Oak and Jimmy's "Super-Duper, Rock-'em Sock-'em, Master Blaster, Training Log!"

[AustrianOakJr]

As Hanz and Franz would say.... "Hear me now......believe me later".... "Its time to PUMP.....you UP!" And as the name of our thread would imply.....this is going to be BIG. Im pretty excited about this log.

JimmyChitwood (Tim) and I have been long time friends (over 10 yrs now- wow...time flies!) and training partners since our college days. If you've ever experienced that perfect combination of monstrous gains and good times in the gym while training with a friend, you know what its like to be driven by a good partnership. Like Arnold and Franco. It really cant be replaced. Well, Jimmy and I had that in college. We took our training very seriously....but not TOO seriously (sometimes I think bodybuilders take themselves too seriously). We added huge amounts of muscle in a relatively short period and really had a great time doing it.

Well, Jimmy and I have been hit and miss in the gym since our glory days. I have personally fallen away and come back a few times....Jimmy has as well. It hasnt been a year yet since I have taken things more seriously and I began dieting for a transformation contest at my local gym. Losing 42 lbs, and transforming from fat couch potato to gym rat, I won my class in the contest. It was all down hill from there......it has become an undieing obsession for me. I kept going from the transformation contest to compete in my first natural bodybuilding contest. I took second place in my class at the show and got a lot of positive feedback that has pushed me to keep going in the sport. My goal is to compete again in one year, treating the Olympus (the NGA show I did this year) as my Olympia. I need to bring up the size of my legs and come in a few digits leaner. This log will keep track of my progress.

I will let Jimmy speak more of his current state and goals when he logs on. But, he will be training along side of me, yet on the other side of the state. He will be focusing on rebuilding some lost bulk in hopes of peeling it come summer time. In that time, I hope to convince Jimmy's wife to give him the support to compete along side of me on stage October '09. Either way, we will use this log to document our personal achievements with plenty of measurements, pics, dialogue, and general tom-foolery along the way.

Stay tuned and check back with words of encouragement, critique, and advise. The log really helps us to stay accountable, and is an invaluable training aid.

If anyone wants to check out my contest prep log, read here for details:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...=109524791here are some For the abridged version here are some progress pics of me from January of this year to my show in October (4 weeks ago). I lost over 55 lbs in the 10 mos proceeding.

Last day of being a professional fat guy....


1 week out.......


Contest....

[JimmyChitwood]

Oak, thanks for starting this up (don't expect anyone to read this other than you or me, though - you just started this yesterday and we're on page 11 when I found it today). This is just what I'm going to need to keep me going. I have been so lax with my start up and fall away cycle - I'm sick of it. The house renovations are a legitimate time consuming reason why I haven't been in the gym, but still... I don't like what happens to my body.

So I look like the worst train wreck I've looked like in a long time, but what can you do? Thanks to Oak's constant whining, prodding, poking and jabbing, I've started my training. Winter work schedule is good for regular training and good nutrition, so results should be decent between here and spring. House renovations are done for the season, so that won't be in the way either (except my wife needing help with curtain and picture hanging).

Last week saw a full rotation on all bodyparts - very light - just to get the body the message that I'm going to punish it coming up. Despite holding WAAAY back, I was pretty sore all over. I don't even think I used any plates for anything. (OK, that's an exaggeration, but it all was pretty light.) This week is tough with the holiday, but I should still get in a full rotation.

Last night was legs - 4 sets of squats going up as high as 185lbs, front squats up to 115lbs, walking lunges with 25's, SLDL with 105lbs, ham curls, iso standing calf raises, donkey calf raises, etc. Ramping up nice and safely - not too heavy, not too fast. It's tough to hear about Oak's numbers (like squatting 365lbs and deadlifting over 300lbs) when we used to do the same weight, but I have to pace myself so I don't break anything. I'm getting old, you know. But all the same, his progress can be a motivator for me.

[JimmyChitwood]

I can't leave Oak's pictures unanswered, so in the spirit of friendly competition I have to post a couple shots of what I'VE been building over the past several months. I'm not to be outdone. Warning - it's pretty impressive.

