8-Bit Barbell

Limitless Fails Gaming Group: Otaku Recon 2016 Recap

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Otaku Recon 2016 Recap

I had a blast at Otaku Recon 2016 but it almost didn’t happen. A few months ago I contacted the people from Kai Productions but they were not giving out spots for exhibitors. The group was disappointed but we understood. Two weeks ago the organizers offered us a spot  the main hall! I’m not sure what happened but we were willing to fill the spot. The short notice was unfortunate. I wasn’t able to make a new diorama or display board but we did the best with what we had. I think we did a lot better this year since we had a wide variety of wargames.
We decided to do a display most of our Wargames: Warmachine, Guild Ball and Infinity. Last year we did demos of Warmachine, this year we were going to focus Guild Ball and maybe Infinity. Since they were skirmish games, the demo would be easy. We set up the demo table with Guild Ball and the other table with Warmachine and Infinity. On the second day we had a small Warhammer 40k Ork display and a Dust Tactics display.
We did a few demos of Guild Ball and Infinity. The new players really liked the games and will hopefully start playing with us. Instead of video, I was able to take a time lapse with my GoPro. I will upload the video soon. Check out the Limitless Fails Gaming Group Facebook page for more info about meet ups.
Lift Heavy and Level Up!
 

 

 

 

 

 

My Week As Rx (Probably Scaled): October 24 – October 30

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Monday

Snatch – 4 at 60% (45 kg), 4 at 70% (53 kg), 3×4 at 75% (57 kg)
I haven’t done much snatching since I’ve been back. It took a few warm up reps to get used to it and I started on my percentages. Overall, I felt great at these weights. I didn’t miss a rep and was able to get through this fairly quickly. It was a lot more reps than what I was used to however but I took some time in between to rest up.
4 Cleans + 1 Jerk – 1 at 60% (62 kg), 1 at 70% (72 kg), 1 at 75% (77 kg)
This was just as hard as the snatches but I was able to pick it up. I’m more comfortable with heavy cleans than snatches. I didn’t need much of a warm up and went right into my first set. This workout wasn’t as bad since I had cut out two of my last three sets. I had to leave early. Four cleans are tough especially at the higher weights.

Wednesday

Bench Press – 5×5 at a heavy set of 5
My previous weight for this workout was 185 lb. but I wasn’t sure if I would be able to complete a set. I warmed up and loaded 185 lb. on the bar. I was only able to complete three reps. This was not a big surprise since I haven’t been doing much bench presses.
WOD – For Time
Row (1000 m)
50 pistol squats
30 hang power cleans (135 lb.)
I wasn’t sure how well I was going to do in this workout. The pistol squats were going to be tough and would probably slow me down. I wasn’t too worried about the cleans or the row, I’m sure I would be able to get through them without much trouble. My pace for the row was about two minutes per 500 m. I finished the row at about 4:10. The pistol squats were tough but I broke the sets into 10 reps. I took some time in between each set so I could catch my breath but I took a lot longer than expected. The 30 hang cleans were not too bad. I broke it up into sets of 10 reps which were manageable. My goal was to finish within 15 minutes but I finished in 16:17.

Saturday

Power Snatch – 2 at 60% (45 kg), 2 at 65% (49 kg), 2×3 at 70% (53 kg)
This was easier than Monday. The heavier Monday session was just what I needed to get better at my Olympic lifts.
Power Clean + 2 Jerks –  1 at 60% (62 kg), 1 at 65% (67 kg), 1×3 at 70% (72 kg)
Started to feel the fatigue in my arms at the 70% weight but it wasn’t an issue.
Back Squat – 3 at 60% (225 lb.), 3 at 70% (275 lb.), 3×3 at 80% (305 lb.)
This was my biggest workout of the day. I haven’t squatted anything heavy in awhile. The last time I attempted a heavy back squat was back in July. I was a little nervous but I wanted to hit some numbers. My first set for the workout was okay, I wasn’t too worried about 225 lb. My second set however was a bit worrying. The three reps at 70% were a lot harder than what I remember. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the time between lifts or if my warm up was too short but I decided to move forward and go to 80%.

