EDIT: definately not saying steaks arent clean 
clears things up before mr. beefcake professor runs in and tells him off and that 'he eat meat - burger good
Your front delts really seemed like a strong bodypart for you in that first year college pic.Did you increase your volume of pressing that you were doing around that time?Actually I remember some impressive pressing numbers that were posted somewhere.My pressing sucks big time.My levers dont help but do you have any tips that helped you increase you bench and shoulder strength?
*Akuma
I don’t think we’ve ever conversed on these here ‘interwebz’ before but I’d like to say that I for one certainly enjoy reading your article like threads and I greatly admire your work ethic, humility and level of dedication. I also admire, well- am jealous of -your calves and writing ability/talent.
I think you are a very talented writer and possibly poet as well? I am, as I said equally jealous of your calves you b@£%$^d!@! however I have incorporated your double crunch technique and the steep incline walking exercise you mentioned in an older thread and have added half an inch, so a big thank you and good luck with your contest preparation 
I hope you will keep us informed of your progress in this, or a separate thread.
Hey Akuma,
just wanna let you know I just wrote down the simple choices of food you said. I sometimes overcomplicate in a way that I don’t know what, and in what amount to eat anymore. I think the simplistic approach is the best for increasing muscle mass, well I don’t think 'cause it’s a fact.
I would like to know about the poundage progression over the years on your main exercises. I remember a video where you press 405 on the seated shoulder press, that’s just insane.
I told you so man…
Good shit.
[quote]MEYMZ wrote:
Hey Akuma,
just wanna let you know I just wrote down the simple choices of food you said. I sometimes overcomplicate in a way that I don’t know what, and in what amount to eat anymore. I think the simplistic approach is the best for increasing muscle mass, well I don’t think 'cause it’s a fact.
I would like to know about the poundage progression over the years on your main exercises. I remember a video where you press 405 on the seated shoulder press, that’s just insane.[/quote]
I’m pretty sure it was 315 and it was for reps. But I could be wrong.
[quote]coolnatedawg wrote:
What are you taking pre or during your workout to keep energy levels up? I find that on days like back and biceps, I am so crushed from all the back work that bicep work doesn’t get the attention in deserves. What have you found to combat this?[/quote]
I dont have a “Pre workout.” My snack before a workout currently is normally 2 scoops of whey, 1 scoop of Synthax, and a banana, as my first snack of the day im either at work or in school, so i dont really have time to sit and eat. I do however take a during- 2 scoops of Anaconda + 2 scoops Surge workout fuel. Back when i was doing my major split, to where id have back/shoulders on the same day, id bump the scoops up to 2 1/2 or 3. I know how you feel, but say before i was using the Anaconda combo, i would basically just power through it. I would always think back to my favorite animes, think about how they pushed through so much, about the torture that they barreled through, and id basically use that. I know it was stupid and childish, but it got me motivated. Mentality is a powerful tool.
pro-a-ggression-
20inch arms are decent, but they arent good enough. The day you become content is the day you begin to fall.
It is our life experiences and how we choose to allow them to affect us that depicts who or what we become. I am grateful for every moment, every experience, every accident- it is because of them that i am who i am, and i like me.
Its possible that my volume had some carry over to my size. In the same thought, its possible that my volume has held me back. Who knows, maybe i could be 300lbs right now if i had trained with a higher frequency. But you work with what you got. And in my beginnings, my knowledge of it all was minimal. I didnt eat enough, i possibly didnt train properly…like i said, who knows. but everyone needs to start somewhere- whether they begin lifting wisely or begin lifting foolishly, Lifting is Lifting. EVERYONE needs a base on which to build their structure. The important thing is to keep building. As for the bigger frame theory, i believe thats only because of the mental anguish fat kids go through. It becomes their fuel, instigating their fiery passion from a dull red flame to a bright Blue one. The hotter the passion, the harder the push, the better the results. If it was easy, everyone would do it. You can have anything in life if you are willing to sacrifice everything for it.
Yea, i do have a log- I Think I'm Going to Do It... - Training Logs - Forums - T Nation
By all means check it out.
