"To see if I can" - 2010 starts p6

Agree with your above comments, I feel awkward when people think i look big when I know for a fact that I am tiny by my standards and by most on here.

Yup i agree with that to, im still skinny yet my friends have started calling me baine (charachter from batman)...idiots lol

The good thing is though that even though you might not feel it yourself, which is often the case. Other people are telling you that you look bigger, which you definately do so all is good :)

 

BROKEN


Agree with your above comments, I feel awkward when people think i look big when I know for a fact that I am tiny by my standards and by most on here.

LOl dude i just looked at your journal...you are big!

 

Still been training, just not updating.
Had a twinge in the elbow this Monday but still just about managed to train pull today.
Might do a deload week next week to allow time for recovery.

Pull today:
Deadlifts: 100kg x 8, 125kg x 7/6/5 (weight and reps consistently going up, I like doing these)
BB bent over rows: 60kg x 7/6/7 (max EZ bar is 55kg so I have had to move up to using the straight bar)
DB hammer curls: 20kg x 9/6/5 (this is where my elbow started hurting)
Pull ups: BW x 6/6/5 (gave up using assisted chins last week and surprised myself by managing. Reps up this week)

Also measured myself last night and all up, chest up 1.5cm in a month, weight now 80.6kg or 12st 9 3/4lb.

another deadlift lover :) you got some good strenght going on aswell mate.

 

Looks like you're making some good progress. Keep it up.

Do you ever listen to Satyricon? If not you should check out their album 'Dark Medieval Times', it's unreal. I know this has absolutely nothing to do with training but whatever. LOL

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

Ha! Actually I listened to Satyricon - Now, Diabolical in the gym on Monday.
So it does have something to do with my training!

It's the only album of their I have, but I might check out that one.

Cheers for the encouragement.

I can't recommend it highly enough. It's not really the kind of music you'd work out to (well, not for me anyway), and it's a very different style to their later stuff like Now Diabolical. It's their first album, from back in the early 90s,
but I know you're a Burzum fan (obviously!) so I imagine you would like it.

But imo it surpasses anything Burzum ever did. While the rest of their contemporaries in the Norwegian inner circle were busy at work setting down the standard black metal template, Satyricon were already defying it. It's like prototypical folk-metal/black metal fusion, stunning!

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

You got the new Burzum album then, Belus?
I would have but for the fact that it was sent recorded delivery and I wasn't in!

However, it's on youtube and sounds pretty good.

But, I do prefer death metal really - Cryptopsy are cool!
I listened to Icons of Evil by Vital Remains while working out yesterday - that is one brutal album!

Nope I haven't heard Burzum's new one, is it another one he recorded in prison and it's only getting released now?

You're right, Cryptopsy ARE cool, I'm guessing you can tell that from my avatar haha. One of the best death metal albums ever imo. Vital Remains are great too. Recently I've been listening to a good bit of Devourment, check out their debut album if you like 'slam' death metal, with loads of breakdowns and ridiculously brutal instrumentation.

I'm partial to a bit of Cannibal Corpse as well, I avoided them for so long because they have a lot of stigma attached to them as being like the typical death metal band that snot nosed idiots listen to when they want to rebel against their parents, they seemed almost like a novelty act when I first heard about them. But damn they're a good band, 'Rancid Amputation' pumps me up like nothing else!

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

Mr. Vikernes was released from prison last May I think, so the new album has been recorded since then.
It's only been out 3 days I think.

I do like Cannibal as well - I think my favourite album is Bloodthirst, but they get more and more technical.
I'll look up Devourment - not heard of them.

Leg day today, I've missed a few weeks of legs due to work...

Squats: 50kg x 8 warmup, 70kg x 6/6/6/5 (not heavy but made sure I did full ROM for every single rep)
Calf raises: same routine as above: 131.5kg x 10, BW x 10 standing on step, BW x 10 standing, 77.1kg x 10, BW x 10 step, BW x 10 standing, 49.9kg x 10, BW x 10 step, BW x 10 standing, no pauses between sets
Leg press machine: 131.5kg x 6/6/6/5 (PB on the weight, by mistake actually)
Chest press machine: 68.0kg x 2, 86.2kg x 2, 59kg x 10/8 (just a quick extra chest session)
Cardio: 10mins on bike, also did 35 mins on stepper last night - first cardio this year I think!

Decided to do a deload week this week and maybe try for some PBs next week.

Anyway, a bit surprised at how poor my muscle stamina is. I dropped the weights quite a bit and still burned out at 12 reps.