 

My July workout was 6×3 at 80% (305 lb.) and I felt great doing it. This gave me some confidence. I completed the first set but it was tough. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to finish the rest of the sets. I took a few minutes to get some air and rest before going on to set two. I was able to finish two reps before racking the weight. It was too much and I almost needed a spot. I decided to stop there and end the workout. After reflecting on the workout, I realized that I needed to slowly get back to squatting. I should have gone up to 75% instead but I wanted to see if I could handle my weights from only a few months ago. I’m confident that after a few more sessions in the squat rack, I’ll be back to my old self.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

Miniature Mondays: Princess (Finished)

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Princess is Finished

After what feels like forever, I finally finished the Butcher mascot Princess. In my previous post, I wanted to paint Princess with a typical bull dog coat. I ran into a bunch of snags throughout the painting process. I realized I didn’t prep the model as well as i could. I didn’t cover the seams in the legs. It’s noticeable from the pictures. I also couldn’t get the white part of the coat to a color that I liked and I couldn’t get brown part to a decent shade. Rather than strip the model I decided to salvage it. It’s not my best work but I’ll use this as a learning experience. It’s good enough for table top. Check out the pictures below.
Lift Heavy and Level Up!
 
 
 

October 2016 Loot Crate Unboxing: Horror

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Images taken from the Loot Crate Email.



I finally have time to post Loot Crate unboxings! It has been about two months since my last unboxing and I’m happy to get back into it.

What is Loot Crate?

Taken from the Loot Crate site, “Each month, Loot Crate™ ships a themed mystery box of the best geek, gaming, and pop culture gear to a subscriber base of over 100,000 Looters. We emphasize phenomenal support and content, and include gear from some of the most respected entertainment and consumer product companies in the world.” Loot Crate sells for $13.95 a month plus $6.00 shipping and handling. You can save on the costs by subscribing for longer periods as well. If you like this theme check out the link at the bottom to subscribe.

 

What’s in the Box?

Sadly, I’m just catching up on the Walking Dead so I don’t get this reference yet. I wish it was just the name and not the guy with the bat. I’m guessing you need that picture for context. I’ll still wear the shirt.

A Leatherface plushie! It’s the cute horror line from Kid Robot. They also made the face sucker from Aliens that was in a previous crate.

Camp Crystal Lake is from the Friday the 13th series. It is the home of Jason Vorhees. This pennant is really cool and I need to find a way to hang it in the “closet”.

Next up is a kitchen item from A Nightmare on Elm Street. This is a cool item but it is impractical. I can’t use the chopsitcks with the rubber glove attached. I will have to take it off to use it.

The last item in the box is a hardcover book by Jon Morris. We received a similar book in Heroes 2 crate from last year. This should be an interesting read.

This month’s pin is from John Carpenter’s Halloween. The extra item from the pin website is for a steam game called “Superfight”. Loot Crate included a physical deck in a crate last year. I’m sure the digital version is a full game. If you would like the code for the game, leave a comment at the bottom. I’ll give it to the first person that comments.

Final Thoughts

This month wasn’t too bad. My favorite items were the Leatherface plushie, Freddy chopsticks and the hardcover book. I’m sure I will grow to like the shirt when I get caught up with the show. I’m happy to see Loot Crate thinking outside the box on some of the items. Hopefully next month’s items will be just as good.

If you want to sign up use this LINK, also use the promo code BOX5 to save $5 off your first subscription. If that code doesn’t work you can use SAVE3 for $3 off any subscription. I also get credit towards more Loot Crates if you use the link.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

Miniature Mondays: Brant Benoit aka Ghool

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I haven’t finished painting Princess but I have been watching miniature videos on YouTube. One of my favorite painters to watch is Brant Benoit. He’s won multiple awards from Wyrd and Privateer press. I’ve been reading his articles on Hand Cannon Online, since I started playing Warmachine and Hordes. He also started making videos which are great for beginners. If you have questions, you can comment on his YouTube videos and he usually gets back to you quickly. He’s one of my painting role models and I hope to reach his level one day.

