[quote]TDog305 wrote:
conwict wrote:
looks like your scapulae are a bit winged and the humeri rotated internally maybe, I recently fixed those problems on myself and my shoulders are much wider looking, and my lats (which are really developed for my size) also seem wider.
just keep it up man, you DEF dont look 17% bf
How do you make that assessment based on two shitty pictures?
[/quote]
Exactly. This has been discussed before so much I wasn’t even going to respond before this. I get tired of seeing complex diagnosis of someone’s skeleton based off of a crappy pic on the internet.
[quote]Reef wrote:
I think you should really focus on deadlifts. Your bench is respectable but at your height, you should be pulling in the 300 easily. If you really concentrate on deads and eat right, you’ll see a lot of growth.[/quote]
huh? why should he focus on deadlifts? not that i’m disgreeing, i think it’s a great idea to get your deadlifts stronger over time, but there are many things he can <and i’d say SHOULD> be doing.
[quote]TDog305 wrote:
conwict wrote:
looks like your scapulae are a bit winged and the humeri rotated internally maybe, I recently fixed those problems on myself and my shoulders are much wider looking, and my lats (which are really developed for my size) also seem wider.
just keep it up man, you DEF dont look 17% bf
How do you make that assessment based on two shitty pictures?
[/quote]
he’s 6’3 and 185 pounds, dude. i find it doubtful that he’s 17% body fat. he doesn’t look fat, either. just undeveloped.
[quote]bigmike88 wrote:
BIGRAGOO wrote:
Well, if respectible means well built, then I’d say you’re looking for another 20lbs. I doubt you are at 17%bf, so don’t pay that any mind. You are tall and thin, however, so you must put the calories away along with intense training. I believe that tuning your diet to give you building blocks for size is where you need the most focus. Usually a plateau happens when you have stalled in progressing your diet and/or training. Seems now you eat enough to just maintain? I’d try an honest effort at upping your macros for at few weeks and see if you get stronger.
so you suggest i up the protein/carb intake? i havent been able to purchas anymore protein in the past month because a few unexpected expenses came up…but after i take care of that i am going to buy some protein, and fish oils…lately iveconsumed lot of cottage cheese, milk, pizza, and meat…i find it hard to eat alot of calories though, without resorting to junk food. are you aware of any calorie-dense, but healthy food that i could benefit from?[/quote]
If you can’t afford supps, no big deal. Eat more meats and dairy, if you can tolerate it. These foods are dense in calories and full of protein and fats. In fact since you say you have trouble eating enough, eat whole foods, like whole milk, regular, not skim, cheeses, and lean beef. I love beef. It’s definitely a muscle building food, and it’s not entirely too expensive. Try to dedicate 4 meals a day that are rich in calories, but don’t have exessive sugars or fats. A little of both is neccessary, but too much can negatively affect your training and physique.
[quote]BIGRAGOO wrote:
bigmike88 wrote:
BIGRAGOO wrote:
Well, if respectible means well built, then I’d say you’re looking for another 20lbs. I doubt you are at 17%bf, so don’t pay that any mind. You are tall and thin, however, so you must put the calories away along with intense training. I believe that tuning your diet to give you building blocks for size is where you need the most focus. Usually a plateau happens when you have stalled in progressing your diet and/or training. Seems now you eat enough to just maintain? I’d try an honest effort at upping your macros for at few weeks and see if you get stronger.
so you suggest i up the protein/carb intake? i havent been able to purchas anymore protein in the past month because a few unexpected expenses came up…but after i take care of that i am going to buy some protein, and fish oils…lately iveconsumed lot of cottage cheese, milk, pizza, and meat…i find it hard to eat alot of calories though, without resorting to junk food. are you aware of any calorie-dense, but healthy food that i could benefit from?
If you can’t afford supps, no big deal. Eat more meats and dairy, if you can tolerate it. These foods are dense in calories and full of protein and fats. In fact since you say you have trouble eating enough, eat whole foods, like whole milk, regular, not skim, cheeses, and lean beef. I love beef. It’s definitely a muscle building food, and it’s not entirely too expensive. Try to dedicate 4 meals a day that are rich in calories, but don’t have exessive sugars or fats. A little of both is neccessary, but too much can negatively affect your training and physique.