Chest press: 59.0kg x 8 (warm-up), 70.3kg x 12 (really tough, and I was doing 81.6kg for 8 last week), 59.0kg x 12/7
Shoulder press: 22.7kg x 12/12/12 (usually do 43ish for about 8 reps, but struggled with the 12)
EZ skullcrushers: 25kg x 12/12/12 (did 35kg last week, 25 for 12 seemed quite easy)
Dips: -7ish kg assisted x 12/10/10
DB bench press: 14kg x 12/12/12 (was up to 25kg last week but usually manage 22.5kg for 8 reps)

Hmm, not sure what that proves. Probably that I need to build up stamina!

Did deload pull day today.
Felt pretty good, like I had done more (which I had, in terms of reps).
Also, my usual order was thrown out as someone was using the bar (how dare they!)

EZ bar bent over rows: 45kg x 12/12/10 (was doing 60kg for 7 last week)
Chin-up: Assisted, not sure of the weight x 12/11/10
Deadlift: 70kg x 6 (warmup), 80kg x 12/11/10 (usual is 125kg, was well out of breath by the last rep)
BB curls: 14kg x 12/11/11 (forearms were pumped at the end)
Lat pull downs: 50kg x 12/10/10
BB hammer curls: 12.5kg x 8/10/9 (was wasted by this point)

Getting a much different feeling to after normal workouts - usually muscles and ligaments feel strained, now muscles just seem fatigued.

Decided to do another deload week.
Did legs last Friday, push on Monday - nothing much to report - tried to do 12 reps for each set for each exercise, at lower weight than usual.

Today was pull day again:

Deadlift: 70kg x 8 (warmup), 90kg x 12/12/11 (didn't feel too difficult, but forearms burned out)
DB hammer curls: 15kg x 12/12/11
EZ bar bent over rows: 45kg x 12/11/7 (struggled at the end - I did these first last week)
Lat pull-downs: 50kg x 12/12/12
DB curls: 12.5kg x 12/12/11

Have mixed in some cardio in the last couple of week, plus my diet hasn't been as good. No junk, but probably not eating enough.
Hence my weight hasn't gone up in a couple of weeks.

Bump for update you fanny!

www.fingerpistol.co.uk

Oh yeh!

Well I had a nice couple of weeks doing 12 reps at some lighter weights, then some disruption due to Easter/time off work, so I trained this morning for the first time since last Wednesday.

Switched to a 5x5 regime for a change, and did push day last Wed, so pull day today.
Can probably manage a bit more for most lifts, but didn't know what my limits were and didn't want to be doing 5/4/3/2/1 or similar.

Deadlift: 70kg x 5 (warmup), 120kg x 5/5/5/5/5 (struggled a bit on last one but reckon I could manage more next week)
Chin ups: BW x 5/5/5/5/5
BB bent over rows: 55kg x 5/5/5/5/5
DB hammer curls: 17.5kg x 5/5/5/5/5 (could manage more but couldn't find the 20kg dbs)

Took quite a bit of time, so that was it.
Diet been a bit rubbish recently in terms of not enough being eaten. Have been pretty much 12st 10lb for a week or two.

Pretty pleased with my session today, although no massive lifts.
Found flat bench relatively easy so should be able to up the weight.
I stopped doing it as I was stuck at 55-60kg, but realised I wasn't doing full ROM, so concentrated on press machine and DB press for a while.
So, although still at similar weight, it is at full ROM and feels good.

Bench: 45kg x 5, 50kg x 5, 55kg x 5/5/5/5/5 (last couple started to feel it, but no danger of failing)
EZ skulls: 35kg x 5/5/5/5/5
EZ overhead press: 40kg x 5/5/5/4/4 (couldn't lock out on last couple, still heaviest I have done for reps)
DB press: 22.5kg x 5/5/4/3/3 (felt drained by this point)

Enjoyed my session today.
Spent all weekend on my allotment - digging, raking, hoeing - so I was aching and expecting poor results.
Not bad, actually - did push session today because it should be on a Monday.

Bench: 40kg x 12, 57.5kg x 5/5/5/5/5 (up 2.5kg on last week)
Overhead press: 50kg x 1, 55kg x 1 (for FTOH challenge), 42.5 x 5/5/5 (felt pretty easy)
Dips: BW x 5/5/5/5/5
DB press: 20kg x 10/8/8 (22.5kg dbs not available so did higher reps with 20)

Still early, but I think this 5x5 routine is working well.

Managed to train Wednesday despite little sleep due to little ones being sick all night.
Was due to train today but finally got their sick bug
Not actually been sick, but feel it constantly and can't face any food apart from I did have breakfast and make it into work before coming home...

