Yeah, I know, I had a thread about that. I got it looked at. Kinda hard to not have it when you’re obese at 256 pounds and 40% bf.
I’m a little discouraged, not giving up obviously, this is my life. I just feel like I gotta find something that works, been stuck for a while.
[quote]BJammin wrote:
Yeah, I know, I had a thread about that. I got it looked at. Kinda hard to not have it when you’re obese at 256 pounds and 40% bf.
I’m a little discouraged, not giving up obviously, this is my life. I just feel like I gotta find something that works, been stuck for a while.[/quote]
Let’s see. You’ve…
Why do you think your plan is not working? If the fat gain is getting to be a bit too much, increase cardio, lower carbs, or both. I mean, you were obese at 256 lbs, now your within 18 lbs of the same weight and are not obese. Again, why are you viewing the last 14 months as a failure?
When you start from a very low point strength- and mass-wise, it just takes you that much longer to get where you want to be. But give yourself a little credit here. Keep bulking and increase your physical activity to keep fat in check.
I’m not trying to be self pittying or anything. It’s just difficult to see the results I am looking for. Not at all looking at this as a failure. How I view it is that I was behind the starting line when I did start.
Now I feel like I’m just getting it, just understanding. So you see, I feel like this is my beggining, everyone’s a little discouraged at the beggining. It doesn’t affect my intensity, if anything, it drives me to work harder. But shit man, don’t you think that I could use a little shape on that biceps?
[quote]BJammin wrote:
How I view it is that I was behind the starting line when I did start.[/quote]
Exactly.
Of course. So keep working hard. Building any appreciable mass takes time and a lot of work.
End of story.
Well good and blunt sir, thank you for your words of encouragement. I’ll make another thread about my goals when I see where I am 6 months from now. Thanks again.
5x5 is a good routine, if you haven’t done it before give it a shot. I’m doing it atm with really good results.
How many weeks have you been at it? I’m pretty excited to give it a try. I really want to increase my bench and squat above all.
about 4 weeks, prior to that I barely lifted for close to 2 months because of injuries so some of it was getting back to where I left off, but I’ve already beaten all my old PR’s.
I originally planned to only do it for 4 weeks but I’m making so much progress it’ll be stupid to switch atm.
Thats good, I plan on doing it for 8 weeks or until progress completely halts. You think 225x5x5 is a reasonable goal for the bench if I’m doing 205x5x5 now?
225x5 after 8 weeks? I hope your goal would be higher, but I wanted to say you definitely have come along way from where you started. Good progress man, keep it up.
Thanks Wilmer. I have done bench so wrong so many times, super wide grip, too close of a grip, elbows flared, not touching my chest. It’s been my worst lift since… birth lol. I never got it down, until now. So, whereas I am starting from scratch as far as everthing else goes, I’m behind in the benchinal region. I only got 225 for 2, but my form was all off. You think maybe 235x5x5?
Yeah. Honestly, I was stuck at 275 forever and I never thought I would break through that plateau. An old powerlifter at my gym helped me with my form, hand placement, foot placement, how to lay on the bench, to arch the bar, and to control the weight, instead of it controlling you. That was all I needed to blow past 275. What part are you sticking at?
As far as 225 goes, I start off like shit, I can get 4. The first one is easy, the second one is pretty hard, and that third one is just 7 inches or 8 inches off my chest and it doesn’t budge, not down or up, like this ever annoying balance. I’m really hoping this 5x5 can get this to stop happening or at least make it happen on a heavier weight lol. What are you lifting for reps now?
Right now I’m cutting but I still lift heavy to maintain strength and muscle. Right now I get 315 4-5 reps, just depends on how much sleep I can get; school is kicking my ass.
Benching has always been my worst lift. Few things that helped me
-dumbbells, these felt way better. I don’t think I’ll be going back to BB benching for long time, if ever.
-don’t go down to chest , obviously a shorter ROM = more weight but when you have long arms, theres a point where going lower doesn’t really do much but strain your shoulders.
-keep your back tight
DB bench are definitely my favorite. I rotate between barbell and dumbbell every 2 weeks.
I love me some DB, but I feel like I need to get some weight on that bar. I used to do dumbbells all wrong too, finally getting the hang of it though. Funny, most people bench and bench and squating is like kryptonite, but for me, never had a problem with squating or squat depth, just benching. It’s so simple yet it took me forever to just get form let alone heavy weight.
dude. to be honest, i have never met someone who has dealt with the EXACT SAME shit as me.
i too, at 6’2 was fat as shit at like 240ish. I dropped to 168 4 years ago. I then went up to 275 to chunky, and have eventually settled down to 240ish now. I too have 17in arms exactly. i too have gyno. i too have long arms (78in wingspan as opposed to 74in height-supposed to be the sameish).
i am pretty much in the same boat. my bench is the fucking worst, and right now, i seem to have some shitty leverage for bench squats and deads. i really dont have much to say other than the fact i have been following a more westside style approach to lifting so my lifts are better- maybe something you need to consider…
but just realize, you arent the only one in this situation. i literally feel like you are my long lost twin right now… we even somewhat look alike… fucking weird…
Haha, that is pretty crazy and the fact that you said 78in wingspan freaks me out. Mines exact same… If that westside is working for you it’s almost destiny that I do the same lol. I’m going to look into that. Thanks for the advice. Feels good to have company in my misery, though it sucks doesn’t it? lol. How have your lifts been going?
haha. well i have been doing westside since before i got down to 168. i read about it and implemented a modified version. i have only really made gains in the last year and a half or so. especially lately b/c i am able to make sure i have proper food intake thanks to a more normal job.
my lifts have been increasing, but i dont lift for raw PRs too often so its hard to say there.
lift: raw/geared
squat: 405xeasy3/500
bench: 300/340
dead: 500/560