My Explosive Gains Stak Journey

[cak2d]

Before I begin this thread, let me give you a bit of background information on myself. I started lifting my senior year of high school. Genetically I can gain mass and strength very easily, but I also can keep the fat on. In university I was a monster, about 230lbs, with about 8-10% body fat. After graduating and entering the workforce, stress, bad diet and alcohol took their toll on my body. I continued to lift, but slowly and surely, the weight crept up. I was at my worst around last year, 235lbs @ 28/30%BF (****ing hell!). I had bigger titties than my girlfriend. Around March 2006 I started hitting the cardio and weights, but I was drinking a lot and my diet was ****. Despite the large amounts of alcohol and ****ty food daily, the weight came off and surprisingly I felt much better.

I invited my younger brother to come visit me during his Christmas break ( I live in Seoul, South Korea). This ****er is a monster. He played SEC football, benches 545lbs, squats over 600lbs and is 6 years younger than me! So the older brother in me can’t let him show me up in the gym. Me being a monster in college and having great strength 6 years ago drives me to get back to what I used to be. September 1 I started overall body conditioning. Strengthening joints, core, etc. I think around that time I could only bench 225 2xs, but the other day I got it 14xs. It feels like I’m just retraining my muscles.

That brings me to today. Today my coworker and I started Universal Nutrition’s “Explosive Gains Stak.” This stak consists of:

Animal Pak (taken in the morning) (THE multi-vitamin)
Animal Stak 2 (taken 45 mins before workout) (testosterone booster)
Animal Pump (taken 30 mins before workout) (Creatine/NO complex)
Animal Nitro-G (I take it during my workout) (BCAAs)

I’m also taking:

Chromium Picolinate (before morning cardio)
L-Carnitine (before morning cardio)
Acidophilus and Bifidus
Omega-3
Optimum BCAA 1000 Caps (morning/night)
Optimum Whey protein (about 2 scoops every few hours- 440grams total/day (including natural food))
Optimum Casein Protein (2 scoops before bed)

Also to clarify, I’m not a Universal Nutrition rep, but I really love their products. The products, the marketing and the customer service are #1. My body responded to animal pak and pump like no other. The coolest thing about the Animal line is that if you have a question, you can go to the website, ask and get a response in less than a day. **** Muscletech and **** EAS!

I have been taking everything (minus the Stak 2) since September 1. I was unsure how I would feel. Honestly, I feel great and can see the difference. The main thing I have notice with the high protein/BCAA intake is my recovery time. It is sick how fast I can recharge. I know some will criticize the amount of supps I’m taking, but if all they are is a big placebo effect…it is working!

Diet
After morning cardio:
2 packets of instant Quaker oatmeal
English muffin
Yogurt
Coffee

2 hours later:
Yogurt/fruit
Protein Shake

Lunch:
Turkey Sandwich
Pepper Cheese
Whole Wheat bread
Fruit
Protein Shake

Mid-Afternoon:
Protein Shake

Afternoon Fast (have to take Pump/Stak 2 on empty stomach)

Post Workout:
Protein Shake

30 Minutes later:
Outback Steakhouse plain grilled chicken breasts x 2
Outback Steakhouse plain sweet potato
Sometimes a house salad without dressing

Late evening:
Protein Shake

Before bed:
Casein Shake

I’m also eating other “real” foods in there, but I’m too lazy to type it out. Basically my food ratio is close to 60% - 30%- 10% (protein/carbs/fats). I will see how long I can maintain this ratio as energy will decrease eventually. Once I reach my goal I will slowly bring up the carbs and lower the fat and protein %’s.

Workouts
My main goal is losing body fat, so I’m doing fat burning cardio EVERY DAY for at least 30 mins in the morning before breakfast. On “cardio days” I’m also doing 1 hour of cardio after my evening workout.

We mix it up and try to do at least 24 sets per body part. It may seem like a lot, but my body responds nicely to this routine. My partner and I mix it up within the routine. We may do 2 low rep, heavy weight exercises followed by lighter weight, higher rep exercises.

Our weekly routines always change. We try to keep our muscles guessing. Here are 3 variations:
Variation 1
Monday: back
Tuesday: chest
Wednesday: rest
Thursday: shoulders
Friday: legs
Saturday: arms
Sunday: rest

Variation 2
Monday: Chest and back
Tuesday: Legs/Shoulders
Wednesday: Arms
Thursday: rest
Friday: Chest and back
Saturday: Legs/Shoulders
Sunday: Arms

Variation 3
Monday: Legs/Shoulders
Tuesday: Back/Biceps
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: Chest/Triceps
Friday: Legs/Shoulders
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Back/Biceps

There you have it. Who knows if I will have enough time to post on this thread, but I will try to include workouts, food journal and photos. This “Explosive Gains Stak” is only for 3 weeks. At the conclusion I will continue all other supplements, minus Animal Stak 2. I hope to get back to respectable strength and lose a lot of body fat in time for my brother’s visit this Christmas. After that I will probably maintain because I will be crazy busy with work in the New Year. I hope to cut the drinking down to once every two weeks after my transformation.