Time for an update I think.
Recovered from my bug, took me a while to get my appetite back and there always seems to be a certain amount of inertia when it comes to gaining or losing weight, so I haven't put any on in 2 weeks.

But, the weights are going well. Although felt a little weak today for some reason.

Deadlift: 125kg x 5/5/5/5/5 (need to up these, did 127.5 last week, but couldn't complete all 5 so dropped it back this week)
Bent over rows: 50kg x 5/5/5/5/5 (will up to 55 next week, was doing 55 a couple of weeks ago so don't know why I was doing 50 today)
DB curl: 20kg x 5/5, 18kg x 5/5/5 (dropped the weight to complete the 5x5, felt pretty good)
Chins: BW x 5/5/5/5/5 (was planning on weighting these but struggled today, probably cos I did them last - normally would do them 2nd, but someone was using it)

Also, benched 60kg on Monday for 5 reps, which is back to where I was ages ago, but actually touching chest this time, which I never used to do. Seems to have taken a long time to get back here.

Enjoyed this mornings session.
Was supposed to be a leg day, but since it's the first real leg day since I started 5x5 I did pretty light squats, so hopefully this weight will shoot up.

Squats: 70kg x 5/5/5/5/5
Calf raises: 10 x 122.4. 10 x step raises, 10 x standing raises, then repeated but with 86.2kg then 68kg.
Leg press machine: 113.4kg x 5/5/5/5/5

Finally did some benching. Wanted to see how much I could lift. After concentrating on full ROM to chest, the weight went down but is now back at 60kg for reps so I did:
Bench press: 50kg x 5, 60kg x 2, 62.5kg x 2, 65kg x 2
Which I was pleased with. Not huge numbers but 65 is a PB and I did it twice. Didn't want to attempt more as I didn't want to get trapped, but reckon I could do 70 with a spotter.

Missed training on Monday due to bank holiday, so did push on Wed, which was okay.
This morning did my pull session which went well.

Deadlift: 130kg x 5/5/4, 125kg x 5/4 (pleased about 130 for reps, was tempted to try a PB lift but wanted to complete the sets)
Bent over rows: 55kg x 5/5/4, 50kg x 5/5
Chins: BW x 5/5/5/5/4 (felt weak on these, was planning on adding weight this week but struggled as it was)
DB curls: 20kg x 5/5/5/5/4 (an improvement on last week, so all good)

Had a so so week's training.
I seem to have been running late very morning so had to rush my session.
This morning, due to a crash, I only just had time for a quick workout and was late for work anyway.

On the plus side, I was complaining to the wife that I had been stuck at 12st 10lb for a while and couldn't find enough to eat, and she has been sending me to work with mountains of food every day and I put on 3lb in 2 days!
Probably mostly, er, food. But still...

Pleased with my session this morning. Two weeks ago I set my bench press PB of 65kg, this morning I was repping 62.5kg.

Bench: 62.5kg x 5/4, 60kg x 5/5/4
Dips: +5kg weighted x 5/5/5/5/5 (add more weight next week)
OHP: 45kg x 5/4, 40kg x 5/5/5
Skulls: 35kg x 5/5, 30kg x 5 (bit of an extra - would normally do these or dips)
DB bench: 22.5kg x 5/5/4 (didn't have time to complete the 5 sets, but was wasted anyway)

Great session today.
Fridays I train legs with some benching in for good measure.
Squats seemed easier than usual. Think now I have put the time in doing full ROM, thighs past horizontal, the weights suffered at first but is now going back up.
Same with bench, as I was in the doldrums for months not going full to chest, then dropped the weight to make sure I was.

Anyway, hit PB on bench!!
And, with a spotter I could have done more - I always go cautious on bench and squat so I don't get stuck.

Squats: 70kg x 5 (warm-up), 85kg x 5/5/5/5/5
Bench: 50kg x 5 (warm-up)
              60kg x 2
              65kg x 2 (previous PB for 1 rep)
              67.5kg x 1 (new PB!)
              70kg x 1 (new PB!)
              70kg x 1
Calf raises (leg press machine): 10 x 127.4kg, 10 x step raises, 10 x standing raises, then repeated but with 88.5kg then 70.3kg.
Leg presses: 131.5kg x 5, 140.6kg x 5/5/5/5 (PB on this too!)
Bench: 55kg x 10/9/8 (just banged these out at the end to fatugue chest).

So, beat previous bench PB by 5kg, and weight is finally going up. 70kg looks almost respectable!
Onwards and upwards!

              

Last week of training before a week's holiday.

Had a decent push session today.