[/quote]
i only use full fat dairy products <except milk, i like 1%>. i don’t know why people buy light cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, etc… it’s just less fat and more moisture. you’re paying for water.not to mention more than likely weird additives to enhance flavor and texture.
i only use full fat dairy products <except milk, i like 1%>. i don’t know why people buy light cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, etc… it’s just less fat and more moisture. you’re paying for water.not to mention more than likely weird additives to enhance flavor and texture.[/quote]
These “lite” foods are for people that already eat too much. They can eat full flavored foods with less calories this way. It’s a gimmick, as it only promotes the already bad eating habits. I def. say stick with whole foods.
[quote]hueyOT wrote:
TDog305 wrote:
conwict wrote:
looks like your scapulae are a bit winged and the humeri rotated internally maybe, I recently fixed those problems on myself and my shoulders are much wider looking, and my lats (which are really developed for my size) also seem wider.
just keep it up man, you DEF dont look 17% bf
How do you make that assessment based on two shitty pictures?
he’s 6’3 and 185 pounds, dude. i find it doubtful that he’s 17% body fat. he doesn’t look fat, either. just undeveloped.
[/quote]
Huey,
I wasn’t talking about the bf assessment. It is clear he is not 17%. Read above.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
After seeing the other pictures, I seriously doubt you are 17%. Even more important, PEOPLE PUT TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON A BF% NUMBER. You are lean and you are thin. According to some on this forum, based on the number alone they would have you diet. They couldn’t be more wrong.[/quote]
Hey Prof X, how the bodyfat scales? I have a Tanita. Payed $ 110 for it back a few yrs. Accurate? I guess good ol’ pictures & measurements are the way to go then.
[quote]bigmike88 wrote:
…i find it hard to eat alot of calories though, without resorting to junk food. are you aware of any calorie-dense, but healthy food that i could benefit from?[/quote]
Here’s what worked for me:
Protein shake first thing in the morning (I eat breakfast at work, so I added in a shake before I leave the house);
Snack on nuts/trail mix throughout the day.
Cottage cheese just before bed.
Add peanut butter and oatmeal to shake that replace a meal if I’m not hungery.
I don’t have the appetite problem you do, but something to think about, are there foods that leave you full, for me I love ice cream. If I have ice cream after a meal I won’t be hungry for hours (yes it’s a full bowl). So I avoid it, and I have fruit instead…one hour later I’m starving. Just a thought to see if it works for you. (PS- I also do this at buffets).
In case your wondering I wnt from 155-158 to 180 in 3 months (at 5’ 6" and my pant waist size only went up an inch).
[quote]BADASS MENTALITY wrote:
Hey Prof X, how the bodyfat scales? I have a Tanita. Payed $ 110 for it back a few yrs. Accurate? I guess good ol’ pictures & measurements are the way to go then.
[/quote]
[quote]BADASS MENTALITY wrote:
Professor X wrote:
After seeing the other pictures, I seriously doubt you are 17%. Even more important, PEOPLE PUT TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON A BF% NUMBER. You are lean and you are thin. According to some on this forum, based on the number alone they would have you diet. They couldn’t be more wrong.
Hey Prof X, how the bodyfat scales? I have a Tanita. Payed $ 110 for it back a few yrs. Accurate? I guess good ol’ pictures & measurements are the way to go then.
[/quote]
The tanita scales are worse. They are never accurate for anyone carrying more muscle mass than average. If you aren’t then you may be able to get a decent reading off of it. They are not made for bodybuilders or athletes with more muscle than a sedentary person.
i only use full fat dairy products <except milk, i like 1%>. i don’t know why people buy light cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, etc… it’s just less fat and more moisture. you’re paying for water.not to mention more than likely weird additives to enhance flavor and texture.
These “lite” foods are for people that already eat too much. They can eat full flavored foods with less calories this way. It’s a gimmick, as it only promotes the already bad eating habits. I def. say stick with whole foods.[/quote]
Yeah, no shit. Most of that crap is total garbage. That fat-free"cheese" might as well be made of rubber. I do use the 2% milk option however, if there is one. And I also drink 1% milk. Whole foods can’t be beat, man. I’ve gained some good weight on nuts, peanut butter, plenty of eggs9which I just ran out of, damn it), and milk. Oh, and of course Meat, chicken thighs, breasts, and lean ground beef.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
BADASS MENTALITY wrote:
Professor X wrote:
After seeing the other pictures, I seriously doubt you are 17%. Even more important, PEOPLE PUT TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON A BF% NUMBER. You are lean and you are thin. According to some on this forum, based on the number alone they would have you diet. They couldn’t be more wrong.