So here's the damage. This is what happens when you just work on your house and drink beers. On the bright side, the house transformation is impressive to see. I just don't think anyone here will care. So here's me at the start of this log. These were just taken last week. I have no shame. (actually, I do have some - I still refuse to change my avatar to look like my current self. Since nobody reads these, no one has to know.)

[JimmyChitwood]

They told me that I can't transform my build without quality protein sources. The current economy being what it is, I thought it appropriate to exercise some fiscal conservation in my quest, while at the same time going with the "all natural organic grass fed meat" trend. So I went deer hunting on Saturday - a very satisfying, beautiful experience and a responsible way to help manage local herd levels while harvesting some of the best meat available to man. Can it get any better? If so, then show me.

Here's my harvest - a nice 2.5 year old buck. Small rack, but I'm clearly not a trophy hunter. I couldn't care less about the rack. You can't eat it. He dressed out at around 120 pounds, and I got probably 60 plus pounds of high-quality-make-me-huge meat. We had tenderloin medallions last night after my leg workout - melt in your mouth. Praise God for a huge score. Freezer is full, and it's delicious.





And this is me getting an immediate start on my protein consumption after getting the harvest back to the ranch.

[AustrianOakJr]

Nice Jimmy. Nice. That is a quality score, right there. One of these days, ill actually get my hunting license so I can harvest my own. For now, I will be a leach and rely on all my friends to bring me free venecin. So, there you go. |THERE IS a better way. The ultimate way to get quality protein to my belly......get your buddies to use their ammo and their time to bring in the meat. HA! I think I told you of one friend who gave me a good 10 lbs of nice, quality cuts......well, I had another buddy stop in just yesterday and gave me another 5-8 lbs of meat. NICE! IM actually gonna have some marinated sirloin for lunch today. Actually, ill probably replace a lot of my chicken with venicin over the next several weeks and chow that right down.

BTW, im proud of you for posting your pics right up there. No need for shame.....it takes balls to post something that grotesque without any answer for it other than..."this is gonna change soon". Nice work in the offseason, my friend....although, I would have come out much worse had it been me. Anyways, now that you've posted......theres no going back. Show or no show....you have work to do. I know what youre capable of......so let us see. More pics will be required within a few weeks.

Lets DO IT!

[bwelch1985]

Subbed! (in spite of the 1st page gore lol)

Followed your contest prep thread pretty religiously Oak (didn't post just watched in awe)....I'm doing a contest in April and I'd love to have you follow my progress and dole out a few tips/tricks to getting shredded!

Anyways, good luck to you as well Jimmy...You've got a great foundation and some quality mass already....should be fun to follow your progress!

--btw, Oak, if you want to convince Jimmy to compete just show him Father Flex's log! If that doesn't make you wanna step on stage then nothing will!

[AustrianOakJr]

Originally Posted by bwelch1985

Subbed! (in spite of the 1st page gore lol)

Followed your contest prep thread pretty religiously Oak (didn't post just watched in awe)....I'm doing a contest in April and I'd love to have you follow my progress and dole out a few tips/tricks to getting shredded!

Anyways, good luck to you as well Jimmy...You've got a great foundation and some quality mass already....should be fun to follow your progress!

--btw, Oak, if you want to convince Jimmy to compete just show him Father Flex's log! If that doesn't make you wanna step on stage then nothing will!

Thanks man. Yea.....when you get ready to prep, post the link on this thread, and I will be sure to chime in.

Yes.....Father Flex is an inspiration in my book. He is a man to watch and learn from.

[AustrianOakJr]

Thanksgiving day. BIG legs day today. Im training at the Golds here in Syracuse near my family. I kept the squats on the smith machine and was feeling pretty strong. Got 315 for 9 or 10 reps. I was all set to go for a PR with 365 (7 reps), and I was really focused.....I had gone to that place in my head where I was in another world. I got all set and started to pump......and then my damn headphone earbud got pulled halfway out of my ear as it caught on my shirt....yanking on my freaking ear. This doesnt sound like a big deal and if I were going hammer curls or some other small exercise, it wouldnt be. But, it doesnt take much to just take my focus away for a second. I only got 5.

