15 x 3 each leg (right leg first)

WG pullups
10, 5, 5, 5, 8

Finished with some bicep bro stuff

So I'm feeling really good actually. I hit an 85kg strict press the other day, and have been toying around with a bit of metabolic conditioning style training with dumbell and barbell complexes. I am still looking at taking it smart and slow, making sure I massage my leg and knee daily, plenty of foam rolling, stretching, and Bikram Yoga.

Upper body strength is coming along nicely, and it seems that by the time I make it back to competing, my pressing will no longer be a major weakness of mine.

I apologise for this brief post, it is just me wanting to start a training diary again. I must put pen to paper, devise a program, and get back to logging my training!!!

Some vids from Last Thursday's training, had a ripper session. Strict press is feeling strong, although I make this PB look quite heavy... it felt heavy! I think 90 is there with a better set up and execution.

6 months in

6 months has passed since my accident. I am pretty pleased with my progress, my abs are getting stronger and stronger, as is my knee (very slowly). I am looking at starting back with Power Lifting instead of Strongman to begin with, as it much lower impact that Strongman. I was toying with the idea of getting into Power Lifting before my accident, and it would seem that this would be the logical step to take in regards to what my body can handle at this point in time. I have been testing out my axle deadlift a bit, and surprised myself with a 260kg pull just the other day. I also managed some strict press with the log, and got a CG bench PB of 130kg x 5 just the other week.

I had my very first proper squat session 2 days ago, as I sit here typing this I have DOMS radiating through my quads and inner thighs, it feels amazing. A tear came to my eye as I managed to comfortably squat 60kg, then 70, 80, 90 and 100x5, it had been 6 months. Granted, if I am to adopt a low-bar style squat, I still have much to learn. I still did high bar, but was wearing my Chucks and adopting a wider stance. I can see that I have much to improve on, it felt good nevertheless, and so did my 200kg deadlift. In the deadlift it is noticeable that I don't really keep my ass down, and actually feel more comfortable lifting this way (RDL) than conventional.

So I'm looking forward to my journey back into strength sports. I will go see the man Fuzzy, owner of the one and only proper Power Lifting gym in Adelaide, and get some guidance with my lifting.

I would also like to announce that I have registered my private business as a Personal Trainer and Strength Coach: StrongMind. My aim is to help people unlock their inner strength, to improve confidence, mental clarity and quality of life through a focus on body awareness, posture, mindfulness and core strength. I work very closely with all of my clients, keeping close track of progress and providing unconditional support to help achieve real strength in body, mind and spirit. Having faced and overcome many great challenges myself, I feel I can offer a lot to those who are facing and struggling to overcome challenges of their own. I have had a lot of success with my clients so far, and I am extremely excited about what the future holds for StrongMind. In addition, I hope that StrongMind may serve as a platform for delivering an anti-bullying message to youth and adults alike. I have already made appearances at various schools and done Strongman demonstrations (this helps hold kids attention amazingly well!), whilst also taking kids through a StrongMind Kids program, showing them how to release energy, feel better and more confident through exercise. I also like to convey to these kids the importance of reflecting a positive image, supporting friends, and helping in any way they can to stop bullying, which has been and is still a very significant problem in today's society. I really believe that I can help reach kids and get them to become more aware of themselves, to become more confident and be able to deal with bullying; as well as being able to reach those who have a tendency to bully and helping them overcome the insecurities and issues that cause them to engage in it.

I currently have no studio or gym where I can train my clients, however i consider myself a mobile PT, and am fast stockpiling lots of useful training equipment and accessories that can be used anywhere. If you or any one you know needs a push in the right direction, and some support in developing strength, fitness, motivation and confidence, then please give me a call! - 0417 891 086

Me with PowerLifters Alex and Fuzzy at the Fitness expo

Back to the grind

A quick post, because I have so many assignments due for uni, but in 2 weeks I start my first Practical placement so looking forward to that. Almost fully back at work, with exciting business prospects in clear sight.

Managed this 1 arm snatch today, a post knee-surgery PB...felt good! no pain in abs at all. Slight pain on the Iliac crest where muscles were torn off and nerve damage occured, however this is nerve pain and I've been told it may never go away!

My knee seems to be slowly getting better, almost 8 weeks post surgery, I am off crutches and walking stick, now slowly trying to eliminate my limp. The knee has really tested me, it got really mashed up in the accident and causes constant trouble, but I just need to give it time. For those who don't know the injury I sustained to my knee included a partial tear to the MCL and almost full tear to the PCL, chondral detachments, patella damage and general cartilage damage. On the positive side, my upper body strength has had a chance to recover fully, and I am actually approaching the strength I was at pre-accident. Oh, I got the all clear for squats as well, woohoo!!! So I have been overhead squatting with the broomstick and managed some 20kg dumbell front squats. I think I can feel the muscle memory kicking in already, my legs are starting to look alive!!!. My Pullups have been improving massively too, with 15 strict wide grip being my current PB.

Riding my bike has really contributed to recovering the strength in my injured leg, it has been feeling really good! Riding is actually awesome, I'm really glad I have been riding a lot lately.

Much more to come, Hopefully by my next post I will have lost my limp for good!!! I know no one said it would be easy, but there is an easy way and a right way!!

