n0ble's Afghanistan road to hell and it is lonely!

[n0ble]

So I am deployed here in Afghanistan and will do my best to update as often as possible. I have had to adjust certain exercises to the equipment we have here. I am in Zabul province and even though I am an injured vet I am working as part of a Human Terrain Team. We go out on a ton of patrols and talk to the populace about their culture, people, religion...basically anthropology. I had spinal surgery a few years back and have severe arthritis in my AC joint on my right shoulder...but I will still walk through hell, because I can and that is who I am...

So I have been at this for 2 weeks now. My usual breakfast consists of 2-3 hard boiled eggs or some scrambled eggs (sometimes the hard boiled eggs fall apart due to bad cooks here), a bowl of oatmeal, some soy milk, Cranberry juice, and some fruit. I take an Animal Pak, Flex, and Omegas in the morning, and Rage pre-workout.

My workout routine has to vary due to which FOB I am at and what equipment they have...here at the main one I am at isn't bad but they are missing a few things, not to mention it is crowded that machines have lines at times, so I have to adjust for that as well.

I started out with chest/tris...Since I have the AC problem I do DBs insteam of the Bars. I do the pully machine for more of the triceps due to missing weights and the such. It looks something like this, just a few of the types of exercises I do....

DB Press
Decline DB Press
Incline DB Press
Pulldowns
Kettleball Skull Crushers
Rope pulldowns

Biceps/shoulders/back
Standing EZ bar curls
Barbell curl
Seated DB Curls
side raises
Lat Pulldown/standing
Plate Shrugs
Bent over Barbell Row
Shoulder Press

Legs
Squats
Standing Calf Raises
Leg Press
Hamstring Curls

I do add some variety depending on machine and weight availability, but I keep the HRT concept on ALL exercises. So far in the 2 weeks I have seen some of the weights I am lifting increase slightly.

I will keep as informed as possible over the 12 weeks. I re-deploy one week after the 12 weeks are up, so this works perfectly.

[n0ble]

Legs Day...

So it is legs day and this one always gets me to the point of massive exhaustion. I am glad that I have gotten the weight where I want it for the exercises, but man the negatives hurt so damn bad. The meals this week so far are the same, hardboiled eggs, oatmeal, chicken, what they call a steak here on Fridays...I am feeling better in the following days now after the workouts, so finally I am adjusting...here is my legs day...I added calves to the legs days since it is easier here in Afghanistan to get the machines you need if you keep the same "muscle groups" together....

Leg Extension 2 x 8+4
Leg Press 2 x 8+4
Squats 2 x 8+4
Hamstring Raises 2 x 8+4
Standing Calf Raises 2 x 8+4 (I use the smith machine for both squats and calf raises as it is easier to get on that machine and without a partner I have something there to stop the weights if I hit failure at any point)
Seated Calf Raises 2 x 8+4 (I have to use the hamstring bench and put my knees under the pads...hey it works)

[squirrelmeister]

Legs Day...

So it is legs day and this one always gets me to the point of massive exhaustion. I am glad that I have gotten the weight where I want it for the exercises, but man the negatives hurt so damn bad. The meals this week so far are the same, hardboiled eggs, oatmeal, chicken, what they call a steak here on Fridays...I am feeling better in the following days now after the workouts, so finally I am adjusting...here is my legs day...I added calves to the legs days since it is easier here in Afghanistan to get the machines you need if you keep the same "muscle groups" together....

Leg Extension 2 x 8+4
Leg Press 2 x 8+4
Squats 2 x 8+4
Hamstring Raises 2 x 8+4
Standing Calf Raises 2 x 8+4 (I use the smith machine for both squats and calf raises as it is easier to get on that machine and without a partner I have something there to stop the weights if I hit failure at any point)
Seated Calf Raises 2 x 8+4 (I have to use the hamstring bench and put my knees under the pads...hey it works)

Good sh*t man! Way to make it work, i will be doing legs today too and i might have to improvise a few things myself!

[n0ble]

Thanks...I actually found a decent block of wood here that I take with me on leg days...when I do the calf raises on the Smith Machine it allows me to get that full extension. I also figured out the hamstring bench by watching another guy try it...I wish we had a real calf bench or something...as you know the headaches of finding stuff to make it work here is a pain. Warning...leg press with the negatives will make you want to lie there for a few seconds for fear you won't be able to stand...lol.

