I Think I'm Going to Do It...

Training Training Logs
141

Ahh Legs…one of my most hated days. Well, since i didnt have my partner again, yay solo =(, and high rep was working so nicely before, i figured id keep it up. Honestly, im beginning to think higher reps is the way to go with legs…

ALSO, every couple of sessions, im going to put extra emphasis on my hams. This was one of those sessions.

Squats- 15/135, Following by 10min of Foam rolling (felt soo painfully good), 15/135, 15/185, 15/225, 12/275
(I really pushed the reps for this one. It was light, it felt good, and so i rolled with it. This exercise was actually the reason i turned today into a higher rep day. Also, FTR, i was dripping sweat and damn near pooped just by the end of this lol.)

RDLs- 15/95, 12/135x2 (started feeling my lower back too much, so i basically called it here).

1 legged leg extensions- 15/50x2, 15/70x2

Prone leg curl- 15/65, 15/95, 15/110, 12/125

Hamtractor- 15/185x3

Now, i had wanted to throw some Glute ham raises in, but i opted not to for several reasons.

  1. My hams were so pumped by the end of hamtractors, that i was unable to raise my leg.
  2. I wanted to involve as little arm as i could, in that i need my Biceps tendon to fix itself asap, and holding weight at chin height while doing GHRs would be counter productive.
  3. I was wiped lol. high repping those weights, namely squats, really did me in. i mean, i did almost 30 more reps in squats and with heavier weight than last week.

Yes, excuses are still excuses, but logic is a completely different story. When you get to a certain point, skeletal muscle becomes much more of an extension of your mind. Concentrating, muscle focusing, isolation- All tools properly utilized by those who have experience in what they do. An experienced lifter can use a lot looser form than a beginner, and still produce more in terms of isolated results SIMPLY for the fact of that Mind/muscle connection. You feel the muscle, how to use it, and how it is. My workout today was a mildly high weight with high reps, and it felt fantastic. At the end of my squatting sets, i seriously wanted to lay down…and i think thats exactly how it shouldve been.

142

AHhh it feels good to update this again. I wonder how many followers i lost in my down time =\

ANYWAY- Chest and Calves. I kept things light and high rep, as to keep the possibility of restraining to a minimal.

incline Db press- 20/30, 15/50, 15/65, 15/80

Flat Fly- 15/30, 15/35, 15/40

HS incline Machine- 15/90, 15/140, 15/180

Above parallel cable flies (Not parallel, but not to my Arnold Fly level. Just slightly above parallel)- 15/40, 12/50, 12/60

Reverse Rep Pec Dec (Now this is a pec dec movement where you begin at the top of the movement and stop the eccentric portion of the rep before you reach halfway. This movement is move focused on the inner pec)- 12/50, 12/80, 12/100

Rope Serratus Cable pulls
Supersetted with 20/100, 15/130, 15/150
Rope Cable Crunches

Seated Calf- 15/90, 15/135, 15/180, 15/225, 12/270, 10/315

Standing Calf machine- 12/495 x3

*Horizontal Nassers- 15/0, 15/10 - Stopped here due to Ab tightening (See Akuma Thread)

Felt great getting back in. The high rep scheme turned muscles into kiddy pools of blood. My upper chest was a chin rest, and my outer pec was a wall, preventing any sort of medial pulling of my arm. it was great. I had some good lighting in the gym today, and really wanted to take some good pictures. unfortunately, my shitty camera phone has absolutely no zoom, and pics off the mirror would have not given me any sort of credit to my actual fullness. Still crossing my fingers that my arm holds up. Planning on continuing the I.C.E. today, and possibly pushing back my Back/bis day til wednesday to give it an extra day of rest between chest and back. Not taking any extra off days here, might just swap it from Thurs to Tues. We’ll see how i feel tomorrow, just gotta play it by ear. As of right now though, i feel great, i feel fantastic…i feel unstoppable. Once i get the momentum rolling, i will not be stopped. No force on earth will deny me what i have poured my heart, body, and soul into. I will be denied no longer.

143

Keeping up with the high reps/low weight, as to ensure my tendon is still good.

Pendlay Rows- 15/95, 15/135x2

Yates Rows- 15/95, 15/135x2

HS isolateral Row- 15/90, 15/180x2

Lat pulldown Face pulls (Did this with a Palms facing in bar, kinda like a B-bar style, but i forget the name)- 15/50, 15/80, 15/100

Low cable 1h Rows- 15/40, 15/60, 12/80

Close grip Db preacher- 15/25, 12/30x2

1H barbell preacher curl (extreme focus on eccentric motion and explosion)- 12/20x2, 8/30

I was literally dripping wet walking out the gym. My bis and lats were pumped to hell. I opted not to do forearms, as they felt a little pumped already and i also didnt want to jump right back into things with them, just incase things tried to flare up again. All in all, it was a good day, still looking forward to lifting heavy again though. God it feels good to rep out more weight in a single exercise than more people move in their entire gym career ha.

