Reading this thread, CT’s various threads and Charles Poliquin’s stuff is the best stuff on this site bodybuilding wise.
Professor X, have you talked about supplements on this thread? Do you take any? Ever thought of posting some pictures posing?
Under a different profile we were once buddies or friends or whatever it is…I saw an old picture, but was wondering if you had ever taken and shared more.
[quote]Free2Be wrote:
Reading this thread, CT’s various threads and Charles Poliquin’s stuff is the best stuff on this site bodybuilding wise.
Professor X, have you talked about supplements on this thread? Do you take any? Ever thought of posting some pictures posing?
Under a different profile we were once buddies or friends or whatever it is…I saw an old picture, but was wondering if you had ever taken and shared more.[/quote]
I don’t have any pics posing but eventually will get some up, especially if I can hit the body weight I am after while also hitting single digit body fat.
I use HOT-ROX and Spike pretty much everyday. I was adding creatine to my protein shakes until I started buying the RTDs from Labrada (way easier to get down in between patients). That was the only reason I haven’t been taking it lately…which likely explains the 5lbs loss in body weight even though my strength has stayed the same or increased.
I will likely add the creatine back in if I can find a way to take it with me to work.
What does your average daily food intake look like?
Did you ever do cardio or lower your calories if you noticed you were putting on too much fat?
I’d imagine you know what you need to do now to manage everything, but I am curious how you handled it in your earlier years.
By the way thanks taking your time out to answer all these questions.
Whenever my mind starts wandering and I start reading silly crap, I always come back to this thread for a reality check on what works.
[quote]Goodfellow wrote:
What does your average daily food intake look like?
Did you ever do cardio or lower your calories if you noticed you were putting on too much fat?
I’d imagine you know what you need to do now to manage everything, but I am curious how you handled it in your earlier years.[/quote]
Today, my intake has been and will be:
-12 whole eggs
-protein shake
-protein shake
-1lb of beef/rice (even though I often don’t have time for the rice)
-protein shake
…after that I leave work so I can finally eat more. If I’m not worried about losing body fat, I may eat a triple meat Whataburger when I get home.
-1lbs of beef/potatoes
-.5lbs of beef/potatoes
then I go lift.
That would allow me to mostly maintain my body weight. If I wanted to gain more, I would have to eat more than that. I eat more fruits on the weekends but mostly center my meals around protein and fats lately more because I have very limited time to eat during the day right now. It is a struggle just to get this down.
As far as cardio, that was usually held for periods where the goal was to specifically drop weight (like around 20lbs). This is the first time I am adding it to hold near the same weight just to see what happens.
Long term the plan is to be much leaner than I am now but I am in no rush since I’m not exactly obese right now to start with. I know what I want to look like and if I feel I am not there yet (in order to hit my goal weight in that condition) then I will keep gaining.
Being super lean alone is not my top priority.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
pumped340 wrote:
wow you can get more reps adding 90lb. total?
I’m not sure what you mean here.
[/quote]
My bad, I didn’t mean more reps, I meant any. The overall percentage increase is definitely smaller for you adding 90lb. than me but I know if I put even 60lb. on a 10 rep weight I might not be able to get any reps. I guess everyones different though and you did say only 1-2 reps.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
I use HOT-ROX and Spike pretty much everyday. I was adding creatine to my protein shakes until I started buying the RTDs from Labrada (way easier to get down in between patients).
That was the only reason I haven’t been taking it lately…which likely explains the 5lbs loss in body weight even though my strength has stayed the same or increased.
I will likely add the creatine back in if I can find a way to take it with me to work.[/quote]
Hows the HOT-ROX working? I didn’t think you took any supplements like that from here (looking at it now though your a “level 4” on that scale they have).
why not just pu thte creatine in a little bag and empty it into a shake before drinking it?
-looking at that diet thats a ton of protein lol, less carbs than I would have imagined but the amounts were specified anyway so I don’t really know and you did say your trying to recomp.
-if you don’t mind me asking, how old are you? and how do you have the time to come on here even during work?! lol
[quote]pumped340 wrote:
Professor X wrote:
pumped340 wrote:
wow you can get more reps adding 90lb. total?
I’m not sure what you mean here.
My bad, I didn’t mean more reps, I meant any. The overall percentage increase is definitely smaller for you adding 90lb. than me but I know if I put even 60lb. on a 10 rep weight I might not be able to get any reps. I guess everyones different though and you did say only 1-2 reps.
Professor X wrote:
I use HOT-ROX and Spike pretty much everyday. I was adding creatine to my protein shakes until I started buying the RTDs from Labrada (way easier to get down in between patients).
That was the only reason I haven’t been taking it lately…which likely explains the 5lbs loss in body weight even though my strength has stayed the same or increased.
I will likely add the creatine back in if I can find a way to take it with me to work.
