Darwin's Training Log

Training Training Logs
61

Darwin, you would not believe the amount of grief I’ve caught over the years for refusing to do stuff like that. People just don’t get it. Of course, when they see you after 6 years and you’re 80 lbs heavier with muscle than when you started training and don’t even look like the same person, they’re the first people to tell you how great you look. Funny that way.

last time I caught grief it was at my favorite lounge/bar and I was on a date. The poor waitress nearly dropped her platter she was so shocked. She tried for about 5 minutes to get me to drink, but to no avail. I think I gave her a mild heart attack, since they all know me and my passion for scotch there. She did at least bring one for my date though. :slight_smile:

62

Bigdawg & Aragorn: Thanks! I think it’s hard on my friends, too, because I was always a heavy drinker, and always the last one to give a crap about my health and fitness. Since that ‘pheonix moment’ (so to put it) I had only 6 weeks ago, I’ve changed a lot - I love lifting, I love eating right, and I am willing to make the sacrifices to make my body be the best it can be.

I know I’m not going sober for the rest of my life, but right now, I really want to cleanse my body. Thank you for the support! It really helps, a lot.

63

Heh. The wife remarked that she could feel solidness beneath my blubber. I’ll take that as a good sign. I’m almost to a new notch on my belt, so something is working. I’ll just be happy when I no longer can feel the weight of the spare tire around my stomach.

3 hours to gym time. I can’t wait - I’m kicking myself for sleeping in this morning, but I guess I should listen to my body, right?

64

Roughly 30 minutes to gym time. I’ve decided that I’m going to try for 200# on my DL today. I think I can do it. I KNOW I can do it. Especially since I’m doing 1x5, not 3x5, lol.

Do I ramble too much in this log?

65

Yeah, that sort of feedback from the wife can be very helpful!

About rambling, it’s your log. Ramble if you want to.

I gotta start my own.

66

[quote]bigdawg011 wrote:
Yeah, that sort of feedback from the wife can be very helpful!

About rambling, it’s your log. Ramble if you want to.

I gotta start my own.[/quote]

Trust me, it really boosted my, uh… EGO. lol

I must admit, I’m surprised. This is the sixth week of my new lifestyle. My lifts have gone up by quite a bit since the beginning, and I’ve lost weight - but more importantly fat - and I can see and feel results already. It’s awesome.

But, when I made my first foray into this same venture last fall, and initially tried Rippetoes, I didn’t see as much gain in lift nor did I see much in the way of physical changes. I’m going to attribute a lot of that to diet, and the lack of true seriousness. Back then, I was just doing it. NOW, I’m LIVING it.

I don’t often get obsessed with things in my life (I’m a rabid musician, and music=life), but with the Iron, it’s like I’ve finally found a place for myself. I love it, I love it to death, and it has pretty much consumed me. I know I’m just a beginner, but I’m beginning to see my potential.

I look in the mirror and can look past the pudge, because for the first time in my life, my mind’s eye can see what I WILL BECOME. I look at people around me, and see what THEY can become, too - it’s really strange.

Hopefully by the end of this summer, my current financial difficulty will be settled, and I can start looking at going back to school. I want to go back for nutrition, and lay the groundwork for getting my training certifications.

I’ve become so hooked by all this that I want to make it part of my life, and help others learn what I have had to learn (and make a living off of it, lol).

I really can’t explain it except to say that 6 weeks ago I had a very profound, life-changing moment. So many things clicked into place, and it’s like I finally found a part of me I hadn’t even known was really missing. Sounds kind of sappy, but, hell, it’s true.

…

Okay… now THAT was rambling, lol.

67

As you read this post, just imagine me laughing maniacally.

This is for all those doctors who gave up on me, and told me I was doomed to back-related weakness.

This is for the Old ME who used that diagnosis as an excuse to get FAT and LAZY.

This is for all my friends who think I’m crazy because of my new obsession with Iron.

.
..
…
..
.

