After the deload are you switching back to your strength block (or wherever Greg calls it).
Yes, back to accumulation training. Which I’m looking forward to because everything waves.
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Woke at 257.7 lbs, bloating has subsided a little more.
I’m sure you’ve mentioned this, but what’s your ceiling - 260 lbs? Do you see yourself cutting again at some point - not for aesthetics but just in general or for health?
You’ve come a long ways since I first started following you when you cut to 180. I commend your ability to pursue a goal. I have goals, but body fat always plays a huge factor, and I can’t put that on the back burner. Hell, my shoulder injury actually occurred during the week I hit my top lifetime weight last year - 250. Apparently, my shoulder didn’t like supporting that weight when I was hanging from the rim.
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@Frank_C it was 260 lbs, then it became 265 and now it’s settled at 275 lbs because that’s the top of the weight class.
At some point I’ll have to cut, simply to make room for more muscle. I’m too short to even think of ever lifting at 308 and tbh I’m on the short side for 275 too, while I’m on the taller side for 242. Medium term, I need to fill out 275. I’m around 17 pounds off that, although 15 extra would do for me.
I want to get there with the same body composition I have now, so that I wear the same pants and my belt is at the same notch. Anything more and I’m adding junk mass. Another thing I’m tracking is how many pullups I can do, as well as pushups and dips. I figure if those numbers stay around the same I’m doing ok. So on Friday hitting several sixes on pullups and over 15 on several pushups and a set of 13 dips I was happy enough.
I know I’m fat, but being able to do those bodyweight exercises as well as I could when I was lighter sets my mind a bit at ease. I mean, sure I could do more dips when I was around 185 lbs, but pullups and pushups have stayed in a very similar range.
When I hit 275 lbs I’ll probably get a DEXA, and cut down whatever weight is fat. Then head back up to 275.
I’ve toyed with the idea of cutting before that but two things hold me back. First, any time I look at the pictures from when I was in the 180s, I’m struck by how small I was and how little muscle I was carrying. When I’m next that lean I want to have something to show. Second, cutting now won’t help me get my total. In many respects I’m still not that far into the game, and I want to lay down some good foundation of muscle before I strip down. That’ll take some more time, especially because I’m not in my late teens or early 20s. I just need to be patient.
If I cut down now to any meaningful extent (say to around 10-12 per cent body fat) I’ll almost be back in the 220s. If I wait until I’m at 275, I’ll be pretty much smack bang on 242 lbs at the same composition. Much better.
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It’s funny how being lean tends to be a reality check for most of us. I just see a skinny guy when I see pics of myself from the zoo today, but my avatar pic is from this weight. I guess I need to be shirtless to look like I lift?
The mind can be a powerful enemy.
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Spot on. I think I’ve touched on it before, and loath as I am to use genetics as any kind of reason I suspect I’m not really cut out to be particularly lean without a large amount of work spent on adjusting my body to be lean. I’m talking years spent focusing on body composition rather than strength or even building muscle.
Body composition just isn’t important enough to me for that.
I’m happy being fluffy and strong. Right now I’m not strong enough, but I’m on the way so it’ll do for now. Once my bench starts approaching 400 pounds things will really take off, and that probably will happen in the next two years.
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I commend you for your commitment. I hit 250 last year at a height of 6’5" and I hated it. I hit 250 for like a week and then immediately started cutting. I hated it. I was uncomfortable.
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Thanks man. I’m lucky. I haven’t really gotten uncomfortable. Moving around isn’t hard. About the worst is that I have to be conscious of how long I sit for and periodically I wake up with numb arms and hands. When I was in the 180s I got head rushes every time I got up from sitting and looked ill.
I think an advantage I have is that I went through a long time of having really negative body image and really low self esteem. Then I got lean. The big deal for me was that I got there and stayed there for a while. It’s reassuring to know I can get there if I’m prepared to go through the hassle. I also discovered I’m more concerned with being strong than looking pretty.
I’m also really, really stubborn. The fact that I’ve put 385 lbs on my total in five years just reinforces my conviction that if I keep at it I’ll get the big total I want.
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Just noticed that the bloating seems to have coincided with my feeling like shit. Could be because I ate the same and was less active, could be symptomatic of something else. No idea.
Then the bloating starts to slowly recede as I feel better.
Mark I’m impressed as well about your journey, as J I started following along while you were shrinking to 180 lbs.
You really are stubborn, and that is meant in a good way. You set your goal and just keeps on grinding until you eventually reach it.
Gaining 80 lbs of bw is quite impressive yes you are a bit to the fatty side, (not fat like a dude who don’t workout) and you’ve got a lot of muscles to support it.
Once you decide to scale a bit back to 240 you’ll look even more beastly.
Just wanted to say, you are really motivating Mark. Thanks for all your inputs and great mindset everywhere here on the log section.
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@mortdk thank you. It means a lot. I want to help if I can.
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What foods do you eat? Since I’ve started the vertical diet I’ve had zero bloating (one of the things the vertical diet is for, the consumption of lots of food without stomach troubles)
Crumpets, tahini, honey, chocolate muffins, milk, couscous, minced beef, chicken giblets, milk, pasta, sourdough bread.
The giblets are new, but I’m doubting it’s them.
Hmmm. The bread and pasta could be the cause. Pasta especially depending on portion sizes and total daily consumption. Alot of people dont resonate very well with wheat
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Yes all the pasta seems to have made you add 60lbs of weight !! 
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I doubt it. I haven’t eaten enough of it for that to happen. Could be cheese though.
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How dare you!!! Leave those delicious breads and pastas alone.
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Woke at 259.9 lbs, and the bloating looks to have subsided slightly again. It’s sitting above my navel and below my ribs, which is where it usually pops up.