[squirrelmeister]

Thanks...I actually found a decent block of wood here that I take with me on leg days...when I do the calf raises on the Smith Machine it allows me to get that full extension. I also figured out the hamstring bench by watching another guy try it...I wish we had a real calf bench or something...as you know the headaches of finding stuff to make it work here is a pain. Warning...leg press with the negatives will make you want to lie there for a few seconds for fear you won't be able to stand...lol.

Yeah this FOB I'm at has no smith machines or cables so i really improvise on a lot with just dumbbells and barbells. LOL that's funny about the leg press i can't wait to try it out. I will be going in a few hours.

[n0ble]

Yeah this FOB I'm at has no smith machines or cables so i really improvise on a lot with just dumbbells and barbells. LOL that's funny about the leg press i can't wait to try it out. I will be going in a few hours.

Yea the bar on the smith machine here moves back and forth a ton, so sometimes you can't get it to clip back in properly. This FOB isn't too bad but when I go to a remote FOB for my work it is really hard...the one I was at a month and a half ago had 1 bench, some free weights, and a pull up bar...that was it...had to improvise like crazy.

[squirrelmeister]

Yea the bar on the smith machine here moves back and forth a ton, so sometimes you can't get it to clip back in properly. This FOB isn't too bad but when I go to a remote FOB for my work it is really hard...the one I was at a month and a half ago had 1 bench, some free weights, and a pull up bar...that was it...had to improvise like crazy.

Yeah out here in PAKTIA province they have a few COP's we stay at sometimes that don't have gyms and if they do they don't have much like the ones you are talking about!

[n0ble]

Leg Press : 525lbs 2x8+6...I had to lie there for about 15 seconds until my legs stopped shaking
Leg Extension : 55 lbs 2x8+6
Squats : 155lbs 2x8+6
Hamstring Raises : 30lbs 2x8+6 I could barely get the last 2 reps
Calf Raises on Smith Machine with a wooden block for full extension : 500lbs 2x8+6
Calves on Leg Press machine: 650 2X8+6 what am I thinking here, I could barely walk.

Breakfast: 2 Hardboiled eggs, bowl of oatmeal, cantalope, small cup of coffee, glass of soy milk, Cranberry Juice
Lunch: 2 Grilled Chicken Breast, broccoli, a peach, and brown rice
Dinner: 2 Grilled Steak Kabobs, Corn, grapes, and a salad

Had 1 protein shake during the day and 1 before bed

Animal Pak, Omegas, and Flex with breakfast and Animal PM before bed
Animal Rage Pre-workout
Dark Matter Post-workout (which has protein in it as well)

Well off to bed it is 1055 PM here....more to come!

[kenyon8632]

Leg Press : 525lbs 2x8+6...I had to lie there for about 15 seconds until my legs stopped shaking
Leg Extension : 55 lbs 2x8+6
Squats : 155lbs 2x8+6
Hamstring Raises : 30lbs 2x8+6 I could barely get the last 2 reps
Calf Raises on Smith Machine with a wooden block for full extension : 500lbs 2x8+6
Calves on Leg Press machine: 650 2X8+6 what am I thinking here, I could barely walk.

Breakfast: 2 Hardboiled eggs, bowl of oatmeal, cantalope, small cup of coffee, glass of soy milk, Cranberry Juice
Lunch: 2 Grilled Chicken Breast, broccoli, a peach, and brown rice
Dinner: 2 Grilled Steak Kabobs, Corn, grapes, and a salad

Had 1 protein shake during the day and 1 before bed

Animal Pak, Omegas, and Flex with breakfast and Animal PM before bed
Animal Rage Pre-workout
Dark Matter Post-workout (which has protein in it as well)

Well off to bed it is 1055 PM here....more to come!

where can i get the full schedule? (Diet,workout,etc?)Im ready to get started

[mrdead]

Team HRT:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=140310893



Solo HRT:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=140310963



Not Official Contestants:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=140310993

From here on out, the check-ins will be in the above threads... Please post in the appropriate thread, when checking in... Thank you...

