Biggaz's "The Best Is Yet To Come" Thread

[IronIc]

Watch your shoulder area Gary! You could just be "tight" there.

The 4 and 5 set weeks are crazy! The 5 set week is aply called "Hell Week" hehe. When I was doing the ATS during a 5-set week some guy came up to me and complimented my endurance, lol It will test you in a GOOD way!

Your workouts are great! How's your diet?

[biggaz]

Originally Posted by IronIc

Watch your shoulder area Gary! You could just be "tight" there.

The 4 and 5 set weeks are crazy! The 5 set week is aply called "Hell Week" hehe. When I was doing the ATS during a 5-set week some guy came up to me and complimented my endurance, lol It will test you in a GOOD way!

Your workouts are great! How's your diet?

Shoulders are ok, its lower in the traps I think. I've done this before at work and I think it eased in a few days. But I do have an issue with a floating shoulder blade. I'll have a good talk with the physio thursday to get more info.

Too be honest, I'm looking forward to the 5 set week,(except I'll be doing 10 sets of squats as I don't have a leg press, so thats only 60 reps in total )
Should be testing for sure.

Diets lapsed once or twice, but most of the time I'm pretty good. The two main issues are time to eat at work (3 meals) and keeping to my chiro's eating instructions, NO processed carbs, so no bread or pasta. If it isn't in the form that it grew in, don't eat it.

It's all due to trying to control the inflammation in my back muscles. He's very holistic about what you put into the body and unfortunately it doesn't always balance with my goals. Daren't tell him about the amount of milk I drink, as I'm meant to cut dairy too.

But, made gains for two straight weeks, woohoo. If I only make half a pound a week that'll do for me ;-) With good habits, I'll break 170 next week, which has taken two years

[IronIc]

Originally Posted by biggaz

Shoulders are ok, its lower in the traps I think. I've done this before at work and I think it eased in a few days. But I do have an issue with a floating shoulder blade. I'll have a good talk with the physio thursday to get more info.

Too be honest, I'm looking forward to the 5 set week,(except I'll be doing 10 sets of squats as I don't have a leg press, so thats only 60 reps in total )
Should be testing for sure.

Diets lapsed once or twice, but most of the time I'm pretty good. The two main issues are time to eat at work (3 meals) and keeping to my chiro's eating instructions, NO processed carbs, so no bread or pasta. If it isn't in the form that it grew in, don't eat it.

It's all due to trying to control the inflammation in my back muscles. He's very holistic about what you put into the body and unfortunately it doesn't always balance with my goals. Daren't tell him about the amount of milk I drink, as I'm meant to cut dairy too.

But, made gains for two straight weeks, woohoo. If I only make half a pound a week that'll do for me ;-) With good habits, I'll break 170 next week, which has taken two years

I see 170 in your very near future, Gary! Can you sub anything else for dairy if you're supposed to limit it? Most dairy products are pretty high in carbs, too (unless, of course, you are supposed to have the extra carbs).

I used to intake alot of dairy. I love it (especially yogurt) but it does give me .. digestive issues The only dairly I have now on a regular basis is whey.

I take my meals to work with me ... I purchased a small cubicle fridge a couple years ago and it has worked great. Do you have that option? Also, if you can't eat processed carbs, do you like eat alot of rice and oats?

[biggaz]

Originally Posted by IronIc

I see 170 in your very near future, Gary! Can you sub anything else for dairy if you're supposed to limit it? Most dairy products are pretty high in carbs, too (unless, of course, you are supposed to have the extra carbs).

I used to intake alot of dairy. I love it (especially yogurt) but it does give me .. digestive issues The only dairly I have now on a regular basis is whey.

I take my meals to work with me ... I purchased a small cubicle fridge a couple years ago and it has worked great. Do you have that option? Also, if you can't eat processed carbs, do you like eat alot of rice and oats?

"I see 170 in your very near future" Madam Penney the fortune teller, roflmfao ;-) hugs and kisses ;-) Sorry. I'm that way out.

Nah, I just like milk,and cheese. Supposed to swop skimmed,2%, milk for water in shakes and rice milk with the oats. I'm cutting one thing at a time, to try to reach a balance, but dairy will be the last thing to go.

I do need the extra carbs, to fit into Robs diet plan, but they should be complex carbs. What I really need is lots of cals. Feel like all I'm eating is horse and bird feed, (oats and seeds), oh and I can eat wild rice, but we're having probs sourcing it.