I made up for my error on the next set with a drop set that was heavier and more intense than ever. THAT was big. Very big.

I also tried glute/ham raises for the first time today. Only because this Golds has the proper bench for them where as my home gym does not. WOW. Those are hard. Couldnt do one TRUE unnassisted rep. I must be weak. I did do 2 sets of 8 reps doing a push up off the bench below me to get the upward movement started. That was hard enough. I would really like to start doing these as I just think it is a cool movement which would be even cooler if I could actually pull a few reps off. Ill have to get the gym owner on ordering up a proper bench.

So, now ive got a big T-giving dinner waiting for me later today. It will be an anabolic shindig of monstrous proportions. I cant wait. Nothing like a huge meal after a monster legs day.

[FATHER FLEX]

Yes! This is going to be great!

[AustrianOakJr]

Originally Posted by FATHER FLEX

Yes! This is going to be great!

Thanks for joining us Flex. Yes....this IS gonna be great And now we're gonna get popular with celebrities like you following along! Any tips or suggestions.....feel free to pipe up.....or random insults are also always welcome as well.

[BaFtub]

Im gonna Sub to this. I notice you live not too far from me! Keep up the good work, your most muscular reminds me of Arnold wayyy too much its insane!

[JimmyChitwood]

Nice work on legs, Oak. And on T-giving day, too. You are the king. Me? Well, I went to church this morning, gave a bunch of thanks, helped my wife with some of the big cooking then proceeded to eat until I went blind. Recovered nicely in time for some backyard football (even pulled off a nice play or two) and went back in to eat desert until I was going to pop. That was my routine today. Felt pretty solid to me. I'd like to repeat tomorrow.

[AustrianOakJr]

Originally Posted by JimmyChitwood

Nice work on legs, Oak. And on T-giving day, too. You are the king. Me? Well, I went to church this morning, gave a bunch of thanks, helped my wife with some of the big cooking then proceeded to eat until I went blind. Recovered nicely in time for some backyard football (even pulled off a nice play or two) and went back in to eat desert until I was going to pop. That was my routine today. Felt pretty solid to me. I'd like to repeat tomorrow.

Not bad. We didnt have a church service. You would think there would be one on T-giving day.

I planned on eating until I started to black out and see stars......I say that jokingly.....but at the same time remember all too clearly how this actually felt (to eat until blacking out) after my contest. I actually ate more yesterday than post contest, however my insulin levels were adjusting appropriately so I didnt have the black out issue. Bummer. Maybe next year? Or...maybe today or tomorrow......I still have two more dinners to go! Well, I will aim big and see (or not see) what happens.

I did back and bis this morning. Good workout. Started with rack chins, which was a bit of a change up. Pretty good pump, good strength, but I dont think this workout could be considered legendary. Tomorrow AM, shoulders and calves. Werd.

[bwelch1985]

Congrats on the epic Thanksgiving binge haha...

If you've got the time, your hordes of followers would love to see a detailed log of the exercises, weights and reps you perform each workout....

[JimmyChitwood]

Oak, way to keep on rocking in the gym even while on the road for the holidays. Mega dedication and discipline. My gym is here at home and I haven't been able to stuff in a workout in three days (getting a little irritable over that fact, actually). Tomorrow I will go for something different, which I think I can easily pull off given the very early stage of the ramp-up I'm in. I'm gonna do basically my entire upper body tomorrow. I'll work back and chest, then follow up with shoulders, then biceps and triceps. It won't be mind-blowing considering the low weight I'll be moving, but I've been practically salivating thinking of what kind of pump I'll have. Should be pretty cool.

Later I'm gonna go score a Christmas tree and kick off the season by finishing the rest of the turkey.

PS- I started shaving for the contest. Wife says it's a bit early and to calm down. Ssss... Girls.

[AustrianOakJr]

Originally Posted by JimmyChitwood

Oak, way to keep on rocking in the gym even while on the road for the holidays. Mega dedication and discipline. My gym is here at home and I haven't been able to stuff in a workout in three days (getting a little irritable over that fact, actually). Tomorrow I will go for something different, which I think I can easily pull off given the very early stage of the ramp-up I'm in. I'm gonna do basically my entire upper body tomorrow. I'll work back and chest, then follow up with shoulders, then biceps and triceps. It won't be mind-blowing considering the low weight I'll be moving, but I've been practically salivating thinking of what kind of pump I'll have. Should be pretty cool.

