Haha yeah I feel you. I got up to about 230 last year, and was way too fat for my liking (had upper abs when flexing, but horrific love handles). So basically we are the same person physique wise. lol. I’m going to implement the chocolate bars into my routine, and at worse, I’ll take them out if they don’t help. Your waist really did lean up, looking at this recent picture you posted (LULZ), so hopefully it’ll give me some of the benefit it gave you! Thanks for being so helpful with all your advice. It’s extremely helpful
Lol sure it isn’t - and that bit dribbling down your butt cheek isn’t either…
On a more serious note thanks for taking the time to give me all the advice. I’ll be implementing it right away. I started my own log btw If you’re interested. Think I named it “time to grow”.
Ah fuck man, it does look like its dribbling outta my arse! So Spidey, the benefit I got mainly was a lot more offers for men wanting to do me! And this picture was before the improvements! My standards also lowered so I took up male prostitution to help me pay for the extra food, chocolate a and protein powder…
Yeah, I’d say that pic was late Aug/early Sep, I’m glad you think there is a decent difference/improvement.
Dre, I’ll do my best to drop in, thanks.
[quote]buddaboy wrote:
Hey TX! I have just downloaded a unit conversion app just for you! Right: Yes, my bench press is lame, and because its lame, and my legs were even more lame (I have very long legs so I looked way out of proportion once I’d added some upper body mass, plus any fat gets stored on my upper body too) I tended not to work that lift. Also, and primarily, I had gyno surgery a couple of years ago, so I didn’t work my chest very much because once the muscles were pumped my pecs would push the lumps out making them more visible through my clothes.
So TX: 100kg x 2.2= a bench press of 220LB for a whopping 3 reps as my 3 rep max! Or one rep max of 110kg x 2.2 = 242.5LB! Your 100LB dumbbell presses are impressive for 6.1" IMHO, I certainly can’t do that (yet). Those reverse push ups look hard, I don’t think I could do that. I can just about do a seated press for 3 - 5 reps on a good day with 140LB, but I’ve worked much harder on inclines and presses than I have on bench.
The three rep max I set a few weeks ago and was conservative enough for me to do training alone with no spotter, the one rep max is over six months old. I’m working HARD on bringing up my chest and triceps now. I know I’ll never be a monster bencher but I need to surpass this awful excuse for a PR! The only other point I’d like to raise in my defense is that I use very strict form - no bouncing or back arch, especially no back arch with my lower back.[/quote]
Sir, we are not that far apart ! 
You need to kick it in gear, I am ready to drag you along with me !
[quote]dre1986 wrote:
Thanks for the reply budda, Im going to try and hip mobility exercises you mentioned, Ive had issues with hip mobility for ages and although I’ve been doing hip flexor stretches and they don’t seem to be doing the trick.
As for the chocolate, I’m just going to try and it like you said, I like to know why usually but in this case I’ll just do it and see what happens. [/quote]
Dre, I had my pelvis broken twice on both sides, and have rotten hip flexibility. I built a saddle stand, and put an old saddle on it, and sit on it while I watch a movie…and it kinda stretches out my hips, etc.
Did you read the article on here a month ago about Squats, and esp. Goblet Squats. They help me a ton, specifically with my hips. You hold the Dumbell or Kettle up in front of you, go down, and then pry your knees apart with your elbows and rock back and forth a few times before you start the squats. It really helps.
Lets do it TX, I’m game 
What are the goals TX? Body weight gain, strength increases in the big lifts and improvement in physique? I can’t see what else they could be LOL! I’ve just answered my own question -Duh!
[quote]txhawkeyes wrote:
[quote]dre1986 wrote:
Thanks for the reply budda, Im going to try and hip mobility exercises you mentioned, Ive had issues with hip mobility for ages and although I’ve been doing hip flexor stretches and they don’t seem to be doing the trick.