I DEADLIFTED 200 MOTHER-FUCKIN’ POUNDS TODAY!

… okay, so, for many of the people on this site, that’s peanuts, but for me, it is a MAJOR accomplishment.

Anyhoo… on to the…

LIFTS:

BACK SQUAT:
(warmup) 115x5, 135x3, 155x1
(working) 195 3x5
→ funny story about my squats: I meant to rack 190, but racked it to 195. I didn’t even notice until my second working set, lol. But, I’ll tell ya, I wanted to puke during that last set.

DEADLIFT:
(warmup) 115x5, 135x3, 155x1
(working) 200x5 !!! OORAH !!!
→ I’m so goddamn proud of this! I was a little bit light headed when I was done, but oh hell yeah it was worth it!

BENCH:
(warmup) 65x5, 75x3, 85x1
(working) 115x5, 115x5, 115x4
→ I had a spot for the last two sets, but only needed the help on rep 4 of the last set. I’m still gonna count it, though.

DIPS:
BWx4 (+1 negative)
BWx3
→ I got one extra dip today! and I was able to get the negative on the first set. No improvement on the second set, though.

INCLINED SIT-UP:
BW 3x5
→ Okay, starting this week I’m adding these to my A days, and hyperextensions to the B days. I was surprised I was able to get all 3 sets, as sit-ups were impossible for me just 2 months ago (because of my back problems). This is ANOTHER major victory for me today! I’ll add weight on the next A day.

As has become my ritual, I closed out my session with 10 minutes of HIIT on the bike, in 20/60 intervals. Ouchie. Now I’m starving. Ravenous, even.

Okay, awesome shit in the gym. First, props to the awesome dude who spotted me on bench. He was benching almost twice what I was doing.

Next, I’m in love with the chick who was squatting more than me - not only was she super hot (which is rare on a Navy base), but every time she lifted she let out moans (most people grunted, but she sounded orgasmic). It was very, shall we say, DISTRACTING at times. lol

…wow, that was long. haha.

68

Food log for yesterday:

Supplements:
2 HOT-ROX
2 Fish Oil Caps
1 Flax Oil Cap
1 Multivitamin

Breakfast:
Grow! Shake (2 scoops)
1/2 Cup Quaker Oats

Snack 1:
50g Dry Roasted Peanuts
2 slices Monterey Jack Cheese

Lunch:
Orange Chiken Stir Fry (w/ peas, red/yellow peppers, mushrooms)
50g Dry Roasted Peanuts

Snack 2:
Grow! Whey Shake (1 scoop)
2 slices Monterey Jack Cheese

Dinner:
Ground Bison & Kielbasa
Green Beans, Peas, Carrots
2 Fish Oil Caps

Pre-Bed:
Metabolic Drive Shake (1 scoop)

not the greatest start to my week, I’ll admit. At least there’s no junk, but I barely hit 2000 calories (maybe a little more, I’m not too certain on the orange sauce kcal count). My stomach is still a little reeling from last week’s illness, so it’s been a chore to eat, but I’m stuffing down what I can. :slight_smile:

69

Question: how long do Fish Oil Caps last before they go bad? I’m wondering if they’re the culprit as to why my stomach has been so queasy the past couple days.

70

Ugh. I had a sub for lunch, which is probably the first time I’ve had a sandwich with BREAD in over a month. Man, let me tell you, that was a mistake. I’m feeling bloated and my energy shot downward so quickly, it was insane.

Whole Wheat bread = bad, nasty feeling. Bread in general is going to be ignored again.

Peanuts to the rescue! I know they will give me back my energy! And, they’re my afternoon snack anyway, so all is good.

It’s weird… I had an inkling that eating the bread might make me crash, but I did it anyway. I’m really beginning to understand what works well for my body, and what doesn’t. 6 weeks ago, I had no clue what my body needed, but now I feel like I’ve take some very big steps in the right direction.

71

congrats on the progress. you got me on squats, I need to pick up the pace!!