Kath summerised my diet last week; " If you're not chewing, basically I need to be preparing your next meal!!"

I work outdoors, so it's coolers and icepacks for the great brit summer(about a fortnight)

Thanks Penney, always nice when you visit, we're going to walk that path to the stage together

[IronIc]

Originally Posted by biggaz

"I see 170 in your very near future" Madam Penney the fortune teller, roflmfao ;-) hugs and kisses ;-) Sorry. I'm that way out.

Nah, I just like milk,and cheese. Supposed to swop skimmed,2%, milk for water in shakes and rice milk with the oats. I'm cutting one thing at a time, to try to reach a balance, but dairy will be the last thing to go.

I do need the extra carbs, to fit into Robs diet plan, but they should be complex carbs. What I really need is lots of cals. Feel like all I'm eating is horse and bird feed, (oats and seeds), oh and I can eat wild rice, but we're having probs sourcing it.

Kath summerised my diet last week; " If you're not chewing, basically I need to be preparing your next meal!!"

I work outdoors, so it's coolers and icepacks for the great brit summer(about a fortnight)

Thanks Penney, always nice when you visit, we're going to walk that path to the stage together

LOL on the horse and bird feed!

Oh, come on ... the British summer can't be that short lol

Kath is being very supportive it seems! Awesome of her ... I cook my own meals and I wash dishes about 3x daily! I have the worst dishpan hands in N Kentucky ...

We are indeed walking that path together -- I couldn't think of a finer person to share that road with!

[biggaz]

Originally Posted by IronIc

Kath is being very supportive it seems! Awesome of her ...

We are indeed walking that path together -- I couldn't think of a finer person to share that road with!

Oh yes, Kath's 100% behind me, pushing me forward, she spots me in our home gym, often with weights she struggles with. I'm lucky ;-)

Seems like you'll be on stage first, so you'll have the experience to guide me ;-)

BACK AND CHEST

This was mondays w/o. My back was out from work, but I thought if I went lighter I could do something so;

Rack Deads
80kg( 176lb)x10,x15,x15,x15 Dropped 20kg(44lb) and added 5reps per set.

I was sore, but started to warm up for bench presses. I couldn't get off the bench without back pain, so quit the session. Massage and ice packs were the order of the day.

So back in the gym tonight, back is better, just a few twinges today.

T Bar Rows
90(198lb)x10 4 sets My pb from last week. 4 straight sets.

with

DB Bench
30(66lb)x8 Last weeks pb
30x8
32.5(71.5)x8 up 5.5lb
35(77lb)x5 to failure up 11lb Made up with this, 4th set with an 11lb gain. I know its not a huge weight to a lot of folks on here but it is for me ;-)


Pull Ups
4 sets of 6

Really tried to concentrate on using the lats to start and did make it a different exercise.

with

Incline DB Press
25(55lb)x8 4 sets I had to drop 5lb on these, I'd knacked myself on the previous presses

Seated Cable Rows
206lbx8 4 sets Dropped 2 reps per set. These bother me, I'm always scared that I'll hurt my back if I lose focus or get tired.

with

Dips
Bw, 4 sets of 10. Again I dropped the extra 10kg..

This was probably the hardest session I've ever worked, every final couple of reps took everything I had to complete, but I did it ;-)

I think I ended up drinking 3 bottles of xtend by the time I got done, what a great session.

I love this lifestyle, the highs and lows. Last night I was sick that I couldn't train, tonight I feel that I've made amends. If this is what it takes to be on stage, I now know that its in me to do.

[gbg]

Originally Posted by biggaz

Oh yes, Kath's 100% behind me, pushing me forward, she spots me in our home gym, often with weights she struggles with. I'm lucky ;-)

Seems like you'll be on stage first, so you'll have the experience to guide me ;-)

BACK AND CHEST

This was mondays w/o. My back was out from work, but I thought if I went lighter I could do something so;

Rack Deads
80kg( 176lb)x10,x15,x15,x15 Dropped 20kg(44lb) and added 5reps per set.

I was sore, but started to warm up for bench presses. I couldn't get off the bench without back pain, so quit the session. Massage and ice packs were the order of the day.

So back in the gym tonight, back is better, just a few twinges today.

