[Damian Zhang]

Glad to hear you’re enjoying it!! Keep up the good work

Thanks Kamara! @Kamaragraham-virginmedia.com

[Damian Zhang]

Ah this is great, so glad to hear! Keep up with this momentum!

Thanks Kerry! @kerrysexton btw the PRP didn’t really do much for me in the end, it’s not as painful just uncomfortable, just doing the best I can with what tools I have!

[Damian Zhang]

Top man really good to read this and you are certainly in a great mindset / learning. Keep this going !!

Cheers Marc @MarcHector we will get there, slow and steady steps with consistency, did graft May 24 til now, so now it’s really evolving to the next level!

[Damian Zhang]

Thanks guys! @bigbenchriche @haider_no1@hotmail.com

[Damian Zhang]

I really do agree with the comments from the team. Try to block out the noise, unfortunately there are some shallow minded people who want to put others down. Keep focused on your goals and ticking them off one by one. You’ve got this

Thanks fella! We will get there! @MarcHector

[Damian Zhang]

80kg

Work was mental, I did have a tattoo appointment today but rescheduled as I am so tired after a week of madness. Today is quality time with my wife, let the body fully rest, doing an AI qualification, so need to get that finished off today and was asked to write questions for a financial advice exam board to need to do an entry test today too.

Trained with my wife yesterday, traffic and pure rain (how can it been raining in August?), we did: static stretches, I then showed her the hack squat, tricep pushdown machine and then she got on with what she wanted to do. I then started strongman training for the week.

– Farmers Walk – Took on advice, lowered the weight (watched alot of pro strongmen vids on tips / techniques prior), my back was completely fine. I just focused on technique rather than speed or super heavy.

– Log (I love this event) – Did 47kg, again all full technique, as the log is 47, I did not add any weight to it. I then tried 52kg, felt uncomfortable, did 1 rep of that, then went to 49kg, this felt like a good fit for current strength.

– Atlas stones – New experience – barely could do 60kg stones my arms were so tired after log, so I need to re-think and evaluate on which events first, but major respect for pro strongmen/women how the amount of sustain strength needed for all events.

Very very happy with everything so far, just more education, open mind, learning, incorporate rest, stretching.

To be honest…I do now see why individuals choose PEDs for recovery, it does make more sense after being in the new environment and seeing how my body reacts. I just don’t feel comfortable injecting myself etc as I know I would screw it up and health consequences with my borderline personality disorder, slow and steady is the game and goal.

[Damian Zhang]

@chloepickford @MegSylvester @allisontestuhotmail-fr @Maddy-Lulu-Belle-Daniel

Thanks for your responses and advice.

I will revise my training plans and nutrition! Alot more education vids to watch too this weekend.

Enjoy your weekend! 🙂

[Damian Zhang]

79.8kg

Focusing on strength now.

@ajbishop89 recommendation on 5/3/1 is going fab (thank you!) as well as Marc’s input @MarcHector

Moved to a proper gym now – Stackhouse Gym Rayleigh.

Going to buy a tripod and film my lifts, I am finally using a rack for squats and it’s actually quite hard! But baby steps.

Off to see my parents in Liverpool in 2 weeks, will make a stop at the Strength Asylum gym on way back.

Yesterday:

Cardio LISS – 5mins

Squat 5/3/1, Conv Deadlift 5/3/1

Single leg hamstring curl, Hack Squat, V Squat & Panatta Vertical Leg Press (This was hard).

Stretching – 10 mins inc foam roller.

[Damian Zhang]

Hi Damian

I fully agree with what Adam has said. I’m no expert in this area, Adam certainly is the right man for that. But having looked at your session layout it looks like you are trying to run before you can walk so to speak with lots going on from the get go. Try to pace yourself with exercise selection and integrate further exercises when you have mastered the key basics and then build additional exercises from there

Thanks @MarcHector agree with you & Adam, I think I am just being abit too enthusiastic, will follow the advice!

