Time To Grow (pics pg16)

Chin up mate and get stuck in.  The end result will be well worth it!

I recently bulked to 18 stone 4 and all I have done since i started training 5 years ago was aiming to put on weight....now i am trying to slowly cut and hated it at the start....now just keep setting myself goals to head for and its going ok, once i got my head around it.  I changed the diet a little mixed up the gym routine days around when i got quite de-motivated.

Although it sounds odd, your heading in the right direction, well, just stick with it and the result will come. 

@CryingFreeman, she's amazing mate I seriously can't fault her, plus she's a good looker too lol

@dazc, I hear you mate, tbh she's more excited about the tanning/waxing/shavin etc as she has her own beauty business and absolutely loves BB'ing.  Think it's just things getting on top of me.  I can't say it's not working as I don't like making decisions when on cycle and to be fair we never stop laughing.  I just don't seem to have any emotion towards her at all right now and I feel bad for making her feel bad even though she says she's happy.
Hopefully I can do a 180 in the next couple of weeks.
 
@westy, it'll defo be worth it , I'm going to try and get in touch with Paul today and see what's what.  I think 16 weeks will be fine but I might ask if we can start bringing weight downfrom after xmas to get me into things easier.

@Nick, hi mate was reading through your journal the other day, you're one big unit!!  In a good way!  Huge legs too!
Thanks for the words of encouragement, they are muchly appreciated.

Managed about 3 hours sleep again last night, mood wasn't good at 4am. It was even worse when I went down to see my dog had eaten the living room carpet. Temper is off the hook and I've even come to work early so I can knock off at 2, get to the gym do back, traps, rear delts and calves then do cardio and see if I can sleep when I get home after.

I'm going to try and get tomorrow off work so I can get all my stuff together for the bday weekender as I want to train friday morning before setting off.

Hey buddy...

When i was prepping i did have one moment of "it was so much easier when it was just me".
But i snapped out of that pretty quick when i realised that although this prep was harder than the last, it was easier because i had her constant support.

You saw 1st hand how she would jump through hoops to make me happy and at ease during my prep...that was invaluable and i owe her so much and she deserves a BIG part of the credit for my final result.

Having someone who understands and supports your bodybuilding is FCKING RARE...you have no idea. We are the circus freaks my northern chum, we do stuff that defies common sense and logic
We starve ourselves and go through physical/mental hell for 12 weeks for a tin cup FFS.

Yes, you are getting larger.... its a means to an end. How can you carve a statue from a pebble?
Paul see's the end result and knows he has to add more to this stone slab before chipping away the outer layers. Back off now and you'll become the pebble...simple.

You'll diet down and you will slim down, you have the outlay of 16 weeks for prep, i only had 13 for my first show and look how much i had lost in my first prep! 16 weeks you'd be peeled!!!!

Why? Because look at my starting pics... are you that fat!? No.... so 16 weeks off where you are now, imagine the result, i know i'd be happy.

Chill bill..... its all good.

Low sex drive and mood swings are part n parcel of this all sadly.

The way i think of it, its not for the tin cup..... its for the 20 minutes you get on stage and people saying "W.....T........F.............wow"

Pebble or granite block.... your choice

Mate, reading that post has made me realise just how silly I sound with letting things get on top of me.  You're right and I just need to calm down and take a back step.
I realise how lucky I am to have Lucy, as you've seen how excited she gets with bb'ing.  Not once has she ever moaned or even said a single bad word about my eating/training/supplement use.
I just get a bit silly and think of donning my player hat every now and then but it soon goes away.
As for my body shape, one thing I've realised is that I have a much better "V" shape now than I did when I cut before holiday, yes the muffin tops but hey, as you say it's a means to an end.  I'm just too tight to buy a new wardrobe.  £8, 38in jeans here I come lol
 
Cheers buddy.

It's not that long now mate and realistically, it was always going to make more sense to wait until after Xmas to cut. You can kick back and enjoy it now without having to take tupperware containers to the Xmas day dinner table

True mate, I've done that over xmas before and it was murder.

i couldnt think of anythin better to say than this so.,...

Hey buddy...

When i was prepping i did have one moment of "it was so much easier when it was just me".
But i snapped out of that pretty quick when i realised that although this prep was harder than the last, it was easier because i had her constant support.

