26 Sep Training Log: 8/29/2026 #2
Starting With the Basics
This session started with some of the usual groundwork I have been doing lately. I opened things up with rolling planks, glute bridges, and breathing work. It probably looks a little strange from the outside, especially when you have one of your old training partners standing there wondering what in the world you are doing on the floor, but there is a purpose behind it.
My buddy Trent was training with me, and we were having some fun with it while I worked through the warm-up. Trent was one of my first real training partners, so we have been around each other for a long time. Eventually he decided he had seen enough of my breathing and glute bridges and went over to stir the pot instead.
Rebuilding My Squat Pattern
From there, I moved into bodyweight squats for sets of 20. I have been using two PRS Mini Bands, one around the knees and another around the ankles. That setup has been helping me track more consistently as I work my way back into more squat-specific movement.
A big thank you again to Dr. Joe Camisa for the help getting me moving in the right direction. My groove is getting significantly better. My left foot is staying planted much more consistently instead of moving around, and the entire squat pattern is starting to feel natural again.
Injury Changes the Way You Move
One thing people sometimes overlook is how much an injury can disrupt otherwise good motor patterns. Your body starts compensating, and before long, muscles that should be working together are doing completely different things.
In my case, the relationship between my right abductors and left adductors had gotten pretty wonky. That affected how I tracked, how I loaded each side, and ultimately how comfortable I felt squatting. Now that I am rebuilding those patterns, things are starting to feel much more balanced and consistent.
Back to the SquatMax-MD
Of course, the SquatMax-MD has remained a major part of the process. I have used plenty of belt squat machines over the years, and I still believe the SquatMax-MD is the best belt squat available. The load sits directly underneath you, which creates a movement that closely replicates a traditional squat or deadlift.
That direct loading is one of the biggest reasons I like it. You can hammer the legs while limiting unnecessary stress on the back and knees. For anyone looking to add one to their gym, you can use code BC$50 when picking up a SquatMax-MD.
Chest Presses, Calves, and Progress
I finished the session by moving through some chest press work along with calf raises and tibialis raises. I was moving pretty quickly through the chest press machine, which is probably my second favorite machine to train on right now.
This footage was from a couple of weeks ago, but the important thing is that training continues to move in the right direction. My squat groove is improving, my foot is staying planted, and the movement issues that were bothering me are becoming more consistent. There is still work to do, but everything is feeling good, and training is progressing.
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