Health and Fitness, sports

Next week will be “p.r.” max out week… getting prepared for my next powerlifting meet!!!

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My lifting is going really good. I have another powerlifting meet coming at the end of March so I’m getting prepared for that and taking this one seriously. I’ve been training hard for it for weeks. I haven’t done my 1 rep maxes and tested out my pr’s on bench, squat and deadlift in a long while so I’m going to do all that next week so I can practice my 3 attempts for each lift. At the next powerlifting meet, I want it to be my best day. I don’t want to miss any lifts and don’t want to get “red lights” at all. So I’m doing my very best on all three lifts.

On my last squats session, I was able to lift 135 lbs. for three reps which was great and something I never done before. So I’m predicting my “p.r.” on squats could be about 145 or 150, we’ll see.

For bench, I’m not sure what my latest p.r. on that is yet but I have been lifting 155 lbs. on my p.r. on that for a while so I’m hoping to be 160 or a little over.

For deadlift, while I didn’t max out today, I did do one heavy single at the end of my set which was 285 lbs. That lift was easy and a piece of cake. If I was able to lock out on that easy then that means I’ll probably smash 300 lbs. again and maybe more hopefully. We’ll see.

I want my total number of pounds to be higher at the next meet and I’m trying all I can.

I’m doing all I can now to make my deadlifts stronger. Lately, I’ve been doing bent over barbell rows, farmer’s walk with dumbbells (to help improve grip strength) and the barbell hip thrusts (for glutes). I’ve added these workouts to my program so I can improve my deadlifting and get stronger on that. Strong glutes are important and I’ve started doing workouts for the glutes ’cause having strong glutes will help improve squats and deadlifts. If you want a bigger deadlift and squats, you gotta have a strong ass and build your ass up as well. I’ve also gotten back into doing leg presses ’cause that helps improves deadlift and squats too.

I’m doing all I can to make my next powerlifting meet a great day. Each time I do a powerlifting meet, I’ll always want the next one to be better than the last one.

I don’t mean to sound like an egomaniac but I hope to thrill the spectators on this one and put on a freakin’ show.

The week before meet week, I’m going to have to settle down on the weight lifting by lifting lighter ’cause I don’t want to lose my strength. I want to save myself for March 30th so I can deadlift the big 300 lbs. or a little more.

Next week, I’m going to max out on all three lifts to find out my latest pr’s and after that, that’s it for a while until meet day. I learned that you don’t want to max out too often and that’s what I’m gonna do.

Getting stoked for my next powerlifting meet, though. They are a blast and I can see why it’s getting so popular and mainstream. Glad I got into powerlifting. I am getting stronger and stronger each week and lifting bigger weights every time.

Kev

Health and Fitness

Keep getting nice compliments on my bodybuilding physique… my whole goal is to get huge as possible…

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The nice compliments on my bodybuilding physique just keeps coming as I just got another one earlier today at the gym. I was in the locker room standing on the weight scale with my shirt off and some dude was looking at me and he simply said, “I don’t mean to bother you but you’re getting huge. You get huge each time I see you in here”. I just responded back with a simple, “Thank you. I work really hard”.

These are complete strangers giving me random compliments on my physique. These are the kind of people you want to get bodybuilding feedback from. You want to get feedback by people you don’t know. You don’t want to get feedback from family and friends about bodybuilding ’cause all they’re gonna do is give you positive feedback no matter what. If you want honest and true feedback, get them from complete strangers. When you’re getting a lot of compliments from complete strangers at random places, that’s when you know you’re getting successful in bodybuilding.

My whole goal in bodybuilding is to get huge as possible. Not overweight huge but muscular huge if you know what I mean by that. I want to look like those guys you see in the action movies and in pro wrestling. Yeah, I know people are going to start screaming “steroids” just like they accuse ALL successful bodybuilders of steroids but I really do believe it’s possible to get huge without juicing up. To get huge in bodybuilding, all it pretty much takes is working hard, staying consistent and eating clean most of the time. Do all three of those and YOU WILL get huge. If you want to look like a young Arnold Schwarzenegger back in his Olympia days, you can get there. If you want to look like guys such as Triple H, Brock Lesnar, Hugh Jackman, Chris Hemsworth, Jason Momoa and guys such as those, you can.