No, i dont always eat clean, but i do usually. Yea, if its a hot day and im with some friends, i might go snag a Frozen yogurt, but nothing im going to go out of my way for. I pretty much eat clean out of habit these days. Knowledge is a dangerous tool. You know whats in things, you know what happens when you eat certain foods, etc. Not to mention, after being a clean eater for so long, you kinda develop a stomach for it. You taste bad foods, sometimes it churns the stomach. Example- Was at BJs Bar/grill a couple weeks ago for a friends Birthday. I snagged a drink, a Fu fu mixed drink because im pimp like that (My contention is that being big allows me the right to get the good tasting, gay looking drinks, wear the stupid shirts, etc because no one will say anything- I wear things like my Cookie monster shirt to the gym often) anyway, after dinner, a couple others at the party ordered a Pazookie. For those of you who dont know, a Pazookie is a Giant freshly basked, melting cookie, with Vanilla Bean ice cream on top. I didnt have any, not because i was afraid of getting fat, but because i just didnt care to shove anymore into me after my 16oz burger, seeing the pazookie made me damn near sick to my stomach. Funny story actually, a bit off topic- I work at a certain restaurant, as a Server. I swear, the job of this restaurant is to make people obese, so call it Ironic. Anyway, a couple days ago, out of curiosity due to a larger(chub) man’s appetite, i decided to do a count on what he ate- 4 Raspberry lemonades (no ice), 2 cream based soups, 2 bowls of Pasta + sausages and more cream sauce and a triple later chocolate cake slice for dessert- approx 3.5k calories, 200g fat, 100g sat. fat, and 400 carbs. The kicker was that this kid asked me how to get buff after the meal… oh society…
[quote]Akuma01 wrote:
When i woke up from it all, i was terrified. Apparently i was lucky though. Glass nearly missed vital parts of me, despite have a rib through the lung, i nearly missed being blinded on both eyes, as i have a 1 inch scar above my left, and a 1 inch scar below my right eye. Life felt surreal for the next upcoming weeks. Everything was fuzzy, constantly. After my lung has patched up nicely, i figured it was time to start fixing things.
[/quote]
Inspiring stuff bro. You’ve got the character to overcome adversity, that will make all the difference in your chosen vocation.
[quote]law8 wrote:
Your front delts really seemed like a strong bodypart for you in that first year college pic.Did you increase your volume of pressing that you were doing around that time?Actually I remember some impressive pressing numbers that were posted somewhere.My pressing sucks big time.My levers dont help but do you have any tips that helped you increase you bench and shoulder strength?[/quote]
They are relatively large, its why a lot of my routine these days is spent training Lateral and rear heads- To try and balance things. but my front delt was probably a good reason i had a stronger bench (To those who knock my bench video, id just like you to know I hadnt benched for a good while before that was taken, hence the “weak” bench and less rom, not to kick a dead horse, but yes i had repped 550 on a smith cage when i would bench every chest day, whether you believe me or not doesnt matter in the slightest).
I cant really say i have any tips to increase your bench and shoulder strength aside from doing them. Honestly, if you want a stronger movement, you train that movement.
[quote]buddaboy wrote:
*Akuma
I don’t think we’ve ever conversed on these here ‘interwebz’ before but I’d like to say that I for one certainly enjoy reading your article like threads and I greatly admire your work ethic, humility and level of dedication. I also admire, well- am jealous of -your calves and writing ability/talent.
I think you are a very talented writer and possibly poet as well? I am, as I said equally jealous of your calves you b@�£%$^d!@! however I have incorporated your double crunch technique and the steep incline walking exercise you mentioned in an older thread and have added half an inch, so a big thank you and good luck with your contest preparation I hope you will keep us informed of your progress in this, or a separate thread.[/quote]
Haha, well i appreciate that a lot. Ive always enjoyed writing. As for the contest prep, yea i might post some stuff, we’ll see. The contest isnt until march, and i plan on allowing myself a 16 week cut, so ill be starting basically after Thanksgiving…Going to have to Cut through Christmas…ugh.