[Damian Zhang]

Hi Damien I think for now you need to build your strength through a consistent programme.

Run 5/3/1 for a period of time. I would recommend buying the proper ebook and reading though it to set up your training properly.

Run it as 4 days per week then add a strongman events day to end the week:

Squat
Military press
Rest
Deadlift
Bench press
Events
Rest

Focus on learning how to do the events with good form and be efficient with all of them. Focus on speed rather than weight on the yoke/farmers etc.

Once you have developed your strength over a decent period of time and have a better understanding of programming then a consultation call may be a good idea.

@ajbishop89 Firstly, thank you for your honest opinion and not just taking cash off me.

Will follow your advice, very much appreciated and seen your other comment too on the additional post, thank you!

[Damian Zhang]

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FO2y6q_V9qbgSHVNrywhqjHTC61eDHiM

drive.google.com

Strongman Journey – Google Drive

Strongman Journey – Google Drive

[Damian Zhang]

78.8kg

New gym! Stackhouse Gym, Rayleigh – 30ish min drive each way but wayyyy worth it.

My wife joined me, and we both signed up. Warmed up, then we went through a few back machines and one hamstring machine and then she cracked on and left me to strongman.

Started with Yoke – 100kg, 130kg, 145kg all easy, 160kg was not good, so went back to 145kg – Think I have capacity for potentially 150-155kg.

The moved to Farmers Walk – upped the weight to test but stopped at 66kg per handle total – so combined 132kg – I think I have capacity for 75kg.

Lastly, Atlas Stones, did 3 stones before we need to leave for errands etc – did 60kg x 2 then 70kg x 2. I feel I can do 80kg – do need to get tacky etc but never used it so will be a learning curve.

I’ll pop 2 vids via google drive but, pretty happy to be honest, this is literally THE gym I wanted, serious gym goers, good staff and vibe, perfect equipment, couldn’t ask for more. Compare this to the gym I am leaving – trained yesterday 3 teenagers sitting on the dumbbell rack, ladies sitting on the equipment talking to the lads – no issues with flirting with them just can you move it away from the weights zone?

Besides this, went to see fantastic 4, was shite, even my wife who loves marvel hated it. But it was good to spend time together.

It is our 15 year wedding anniversary tomorrow, we are both working at home but will be nice to have a good meal and spend time together. We are planning a 40 min incline walk tomorrow at the current gym (membership finishes on Thurs).

[Damian Zhang]

Today is our wedding anniversary! Our girls got up and went to do the park run together this morning, then came back to take us out for a lovely lunch. This afternoon we’ve just been chilling out at home together.

I’ve tried to rest as much as possible today as I can feel my body beginning to get tired, so figured a day off training would do me good.

Congrats Clare!

[Damian Zhang]

Damian I think running Wendlers 5/3/1 for your main lifts would be the best way to go.

Build the strength over a long period, be patient and track only your predicted 1RM. Take the wins with rep maxes.

I will run 5/3/1 loading in my off season and it’s still effective even for me being an advanced lifter.

No maxing out your deadlift for a full year. To give some context I last maxed out my deadlift in 2021 and I will next pull a max in competition in 6 weeks time.

@ajbishop89 Hi Adam, this info is spot on, exactly what I was looking for, thank you.

I tested this on DL today 65, 75 & 85 – at 85% (150kg), I could only do 3, not 5. It felt much better than current structure.

Did I see you offer coaching / or 30 min conversations regarding tips/tricks? I don’t have Insta but my wife mentioned it me, as I am moving to a gym with strongman equipment this Friday coming.

Thanks again for the help!

[Damian Zhang]

Agree with the above how many times have you tried? What’s your actual goal is it strength: powerlifting or bodybuilding ? Are you in a surplus or deficit?

Currently at 2k cals a day – based on this weight stays around 79.5kg average.

drive.google.com

20250610_184223.mp4

20250610_184223.mp4