I am a MASS MACHINE doing the "Challenge" and here's my journal!

Entry 1

Roadblocks. Walls. Obstacles. These things are put in front of you from time to time. Now a days people see them, are confronted, and want to just give up. I have hit a roadblock, a wall, an obstacle. I have been sick for over 2 weeks now. I never thought this sickness would last this long. I have set up an appointment for a doctor appointment tomorrow.

The point of this entry isn't to complain, or to be pitied. It is to say that this roadblock, wall, or obstacle isn't going to stop me. The reason it was put here, was to show how badly I want to reach my goals.

My illness can wait, but my goals can't.

Here is to a great start and a quick recovery.

Here's your video tip for the day, MASS MACHINE.

[video=youtube;FT8UV9z1Bw8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT8UV9z1Bw8[/video]

Train Hard. Think Big.

Skip La Cour

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[b]Skip La Cour's Mass Machine Nutrition
[/b]right here on Bodybuilding.com today[/url].

I just wanted to take a second and introduce myself. My name is Jason Morgan. I will be participating in the challenge with each of you that have signed up. I will also be encouraging you and helping in any way I can as a captain for the challenge.

This is a GREAT opportunity to work with Skip as your coach, get the support of other challenge participants and captains while pushing yourself to higher levels than you may currently believe possible. Let's all work hard to make this the NUMBER 1 group and transformation thread on Bodybuilding.com! I encourage you to visit the Mass Machine Challenge journals of the other participants and make sure to rate them all 5 stars. Keep us on top!

Talk to you soon... See you on the boards!!

Good luck and I look forward to getting to know you through the next 6 months!

Jason

Thanks Jason

Entry 2

Went to dr today. Either I have strep throat or mono. Doing my best to get better. It is going to take a little longer to get back to the gym, but that means I will have to work that much harder when I am fully recovered.

Train hard and THINK BIG!

[QUOTE=Canz;813550961]Thanks Jason

Entry 2

Went to dr today. Either I have strep throat or mono. Doing my best to get better. It is going to take a little longer to get back to the gym, but that means I will have to work that much harder when I am fully recovered.

Train hard and THINK BIG![/QUOTE]

Get well soon, brother!

Do what you can until then, make sure you eat as clean as you can.

[b]Assignment #1 - Mass Machine Bulking and Cutting Program Challenge - Video #4[/b]

[video=youtube;jM-iBjCxt54]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM-iBjCxt54[/video]

Photo and Writing Assignment due Monday at 8 am Pacific.

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[QUOTE=skiplacour;813599071]Get well soon, brother!

Do what you can until then, make sure you eat as clean as you can.[/QUOTE]

Thanks a lot Skip

Entry 3

Rest and recovery. 2 important factors of putting on quality, dense, muscle. Rest and recovery have been on my mind non stop.

I may not be able to step back into the gym this week, but I won't give up.

Looking forward to this weeks and all the upcoming homework assignments. I am very curious to see what Skip has in store for us.

Entry 4

I couldn't help but laugh after snapping my first progress pictures. After being out of the gym for over 2 weeks and struggling to get in calories, it definitely shows in the pictures. It might be discouraging at first, but look on the bright side, it will make the pictures in the end look that much better.

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Entry 5

Finishing up the homework assignment now while relaxing to some music. Tomorrow I get to find out the results of the test from the doctor. At this point, I am making a guess that I will be back in the gym in a week. 3 weeks out of the gym is not something I am used to since I had a couple minor surgeries, but being back where I belong is what makes all the difference.

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[/b]right here on Bodybuilding.com today[/url].

I am awarding you 100 points for starting an ONLINE JOURNAL because I know the tremendous value of doing so. You'll also get additional points for every journal entry you make during the entire six-month journey.

[video=youtube;TEO6nnUPoEo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEO6nnUPoEo[/video]

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Entry 6

I love the fact that you get additional points for each entry that you post in your journal. Who says you need to post only once a day.

