Another great read, one that was recommended to me by another guy around these parts, is Power by Fred "Dr Squat" Hatfield. Much more easily digestible filled with great concepts that stand today.

Edit: I figured I might as well help build some libraries while I'm in here.

Top 5 for Brain Gains

https://www.amazon.com/Supertraining-Yuri-Verkhoshansky/dp/8890403802/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484762523&sr=8-1&keywords=supertraining

https://www.amazon.com/Science-Practice-Strength-Training-Second/dp/0736056289/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1484762523&sr=8-8&keywords=supertraining

https://www.amazon.com/Periodization-5th-Methodology-Training-Tudor-Bompa/dp/073607483X/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1484762523&sr=8-20&keywords=supertraining

Those first three are big bucks. So I opted to go to the library, I suggest many of you do the same. Photocopiers are the shit. (Or just gift yourself a $100 book.)

These last two are relatively cheap and extremely helpful. The first a great stepping point for some of the nuances of strength training. Appropriately written by a doctor who squatted a grand, most appropriately titled "Power."

https://www.amazon.com/Power-Scientific-Approach-Frederick-Hatfield/dp/0809244330/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484751012&sr=1-1&keywords=power+fred+hatfield

And it pays to not be a dumbass about the very basics:

https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Training-Anatomy-Frederic-Delavier/dp/0736092269/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1484762523&sr=8-15&keywords=supertraining

Expereince with Slippers:

In prepping for my first meet, I decided to originally get some slippers from LiftingLarge.com. But, I tried them for a week or two's lifts (3 or 4 times) but the issue I was expierencing was that my foot is a size 9, and I ordered the 7-9, meaning my foot was slightly over the edges of the little rubber sole. When I tried to spread the floor, this caused me to have my foot slide around over top of it. Once I got to heavier weight, the whole thing just wound up slipping out from underneath. NO BUENO.

Asics or Sabos?

So I then went and asked some of the other powerlifters in my gym what they used. Some, as in this thread, suggested MatFlexs by Asics. I tried looking for them later, but found there are the MatFlex 4's and 5's. In trying to search which of the two were "better" for Sumo pulling, and what the differences were, I found a lot of reviews comparing Sabos to Chucks to MatFlexs to weightlifing or other powerlifting shoes (AdiPowers, Romelos, etc). This was the one that sold me, ultimately.

Every one I could find said that while Matflexs are ok, there were a number of things that made the Sabos nice. The metatarsal strap, the strap around the top, the design of the sole (and marginally thinner sole), and material were all some of the differences. So, I bit the bullet and just said, "Well, if I dont like em, I can return em."

I've used these now for a few deadlifting sessions, and even a few bench and squat ones to wear them in a bit. I have to be honest, when I first got them, I was a bit disappointed when I put them on. They fit the width of my foot (I usually hover between 9 Wide - 9.5 Wide) nice and snug, but felt long in the foot. There is about a half inch or so that my toes don't go all the way up to. This, combined with the thin/breathable material means theres a weird sound that happens when it bends in the toe of the shoe - HOWEVER, this is fairly quiet, and when i was in the actual gym (and not my silent wood floor house), you can't hear it. My other complaints were that were the material meets the sole of the shoe looked kind of flimsy, and that the shoelaces are a bit too short to use all the eyelets (though thats easy enough to replace).

On the topic of the "flimsiness" though that I thought I saw, after having worn these shoes a few times, I have to say I was completely wrong. They have held up just fine, and I wonder if it was just some rough edges from the machining. With a bit of lifting put into em, these have pretty much gone away. Guess it's just been awhile since I've purchased a new pair of shoes for myself.

With all of that said: I absolutely love these shoes though. The tightness of the shoe as a result of the metatarsal strap is awesome. While the sholelaces are short, by skipping a few eyelets, I can tie them fine and get them much tighter than my older shoes. I get a lot of grip from the sole to the floor, and don't feel any slippage at all no matter how much I try to spread the floor and push outwards really. They feel pretty close or even better actually to when I lifted without shoes for my max attempts (what I used to do). I'd say go with the Sabos,

Some people recommend the Reebok Lite TRs, but from what I've seen, those are nearly as expensive price wise... While these aren't available prime on Amazon, I ordered mine on Mar. 30th, and got them on the 3rd with just the default shipping. Im totally with you on the wanting to stay cheap though. I have a meet in June and have been buying a bunch of the equipment needed (singlet, approved belts/wraps, etc) and god fuckin damn is picking shit up and down apparently expensive as dicks. I prefer the "Buy slightly more expensive for quality once, than buy shit twice" kind of mentality though, so thats part of what influenced my decision as well.