72

Yesterday’s meals:

Breakfast:
3 scrambled whole eggs
1/2 cup Quaker Oats

Snack:
50g peanuts

Lunch:
Whole-wheat sub: tuna, lite mayo, cucumber, spinach, green pepper
Grow! Shake (2 scoops)

Snack:
50g Peanuts (to the rescue! The bread from lunch made me crash)

Dinner:
2 Tilapia Filets
Corn
A SMALL amount of crab stuffing

Snack (~2 hours before bed):
1 TSP of Peanut Butter

According to the rough calculations on FitDay, I managed to hit 2,620 kcals. The day had 137 carbs, which is WAAAY more than I wanted, but a lot of that came from the bread at lunch. I’ll have to be more conscious of my food choices. I managed to bring in 250g of Protein; Fat was only at 132g, but I totally didn’t eat my lovely cheese during my snacks, so it was much lower than normal.

I’m not completely happy with this, but once again, at least there’s no junk on there - I’m being really good about that. Any suggestions on what I should add, or take away, or do/not do, would be great!

To reiterate my goals: I am currently working on eating more to gain more strength and muscle mass, and am no longer on the AD and trying to lose fat.

73

[quote]Tonino wrote:
congrats on the progress. you got me on squats, I need to pick up the pace!![/quote]

Eat more!! lol. I think it’s good to have friendly competition. Helps keep the motivation flowing!

I’m going to squat 200 today, just you wait! lol

74

Can a Mod change the title of my thread to: Darwin’s Training Log

Thanks!!!

75

Week 6 - Wednesday 5-7-2008:

LIFTS:

BACK SQUAT:
(warmup) 135x5, 145x3, 155x1
(working) 200x5, 200x5, 200x3
→ I said I was gonna squat 200, and I fuckin’ did it!

MILITARY PRESS:
(warmup) 45x5, 55x3, 65x1
(working) 75 3x5
→ I conquered 75! Onward to 80 next time. I thought I was stalling on this lift, but I got it today!

DB ROWS:
(warmup) 40x5, 45x3, 50x1
(working) 65 3x5
→ Got all of these bad boys, too!

PULL-UPS:
BWx0 (but I got halfway up on the first try)
BWx0

HYPEREXTENSIONS:
BW 3x5

INCLINED SITUP:
BW+10 3x5

→ My midsection is REALLY sore right now. But it’s a good kind of hurt, y’know?

COMMENTARY:

All in all, this was a successful day! I broke into 200 pounds on the Squat; I managed to conquer my sets for Military Press and DB Rows (both of which I feared I was stalling); and I’m definitely making progress with my pull ups (for what it’s worth).

It sucked, though - after I finished up with the squat rack, these two guys start doing squats. It was painful. They were using really low weight (maybe 100), and weren’t even getting close to parallel, much less ATG. And it looked like they were having trouble with the weight.

I debated offering advice, but as I don’t look like I know anything about weights, I kept my mouth shut. What would you have done??

76

I forgot to mention… I bought a pair of Chucks, and today was my first day doing my lifts in them. I have to say, I DEFINITELY noticed a difference in my squat. It was a lot easier to keep the weight on the heel in the flat soles.

I’m going to visit family this weekend down in Connecticut. I can’t wait. If my wife can see a change in just the last 6 weeks, I’m sure family I haven’t seen since before winter will see at least something.

I was telling my bro about all my progress, and he’s now interested in learning a program. He offered to pay my fee if I went to his gym to show him what I do. I think that’s pretty cool!

77

Okay, so I got bored this morning and took my progress pics a day early. I’ve been training for 6 weeks, and my first batch of photos were taken 2 weeks in. The following photos cover my first month.

On a side note, I know everyone says this, but I was pretty shocked at the visual changes. I mean, I KNOW my body has been changing, but I didn’t think it had changed this much. Not that I’m complaining, mind you…

78


One Month Progress - Back

79


One Month Progress - Side

80


The Wheelz (no progress pics, because I didn’t take pics a month ago)