Word to the wise bro's Hammer Strength Machines look impressive, but lets be honest, it isn't the same as free weights. We know this... but the Hammer Strength Warriors have to learn the hard way. Next time you see someone load up a HSM with ten 45 plates please remind them politely that although it looks cool, it isn't.
Today some powerlifter came up to me and said 'I heard you have pretty impressive bench numbers', okay we can play this game dude. You look as if you outweigh me by 20 pounds or so and I see that you're feeling cocky since your homeboys are nearby snickering. Let's do this... my mind's safety disengaged and I was in go mode. Now I know you saw me doing triceps earlier with a shit ton of weight so you probably figured I might be weakened somewhat. Wrong, this is 44 bro. Challenges get met. So I responded "I do what I can do. Why whats up, need someone to push you?". He snickered and he said sure come on over. So the HSM holds 5 plates per side for a supposed 450 pounds + whatever the contraption adds to the party. He asked if I needed to lower the weight, I said I need help moving the plates to a real bench if you don't mind. Aww shit son, shit just got real. His friends are looking confused and shit and I explained that in my opinion the HSM was nice if you wanted to look strong, but really is counter productive. Again he snickered in disbelief. So we transferred over ten 45 pound plates to a bar/bench. Mind you this is a real 495 pounds... 450 in plates and 45 for the bar. He's looking doubtful, but I reminded him he was a powerlifter. I also asked if he needed a slingshot to assist him. He said he was good... smells like entertainment. He calls his boy over for a lift off. He went down in a controlled manner and completed a 4" lift with his buddies hands all over the bar before two of his bro's bailed him out. Sucker.
So my turn. He asked if I wanted to go lower because it was really heavy. I said "I'm good". I removed the collars and asked his boys to move because I didn't want a lift off or spotters. Oh the looks of disbelief baby... feed me your doubt. I gobble that shit up. 495 raw... 3 reps. I struggled a bit on the 3rd, but told them not to touch shit mid lift and racked it. There's a lesson to be learned at every turn... today's lesson was layered. Layer 1: HSM are not real lifts, but rather training aids to either get some strength up, or for easy days when you feel meh. Layer 2: That fucking gym that we are in... this fucking gym. It belongs to The 44. You tried to call me out, you got embarrassed not only in front of your boys, but in front of several gym patrons that watch me whenever I push in the 400's. Lift offs are instruments of doubt, they place the thought in your head that you already are defeated because you employed a way to lift it off the bar and have safeties in case you shit your pants. Don't be a fake ass powerlifter type on a Hammer Machine... you look the part, but you fucked yourself by getting away from the iron bro. Next week going for a 1RM of 500. Haven't dabbled in the 500's since I tore my pec... but fuck it.
Between Valhalla Test/EQ/The 44 Deca and Federal's Adrol... 500 is getting owned... just like the dude was today.
I ain't what I used to be, I'm better, stronger and better versed in anabolics.
Today some powerlifter came up to me and said 'I heard you have pretty impressive bench numbers', okay we can play this game dude. You look as if you outweigh me by 20 pounds or so and I see that you're feeling cocky since your homeboys are nearby snickering. Let's do this... my mind's safety disengaged and I was in go mode. Now I know you saw me doing triceps earlier with a shit ton of weight so you probably figured I might be weakened somewhat. Wrong, this is 44 bro. Challenges get met. So I responded "I do what I can do. Why whats up, need someone to push you?". He snickered and he said sure come on over. So the HSM holds 5 plates per side for a supposed 450 pounds + whatever the contraption adds to the party. He asked if I needed to lower the weight, I said I need help moving the plates to a real bench if you don't mind. Aww shit son, shit just got real. His friends are looking confused and shit and I explained that in my opinion the HSM was nice if you wanted to look strong, but really is counter productive. Again he snickered in disbelief. So we transferred over ten 45 pound plates to a bar/bench. Mind you this is a real 495 pounds... 450 in plates and 45 for the bar. He's looking doubtful, but I reminded him he was a powerlifter. I also asked if he needed a slingshot to assist him. He said he was good... smells like entertainment. He calls his boy over for a lift off. He went down in a controlled manner and completed a 4" lift with his buddies hands all over the bar before two of his bro's bailed him out. Sucker.
So my turn. He asked if I wanted to go lower because it was really heavy. I said "I'm good". I removed the collars and asked his boys to move because I didn't want a lift off or spotters. Oh the looks of disbelief baby... feed me your doubt. I gobble that shit up. 495 raw... 3 reps. I struggled a bit on the 3rd, but told them not to touch shit mid lift and racked it. There's a lesson to be learned at every turn... today's lesson was layered. Layer 1: HSM are not real lifts, but rather training aids to either get some strength up, or for easy days when you feel meh. Layer 2: That fucking gym that we are in... this fucking gym. It belongs to The 44. You tried to call me out, you got embarrassed not only in front of your boys, but in front of several gym patrons that watch me whenever I push in the 400's. Lift offs are instruments of doubt, they place the thought in your head that you already are defeated because you employed a way to lift it off the bar and have safeties in case you shit your pants. Don't be a fake ass powerlifter type on a Hammer Machine... you look the part, but you fucked yourself by getting away from the iron bro. Next week going for a 1RM of 500. Haven't dabbled in the 500's since I tore my pec... but fuck it.
Between Valhalla Test/EQ/The 44 Deca and Federal's Adrol... 500 is getting owned... just like the dude was today.
I ain't what I used to be, I'm better, stronger and better versed in anabolics.