[strongbulk250]

Good luck brother. be safe and keep us posted. Rooting for you on the homefront.

[AdamRedmann]

be safe and keep up the good work!

[squirrelmeister]

Keep it up man!! It's time to start day 4 for us!! IT's crazy being this far ahead in time of everyone else, i bet when i post my logs people are wondering how my day is done and everything haha.

[n0ble]

I hear ya. I had a few things going on over the last few days that have made me work mad late, I still got my workouts in and all, but man am I tired at the end of the day. My meals are looking about the same, except like you said on Friday's when we get steak and seafood. I don't trust seafood in a landlocked country though so I am cautious. I was able to go up about 5 pounds on the DB Press, so I got mad excited. I do have a picture of me after the workout I will be posting later today.

So far my hunger is about an 8 and I am up 2 pounds. I am working on something cool with a few guys here, it should be done soon. As for the HRT workouts, I have a guy here who asked if I would take him through a full cycle so he can do this workout. I will let you all know how that goes.

Updates later today in the non-contestant thread...and Squirrel...Airborne!

[squirrelmeister]

I hear ya. I had a few things going on over the last few days that have made me work mad late, I still got my workouts in and all, but man am I tired at the end of the day. My meals are looking about the same, except like you said on Friday's when we get steak and seafood. I don't trust seafood in a landlocked country though so I am cautious. I was able to go up about 5 pounds on the DB Press, so I got mad excited. I do have a picture of me after the workout I will be posting later today.

So far my hunger is about an 8 and I am up 2 pounds. I am working on something cool with a few guys here, it should be done soon. As for the HRT workouts, I have a guy here who asked if I would take him through a full cycle so he can do this workout. I will let you all know how that goes.

Updates later today in the non-contestant thread...and Squirrel...Airborne!

Sounds good man, but i'm Air Assault ;) lol I will get airborne as soon as i get back though lol.

[n0ble]

A few pictures...first one is me after the chest workout...

The second is a picture of what I am about to do to my calves...

Hope you enjoy.

[1Percenter]

Damn Noble, your looking fairly mean and hungry.. I'm sure those weights were no match for your calves. Keep kicking a**.

1%

[n0ble]

LOL! Thanks I don't play around in the gym...I need to get after it and get focused...man I was sore after that workout too...lol.

[1Percenter]

I bet. My calves have just finally come down in soreness for tomorrows leg adventure in pain. Should be fu***n awesome. Did you notice an increase in your poundage since last week?

1%

[n0ble]

I honestly don't know if I gained any weight. All of the scales are broken here....I may have to go to the FLZ and see if they will let me get on the baggage scale...lol! I did notice some of my weights I was using to lift went up...nothing big 5 pounds here 10 pounds there...so I am getting stronger. I will update weight when I can.

[shortstack74]

Nice work in here Noble. You do look like you're ready to kill it so keep up the good work Brother.

Jeremy

[n0ble]

Ok sorry for the delays in posting we have a new unit coming in here so I am mad busy. I went to the flight line and asked to get on their scale...they asked why and I told them...so I am up to 226. I had this kid that works at the gym ask me to run him through for a week...the 2nd day he came up to me and said he hated me for making him hurt...I laughed, pointed at my Animal shirt, and literally told him welcome to hell. He did fine this week, he has asked for a second week with him, now I am finishing my fourth week and have gained a total of 6 pounds, but my strength has climbed. I was able to use the leg press for my calves at 715 pounds...which is up, and I am very excited about it...keep in mind I was a soccer player, a pitcher in baseball, and was in the Army for a long time, so they are my strong muscle group.

I am at about 230 grams of protein but I am thinking I may need to up that a little due to the weight gain. I have also been STARVING, so I have to be careful to eat the right things and not overload myself. I have made enough change that my GF on Skype made a comment about my arms getting bigger than when she saw me at the start of November, so HRT is working...now if I can just survive until the end.

[DaEclipse]

LMchaHOr9CY

[gainweightnow]

always nice when our loved ones notice our improvements :D

Keep it up.

[shortstack74]

What's up in here Brother?? How has the training and everything else been going?