144

Lol i think my week off, minor strain, and resulting light weight work has lost some followers. I need to start moving some large weight again!

145

Eh I am still following,although I feel that increasing poundage’s isn’t the only way to progress sometimes its just getting better workouts over time regardless of the weight used, like improving muscle mind connection, getting better pumps and stuff like that.

146

[quote]JoabSonOfZeruiah wrote:
Eh I am still following,although I feel that increasing poundage’s isn’t the only way to progress sometimes its just getting better workouts over time regardless of the weight used, like improving muscle mind connection, getting better pumps and stuff like that.[/quote]

yea i know. But i just so love the heavies =p

147

Long Day today =p
Once again, keeping things light for the most part, working with higher reps. Ill be transitioning to a bit more Med weight/reps coming up.

Db Military press- 20/30, 20/35, 20/50, 20/60, 15/70

incline DB Laterals- 20/15x2, 15/25x2

Cable behind the back laterals- 15/20, 15/25, 15/30

Rear Delt X’s- 15/30, 12/35 (Now i stopped 2 sets in, because it felt like the eccentric portion of the movement was really hitting my Front head.)

Reverse Pec Dec- 15/60, 15/80, 15/100, 15/120

Lat Pressaway Rope extensions (once again, i do these on a double pulley, they are much heavier than single pulley systems)- 20/50, 15/60, 15/70

1handed Cable Extensions (done with a Supine grip, with elbow locked at side. This too was done on the double pulley system)- 15/20x2, 12/30x2

incline Skullcrushers (1handed, but both arms done at the same time)- 15/25x2, 12/35x2

Cable Kickbacks- 15/15, 15/20, 15/25

Barbell Shrugs- 15/135, 15/225, 15/315, 15/405, 8/495 (Really got into these)

1H DB shrugs- 12/60, 12/70x2. Was wiped after this.

Today felt great. My tris were ridiculously pumped, my delts felt great, and my traps were destroyed. Im currently sitting here, waiting on dinner. Im nice and clean after my hot shower, and i feel good. Im happy. My arm still feels great, nothing sparking up, so im pretty ecstatic about that. maybe next week ill be kicking things up a bit. Gotta start using the big stuff, burning the big calories, and getting my ass to shape. My eyes are dead set on that finish line, that competition. Losing is not an option. Im bringing some Gold to T-Nation…

148

Well i figured last week wasnt enough of a Ham blaster week, so i did it again. I have to say, my legs feel wrecked.

Squats- 15/135x2, 15/185, 15/225, 12/275

Lunges- 30steps/Barx2, 24steps/+20lbs x2 (this demolished my legs. I had to lay on the floor towards the end between sets just to let my legs recover lol)

Hamtractor- 20/180, 15/225, 15/255, 15/285

1 legged leg extensions- 15/50, 15/70, 12/90, 10/110

Prone leg curl- 15/65, 15/95, 12/125

Hip ADDuctor-20/50, 20/65, 15/80, 12/95

Hip ABDuctor- " "

I waddled out of the gym, legs broken, but spirit feeling higher than ever. Leg workouts, when done properly, make you want to quit. They are the tormentor. They break you, attempt to crush your spirit. Whether you choose to keep pushing, keep bumping, keep antagonizing the pain is the deciding factor. Its that line, not a fine one but rather a large chasm, that separates the will of a champion from another. “I barely got the 15 with 225…Im going to bump it 50lbs and try again,” “I BARELY squeaked out 24 steps with only 65lbs…Im going to do it again,” “Ive only been here 40min and im completely wiped out…but im not done yet.”

Everyday, i grow. Everyday, i change. Everyday, i force my own evolution. You say i cant, but i say i can. YOU stand there, mockingly. You harness an arsenal of words, a bevy of nonsense and bullshit. Daily, you launch attacks on me. But i grant your words NO power. I allow your blows to glance off me. I continue walking, Undeterred. I AM Determination. I AM the definition of Will power. I Will NOT be driven back. Every day, every session, every meal, YOU are there. You question this, you belittle that, YET i remain UNphased. I continue on, taking every fucking word YOU place upon my back, every burden you stack atop my shoulders, and i smile- for every ounce of bullshit that rests on me, i am that much stronger. I smile. My eyes, fixated on the horizon, do not stir. My legs continue walking, refusing to wobble. My heart, agonizingly tested day in and day out, refuses to quit. I smile, and remain silent…for this is the calm before the storm…

149
150

got a bit heavier today, things were feeling fine til the end, then my bicep was starting to get a little pumped, nothing big though.

