My sometimes training log

Having sold off my weights for practical reasons (another country) and also some physical ailments - I decided that I'd go all in on bodyweight exercises.

Having lifelong classic muscle memory:
Pushups.
Dips.
Pullups (overhand).
Bodyweight squats.
Leg raises.

I realised that middle-age weight loss may be more efficient than raw strength.

My current "regime" is:

Day 1:
BW squats.
20kg vest squats.
40kg kbell squats.
60kg (both).
Lunges.
BW calf raises.
Stretches.
Shadowboxing/kicking.

Day 2:
Hammer grip pullups
Overhand pullups
Paralettes dips
Leg raises.

An alternation between them until I'm satisfied with both rep endurance (upper) and more time based endurance (lower).

Think military rather than bodybuilding.

Probably 3/6 months, health dependent I'll go boxing here. Been a year. My knees can't handle Muay Thai anymore.
 
Pull-Up & Dip Progress – Weeks 1–6

WeekDatePull-Ups (Total)Dips (Total)Pull-Up NotesDip NotesDurationVolume (kg)Notes
1Mar xx~20~60Intro week, base effortStandard form~45min~10,000Starting point, no log details retained
2Mar xx--Not logged
3Apr xx--Not logged
4Apr 183389Sets 3–8 overhand, set 5 = 5 repsSet 5 = 10, Set 9 = 15~50min14,750First fully logged session
5Apr 253187Sets 3,6,9 overhand, otherwise hammerSet 10 = 15~55min14,750Tired, dehydrated but consistent
6May 33589All hammer except set 9 (OH); +10s isoSet 1 = 10, Set 10 = 15~35min15,500PR for pull-up reps and total volume
 
I'm not sure my BB code table worked out quite how I wanted but for the last 5 or 6 weeks, I've been doing a session for pull-ups and then dips.

A combination of endurance and fitness strength.

Being 198cm always posed a challenge that once I get good at pull-ups, they are great but the progress gets lost very quickly too.

I do at least 10 sets.
Pull-ups, either overhand or hammergrip, then immediately go to dips on the parallel bars.
Looks something like:

3-5 pullups, 8-10 dips.
2-3 minutes of rest.
Next set.

I dedicate this session outdoors as they have good bodyweight frames locally and I can't fit a pull-up bar in my basement.

Yesterday, I felt the best progress. I did my 10 sets over approx 34 minutes. It means my recovery is improving.

4 years ago, I was shadow boxing, then performing sets of 6-9 pullups for 10 sets.
Though I'm almost 44, I don't see why that isn't comfortably doable as a standard of fitness/strength again very soon.

I'm 125kg.

I'm slow dropping to 120kg.
My bodyfat is somewhere between 15-18%.

I don't think I'll get to single digits again but my goal bw is around 115kg for the remainder of my life.
 
Last night leg session:
5 minutes shadow boxing - focussing on kicks
2 min break

20 x bodyweight squats
2 min break

10 x bodyweight lunges (per leg)
2 min break

{8 x 20kg vest lunges (per leg)
20 light band curls per arm
2 x 40kg lunges (per leg)
8 x bodyweight squats
Above without stopping
3 min break

10 x 40kg kettlebell goblet squats
2 min break

5 x 20kg vest and 40kg kettlebell goblet squats
5 x 20kg vest squats
5 x bodyweight squats
Above without stopping
2 min break

6 x 40kg kettlebell two hand concentration curls
2 min rest

8 second 90° iso hold 40kg kettlebell (right arm)
4 second left arm

100 bodyweight squats
20 lying leg raises


My post-turd bodyweight in the morning is approximately 122kg (260lbs)
This is 9kg ( 20lbs) lighter than December 2024.
I've heavily focussed my diet, as I want to shed all unnecessary weight. That will be some muscle but mostly fat of course. I am eye testing myself around 18% bodyfat and rapidly dropping.
With calliper and electronic bodyfat monitors, the lowest bf I had was 9% and my weight was 105kg - training for Muay Thai bouts. That was 10 years ago. I'd then increased muscle mass significantly once I started training for strength and hypertrophy.
My fitness training is combining well with bodyweight and alternative weights, rather than the barbell.


Taking a note out of @Frode Falch book of keeping things going well beyond 40.

I'm 44 in July and whilst I might not regain my fitness peak of 8 years ago - I intend to put in even more effort than then.

The goal will be to seek out some over 40's boxing/kickboxing bouts at some point.
God willing, it will more likely be the beginning of next year so a good time to get to a healthy fighting weight of 115kg and maintain it.
 
My bodyweight is still coming down, incrementally.
It fluctuates between 121kg and 124kg on any given half day. Just goes to show how much a shit weighs, I guess...

The good news is that my fitness has gone up exponentially.
Focussing on pullups and dips in supersets with limited time rests has challenged by stamina, aswell as strength.

I'm now doing 10 sets of pullups into dips without rest, in around 30-35 minutes. 8 weeks ago it was 50 minutes.

I'm injury free and sleeping well. Sleep. Heck, what a difference that makes these days. 7 hours unbroken. Sometimes more.

I'm averaging around 100+ dips and 50 pullups in the 30/35 minute mark as of yesterday.

Here's a graph tracker. I was doing around 3 pullups into 8 dips per set. Then 4 into 9, now 5 into 10.
Once I get comfy into 6 pullups into 12 dips for 10 straight sets, I'll be on target for recovering my yoof!

Not many guys 120kg + do this kind of volume for bodyweight.
I'm happy with myself.


pullups_dips_progression.jpg
 
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