I will be using this journal not only as a means to write down my thoughts, but also to post anything that would help motivate me or anyone else reading this.

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Entry 7

The news came back from the dr office. The blood tests I took confirmed that I have mono. I don't know how long this sickness will last but it has already been over 2 weeks.

This journal is really going to keep me in it. I can't go to the gym and it's extremely difficult taking down any food or drink.

Coming up I will post the routine I will be using once I'm good enough to be back in the gym.

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Crappy deal bro :( Hope you get well soon and we look forward to you tearing it up in "the challenge"

Thanks again GibTech

Entry 8

The routine as promised! Came out of the January 2012 issue of the Flex magazine. The routine will be tweaked to my liking. There won't be much of squats except on the days where the reps go up much higher. The training split will also be changed a little to go with the days I do and don't work.

Training Split
Monday - Chest
Tuesday - Back / Abs
Wednesday - Shoulders / Traps / Cardio
Thursday - Rest
Friday - Legs / Cardio
Saturday - Arms / Abs

The key with this program is that every set of every exercise uses rest pauses. If you are going for 8 reps, finish at 6, rest pause the last 2 reps. If you are doing 12 reps, do 10, rest pause the last 2. You get the idea.

Reps change and exercises change every week.

Chest Weeks 1 + 4
Incline db press 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest
Incline db flye 3x810 1-1:30 min rest
Dip 3x8-0 1-1:30 min rest

Chest Weeks 2 + 5
Smith machine incline press 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Machine incline press 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Cable crossover 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest

Chest Weeks 3 + 6
Machine Incline Press 2x12-14 with 2 drop sets 2-3 min rest
Incline db flye 2x12-14 with 2 drop sets 2-3 min rest
Cable crossover 2x12-14 with 2 drop sets 2-3 min rest

Back Weeks 1 + 4
Wide grip pull down 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest
Standing low cable row 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest
Seated row 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest
Db row 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest

Back Weeks 2+5
Vbar Pull down 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Db row 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Straight arm pulldown 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Machine row 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest

Back Weeks 3+6
Lat Pulldown 2x12-14 with 2 drop sets 2-3 min rest
Machine row 2x12-14 with 2 drop sets 2-3 min rest
Smith machine row 2x12-14 2-3 min rest
Prone incline db row 2x12-14 2-3 min rest

Shoulders / Traps Weeks 1 + 4
Seated db press 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest
Lateral raise 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest
Bent over lateral raise 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest
Smith machine shrug 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest
Db shrug 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest

Shoulders / Traps Weeks 2+5
Smith machine press 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Seated dumbbell front raise 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Seated lateral raise 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Seated bent over lateral raise 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Smith machine shrug 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Db shrug 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest

Shoulders / Traps Weeks 3+6
Lateral raise 3x16-20 2-3 min rest
Cable front raise 2x16-20 2-3 min rest
Db military press 3x16-20 2-3 min rest
Bent over lateral raise 3x11-14 triple drop set on all 3 sets 2-3 min rest
Smith machine shrug 3x16-20 2-3 min rest
Db shrug 3x16-20 2-3 min rest

Legs Weeks 1 + 3
Leg press 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest
Leg Extension 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest
Seated leg curl 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest
Seated calf raise 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest
Calf raise machine 3x8-10 1-1:30 min rest

Legs Weeks 2+5
Leg press 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Leg extension 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Wide stance smith squat 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Seated leg curl 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Seated calf raise 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Single leg standing calf raise 3x12-14 1:30-2 min rest

Legs Weeks 3+6
Leg press 3x20-25 3-5min rest
Single leg squat 3x20-25 3-5min rest
Leg extension 3x15-20 3-5min rest
Seated leg curl 3x15-20 3-5min rest
Standing calf raise 3x20-25 2-3 min rest
Seated calf raise 3x12-14 2-3 min rest

Arms Weeks 1 + 4
Push down 4x8-10 1-1:30 min rest
Seated db extension 4x810 1-1:30 min rest
Ez bar curl 4x810 1-1:30 min rest
Alt db curl 4x810 1-1:30 min rest

