@Andrewgen_Receptors I don’t know how I missed this thread bro! I’m excited to watch your progress.
1 Like
Week 8 Check-In
Down 1.5lbs from last week.
Sunday was prescribed refeed day, will lead into Monday of Week 9. Coach wants to see how much it takes to fill me up for stage.
*Pictures taken Saturday so we had flat pics for weekly comparison.
Legs are leaning out nicely, arms are continuing to get leaner and looking bigger as a result.
Gear / Supps
250mg test c
200mg mast e
300mg Equipoise
600mg l-carnitine (daily)
2mg Retatrutide (split 2x weekly)
*AAS Injections are done MWF now
1200mg berberine
5mg cialis (daily)
30mg Adderall XR (daily)
I’ve increased my daily Adderall amount so I can keep up with my new job. I have every intention of lowering this down once I get the hang of what my new position requires of me.
5 Likes
I’ve been thinking a lot about my new job.
On paper, it’s a big step up - better pay, better hours, better title (Data Processing Engineer), better everything. But honestly, that’s not the part I’m stuck on.
What’s catching me off guard is how fast I’m picking things up. Based on how it’s been the past week and a half, I think I’ll be a subject matter expert in 6-9 months. It’s like the opposite of Imposter Syndrome… It’s pretty clear I came in overqualified and should’ve probably been brought in at a Level 3 instead of a 2.
Why that matters: I want to leave this state within the next year. My current role comes with a 1-year minimum, and two senior people are retiring soon - I’ve already been told I’m here to fill those gaps. Realistically, I might be the most competent person in this division within a year.
That’s not bad, but I’m worried it’ll make me too valuable to let go. When the year is up, I think its not unreasonable if a promotion were offered, but tied to another year-long commitment - something I can’t accept.
The part that makes me uneasy is that I’m concerned my manager may try to hold me in this role - not maliciously, but just to keep the department from falling apart. She hasn’t given me any reason to think she’d do that, but it’s hard to ignore that possibility.
Part of this stress is leftover baggage from my last job search - 80+ applications, 4 interviews, 1 offer, and not even in the exact field I wanted. So it’s early in this job, but I already feel the pressure to start planning my exit strategy.
What to do about this?
I think the best path forward is to:
- Assume my manager will support me
- Work my ass off to earn her recommendation
- Upskill and stack my resume like hell, just in case she doesn’t
That way I’ll either be supported by my manager, or I’ll be equipped to leave when my year is up.
Anyone else ever been in a position like this?
Am I being unreasonable here?
6 Likes
I’ve been in kind of similar situations…
- I picked up on my previous position quickly. I was in the top bucket of guys on the team and after about 2 years I started to get pissed that everyone was more senior than me and getting paid more and doing way less. It took me applying to other higher positions internally for my team to realize I was getting screwed and pay up. That was only able to happen because of all three bullet points you listed. And I think if you do your bottom 2 bullet points, then the top bullet should be a given. Managers love employees who require minimal oversight and make their life easy.
- I had to move states as well in a short time frame and was nervous about the repercussions and if I could keep my job. They ended up letting me keep my position and work out of a different office and didn’t really care honestly. I’m not sure what kind of company you work for, so this may not be feasible. I work for one of the larger banks so it didn’t matter to them.
This is complicated with you wanting to move states, but if you perform this is an easy route to ask for way more pay. If you’re truly holding the department together you could come up with a number in your head you’d be willing to do another year for. If they say no, you’re in the same situation anyway.
2 Likes
Push (Delt Focus)
Monday, Jul 14, 2025 at 4:30pm
Viking Press
Set 1: 45 lbs x 21
Set 2: 45 lbs x 19 [Failure]
Face Pull
Set 1: 175 lbs x 15
Set 2: 175 lbs x 15 [Failure]
Lateral Raise (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 25 lbs x 15 [Failure]
Set 2: 25 lbs x 15 [Failure]
Chest Press (Machine)
Set 1: 225 lbs x 12 [Failure]
Set 2: 185 lbs x 9 [Failure]
Chest Fly (Machine)
Set 1: 130 lbs x 15
Set 2: 130 lbs x 13
Triceps Pushdown
Set 1: 80 lbs x 15
Set 2: 80 lbs x 15
Deadlift (Smith Machine)
Set 1: 155 lbs x 15
Set 2: 155 lbs x 15
Triceps Extension (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 0 lbs x 0
Set 2: 0 lbs x 0 [Failure]
@hevyapp
3 Likes
Last 2 days had atrocious sleep so i took the days off.
