Legacy Gets Strong and Ripped

[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
No offense man, you’re higher than 9%. Don’t worry about lower ab veins at 4%, you should be able to see what you’re thinking at 4%.I know you’re cutting, but you seem to be losing alot of strength. A year round 6-9% is low man. A year round LEGIT 10-12% looks damn good and allows you to maintain/gain strength, at least as far as I’ve found. Good luck to you.[/quote]

First of all, thanks for posting, like i said i need feedback, because it keeps me accountable, and gives me thoughts and ideas, as well as keeping me in my place.

My bodyweight at the time of those pictures was 190, but my bf% was taken at a weight 183.5 approximately 4 days later, so there is quite a bit of waterweight shown in my pics that wasnt there at the time of the reading. But i have read many times on this site and others that 10% is the magic number to seeing your abs. And when flexed, i had a clearly defined six pack, even at the time of those pics, but i dont have any ab shots to prove it. But i could be over 9%. I am also hoping that when i post some more progress pics at the end of next week that you will be impressed. ( hopefully i will be impressed as well)

And my lifts arent really going down, other than the initial oh crap i’m not getting any carbs. And my bench is starting to go back up already now that im gettin adjusted. And i have set several PR’s this week, so i dont feel that i’m really losing much strength at all.

You may be right about the walking around at 6-9% that may be a lil low, but to put things into perspective on how fast i gain muscle w/out much fat. 1st day of college i weighed 170, w/ more body fat than i have now. By the end of the second semester i was 195 with the close to the same bf%. thats roughly 15-18lbs of muscle in 8 months. So i feel that if i can cut down low enough, i should be able to see good muscle gains wihout breaking back into double digits. ( and no steroids or anything of that nature have or will be used)

Thursday Day 11
Wake up: 1cup green tea, 1 cup coffee, 1 TRIBEX, 2 green tea pills
M1: 4eggs, 1/3 cup cheese, 1/3cup oats
M2: 1oz mixed nuts, and protein shake
M3: Pork, broccoli w/ cheese, and green beans
M4: Protein Shake w/ olive oil.

I hate waking up late, it completely throws off my eating plan.

Weight: 179

Workout:
Hang Snatch: 5x95, 5x105, 5x115, 5x125, 3x135lb
Power Clean: 3x2x185lb
Cardio: jogged for 20 minutes

My workout wasn’t too intense today, due to the fact that i am trying to save my legs for my “Refeed day” when i will probably try to destroy my legs and back.

Friday Day 12
Wake up: 1cup green tea, 1 cup coffee, 1 TRIBEX, 2 green tea pills
Cardio: walk 20min at 3.5mph
M1: 4eggs, 1/3cup cheese, 1/3cup oats
M2: Protein Shake, 1oz mixed nuts
M3: Burger w/cheese, no bun
M4: Protein Shake w/ olive oil

Workout:
Chin ups: 10 slow reps, 12x45lb (PR), 10x45
Cable Rows: 20x150lb, 20x150lb, 30x150lb
BB Curls: 10x70lb, 10x80lb, 10x90lb (PR)
Incline Curls: 3x20x30lb DB’s

Today, went fairly well, i really didnt feel that strong when i started today, but i ended up setting two big PR’s. Three more reps w/ a 45 on chin ups, and straight bar curled 90lbs for 10 reps, which was about 4 reps onto my PR, and all with good form.

Tomorrow: RE-FEED DAY!!!

[quote]legacyfighter wrote:
WhiteFlash wrote:
No offense man, you’re higher than 9%. Don’t worry about lower ab veins at 4%, you should be able to see what you’re thinking at 4%.I know you’re cutting, but you seem to be losing alot of strength. A year round 6-9% is low man. A year round LEGIT 10-12% looks damn good and allows you to maintain/gain strength, at least as far as I’ve found. Good luck to you.

First of all, thanks for posting, like i said i need feedback, because it keeps me accountable, and gives me thoughts and ideas, as well as keeping me in my place.

