CK's Journal - Mixing it up to confuse my muscles and shock them into growth

James M


Had a crap weekend food wise myself mate, not enough protein and loads of rubbish stuff.

Whats the advantage of DB press over bench?

I can't really see any advantage to it per se, I just started doing it to mix up my chest routine because I was doing Barbell benching for around 7 months and apparently it's good to mix up your exercises a bit so that your muscles don't get too used to doing the same exercises over and over. I'd say the main difference between it and the BB is that using the DBs activates your stabilisers more because not only do you have to press the weight upwards, you also have to hold each of them in place separately and get them up into the air in the first place. It makes sense when you consider that I would be benching probably around 80kg now, but the combination of both the DBs that I'm DB pressing with only adds up to 72kg.

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

97kg...you fat ****

End of Cycle Review+Pictures

*Plyoathlete Crew*
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CitizenKane

James M


Had a crap weekend food wise myself mate, not enough protein and loads of rubbish stuff.

Whats the advantage of DB press over bench?

I can't really see any advantage to it per se, I just started doing it to mix up my chest routine because I was doing Barbell benching for around 7 months and apparently it's good to mix up your exercises a bit so that your muscles don't get too used to doing the same exercises over and over. I'd say the main difference between it and the BB is that using the DBs activates your stabilisers more because not only do you have to press the weight upwards, you also have to hold each of them in place separately and get them up into the air in the first place. It makes sense when you consider that I would be benching probably around 80kg now, but the combination of both the DBs that I'm DB pressing with only adds up to 72kg.

Makes sense, I notice the pros tend to opt for db's a lot of the time.

My Journal

AWG


97kg...you fat ****

F.uck you mate! I'm very sensitive about it!

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

James M

CitizenKane

James M


Had a crap weekend food wise myself mate, not enough protein and loads of rubbish stuff.

Whats the advantage of DB press over bench?

I can't really see any advantage to it per se, I just started doing it to mix up my chest routine because I was doing Barbell benching for around 7 months and apparently it's good to mix up your exercises a bit so that your muscles don't get too used to doing the same exercises over and over. I'd say the main difference between it and the BB is that using the DBs activates your stabilisers more because not only do you have to press the weight upwards, you also have to hold each of them in place separately and get them up into the air in the first place. It makes sense when you consider that I would be benching probably around 80kg now, but the combination of both the DBs that I'm DB pressing with only adds up to 72kg.

Makes sense, I notice the pros tend to opt for db's a lot of the time.

True it does seem to be a weapon of choice for BBers! My pecs are in absolute bits today!

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

Quick update:

This week has gone from bad to worse. The builders doing the kitchen in my gaff took so long that they only finished it yesterday, so I haven't had a place to prepare meals for the entire week. On top of that, I was so hectic and busy this week helping my parents sort everything out on foot of all these renovations, along with college and work, that I simply haven't had time to get to the gym since Monday.

AND as if all that wasn't enough, I have been having wisdom teeth trouble for the last 3 days (my bottom left third molar has come up and pierced through the gum, and the cut it made became infected), which made eating anything other than soup and whey shakes incredibly difficult!

So this week has essentially been a write-off, and I will hope to erase it from memory and start fresh on Monday The up side is, I now have a brand new kitchen in which to prepare my feasts, and I also got a couple more clients for guitar lessons during the week so I have that bit more cash to spend on food, etc.

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

What kind of stuff do you play mate?

I've got a Gibson LP and mainly play Metallica, Sabbath type stuff. Big fan of Randy Rhoads and Joe Satriani. Not picked it up in years though.

Oh and good news about the kitchen!

My Journal

James M


What kind of stuff do you play mate?

I've got a Gibson LP and mainly play Metallica, Sabbath type stuff. Big fan of Randy Rhoads and Joe Satriani

I play exactly that kinda stuff mate. Well not entirely, I'm partial to a bit of Satriani and Rhoads and those guys but I prefer the likes of Yngwie Malmsteen when it comes to 80s shred wankery. But I generally tend to listen to heavier stuff: my favourite guitarists are probably Trey Azagthoth of the band Morbid Angel, and Muhammed Suiçmez from the band Necrophagist. Both of those are worth a listen, it's questionable whether you would actually like the music because it's very heavy and invariably an acquired taste, but if you like Satriani, Rhoads, Hammett, etc. then you would almost certainly appreciate them in terms of their technical virtuosity, which is fairly mind blowing. 

