STRENGTH IS MY DESTINY!! Gymratluke's Powerbuilding Journal- PART II

[gymratluke]

Whats happenin boys and girls?! For those of you who dont know me, Im Luke. Been lifting off and on no since I was 15 years old. Todays my 27th Bday, so its been almost 12 years since I started. Man, that seems like it was SOOOOO long ago! Anyway, this is my 2nd journal. My last one has almost 10,000 posts and it'll be closed down soon, so thought it was a good time to start a new one.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=790782


A little history lesson on me. I started lifting back when I was a Freshman in HS, basically just to gain confidence. Then I started playing football and lifting became my life. By Junior year I was the strongest kid in school, senior year same story. After highschool I quit lifting for a while. Got into my partying stage, did all the bad sh*t that kids need to do and get out of their systems. By 20 I had gone way down hill, got really fat and out of shape. That new years right before my 21st Bday I decided it was all over. I got my first book on how to get into shape, I think it was called "A flatter stomach ASAP" or somethin like that. I only drank on my 21st Bday then focused on my body for basically the next 4 months. I lost 50+ lbs, got in great shape, but I also go extremely weak and small. Dropped from 230 all the way down to 178, which is tiny for my frame. Getting skinny was cool, but I was also very self conscious about being that small. Even since I was a freshman in HS I was always over 200lbs. So I made the best move of my life and bought the ARNOLD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BODYBUILDING. The rest is just history. I have bought and read so many books since studying, and now studying and learning about the body is all I do. I got 6 years of serious lifting under my belt and I think I've done pretty well for myself. I love bodybuilding. I also love lifting heavy weight. Im torn between training for both size and strength. Thus I've labeled myself a POWERBUILDER.

Im a natural lifter, I choose not to take performance enhancing drugs just for the fact that I dont think I need them. To anyone who does use them, I got nothin against it, to each his own ya know! I just want to be one of the persons who does great things and can look back and say I did it all on my own, the hard way! Thats it! I found that with my good genetics I have a frame that can put on mass fairly easily and I am naturally just strong as an ox! I guess its the Norwegian/Scottish in me!

As of right now, the only thing I have competed in is the Highland Games. For those who dont know, its Scottish Field Games. Basically how the Scottish do Strongman! First time I ever competed I took 2nd place overall. This last year I took the overall both times I competed and I got moved up from the Novice Level to Amateurs for this next season. If my back holds up, I will get owned, but I'll adapts and get better from the experience and hopefully someday I can take the first overall in the Amateurs which will be a HUGE feat considering all the guys are above 6'0 ft tall and most are in the 250lb range! I will be by far the smallest guy out on the field!

I was signed up for my first strong man comp back in August of this year and was going to Venice Beach to do a PLing comp with my chris, who is actually a Mod here, Iron619. Anyhow I had got struck with bad luck and had to have my appendix taken on on July 17th and was sidelined for 8 weeks only to miss both of those comps. Since then I have found out I also have a 2 bulging disks in my back, L4-L5 and L5-S1, that later is actually pressing against my spinal cord. Causes me a lot of pain, but Im in the process of trying to heal up. I did physical therapy last month, Im learning to strengthen my core even more now, doing the chiropractic, hanging on an inversion table, and whatever else I can do to help my back get better.

Since mid November, when I left for vacation I had my wisdom teeth pulled with complications and got strep throat. I was out of the mix for pretty much six weeks but since new year I have been back going strong. I am able to lift somewhat like a normal person, just cant do anything stupid and stay away from anything that puts too much stress on my back.

This journal will pretty much follow my journey of rehabilitation. I truly believe I can get myself back to 100% again one day. I have had SOOOO many injuries in my past, and I have overcome all of them. This may be the worst one yet, but in the end, all of this will only make me stronger!

To everyone who's reading this, thank you! Its the people who follow along that motivated me more then anything! I hope to inspire people, and hope to also be inspired by others. Anyone is welcome in here. Share your knowledge with me, lets become friends, lets help each other and feed off each other. Some of my closest friends I have were met in my journal. I hope to make many many more in this one as well.

Here's where I started back 6 years ago in 2004...





After 9 months and down 50lbs

[gymratluke]

And here what I've gotten accomplished since I found BBing.com and started journaling!

[gymratluke]

NOW LET THE GAMES BEGIN!! Big Bday Chest Workout will be done here in a couple hours!

[strongforgood]

Subbed on OUR birthday!

[gymratluke]

Subbed on OUR birthday!

THATS RIGHT!! Happy Birthday to you!

[strongforgood]

THATS RIGHT!! Happy Birthday to you!

And to you! Same day (give or take 24 years )

[Quelly]

up in hurrr!

[mAssholio]

wow strong...





























































































nipplerings

[gymratluke]

And to you! Same day (give or take 24 years )

You look damn good still!

up in hurrr!

