Helder Barroso 2009/2010 Off season Journal

Hi Helder, just trying to work out if you are indeed bulking at the moment mate?As your weight seems to be so steady?

micky


Hi Helder, just trying to work out if you are indeed bulking at the moment mate?As your weight seems to be so steady?

Hi Micky, i am about 8 pounds over contest weight, i am bulking but at a slow rate, dont really want to go to much out of shape!!!
 
I was actualy thinking today and was wondering if i am doing things correct, since i started bodybuiliding i have learned a few basics and do things to the best of my knowledge but i cant help to think that there maybe something im not doing right!! I have read so many articles, seen so many dvds, spoke to a lot of people who have been in the game for years i train and talk to one of the best bodybuldiers in the world everyday but i cant help to think a lot of the things people do in bodybuilding is guess work, sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt!!!! I would love to work with scientists, doctors, diet and training experts and really see how far i could take my body!!
 
Have any of you guys ever thought about this??!!!!
 
Helder

That's good you're not too rigorous with the cardio, sounds like a healthy amount.

I never think naturals necessarily 'gain weight' as they gain muscle so I don't thin there's anything wrong with keeping your weight stable. Do you feel like/look like you've gained muscle since you started? If you know you have, then you're prob doing it all right! How much support are you getting from MT? Is it diet or training or both?

flick161


That's good you're not too rigorous with the cardio, sounds like a healthy amount.

I never think naturals necessarily 'gain weight' as they gain muscle so I don't thin there's anything wrong with keeping your weight stable. Do you feel like/look like you've gained muscle since you started? If you know you have, then you're prob doing it all right! How much support are you getting from MT? Is it diet or training or both?

Hi Flick, i know i have made improvements but i just think im so capable of much more, I guess its all trial and error and see what works best for me!!
 
Helder

Hi Helder,
               The problem with bodybuilding is there are alot of grey areas, from nutrition to training thats why it,s such a fasinating and frustrating sport!! Looking as an out-sider at you I would say eat more, even if it,s not totally "clean". You are only 8lbs off competition weightyou can lose half of that in a week!!
I was like you for years far too picky analysing everything i only started to mass up when I really upped the kcals yes you will go smooth but your mscle mass will increase and the key then is to hold it, going up .1,.3 in weight is an increase but, it will take you fore-ever to mass up a bit. I,m not saying I am totally correct Helder but, I have been where you are now it,s a difficult concept to accept getting out of condition but if it,s for the sake of getting more mass thats the road I would go mate, you will get the condition back, thats not a problem for you as you well know....let me know what you think.

Good points from Micky.

Remember this, Helder: Bodybuilding is not an exact science.

The human body has millions/billions of years of meiotic evolution, with additional phenotypic variation.  This means that one person's functions can be hugely different to the next.  This means that you will always be doing something wrong, even when you're doing everything right!  The best you can do is train hard, eat in a macronutrient surplus, rest well and stay focused and the results will come.  If they don't, then you need to adjust one of these.

I know there's a bit of jargon in that paragraph, so am I making sense?

micky


Hi Helder,
               The problem with bodybuilding is there are alot of grey areas, from nutrition to training thats why it,s such a fasinating and frustrating sport!! Looking as an out-sider at you I would say eat more, even if it,s not totally "clean". You are only 8lbs off competition weightyou can lose half of that in a week!!
I was like you for years far too picky analysing everything i only started to mass up when I really upped the kcals yes you will go smooth but your mscle mass will increase and the key then is to hold it, going up .1,.3 in weight is an increase but, it will take you fore-ever to mass up a bit. I,m not saying I am totally correct Helder but, I have been where you are now it,s a difficult concept to accept getting out of condition but if it,s for the sake of getting more mass thats the road I would go mate, you will get the condition back, thats not a problem for you as you well know....let me know what you think.

Hi Micky
 
Thank you very much for your valid comments, i know what you mean and a lot of people have told me the same, in 2006-2007 i went up to nearly 13 stone in the offseason to only struggle to come down in weight and find i didnt really make any gains!! last year i only went 10 pounds above my weight and made considerable gains. Im on a crossroads at the moment to be honest!!! I will just keep doing what im doing for now and see how things go!
 