My bodyweight at the time of those pictures was 190, but my bf% was taken at a weight 183.5 approximately 4 days later, so there is quite a bit of waterweight shown in my pics that wasnt there at the time of the reading. But i have read many times on this site and others that 10% is the magic number to seeing your abs. And when flexed, i had a clearly defined six pack, even at the time of those pics, but i dont have any ab shots to prove it. But i could be over 9%. I am also hoping that when i post some more progress pics at the end of next week that you will be impressed. ( hopefully i will be impressed as well)

And my lifts arent really going down, other than the initial oh crap i’m not getting any carbs. And my bench is starting to go back up already now that im gettin adjusted. And i have set several PR’s this week, so i dont feel that i’m really losing much strength at all.

You may be right about the walking around at 6-9% that may be a lil low, but to put things into perspective on how fast i gain muscle w/out much fat. 1st day of college i weighed 170, w/ more body fat than i have now. By the end of the second semester i was 195 with the close to the same bf%. thats roughly 15-18lbs of muscle in 8 months. So i feel that if i can cut down low enough, i should be able to see good muscle gains wihout breaking back into double digits. ( and no steroids or anything of that nature have or will be used)
[/quote]

I don’t think there’s necessarilly anything “magic” about 10%, other than that most people don’t understand how lean a true 10% is. I’ve got veins in my upper arms and chest and a clearly defined 4-pack [when flexed] and I’m around 12% right now. A true 10% is pretty damn lean, and with a solid bit of muscle [which you have] one would look damn good. I made the 6-9% comment 'cause I’ve been below 6%, and I felt like shit the whole time. I just don’t see a point in getting that low unless you plan on competing or modeling, or unless you’re naturally inclined to be that lean.

That’s just how I see it, which doesn’t make it the way it is. One thing that has worked for me in terms of leaning up while maintaining [and in some cases gaining] strength is carb cycling. I thought it sounded dumb until I tried it, now I’m a believer.

I have also been under 6%, and at the time i felt like crap, probably more because i was doing low carb during wrestling season. I ended up losing 25lbs in 3 weeks, top that V-Diet, lol. However, I am still feeling pretty good on the Get Shredded Diet, i dont really feel tired, its just the inability to get a good pump going that sucks. I don’t really plan on competing, although i have thought about it, i just want to see what i will look like at crazy low bf% w/ some actual muscle mass this time.

As for the carb cycling i plan to do that as i come off the Get Shredded Diet. (It worked great for me when i was trying to lose the 20lbs of fat i gained in the first 8 weeks of school. It wasn’t till the second semester that i really made any muscle gains.) Then gradually do a slow clean bulk like CT discussed in http://www.T-Nation.com/readArticle.do?id=1268956
I think that will be a pretty good choice for me.

Saturday Day 13
M1: 3cups strawberry mini-wheats, 3.5cups 2% milk, Protein shake w/ olive oil: 1320cals
M2: Collossal Big 100 Bar: 410cals
M3: Dorito’s, Sun Drop, 4slices Pizza: 1020ish cals
M4: Collossal Big 100 Bar: 410cals
PW: Protein Shake, Juice: 260cals
M5: Porkchop, baked beans, french fries: 560cals
M6: 3cups cereal, 3cups milk, protein shake w/ olive oil: 1260 cals

Weight after M4: only 180lbs

Workout:
Romanian DL: 10x135, 10x185, 10x235lb
Sumo DL: 3x5x285, 10x285(PR!!!)
Front Squats: 10x135, 10x155, 5x185, 205x5 (PR? maybe)
Single Leg Ext: 1x10x90lb negatives
GHR: 1x20 w/ as slow as possible eccentric portion. (PR)
Seated Calf raise: 1x20(both legs), 1x10(single leg)

Needless to say, today was awesome, the food was amazing, it made the whole day go by great, with exception to the workout, lol. I wanted to blow chunks after every set, but i held strong, and it was definitely worth it. All ending sets today were to failure or complete muscle cramp, whichever came first. I hit some big PR’s today, including 10 reps of 285lb on sumo dl. The first three sets i was struggling to get 5 reps, but the last set i just got pissed and in a hurry, and i hit 10 reps, and i suck at repping weight on dl’s. Today the limiting factor on earlier sets seemed to be the sudden urge to vomit, whereas the latter sets were to muscle failure. Looking forward to nex “Re-feed day”

