I don’t mind a little chub. I don’t desire to be shredded, but id like to have abs year round, even if they are faint. Early in my lifting I was lean, then I got into powerlifting, and looking back at the pictures, it’s not a good look lol.
Show us!
2 Likes
Oh boy, I can try to dig some up. It was a couple phones (years) ago.
After some digging, here is a full bear mode picture from the beach. Normally, you don’t see whales upright lol. Had to kinda zoom in, so it is blurry. There is a reason I don’t have very many shirtless pics from this era.
At the time, I considered myself just big, and 20 lbs away from being in shape lol. My arms are just dwarfed by the power belly.
3 Likes
Its’ that powerlifter bod
2 Likes
I love Mac. A lot of shows kinda recycle character types from other shows. I don’t think there was any character like Mac in any show before IASIP.
I love the episode where they get psych help, and Mac complains that he is losing all his mass, and that Dennis has been giving him size pills in his session with the therapist. Then in Dennis’ session, he says he has been giving Mac speed pills because he was gross looking.
3 Likes
Haven’t posted in a bit. On vacation now. Last week was kinda a deload as I felt a bit burned out. This week is sitting in the beach and drinking, so very anabolic to the mid body.
I did have a call with a psychiatrist, I’m going to try strattera for ADHD. Need to have testing for any stimulant Rx.
In other news, I’ve seen what another poster @hankthetank89 had been up to. He is looking a bit soft in his bulk attempt.
4 Likes
Do you mean the piss test or the ADHD test? Both are required; the VA only wants a urinalysis 1x per year though - not sure if this is common to all stims or not.
1 Like
I believe they are looking for ADHD testing (diagnosis) for the stimulant. I also think they do a piss test. I think that is to confirm you are taking the med and not selling it?
Maybe? I never actually considered that. I always thought it was because it shows up in the screening as an amphetamine, and they want to make sure you aren’t abusing it (talking about Ritalin, Adderall, probably some others). It can be used as a party drug apparently? Idk, i’m not into any of that nonsense, I just take it for brain gainz
1 Like
That makes sense too.
I’ve heard that some people get really good results with combo therapy with strattera and a stimulant. They can often get symptom resolution with lower dose of the stim, with lower side effects. Kinda interesting. I’ll see how this one impacts me, but if I end up getting an Rx for a stim, I’ll ask about the combo therapy.
1 Like
I follow your log pretty consistently but let me know how it goes - I’ve been interested in testing different medications, I’ve just been nervous to stop taking something that works for me as is. Bird in the hand vs 2 in the bush type thing
1 Like
I’m fairly low in my knowledge on the subject TBH. I’ve read a couple case reports on duel therapy though. The dosage drop of the stimulant is generally only by about a third (halved in a couple of cases). The general benefits are that the subjects couldn’t perceive coming down from the stim, and had less insomnia. Strattera is a mild anti depressant, with stim like effects without it being a stim. I’ll keep this updated as I go along.
1 Like
Back in the gym after 10 days off for vacation. I always go easy after a break.
Barbell strict press 135x5 155x5 165x5 175x5 185x5 195x5 205x3 135 2x10,15
Chin up 3x10
4 Likes
Thinking about changing things up a bit. Not a totally different direction, but want to have a place holder for cardio. I also want to emphasize horizontal pulls, as I have neglected them. I am a bit scattered though. I have thought about going back to the barbell OHP after some time with the log. Not sure on that. I may replace my first lift on Friday with a BB row. I am over powered on pressing compared to pulling (even though my back is probably (might be shoulders?) my most dominate feature).
For lifting, I am thinking a main movement, followed by two movement super sets. For example on my Friday (which was bench focused), I would do BB rows, then super set bench and another row variation.
I also want to see if I can do legs frequently. So I am thinking that I have the three exercises for the day followed by a leg exercise (except on leg day), then kinda what I want for assistance.