You saw 1st hand how she would jump through hoops to make me happy and at ease during my prep...that was invaluable and i owe her so much and she deserves a BIG part of the credit for my final result.

Having someone who understands and supports your bodybuilding is FCKING RARE...you have no idea. We are the circus freaks my northern chum, we do stuff that defies common sense and logic
We starve ourselves and go through physical/mental hell for 12 weeks for a tin cup FFS.

Yes, you are getting larger.... its a means to an end. How can you carve a statue from a pebble?
Paul see's the end result and knows he has to add more to this stone slab before chipping away the outer layers. Back off now and you'll become the pebble...simple.

You'll diet down and you will slim down, you have the outlay of 16 weeks for prep, i only had 13 for my first show and look how much i had lost in my first prep! 16 weeks you'd be peeled!!!!

Why? Because look at my starting pics... are you that fat!? No.... so 16 weeks off where you are now, imagine the result, i know i'd be happy.

Chill bill..... its all good.

Low sex drive and mood swings are part n parcel of this all sadly.

The way i think of it, its not for the tin cup..... its for the 20 minutes you get on stage and people saying "W.....T........F.............wow"

Pebble or granite block.... your choice

I.B has summed it all up there fella!!
Chin up, head down (if thats possible).. slog it out fella!!
i havent been thru the trials of dieting yet, one day it will come.. but when u get these feelings of sackin it off, sackin ur misses off, donning the player hat, get it posted in here!! get it all off ur chest like ya have done, get t the gym or get out with the dog and just remember why ur doin this mate!!

keep it up fella..

Cheers mate, funnily enough I feel great today.  No mood, had a good session at the gym and really chilled.  The last few posts from people have really lifted my mood so a big thanks to you all

Trained yesterday afternoon and also this morning as I'll not be able to do it over the weekend while away.  Hoping to be back in time to do legs sunday but we'll see.  Pulled my back a little on DL's again so might just have to drop down a lot of weight on this but will see how next weeks goes.  Here's the workouts;
 
Back/Rear delts and traps and calf’s:
Wide grip pull downs - Pg17 x8,8, P19x6 Pg14xfailure
Bent over BB row - 90kgx8,8,8,8
Partial dead lifts - 140kgx5 (had to leave it there)
Close grip pull downs – Pg15x8,8,8
Bent over DB raise - 12.5kgx10,10,10,10
Reverse peck deck - 55kgx10,10,10,
Seated DB shrugs - 35kgx10,10,10,10,10,10
Standing Calf Raises - P14x10,10,10,10,10
 
Shoulders/Triceps:
Seated press 60kgx12, 80kgx8, 90kgx6, 40kgxfailure
Seated Side laterals 15kgx8,8,8, 12.5kgx8
Seated DB press 25kgx12, 27.5kgx8,8,6
Standing front raise with plate 25kgx8,8,8
Straight bar cable press-down 50kgx10,10,10,10
Skull crushers 30kg (not inc bar)x8,8,8,8
Between bench dips BW+20kgx10,10,10
 
Also took this pic while in the gym to show how I'm coming along.  Arms still need work but delts are doing ok.  Weight this morning 16st 11lb so 3lb to go before the 17st barrier drops.....

hello mate looking solid in the pic.

One thing i had forget to mention from meeting you on sunday, you are (how do i say this without it sounding wrong) massive!!

and as has been said before there seems to be a lot of depth to your chest and back.  if you can hit a solid side chest pose i reckon it could be a killer for you.

Rack, looking good in the pics mate.

Stick with it, im sure the end results are gona be awsome.

@Westy, thanks mate.  I thought you looked as big as me to be honest.  I do indeed have a lot of depth, and as for the side chest, I've started posing practicing every now and then and am trying to perfect that one as it will show my depth off best.
 
@Taz, cheers buddy, I'm really excited as to what I'll look like on show day.
 
Won't be updating over the weekend as I'm away, so will catch y'all in a few days.

Wow you're a big fella (and I mean that in a good way), don't look fat at all in the pic mate just fookin solid.

What's affecting your sleep, is it some meds you're on or psychological?? Night nurse is quite good for chillaxing at night and getting a good sleep, I used to use it when I was really bad with my sleep.

