Squat Every Day

If you want to get good at something, frequency is your friend. For me, squatting every day is an extremely effective way to master the movement.

Round 1 of squatting every day last year took me from a 405 lbs to 455 lbs low bar squat.

This year, I've gone from a 425 lbs to 450 lbs high bar squat. 

Can't argue with those results.

Also, I just enjoy squatting every single day. I know I'm weird, but squats are fun and extremely enjoyable for me. There's something beautiful about feeling that heavy weight on my back. 

I'll keep squatting every day and we'll see how this keeps going. Rambling over.

Building A Future

When I started looking for a job out of college, I simply wanted to fulfill my calling to help people live better lives. This is because I believe that's what Jesus would do. I initially thought that, since I love fitness, I should get into the gym business. 

However, I don't know if this is where I need to be right now. I like my job well enough, but I feel the itch to create something for myself. Some kind of business, maybe? Or maybe get into some kind of service field so that I can devote more of my time to directly help people in the name of Jesus. 

I just needed some space to get some thoughts out. 

We'll see where God leads.

Check back later.

Ramblings 11-29-16

It's been well over a year since the last post on this blog that no one reads. Whoopsies. Many updates following.

Graduated college.
Had 2 different jobs.
Got married.
Moved states.

Lifting has gone pretty well, too. I'm up to 200 lbs bodyweight.

Current PR's:
Squat - 455 lbs
Bench - 315 lbs
Deadlift - 530 lbs (still)
Power Snatch - 165 lbs
Power Clean - 245 lbs
Overhead Press - 205 lbs
Push Press - 215 lbs
Barbell Row - 285 lbs

Real Strength

Once again, it's been a long time since I've posted anything on here. So much has changed. I finally started dating the girl of my dreams, I got a job, and school is almost over. Just 9 days ago, I got engaged, to boot! As time passes, I've been able to spend less time on training, and honestly I think it's for the best.

I'll never be the best in the world.

That's the truth. Plain and simple. I lift because I love it, but there is no good reason to sacrifice all I have to pursue elite status. I have nothing to prove. One year ago, if you would have told me that I'd be thinking like this, 19 year old me would have called you insane. There was nothing more that guy wanted than to be the very best. But there is so much more to life than lifting. And there is so much more to being strong than moving big weights.

In about one year, I'm going to be a husband. Just saying that blows my mind. I know in my heart, right now, I'm not ready for that. I am definitely working towards it, but I'm just not there. God has a lot of molding and shaping to do with my heart. After Melyssa and I got engaged, I only realized that there is so much more sin and darkness in my heart than I thought. I have failed her more in this past week than I have over the past several months. I don't want to fail her as a husband. She deserves better than that.

The weakness I felt after failing to love my fiancee was worse than failing any lift. Worse than being crushed by any bar. More painful than losing any contest. I am not strong enough. I am not strong enough. I am not strong enough.

So the temptation from all this is to tell myself to "be better." To pull myself up by my bootstraps and proclaim that "I will not fail!" Foolishness. Stupidity. I am human and I am sinful. I cannot change on my own strength. I cannot learn to love my fiancee more just by willing it to happen.

I have to run to the cross. Only by surrendering my life more and more completely to Jesus can I change my heart. Only then can I learn to love unconditionally. Only then can I learn to be whole. Only then will I find strength, satisfaction, and peace.

My favorite verse is Joshua 1:9. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

I am too quick to apply that verse to physical strength and hardship. I need to remind myself that God is with me wherever I go in my spiritual battles, and that He is always there to give me the strength to flee from sin. I can be courageous in the face of failure and doubt and persecution and trials, all because God is with me and is the one who leads me.

I just have to trust and surrender to Him.

Stay Strong,
JB

Training Log: 6/27/14

Friday 6/27/14

Deadlifts are hard sometimes. I honestly got scared of pulling 545 and it came back to bite me in the butt.

Deadlift:
1x5 135
1x4 225
1x3 315
1x2 405
1x1 455
1x1 495
3x1 545 (all failed)