Back is looking solid
[quote]pwolves17 wrote:
Hey Grizz, are you taking regularly scheduled off days from training? My coach is letting me be pretty instinctual when it comes to rest days right now. They’re scheduled for 2 on, 1 off in my current program but if I feel well rested he said I’m free to train. I hate taking days off during prep as I feel my training sessions are such a great metabolic disturbance to stimulate fat loss, and obviously retain muscle.
I also love being in the gym, as I’m sure is the case for all of the guys reading this! It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve taken a day off, considering making myself take tomorrow off. I feel good and wanna train, but wonder if it’d be beneficial for me to rest a bit before this last stretch of prep[/quote]
I feel you here as well. I’m taking 2 rest days, one in which I still go into to the gym and work abs, stretch and light cardio(treadmill walk). The other is Sunday which I really like to enjoy off from work and the gym, but I’ve gone in a few times to knock out a few pullups. I know what you mean, makes me feel like I’m not moving the needle on those days off. There’s a fine line between stimulation and recovery.
[quote]GrizzlyBerg wrote:
[quote]pwolves17 wrote:
Hey Grizz, are you taking regularly scheduled off days from training? My coach is letting me be pretty instinctual when it comes to rest days right now. They’re scheduled for 2 on, 1 off in my current program but if I feel well rested he said I’m free to train. I hate taking days off during prep as I feel my training sessions are such a great metabolic disturbance to stimulate fat loss, and obviously retain muscle. I also love being in the gym, as I’m sure is the case for all of the guys reading this! It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve taken a day off, considering making myself take tomorrow off. I feel good and wanna train, but wonder if it’d be beneficial for me to rest a bit before this last stretch of prep[/quote]
I take one of per week. MT- lift Wed- Cardio TF-lift S- lift and cardio S- rest. I definitely feel you on loving to be in the gym. If my rest days weren’t scheduled I would probably lift instead. I try to just relax and do some light stretching on the rest day.
Its kind of nice having one day off right before my strength days. Lets me prepare mentally and physically. [/quote]
Do you tweak your calories or carbs a bit on your Sunday rest day?
[quote]yodaddy wrote:
[quote]GrizzlyBerg wrote:
[quote]pwolves17 wrote:
Hey Grizz, are you taking regularly scheduled off days from training? My coach is letting me be pretty instinctual when it comes to rest days right now. They’re scheduled for 2 on, 1 off in my current program but if I feel well rested he said I’m free to train. I hate taking days off during prep as I feel my training sessions are such a great metabolic disturbance to stimulate fat loss, and obviously retain muscle. I also love being in the gym, as I’m sure is the case for all of the guys reading this! It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve taken a day off, considering making myself take tomorrow off. I feel good and wanna train, but wonder if it’d be beneficial for me to rest a bit before this last stretch of prep[/quote]
I take one of per week. MT- lift Wed- Cardio TF-lift S- lift and cardio S- rest. I definitely feel you on loving to be in the gym. If my rest days weren’t scheduled I would probably lift instead. I try to just relax and do some light stretching on the rest day.
Its kind of nice having one day off right before my strength days. Lets me prepare mentally and physically. [/quote]
Do you tweak your calories or carbs a bit on your Sunday rest day?[/quote]
Yeah. I drop my carbs on Wednesday (cardio) and Sunday (full rest).
I am normally at 190/275/60 p/f/c on a normal day and go to 225/205/65 on rest days.
Small drop of 100 calories but obviously the ratio is much different.
Da veins on da backs tell a tale!!!
What I started to do on Sunday as the contest was 4 weeks out was add the V-Burn challenge from the Velocity Diet on here. Its a ~20 min, full body workout you can do while watching TV at home and takes up almost no space. Check it out if you are itching to add something else
Wtf already back veins; damn nice work
Looking good brother. Back veins like others have stated! Badass!
You’re looking good Grizz, leaning up nicely and getting stronger!
gotta lotta shit for y’all. first videos
Vann and me from Saturday: Vann is my new training partner who is pretty big on youtube and is associated with iSatori and Tiger Fitness
reppin T-Nation, you fucking know it.
So I am officially done with my 3rd 5/3/1+ week under the tutelage of RJ. I have made an excel doc to track my progress.
Key
1rm: an estimated max
TM: the max I have been programming my percentages with
Since my BW has been decreasing I thought looking at the x bw I have been lifting would be a good indication of strength gains/lose. All of my lifts have increased in lb/bw (even if actual lb lifted decreased ex: squat) which makes me very happy.
Proud of you my dude!
Thattaboy! I didn’t have time to watch the videos right now, but that’s awesome that you’re still getting stronger, and looking leaner for sure. Dem chest striations 
niiiiiice
How far out are you now?
I always love when someone lifts 500… Its humors me to see that little 2.5lb’er hanging out with all the big boys
[quote]Lonnie123 wrote:
How far out are you now?
I always love when someone lifts 500… Its humors me to see that little 2.5lb’er hanging out with all the big boys[/quote]
Still playing it by ear. Gauging which of these 3 I will be ready for
06/28/14 Virginia Beach, VA OCB Natural Bodyz Beach Classic (IFPA PQ)
07/26/14 McDonough, GA NANBF Natural Georgia
08/02/14 Lexington, SC OCB Carolina Classic
Haha yeah my training partner was talking shit when I added the 2.5s. I just had to do it.
Courtesy of RJ.
#ShoulderVein
You’re looking really good Mike! I saw RJ’s shout out to you on Facebook today, good stuff. I saw that he said you’re 19 weeks out…is that the plan for sure? I’m a big believer in taking your time with a prep and making gradual changes to preserve muscle and metabolic health, but man that seems like a long time to me. You’ve already been going for 12 or 13 weeks haven’t you, because we started at about the same time.
I guess I just think you look more like 8-12 weeks out. 19 more weeks of prep would put you at well over half the year dieting, and that’s not to mention the weeks you’ll want to spend reverse dieting. RJ is obviously great at what he does and if you’re ok with dieting for 30+ weeks then props to you! I just don’t think I’d have the mental fortitude to prep that long without really hurting my passion for the sport