That's the stuff I like to play, but as far as the guitar lessons go I just teach whatever the student wants to learn!

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

Nothing to report from the weekend, except that my diet has been crap. I was hanging out with my ex gf last night and we ordered pizza, so my dinner consisted of:

12" Pizza with BBQ sauce, Chicken, Sausage, Pineapple and Olives
1 Portion of Jalapeno Poppers
1 Portion of Potato Wedges (with Garlic Sauce)
1 Portion of 'Taco Chips' (Chips with mince meat and jalapenos covered in melted cheese)
2 Cans of Coke

LMAO

On the upside, my ex, who hadn't seen me in a few months, told me that I am 'twice as big as the last time' she saw me. Happy days!

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

CitizenKane


Nothing to report from the weekend, except that my diet has been crap. I was hanging out with my ex gf last night and we ordered pizza, so my dinner consisted of:

12" Pizza with BBQ sauce, Chicken, Sausage, Pineapple and Olives
1 Portion of Jalapeno Poppers
1 Portion of Potato Wedges (with Garlic Sauce)
1 Portion of 'Taco Chips' (Chips with mince meat and jalapenos covered in melted cheese)
2 Cans of Coke

LMAO

On the upside, my ex, who hadn't seen me in a few months, told me that I am 'twice as big as the last time' she saw me. Happy days!

Sounds pretty good to me, always good to get compliments like that!

always good to see an ex and know their thinking....phwooooar. Ha ha. Good stuff lately mate, and i bet your gonna enjoy cooking up some better stuff in the kitchen lol. Your diet is like mine at teh moment. KFC nom nom nom. 

Hello my friend, I see you're back again.

Well my diet mustn't have been as bad as I thought because I had a fantastic session today!

Push - 30th Nov 2009

DB Press
36kg x 8 (+1) FINALLY!
36kg x 7
36kg x 6

Incline Bench Press
62.5kg x 8
62.5kg x 8 (+2)
62.5kg x 7

Dips
BW x 10
BW x 8
BW x 6 (-1)

Incline Flyes
9kg x 10 (+1kg)
9kg x 14
9kg x 10

Decline Flyes
9kg x 10
9kg x 6
Not sure why I did these, but got a really good pump from them. Not a bad exercise!

Skull Crushers
27kg x 8
27kg x 6
27kg x 5

So all in all a great session. I can forgive the last set of Dips because I put a lot into the first two exercises so my triceps were understandably f.ucked. So happy about finally getting another rep on the 36s (it took me about a month!), and what's more it actually felt easy, I could easily have gotten another rep if I wanted but I just didn't want to f.uck up the rep range for the other two sets.

I'm graduating from college tomorrow so won't be in the gym, I might be able to go early on Wednesday but I have to be back in the afternoon for some guitar lessons. We shall see.

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

ste1984


always good to see an ex and know their thinking....phwooooar. Ha ha. Good stuff lately mate, and i bet your gonna enjoy cooking up some better stuff in the kitchen lol. Your diet is like mine at teh moment. KFC nom nom nom. 

Cheers mate, yep it's so good having a kitchen back! I've just been feasting at every available opportunity! Although given that I had a good session today maybe a diet of McDonalds and KFC isn't as bad as it's cracked up to be...hmm......

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

Nice session buddy!

Do you prefer dbell to bb, i do both and usually do bb first you see, so just wondering mate?

Nice one graduating mate! What you doing again lol?

Muscle Finesse & Maximuscle Board Rep

Icemansoldier


Nice session buddy!

Do you prefer dbell to bb, i do both and usually do bb first you see, so just wondering mate?

Nice one graduating mate! What you doing again lol?