Monday day 15
Wakeup: 1cup green tea, 2 green tea pills, walk 20min
M1: 4eggs, 1/3cup cheese, 1/3cup oats
M2: 1oz mixed nuts, 1oz jerkey, 1 can tuna
M3: Protein Shake
M4: Hamburger 1cup green beans
M5: Chicken 3/4cup mixed veg
M6: Protein Shake
10g creatine and 5g glutamine, and some BCAA’s
Weight: 183 (nice gain from Re-feed day)

Workout:
Bench press: 10x135, 5x185, 3x8x225(PR), 15x185
Incline close grip: 3x8x135
Dips: 10xBW, 10x45, 10x70lb(PR) 12x70lb(PR)
Tricep ext: 2x10x120lb
Pushups, feet elevated: 2xfailure
Cardio: 10min jump rope

Today i was somewhat suprised i didnt gain more weight from my Re-feed day, but 5lbs is still alot for one day. i set a few PR’s today. I did three sets with my previous 225 rep max, so i guess that is a PR, (1x8x225 was my last PR, this PR is 3x8x225), i finally had a good bench day. I also hit a PR on dips, 70lb for 12 reps. So that brings me a few steps closer to my goals for Jan.

Tuesday Day 16

Wake up: 1cup green tea, 2 green tea pills, 2 TRIBEX, 1 cup coffee
M1: 4eggs, 1/3cup cheese, 1/3cup oats
M2: 1can tuna, 1oz mixed nuts, 1oz jerkey
M3: Hamburger patti, and broccoli
M4: Pork and mixed veg
M5: Protein Shake
10g creatine, 5g glutamine, BCAA’s
Weight: 181

Workout:
Wide grip chins: 10x10xBW (all slow and really squeezing the lats)
Bicep Curls: 5x20x45lb

Cardio: walk 1hour

I know today’s workout seems pretty simple, but the 10x10 chin ups wore me out. I am trying to get my chin up volume up so that maybe it will help me to be able to become more efficient at them and add more weight. Bicep curls were amazingly hard after doing this. I had originally intended doing just the bar for a warm up, but it was almost too much, so i just did 5 sets with the bar. I also got a nice pump in my bi’s from this. Overall today went pretty well, but next time i will try to squeeze some more stuff into my workout.

Stay tuned for Thursdays workout, it should be hell on earth, same intensity as Tabata but lasting about 4 times longer!!!

Wednesday Day 17
Wake up: 1cup green tea, 2 green tea pills, 2 TRIBEX, 1 cup coffee
M1: 4eggs, 1/3cup cheese, 1/3cup oats
M2: 1can tuna, 1oz mixed nuts, 1oz jerkey
M3: Hamburger patti, and broccoli
M4: Pork and mixed veg
M5: Protein Shake
10g creatine, 5g glutamine, BCAA’s
Weight: 178

Workout:
Hang Cleans: 5x135lb, 3x3x185(PR), 3x2x205(PR)
Shrugs: 3x10x225
Standing Calf Raises: 3x20x185lb(10slow 10 fast no rest)
Seated bent leg calf raises: 3x15x135lb(slow)
Jog: 20min

Man i dont know why, but hang cleans will wear you out quick. The most i have ever been able to hit on hang clean is 185 for 1 rep, but i got it for 3 sets of 3, and then i got 205 for 3sets of 2, so that was pretty awesome. I think my hang clean is higher than my power clean for the first time ever. I still need to work on my front squats so i can get under the bar on cleans, because right now i am not dropping under the bar, i am just spreading my stance to get under it. If i can get my front squat up and my rack pulls up i should be able to pack on some weight with hang cleans. Anyway, tomorrow should be a pretty intense workout

Thursday day 18
Wake up: 1cup green tea, 2 TRIBEX, 2 green tea pills, 1 cup coffee
M1: 4eggs, 1/3cup cheese, 1/3cup oats
M2: 1can tuna, 1oz mixed nuts, 1oz jerkey
M3: Hamburger patti, and broccoli
M4: Chicken and Veggies
M5: Protein Shake
10g creatine, 5g glutamine, BCAA’s

Workout: Iron Ladder
35seconds for each excercise per set, as many reps as possible, 35sec break after each excercise, and 2 minute between circuits.

