Time to Bite the Bullet!

Hi buddy, great journal.

What are the iron cross presses you refer to?  Perhaps you could link me to a video etc?

The Exolean you're running now is the first Beta version.  We are gauging the effectiveness of this when used with MCT.  You may not 'feel' anything.  Some do experience heat and sweating but others do not.

Good to hear you're still enjoying the Endure.

I just watched your dealift vid, that is an amazing weight considering your just over 12st, and your condition is great if i am anywhere near that when i finishing cutting i will be more than happy.

JMA


Hi buddy, great journal.

What are the iron cross presses you refer to?  Perhaps you could link me to a video etc?

The Exolean you're running now is the first Beta version.  We are gauging the effectiveness of this when used with MCT.  You may not 'feel' anything.  Some do experience heat and sweating but others do not.

Good to hear you're still enjoying the Endure.

 
Thanks mate
My next weigh in is next monday and I will have been on 3 caps per day for about ten days by then.  Might see something changed by then.
 
The iron cross press - I do on something like this equipment


Handles at the top as in the picture.  Stand in the middle, hold onto each handle in line with your body.  Then, keeping your arms straight, press down until your hands touch your hips, then slowly control the weight back up until you reach the crucifix/cross postion. Thats one rep.
The Straight arm work really stresses my biceps. And the movement also works my forearms, lats, chest and to a smaller degree my shoulders.
 
I wouldnt suggest doing them if you are not already used to doing sets of wide grip chins or similar because the stress on the bicep from straight arm pressing can be painful to some. 
I want to do some gymnastics training over summer and ill be working on the rings. Cross prepartion is tough so hopefully these will help me a little.
 

westy19


I just watched your dealift vid, that is an amazing weight considering your just over 12st, and your condition is great if i am anywhere near that when i finishing cutting i will be more than happy.

Thanks Dont think ill be going that heavy for a while again.  Unless im doing rack deadlifts or something.  Need to build up my leg strength!
Good luck with the cut mate!  Remember, consistency is the key

Todays Training

40 mins 5aside football

We got hammered but I ran my little legs off for the whole hog so i was shattered by the end

Doing these heavy full body weights sessions is good and im enjoying it but im missing training every day with weights!  I need to start adding in some cardio with weights/bodyweight on some of my off days!!
Fingers crossed though from june I want to be doin gymnastics training a few times per week as well as my weights!

Todays Training


OH Squat
2x8*
2x5*
4x5 - 50kg

Front Squat
1x8*
1x5 - 60kg
1x5 - 70kg
1x5 - 80kg
3x4 - 90kg
1x8 - 60kg

Clean pulls
1x6*
1x5 - 80kg
4x5 - 90kg

Press
1x8*
1x5 - 30
1x5 - 40
1x5 - 50
3x5 - 55kg 

Front lever raises
4x5

Iron Cross press
4x5

Oh squats were dodgy today, just could NOT get my balance right! I need to add in a couple more warm up sets and not move up until Im SURE my technique is steady 

Front squats felt tough!

Clean pulls were fine and The pressing was good for me!  55kg for the 3 sets is definately a PB.  The last rep of the last set was a push press ill admit 

Ohhhhhh a week tomorrow till I move out of my parents house   Been back here for 2 years since I was living away at uni!  I cant wait to be buying my own food again and have more space.  My own stuff!  

What are the benefits of OH squating mate ?

What are clean pulls ? like upright rows ?

The clean pull is just the first part of the Clean.  Romanian deadlift followed by the triple extension - hips, toes, shrug.

I try to work explosively from the floor but I have seen/read some instructions saying to pull off the floor and dont explode the movement until the bar is passing the knees 




I just enjoy the full body tension feel of the OH squat! I think the overhead isometrics of it has some prehab benefits too!

They provide a good full body warm up aswell for my workouts 

Was gonna do the clean cardio today but didnt goto the freeweights gym so just did a mix of things, made it up as i went along lol!

Todays Training

1000m rowing machine (warm up)

DB Snatch (inspired by the Boar machine's vids )
2x8 - 20kg (8 reps on each arm of course)

DB Swings
3x15 - 16kg

4 rounds of -
10 inverted rows
15 press ups
10 sit ups
20 seconds rest

Treadmill - speed 15, incline 2.
1 min run + 1 min rest x 10

Done

Well I was knackered by the end so not totally displeased with my session!  The DB snatches are harder than they look, especially with my non dominant arm (left)
 
DB swings are cool, I was definately panting after each set. Wouldnt mind dropping the weight and doing lots more reps and sets next time.

Was dripping with sweat but not putting it down to the exolean yet, Was really warm in the gym and I was doing an intense (ish ) session!