You can check out his YouTube page here.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

Loot Crate November 2016 Theme: Magical

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Taken from the Loot Crate email.

Next month is the theatrical release of two anticipated movies, Doctor Strange and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I’m not a huge Doctor Strange fan but the trailers look interesting. I’m a fan of the Harry Potter series and I can’t wait for another movie. It’s set in the United States, which will give us a new perspective of the wizarding world. Game of Thrones is my favorite TV show right now and I hope it something good. I just saw Big Trouble in Little China not too long ago. It’s now one of my favorite Kurt Russell films.

Rumors of items in this crate are a Dr. Strange figure and a Fantastic Beasts wearable. I hope we get a Big Trouble in Little China shirt but I’m not holding my breath. I’m also curious what the Game of Thrones item will be.

If you’re into these franchises and want to sign up use this LINK, also use the promo code SAVE3 for $3 off any subscription. I get credit towards more Loot Crates if you use the link. If you have any questions, leave a comment at the bottom.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

My Week As Rx (Probably Scaled): October 3 – October 9

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Monday

I’m finally back in the gym! After six weeks of no exercise, I can finally lift some weight again. I will be doing the class workouts for this week and maybe next week before resuming the barbell club training. I will be trying to incorporate the class workout at least once a week.
Overhead Squat: 4×2 at 90% (195 lb.)
I wasn’t looking forward to this. After not doing any work for the past few weeks, I wasn’t sure if I could lift my 90%. I decided to take it slow and take it one set at a time. After a few sets, it became clear that I wouldn’t be able to hit my 90% and to attempt it now would risk injury. My body wasn’t used to this much strain. I decided to at least get up to my 80% (175 lb.). Did two sets at 165 lb. and then did one set at 175 lb. I’m confident that I will get back to my old self if I keep coming to the gym.
WOD – Every 3 Minutes for 18 Minutes
15 Overhead squats (75 lb.)
10 Burpee over bars
5 chest to bar pull ups
This workout was extremely difficult. The first round wasn’t too bad. I was able to get through all 15 overhead squats unbroken. The burpees however killed  me. I was breathing very hard by the time I got to the chest to bar pull ups. I did those in singles trying to catch my breath. I finished the first round in two minutes. I tried to catch my breath but a minute wasn’t long enough. I started on the second round and couldn’t finish the chest to bar pull ups under time.It was at this point that I made a decision to skip the round and rest for three minutes. I was gassed. I stripped the bar and tried to catch my breath but I couldn’t. Before I knew it, it was time for the fourth round. The overhead squats were easy but the burpees took a lot of time. I finished the burpees but I couldn’t get to the pull up bar. I decided to catch my breath and sit out the fifth round.

I was determined to finish all reps in the sixth round. It was a grind but I was able to finish the last rep of the chest to bar pull ups with 30 seconds left in the round. I felt light-headed, my legs were weak and I decided to sit down on the floor. I took me a few minutes before I was able to stand up and walk towards my water bottle. I felt better about 10 minutes after the end of the workout. Thankfully we didn’t have a buy out.

This was an eye opener. I have a lot of work to do and I’m more determined to get back to the fitness level I was before the wedding. It’s going to be a long road but I know I’ll get there.

Tuesday

Behind the Neck Split Jerk – 1 Rep Heavy
 
My quads were still sore from Monday. I pushed too hard and my legs were paying for it. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake today. I didn’t want to try and hit a PR instead, I wanted to work up to something under my current 1RM. I was able to hit 205 lb. and I think I could have done more. I was hesitant to push it though, seeing how going to hard too fast didn’t workout out for me on Monday. Next week we’ll be attempting a new 1 RM, hopefully I can set a new PR.
WOD – 15 Minute TC
 
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
Handstand push ups
Deadlift (185 lb.)
I decided to scale the deadlfit from 225 lb. to 185 lb. I haven’t deadlifted anything heavy in awhile and I didn’t want to strain my legs and back. This would also allow me to focus on my handstand push ups. The first few rounds were easy and I didn’t have any problems until the seventh round. I tried to break up the handstand push ups but my shoulders and triceps were starting to give out.
I hit the tenth round and I gave up. I had about three minutes left and I couldn’t finish. I was about four reps into the handstand push ups and I just stopped. CrossFit is very humbling. I thought I was doing great in class and then I get to a workout that takes me down a peg. I know I can get better, I just need to get to the gym!
Lift Heavy and Level Up!
 