Circuit 1:
Bench press:35x135lb
Chin ups: 30xBW
Thrusters: 27x25lb
Dips: 40xBW
Push ups: 30xBW
Sit ups: 30x10lb

Circuit 2:
Bench press: 28x135lb
Chin ups: 20xBW
Thrusters: 25x25lb
Dips: 22xBW
Sit ups: 28x10lb

Circuit 3:
Bench Press: 32x135lb (dont ask me how i did this)
Chinups: 18xBW
Thrusters: 24x15lb
Dips: 18xBW
Sit ups: 24x10lb

Circuit 4:
Bench press: 24
Chin ups: 15xBW
Thrusters: 25x25lb
Sit ups: 24x10lb

This workout was pretty intense, i wasn’t sucking wind as bad as i thought i would be, but my muscles were really fatigued. But the eggs i had for breakfast this morning wanted to come up. i started gettin that vomit sensation pretty good during my last circuit, but i kept my eggs down somehow. I did beat my friend for everything, except 1 set of bench. He plays linebacker at a University (I guess all my years of wrestling paid off when it comes to conditioning). So i was pretty happy about that.

Friday Day 19
Wake up: 2green tea pills, 1cup green tea
M1: 4eggs, 1cup cereal
M2: 1 hamburger
M3: 8oz pork 1cup green beans
M4: 1scoop ice cream
M5: Protein shake

No weightlifting today, all the gyms are closed due to it being the 4th of July. It was also the reason for the hamburger and the ice cream. But i ate pretty clean considering where i spent most of my day. hopefully i dont gain any weight from it. Just to make sure i am going to walk an hour before bed.

Saturday Day 20
Wake up: 1cup coffee, 1cup green tea, 2 TRIBEX, 2 green tea pills
M1: 4eggs, 1/3 cup oats, 1/3 cup cheese
M2: 1can tuna, 1oz mixed nuts, 1oz jerkey
M3: 8oz chicken
M4: hamburger patti, 1cup green beans
M5: Ribeye mixed veggies
Weight: 179

Workout:
Box Squats: 10x135, 5x225, 3x275,x 3x300, 3x315lb (PR), 3x335lb( PR!!!)
Front squats: 8x185lb, 5x185lb
Single leg leg extension(no rest, just switching legs between each set): 2x10,8.6,4,2x50lb
GHR(slow negative): 3x10xBW
Leg Curls: 3x12x100lb

My workout today went extremely well. I only got 4hours of sleep last night, so i was expecting to drag all day. However, i set a huge PR today on box squats , 3x335!!!Last week, i could only get 335 once. Tonight i plan to get more sleep. Tomorrow is another rest day, so Monday i should be fresh to hit some new PR’s on bench and dips.

Sunday Day 21
Wake up: 1cup green tea, 1cup coffee, 2green tea pills
M1: 4eggs w/ 1/3cup cheese, 1yogurt
M2: 6oz chicken, small salad
M3: pork rinds, 2oz mixed nuts
M4: Chicken and broccoli
M5: Protein Shake w/ olive oil

Today had been kind of crappy. Last night i was playing dodgeball barefoot on a tennis court and ripped the ball of my foot off (stupidly i continued to play.) today i could barely walk, needless to say i didnt get my 3 mile walk in that i had planned. Tomorrow i will wrap my foot and pound out half an hour of cardio if it kills me.

Monday Day 22
Wake up: 2 TRIBEX, 1cup green tea, 1cup coffee, 2 green tea pills
M1: 4eggs, 1/3cup oats, 1/3cup cheese
M2: 1oz mixed nuts, Protein Shake
M3: Hamburger patti w/ cheese, salad
M4: 6oz chicken, 1cup broccoli
M5: Protein Shake
Weight: 178

Workout:
Bench: 10x135lb, 5x185, 3x235, 3x255, 7x225
dips: 10xBW, 10x45lb, 10x90lb (PR)
Shoulder superset:3x12x20lbs no rest between excercises, just between sets.
Seated Lateral raises
Front Raises
Shoulder Press

Cardio: walk/run 32minutes

I felt pretty good today, looks like my bench is finally starting to come back up which is great. I hit a PR in dips today, i think i could have gotten a few more if the weights hadn’t been swinging. i also started training for a 5k today. It is nothing to strenuous, just going to try and finish it as fast as possible.