I keep getting compliments on my body all the time and it feels good, really. That’s what keeps motivated to keep going in the gym. When you get a lot of compliments everywhere you go, it means that people are giving you respect. If you want respect around people in bodybuilding and weightlifting, it is not begged for. It is earned. Keep working hard, don’t give up. The more you keep working, the more people will be proud of ya and everybody around you will give you respect. Hard work in the weight room after all these years is definitely paying off for sure.

I love weightlifting. It’s a huge passion of mine. Before I started bodybuilding, I used to be scared to take my shirt off in front of everyone but now I’m not anymore. Bodybuilding taught me to love my body more. Like always, I don’t think you’ll ever see me on a bodybuilding stage… I just want the look is all. I want to look huge and nasty. Look intimidating to everyone. Having a muscular body is awesome and I’m loving it. It is definitely a life changer for sure!

Kev

Health and Fitness, sports

Goals for my next powerlifting meet at the end of March…

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Last week, I sent in my registration and sign up fee so I can participate in the next Powerlifting Meet at Albany Strength at the end of March. I’ve been working pretty hard for this for the past several months. I’ve been getting prepared for it.

My goals for numbers at this meet is that I hope to smash a 300 lb. deadlift. I hit a 300 lb. deadllift at the gym once a long while back and I’m hoping to hit that number again. I’ve learned that you don’t want to test your 1 rep maxes all the time and I haven’t done that in while. I’m planning to test out my 1 rep maxes on the big three lifts at the end of this month which is in a few weeks so I can see what my latest pr’s are for the big three lifts.

For deadlift I’m hoping to hit 300 lbs. or a little more.

For bench, my pr. on that is currently 155 lbs and I’m hoping to hit somewhere around 160 – 170 lbs.

For squats, my pr. on that is currently 125 and I’m to hoping to hit somewhere around 130 – 140 lbs.

I’ve watched a lot of powerlifting meets online so I can research and study. I’m amazed at how many powerlifters miss so many lifts on these things. That’s one thing I don’t want to do on a powerllifting meet is missing lifts. That’s why it’s pretty smart to come up with a plan ahead of time so you won’t miss any lifts on meet day. I’m not gonna miss any lifts on meet day. I want to get 3 white lights on everything so I have to make sure I pick my numbers smart and I’m going to do just that for this one.

When I test my p.r. on deadlift again in a few weeks and if I can’t hit 300 lbs. then I guess I could probably go for 290 lbs. I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to hit 300 lbs. or a little more, we’ll see. For the past weeks, I’ve been training for reps and strength and I know I’m getting stronger on all three lifts.

I want meet day to be my best day and don’t want to screw anything up. I want to go in there and put on a show for the spectators so I’ve been training hard and working for it each week. I haven’t slowed down my workouts at all. Still going to the gym 4 days a week. I want this to be a great day and don’t want to disappoint anyone so I’m working real hard.

After I test out my pr’s for all three lifts squats, deadlift and bench, that’ll be it for a while until meet day. After my pr week, I’m going to start doing a method called “peaking” and “tapering”. Meaning going pretty light each week before meet day so you won’t feel fatigue and ready to go. Before meet day, I’m thinking of taking a week off so I can be fully rested and healed and all that stuff. I want to be careful with my lifting before meet week ’cause I want to make sure I’m not all beat up and want to make sure I’m completely injury free. I want meet day to be my best so I have to be fully rested and be full of energy. That means on meet week I’m going to have to start going to bed a lot earlier.

