My Body, The Experiment: Day 26
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHNCnh_rUsEclSloe_J_pkt1M5glIm1zOr9e19i3bMNlbkaFpPXwnaEOJ3dZaEpMP4lM9pg5_ZgLK3-Pk1Z5FJUH35WNNX2popGOC90N-UUZLD11nrsFFSLYme4V4uDQnZW9SLZz_gMw/s200/Photo+on+2013-10-14+at+14.27.jpg)
The 40-Day program got shortened considerably, when I woke up on Day 26 and thought, Uh-uh. I did this enough. We're done here. But seeing as how I had committed five weeks to a strength-building program, I knew that before moving on to anything else, I had to test strength. With the able spotting of a bodybuilder friend (who likes to say things like "Do you know where I can find a good veterinarian? [flexes biceps] Cause these puppies are SICK!!!"), I went to the bench and pressed 130lbs, which is my all-time best but I had only done it once, and several years ago at that. So I considered this an accomplishment and sign of improved strength. I then went to the deadlift. 200 had been my max, but 195 felt reasonable, so I loaded 210 on and slowly brought the bar up. That's improvement, too. Dan John's 40-Day Program , shortened to 26, even, brought me significant benefits. Strength, yes, but also improved shoulder health. Less achy days: the regular but low-r