DB press- 20/35, 15/50, 12/75, 12/100, 10/120

Incline press- 15/40, 15/60, 12/80, 12/100

Incline Fly- 15/40, 12/50, 12/60

HS Incline press- 15/90, 15/180, 12/270, 8/360

Cable flies(starting high and come down low)- 15/50, 12/70, 12/80, 10/90, 10/100

Cable flies High(starting high and coming across at chin height)- 15/40, 15/50

Db pullovers- 15/40, 15/50, 15/60

Serratus Rope pulls
Supersetted 20/100, 15/130, 15/150
Rope Crunches

Seated Calf- 15/90, 15/135, 15/180, 15/225 12/270

Standing calf- 10/495x2

Calves were a bit wrecked, so i called it there. Good day over all though. Chest is wicked pumped, calves are a bit sore, legs are aching from the other day. I am satisfied. Unfortunately, i cannot write a long winded speech that no one cares to read tonight, dont have time lol. Monday though, youll get a x2!

151

Good day, Great pumps-

Lat pulldown (Complete warmup factor. Didnt really consider doing pullups with my bw as warmup anymore lol)- 15/100x2

Pullups- 10/Bw x4

Pendlay Rows- 20/95, 15/135, 12/185, 12/225

HS isolateral Row- 12/180, 10/270, 10/360, 8/450

Seated Rope Face pulls- 10/50, 10/80, 10/100, 10/120

Close grip DB preacher- 10/30, 10/35, 8/40, 8/45

Alt curls with pinky twist (What i did here was perform standard alt curls with emphasis on lateral rotation of the palm at the top, bringing the pinky higher than the thumb. The result was major bicep exhaustion)- 8/30, 8/35, 8/40, 8/50

High cable curls- 15/30, 12/40, 10/50, 10/60

Pronated Wrist BB curls
Supersetted with - 15/20x2, 12/30x2
Kpipe Bb curls

BB Flexor curls- 15/95, 12/135x2

Whole day felt good. I was feeling muscle contraction from start to finish. The blood flowed, and all was well.

Hmm, now if i recall i promised some good mentality here…But who am i really writing for? Am i writing for you? Are YOU still even there? That’s how these things evolve…or rather how its always been, for me atleast. The support is there at the beginning, and then, as time goes on, you find yourself once again lost and alone. Its ok, i dont blame anyone. Maybe i keep writing these for myself…to get rid of some of this emotion, some of this frustration. Every day, every moment, if everything isnt perfect, i stall, my progress falters. Its a burden, it truly is. But am i really disgruntled in carrying it…?

Suffer the pain of the burden, or suffer the pain of regret. If i dont continue pressing forward, if i dont continue reaching for the stars, i know i will hate myself forever. We do what we have to do. It is no longer a goal, but rather a life mission. Do i expect most people on this site to understand? no i dont. Yes i understand that this is a bodybuilding website, but do i believe that every single person on this site is 100% dedicated? Are people waking up 2 hrs earlier simply to make breakfast and have time to eat it? No, i dont. Im sorry, but im not that naive. Do i blame others though? Absolutely not. Different people have different goals, and their goals are THEIRS and theirs alone, no one elses. If anything, i set the bar too high for myself. I set the bar to almost indefinitely produce failure. But it is the constant failure that drives me, for the day that i truly succeed…

152

You’re writing for your adoring fans like me lol

But in all seriousness, it is very refreshing to see the ins and outs of someone much larger and (at least for me) more real as you are in SD. I go in to 24 hours at UTC and I see all the waste-of-life Ed hardy douche ads walking around and I get demotivated. Between this log, a few others, and the BOI I have had a renewed sense of… well brotherhood.

Keep on writing because some of us are still reading because we want to; some of us need to.

153

[quote]ahu2468 wrote:
You’re writing for your adoring fans like me lol

But in all seriousness, it is very refreshing to see the ins and outs of someone much larger and (at least for me) more real as you are in SD. I go in to 24 hours at UTC and I see all the waste-of-life Ed hardy douche ads walking around and I get demotivated. Between this log, a few others, and the BOI I have had a renewed sense of… well brotherhood.