T Bar Rows
90(198lb)x10 4 sets My pb from last week. 4 straight sets.

with

DB Bench
30(66lb)x8 Last weeks pb
30x8
32.5(71.5)x8 up 5.5lb
35(77lb)x5 to failure up 11lb Made up with this, 4th set with an 11lb gain. I know its not a huge weight to a lot of folks on here but it is for me ;-)


Pull Ups
4 sets of 6

Really tried to concentrate on using the lats to start and did make it a different exercise.

with

Incline DB Press
25(55lb)x8 4 sets I had to drop 5lb on these, I'd knacked myself on the previous presses

Seated Cable Rows
206lbx8 4 sets Dropped 2 reps per set. These bother me, I'm always scared that I'll hurt my back if I lose focus or get tired.

with

Dips
Bw, 4 sets of 10. Again I dropped the extra 10kg..

This was probably the hardest session I've ever worked, every final couple of reps took everything I had to complete, but I did it ;-)

I think I ended up drinking 3 bottles of xtend by the time I got done, what a great session.

I love this lifestyle, the highs and lows. Last night I was sick that I couldn't train, tonight I feel that I've made amends. If this is what it takes to be on stage, I now know that its in me to do.

Great to hear that Gaz!!!!! props for pushing through the pain, I know it sucks. You have what it takes brah!! keep killen it...

[biggaz]

Originally Posted by gbg

Great to hear that Gaz!!!!! props for pushing through the pain, I know it sucks. You have what it takes brah!! keep killen it...

LOL, I thought things were bad last week, but they just kept getting worse.

I thought wednesday/thursday last week that I was coming down with flu. Aching and tired. I saw Clare. my physio on thursday. Our ten minute session lasted 45 minutes, discussing sci-vations training and diet regime.

Back to square one on the physio work. I haven't been doing my core exercises and it's showing. We'd got to the monthly adjustment stage, but I can't do 4 weeks without my back going unstable, needing an emergency visit every two to three weeks ;-(

But because of the back pain I'm avoiding the exercises that'll stop the back pain.

I had to see the chiro tuesday, I couldn't phucking walk and discussed diet again. He's advising to cut carbs again. I've been upping them, doh, cos I'm so hungry and tired.

I can't carry on like this, at times I think I'm crashing so bad I feel ill. Anyway, I've cut them the last two days and feel a little better, more normal.
I'll email Rob to see if he'll sort out the CHA diet for me. This aint working.

[gbg]

Originally Posted by biggaz

LOL, I thought things were bad last week, but they just kept getting worse.

I thought wednesday/thursday last week that I was coming down with flu. Aching and tired. I saw Clare. my physio on thursday. Our ten minute session lasted 45 minutes, discussing sci-vations training and diet regime.

Back to square one on the physio work. I haven't been doing my core exercises and it's showing. We'd got to the monthly adjustment stage, but I can't do 4 weeks without my back going unstable, needing an emergency visit every two to three weeks ;-(

But because of the back pain I'm avoiding the exercises that'll stop the back pain.

I had to see the chiro tuesday, I couldn't phucking walk and discussed diet again. He's advising to cut carbs again. I've been upping them, doh, cos I'm so hungry and tired.

I can't carry on like this, at times I think I'm crashing so bad I feel ill. Anyway, I've cut them the last two days and feel a little better, more normal.
I'll email Rob to see if he'll sort out the CHA diet for me. This aint working.

WTF?? sorry to hear this Gary, but what do carbs do with you feeling ill?
sorry, don't get it.
Are you feeling drained or physically sick like the flu or something?

[biggaz]

Originally Posted by gbg

WTF?? sorry to hear this Gary, but what do carbs do with you feeling ill?
sorry, don't get it.
Are you feeling drained or physically sick like the flu or something?

It's hard to explain, but I think I don't do well on higher carbs, even though I've been adding extra servings.

I think that I metabolise them too quick and this causes my blood sugar levels to drop. Kath says I look like her diabetic brother when he hasn't eaten.

I feel sick, tired and sweaty, really ill. I know I need to eat, I have to eat something then or I get worse. This is occuring maybe an hour after Ive eaten maybe 100gms/4oz of oats and currents.

Even with the high carbs I'm taking early in the day, I've little energy.

Meal one has been 75gms oats, banana and 2 cups milk and WP, Meal 2, the same, meal 3, 100gms oats, 25-30gms currents, nuts and seeds with 2 cups of milk with chicken or venison. I should be running marathons on this diet, not needing more food and sleep!!

[gbg]

Originally Posted by biggaz

It's hard to explain, but I think I don't do well on higher carbs, even though I've been adding extra servings.

I think that I metabolise them too quick and this causes my blood sugar levels to drop. Kath says I look like her diabetic brother when he hasn't eaten.