The question is, will I win that belt that guy is holding in that photo? No, I probably won’t but maybe someday I will. I might win a trophy or two on meet day but that’s about it. Anyways and like I keep saying, I’m not into powerlifting to win trophies or awards. I’m into this to get strong and to do something challenging. Powerlifting gives me something to do and I want to do something fun.

I’m getting stoked for my third powerlifting meet. They are a blast to go to. It’s fun to show off what you can do and it’s a blast to watch the other lifters too. Thank god powerlifting is for everyone ’cause I get to do a sport for once in my life. I couldn’t play sports over the years. Powerlifting is my calling for sure.

Kev

music

Alice in Chains is still the best rock band going right now… they haven’t changed their sound since they started in the 90’s!

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I’ve been listening to 90’s band Alice In Chains a lot pretty obsessively for a long while now. I really love both the Layne Staley and William Duvall eras. What’s interesting to me is that the band never changed their “grungy” like sound even with different singers. I listened to both singers Layne and William and I’m amazed that they sing exactly like each other. Pretty much dead on really.

Some of you may ask if Layne Staley didn’t die and if he was still in Alice in Chains now, would the band have sounded any different? No and here’s why. Jerry Cantrell is the primary songwriter of the band. Jerry wrote all the riffs. Jerry wrote all the music and he also wrote most of the lyrics. Staley contributed to some lyric writing and music but Jerry Cantrell wrote most of the material.

I listened to all albums of the band and I love everyone of them. Even all of the stuff in the William Duvall era is great. Yeah, people are upset that the band moved on without Layne but who cares. That’s what bands do. They move on and got to continue moving. Like they all say, “the show’s got to go on”. Bands just don’t give up making music ’cause that’s what they do.

I think Jerry Cantrell is a great guitar player and songwriter. He made some pretty tight and intense songs with the band. The Layne era was pretty special yes but give the Duvall era a chance. The Duvall era is great stuff too. Even with Duvall as singer, they still sound like Alice In Chains like they always did. Too many bands nowadays change their style of music with every album but Alice In Chains never did that which is why I love them. I own all 6 Alice In Chains albums and listen to them all the time on a repeated basis. They are still the greatest band in rock today.

Most of today’s rock music sucks ass but there are very few good bands out there still and Alice is one of them. I also love Greta Van Fleet, Ghost and getting into Clutch now. I also love Dream Theater and Opeth. They are some of my favorite bands.

Kev

music

Billy Corgan reunites with stolen “Gish” guitar… pretty cool story…

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In the earlier days of the Smashing Pumpkins, Billy had a guitar that was very special to him. A guitar that he used on the first Pumpkins album “Gish” which was stolen from him at a concert during the album’s tour. Well, 27 years later Corgan is now reunited with that “Gish” guitar… the guitar which Corgan says that created the band’s sound and said the guitar changed the way he and the band played.

How did he reunite with the guitar? Well a woman owned it and kept it in her basement for many years but then a friend of hers told her it might belong to Billy. So she decided to contact the band online and did her best to grab the band’s attention. When she couldn’t get the band’s attention, she was contacted by a company named Sound Royalties which helped get the guitar back to Corgan. Now the guitar is back in Corgan’s hands.

Did Corgan reward Beth in return for the guitar? No. She didn’t want anything. Corgan tried to give her a lot of money as a reward but she didn’t want it.

Now that Billy has the guitar back, he doesn’t plan on keeping the guitar locked up in a safe place and he’s probably gonna continue to use it in the band. He says he’s gonna get it all fixed up so he can record with it on the next Pumpkins record.

Read the full story here:

https://www.musicradar.com/news/billy-corgan-reunites-with-stolen-gish-era-strat-after-27-years-exclusive-behind-the-scenes-report

This is a cool story and Beth was very cool to do that! If I owned a guitar that belongs to a famous rock star, I would do my best to return it ’cause it’s the best thing to do. People may not think so but guitars are very special especially the vintage guitars!!!

Kev

music

Get well soon Ozzy! Speedy recovery!!!