I am thinking about breaking up conditioning to be in the front and end of lifting, so that I am not too fatigued for lifting, and that it doesn’t seem daunting to do at the end.
I am excited about the addition of wireless earbuds to my training bag. That will help immensely with the cardio / conditioning.
Did some liss cardio today. Got some shin pain just walking in an incline. We will see if I acclimate to the cardio. Was bearable though.
Treadmill at incline 6 @ 3 mph 35 minutes 350 calories burned (what the treadmill said at least).
Triceps pushdowns with rope 50x50 no rest 40x50
Got meals prepped. Ground turkey 6oz, cup of rice, bell peppers, and about a half cup of corn. Will top with hot sauce.
Switched to the protein shake breakfast this morning and will continue. Two cups skim milk (normally prefer 2 percent, but not with shakes), 5 strawberries, whey protein (25g protein worth).
Cut mode hopefully activated. I am sick of trying to gain TBH. Was eating fairly unhealthy for my liking. Was trying to keep the weight gain going, and clean food wasn’t doing the trick.
Dinner from tonight. teriyaki chicken thighs, veggie pasta with spinach and cheese, three Oreos (not shown).
4 Likes
Skipped training last night due to some odd car issues.
Was driving to work yesterday, and when I pulled off the road, my idle was very rough. I made it into work, and realized that my oil catch can was dragging on the road, and that the return line was also detached from the other end (not the end on the catch can). Well, at least I know what the issue is. I tuck it back up so it isn’t dragging until I get home to take a look. Well I get home to fix it and I notice it is more fucked up than I thought. Apparently when the catch can was dragging it must have snagged something (at least this is what I thought happened), and pulled off some of my air inlet piping and broke the air filter box (has two holes in it, and broke the mounts).
Now this doesn’t sound to bad, but sourcing these parts is a PITA, since the car is an 08, and these are parts that aren’t common replacement parts. I also have to buy a new catch can, since the dragging on the road wore a hole in it. If I have to buy them from Mazda, it may end up being a $500+ repair. I think I’ll post in the Mazdaspeed 3 Reddit section, since many people modding them replace the air intake system. I’d just do an aftermarket performance intake, if I didn’t need to replace the high pressure fuel pump to do so (these cars have a reputation for blowing up if you mod them with the stock high pressure fuel pump).
It is just suck a weird issue. I didn’t hear anything when driving.
1 Like
thats why i dont like liss on a treadmill… i preffer 1 min running 2 mins walking… maximum incline and 5.5mph run 1 min, 2mph walk 2 mins…
somehow i feel less stress on shins and less lower back pump when i do it like this… just walking at 3mph for 35mins would blow up my lower back, at 15% incline.
1 Like
I tried a bit of running on it. That was really tough on the shins. Maybe because of the incline? I used to be able to run pretty well (in that I was decently fast for distance). I think I have just been too sedentary with it being winter here. I think I will acclimate, but I’ll try out your protocol if that doesn’t work.
The higher the incline the less it busts the shins and knees…thats why i do 15%
1 Like
Been a bit since an update. I have been training, and been really good at doing cardio (walking on an incline). I often do it before and after lifting to break things up. I don’t think it’s impacted lifting much.
I’m settling back into routine. Eating much cleaner than during the bulk. Already in a notches on the belt.
Yesterday, I was doing my ohp day, but decided to do some belt squat with a narrow stance. I’ve been going really wide on the belt squats. I noticed it was so much harder for me. I also noted it was narrow to what I was doing on belt squats, but only a hair more narrow than my regular squats. I decided that during today’s cardio I would work up to a moderate single. I haven’t done back squats in at least 4 months. I did 410 lbs on the duffalo bar and it was pretty easy. I didn’t get bent over. Hips didn’t shoot back, and I hit depth. Kinda a lifting revelation. I’m going to do low volume wide squats on my leg day followed by belt squats. My PR is only 435 for back squats (in sleeves, I suck, I know).
2 Likes