The Return of the jedi-This is not Sparta. This. Is. Madness.(now incl. Race to 100kg OHP)

Looking good jedi, sorry if i've missed it, but how tall are you?

Back looks huge dude

Last pic looks like you're trying to sell something sleazy hahaha

cricket_fire

Last pic looks like you're trying to sell something sleazy hahaha

Reasonable rates and easy payment 'lay-away' plans are always available

No.13


Looking good jedi, sorry if i've missed it, but how tall are you?

5'9.......and a half

Well your in pretty nifty condition anyway mate! I'm two inches taller, but over 3 stone heavier and I look smaller. Damn low bodyfat malarky....

Well done anyhoo

impressive.
Mr Buff indeed.
but why is your right leg twice the size of your left?

Thanks chaps.

daKensta

but why is your right leg twice the size of your left?

From all the going round in circles I do.

BacknBis

Chins
21's -7 x full extension to 90deg. Then 7 x bar down to 90deg and then 7full reps
They were a bit mental but a good laugh. Got one set one my own but needed a dab of spotting on  full reps 6/7 on the second set.
Plus one set of side to side.

High Pulldown
110kg x 12/10/8
+dropset

Closegrip Pulldown
77kg x 12/10/8
+dropset

Seated Row
70 x 12/10/8

EZcurl
40kg x 8/8/6 (still not getting 3rd set of 8 but these are super strict)

Incline curls
14kg x 12/10/8

Seated curl
30kg x 12/10/8 (back to 30kg strict =more work in biceps)

15min cardio perving (burns more calories)

very balanced physique!
back has some good thickness and your low bodyfat makes it even better to show off the lower traps/rhomboids.

cant see much of the chest as the poses stretch it flat

good job

jedi

flick161

What's next on the achievements list?

Well, I was hoping to get some good pix to summarise this whole conditioning phase as it has all come together fairly well I think. Trouble is, I have just been really busy and not managed to get any done. Now I've started eating more again and not looking quite as sharp as I was (there's probably only so many pix of me in my pants that this journal can stand anyway). I'm pretty pleased though, as I think it has all worked out about as well as I could've hoped. Think I've lost BF and gained some muscle which is like inventing a perpetual motion machine according to most people.

Next phase is to lean bulk towards Xmas but will be trying to maintain as much condition as possible. May be changing the rep range to chase some strength but am flexible on that. Would like to get to Xmas weighing about 13st but absolutely no more than 12%BF. Will require careful increase in protein and fats and smaller increase on carbs but I think it's do-able.

Strength goals would be
180 squat
140 bench
200 deadlift

-as for the dragon flag, I've already had a go at the embellishments suggested by weemuscle(gymnast chap) and want to be able to pause at 45degrees and then complete a full rep, next pause at 45degrees and do some flutter kicks and then complete a full rep. I can kind of do some of those already but want absolutely perfect form on all of it. Have already improved the line a tad and lowered to within an inch of the bench now on the standard movement.
They are the best thing I've done for abs by a large margin I reckon.

Feeling healthy(er) and happy(er) is also a goal to be aimed at.

As long as YOU know improvements were made... Looking larger in your most recent set of pics... Nice shape...
Still no plan to step on a Novice stage anytime in future?

Incredible Bulk

very balanced physique!

cant see much of the chest as the poses stretch it flat

Cheers mate. I am in both parts pleased that this is the best set of pix I've posted but at the same time annoyed that I didn't get better pix done to truly reflect the shape and condition, my fault on all counts being cr@p at photography and posing both. Really have to get my calves up to speed now. They are deffo improving but slowly, they're still an inch behind my arms and yet do I spend longer working them?
Do I f....

flick161
Nice shape...
Still no plan to step on a Novice stage anytime in future?

As for the stepping on stage. Well, never say never and I guess over this year I have indeed managed to add some size and done some good work on improving my conditioning and BF levels but I'd say I was still a long way off show condition. I know that as a natural I wouldn't have to get monster hooooj like young IB above but I still think I'd need a good few -lb's more than I have at present.
I quite like working to satisfy my own sense of aesthetic anyway.
(not a cop out -honest)

I think you underrate yourself... I really do...
Your off-season condition is already good no matter what an actual contest diet could do...

flick161

I think you underrate yourself... I really do

I was tempted to agree but it is more complicated than that.

edited to exclude boring detail and psycho-babble.