Cant have a journal with E Dawg!

wow strong....
nipplerings

You know it! lol

[gymratluke]

Gym Arrival- 4:45pm

Bench Press(warm ups excluded)
265x10
290x6
I wanted 7
320x2
335xMiss
Hit the Rack Pins otherwise would have had it


DB Bench Press
105x12
Didnt expect that many! lol
120x4
Damn that was heavy


Ham Strength Inc(Wt per side)
160x3
145x6


Wtd Dips
BW+145x5
BW+45x30


Seated 2 Hand OH DB Exts
115x13
115x12


Vbar Press Downs
200x14
180x15


Standing Single Arm Cable Exts
50x12
55x10


Single Arm Cable Kickbacks
45x12
50x10

Session Length- 60 mins

Strength- 9/10
Endurance-8/10
Intensity- 7/10

Thoughts
-Bench went really well
-Other then the 2nd set I got all the reps I wanted
-Only reason was cause the guy tried to spot ON THE 1ST REP
-It simply broke my concentration
-120's on the DB Bench were way harder then I thought they be
-Just awkward more then anything
-Suprised the sh*t out of myself on Dips
-Startin to really get into them again, I like it, they blow my triceps up
-Red means an all time best

[powerlifter18]

Strong benching

[-Lucifer]

5rd!

Howdy, Luke? Subbed!

[Striver]

Kilt/10.

In for amazing feats of strength/inspiration/nipple ring fetish.

wut?

[Sjudit84]

In!

[gymratluke]

Strong benching

Thanks brotha! You got an impressive Bench yourself!

5rd!

Howdy, Luke? Subbed!

Some brother?! Thanks for subbin!

Kilt/10.

In for amazing feats of strength/inspiration/nipple ring fetish.

wut?

lol we'll have plenty of ALL the above!

In!

Glad to have ya!

[HumanHorrorFilm]

Good to see you posting a journal over here Luke, as i lurked in your other one. Much easier to find here , although i cant understand 3 Days Grace hahaha.

Looking strong and awesome progress in your pictures.

[ossizen]

Hiya, Luke!

[theshoupguy]

Rock on, buddy - count me in.

All that with a semi-gimpy back still, eh? Good stuff.

[Ctrainer]

let's hope there are more noodz in this one...K??!!!

[-Lucifer]

let's hope there are more noodz in this one...K??!!!

This.

Wat?

[GyMgrrrL]

Here for the party!!!

Subbed

Looking great, Luke!
Never noticed the nipple peircings before. You rock it well!

[Sjudit84]

Never noticed the nipple peircings before. You rock it well!

I definately agree with that statement, never knew I would say that in my life but...

[toddbz]

Push strength has really gotten with it lately man!

Back feel cool after the bench n such?

[IMBAK]

in on page 1!!

Nice BP man!

[gymratluke]

Good to see you posting a journal over here Luke, as i lurked in your other one. Much easier to find here , although i cant understand 3 Days Grace hahaha.

Looking strong and awesome progress in your pictures.

Thanks brother! Glad to have ya on board! You dont like 3DG?!

Hiya, Luke!

OSS!!

Rock on, buddy - count me in.

All that with a semi-gimpy back still, eh? Good stuff.

Yep, still gimpin but doin what I can!

let's hope there are more noodz in this one...K??!!!

Many more this time round!

This.

Wat?

lol

Here for the party!!!

Subbed

Looking great, Luke!
Never noticed the nipple peircings before. You rock it well!

You never noticed?! Glad ya think I pull em off!

I definately agree with that statement, never knew I would say that in my life but...

lol well thanks

Push strength has really gotten with it lately man!

Back feel cool after the bench n such?

Yeah man felt awesome!

in on page 1!!

Nice BP man!

Thanks brother

[iron619]

Good start to a new journal dude. Looks like we are tied up again on bench--I just did 335x1, haha.

I think those dips are most impressive man: +145 lbs is ridiculous!

[theshoupguy]

I think those dips are most impressive man: +145 lbs is ridiculous!

Truth! Definitely an inspiration to the dip enthusiasts.

[gymratluke]

Good start to a new journal dude. Looks like we are tied up again on bench--I just did 335x1, haha.

I think those dips are most impressive man: +145 lbs is ridiculous!

Hey hey brother! Wow we are tied up again on bench...Im guessin you'll pass me here in the next week or so, just going off how well you build pressin strength compared to me

Truth! Definitely an inspiration to the dip enthusiasts.

Glad I can inspire! You gonna strap the 145 on someday?!

[gymratluke]

Gym Arrival- 3:45pm

Pull ups
BWx20
+50x12
+75x5
+100x2
BWx20


Chest Supp DB Row
100x13
115x7
105x10



Close Grip Pull Down
220x15
240x12
160x9


Hammer Strength DUH Row
WEIGHT PER HAND
170x12
180x9
190x7


Standing DB Curls
55x10
50x10


Cross Body Hammer Curls
35x10
40x8


ABS
Hanging Knees- 2 sets
SS w/
Decline Crunches- 2 sets
SS w/
Cable Crunches- 2 sets


Session Length- 60 mins

Strength- 10/10
Endurance-9/10
Intensity- 7/10

Thoughts
-Couldnt be happier with my Pull Strength
-Wanted to do this workout yesterday but wasnt feeling it
-Glad I waited cause today I felt strong as hell
-Im stoked to be setting all time PR's
-Im always excited about how good I look at this weight
-Dont look to chubby
-Arms are lookin SWOLE as EVER

[IMBAK]

Good start to a new journal dude. Looks like we are tied up again on bench--I just did 335x1, haha.

I think those dips are most impressive man: +145 lbs is ridiculous!

Truth! Definitely an inspiration to the dip enthusiasts.

Holy Sht

how did I miss that!!! and then to knock out 30 reps at BW + 45lbs