Loot Crate October 2016 Theme: Horror

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Taken from the Loot Crate email



We shouldn’t be surprised that October’s crate will deal with Horror films. Everything from crazy serial killers to the zombie apocalypse. The films listed are classics. Leatherface, Freddy, and Jason are all names that struck fear in the hearts of kids that grew up watching these on Halloween night. A bit surprised we couldn’t get Michael Myers in this as well. We have had a few items from The Walking Dead in past crates that were okay at best. I hope this month’s crate has something better.

Hint’s from the email were:

Chow down with Freddy

Show your camp spirit

Join a Dead-ly team

If you’re into these franchises and want to sign up use this LINK, also use the promo code SAVE3 for $3 off any subscription. I get credit towards more Loot Crates if you use the link. If you have any questions, leave a comment at the bottom.

Lift Heavy and Level Up!

My Week As Rx (Probably Scaled): July 18 – July 24

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Tuesday

Bench Press – 5×5 at a heavy set of 5

I haven’t been doing much bench work lately. My range was probably going to be between 165 lb. – 185 lb. After warming up to 165 lb. I was able to complete five reps without much resistance so I went up to 185 lb. The weight was heavy but I was able to complete five reps each set. I ran out of time and stopped at four sets.

WOD
 
Elizabeth – 15 Minute Time Cap
21-15-9
Cleans (135 lb.)
Ring dips

It has been a year since I’ve done this workout. I scaled the cleans and ring dips but this time, I decided to Rx the cleans. I have been doing a lot of work at 135 lb. thanks to the barbell club. I would have to be smart about how I broke up the sets. My plan was going to be to break up each round into three sets.The cleans were manageable for the first round. I broke up the reps into sevens and the ring dips were the same. I tried to do the first round Rx but I gave up after rep 14. I haven’t been doing much dip work lately and it shows. The second round wasn’t too bad but I was a lot slower. The last round of nine, was hard. One of the coaches was pushing me to finish, making sure I would do at least one rep before resting. After finishing the cleans I felt light headed. I tried to do ring dips but I stopped after the first two reps. I couldn’t finish the last seven. My breathing was horrible and I just sat down and caught my breath. I had about two minutes left before time cap but I couldn’t get up and finish. That was the first time I felt that bad during a workout. My lack of conditioning shows and it sucks. I need to find a way to balance both.

Friday

WOD
3 Rounds Of:
Run (400 m)
21 kb swings (54 lb.)
12 hand stand push ups
This was a fun workout. I knew the run was going to suck, and the handstand push ups were going to be a lot harder after the skills work we did earlier. The first round was okay, I was able to complete the run at a good pace, the kb swings were done unbroken and the hand stand push ups were done in two sets of six. The second round was where I started to slow down. I was slower on the run but not by too much. I was able to finish the kb swings unbroken but I hit a wall at the handstand push ups. I was able to do five reps then three then four. I was considerably slower. The last round was the worst. The run was hard. I had to push myself mentally to stay focused and not walk. I finished the run and took 15 seconds to catch my breath. I picked up the kb and managed to complete 11 reps before dropping it. I was hoping to do it unbroken again but it was too taxing. After a short rest I picked it back up and finished the remaining 10 reps. The last round of hand stand push ups were slow I was able to complete maybe two or three reps before resting. Other members were cheering me on and I found the energy to complete the last few reps. I finished the workout at 15:48.

 

Lift Heavy and Level Up!