[quote]MEYMZ wrote:
Hey Akuma,
just wanna let you know I just wrote down the simple choices of food you said. I sometimes overcomplicate in a way that I don’t know what, and in what amount to eat anymore. I think the simplistic approach is the best for increasing muscle mass, well I don’t think 'cause it’s a fact.
I would like to know about the poundage progression over the years on your main exercises. I remember a video where you press 405 on the seated shoulder press, that’s just insane.[/quote]
Definitely, those food options make things simple. If ever i teeter on what to eat, i just use those. They are always good, and an excellent source of whichever nutrient needed.
The press was actually a 315lb press. Honestly, i couldve bumped more, but i was afraid. Was a lot of weight, with a bad positioned spotter (Thanks to the shitty gym equipment), and absolutely no safeguard. I know i couldve repped 365, and i MIGHT have been able to get 1 or 2 with 405. Ive recently started doing them a bit differently, starting from the bottom rack rather than the top. This way i remove the “helping factor” of gravity and momentum manipulation. You start from a dead stop, at the bottom of the movement. Working with 275 atm, but i plan to kick it up to 315 again shortly (As stated earlier, i just returned from a break, so im still easing into things
[quote]countingbeans wrote:
I told you so man…
Good shit.[/quote]
YEP You were right, As always CB. Lol but im sure a couple people on these threads still hate me. Lol and honestly, this thread will die very quickly and be short lived. I do appreciate the thought tho.
[quote]XanderBuilt wrote:
[quote]Akuma01 wrote:
When i woke up from it all, i was terrified. Apparently i was lucky though. Glass nearly missed vital parts of me, despite have a rib through the lung, i nearly missed being blinded on both eyes, as i have a 1 inch scar above my left, and a 1 inch scar below my right eye. Life felt surreal for the next upcoming weeks. Everything was fuzzy, constantly. After my lung has patched up nicely, i figured it was time to start fixing things.
[/quote]
Inspiring stuff bro. You’ve got the character to overcome adversity, that will make all the difference in your chosen vocation.[/quote]
Thank you. As ive often said, i like to help when i can, and if someone can become inspired through something ive said, then ive achieved something.
“Do not fear the winds of adversity. Remember: A kite rises against the wind rather than with it.”
In for the win/support
My Diet On a Average workout day-
Breakfast- 8 egg whites, 4-5 yolks, a wheat pita, 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/4 raisins, 1 banana, 1 scoop whey protein.
Snack- 1 scoop SynthaX, 2 scoops whey, A banana
During workout- 2 scoops Anaconda, 2 scoops Surge Workout Fuel
PWO shake- 4 scoops N Large
Pwo Meal- 10-12oz meat, 1 cup brown rice, 1/2 cup Peas/corn
Pre bed snack- 2 servings Cottage cheese, 1 serving Cashews, flavor with cinnamon.
Supplements include- Liquid Carnitine stacked with CLA taken around my workouts, Vitamin Code Multi vitamin (Normally take 6 a day, in servings of 2 at a time), Acidophylus and Psyllium husk with every meal. Also am taking Animal pack Flex, for joint protection. I try to drink about 2 gallons of water a day, keeping myself hydrated. I also try and play things by ear, if i feel like i need something ill add it in. Sometimes its about listening to your body.
Interesting tid bit- I was at a buddy’s house with a group of friends just hanging out, about to go out for some Lunch. My buddy busts out the matching Groomsmen outfits for his wedding coming up, as we also need to get them fitted (long story short, amazing deal, so they decided to pick up everyone’s outfit at once and just have use getting them fitted at a later date).
My buddy hands me a 44 jacket…Lol we laughed as i couldnt even bend my arm back enough to put it on. So later, we head to the Men’s Fashion Warehouse. Sitting there chatting with the fitter, we start discussing me. Basically, he chuckles and says “Lol we might have to special order his…lemme check the back.” He returns with a 48, and as we all figured, still a little too tight on the shoulder girdle- Basically if i flared my back, it wouldve torn.