Pull (Width)
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 at 10:27am
Lat Pulldown (Cable)
Set 1: 160 lbs x 18
Set 2: 160 lbs x 15 [Failure]
Lat Pulldown (Cable)
Set 1: 160 lbs x 12 [Failure]
Set 2: 120 lbs x 16 [Failure]
Hammer Curl (Cable)
Set 1: 50 lbs x 15
Set 2: 50 lbs x 14 [Failure]
Shrug (Smith Machine)
“20”
Set 1: 275 lbs x 18 [Failure]
Set 2: 225 lbs x 20 [Failure]
Preacher Curl (Barbell)
Set 1: 75 lbs x 15 [Failure]
Set 2: 75 lbs x 9 [Failure]
@hevyapp
Woke up ready to get it and I’m still feeling it.
Regarding the career position I’m in, I’ve decided to build up my tech portfolio while also getting as proficient as possible at my current position… I want to make myself the SME and i think i can do it.
I’m working on building an issue tracker application for my github, and id like to use this same thing for my current position… double dipping if i can.
5 Likes
Yes, but no. I’ve been debating about how dumb my advice would sound since we are in radically different industries, but I’ve appreciated your candor and want to return it because I think the gym and culinary world are some of the last places that are genuine meritocracies. So read this how I would talk to myself. I hope it’s entertaining at least.
I’m married to a corporate woman. The ways you guys structure shit and delay everything makes me fantasize about torture.
This is fucking great. Run this shit on auto-pilot and just be the eye of the hurricane. Your boss has impostor syndrome anyway and is nervous about you so just be solid and boring while planning your next steps. Come up with stupid ideas that sound good to someone two levels above you.
Stick with your plan to leave. Coast for a year and make friends with the senior people. They want to leave, but will still be valuable to you, so make them your friends. Don’t treat this as a job, but as a knowledge grab for your next step. Fill those gaps and become as knowledgeable as possible as quickly as possible. Look for knowledge that is being pushed aside and will be in demand a few years from now. Find what they feel was their contribution with their work and leverage that.
You need to stop looking to your boss for approval.
Start training people. Train everyone to replace you. You want to leave anyway, so use that time to sharpen your skills by teaching people and adding that to your resume. Be James Bond about it, or be open - as long as you’re not a lawsuit, I assume you can navigate those social avenues.
This is where you have the real opportunity - if she’s going to do that, she’s already on the way out. If she hasn’t given you a reason stop being paranoid and focus on everything I’ve already mentioned so you are the pillar still standing. Let it fall apart while you build you.
You’re a strong man, but
Plan. Your instincts are right.
2 Likes
Thank you for the thoughtful response. I hadn’t thought of emphasizing the friendship angle, and you’re right that if i do - it will help me leave because they’ll want to do right by me more than doing right by the department.
Nepotism pays
The people you work with are far more valuable than the people you work for.
4 Likes
Wasn’t feeling it at all today. Dont know why.
Legs (Ham & Glute Focus)
Monday, Jul 21, 2025 at 12:37pm
Leg Press (Machine)
Set 1: 585 lbs x 15
Set 2: 495 lbs x 15
Lying Leg Curl (Machine)
Set 1: 115 lbs x 15
Set 2: 120 lbs x 15
Deadlift (Smith Machine)
Set 1: 225 lbs x 15
@hevyapp
Almost threw up, so i guess i know why i wasn’t feeling it. Stopped early.
Check in to follow.