Hopefully ill be able to get some kind of training done sun or mon.  Ill have to see if the other local gym is open because the one I have been going to is shut Sun + Mon

Oh and a little rant!!

I went for my opticians exam this morning for the fire service.  My vision is excellent but apparently I am a LITTLE colour blind (colour deficient as he worded it)

The test for it was a book from the 1950's.  A number was made of little coloured dots in the midst of hundreds of other coloured dots and you had to say what the number was.  I got most right but a few wrong and he was worried about it! Now he passes that onto occupational health at the fire service and they decide on what comes next.  The optician said i might need a special test over in Manchester

Heres an example of some of them -


Obviously they are smaller than the ones I saw.  Most are hard but a lot are straight forward i think (or thought )

I was like bloody hell I dont see in black and white whats the problem!!!
He said well you know, chemicals and wiring is all in different colours so it could cause problems!  I didnt say anything to him but I thought - The colours on all those are completely different.  I can tell one colour from another no problem, even different shades!

And when do you EVERRRR come across a situation where you have to see something so small in the midst of other colours like that!!!!!!!!!!! ARGHHHHHHH

Ok maybe that was a big rant!
ill be ok.  I have my appointment with the nurse next wed, hopefully that will go a little smoother!

I have a theory that because I am not religous God hates me and doesnt want me to be a fireman

Hey mate, just stumbled on your journal, interesting read with your workouts!
Obviously working though, your in great condition. I do wonder if it's possible for me to achieve such low bf % one day I'm same height as you, about 2stone heavier though and look nowhere near as good!

Best of luck, I'll pop back in at some point no point.

No.13


Hey mate, just stumbled on your journal, interesting read with your workouts!
Obviously working though, your in great condition. I do wonder if it's possible for me to achieve such low bf % one day I'm same height as you, about 2stone heavier though and look nowhere near as good!

Best of luck, I'll pop back in at some point no point.

Lol cheers mate! 2 stone is a lot of weight mate, you might look better than me at 12st ya never know

Pleased to see I have recruited another follower to my journal

WeeMuscle

No.13


Hey mate, just stumbled on your journal, interesting read with your workouts!
Obviously working though, your in great condition. I do wonder if it's possible for me to achieve such low bf % one day I'm same height as you, about 2stone heavier though and look nowhere near as good!

Best of luck, I'll pop back in at some point no point.

Lol cheers mate! 2 stone is a lot of weight mate, you might look better than me at 12st ya never know

Pleased to see I have recruited another follower to my journal

I doubt that, no matter what weight I am, I think I'll always be destined for some degree of muffin-topness! It's a family thing I don't think I could actually afford to lose 2stone in all honesty, I want to continue to 15stone, then 100kg and try and diet down then. 15stone @ 10-12% bf would do me lovely, but sports plays a major part with me and my diet can be pretty erratic 2-3days of the week every week.

Haha, yes, the number of posters in my own journal is pretty lean mate

Also, how does GE Endure compare to the likes of MP's Pulse for example? I've not been overly impressed by Pulse and I'm pretty new to supplements such as these. I remember receiving a free trial of something similar once off these boards and it worked a treat, but for the life of me can't remember what it was called!

No.13

Also, how does GE Endure compare to the likes of MP's Pulse for example? I've not been overly impressed by Pulse and I'm pretty new to supplements such as these. I remember receiving a free trial of something similar once off these boards and it worked a treat, but for the life of me can't remember what it was called!

I have not tried MP's pulse so cannot make a direct comparison.  Some people react better to smaller amounts of ingredients, some are more tolerant to higher doses.  
I think Endure has more beta alanine than pulse
Endure uses creatine mono instead of CEE 
Endure uses Citruline malate instead of AAKG

CEE and Arginine supplements have been getting some bad press recently from some studies i think.

I got some samples of stuff from the body power expo.  One pre workout one in particular stands out.  Never even heard of the company till now.  CMI Nutrition 24/7 - http://monstersupplements.com/store/p/3541/1/CMI-24/7.html

Also MAN Sports do some nice looking products but they ca be a bit pricey too I think.  

The ingredients list looks promising.  I like it when there are fewer researched ingredients at a higher dose than an endless list of different ingredients that you dont know they do.  Just because there are more ingredients doesnt make it more effective (all the time)  Thats about all supplements, not just pre workout formulas.

I wanted to be in the fire service too mate. I passed the written test and eyesight stuff back in 1993 but the wonderful goverment at the time cut funding and they binned recruitment before I got chance to go for my medical and physical tests. I'd still fancy it but I think my ahem record would shag my chances now , plus maybe my age would be against me now too, which is a sobering thought.