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Ozzy Osbourne maybe a controversial figure in music… love him or hate him all you want to, Ozzy is the greatest metal singer of all time. I mean he’s the pioneer of metal… he started it all. He created some pretty great songs with Black Sabbath and his solo career. As for the best eras in Ozzy’s solo career, I would say the Randy Rhoads era and the Zakk Wylde eras were the best. Jake E. Lee was pretty cool too, though.

Complications from the “flu” is pretty serious and you could get death from that. Hopefully Ozzy survives this ’cause if we lose him this year then that wold suck even more. Ozzy’s a musical genius and he’s a legend.

I hope Ozzy gets well ’cause he hasn’t been good lately.

Kev

Health and Fitness, sports

Will powerlifting make you fat??? No, it’s just a silly myth going around… powerlifting will get you even more jacked than bodybuilders…

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There are those that believe that powerlifting will make you fat which is a stupid and ridiculous myth going around. A lot of people believe powerlifting makes you fat well ’cause there’s a lot of fat and unhealthy looking people competing in powerlifting. That doesn’t mean that all powerlifters are fat. In powerlifting, you’ll still see some pretty big guys but they’ll be very muscular and very lean. It is definitely possible that someone with a bodybuilder physique can compete in powerlifting. There are plenty of great powerlifters that are in tremendous shape. In fact, I’ve seen some powerlifters that are in way better shape than regular bodybuilders.

Some of you may ask why are there so many fatties in powerlifting? Well I would think the reason is that some believe that “fat” would give you more strength on the three big lifts but they’re all doing it wrong, in my opinion. Being overweight doesn’t really give you strength. Being lean and being muscular gives you more “strength”. Some also mistakenly believes that you can eat whatever you want in powerlifting and not have a strict nutrition. That is wrong too. I believe you got to continue to eat healthy just like a bodybuilder would ’cause eating a clean nutrition helps build you more strength and stronger bones too.

Some may look at me and ask, “Kev, if you don’t get fat then you would never be able to lift over 500 lbs. someday!!!”. I would say “bullshit”. I weigh about 145 pounds right now… even though I’m pretty lean and don’t have a huge gut, I still believe that I WILL be able to hit the huge numbers on the big three lifts someday. It is definitely possible that a 145 pound guy who is pretty lean can be able to lift 500 lbs. on bench, squat and deadlift. How? Simply put, it takes a lot of muscle mass and bone strength. That’s pretty much key to lifting bigger weight.

When you get into powerlifting does that mean you have to give up hypertrophy training? No. Absolutely not. You have to continue to do hypertrophy training like a bodybuilder would ’cause you don’t want to lift heavy all the time. Hypertrophy training will help get you more strength too. When you get into powerlifting does mean you have to give up cardio? No. Cardio is still important even for a powerlifter. I still continue to ride my bike, walk, jog/run, jump rope and do some boxing practice. Cardio for powerlifting is important ’cause it helps you recover quicker and cools you down some. Plus, I need to continue to stay lean. I don’t want to get “fat” in powerlifting so “bulking” is actually a pretty bad idea. I’ll just continue to eat the same way I always eat. Just continue to eat clean and put on muscle mass. Muscle mass will help bring your pr’s up, not body fat.

I don’t want to get “fat” in powerlifting so I gotta be careful with myself. I want to be able to do powerlifting and still be able to have a six pack and big muscles.

I haven’t did my 1 rep maxes on the big three lifts in a while and probably won’t test out my pr’s again until the end of this month. I want to be able to build more strength, take my time and hopefully really bring my numbers up in time before my next powerlifting meet at the end of March.