Later I'm gonna go score a Christmas tree and kick off the season by finishing the rest of the turkey.

PS- I started shaving for the contest. Wife says it's a bit early and to calm down. Ssss... Girls.

Just get up an hour earlier and train. Sucka fool. DO IIIIIIT! When the alarm goes off, and you want to go back to sleep, picture me at the foot of you bed yelling in your face..."YOU WANNA BE A PUSSY ALL YOUR LIFE?!!!??"

Why are you cramming such a big workout tomorrow, anyways? Just antsy or what?

I dont know.....for me it doesnt even feel like discipline to get into the gym. Its automatic. Kind of like pooping. I dont have good discipline for sitting on the pot....I just do it. If I dont get to the gym now, I feel like I do when I dont brush my teeth.....just......bad. Im a madman....what can I say?

Well, im doing the Christmas tree thing tomorrow as well. Ill probably find the biggest one I can fit on my car top and knock it over with a flying elbow from 10 feet out. That will be a great way to round out the exercise for the day. After shoulders and calves tomorrow morning, of course.

[AustrianOakJr]

Originally Posted by bwelch1985

Congrats on the epic Thanksgiving binge haha...

If you've got the time, your hordes of followers would love to see a detailed log of the exercises, weights and reps you perform each workout....

Thanksgiving binge isnt over yet......still have one more party tomorrow. He he he. Oh man. Im fat.

OK.....ill post a sample of today's workout. Only because im sure there are HORDES of people dying to know Weights and reps are from memory, but pretty darn close.

Rack chins:
Bodyweight X 14
45llb plate X 10
45+25plate X 6

Wide grip pull ups:
Bodyweight X 10
Bodyweight X 8

T-Bar rows (with bar wedged into corner):
150 X 14
175 X 10
200 X 8

Single arm dumbell rows:
80 X 12
100 X 9
100 X 7

Dumbell bicep curls:
45 X 12
50 X 8
55 X 6

PReacher curls:
75 X 10
95 X 8
95 X 6

Hammer curls;
40 X 10
40 X 8

[JimmyChitwood]

It's been a big day. Scored the Christmas tree, got some work done on the house, tree in the house, wreaths up, etc. Trained back and biceps tonight and will do chest, shoulders and triceps tomorrow. It was a pretty good routine tonight, although still holding back for a proper injury-free ramp-up. Lat pulls, wide underhand grip rows, overhand rows, one arm rows, good mornings, barbell curls, lying cable curls and rope curls. Finished with some random moves to make sure everything is cooked, and then went on to a posedown with my reflection. I think I won, but barely. Fantastic pump - it was actually difficult to flex my back - quivering and pumped too much. Awesome.

Oak, I can't do the get-up-earlier-and-train thing you suggest. If it sounds really simple like that, it's possible that I thought of it too. In this case, I did. Since the wife stays in bed for a couple hours past the time I get up now, then me getting up an hour earlier to pound heavy iron in the next room would definitely not go over big. A big drawback of the home gym. This leaves afternoons, which I prefer anyway. Problem is, there's lots of competition for that time between work and bedtime.

[AustrianOakJr]

Originally Posted by JimmyChitwood

It's been a big day. Scored the Christmas tree, got some work done on the house, tree in the house, wreaths up, etc. Trained back and biceps tonight and will do chest, shoulders and triceps tomorrow. It was a pretty good routine tonight, although still holding back for a proper injury-free ramp-up. Lat pulls, wide underhand grip rows, overhand rows, one arm rows, good mornings, barbell curls, lying cable curls and rope curls. Finished with some random moves to make sure everything is cooked, and then went on to a posedown with my reflection. I think I won, but barely. Fantastic pump - it was actually difficult to flex my back - quivering and pumped too much. Awesome.