Bench:     50kg x 8 (warm-up)
                62.5kg x 5/5/5/4
                60kg x 5 (5x5 is really working here - weight finally going up again)
Skulls: 35kg x 5/5/5/5/5 (do these with an EZ bar and next weight is 40kg but might try this next time)
Shoulder press machine: 46.3kg x 5/5/5/5/4 (not done these for weeks - been doing OHP, but thought I would for a change)
DB bench press: 22.5kg x 5/5/5/5/4 (time to move up to 25kg I think!)

Also, hit 13st for the first time in my life!
Closing in on 3st gained since I started training.

Decided to go for deadlift PBs today.

Deadlift: 70kg x 5 (warmup)
              120kg x 5
              130kg x 2
              140kg x 1 (previous PB)
              150kg x 1 (new PB!)
              120kg x 5 (to finish)
Chin-ups: BW x 5/5/5/5/5
Bent over rows: 60kg x 5/5/5/5/5 (best weight for these reps)
DB curls: 20kg x 5/5
              16kg x 8/8/8 (Ouch! Elbows hurt like hell, maybe due to deadlifts. Had to drop the weight, but upped the reps)

Hey Varg,

Hows the gains size wise goingn now?

 

Hey ITman!

Well, my weight is going up steadily.
Look pretty good in the mirror sometimes and getting some comments from people who haven't seen me for a while.
But I need to take some photos. Problem is I never seem to be able to take good ones that show any improvement!

Chest has definitely increased in size probably a few cm this year (from 89cm to 107cm in nearly 2.5 years training).
Arms seem bigger but the tape measure is only showing slow increase.
Not sure about legs - been training them more often in last 2 months so I'll see next time I measure up.

Oh, waist is staying the same. Have a bit of a gut - 86cm when around 82cm looks flat.
But it's not really growing, thankfully.

Gonna check on your progress now, haven't looked in for a while.

Thanks for stopping by!

sgood then matey, progress is progress...if your not gaining much fat and your growing then gotta be all good :)

I know what you mean about the gut though, ive never had one in my life but there it is....what you got in there for cardio? Ive gone with swimming as i feel it works the body much better than running/rowing..Hoping it will help remove some fat to!

Good luck as always mate :)

 

Not much cardio at the moment, unfortunately.
I knocked it on the head because I seemed to be burning my excess calories off and not growing.
If I did more cardio I'd have to eat more I think.

I think some people can grow and keep their abs showing, but for me I seem to have to have an extra couple of inches on the waist or I don't put on weight.

Routine was messed up this morning.
Had to visit somewhere on the way to work so had to train at lunchtime rather than first thing.
Gym was busier and had to wait, rushed some things.
Poor sessions.

Firstly I twinged my back yesterday standing up from my seat!
I was hoping to push out a PB on squat today but I could tell on the warm up it was hurting.
Actually I did 90kg once, which is a PB for full ROM squats but it hurt my back.
Secondly, my hurting elbows from Wed hindered my bench. Was hoping to push another 2.5kg on my PB but couldn't manage it.

Squats: 70kg x 5
              90kg x 1 (new PB)
              85kg x 2 (too painful)
Bench: 50kg x 5
              60kg x 2
              65kg x 1
              70kg x 1
              55kg x 9/8/7 (even these felt weak and elbows hurt a lot after)
Calf raises: Same routine as previously, but 126.9/90.7/72.5kg

Still, a week off to recover now (2 weeks till I train legs again) as I have a holiday.

Back in the gym after holiday this morning.
Took it easy until I get back into it.

Bench: 55kg x 10/8/6
Dips: BW x 10/8/7
Shoulder press machine: 36.3kg x 10/8/6
EZ-bar skulls: 25kg x 12, 30kg x 10/8
DB press: 16kg x 10/10/9

Have decided to kick in more cardio and trim up a bit for summer.
Not a proper cut, just get rid of the bulking gut and love handles.

About time for an update.
Still been training, although taking it easy on deads and squats due to slight injury.
Today I deaded 130kg for reps again for the first time since I twinged my back.

However, I started cutting back on the calories and adding cardio last week to shape up a little as my gut is making me look like I don't work out
Should probably have started earlier in the summer, but have been steadily putting on weight and didn't want to stop my progress.

Anyway, actually did 1hr 40mins SSCV and 15 mins HIIT last week and have done 30mins SSCV this week.
Also dropped bread from my lunch - salads all the way, and generally cutting down on the calories, bread-type carbs and sweet stuff.
As it's summer I'm having trouble cutting out the beer, though!
Nearly two weeks since I started this and I think I have lost around 3lb.