I just sent my registration in to Albany Strength for the meet in March this week and I should hear back from them pretty soon. I’m looking forward to that meet and pretty stoked. My goal for powerlifting is that I want every meet to be “great” and “successful”. I don’t like missing “lifts” at powerlifting meets. My goal is to have three white lights on everything and I’ll do the same for this one. At the last meet I did at the YMCA in Wilton, I missed one lift which was the 155 lb. bench but I’ve been lifting a 155 lb. “pr” on bench lately so I’ll get that number next time. Maybe I’ll be able to bring my bench “pr” up even more before March. Just gotta keep working. I’m getting stoked for that meet at the end of March as I’ve been working very hard for it. I want that meet to be better than the previous two.

Powerlifting is a great sport and I hope to be a competitive powerlifter for a pretty long time.

Kev

World Wide Web

Internet trolls still a problem online? Yes, you just have to ignore them and move on…

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As some of you may or may not know, I’ve always had a problem with online internet trolls coming after me and I still have that problem today. I was doing a little research on this stuff and came up with this interesting blog about this so I decided to share it here. Really though, I have seen a lot of these types of trolls online especially “The Insult Troll” and “The Persistent Debate Troll”.

https://www.lifewire.com/types-of-internet-trolls-3485894

This article describes “The Insult Troll” as someone who is pure hater who does nothing but attacks and cyberbullies this person they are targeting. “The Persistent Debate Troll” is someone who decides to challenge a debate with someone they’re targeting, always thinking they’re right no matter the situation hoping this person they’re targeting would give up the debate.

I have gotten both of these types of trolls over the years mostly.

Yes, I still get online trolls and haters everywhere I go online whether it’ll be this blog, my facebook, my youtube channel, instagram and twitter…. blah blah blah… but I’ve gotten much better at handling the trolls and haters. Lately, I’ve been ignoring them and just block block block and delete delete delete. Most of them don’t like it when I do this but that’s tough. That’s why social media gives you the block and delete features so you can decide what stays and what goes.

The question is, why do people troll online and attack other people for no reason?

Simply put ’cause people out there are “assholes” that’s why. Period. End of story. I would think that’s how a lot of them are in the real world. When they go online, they mostly attack people “anonymously” so the people they’re targeting won’t find out who they are. When anonymous trolls attack me online, they fail most of the time ’cause it only takes me a second to figure out who they really are. Most “trolls” attack someone ’cause they just find it amusing and entertaining to get a rise out of someone. All they do is try to get you pissed off as much as possible ’cause they get a laugh out of it. That’s why they do what they do really. They are like a bully in high school picking on kids smaller than them. They’re just losers with nothing better to do.

I just find it hilarious that the same trolls out there have been following me online for years and the same guys still attack me for no reason. When they do want to start a conversation with me it’s usually them replying to a blog post I posted they disagreed with. They don’t ever want to discuss anything positive with me. All they want to do is argue with me online.

Why do trolls attack? Maybe jealousy is a big part of it for sure. Maybe they’re jealous ’cause they know you have good things going on in your life and they know that a lot of people like you. There could be many reasons why they target you. Maybe they target you ’cause they know that you are smart and they want to challenge a debate with you hoping to make you look foolish. Things like that, ya know? Trolls attack you ’cause they know you’re doing more in your life while they’re doing less. They have a lot of problems in their life and they know you’re a good person. They’re hating that and it’s killing them.

The trick to dealing with negative people is just don’t care what people have to say anymore. That’s all you need to do really. Just ignore the negatives and keep moving forward. I’ve been getting much better at having a “not give a fuck” attitude. Not caring what people have to say about you is the best attitude to have.

You don’t want to focus on the trolls and negative people anyways. There will be people who will truly appreciate for who you are and there will be people who will truly support you. You were not put here to please everyone. Just remember that.

The trolls are still obsessed with me for whatever reason but I don’t care. My life is real good. I’ve been going to the gym a lot and I’m now a competitive powerlifter. People say I don’t do a lot in my life but I am. I try to keep busy and active as much as possible. I do have a lot going on and I’m grateful and happy.

Oh yeah and remember, the trolls are your biggest fans too even if they don’t want to admit it. Deep down, I think some of them actually like me but they won’t publicly admit it. That’s okay, though.