Hows the HOT-ROX working? I didn’t think you took any supplements like that from here (looking at it now though your a “level 4” on that scale they have).
why not just pu thte creatine in a little bag and empty it into a shake before drinking it?
-looking at that diet thats a ton of protein lol, less carbs than I would have imagined but the amounts were specified anyway so I don’t really know and you did say your trying to recomp.
-if you don’t mind me asking, how old are you? and how do you have the time to come on here even during work?! lol
[/quote]
I have a patient in the chair right now. He is getting x-rays taken by the assistant. That takes about 5-10min. I have my own office and my own computer. I log on as I please whenever I have a break. I also type obscenely fast.
As far as the HOT-ROX, I use that as a stimulant. It helps me get up in the morning and lift heavy. The same goes for Spike. I don’t expect much more than that from supplements.
As far as the creatine, I get enough dumb comments just because people see me drinking protein shakes. The last thing I need is for them to see me pull out a big bag of white powder.
Joking aside, I will get the creatine back in, I just haven’t yet.
Professor X, I’d like to know if you have experienced the near-ubiquitous shoulder issues(dare I say rotator cuff?) discussed on this site and elsewhere.
Considering your veteran status I’d find your advice concerning these or any injuries most helpful. My left shoulder is a bit dodgy at the moment, and I’m seeking all the advice I can get.
[quote]ddinante wrote:
Professor X, I’d like to know if you have experienced the near-ubiquitous shoulder issues(dare I say rotator cuff?) discussed on this site and elsewhere. Considering your veteran status I’d find your advice concerning these or any injuries most helpful.
My left shoulder is a bit dodgy at the moment, and I’m seeking all the advice I can get.[/quote]
I’d also like to hear about how you’ve dealt with injuries. Specifically the bicep tear I believe you’ve mentioned you had once. Thanks.
Professor X, recently I’ve been indulging in the wonders of youtube when it comes to bodybuidling and weightlifting. My personal favorite clip is by Elite FTS Powerlifting’s Dave Tate, called “It’s Who You Listen To”.
The main premise of the video is not to listen to everyone with a magazine article or blog, but to listen to the people who have reached the goals you wish to reach, something you have been preaching. Another key point, is “to do what they did”.
That being said, that does not equal “do what they do”. It would be difficult for a beginner like myself to train with the frequency some IIFB pros train with, for example.
So, my questions are:
[quote]Professor X wrote:
As far as the creatine, I get enough dumb comments just because people see me drinking protein shakes. The last thing I need is for them to see me pull out a big bag of white powder.
[/quote]
whoa whoa whoa your letting peoples opinions hold you back?
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Joking aside, I will get the creatine back in, I just haven’t yet.[/quote]
scared me for a minute haha
[quote]Professor X wrote:
MEYMZ wrote:
Hello X:
So you do 1-2 working sets per bodypart. In case you do 2 working sets, the first wouldn’t be THAT heavy. Aprox, which loading percentage of the second set you use on your first?
Why would I waste the time calculating some exact percentage of weight used? I never have and doubtfully ever will. There is simply no reason on earth to make this that complicated unless you are training for the Olympics and something that specific will help you move from 98.2% to 99% in terms of performance.[/quote] Yes that’s why I said aprox, but now I get the idea.
[quote]The weight I use for my first set is the weight that allows me to warm up the muscle efficiently without causing stress to joint or tendons (while also allowing me to get blood into those joints and to also loosen up the tendons and get them ready for heavier weight). That changes and is not the same. There are no calculations. For most chest exercises, I go up by 45lbs plates for the following set. That is simply the standard I set in my own mind as I think that I mentally benefit from seeing a 45lbs plate on the bar as opposed to some smaller plate.
That is strictly because I do believe that your progress is greatly affected by what you THINK you can accomplish.[/quote] Very very interesting. There were times where I felt I just went too slowly ramping up the sets on the HS machines, wasting energy. It was like 2 weeks I trained in a gym that had them (unfortunately hard to find them here with frequency). It may have been that I was new with them and was calculating the adequate loads.
[quote]Therefore, if I plan on going up to five 45lbs plates a side, I may start with 3 plates on that movement and then move up 5 for the last set. I also keep doing that highest weight until I can get it about 10 times. It has simply worked out in the past to meaning that I can go up by another 45lbs at that point and hit that once or twice making that my new max set weight.[/quote] Data wise I could say you start up with a weight slightly higher, near the half to what you do on your last working set. Let me get this straight, so when you can complete 10 reps with a weight on your last working set you add up to a new max?
I’ve read through this thread before but it’s been awhile so I’m not sure if this has been asked.
Why do you give each uppper body muscle its own day and work your entire lower body in the same day? You’re not top heavy, are you?
[quote]ddinante wrote:
Professor X, I’d like to know if you have experienced the near-ubiquitous shoulder issues(dare I say rotator cuff?) discussed on this site and elsewhere.