I dunno which I prefer really, I'm loving pressing with DBs at the moment but I can see myself getting sick of it! Why do you do both mate? I used to do both but I decided there prob wasn't much point so I started just doing one or the other and then doing a different exercise like dips instead, great exercise!

Oh and I'm doing law, the graduation tomorrow is for my masters, I graduated from my undergrad degree around this time last year. Oh and tomorrow is December which means I can finally shave this ****ing moustache off my face!

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

CitizenKane

Icemansoldier


Nice session buddy!

Do you prefer dbell to bb, i do both and usually do bb first you see, so just wondering mate?

Nice one graduating mate! What you doing again lol?

I dunno which I prefer really, I'm loving pressing with DBs at the moment but I can see myself getting sick of it! Why do you do both mate? I used to do both but I decided there prob wasn't much point so I started just doing one or the other and then doing a different exercise like dips instead, great exercise!

Oh and I'm doing law, the graduation tomorrow is for my masters, I graduated from my undergrad degree around this time last year. Oh and tomorrow is December which means I can finally shave this ****ing moustache off my face!

Yeah i get you, you seem to be doing well dbell'ing. I do flat bb bench then incline dbell to get abit of variation instead of just doing dbell or bb work itself, i like both. Dips hurt my shoulders :( seem a good chest exercise though, maybe try them when my shoulder are 100% sometime again.

Congrats mate, this is BIG! lol

Im sorry but regarding your moustache....



Will be a laugh mate! haha

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Why is your graduation in DEC, is that not wierd lol just wondering casue my bro's was in the summer when he graduated.

Muscle Finesse & Maximuscle Board Rep

Icemansoldier

Im sorry but regarding your moustache....



Will be a laugh mate! haha

LOL ah mate I would but it kinda requires putting up a photo of my face and I'm not a fan of posting pics of myself around the internet (except on favebook of course), I prefer to remain anonymous!

Not sure what the story is with the grad being on in december but most people I know seem to have had theirs around Nov/Dec as well. I'm graduating from UCD, but my bro is graduating from Trinity this week as well!

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

Fair play mate, me too.

2 Graduations wow lol Every uni must just have diff times set out for graduations.

Muscle Finesse & Maximuscle Board Rep

Great workout mate, how do you find skulls, they nail my elbows.

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^ same with me mate, might try them again 2mra, you can do them at an angle so its puts less stress on your elbows you know mate. Dont know how to explain it but i read it some where lol

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James M


Great workout mate, how do you find skulls, they nail my elbows.

Cheers dude. I quite like Skulls except I actually find they hurt my wrists a lot more than my elbows!

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

Do you do them with an EZ, I find that really helps the wrists.

My Journal

Yep I use an EZ! I use a narrow grip though, that could be the problem. But maybe I just have really weak wrists though, sometimes Dips hurt my wrists also, and I remember the last time I did push-ups they hurt my wrists too.

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

My wrists and forearms are fooked, my forearms seem to give way before the body part i work on some exercises, really frustrating.

Muscle Finesse & Maximuscle Board Rep

**** man that doesn't sound too good! Ever considered getting physio to look at it or whatever?

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

Graduating in about 2 hours. I was afraid none of my suits would fit me because I haven't worn any of them in over a year but one of them actually seems to fit ok, happy days!

Nothing to report really today. My diet won't be amazing today but I'm going out for a meal to Marco Pierre White's restaurant in Dublin with the parents after graduation so should get plenty of kcals in, lol.

Speaking of diets, for some reason I've become very conscious of my belly in the last week or so. I don't know if I've put on fat or not, or maybe that I'm just more aware of it or something, but either way I seriously can't wait to cut. This has become a game of willpower for me now NOT to cut, and it's going to take all my dedication to plow through and keep bulking until April whilst ignoring the belly! I seriously can't wait though!

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

^^^ I feel the same mate.  I feel fat as fck, but i wanna be massive and strong, and i cant do that on a cut really haha.

Yeah maybe i should.

Yeah i agree with you's when you put on abit of chub you wanna cut lol

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Hope your graduation went well mate.