Kev

Health and Fitness, sports

So glad I got into powerlifting training, totally worth it and it’s helping me…

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I’m very happy and thrilled that I got into powerlifting. I used to never want anything to do with barbell training in the past and just wanted to do mostly dumbbell stuff. Now I’m doing a lot of barbell work lately.

Not only that I’m doing barbell work with bench press, squats and deadlifts… I’m starting to do a lot more barbell work with other workouts too. Lately, I’ve been doing arm curls with barbells instead of dumbbells. I’ve been doing seated overhead presses with barbells for shoulders ’cause I like that more. For back workouts, I’m starting to do bent over barbell rows ’cause they help with deadlifts. I’ve also started doing the barbell hip thrust for glutes but I gotta get the form right still.

I used to hate doing “barbell” stuff when I was younger but now I’m doing barbell work like crazy and it’s all paying off. I’m getting “gains” and getting stronger a lot lately. As for the bench press, I used to hate that workout too but now I’m loving it. My chest is beefing up because of it and I’m starting to get the look that I always wanted… a bodybuilder kind of look and I’m getting it. My chest is looking pretty good lately and really starting to shape up the way I want it to look.

A lot of lifters say that Dumbbell presses are more effective than bench press? In my opinion, I think it’s the other way around. I’m liking barbell bench more to be honest with you ’cause the bench is helping me. Those that trash the bench press don’t know what they’re talking about ’cause they are always trashing the best workouts that “work”, I don’t know why.

I have a powerlifting meet coming up at the end of March and I’ve been getting prepared for it. I want to be at my best at this meet and make sure I won’t “miss” any lifts and get “three” white lights on everything. I’m also hoping to really bring up my numbers for this meet so I got plenty of time to work on that still. I also gotta stop losing weight ’cause I’ve been losing some pounds lately and that’s not good for powerlifting. I think it’s time to start bulking up and I’ve already started doing that. When you bulk, you don’t want to eat random things and stuff your face ’cause you’ll just get fat still. You still need to eat healthy but eat more healthy food instead of less and I plan to do just that to bring up some pounds. I’m hoping to become 150 lbs. before the meet, maybe more.

I’m getting stoked for my next meet and I promise I will bring it and put on an even better show than the last two. Again, I don’t really care to win awards when it comes to powerlifitng. It’s all about challenging myself… seeing if I can lift heavier weights than yesterday. That’s what it’s all about, ya know? I’m just doing powerlifting just for fun. It just gives me something to do and it allows me to compete in an actual “sport” since I never played in any sports over the years.

Kev

music

Purchased some albums from Itunes earlier today…

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Well today I just purchased 9 albums from Itunes.

I got the last three Grateful Dead albums that I needed to complete their 13 studio album discography. Now I have all 13 Grateful Dead studio albums on my Ipod Touch. Yeah, I’m a huge Grateful Dead nerd or what they all call a Deadhead. Now that I have all their studio albums, I’m going to start collecting their live albums pretty soon.

I now have all 6 Alice In Chains studio albums. I have both the Layne Staley era and the William Duvall era. I love both eras of the band. I’ve been a huge Alice In Chains fan since the very beginning in the 90’s and still pretty loyal to that band to this day. I think Jerry Cantrell is a great guitarist and songwriter. I’ve always admired and respected that man.

As for Guns N’ Roses “Appetite” album, I used to have that album on CD a long time ago but didn’t have it anymore so I decided to get it back digitally. I’ve always loved GN’R and still do. I listened to the “Appetite” album at the gym earlier today and forgot how amazing that album really is. It’s a classic record for sure.

I’ve also picked up two more Clutch albums ’cause I’m really getting into that band. I think I’m gonna collect their entire album discography too. Clutch is an addicting band to listen to and I’m loving them.

Well, there you have it. Enjoy!

Kev

The Official Music Website of Kevin Brock – Brocking N' Rolling