Keep on writing because some of us are still reading because we want to; some of us need to.[/quote]

lol well as long as it matters to someone, i will continue. And i can appreciate being surrounded by those people. I dont see it as demotivational though. I simply pity them. I see so many people in the gym, day in and day out, that have been going there for years, some with the aid of a personal trainer, and yet none of them have changed so much as double digit pounds, whether it be gaining or losing. The fat ones are still fat, still sitting on a bosu ball doing one arm cable rows, having a mindless conversation with not so much as a breath out of place with their D-bag, parasite of a trainer; the thin ones, still thin. Still pounding away at what they think is heavy weighting, thinking they are hot shit, constantly checking their abs in the mirror after a set of DB curls, whilst they teeter at a whopping buck 60. Whereas i, in the course of basically 3 years, have dropped from 220 fat to 180, gained muscle back up to 220, dropped down to 200, gained up to 265, and am now dropping down again, prepping for a competition. I have Gained more weight in terms of pure muscle than combined groups of the members of my gym have lost in terms of weight period. And yet they STILL think they “Rock people’s socks.” Its damn near pathetic. BUT that still isnt the frustrating part. Its just the constant feeling of being alone through it all. People not understanding, the constant questioning, the tireless hours spent laboring, whether it be in the gym or in the kitchen. Its mind boggling how i love it, because its so damn solitary. An anomaly wrapped in an enigma.

154

[quote]Akuma01 wrote:

[quote]ahu2468 wrote:
You’re writing for your adoring fans like me lol

But in all seriousness, it is very refreshing to see the ins and outs of someone much larger and (at least for me) more real as you are in SD. I go in to 24 hours at UTC and I see all the waste-of-life Ed hardy douche ads walking around and I get demotivated. Between this log, a few others, and the BOI I have had a renewed sense of… well brotherhood.

Keep on writing because some of us are still reading because we want to; some of us need to.[/quote]

lol well as long as it matters to someone, i will continue. And i can appreciate being surrounded by those people. I dont see it as demotivational though. I simply pity them. I see so many people in the gym, day in and day out, that have been going there for years, some with the aid of a personal trainer, and yet none of them have changed so much as double digit pounds, whether it be gaining or losing. The fat ones are still fat, still sitting on a bosu ball doing one arm cable rows, having a mindless conversation with not so much as a breath out of place with their D-bag, parasite of a trainer; the thin ones, still thin. Still pounding away at what they think is heavy weighting, thinking they are hot shit, constantly checking their abs in the mirror after a set of DB curls, whilst they teeter at a whopping buck 60. Whereas i, in the course of basically 3 years, have dropped from 220 fat to 180, gained muscle back up to 220, dropped down to 200, gained up to 265, and am now dropping down again, prepping for a competition. I have Gained more weight in terms of pure muscle than combined groups of the members of my gym have lost in terms of weight period. And yet they STILL think they “Rock people’s socks.” Its damn near pathetic. BUT that still isnt the frustrating part. Its just the constant feeling of being alone through it all. People not understanding, the constant questioning, the tireless hours spent laboring, whether it be in the gym or in the kitchen. Its mind boggling how i love it, because its so damn solitary. An anomaly wrapped in an enigma. [/quote]

Well so ya know, i’ve been following along. I’ve always been more of an observer than an outspoken participant.

I know a little about how you feel in people not understanding. I mean all i have to tell them is that i drink 1-2 gallons of water a day and they go “Whoa, What, Why”? “Is your office the bathroom”? I seriously had a guy ask me that one time.

Keep up the good work bud, i’ll be following along as you continue leaning out.

155

Akuma,
This is one of the only training logs outside of BOI, I follow (other than ebomb & alpha). It is interesting to see how others train. I would like you to keep documenting your journey towards your contest. There is much to be learned from those who walk the walk (such as yourself and another 1.546% of this site).
-Deat

156

Heh, all these posts are bringing tears to my eyes.

I follow just cuz I like to see that sexy body go bump, bump, bump.

157

Then to appease Nikki and her “Bump, Bump, Bump” desires, i will continue. =p
Now today i started getting a bit heavier, not on everything, and not fully, but the bumps came…

Standing DB laterals (Did these one arm at a time, with a slight pinky twist at the top of the movement)- 15/25, 12/30, 10/35, 8/40, 8/50

Front DB raise (just to give my front delt a little love)- 10/30x2, 10/35

Cable Behind the back laterals- 15/20, 12/30, 10/40, 8/50, 8/60

Reverse Pec dec (once again, done with a pronated grip)- 15/80, 12/110, 10/140, 10/170