Hope it all works out mate.

Jebus thats awful.  As if they would just sh1t on you like that.  Mind you, it is the government lol!  They Sh1t on everyone 

Thanks mate, ive been doin loads of examples on the net and getting nearly all right, but they'll probs make me go for extra tests.  I hope anyway, if they just bin me off ill probably cry.  Taken me 17 months just to get to this stage since applying, I have NO idea what else I would do 

Todays Training


10 min bike warm up

DB Swings (16kg)
2x25
2x20
2x15

DB curl and press (Inspired by the Dragan at Body power , though I was using 10kg's )
1x100

Stationary Bike
30 mins

DB swings were ok again.  The curl and press was a lot harder than I thought, god knows hows they do over 400 reps with the 20kg's   My forearms and traps were burning the most!

Its so hot outside.  Might go lay out for 20 mins before I have to get ready for work 

This mornings weigh in - 12st 1lbs

So far - 5lbs loss


Past 11 days on new Exolean - 2-3lbs loss


Well since being on the new batch of Exolean my weight loss has continued steadily even though I havent noticed any sides from it yet 

Endure review


Just finished my second box of Endure.  I have enjoyed my time on it thoroughly!

Strength - I havent got specific numbers but my exercises have felt stronger in the gym and some weights have gone up, cant complain!


Endurance - Definately managed a few more reps on some exercises, and noticed the 'burn' kicking in later than it usualy does for me.

Energy - It doesnt give you a boost of energy, but at least there is no come down from it.  It does however provide a good boost in terms of focus/concentration in the gym.  I used to take each sachet with 200mg caffiene aswell sometimes for an extra boost 

im pleased overall anyway


Gonna have some time off it now to see i have been holding any weight on the creatine.  I dont feel like I am but I have done before when on mono!
I'd be surpised if I drop below 11st 12 over the next 2 weeks.  Havent been that light in a long time.  My weight hovers between 11st 12 and 12st 7 and has done for about 5 years 

Todays Training


OH Squat
3x5*
3x5 - 50kg

Platform Deads
2x5*
5 x 80kg
5 x 90kg
2x5 - 100kg
5 x 110kg

Rack Deadlifts (from just below knee cap)
1x3 - 100kg
1x3 - 140kg
1x3 - 160kg

1 x 180kg
1 x 190kg
1 x 200kg
1 x 210kg Big fat FAIL lol

Press
2x5*
1x5 - 50kg
3x5 - 55kg (last rep of last set was push press)
1x5 - 50kg

Front lever holds
4x15s
1 straight body negative

Iron cross press superset with flat bench
3x10 + 2x10 - 60kg

Platform deads felt good today which I why I upped the weight.  Technique felt good.  Might have to start at 100kg next time.

Tried rack deads for the first time, next time I think I will have it on the pin below which would have been mid/high shin level i think.  Just below the knee cap wasnt much of a lift.  Still went really heavy though, was pretty chuffed with it, chest up and back straight at 200kg  no straps or anything of course   I tried 210 but before the bar even left the rack my back was starting to round so i left it at that.

Press was strong again, another couple of sessions and I should be comfortable with all sets strict at 55kg.

Shoulder felt funny on the iron cross press so I lowered the weight and did more reps and supersetted them with a couple of sets of flat bench.

Hands bloody hurt again though.  Gonna have to get the old JML pedegg and smoooth these bad boy callouses out!

Had my nurses appointment for the fire service today,  Went ok, nothing wrong.
Had a hearing test which was weird, got put in a big metal box with some massive earphone on and had to sit in there for about 10 mins clicking a button every time I heard a noise!!  I came out with above average hearing though so pretty pleased

Urine test to test for reccy drugs and prescription pain killers etc, I asked about PED's but she said no the fire service doesnt test for steroids.... future reference!  Had to empty my pockets, scrub my hands and have the nurse behind me when I was doing the deed in the cup.  lol apparantly they have had quite a few that either failed or said...im just off to get my ID out of the car, then never came back

eye sight test...again.  Eye sight is spot on, but slight colour blindnes apparantly, im going to have to go for a special test over in manchester to determine whether I am Red or Green colour blind.  If its green its ok, but if its red then we have a problem

blood pressure was on the good side of low 105/65 (average for me)

Al my spirometer tests like Vital capacity and forced expiratory volume etc were all above average too

Got my appointment with the Doc next wed.  He does some other checks, then I have to get referred to the hospital for futher tests because of the MILD asthma in my medical history Ill be glad when I know 100% that im in!!!  I thought it was all done with when I had passed my interview!!!!!!