Hey Prof X, how the bodyfat scales? I have a Tanita. Payed $ 110 for it back a few yrs. Accurate? I guess good ol’ pictures & measurements are the way to go then.
The tanita scales are worse. They are never accurate for anyone carrying more muscle mass than average. If you aren’t then you may be able to get a decent reading off of it. They are not made for bodybuilders or athletes with more muscle than a sedentary person.
[/quote]
Hell yeah those things are crap. One put me at 28%, and another put me at 15-17%, and I had striations everywhere, veins in my quads, lower abdominal section, delts, all over. I hate those things. Not made for us at all. Plus, like you guys said, far too much is put on that number.
Hey Prof X, how the bodyfat scales? I have a Tanita. Payed $ 110 for it back a few yrs. Accurate? I guess good ol’ pictures & measurements are the way to go then.
[/quote]
They fluctuate too much just like kratos was saying. They are highly dependent on hydration levels, which can and do vary drastically.
thanks everyone for all the positive feedback and advice on foods i can use…
i have another question though…i have been focusing on compound movements since i joined T-Nation, and it has helped me gain to this point. since i am slowing down, should i incorporate more isolation exercises and shy away from the compounds for a few weeks? this is what the trainer at my gym told me, but he also recomends people use swiss balls in almost every aspect of their workouts…so i dont know…any comments?
[quote]bigmike88 wrote:
thanks everyone for all the positive feedback and advice on foods i can use…
i have another question though…i have been focusing on compound movements since i joined T-Nation, and it has helped me gain to this point. since i am slowing down, should i incorporate more isolation exercises and shy away from the compounds for a few weeks? this is what the trainer at my gym told me, but he also recomends people use swiss balls in almost every aspect of their workouts…so i dont know…any comments?[/quote]
I see nothing wrong with compound movements. I see something wrong with people ONLY doing compound movements and acting like they should avoid ALL isolation movements like the plague. I don’t understand not training arms directly. I feel you should have been doing most of those movements all along. I suppose that mentality helps those who would otherwise only be doing curls and benchpress. If you are more highly evolved mentally, it is time to do some isolation movements.
[quote]bigmike88 wrote:
thanks everyone for all the positive feedback and advice on foods i can use…
i have another question though…i have been focusing on compound movements since i joined T-Nation, and it has helped me gain to this point. since i am slowing down, should i incorporate more isolation exercises and shy away from the compounds for a few weeks? this is what the trainer at my gym told me, but he also recomends people use swiss balls in almost every aspect of their workouts…so i dont know…any comments?[/quote]
I don’t get why some people do compound only. It’s very easy to add bicep/tri curls and calf raises and shurugs. It will only help.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
bigmike88 wrote:
thanks everyone for all the positive feedback and advice on foods i can use…
i have another question though…i have been focusing on compound movements since i joined T-Nation, and it has helped me gain to this point. since i am slowing down, should i incorporate more isolation exercises and shy away from the compounds for a few weeks? this is what the trainer at my gym told me, but he also recomends people use swiss balls in almost every aspect of their workouts…so i dont know…any comments?
I see nothing wrong with compound movements. I see something wrong with people ONLY doing compound movements and acting like they should avoid ALL isolation movements like the plague. I don’t understand not training arms directly. I feel you should have been doing most of those movements all along. I suppose that mentality helps those who would otherwise only be doing curls and benchpress. If you are more highly evolved mentally, it is time to do some isolation movements.[/quote]
dammit…always a step ahead and more articulate you are!
[quote]bigmike88 wrote:
i have another question though…i have been focusing on compound movements since i joined T-Nation, and it has helped me gain to this point. since i am slowing down, should i incorporate more isolation exercises and shy away from the compounds for a few weeks? this is what the trainer at my gym told me, but he also recomends people use swiss balls in almost every aspect of their workouts…so i dont know…any comments?[/quote]
No. Do not abandon the compuond movements. It may just be time to switch things up and maybe get more intense with your training.
okay sounds good to me…im going to come up with a new split and figure out exactly which exercises to do…flat bench and inclince dumbell press, row, deads, shoulder press, and squats are all definetly involved but i need to tie up lose ends with some isolations…