Muscle Finesse & Maximuscle Board Rep

Couldn't agree more guys! It's the old catch 22 eh... when you've been bulking for a while, you get paranoid about fat gain/bloat and all you wanna do is cut, and when you're cutting, you become consiencious of loosing muscle and strength, and want to bulk! haha... mental really.

I am on the opposite end of the scale, as I am cutting, I have dropped a few pounds, and even though I feel better for it and feel I look a lot better, I am very consiencoius of dropping any more weight as I don't wanna be lower than about 14.7 stone.

Guess we're never truly happy no matter how we look LOL.

NATURAL SPORTS NUTRITION REP
Ready Made Meals For Bodybuilders & Athletes!!

I guess it is a bit of a catch-22, but tbh at this stage I'll be happy when/if I have a six pack and some quality mass on me, anything after that will be a bonus

Graduation went well, ended up going out on the piss after dinner and I'm dying today so needless to say I didn't get to the gym. I had the most epic meal ever last night though in Marco Pierre White's: Parfait of Fois Grais with Raisin and Brandy to start, and a (huge) medium rare Fillet Steak with Oysters! Up there with the best meals I've ever eaten, NOM NOM NOM

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

Sounds like a cracking meal!

Congrats on graduating too, I'm still hanging on in there, refusing to leave

Journal

No.13


Sounds like a cracking meal!

Congrats on graduating too, I'm still hanging on in there, refusing to leave

Cheers mate! Yep it was a whopper of a meal I must say! Wouldn't worry about it mate I'd give anything to be back in regular college at the moment, right now I'm studying for professional exams and it's a bloody nightmare!

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

Some random thoughts:

Was thinking about my routine again. I've been reading around about lots and lots of routines and some have interested me a lot. I have compiled a list of routines that I really want to try in the future:

1. SS
2. Some sort of Full Body
3. DC

SS and DC seem to be polar opposites, but perhaps that is why they both interest me so much. The only problem with both of these routines however is that on the one hand I may be too "experienced" for SS, and on the other hand not experienced enough for DC. Of course I am by no means "experienced" in the grand scheme of things, but I believe SS is most effective for complete beginners whereas, conversely, I have read that Dante suggests a minimum of three years of training before trying DC.

DC looks like a cracking routine though, I'm intrigued by the concepts of rest pause sets and extreme stretching, seriously tempted to just say f.uck it just do it!

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

Good choice... you have to have a piss up post graduation.

Muscle Finesse & Maximuscle Board Rep

Pull - 3/12/09

Deadlift
120kg x 5
120kg x 5
120kg x 5

DB Rows
42kg x 10
42kg x 10
42kg x 9

Pulldowns (Wider Grip than before)
14/20 x 10
14/20 x 9
14/20 x 6

EZ Curls
27kg x 10
27kg x 10
27kg x 7

Pinwheel Curls
14kg x 10
14kg x 8

Traps Superset:

Shrugs (Smith)
100kg x 10
100kg x 10
100kg x 10
Upright Rows
27kg x 10
27kg x 10
27kg x 9

Upright rows are a horrible exercise, I could almost feel them grinding away my rotator cuffs during that last set! Won't be doing these again in a hurry! I enjoyed the shrugs though, I will incorporate these into my Pull workouts again from now on methinks.

Enjoyed the low rep deads too, felt easy @ 120, so will up the weight next week. It was still kind of a guessing game as to what weight I should be using because I was used to doing high reppers.

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.

Great deads mate thats more than my maximum, hoping to change that tomorrow though!

Not tried upright rows, they a real bastard?

My Journal

Nice session mate, i know what you mean about upright rows not the best exercise to do , i dont do them anymore, surely just a matter of time before it fooks you up.

Muscle Finesse & Maximuscle Board Rep

They're not a hard exercise or anything but they just have a reputation for being very harsh on the rotator cuffs. It was my first time doing them today, and I have had RC trouble before, and I could really feel my shoulders starting to hurt during the last set!

JOURNAL
 
I'm tougher than leather, I'm smoother than suede,
Always never broke 'cos I'm usually paid.