Oak, I can't do the get-up-earlier-and-train thing you suggest. If it sounds really simple like that, it's possible that I thought of it too. In this case, I did. Since the wife stays in bed for a couple hours past the time I get up now, then me getting up an hour earlier to pound heavy iron in the next room would definitely not go over big. A big drawback of the home gym. This leaves afternoons, which I prefer anyway. Problem is, there's lots of competition for that time between work and bedtime.

Sounds like a big workout. Lots of back work there. Nice job. What are the lying cable curls youre doing?

Good to hear youre starting to win posedowns though. Thats a quick ramp up into such serious competition. Fantastic job.

The gym is in the next room? For some reason, I was picturing the gym on the first floor and your bedroom upstairs. Whatever. Sounds like excuses. Move the bedroom.

I trained shoulders and calves yesterday. This Golds has a donkey calf raise machine, which is a treat b/c all my home gym has is the 45 degree donkey calf, which kind of defeats the purpose and you dont get the stretch of a true donkey calf. Only problem with this one is the lack of weight that you can stack on there. I have fairly small calves and I could get 10 reps with the whole rack plus a 45lb plate on top. I cant imagine that machine would be much use to someone with calves that are anything sizeable. Anyways, I did 6 sets on that machine just because it was some variety added into my routine. Then, onto shoulders.....dumbell presses, arnold presses, machine lateral raises, rear delt machine and then heavy barbell shrugs.

Im getting pretty fat, especially after 3 days of binging. I may have to take 3 weeks and cut 5 or 6 lbs. Dont want to do it, but I feel I gotta reign this in before Christmas and the temptations are there again. I dont know what to do though. The other thought running through my head is that I should get back to very lean bulk and watch the scale and the mirror through the week and then make a decision on the mini cut. I may just be holding a lot of water because of all the fatty and sugary foods. Also, I dont know how much use it is trying to fight the first 10 or 15 lbs of fat. The big question is whether the fat gain will taper as I get back into the high 170's and low 180's which is where I kind of feel is a good, healthy weight for me.

[AustrianOakJr]

Deadlifts last night. It was an intense workout. Ive been feeling a bit run down as of the last two days. I think im getting sick, but once I got to the gym, I was able to turn it on and really get a nice workout in. My deadlifts continue to improve. Its kind of fun adding a new exercise in and seeing improvements every week. This week, I warmed up for a couple sets or 135 and then went to 225 for 12, 315 for 9, 315 for 7, and then 365 for 5. That felt good......deadlifts are unique. They give you such a feeling of an OVERALL beating.....my whole body feels beat. Like I was hit by a bus. You get that with squats, but not quite to such an extent. Squats seem to require more lung power and give you that intense burn in the legs, but you dont get as much of a feeling of total central nervous system overload. Anyways, I went on to do 5 sets of hack squats, a couple extensions, and then leg curls.

I had a PWO shake and then went home and made up some spaghetti sauce with a boatload of venecin chop meat......really, it came out more like chili then sauce. Poured that over some wheat pasta.....ate....and passed out on the couch. THATS the sign of a good workout.....when youre so tired at 8:30 at night that you cant keep your eyes open.

I think I knocked my immune system down though b/c im feeling pretty crappy today. I hope im not getting sick. This would be the first sign of illness in a year since I began training. I dont want to have to miss a day in the gym to recover from a stupid cold.

[JimmyChitwood]

Originally Posted by AustrianOakJr

Sounds like a big workout. Lots of back work there. Nice job. What are the lying cable curls youre doing?

Good to hear youre starting to win posedowns though. Thats a quick ramp up into such serious competition. Fantastic job.

The gym is in the next room? For some reason, I was picturing the gym on the first floor and your bedroom upstairs. Whatever. Sounds like excuses. Move the bedroom.

I trained shoulders and calves yesterday. This Golds has a donkey calf raise machine, which is a treat b/c all my home gym has is the 45 degree donkey calf, which kind of defeats the purpose and you dont get the stretch of a true donkey calf. Only problem with this one is the lack of weight that you can stack on there. I have fairly small calves and I could get 10 reps with the whole rack plus a 45lb plate on top. I cant imagine that machine would be much use to someone with calves that are anything sizeable. Anyways, I did 6 sets on that machine just because it was some variety added into my routine. Then, onto shoulders.....dumbell presses, arnold presses, machine lateral raises, rear delt machine and then heavy barbell shrugs.

