Tag Archives: plates

Day 224: Close call

Day 24 - front

  • Weight: 137.8 lbs.
  • Workout C: 29 minutes, 44 seconds; next: Workout C, April 15
  • Total inches: 124.6
  • Protein: 134 g (4 g over target)
  • Calories: 2,299

Kettlebell swings can be dangerous. When done by an amateur. Like me.

I use a homemade T-handle, as described in “The 4-Hour Body” [Amazon | iTunes aff. links]. Author Tim Ferriss suggests making a new one every 6 months as they wear out and you don’t want to send a weight plate through a window.

Do I listen? No.

In nearing the end of my one-arm kettlebell swings during today’s workout, I nearly sent myself to the emergency room. The floor flange had become loose and bang! the two 15-pound plates crash on the floor.

Even this instruction set on making a T-handle warns: “Given how this device is to be used (repeatedly heaving it into the air), I recommend using a wrench to really tighten that floor flange.”

One plate had a small crack in its plastic casing, warping the inner ring. It’s a much tighter squeeze to put it on a barbell or a dumbbell, but fortunately still fits.

Even more fortunate, the crash didn’t break the floor or my feet. Whew.

Several readers have recommended places to shop for plates to add to my collection. I almost needed to add another 15-pound disk to the list as a replacement.

And the worst part: I think I would have completed the 25 reps for my right arm had my T-handle remained intact. No gain, but also, no pain.

Day 224 - side

Day 218: I’ve reached my limit!

Day 218 - front

Day 218 – front

  • Weight: 137.8 lbs.
  • No workout today; next: Workout C, April 8
  • Total inches: 124.4
  • Protein: 121 g (9 g under target)
  • Calories: 2,717

I’m stuck!

It’s a good kind of stuck. For my Yates row reps, I have completed the required reps at 135 pounds. The next stage is 150 pounds, but I don’t have large enough weight plates to move on.

Every big weight I can fit on the barbell is on there. I could strap on an extra 10 pounds (four 2.5-lb. plates), but it’s still not enough.

I’ve looked on Craigslist and found several barbell and dumbbell sets available for purchase at fairly low prices.

Perhaps the only way to continue is to not only bulk up my muscles and my eating, but my collection of home gym equipment, too.

Or, if you wish to donate your unused plates to my cause, they will be cheerfully accepted. (Please, no 2.5-lb. plates.)

Day 217 - side

Day 217 – side