High cable Rear delt row (This movement was a little weird and basically just me experiementing, but it didnt feel half bad. Basically stand laterally to the cable, with a high cable, and pull laterally [while keeping the cable high], keeping the focus on the rear delt. Limit ROM if necessary to feel rear delt pinch and no tri involvement)- 15/20, 15/30, 12/40

Tri pressaway (once again done on the double pulley)- 15/50, 12/75, 10/100, 10/130, 8/150

1Hand supinated Tri extension (Done with a cable, and supinated grip. Lock Brachiium at side and keep the movement solely in the antebrachiium)- 10/30, 10/40, 10/50, 8/60, 8/70

Overhead Tri extensions- 10/30, 10/35, 8/40, 8/50

Barbell Shrugs- 15/135, 15/225, 15/315, 12/405, 8/495

Once again, the heavier weight felt good. And i was looking in the mirrors at the gym…Its such a damn shame what i see there does not come out in what i get from photos. Nothing better to dampen ones spirits than some shitty photos…

Oh well. Gotta keep going. In a couple weeks i should be dropping a bit more weight, and hopefully the sun will come out, maybe i can tan up a bit…post some decent pics up…we’ll see…All i know is i want this more then ever, and as the days progress, my yearning grows and grows…

158

Well started implementing cardio on my off days. So, today was 20min of HIIT on an elliptical (with a 2:30 warmup and a 2:30 cooldown). Actually doesnt feel too bad…havent done cardio in such a long ass time haha

159

[quote]Akuma01 wrote:
Different people have different goals, and their goals are THEIRS and theirs alone, no one elses. If anything, i set the bar too high for myself. I set the bar to almost indefinitely produce failure. But it is the constant failure that drives me, for the day that i truly succeed…[/quote]

I was reading through your log and I was just impressed with the way you write. These days it seems as if I need a new-age dictionary to read anything that some people are saying. And I’m only 22.

This quote really hit home with me and I was curious if you ever had issues with your motivation when setting that bar to high. I do that now and I know it can be used to produce the kind of drive that you seem to have, but I seem to be having trouble harnessing it’s power. Did you ever have a time like this and if you did, what was your turning moment?

160

[quote]samson141 wrote:

[quote]Akuma01 wrote:
Different people have different goals, and their goals are THEIRS and theirs alone, no one elses. If anything, i set the bar too high for myself. I set the bar to almost indefinitely produce failure. But it is the constant failure that drives me, for the day that i truly succeed…[/quote]

I was reading through your log and I was just impressed with the way you write. These days it seems as if I need a new-age dictionary to read anything that some people are saying. And I’m only 22.

This quote really hit home with me and I was curious if you ever had issues with your motivation when setting that bar to high. I do that now and I know it can be used to produce the kind of drive that you seem to have, but I seem to be having trouble harnessing it’s power. Did you ever have a time like this and if you did, what was your turning moment?[/quote]

I cant say that motivation has really ever been a problem, Albeit, for some stupid reasons. Ive mentioned before that im a big DBZ fan. Ive always put myself into that world. Who knows what we truly can become, ya know? Whose to say that we only have so much potential or limitations. That world itself is such a giant mystery. Possibilities are limitless…

The trick is to unleash your fury, your passion. Use that power, the strength of your soul, the kindling of your being, without losing the reigns of your emotions. What happens when someone loses their cool? They become consumed with rage, attacking whatever or whomever. Well its because they become flooded with emotion, lashing out without thought. Well, i grew up with two older twin brothers, and i would constantly watch them blow up over meaningless shit. Well, watching that, always feeling powerless and confused as to why such anger should be released over nothing, i was disgusted. So, i said that’s now how things were going to be for me (and i decided this at a very young age). So as i grew, i became more and more in touch with emotions, more and more sensible. I remember the later years when they would get into arguments, i would provoke one of them myself, turning his anger onto me, then i would play their emotion game for a moment, then storm away, and that would be the end of their skirmish. It was this i believe that gives me such good control over myself. It seems i call that strength that comes through rage out when lifting, but am able to break away from the trance in a moments notice. An example of this would be my daily routine in the gym. Im always approached by people who ask questions. Ill be standing there after a set, sweat dripping, breathing heavily, ipod in, stern look on my face, with my eyes fixated on one point, and someone will walk up to me. And through a sudden transformation, my eyes will be soft, ill be smiling, and ill give whatever information i can.

So back to the original question- Me setting the bar high and if that constantly failure deters my motivation. No, no it doesnt. As i said, its that failure that drives me, It’s that “No you cant” that makes me push harder, it’s that “Impossible” statement that allows me to keep getting up and doing this. “Fall down seven times, get up eight.”