I feel sick, tired and sweaty, really ill. I know I need to eat, I have to eat something then or I get worse. This is occuring maybe an hour after Ive eaten maybe 100gms/4oz of oats and currents.

Even with the high carbs I'm taking early in the day, I've little energy.

Meal one has been 75gms oats, banana and 2 cups milk and WP, Meal 2, the same, meal 3, 100gms oats, 25-30gms currents, nuts and seeds with 2 cups of milk with chicken or venison. I should be running marathons on this diet, not needing more food and sleep!!

Yeah, something in your body is not reacting right to something your eating.
I would recommend a nutritionist, not one who tells you how to eat but one who does a full blood panel on you and test for alergic reactions your body might have to certain foods.
Might not even be called a nutritionist not sure, I know several people who had this done and found out there bodies couldn't digest or reacted very badly to certain foods.
You need to find one hun!

AAMAF I know someone on these boards who is going to school for this, I'll ask him.

Hang in there gaz!!!! don't loose your drive, just another road block you WILL
HURDLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[biggaz]

Originally Posted by gbg

Yeah, something in your body is not reacting right to something your eating.
I would recommend a nutritionist, not one who tells you how to eat but one who does a full blood panel on you and test for alergic reactions your body might have to certain foods.
Might not even be called a nutritionist not sure, I know several people who had this done and found out there bodies couldn't digest or reacted very badly to certain foods.
You need to find one hun!

AAMAF I know someone on these boards who is going to school for this, I'll ask him.

Hang in there gaz!!!! don't loose your drive, just another road block you WILL
HURDLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know what you're saying, but there is nothing new in my diet. I just feel better on lower carbs I think.

I know I gained weight for a few weeks, but that's sloped off, but I think I actually lost a little bodyfat (This is at 3700+ cals aday ;-) ) I'll try going keto for a month or two, see what happens. There's more than one way of skinning a cat.

LOL Hurdles are just that, there to be cleared. Back to basics again.

going to work now, back and chest ;-)

[gbg]

Originally Posted by biggaz

I know what you're saying, but there is nothing new in my diet. I just feel better on lower carbs I think.

I know I gained weight for a few weeks, but that's sloped off, but I think I actually lost a little bodyfat (This is at 3700+ cals aday ;-) ) I'll try going keto for a month or two, see what happens. There's more than one way of skinning a cat.

LOL Hurdles are just that, there to be cleared. Back to basics again.

going to work now, back and chest ;-)

Have a killer workout!!

[biggaz]

Originally Posted by gbg

Have a killer workout!!

;-)...

Since I didn't complete the full ATS program, its back to week 1.

Back and Chest

Rack Deads
100(220lb)x8
120(264)x6 Back doesn't feel "stable" enough to go heavier on these

T Bar rows
90(198lb)x10 x2
with
DB Bench Press

Great to be back in the gym
30(66lb)x8
35(77)x6 6 good clean reps, so
40(88lb) x4 to failure up 5kg/11lb Bit shaky on these, but 37.5x6 is definitely a working weight next time ;-)

Pull Ups
7,8 was meant to be x6, got carried away

with
Incline DB Press
27.5(60.5lb)x6
30(66)x6 Happy with the 30kgs, 2 months back I was struggling at 20kg/44lb as the first exercise

1 Arm bentover bb rows
60kg(132lb)x8,x8 Subbed these for seated cable rows, alot kinder for the back. Ever grateful to gbg for introducing these to me. Favourite exercise ;-0

with
Dips 10,10

[IronIc]

Hey Gary! I really liked the ATS when I was doing it

Based on my (very!) limited knowledge, if you have a fast metabolism then usually that means you need more carbs for your muscles. I agree w/gbg that it would be wise to see a specialist regarding your diet.

[biggaz]

Originally Posted by IronIc

Hey Gary! I really liked the ATS when I was doing it

Based on my (very!) limited knowledge, if you have a fast metabolism then usually that means you need more carbs for your muscles. I agree w/gbg that it would be wise to see a specialist regarding your diet.

The more I read the less I understand ;-) What I have been told is that we don't actually need carbs as such, apart for the vits and minerals they provide.

I just can't seem to use them, in the quantities that I have been consuming. My way of thinking is that I'd get more calories from fats than carbs (gram per gram) and I feel a lot better on them.

Overall, calories are calories, whatever the source, and I need lots of them. lol I think I've gained some lean mass, and lost some bodyfat at 3700 cals a day.