Actually, I'll just agree that you are mostly right

Thursday powerlifting.

Opened up with some very stiff squats with just the bar prompting Vic to ask if I wanted a lighter one. It got better as things went on, although reps on 120 felt harder than I'd like and tended to drain the confidence a bit. 140 wasn't too bad and then managed a nice 160. I would probably have settled for another shot at 160 but simply wasn't allowed to dodge 170 just because of last week's bailout debacle (good call Mr. Jackman). So went for 170 with a conventional spot from behind and got a decent rep which in hindsight wasn't exactly buried for depth but if an inch or so high then it wasn't a lot more than that. At least I'll have the confidence to keep trying for a perfect 170 now rather than ducking it. Props to Mr. Jackman for also pushing himself and conquering the fear to post a more than reasonable 180.
Bench felt good all the way through up until 130 which I once again made a meal of purely from being too frikkin nervous of it, strengthwise it was fine. 140 was a big ask after that but I got more of it than last week without pressing it again. It is getting close now though. No longer scary on the way down ...it must fall soon surely. I also managed a 127.5 paused rep although can't count it as a PB as I got the briefest of brief touches on the bar without realising it. It was a 99.9%-er for sure though.
On to the deadlifts which were 'kinlarious due to the start of psyche-out jostling. I was dead set on trying 200 on for size so stuck with skinny belt for everything up to 180 and then borrowed Vic's belt for a try at 200
...which I got
Fkkin 'get in' etc that's the first of my recent strength goals reached already.
'Course the fact that Josh2Tall has gone from worst deadlifter ever to beating that within 2 sessionstook a little bit of the shine off. Nah, in actual fact it is really good to have the bar being moved all the time
...literally as it turns out.

felt nothing at the time but my back started to tighten up after the deads and it feels a bit crap now. Have been icing it so hoping it won't affect tomorrow's squats

P.S.

Did I mention my 200kg deadlift PB

congratulations Jedzilla-san.
and welcome to the SKREEEONGK!!! club

I dunno I feel a bit of a fraudzilla without that 140 bench
I will bloody well "Skrrrrrreeeeeeonk" myself hoarse when that fecker goes up.

fraudzilla? shut up, 200 dl is well skreeeeongk-worthy.

Felt a bit sh@gged out before Friday legs and for the first time was feeling a bit of joint pain in the knees and back. Wore my sexy knee-oprene sleeves -which didn't help with the workload.

Leg ext.
I still hate this machine with a passion as it just sets my legs on FIRE from the get-go. I am convinced none of the others can be feeling the same searing flames.
This assumption largely based on the fact they do their reps without crying.
Did a bit better than last week with reps down to the full stack and then the double dropset on 70-ish kg.
Ouch.

Front squats
Still not completely comfortable with these mainly due to the choking sensation. This didn't seem to save me from suggestions that I 'go for a bit more' so managed something like
60kg x 12
90kg x 8
and then MadJack-Jackman suggests I have plenty of strength left

anyhow let him talk me into
100kg x 5PB
I could've possibly managed a few more but it was feckin throttling me

..and so to back squats where last week's heroic 2 x 12 on 110 had left us plotting an assault on 120.
Gulp.
60 x plenty
90 x some
110 x easy 8 (Jackman moans of 'heavy' - I sense victory)
Wrong.
Jackman first into bat on 120 and is powering along for the first 6, puffing along for the next 4 and then puffing and blowing at 10+. I stepped behind in case he needs any spotting but the crazy fool just keeps pounding them out, makes 12 but does not rack the bar.
Oh f*ck.
Overtime.
Bursts himself for 3 more.
15!!!!
I am not doing 15 reps on anything let alone 120. Might push me to 10+ I am thinking. After the first 6 I am not thinking that. Dig in and try to get 10. Manage to creak up to 10. At which point fight intense desire to rack the bar and think "..two more would make up the twelve." Down we go again. And again. Twelve done. At which point monkeys are leaping around behind screaming about 'breathing' and 'one more' and the like, I'm suffering oxygen deprivation and therefore open to suggestion so I try one more.
And another one after that.
Not much point stopping at 14 so down I go again.
When I don't resurface, search parties are launched and young Michael steps in with a timely nudge.
120 x 15 PB
Massive high-five opportunity
...missed -due to jedi crawling grovelling round on the floor.

Very impressive jedi! Beastly pb!