Im getting pretty fat, especially after 3 days of binging. I may have to take 3 weeks and cut 5 or 6 lbs. Dont want to do it, but I feel I gotta reign this in before Christmas and the temptations are there again. I dont know what to do though. The other thought running through my head is that I should get back to very lean bulk and watch the scale and the mirror through the week and then make a decision on the mini cut. I may just be holding a lot of water because of all the fatty and sugary foods. Also, I dont know how much use it is trying to fight the first 10 or 15 lbs of fat. The big question is whether the fat gain will taper as I get back into the high 170's and low 180's which is where I kind of feel is a good, healthy weight for me.

Yah. Workouts getting bigger and better (and heavier) each week. I'm loving it.

Lying cable curls - lying on your back on the floor with your feet up to a low pulley and then use a short bar to do curls with. I do these with ropes to. Takes some of the shoulder swing out of the motion. Plus it's a nice finisher when the preceding workout takes from you the strength to remain standing.

Last night was a decent chest, shoulder and tricep workout. Decline bench, incline dumbell presses, pullovers, smith military press, upright rows, front raises, lateral raises, shrugs, reverse grip bench press, tricep pushdowns, reverse pushdowns, single arm overhead extensions. BIG PUMPS - very fun, but difficult to posedown with myself. Very inflated and shaky - difficult to flex. Finished up with venison tacos from my buck above - probably a pound and a half or so. Very satisfying....

[JimmyChitwood]

OK, so tonight was the third rotation through legs since starting back. Not impressive weight being moved yet (free squatting only going up to 225 I think), but nonetheless the weight is increasing weekly. I'm trying to make a measured approach at all this - recording everything and carefully ratcheting up to avoid injury. I want my joints, tendons, etc to keep up with the muscle so everything adjusts to the workload together. I've had some practice at starting up like this in the past, so I think I'm getting it now...

So I started with free squats, then to front squats, then to walking lunges, leg extensions, SLDL, ham curls, donkey calf raises, and seated calf raises. It was big. Very solid workout - pushed hard and done strict.
Finished with more venison, PWO shake and watched pumping iron while eating. Great stuff. Legs are baked nicely.

One irritation - much like your earbud thing, Oak - was that the phone was ringing during last set of front squats. Again, not heavy (finished with 185) but still - I was going for 10 and the phone started ringing as I was going into rep 7. Threw me off sufficiently that it stopped me at 9. I screamed at the phone while leaning on the rack. Ringing stopped.

[AustrianOakJr]

Originally Posted by JimmyChitwood

OK, so tonight was the third rotation through legs since starting back. Not impressive weight being moved yet (free squatting only going up to 225 I think), but nonetheless the weight is increasing weekly. I'm trying to make a measured approach at all this - recording everything and carefully ratcheting up to avoid injury. I want my joints, tendons, etc to keep up with the muscle so everything adjusts to the workload together. I've had some practice at starting up like this in the past, so I think I'm getting it now...

So I started with free squats, then to front squats, then to walking lunges, leg extensions, SLDL, ham curls, donkey calf raises, and seated calf raises. It was big. Very solid workout - pushed hard and done strict.
Finished with more venison, PWO shake and watched pumping iron while eating. Great stuff. Legs are baked nicely.

One irritation - much like your earbud thing, Oak - was that the phone was ringing during last set of front squats. Again, not heavy (finished with 185) but still - I was going for 10 and the phone started ringing as I was going into rep 7. Threw me off sufficiently that it stopped me at 9. I screamed at the phone while leaning on the rack. Ringing stopped.

Very nice. 225 is nothing to sneeze at for only your third leg workout. Ramping up slow is a good idea. Training too intensely when youre first starting doesnt do any good. Plus you dont want to break your own equipment. There will be plenty of time for freak show workouts.

Watching Pumping Iron while eating venecin after a legs workout, eh? Doesnt get any more manly than that....especially when you've killed your own meal. Nice work. Reminds me of watching the Conan movies and drinking protein shakes at Mark's apartment after training like madmen at Glimmerglass. Pure Testosterone.