As for the chocolate, I’m just going to try and it like you said, I like to know why usually but in this case I’ll just do it and see what happens. [/quote]
Dre, I had my pelvis broken twice on both sides, and have rotten hip flexibility. I built a saddle stand, and put an old saddle on it, and sit on it while I watch a movie…and it kinda stretches out my hips, etc.
Did you read the article on here a month ago about Squats, and esp. Goblet Squats. They help me a ton, specifically with my hips. You hold the Dumbell or Kettle up in front of you, go down, and then pry your knees apart with your elbows and rock back and forth a few times before you start the squats. It really helps.
[/quote]
Ha well I don’t reckon I swing the saddle but I used to do goblet squats and I’ve no idea why I stopped tbh. I use the stretch you mentioned before every leg workout but what I think I’m gonna do I throw 4-5 sets of goblets and a couple of Bulgarian split squats in maybe on shoulder day to help sort it out. Thanks for the advice.
[quote]txhawkeyes wrote:
[quote]dre1986 wrote:
Thanks for the reply budda, Im going to try and hip mobility exercises you mentioned, Ive had issues with hip mobility for ages and although I’ve been doing hip flexor stretches and they don’t seem to be doing the trick.
As for the chocolate, I’m just going to try and it like you said, I like to know why usually but in this case I’ll just do it and see what happens. [/quote]
Dre, I had my pelvis broken twice on both sides, and have rotten hip flexibility. I built a saddle stand, and put an old saddle on it, and sit on it while I watch a movie…and it kinda stretches out my hips, etc.
Did you read the article on here a month ago about Squats, and esp. Goblet Squats. They help me a ton, specifically with my hips. You hold the Dumbell or Kettle up in front of you, go down, and then pry your knees apart with your elbows and rock back and forth a few times before you start the squats. It really helps.
[/quote]
x2 what TX said. Dre, read Louie Simmons articles about squatting, they will help immensely. Perform the bulgarian split squats several times a week until you’ve developed the desired level of flexibility, then maintain that flexibility by doing them as a warm up and warm down on leg days. I need to - by virtue of necessity -stretch my hips out with them (BSS) before, during and after lower body workouts, especially when I’ve done band DL’s and safety bar squats.
Ok cool, I do a barbell complex as a warm up before every workout so I’ll do them then as well as on leg days.
Thanks again for the advice guys.
Work today, so more carbs than usual, plus food I picked up on the road. I didn’t plan any meals just just grabbed what I could
0630: Protein shake plus 2 eggs and fiber
0700: RSE drink mit zucker
0730: 2 snickers (whoops)
1030 4 large sausages in whole meal buns
1330: tub of pineapple chunks, sugar free red bull, protein shake with no eggs or MCT
1645: 2 mars bars pre workout. I would do legs, but I’m quite tired, or at least not at my best, so I’ll do upper body now and legs tomorrow.
[quote]dre1986 wrote:
[quote]txhawkeyes wrote:
[quote]dre1986 wrote:
Thanks for the reply budda, Im going to try and hip mobility exercises you mentioned, Ive had issues with hip mobility for ages and although I’ve been doing hip flexor stretches and they don’t seem to be doing the trick.
As for the chocolate, I’m just going to try and it like you said, I like to know why usually but in this case I’ll just do it and see what happens. [/quote]
Dre, I had my pelvis broken twice on both sides, and have rotten hip flexibility. I built a saddle stand, and put an old saddle on it, and sit on it while I watch a movie…and it kinda stretches out my hips, etc.
Did you read the article on here a month ago about Squats, and esp. Goblet Squats. They help me a ton, specifically with my hips. You hold the Dumbell or Kettle up in front of you, go down, and then pry your knees apart with your elbows and rock back and forth a few times before you start the squats. It really helps.
[/quote]
Ha well I don’t reckon I swing the saddle but I used to do goblet squats and I’ve no idea why I stopped tbh. I use the stretch you mentioned before every leg workout but what I think I’m gonna do I throw 4-5 sets of goblets and a couple of Bulgarian split squats in maybe on shoulder day to help sort it out. Thanks for the advice.