I will send you a text anyway buddy.
 
Helder

James


Good points from Micky.

Remember this, Helder: Bodybuilding is not an exact science.

The human body has millions/billions of years of meiotic evolution, with additional phenotypic variation.  This means that one person's functions can be hugely different to the next.  This means that you will always be doing something wrong, even when you're doing everything right!  The best you can do is train hard, eat in a macronutrient surplus, rest well and stay focused and the results will come.  If they don't, then you need to adjust one of these.

I know there's a bit of jargon in that paragraph, so am I making sense?

Thanks James, you are making sense.
 
Helder

Helder07

James


Good points from Micky.

Remember this, Helder: Bodybuilding is not an exact science.

The human body has millions/billions of years of meiotic evolution, with additional phenotypic variation.  This means that one person's functions can be hugely different to the next.  This means that you will always be doing something wrong, even when you're doing everything right!  The best you can do is train hard, eat in a macronutrient surplus, rest well and stay focused and the results will come.  If they don't, then you need to adjust one of these.

I know there's a bit of jargon in that paragraph, so am I making sense?

Thanks James, you are making sense.
 
Helder

Good stuff.  I went a bit nerdy there for a minute!

Helder - I'm a regular reader of your blog, and I disagree that you're at a crossroads. I just wish I had some pics of you from the NPA Yorkshire 06, then everyone could see you have made fantastic improvememts since then! Also your 2009 'suit of muscles' was much improved imho over your 2008 suit - so whatever you did over the last 12 months worked so well, doesn't it make sense just to carry on doing more or less the same? If its working why change anything? Crossroads? No way, mate...the one thing that you have to deal with I think is expectataion...people will expect you to be better again, in your case, that means moving up another notch or two, so good luck Helder, if you continue to improve then your competitors will be looking over their shoulders, that includes Steve 'The Welsh Dragon'  Davies, who will be going for an hat-trick of NPA Britain wins in 2010! Best of luck to you both!

Michael Phillips


Helder - I'm a regular reader of your blog, and I disagree that you're at a crossroads. I just wish I had some pics of you from the NPA Yorkshire 06, then everyone could see you have made fantastic improvememts since then! Also your 2009 'suit of muscles' was much improved imho over your 2008 suit - so whatever you did over the last 12 months worked so well, doesn't it make sense just to carry on doing more or less the same? If its working why change anything? Crossroads? No way, mate...the one thing that you have to deal with I think is expectataion...people will expect you to be better again, in your case, that means moving up another notch or two, so good luck Helder, if you continue to improve then your competitors will be looking over their shoulders, that includes Steve 'The Welsh Dragon'  Davies, who will be going for an hat-trick of NPA Britain wins in 2010! Best of luck to you both!

Thank you Michael, very kind words. I want that tittle so much that i will do whatever it takes to get it, from that day i came 3rd there hasnt been anything else on my mind but that in 2010 i will beat steve and Sergey and who ever else comes is my way, i am very determined to win the british tittle that is why i dont want to do anything wrong and i want to make sure every bit of food that goes in my body and every single training session is 110% so when im on stage at the finals next year there is only one winner from the word go. I may sound cocky but im not im just very determined to win that tittle, coming so close this year made me realise that i can do it. 
 
Thanks again Michael and thank you for following my journal.
 
Helder

Monday 14/12/09

Hey everyone my weight this morning was 11.4 stone after yesterdays carb up and cheat meal, i felt great today, loads of energy and my session was great.  i started off with chest, after a big warm up as the gym was frezzing!!!!

Todays session:

Iso Dicline Press:
80kg: 10 reps, rest pause, 43 seconds static.

I was very please with this as i was up 1 rep from last week and my static improved from 35 seconds!

Standing Side Lateral:
22.5kg: 14 reps, rest pause.

again very pleases as last week i did 20kg for only 12 reps

Wide grip Push down:
65kg: 16 reps, rest pause

last week i did 60kg: for 19 reps so again improved on weight and not bad reps.

wide reverse pull down:
100kg: 13 reps, 54 seconds static

very please with this as last week i only did 9 reps with same weight but my static was better last week with 60 seconds.