Arms Weeks 2 + 5
Lying extension 4x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Rope push-down 4x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Seated db curl 4x12-14 1:30-2 min rest
Cable curl 4x12-14 1:30-2 min rest

Arms Weeks 3 + 6
V-bar push down 3x16-20 2-3 min rest
Lying extension extended set with closegrip 3x14-16 2-3 min rest
Close grip db press 3x14-16 with triple dropset on each set 2-3 min rest
Ez-bar curl 3x16-20 2-3 min rest
Narrow grip ez bar curl 3x16-20 2-3 min rest

Those are the first 6 weeks, the next 6 weeks will printed in next months magazine.

Damn that took longer than I thought!

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Not a bad routine but I will recommend you go to www AST-SS com and check out the Max-OT section. Sign up, It's free with no spam. It is the outline of the same program Skip used in his "Packing On The Muscle Max-OT Style". It gives you ALL the info on nutrition and lifting that you need to get massive and cut up. It would be a great supplement for this program. That is what I am doing. I haven't lifted in a while but last time I did Max-OT my bench jumped from working out with 245 6 reps to 365 6 reps in 12 weeks... No Steroids, No Hormones, ALL NATURAL. Anyway just trying to help everyone out. If you follow the cardio and lifting from Max-OT everyone will swear you are juicing in 2 or 3 months.

Later and good luck !!!

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[b]Skip La Cour's Mass Machine Nutrition
[/b]right here on Bodybuilding.com today[/url].

Welcome to the challenge and good luck.

Think I've seen that workout in the mag.

Good luck with it.

[QUOTE=Natchezboxer;815114131]Not a bad routine but I will recommend you go to www AST-SS com and check out the Max-OT section. Sign up, It's free with no spam. It is the outline of the same program Skip used in his "Packing On The Muscle Max-OT Style". It gives you ALL the info on nutrition and lifting that you need to get massive and cut up. It would be a great supplement for this program. That is what I am doing. I haven't lifted in a while but last time I did Max-OT my bench jumped from working out with 245 6 reps to 365 6 reps in 12 weeks... No Steroids, No Hormones, ALL NATURAL. Anyway just trying to help everyone out. If you follow the cardio and lifting from Max-OT everyone will swear you are juicing in 2 or 3 months.

Later and good luck !!![/QUOTE]

I used to use that routine, always looking for something new to try, this is how i stumbled upon "Y3T"

[QUOTE=baldbird;815124221]Welcome to the challenge and good luck.[/QUOTE]

Thank you sir!

[QUOTE=tjwoody;815126201]Think I've seen that workout in the mag.

Good luck with it.[/QUOTE]

Thanks I will let you know how it goes once I begin a couple weeks into it

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Entry 9

I can finally eat solid foods with no pain! I hope this transfers into the morning. This is great news for me.

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Entry 10

Finally a good meal. Woke up with no pain. Had 2 full eggs with 3 slices of whole wheat bread and a serving of natty PB. Nutrition plan to come. Working on getting back to eating more, it's tough after not taking in many calories for the past 2 weeks.

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Saw your profile man and all I have to say is a big WOW! You are one beast! How much weight did you drop from your before picture. Even with you're getting sick there's not way you'd look bad! Glad to see you are on the mend!! Good luck my friend in the challenge we are about to master. Oh to have your youth on my side! NO EXCUSES though, no not from me bro.

Stay Strong,
Phil

[QUOTE=Buffalophils;815660871]Saw your profile man and all I have to say is a big WOW! You are one beast! How much weight did you drop from your before picture. Even with you're getting sick there's not way you'd look bad! Glad to see you are on the mend!! Good luck my friend in the challenge we are about to master. Oh to have your youth on my side! NO EXCUSES though, no not from me bro.