[/quote]
Ya know Dre, I train folks…so that makes me a genious, right?!? I can look at their situation, and IMMEDIATELY tell what is wrong, or right.
BUTTT with my own situation…things go on like I am not even paying attention sometimes. You mentioned that they used to work, and you stopped…I seem to fall into that a lot. OR, I am doing something stupid, and just can’t step back and get a better view of my own deal to see it. I guess it makes us both human, huh !!!
[quote]buddaboy wrote:
Lets do it TX, I’m game
What are the goals TX? Body weight gain, strength increases in the big lifts and improvement in physique? I can’t see what else they could be LOL! I’ve just answered my own question -Duh![/quote]
Sounds good Budd…
My goal would obviously be weight gain, but that is very hard for me to get ! It is a long term goal…easy to measure, but doesn’t change very often.
How bout we just report back after every training session? Also, would you mind if we do it in this thread? For example, today I hit a new high on Dumbell Bench, using the 105’s. FIrst time in my life ever. Did first three sets working up to it, 3rd set was 100’s, did 9, then 4th set was 105’s, did 8. Spotter actually had hands on edges of the Dumbells to guide them a little…but it makes me think I can get up the 110’s next Wed or so. Followed that with Hammer Bench, had 2-45’s on each side, and a 25. So…115 a side, did two sets of 10.
Budda, to make it easy…could just report on the 4 basic compounds…bench, shoulder press, Dead and Squat? And we both know if we continue to try and reach new highs with those 4, it will obviously help everything?
Open to ideas. I think just reporting on hitting a new high weight on those 4 would be a good start?
Whaddayathink man?
PS Budda…I will put up a before pic from May 2009, and a pic from this morning… try and get that done this weekend… At 202 this morning, 8:00 AM
[quote]txhawkeyes wrote:
PS Budda…I will put up a before pic from May 2009, and a pic from this morning… try and get that done this weekend… At 202 this morning, 8:00 AM[/quote]
Tx, yes my man, just use this thread; thats fine. You were more than welcoming to me in your thread. Lets do this…
LEGS!
I wasn’t going to train legs as I mentioned in the food log for today, but I thought: Fuck it, I can pump my (lagging) arms and chest tomorrow, and what could be more fun than that on a Saturday off work? So I decided, seeing as I’ve been using higher reps lately, and I can feel their effects slowing, I decided I’d opt for a change in stimuli, so I reverted back to lower reps, and I feel great!
I also decided, after I listed my best lifts, I may as well record weights used here, and the fact that I’m now publicly accountable is probably the next best thing to having a training partner! (something I’ve never had due to my varying schedule). It really spurred me on, plus the tactical caffeine drink helped this afternoon.
Legs: Warm up/foam roll
Front squats: 60x5,70x3,80x3,90x3,100x3,100x3,100x3,100x3
calf raises (didn’t record but 2 of the sets were of 20 with 60kg hanging of the belt)
safety bar squat to bench (touching bench, not a box squat) these were, I’d say, about 3 inches above parallel, approximately. I nearly always make sure I squat to parallel or below, so - again -as a change of stimulus I decided to use more weight than I’m used, alter the range of motion and keep a great exercise. I don’t want to go too heavy though for my backs sake, but the last set were hard and I could really feel my abs working to keep me upright. No belt is ever worn BTW.
SB bar squats to bench: 60x5,70x5,80x5,90x5,100x5,110x5,120x5,130x3
wide belt squats: 60x10,70x5,80x5,90x5,100x5,100x5,100x5,100x5
Finished feeling good, very good considering I was expecting to have a so so workout.