I felt like a real pile of dung yesterday....all day. Bad headache...low on energy. Just bad. I dont know if it was the start of a cold or if its withdrawl as I come off the rest of my caffeine addiction. Ive been ramping the caffeine down slowly and I hadnt felt any negative effects. The last two days I was going for zero caffeine, but when I realized that my crappy feeling might be from the withdrawl, I had a half of a Monster Lo Carb energy prior to training. I felt fine once I started lifting. Put up some big weight actually. I did bench with dumbells this time around. I got the 100's up for 9 reps and then went to 105's for 7 reps. Then, as I moved onto inclines, I went up to 90's and actually got 9 reps, then 6 reps. Not too shabby. Finished off with some lower pec cable flys and then onto triceps with skull crushers, reverse push downs, and then overhead dumbell extensions. Rounded things out by throwing the dumbells across the gym, smashing some mirrors, and then I hoisted some hot chicks up on my shoulders and paraded around the gym. You know....the usual.

[fltallpaul]

Hey fellas good to have you in the Workout Journal section....I have a journal as well....Seems like we find our way over here from Contest Preparation.

I am doing a show next November so we will probably be in similiar mindsets over the next year.

[AustrianOakJr]

Originally Posted by fltallpaul

Hey fellas good to have you in the Workout Journal section....I have a journal as well....Seems like we find our way over here from Contest Preparation.

I am doing a show next November so we will probably be in similiar mindsets over the next year.

Hey Paul. Yea, ive read your log a few times when I see it pop up. Trouble with this section is the rapid pace that these threads get pushed down to the bottom. THey dont linger like in the contest prep section.

Yes, if your competing in Nov, we will be on similar time schedules for diet. We'll keep in touch as we go.

[JimmyChitwood]

Originally Posted by fltallpaul

Hey fellas good to have you in the Workout Journal section....I have a journal as well....Seems like we find our way over here from Contest Preparation.

I am doing a show next November so we will probably be in similiar mindsets over the next year.

Hey Paul,
That's cool! I read your prep thread from top to bottom for your first contest - that was my first real look at what it takes to get into contest shape - great read and very enlightening. Thanks again for that. Looking forward to learning more - it'll be cool to be prepping around the same time. I'll know that if I don't look like Paul at any given time, I still have work to do. Ha!!

[JimmyChitwood]

Originally Posted by AustrianOakJr

Very nice. 225 is nothing to sneeze at for only your third leg workout. Ramping up slow is a good idea. Training too intensely when youre first starting doesnt do any good. Plus you dont want to break your own equipment. There will be plenty of time for freak show workouts.

Watching Pumping Iron while eating venecin after a legs workout, eh? Doesnt get any more manly than that....especially when you've killed your own meal. Nice work. Reminds me of watching the Conan movies and drinking protein shakes at Mark's apartment after training like madmen at Glimmerglass. Pure Testosterone.

I felt like a real pile of dung yesterday....all day. Bad headache...low on energy. Just bad. I dont know if it was the start of a cold or if its withdrawl as I come off the rest of my caffeine addiction. Ive been ramping the caffeine down slowly and I hadnt felt any negative effects. The last two days I was going for zero caffeine, but when I realized that my crappy feeling might be from the withdrawl, I had a half of a Monster Lo Carb energy prior to training. I felt fine once I started lifting. Put up some big weight actually. I did bench with dumbells this time around. I got the 100's up for 9 reps and then went to 105's for 7 reps. Then, as I moved onto inclines, I went up to 90's and actually got 9 reps, then 6 reps. Not too shabby. Finished off with some lower pec cable flys and then onto triceps with skull crushers, reverse push downs, and then overhead dumbell extensions. Rounded things out by throwing the dumbells across the gym, smashing some mirrors, and then I hoisted some hot chicks up on my shoulders and paraded around the gym. You know....the usual.

Don't patronize me, Oak. 225 is OK for now, but I DID actually sneeze at it. But I wiped it off before putting the plates away.