Tuesday Day 22
Wake up: 1cup coffee, 1cup green tea, 2 green tea pills
M1: 4eggs, 1/3cup cheese, yogurt
M2: 1oz mixed nuts, protein shake, pork rinds
M3: 6oz pork ribs, 1cup broccoli, 1/2 small sweet potato
M4: Protein Shake w/ olive oil

No weights today, but i did swim about 500 meters today for cardio. Going to slowly work my way up to 1000meters. I am starting to notice some changes in my body composition again, it sort of stalled out for 4-5 days. My serratus muscles are becoming more apparent. I think tomorrow sounds like a good day to set some new PR’s in chin ups, rows, and bicep curls. so i think i will try it and see how i like it.

Wednesday Day 23
Wake up: 1cup green tea, 1cup coffee, 2 green tea pills
M1: 4eggs, 1/3cup cheese, 1/3cup oats
M2: 2oz mixed nuts, protein shake
M3: 8oz hamburger, with tomato sauce, 2slices cheese
M4: 6oz chicken, 1cup broccoli, protein shake w/ olive oil
Weight: 177.5

Workout: 1minute rest between all sets and excercises
Wide grip chin ups: 12,12,10,10,8,6x BW
Machine rows: 4x8x150lb
BB curl: 5x12x65lb

cardio: run/walk 32minutes

Todays workout took around 20 minutes, not counting cardio, but it was pretty intense. I figured since I am doing a fat loss diet, i should start doing workouts that promote more fat loss. so today thats what i did, I actually got a really good pump from it, which i did not expect at all. Hopefully i will really be able to tell a difference between this and doing cardio every day.

Crossfit…

I think i have decided to start adding crossfit into my lifting routine. What i havent decided yet is whether i want to do the WOD everyday, or just do workouts with names on my metabolic days. I really want to try them, because i like the whole competition aspect of crossfit. It should also help me burn fat alot faster, and even build some muscle.

If anyone has any suggestions on how i should slowly work my way into crossfit. Or any comments about crossfit please post them.

Thursday Day 24
Wake up: 2 cups coffee
M1: 4eggs, 1/3cup cheese, yogurt
M2: Hamburger patti w/cheese, broccoli
M3: 2 chicken thighs, 1cup cooked spinach
M4: Pork rinds, protein shake w/ olive oil

Weight: 176.5
Cardio: Run/walk 32minutes

Today was a really busy day, started at 5 this morning with me getting ready to take a proctored test for my online class. Then had to run across town all day. I barely had time to get my running in, but i got it. Tomorrow i plan to do some olympic lifts, hang snatch and hang clean probably. Accompanied by some Trap work and calves.

Friday Day 25
Wake up: 1cup coffee, 2 green tea pills
M1: 5 eggs, 2 slices cheese, 1/3cup oats
M2: 1oz mixed nuts, 1tbsp peanut butter, protein shake
M3: hamburger patti w/cheese, 3/4cup mixed veg
M4: 6oz chicken, mixed veg
M5: Protein Shake

Weight: 177

Workout: (1minute rest between all sets and excercises(
Hang Clean: 6x3x185lb
High Pull: 5x5x135lb
Shrugs (explosive): 4x12x185lb
Standing Calf Raises: 3x20x185lb

I really enjoyed my workout today. I got a pretty good sweat going and finished in about 25minutes. It is also the first time i have ever been sore in my traps before the workout was over. I am hoping that the short rest intervals will help burn more fat, and create a bigger growth hormone response. I am also hoping it will help my olympic lifts come up.

Tomorrow: REFEED DAY!!!

Call me stupid but here is…
TOMORROWS WORKOUT
In any order, perform the following three workouts, with 4hours rest between workouts:

Three rounds, 21-15- and 9 reps, for time of:
95 pound Thruster
Pull-ups (chest must hit the bar to count)

5 rounds for time of:
275 pound Deadlifts, 5 reps
10 Burpees

Run 1mile

I am really hoping to be able to complete this in right around 20minutes, but it is the first time i have ever tried anything like this, so we shall see.