Considering your veteran status I’d find your advice concerning these or any injuries most helpful. My left shoulder is a bit dodgy at the moment, and I’m seeking all the advice I can get.[/quote]
I have never had any serious shoulder issues. I listen to my own body and avoid pushing when true PAIN is involved that denotes a potential injury.
I hope I never have any real shoulder issues. If it weren’t fpor that one time of me showing off, I would have been able to say I haven’t been seriously injured in the gym.
[quote]That One Guy wrote:
ddinante wrote:
Professor X, I’d like to know if you have experienced the near-ubiquitous shoulder issues(dare I say rotator cuff?) discussed on this site and elsewhere. Considering your veteran status I’d find your advice concerning these or any injuries most helpful.
My left shoulder is a bit dodgy at the moment, and I’m seeking all the advice I can get.
I’d also like to hear about how you’ve dealt with injuries. Specifically the bicep tear I believe you’ve mentioned you had once. Thanks.[/quote]
I’ve never had a biceps tear. I STRAINED my right brachioradialis muscle which means I have intense pain in my upper forearm during curling movements. I have to warm up for about 5min or more now before I go heavy on curls.
It took me until this year to figure out that the way around was to fatigue that muscle first (using much lighter weight but holding the top contraction). After that. I can go as heavy as I want to with minimal irritation.
My desire to always go heavier and do limited warm ups kept me from figuring that out a long time ago.
[quote]tcolp wrote:
Professor X, recently I’ve been indulging in the wonders of youtube when it comes to bodybuidling and weightlifting. My personal favorite clip is by Elite FTS Powerlifting’s Dave Tate, called “It’s Who You Listen To”.
The main premise of the video is not to listen to everyone with a magazine article or blog, but to listen to the people who have reached the goals you wish to reach, something you have been preaching. Another key point, is “to do what they did”.
That being said, that does not equal “do what they do”. It would be difficult for a beginner like myself to train with the frequency some IIFB pros train with, for example.
So, my questions are:
I listened to EVERY SINGLE PERSON I RAN ACROSS WHO WAS WAY BIGGER THAN ME. I can guarantee I must have been irritating to some people because I kept asking questions, even if I knew the answer already just to get a different perspective.
I was the smaller guy following the big guys around asking them how they did what they did. Considering how fast I progressed in college, it didn’t take long for them to see that I was serious. It also didn’t take long for me to start passing them up.
As far as your number 2, I don’t follow some set premade program because I know what I need to be training. Your question implies that I would still follow some written routine instead of training according to my own recovery and how those muscles felt.
Why would anyone do that?
[quote]MEYMZ wrote:
Let me get this straight, so when you can complete 10 reps with a weight on your last working set you add up to a new max?
[/quote]
That is what I did to get to the point I am now when it comes to chest training. I have gone up in weight for other exercises like dumbbell curls simply because someone was using the one I was about to grab…so I go up in weight and force myself to get some reps out of it.
Biology is not a static entity. People who can’t take small cues from their own body will forever be behind those who can. I push my own limits. I don’t use weights that are “comfortable”. There are also no hard and fast rules that must always be followed.
[quote]LankyMofo wrote:
I’ve read through this thread before but it’s been awhile so I’m not sure if this has been asked.
Why do you give each uppper body muscle its own day and work your entire lower body in the same day? You’re not top heavy, are you?
[/quote]
My quads measure 30" right now, so no, I personally wouldn’t call that top heavy. They have been bigger in the past but it was honestly uncomfortable. About 3 years ago they hit 31" and I had trouble standing with my feet together because my quads hit each other.
My hams could use some more size, but at this point, it comes down to whether I am going to compete as far as whether I really want my legs that much bigger.
You may not hear this from others, but walking around with gigantic quads over 32" can be a hassle. I am not sure how some of those pros do it. Coleman must be starting brush fires with every step and burning spandex is nothing like potpourri.
I’ve heard that from some of the bigger guys too, about the big legs being a problem. I could see that if they start getting over 28-30in. like you basically said.
At the same time you might as well get as big as you can and at least do one competition to really see what you got especially with what you have going for you.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
MEYMZ wrote:
Let me get this straight, so when you can complete 10 reps with a weight on your last working set you add up to a new max?
That is what I did to get to the point I am now when it comes to chest training. I have gone up in weight for other exercises like dumbbell curls simply because someone was using the one I was about to grab…so I go up in weight and force myself to get some reps out of it.
Biology is not a static entity. People who can’t take small cues from their own body will forever be behind those who can. I push my own limits. I don’t use weights that are “comfortable”. There are also no hard and fast rules that must always be followed.[/quote]
I get your point, and I should be getting it because I want to get as big as I can. It’s hard for most people to advance that next step and get off that square world of sets, reps, exercises, premade programs, etc… Thanks X.
Prof. X I noticed you mention your chest routine a few times but what do you currently do (and what did you used to do) for your legs? I’m even more interested considering they’ve been up to 31in. do you/did you squat heavy or depend mainly on other things?