Off to stretch out now
[quote]buddaboy wrote:
Work today, so more carbs than usual, plus food I picked up on the road. I didn’t plan any meals just just grabbed what I could
0630: Protein shake plus 2 eggs and fiber
0700: RSE drink mit zucker
0730: 2 snickers (whoops)
1030 4 large sausages in whole meal buns
1330: tub of pineapple chunks, sugar free red bull, protein shake with no eggs or MCT
1645: 2 mars bars pre workout. I would do legs, but I’m quite tired, or at least not at my best, so I’ll do upper body now and legs tomorrow.
[/quote]
1915: large bowel of homemade chicken curry and a large slice of french bread. Just about to make a shake, I’m ravenous!
2030: 2 quarter pounders in whole meal buns
2230 protein shake with fiber and MCT
[quote]buddaboy wrote:
LEGS!
I wasn’t going to train legs as I mentioned in the food log for today, but I thought: Fuck it, I can pump my (lagging) arms and chest tomorrow, and what could be more fun than that on a Saturday off work? So I decided, seeing as I’ve been using higher reps lately, and I can feel their effects slowing, I decided I’d opt for a change in stimuli, so I reverted back to lower reps, and I feel great!
I also decided, after I listed my best lifts, I may as well record weights used here, and the fact that I’m now publicly accountable is probably the next best thing to having a training partner! (something I’ve never had due to my varying schedule). It really spurred me on, plus the tactical caffeine drink helped this afternoon.
Legs: Warm up/foam roll
Front squats: 60x5,70x3,80x3,90x3,100x3,100x3,100x3,100x3
calf raises (didn’t record but 2 of the sets were of 20 with 60kg hanging of the belt)
safety bar squat to bench (touching bench, not a box squat) these were, I’d say, about 3 inches above parallel, approximately. I nearly always make sure I squat to parallel or below, so - again -as a change of stimulus I decided to use more weight than I’m used, alter the range of motion and keep a great exercise. I don’t want to go too heavy though for my backs sake, but the last set were hard and I could really feel my abs working to keep me upright. No belt is ever worn BTW.
SB bar squats to bench: 60x5,70x5,80x5,90x5,100x5,110x5,120x5,130x3
wide belt squats: 60x10,70x5,80x5,90x5,100x5,100x5,100x5,100x5
Finished feeling good, very good considering I was expecting to have a so so workout.
Off to stretch out now
[/quote]
Holy Crap…okay, I just remembered the picture of your legs…now I see the 100 kg Squats no prob ! Nice work. Your leg work is fucking INtense dude. Nice job.
And you know, that only makes me jealous, and like the new Mercedes…want that for me too !!!1
TX: I surprised myself this evening! I haven’t done low reps for ageeeeees! Like a year, like this time last year when I stopped doing 5/3/1 due to injuries. I wasn’t expecting to do this - which was a lot for me!
Remember my upper body development and strength sucks ball! I’m going to be working the press and my arms just as hard from now on!
Thanks for the compliments.
Txh - I now exactly what you mean I’m a Pt too and always tell people once you find something that works, still with it till it stops. Yet for some strange reason I always get this stupid urge to change programs.
I’ve promised myself to stop cause it’s just plain stupid.
Budda - looked like a quality leg session today. Good work!
Dre + TX: Re the constant urge to change: I think what you actually crave is VARIETY. I read some great articles years back by Pavel Tsatouline, and he advised to manipulate training volume, frequency, intensity and change the stimuli as often as possible; but with the same exercises. His instructions were simple: change the rest periods, sets, reps and adjust the basic exercises i.e front squats and back squats in converse or bare foot then in weight lifting shoes; close grip and wide grip bench, flat bench or incline… you guys get the idea, its like what westside does when they constantly rotate exercises. You could be using a seemingly VERY simple program but never do an identical workout. I try to listen to my body and as soon as a workout gets easier or feels like its not doing anything I’ll adjust it, i.e today I reverted back to reps of 3-5.
I would advocate this approach, you can train differently every workout, but within the parameters of the same program.
I hope this makes sense?