The Giant 1.2: Results

For the last week of The Giant 1.2, I challenged myself do more than 60 total reps in one session.

I did not quite make it on Monday. I did 56 total reps, after which I ran out of gas.

I broke the 60 rep ceiling on Wednesday. I set the timer to 30 min. I allowed myself a generous amount of rest after the first set, then after the 3rd set started to pick up the pace by resting less between sets. By the time I'd done 6 sets, there was about 2 min. left on the timer. I let the timer count all the way down, and continued to rest until I felt ready to do the 7th set, which took my rep total to 63.

I did 64 total reps on Friday.

Arm circumference increased by a quarter inch. Most of the growth was in the triceps, particularly the long head.

Back in January I tested my 20kg kettlebell strict press rep max and was only able to do 1 rep. Today I retested my 20kg strict press rep max and was able to do 3 reps. I did not use any of the 3 methods recommended by Geoff Neupert. All I did was bring up the 20kg KB after my IsoMax rep max testing, and tried to press it for as many reps as possible.

My next training block will be 6x6 style overcoming isometric strength training on the IsoMax. There's something about overcoming isometrics that makes joints and tendons feel better. I've had elbow tendonitis ever since I did 8 weeks of bottoms-up 24kg KB goblet squat as part of Easy Muscle last year. I've made sure my arm is completely straightened on the backswing of KB cleans - bent elbow on the backswing is a known cause of elbow tendonitis. I've noticed the elbow gets irritated during pressing if I don't make the effort to squeeze harder on the pinky side of the hand and bend the wrist a little more to the front and to the pinky side. At least 6 weeks of IsoMax work will improve the feeling of my elbows.

The next training block after that will be the single KB program known as Kettlebell Burn 2.0. As noted earlier, the recommended weight is a weight that can be strict pressed for 4-6 reps. I can strict press the 20kg KB for 3 reps now, so I'm on track to press to the 20kg for at least 4 reps after I finish the 6x6 block.