Sounds like you're having a tough time but some cracking comments from the fellas on here, so I won't bore you with my pearls of wisdom. Just keep at it and you will reap the rewards in the end.

Dan

Thanks mate, the sleep issue is something I've always had.  Never really slept solidly, but go through phases where I'll be out like a light and others like now where I'm just wide awake.
I'm not too bad with the getting bigger thing the last few days.  Only a few weeks left til I diet down now so just gonna man up :)
Again thanks for all the comments

Back from the weekend and my god I have had my rough moments. No stories like from the days of "ye olde RACK" I've done nothing but live on alcohol and burger king and the odd few chips. Sitting down now with the VIP for a sunday lunch to top the weekend off. Need to get some rest in for leg day tomorrow.

Well the 17st barrier has been smashed. Due to the heavy weekend of doing nothing but eating and drinking crap I've swelled to 17st 6lb!! A very watery, tired and unfit 17st 6lb. Less than 8 weeks left now to prep so over the next 2 months I'll be getting everything together to hit the ground running when it starts. Can wait to be eating clean again as my stomach is killing due to all the rubbish.
Legs today and god only knows how that session will go.

I shall report later,
A very dead, very bloated, very tired RACK

It's strange but the heavier you get the more sense it seems to make of your mentor's strategy.
Sort of making sure you do a proper job of packing it on in the first place before making a proper job of trimming it off again. Feeling this yourself?

I am mate, and it's only in the last few days it's really clicked into place.  Not sure how much of the extra weight I've packed on since holiday will be actual muscle, but I'm the biggest and not far off the strongest I've been in a long time and a long way away from being the fattest I've ever been.

I think my body was so messed up from the old vicious cycle I always used to get stuck in that it was happy to stay in limbo.  It's clear that I don't need a massive amount of cals to gain weight (whether this is a good or a bad thing I'm not sure).  I'm getting better at dealing with being this size as I do purely see it now as a means to an end.  The saying that is stuck in my head is what IB mentioned above
"How can you carve a statue from a pebble?"

O'dear bud .
Come round mine and we will have a good cry and eat some M&M's and watch a film . (but we live over 100miles apart dam)
Hold tight mate i have been in the same boat as you ,think about how and why you are thinking like you are ,its all a mind game its not tell you have come through the other side you will see.

Your lady looks and sounds a real little honey don't be to hard on her.
 
There are also other factors that can add to you feelings any supps you are taking ,sleep anything which stress comes into play.
 
You have some more beef on you frame in that pic and arms look nice and thick.
Keep at it bud and the plan.
If things get bad and that sweet tin is still calling you post them to me and i will eat them for you .
 
Or give us a call and if i am free we could have a chat as the body builders mind goes to funny places.
All the best Daz
 
 

Thanks for the comments Daz, they're much appreciated.  I'm just about getting to grips with the bulking bit now.  It needed to be done as to get some proper size on my frame.  I metnioned above that it wouldn't have served any purpose to just stay in limbo, so for now I can put up with it.
The start of prep is flying round, it's only about 7 weeks til it starts. 
As for the M&M's and sweets, I'll try and send you some down but I can't promise if it's over xmas haha.

RACK


Well the 17st barrier has been smashed. Due to the heavy weekend of doing nothing but eating and drinking crap I've swelled to 17st 6lb!! A very watery, tired and unfit 17st 6lb. Less than 8 weeks left now to prep so over the next 2 months I'll be getting everything together to hit the ground running when it starts. Can wait to be eating clean again as my stomach is killing due to all the rubbish.
Legs today and god only knows how that session will go.

I shall report later,
A very dead, very bloated, very tired RACK

Nice one mate, makes me feel better after a sunday on the sofa with the kids and missis watching 'ELF' and eating chocolate raisins(the whole bag lol) and pork scratchings...Well I just really felt like them

I look massive today mate, put your guilt on me haha

Legs are dead, strength wasn't the best as the weekend took more toll than I thought. Session was;

Leg ext - 2 warm-up sets, 3 working sets
Hack Squat - 4 sets
Leg Press PSCARB style (FOOOOOOOOK that hurt today!)

Leg Curls - 4 sets
Straight Leg DL's with DB's 4 sets

Seated Calf Raise 5x20 reps

I'm now gonna sit down and keep drinking a shed load of water