3 Likes
Push (Chest Focus)
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2025 at 11:15am
Chest Press (Machine)
Set 1: 225 lbs x 15 [Failure]
Set 2: 225 lbs x 8 [Failure]
Cable Fly Crossovers
Set 1: 60 lbs x 15
Set 2: 60 lbs x 12 [Failure]
Viking Press
Set 1: 45 lbs x 21 [Failure]
Set 2: 45 lbs x 18 [Failure]
Face Pull
Set 1: 160 lbs x 15
Set 2: 160 lbs x 12 [Failure]
Triceps Pushdown
Set 1: 65 lbs x 15
Set 2: 57.5 lbs x 15 [Failure]
Leg Raise Parallel Bars
Set 1: 20 reps
Set 2: 18 reps
Lateral Raise (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 0 lbs x 0
Set 2: 0 lbs x 0
Triceps Extension (Cable)
Set 1: 0 lbs x 0
Set 2: 0 lbs x 0 [Failure]
Lying Leg Curl (Machine)
Set 1: 0 lbs x 0
Set 2: 0 lbs x 0
@hevyapp
Still feeling really out of it. Gotta kick whatever this thing is.
4 Likes
How many days has this been going on? Surely this cannot persist another 12 weeks.
It just seems too soon into the diet for that to be the cause.
Any fever at all? Or anything specific other than feeling bad?
One suggestion is a strength metric that you track every time you do that body part exercise. Make notes of everything. But, IMO, it needs to be in the 8 rep range.
1 Like
a little less than a week now. i can tell im on the tail end of it… just some stomach bug that hit the whole house. no fever or anything, just odd digestion with an increased willingness to vomit.
If everyone got it at the same time it might be caused from a tainted food source.
1 Like
Non-training update:
If you’ve been following my log(s) you’ll know I’ve been stopping my porn use and struggling with that for some time.
I’d been about 3 months ‘clean’ until a few days ago and a combination of low discipline, boredom, and emotional factors had me decide to use it again. Honestly I felt like shit afterwards, but that’s the cycle.
Posting about it helps me resolve the shame aspect of that cycle.
Training-related part of this update:
I’m starting up cold plunges again to increase discipline. Right now I’m plunging right after my am cardio, starting at 2.5 mins.
Did my first one this morning.
Back on the wagon.
5 Likes
ADHD is associated with low dopamine. If you haven’t read Carol Lembke’s book Dopamine Nation, you might find it helpful. I have found a dopamine fast to be helpful with impulse control.
L-Tyrosine is a precursor to dopamine. Bromelian allegedly helps as well. I have found L-Theanine with caffeine beneficial.
ADHD with Jenna Free is a good podcast.
I have also done some “shadow work” as described by Carl Jung that helps quiet my inner critic.
I don’t mean to present myself as an expert, or to be condescending - merely interested in sharing my experiences.
I appreciate you sharing.
2 Likes
I’ll look into these, thank you
Pull (Thickness)
Thursday, Jul 24, 2025 at 10:41am
Dumbbell Row
Set 1: 95 lbs x 15
Set 2: 95 lbs x 15 [Failure]
Leg Raise Parallel Bars
Set 1: 20 reps
Set 2: 20 reps
Shrug (Smith Machine)
Set 1: 225 lbs x 20
Set 2: 225 lbs x 20 [Failure]
Rope Cable Curl
Set 1: 57.5 lbs x 15 [Failure]
Set 2: 50 lbs x 14 [Failure]
T Bar Row
Set 1: 135 lbs x 12 [Failure]
Preacher Curl (Barbell)
“Reverse Grip”
Set 1: 45 lbs x 15
Set 2: 45 lbs x 14 [Failure]
@hevyapp
4 Likes
Cold plunge 3 mins
Legs (Quad Focus)
Friday, Jul 25, 2025 at 10:37am
Pendulum Squat (Machine)
Set 1: 90 lbs x 15
Set 2: 90 lbs x 13 [Failure]
Lying Leg Curl (Machine)
Set 1: 125 lbs x 15
Set 2: 125 lbs x 16 [Failure]
Leg Raise Parallel Bars
Set 1: 22 reps
Set 2: 20 reps
Leg Extension (Machine)
“+chains”
Set 1: 50 lbs x 15 [Failure]
Set 2: 50 lbs x 11 [Failure]
Deadlift (Smith Machine)
Set 1: 225 lbs x 15
Set 2: 225 lbs x 15
@hevyapp
Calf check
7 Likes
That is one genetic concern that you have sufficiently checked the box.
2 Likes