Thanks for reading.

[user5160515874]

good luck man

[Dallas68]

no offence but who are you in the avatar?

[cak2d]

Originally Posted by Dallas68

no offence but who are you in the avatar?

Left Side

The guy in the middle is my coworker.

The guy on the right is a one time Mr. Korea. Kind of weird seeing a korean dude that big.

[Dallas68]

Originally Posted by cak2d

Left Side

The guy in the middle is my coworker.

The guy on the right is a one time Mr. Korea. Kind of weird seeing a korean dude that big.

oh alright . not going too bad yourself yeah he is relatively large haha. ( well when you get even bigger than you are now, you will be in a zone where few korean men will know ) how about that hey.

[cak2d]

Well I'm sitting in the office staring at the computer. It is 8am, Tuesday morning, in Seoul (Monday, 6pm EST). Today is my off day with the weights, just cardio.

After 4 days this nutrition/supplement/exercise routine has a ****load of potential. My recovery time is nothing. I’m not doing bitch workouts. As I said before, my coworker and I are doing about 24 sets per body part with no strength left when we leave the gym.

Saturday (day 1)- Arms
Barbell Curls (heavy)
Standing EZ Curls (heavy)
Standing DB Curls (3 x 12)
Cable Preacher Curls
Concentration Curls
Reverse Grip EZ Curls
Bicep Buddies
Close Grip Bench (heavy)
Skull Crushers (heavy)
Overhead tricep extensions (heavy)
Rope extensions (finesse)
Reverse grip extensions (finesse)
Dumbbell Kickbacks (3 drop sets of 3)
Finishing: 1 arm tricep/bicep superset-ed

Sunday (day 2)- legs
Leg extensions- warm up/working set
Squat
Leg Press
Hack Squat
Lunges
Leg Curls
Machine Calves
Dumbbell One-Legged calf raises
Seated calf raises
Tibia plate raises

Monday (day 3)- chest/back
Barbell Bench Press
Incline Barbell Press
Dumbbell Bench Press
Dumbbell Incline Press
Dumbbell Decline Press
Dumbbell Flat Bench Flyes
Dumbbell Incline Bench Flyes
Underhand pulldowns
One-Arm Dumbbell Rows
T-Bar Rows
Underhand Barbell Rows
Seated Low Cable Rows
Incline Dumbbell Rows
Standing High Cable Rows
Good Mornings

Yesterday’s chest/back routine was crazy. I couldn’t do a pushup after we finished.

The only negative thing about Animal Pump is that it makes you want to workout 24/7 (is that really negative?). I’m making myself take today off. Who knows if it is the actual ingredients or the placebo effect, who cares…it works.

My diet is going well because I’ve made it simple. I’m not sure if they do it in the states, but in Korea you can order **** ala carte at Outback. Grilled chicken breasts are $2.50 each and sides (house salad, sweet potatoes and steamed vegetables) are $3.00. So I can get 2 grilled chicken breasts and a sweet potato for $8.00 (you don’t have to tip in Korea!). Since Outback is a 5 minute walk from my place it is much more convenient than firing up the old grill.

Supplements: my kitchen looks like an Animal advertisement. I just ordered more from BB.com ($470). This routine isn’t cheap, but 4 days later and looking forward to my next workout, it’s worth it for me. I was worried about the elevated protein intake because of the runs, but nothing so far.

I think in a week’s time I will see a noticeable difference in my body. Right now everything is tightening up which is due to daily exercise. But, my partner, yesterday, told me that my chest looked like it was about to explode. My intensity in the gym compares to no other.

So far so good.

[rltaylor11]

I am cak2d's workout partner. I can say that these workouts are incredibly intense. I am on the same stack as him and I am trying to go from 193lbs to 205lbs. I am the guy in the middle of his avatar. At the time I was probably around 185lbs.

[Anji]

As an Animal follower I will follow naturally you personal Journey…

Keep it posted and keep it real mate

[cak2d]

I know it has been some time since my last post, but I have been extremely busy at work- not to say that I haven't been working out, but I just haven't had enough time to post.

Well I have about 4 or 5 days left on the "Explosive Gains Stak" and it is incredible! Everything has shot through the roof- strength, endurance, recovery- while losing some inches off my waste.

My diet has been ok. My workouts/supplement regimen has been religious. My partner and I haven’t tried our 1 rep max for bench yet, but I’m sure it is much higher.
Biceps- 3 weeks ago could comfortably do reps with 45-50lbs. dumbbells. My last arm day I did reps with 65lbs. dumbbells.
Bench- I’m not sure what I started out doing, but on Monday I did chest and did 120lbs. dumbbells 6 times. I probably could have done more reps, but didn’t want to get a migraine.

Anyways…I gotta get back to work.

[Dallas68]

Wow great strength gains bro! Hows it all going now . Or is the work piled that high?

[Anji]

Hey bro how it’s your Journey? That Stak2 it’s almost ended no??

Update the gains..