Stay Strong,
Phil[/QUOTE]

Phil those are some motivational words right there. Thanks alot! I used to about 230 and I cut down to 187, put on a little mass, and then eventually back down to 183 at my lowest a year later. Total weight loss was almost 50lb. The weight loss is what sparked me into fitness and that's where I have always been since. And my goodness you are looking lean and mean at 63! Props to you! Can't wait to see what Skip has in store for us these 6 months. Best of luck Phil!


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Entry 11

I need to get to the grocery store. That trip should be right around the corner.
Why not make a mini list here? I can check it on my iPhone as I shop.

Chicken breast! TONS of it
Cottage cheese
Eggs
Brown rice...about 20 lbs
Whole wheat bread
Running out of oats
Have 5lb of whey left, wouldn't hurt to get more

This grocery list isn't exactly huge, but these are the items I don't have.

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Entry 12

My favorite bodybuilding motivational music video ever. I was watching some videos, someone was incline dumbbell pressing 150 lbs for 12 reps, pretty impressive. Then it reminded me of this video. I don't care for the song much, but it goes very very well with the video. Usually I will throw this on before I head off to the gym, but this will get me pumped up enough before I get back in it.

I am going to add a lot more motivational videos and pictures that work well for me in the future. Maybe you guys can benefit from them as well.

[youtube]y5CRl6W6aJ8[/youtube]

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Entry 13

Are you over looking your greatness?

I just woke up and thought of this so here goes. Mind muscle connection. Something I really want to focus on while I lift. What the mind believes and perceives, the body achieves. Have you ever heard about this? When I get back into the gym I want this to be my main goal every workout. Every repetition I want to think about the muscle expanding, getting bigger, growing. This is also where confidence comes in to play and why you must choose a workout that only YOU will like.

You are a mass machine! Train hard, and thing big!

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[QUOTE=Canz;815805831]Entry 12

My favorite bodybuilding motivational music video ever. I was watching some videos, someone was incline dumbbell pressing 150 lbs for 12 reps, pretty impressive. Then it reminded me of this video. I don't care for the song much, but it goes very very well with the video. Usually I will throw this on before I head off to the gym, but this will get me pumped up enough before I get back in it.

I am going to add a lot more motivational videos and pictures that work well for me in the future. Maybe you guys can benefit from them as well.

[youtube]y5CRl6W6aJ8[/youtube]

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[b]Skip La Cour's Mass Machine Nutrition
[/b]right here on Bodybuilding.com today[/url].[/QUOTE]

Those videos make me feel soooooo..... ummmm.... little?
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[QUOTE=ScottRoland;816151461]Those videos make me feel soooooo..... ummmm.... little?[/QUOTE]

I have never looked it at this way, more of just some heavy music combined with great clips. It really gets me goin'

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Entry 14

I'm always so anxious for Skip to post his videos. I'm like a little kid waiting for Christmas, can't wait to see what he has in store for our assignments. Check out his new video about your journal being complete here

[youtube]3KeUCWmcif8[/youtube]


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[b]Skip La Cour's Mass Machine Nutrition
[/b]right here on Bodybuilding.com today[/url].

[b]Hey fellow MASS MACHINE![/b]

Here's a friendly reminder from your Coach, Skip La Cour, about the value of keeping your journal current.

I'm one of the Captains so if there's anything I can do to help you, feel free to ask.

[video=youtube;3KeUCWmcif8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KeUCWmcif8[/video]

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[b]Skip La Cour's Mass Machine Nutrition
[/b]right here on Bodybuilding.com today[/url]

[QUOTE=jmorg714;816168791][b]Hey fellow MASS MACHINE![/b]

Here's a friendly reminder from your Coach, Skip La Cour, about the value of keeping your journal current.

I'm one of the Captains so if there's anything I can do to help you, feel free to ask.

[video=youtube;3KeUCWmcif8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KeUCWmcif8[/video][/QUOTE]

Haha thanks jmorg714 I had just posted it in the previous post
Heck! I'll watch it again! : )

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[/b]right here on Bodybuilding.com today[/url]