                                                     Pullups at around 113kg body weight

Strong Mind, Strong Body, Positive Outlook!

Stronger...

It has been 4 weeks since I have been on crutches, and man it is wearing me down! I have had to cut back my work hours significantly and am being overloaded with uni work. 2 more weeks until I can put full weight through my knee indefinitely. I am having some serious squat withdrawals, seriously. All these people around me training and competing, and I'm stuck on crutches without a squat to be had. Of course I have been managing to get upper body training in,  which is positive because pressing is my weakness, it has been good to have a (forced) chance to develop it. Being able to train upper body has helped keep me somewhat sane throughout all this, but I really just want to get out there and compete again! I managed to shoulder my first stone since the accident today, albeit the smallest one we have. It felt so good, to feel the stone in my hands. Just a teaser of what is to come, eventually.

I've been training pullups a lot, and managed to get 13 today before I started failing, I was quite happy with this at 111kg body weight. I also managed 10 reps on 100kg on close grip bench and 120kg x 3. I'm going to use this period of lower body limitations to really work to improve my pressing strength, so that when I return to Strongman it won't be such a weakness of mine.

I feel confident in pushing forward and completing my Graduate Dip. Ed. this year, taking some time to organise my career path and put in some good work on this front. I realised after the accident just how passionate I was becoming about training, and how much time it started taking up when really it's not something I'm ever going to be able to rely on to provide financial support. I do it for the love of the sport and the people involved in it and surrounding it. I feel like I really can make a change in the world, and I am definitely starting to see opportunities opening up towards doing that. Having this experience of being a strongman is definitely shaping the person I am becoming, and I feel that it will only aid my endeavors as a person wanting and being able to make a difference for people.

Taking the state junior basketball squad for their core and agility training this season has been great experience as a Strength and Conditioning coach, with much more to come. My days as a PT seem to be dwindling however, as I start to see the amount of work required to actually make a decent buck from training people. I hope to take the entrepreneur path, with plans for my own business as well as recently being offered the role of Co-director at HPT, where I am currently employed as a coach. This will be my priority motivation. Doing this Diploma in Education  will not only add to my credentials as a coach, but also open the door to networking in schools, where I hope to present an idea/program.

Just because I miss squats so much...here are some I did a few months before the accident:

Now go listen to 46&2 by Tool at the top of this page and be inspired!!! Go lift something...anything! squat in my memory of my good knee ;)\

Just kidding, I'll be back.....

c

Hoppy

So I got the surgery. Turns out I needed a fairly large chunk on cartilage and bone grafted back into place. It was right on the joint surface, I have been on crutches for the past couple of weeks. No way am I going to let this second surgery keep me from getting on with my life. Uni, work, business opportunities...it's all happening! I'll be damned if anything holds me back! Luckily I only had to spend one night in hospital, doped up on endone again, it was tolerable though, the staff and surgeon were good; the surgeon was very happy with how the operation went, and said it should heal up well.

Witness the beauty

So I'm back to only being able to do upper body training, along with the crutches, my shoulders, tris and chest have been getting hammered. When in the gym I make sure to target the areas that don't get used when on crutches, lots of back work, and lots of work in the opposite direction that the crutches work (Steep incline DB and OH DB shoulder press). Looking like a bit of an idiot hopping around the gym racking weights up and putting them back by rolling them across the ground to where they have to go, hopping over, then putting them away. I have received a lot of help from both training partners, friends from the gym, and some random strangers. Everyone holds doors open, walks well around me when I'm going up the footpath, some people seem to really go out of their way to wait for me or distance themselves when I'm coming through a doorway or going up some stairs (which I have been doing like a pro I might add). I don't know exactly what I'm getting at, other than it's interesting to observe human nature.

Still managing to be a poser, even on crutches!

I've started pool rehab as of yesterday, it feels good to walk normally again, even though I can only do it in the pool for now. I had my follow up appointment with the surgeon, and he is happy for me to start putting a little bit of weight through it, light leg extensions, hammie curls and calf raises, plus a few of my own rehab exercises that I have invented. My leg feels so weak and the pain is just annoying, I have to be patient and stay positive. I do feel good about the recovery process, and am happy with how it has gone so far. I'm not going to be an idiot and about it and set myself back further, just stick with my rehab and do it properly.

Calf pumps with ice cream

So that's it! Seems like this blog is going to be more like a monthly thing. At uni we are learning all about ICT and constructing out own professional E-Folios, which involves blogging as well. It has been very interesting, although it has been a bit of a struggle keeping up with the work load, but it should all start rolling smoothly once I get my head around it. All I know, is that this is what I want to get back into...hard and heavy training!!! I have been itching so friggen badly to do some squats, some stones, some deadlifts...ANYTHING!!!

Patience, Eli........

I remember when this was my 1RM!

Sending a big shout out to all the people that have ever trained with me, been part of my journey, supported me and helped me out. You are have been in my thoughts lately, reminiscing way back to the start of 2010 when I started serious training, I'll never forget the day I did my first deadlift at CrossFit Adelaide, when Ben was still set up in the back of Jimmy Fung's Wing Chun Academy...