Anyway, gym session today - very hot already and drained quickly:

Deadlift: 110kg x 5, 130kg x 5/4, 120kg x 5/5, 110kg x 5 (still getting back into these but was pleased to manage 130)
BB Bent Over Rows: 55kg x 5/5, 50kg x 5/5/5 (bit lower than usual)
DB curls: 16kg x 5/5/5/5/5
Chin ups: Assissted -10kg x 5/5/5/5/5

Unsatisfying weights session today.
Probably due to the cutting, but I'm stuck on the same weights I was two weeks ago.

Squat: 80kg x 5, 85kg x 5/5, 80kg x 5/5
Calf workout: 10 x 131.5/99.7/81.6kg with step raises and standing raises as previous
Bench press: 2 x 55/60/65kg, 1 x 70/70/70kg

Also did 30 mins SSCV last night and 15 mins HIIT this morning.

Weigh in last night was 12st 11.5lb (81.4kg) which is down from 13st 1lb (83kg) 2 weeks ago.
Also, waist measurement to 88cm from 91cm.

Good session this morning!
Despite struggling to sleep all weekend and dreading the alarm going off at 6:00, I did ok.

Last week managed 105mins of SSCV and 15mins HIIT.
Diet was okay except for chinese takeaway on Sat and buffet lunch with cakes, etc. on Sunday. So not that good, but still was good during the week.

Bench: 65kg x 4 (PB for reps), 62.5kg x 5/4, 60kg x 5/4
EZ-bar skulls: 35kg x 5/5/4, 30kg x 5/5
Overhead / push press: 45kg x 5/5/4, 40kg x 5/5
DB press: 25kg x 5/5/4, 22.5kg x 5/4 (these have improved quite a bit).

So, weights slowly increasing still, despite cutting.

Right, just over 4 weeks into my "cut" now and I'm starting to see my weights sessions struggle.

Couldn't bench 60kg for 5 reps this morning whereas a couple of week's ago I managed 65kg for 5 and was repping 60kg for 5x5.

Anyway, weight has gone from 13st 1lb (83kg) to around 12st 7 8lb (79.8kg) - half a stone.
Waist gone from 91cm (35.8in) to 85cm (33.5cm).
Still got quite a bit of body fat - no real gut anymore, but no muscle separation or visible abs or anything.

Gonna keep this up at least until September I think.
Will post pics when they're worth taking.

Forgot to say, my body fat/gut, etc. are probably about the same as when I started training in January 2008 which I reckon means I will have put on about 2 stone of mostly muscle, which can't be bad.
Don't think anyone would mistake me for a bodybuilder yet though!

Another week gone, just lose 1lb this week, but also 1cm off the waist.
Been good on the cardio and diet as well - 6 weeks into the cut and 9lb and 8cm off the waist gone.
Took a pic last night to use for comparison in a few weeks - should have taken one at the beginning though - oh well.

Wow, about time I updated this.
So I "cut" for 14 weeks in total - plenty of cardio, restricted the cals and carbs.
It fizzled out due to a cold, constipation and bloated stomach, and not being able to train in the final week.
Didn't take photos because I wasn't exactly ripped - some outline of abs at top, still a lump of belly fat lower down.
Think I put too much fat on during all the bulking.
I will now try to do more of a lean bulk, so that a 14 week cut next year will get me a bit more cut than this time.

Start                  End
17th June           23rd Sep
13st 1lb             11st 10¾lb
83kg                  75.2kg
91cm waist        79cm waist
35.8in waist       31.1in waist
36cm bicep        33cm bicep
105cm chest      103cm chest
21.4-25.2%bf     12.7-17.1%bf

Body fat calcs are rough, based on a calculation and best and worst case figures.

Weights dropped some as well - bench press suffered most - from 65kg for reps to around 57.5kg (still poor).
Deads from 130kg to 120kg for reps.

At the beginning of this week I started a new routine - three day full body, added in some creatine and l-glutamine to my shakes, and am picking up the cals again.
Also haven't done any cardio this week but that is unrelated - I have been working on an evening.

Anyway, new routine as follows (subject to tweaking over the first few weeks):

Monday
BB bench
Leg presses
Dips
BB bent over rows
EZ bar curls

Wednesday
Deadlift
Chin ups
Skullcrushers
DB bench
DB curls

Friday
Squats
Overhead press
Calf raises
DB one arm rows

May squeeze in a max rep bench session on Fridays too if time allows.

These will all be 5x5 for the time being but will periodically switch to 3x8-10.

Have already done Mon and Wed sessions.
Don't know whether it's the psychology of bulking, or if the supps are working already, or extra cals, but my lifts went up immediately!

Am aching all over as well, so the change in routine has shaken something up!