I emailed Rob yesterday about the CHA diet, so I'll see what comes back.

[biggaz]

Been another poor week on every front; back issues-no training, diet, the whole nine yards..

Had a session with my physio on thursday. Funny enough, she' doesn't do well on carbs either and suggested that my metabolism may be being raised by the six meals (she only does four larger meals now)

Instead of continueing with trial and error, going to attack this problem scientifically. Friend of ours is a diabetic adviser, so I've got a blood sugar test kit to run for this week, I'll do one more week on this diet and see what it does to my blood sugars.

She tested me a year back and noted they were low considering what and when I'd eaten, so we'll see what the general trend is over the week.

[gbg]

Sorry to hear that Gary, I still think instead of just getting your sugars checked you should have a full work up.
Your reaction could be coming from a number of things it doesn't necessarily have to be sugars or carbs.

[biggaz]

Originally Posted by gbg

Sorry to hear that Gary, I still think instead of just getting your sugars checked you should have a full work up.
Your reaction could be coming from a number of things it doesn't necessarily have to be sugars or carbs.

I know what you're saying, but what's decided to take this course of action, is that the last few days of last week I dropped the carbs (Oats) out of my first three meals and did seem to have more energy, and no crashes at all.

And looking back to the blood work I had done last year, and x-rays, I think that I may have been adding oats again into my morning shakes.

Tomorrow I'm back to the scivation diet, that I've been on, so I can compare against the last two days. Overall, for the sake of a week, if nothing else its something to tick off.

I don't know enough about the whole blood sugar th8ing, but think by testing and learning how I react, it'll help me to taylor my diet anyway.

[gbg]

Anyone home?

Hows the training and diet going Gaz? hope all is well!

[gbg]

Knock, knock......what's going on gaz?????????????????????????????????????

[biggaz]

Originally Posted by gbg

Knock, knock......what's going on gaz?????????????????????????????????????

How much time ya got???

Been away from the gym for several weeks now, lower back and neck problems have been a major problem.

Anyway, I had a holiday booked for Turkey with Steve (my employer) and his dad, flying from Glasgow (Scotland) last sunday night.

So great, a week of rest from work, relaxation and sun. This was going to help rest my back, maybe a little swimming would help too.

We were flying from Glasgow because Steve's dad lives up there, we drove up there friday and decided to have a few drinks. Anyway, early hours of saturday we were involved in an incident with 6-8 lads. We were both beat unconscious with bats and received other injuries.

Steve came off worse with a number of skull fractures and a lost tooth, I got off light with six staples in a head wound and I think some fractured ribs, plus a few kicks in the face while I was out.

I brought steve home from hospital, he's staying in Scotland for a few days to recover and got back to my own home, all on wednesday.

The only good thing is my backs great, maybe something got re-aligned ;-)
but the ribs are killing me. They don't x-ray them here, so not sure of their actual condition. I want to get back into the gym, for some light training, thinking that increasing the blood flow around them will speed healing.

Apart from all this, everythings good

[gbg]

Holly **** gaz!!!!!! so sorry to hear all this.
Thank God your OK except for the ribs and skull

I wouldn't recommend going to the gym in your condition, especially since you haven't had an X ray of your ribs! if they are broken they will take time to heal it's a slow process, there's no where you can get them X rayed?

Big hugs buddy, hang in there! this is what separates the men from the boyz

Oh....glad your back is feeling better.

I'm almost afraid to say that

[biggaz]

Originally Posted by gbg

Holly **** gaz!!!!!! so sorry to hear all this.
Thank God your OK except for the ribs and skull

I wouldn't recommend going to the gym in your condition, especially since you haven't had an X ray of your ribs! if they are broken they will take time to heal it's a slow process, there's no where you can get them X rayed?

Big hugs buddy, hang in there! this is what separates the men from the boyz

Oh....glad your back is feeling better.

I'm almost afraid to say that

I'm sure now that nothing is broke, first day back to work.. They don't x ray ribs here, unless they suspect a pneumo-thorax injury.

I knew from the start my lungs were ok, although I've started with a bit of infection. Doesn't hurt unless I laugh or cough.. Sore tonight after work, had to eat painkillers like sweeties to finish the day, but as needs must.

Got a couple of nice boot prints on my ribs now, but they're fading. Just another hurdle to climb. Thanks for the best wishes, Gaz

[gbg]

Ok gaz what's going on??? hope things are better and you start posting in your journal again soon.
Miss you!