Bummer about the low feeling - I didn't realize you were still on caffeine.? That stuff is pretty addictive, eh? I wouldn't know - I think I've had less than 3 cups of coffee across my lifetime.

Holy moly, Oak - 105 lb dumbbells?? They don't have those at my gym, and if they did nobody would use them. Not for another couple months, anyway. I don't think I've ever used a dumbbell that heavy except for heavy one-arm rows and shrugs. And that was back in the day. Nice work - that must look pretty amazing. And for incline DB presses - I think I got up to around 40 pounds last workout... Oh yeah...

[AustrianOakJr]

Originally Posted by JimmyChitwood

Don't patronize me, Oak. 225 is OK for now, but I DID actually sneeze at it. But I wiped it off before putting the plates away.

Bummer about the low feeling - I didn't realize you were still on caffeine.? That stuff is pretty addictive, eh? I wouldn't know - I think I've had less than 3 cups of coffee across my lifetime.

Holy moly, Oak - 105 lb dumbbells?? They don't have those at my gym, and if they did nobody would use them. Not for another couple months, anyway. I don't think I've ever used a dumbbell that heavy except for heavy one-arm rows and shrugs. And that was back in the day. Nice work - that must look pretty amazing. And for incline DB presses - I think I got up to around 40 pounds last workout... Oh yeah...

Ok. No more patronizing for now on. Only the sad truth. 225? Thats ridiculous. I think my my grandma could put that up after a big spaghetti dinner. Downright pitiful. Now get on it. Nothing less than 400 lbs for reps next week. MANY reps.

Yea, the big dumbells are something I enjoy. It seems that my regular bench is a bit weak, but that might be psychological.....I've got no spotter and worry about dropping the bar on my neck. That would ruin my whole workout. However, I am not bashful about picking up the big dumbells. Chest is feeling it today. And, my chest usually doesnt get downright sore....usually just a fatigued feeling. Not today. Sore.

You train today?

[JimmyChitwood]

Originally Posted by AustrianOakJr

Ok. No more patronizing for now on. Only the sad truth. 225? Thats ridiculous. I think my my grandma could put that up after a big spaghetti dinner. Downright pitiful. Now get on it. Nothing less than 400 lbs for reps next week. MANY reps.

Yea, the big dumbells are something I enjoy. It seems that my regular bench is a bit weak, but that might be psychological.....I've got no spotter and worry about dropping the bar on my neck. That would ruin my whole workout. However, I am not bashful about picking up the big dumbells. Chest is feeling it today. And, my chest usually doesnt get downright sore....usually just a fatigued feeling. Not today. Sore.

You train today?

What are you trying to do to my fragile self esteem here?? Just leave your gramma out of this, OK? Or by the time you guys come out for your next visit I'll be using your carcass as extra weight for squats. Savvy?

Legs feel nice an sore still. Next week I'll definitely be bumping up again. I love that feeling of strength returning. My dodgy knees are the real serious limitation, though. I move with caution and make sure I'm properly warmed up before going into the working sets. It would make a disappointing afternoon to see my knee cap pop off and hit the floor.

No training yesterday (Wed). I trained Mon and Tue, and will hit back and biceps today. Chest and triceps still recovering, but I'll hit them again either tomorrow or this weekend to get them back in the usual rotation.

Thinking of separating back and biceps day from legs day. Right now I put chest and triceps at the end of the week because it's my favorite and therefore my least likely to skip. Friday is the day that I'm most likely to skip training, so hence the juxtaposition. But if I want to be putting deadlifts into my back routine (and benefit legs at the same time) then I think I want to put a few days in between legs and back days to give the legs a bit of rest. That way the weight I'll be able to move would be maximized. So a typical week would be legs day (Mon), Rest (Tues), Chest-Triceps-Shoulders (Wed), Rest (Thurs), Back-Biceps (Fri). Legs would still have the weekend to recover from deadlifting before the next week. Cardio on rest days and/or weekend. Thoughts?

[Step Beyond]

I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this one, if for nothing more than the comedic value. You guys should put a DVD together or go on tour or something...lol...

BTW, is there actually a way to subscribe to a thread so I don't have to searching for it all the time??????????????