T-bar Row:
142.5kg: 26 reps

i was very happy with this as 2.5kg heavier than last week but 2 reps short of the 28 reps i did last week, will be increasing this weight next week.

Excellent improvements from the week before - it's really great when you look back on the previous week and see things going up

So, I had a long tink about what you said in here... Then I went and sought out my DVD collection. The last DVD I've got with you on was in 2007 - Michael's right - you have really chnged since then.

I think you've got time on your side, in that, you've done the hard part and nailed your condition, it's something so many struggle with. Symmetry is good, just a little more size required all over (don't we all?!), but whatever you're doing, I agree, it is working :-)

flick161


So, I had a long tink about what you said in here... Then I went and sought out my DVD collection. The last DVD I've got with you on was in 2007 - Michael's right - you have really chnged since then.

I think you've got time on your side, in that, you've done the hard part and nailed your condition, it's something so many struggle with. Symmetry is good, just a little more size required all over (don't we all?!), but whatever you're doing, I agree, it is working :-)

Thank you Flick :-)
 
Helder

16/12/2009 Wednesday

Good Morning guys, my weight this morning was 11.3 Stone, yesterday i went Yoga for the 1st time, it was for 90 minutes and in a 40 degree room, it was very hard but really good, think i will start going more often. I feel a bit tired today and my body feels a bit weird, dont know how to explain!! Anyway looking forward to todays session but will be training alone as Daz injured imself on Monday when training chest, we hoping is nothing to bad!!!

Helder

I LOVE Hot Yoga!

Are you feeling drained today? Often I get lonnngggg muscle aches (not really painful), but I feel exhausted. Very wierd, but a nice sensation! Good for you!

flick161


I LOVE Hot Yoga!

Are you feeling drained today? Often I get lonnngggg muscle aches (not really painful), but I feel exhausted. Very wierd, but a nice sensation! Good for you!

Hey Flick
 
Thats exactly how i feel, its very weird!! I really enjoyed it, im going to try go about twice a week if i can.
 
Helder

Thursday 17/12/09

Hey everyone, this mornings weight 11.2 stone, was going to go Yoga today but had a problem with my car so no transport!! :-( I think i might take the dog for a walk later and that will be my cardio for today!!

Yesterdays session:

Preacher curl:
55kg: 14 reps, rest pause - 40 seconds static

5kg up on last week and still got more than 12 so this weight will be going up next week.

Reverse curls:
60kg: 20 reps, rest pause

Also 5kg up on the week before and good reps, will increase the weight next week.

Seated Calves:
130kg: 11 reps, rest pause.

Quite pleased, did same weight as last week but 2 extra reps.

Stiff leg deadlift:
145kg: 10 reps

5kg up on last week and 10 reps not to bad, will try go for 12 reps next week

Squats - deep:
100kg: 18 reps, rest pause

Very very happy as last week only managed 8 reps, 10 more reps this week, weight will be going up next week.

Saturday 19/12/09

Weight this morning 11.2 stone. Got up this morning took my supplements had 30g whey with bcaa and glutamine and went gym, did 30 minutes cardio on treadmill and 5 minutes abs. Yesterdays session went really and inproved on every excercise again, as Daz teared his pec i am now training alone as he his just training light!!

Yesterdays session:

Flat Bech press:
90kg: 8 reps, rest pause - 41 seconds static

Last week only managed 6 reps and 37 seconds static so i am please with imorvements.

Smith machine front press:
80kg: 7 reps, rest pause -  40 seconds static.

1 more rep than last week and also lasted 10 seconds more on the static.

close grip smith machine bench press:
85kg: 11 reps, rest pause - 25 seconds static

Up 5kg from last week with one rep short of 12

Wide grip pull down:
100kg: 15 reps, 30 seconds static

10kg heavier than last week and still above the 12 rep range so this weigh will be going up again next session

Bent Over Row:
125kg: 15 reps

5kg up on last week and did 15 reps compared to last weeks 12 with 120kg, very happy with this and weight will be going up next session.