So he laughs again and comes back with a 50. Yea, it works for the shoulder, but protrudes further than we’d like in the front. Moral of the story- i have to wear a 50 jacket, and i think i can be proud of that =p
[quote]Akuma01 wrote:
Interesting tid bit- I was at a buddy’s house with a group of friends just hanging out, about to go out for some Lunch. My buddy busts out the matching Groomsmen outfits for his wedding coming up, as we also need to get them fitted (long story short, amazing deal, so they decided to pick up everyone’s outfit at once and just have use getting them fitted at a later date). My buddy hands me a 44 jacket…Lol we laughed as i couldnt even bend my arm back enough to put it on. So later, we head to the Men’s Fashion Warehouse. Sitting there chatting with the fitter, we start discussing me. Basically, he chuckles and says “Lol we might have to special order his…lemme check the back.” He returns with a 48, and as we all figured, still a little too tight on the shoulder girdle- Basically if i flared my back, it wouldve torn. So he laughs again and comes back with a 50. Yea, it works for the shoulder, but protrudes further than we’d like in the front. Moral of the story- i have to wear a 50 jacket, and i think i can be proud of that =p[/quote]
I hear there are an army of tailors in Thailand working furiously to get Mr Akuma’s jacket ready, untold amounts of thread, and countless man hours will be needed to get this masterpiece finished
[quote]XanderBuilt wrote:
[quote]Akuma01 wrote:
Interesting tid bit- I was at a buddy’s house with a group of friends just hanging out, about to go out for some Lunch. My buddy busts out the matching Groomsmen outfits for his wedding coming up, as we also need to get them fitted (long story short, amazing deal, so they decided to pick up everyone’s outfit at once and just have use getting them fitted at a later date). My buddy hands me a 44 jacket…Lol we laughed as i couldnt even bend my arm back enough to put it on. So later, we head to the Men’s Fashion Warehouse. Sitting there chatting with the fitter, we start discussing me. Basically, he chuckles and says “Lol we might have to special order his…lemme check the back.” He returns with a 48, and as we all figured, still a little too tight on the shoulder girdle- Basically if i flared my back, it wouldve torn. So he laughs again and comes back with a 50. Yea, it works for the shoulder, but protrudes further than we’d like in the front. Moral of the story- i have to wear a 50 jacket, and i think i can be proud of that =p[/quote]
I hear there are an army of tailors in Thailand working furiously to get Mr Akuma’s jacket ready, untold amounts of thread, and countless man hours will be needed to get this masterpiece finished
[/quote]
Damn better get that finished Asap, otherwise imma have to run amok in that city again!
I’ve only just joined the site but I’ve been a reader on an off now for over a couple of years and I must say that Akuma01 I enjoy reading your posts an threads thanks for all the info that you share and training brain storms that you start.
[quote]Akuma01 wrote:
[quote]law8 wrote:
Your front delts really seemed like a strong bodypart for you in that first year college pic.Did you increase your volume of pressing that you were doing around that time?Actually I remember some impressive pressing numbers that were posted somewhere.My pressing sucks big time.My levers dont help but do you have any tips that helped you increase you bench and shoulder strength?[/quote]
They are relatively large, its why a lot of my routine these days is spent training Lateral and rear heads- To try and balance things. but my front delt was probably a good reason i had a stronger bench (To those who knock my bench video, id just like you to know I hadnt benched for a good while before that was taken, hence the “weak” bench and less rom, not to kick a dead horse, but yes i had repped 550 on a smith cage when i would bench every chest day, whether you believe me or not doesnt matter in the slightest).
I cant really say i have any tips to increase your bench and shoulder strength aside from doing them. Honestly, if you want a stronger movement, you train that movement. [/quote]
Thanks for the reply.Your right I should just do them more.I started off pretty backways,my strength on those movements was weaker so instead of concentrating on them I let them slip and did more rowing movements which I was stronger on.pretty silly I know.
Oh and I got alot of cool information from that shoulders thread you started thanks for that dude!