Officially worked out for the first time in 6 months! Just brought my Titan adjustable dumbbells over to my apartment (my gym is still at my mom's place), and did some more bodybuilding type stuff for upper body, time to grow these noodle arms. Ironically in my office in my apartment, if I get rid of my Laz-Y-Boy, I have plenty of room for a bench and dumbell setup.

Anyone have a strong opinion on a good set of quick-adjust dumbbells? The titans are good for heavier stuff like floor press cuz they can go up to 100lbs a hand, and I only bench like 225, so I won't need more weight on floor press or db press for a long time. But it would be nice to have a pair that is easier to do circuit style workouts in the morning just to get a pump/sweat. Then I'll save heavy shit for my gym at my moms.

Was thinking these two look good:

CAP set

Bowflex set

Now I just need to get paid before I splurge lol

I actually work in a biomechanics lab and work with kids, so I feel fairly confident in telling you no I don't know any good resources. There's nothing I'm aware of that has a basis in real science and discusses technique in the power lifts well. I don't work in sports at all but have some meh journal articles on the subject I could send you. I would suggest personally that it may be more advantageous for you to look into motor control/learning. Identifying the types of practice that bring about the most consistent, ingrained motor behaviors may be just what you need. I like this book a lot for that purpose. It gives good info but is still an easy read. I know its not free but maybe you could find it

https://www.amazon.com/Motor-Control-Learning-Behavioral-Emphasis/dp/0736079610/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481657897&sr=1-5&keywords=motor+learning

No experience but honestly they just look like wrestling shoes. ASICS makes the Matflex for less than half of what you'll pay for other stuff. Matflex are probably the best bang for the buck deadlifting shoes.

I like deadlift specific footgear, but as a sumo puller (like me), you might need more than just slippers—my experience with a really cheap pair I got from my local sporting goods store is that if the floor and the slipper’s sole don’t have enough traction, I might roll my ankles, which you don’t have to worry about right now in your hi-tops.

I have a pair of Sabo deadlift-specific shoes (in red because they make my lifts go up 3 times faster) and they’re pretty nice. If that’s out of your price range as a student, you might consider a pair of hi-top wrestling shoes instead. ASICS is a trustworthy and affordable brand.

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I found Foundational Weight Training by Jason Miller to be very useful along with /u/GZCL's stuff. Together they've provided me with enough information to feel comfortable designing my own programming.

My thoughts

Basically, do more sets than the 8-10 sets prescribed in typical templates. 12-15 sets is a good average for each of your speed days. And don't overuse accommodating resistance for your dynamic work - you can do most of your work with regular weight, though you can mix things up with the use of specialty bars.

I'm not sure if this is totally what you're looking for so forgive me but this was an interesting read about masculinity way back in the day. link. Be careful if you open the amazon link there is man ass on the cover lol I had to lug this around on campus

Science and Practice of Strength Training by Vladimir Zatsiorsky

Go to the dollar store and get a plastic bristle brush like this one. I've been using the same one for years and it only cost me a dollar.

sorry for hijacking the post... but OP is using amazon referal service in his link to make money off you.... dont click on it if you plan on buying the shoes.


here is one without it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HN9I0O4/

Long torso, 6'4, at the time of my last meet was probably 275-80. I got t[his guy] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000C46UU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) off of amazon. It wasn't bad. Wasn't cool looking, and showed off a bit too much of my caffeine shrunk junk but it worked.

Yup. I got one with a 3500rpm (I think). It has an effect so it massages/vibrates your whole forearm, if you place it on your forearm

Here is the exact one I bought

https://www.amazon.ca/Wen-6010-Waxer-Polisher-6-Inch/dp/B0000AXOHT/ref=sr_1_6?crid=23HZTKILOYGC&keywords=car+polisher&qid=1567878643&s=gateway&sprefix=car+poli%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-6#

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000C07XF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kgPJzbAKT5XBW

Specifically this
one in navy

This is the one I purchased and use for meets.

Adipowers at sizes 9,10, and 11 at $90 with code CYBERMON

https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2015/11/13/hatewatch-headlines-11132015

https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2016/active-hate-groups-united-states-2015

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolves_of_Vinland

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/11/11/inside-virginia-s-church-burning-werewolf-white-supremecist-cult.html

https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/blood-honour

https://www.splcenter.org/news/2012/08/06/alleged-sikh-temple-shooter-former-member-skinhead-band

https://www.amazon.com/Operation-Werewolf-Transmissions-Paul-Waggener/dp/0692665951

I'm so sorry, that's freaking awful. If it's any consolation, your hormone levels during your period are in favor of a strong performance (whether or not your uterus is trying to turn itself into a knot is another thing though). The few days before your period when esterogen and progesterone plummet are more likely to negatively impact performance. At least that's what ROAR tells me.