A Food Addicts Journey to The TOP!

[Blazed]

Some of you know me, some of you don't.....My name is Paul and I am a recovering food addict.

I first competed in 2009 doing two shows back to back. Since then I took a very brief (12 month) offseason before resuming my diet around December 1st 2010.

I did really well for the first three months and since March I regretfully say I've been spinning my wheels so to speak. I reached my leanest point sometime in the beginning of April and since then I have yo-yo'd my way back up to 195lbs where I currently sit.

I have told myself countless times since then that I will buckle down, get my ass in gear and either controlled bulk or cut down and decide what to do next. I have been extremely fickle and have stuck to neither goal.....I have been stuck in a rut....doing the same routine in the gym for almost a year. Not making any progress with the weights.....quite the opposite...I have lost or remained the same strength on most free weight exercises.

I re wrote the routine. Going from a 3 day push pull legs split to a Power Hypertrophy split focusing on 5 x 5 on compound lifts on power days and 3x10-15 on hypertrophy days. I started bringing a pen and paper to the gym and started logging my workouts but more importantly I want to make sure I am constantly progressing on my power days.

As far as diet goes....I don't know what I'll do 100% just yet but for the time being I will try to hit some slightly below maintenance macros as I get used to the routine and slowly re introduce cardio into the mix. I'll be shooting for ~60/250/225

I will do something I dread tonight.....take some progress pics in my current state lol....it won't be pretty but I need some damn motivation.


I hope this Journal and more importantly YOU guys can help keep me accountable.

My name is Paul. I am a food addict. Today is my first day sober

[domingochavez]

Welcome back!

I read through your entire first thread the other night, was like a good book I couldn't put it down. So motivating for me given my current prep and what you achieved, especially how you kept the weight off afterwards.

Looking forward to pics and following along!

[The Solution]

Do you even lift


?





In for this buddy!

[ErickStevens]

In on this.

[wrkoutfrq]

i believe i will be in on this as well

srs though ought to be a great journey to follow. a lot of people in here (most definitely including me) tend to get stuck in ruts and cant find their way out, so this journal might serve as a source of motivation for them

[DREhova 87]

Good luck on this run Paul.... You done it before...no reason you can't do it now...

[StaticZ]

Let's do this thang... inn

[MoEcho]

Its about damn time you started to log again! Welcome back!

[bballbrett5]

in dude!

[GFI]

In on this! I remember you from way back when you made that awesome transformation, good luck bro!

[Blazed]

Welcome back!

I read through your entire first thread the other night, was like a good book I couldn't put it down. So motivating for me given my current prep and what you achieved, especially how you kept the weight off afterwards.

Looking forward to pics and following along!

Do you even lift


?





In for this buddy!

In on this.

i believe i will be in on this as well

srs though ought to be a great journey to follow. a lot of people in here (most definitely including me) tend to get stuck in ruts and cant find their way out, so this journal might serve as a source of motivation for them

Good luck on this run Paul.... You done it before...no reason you can't do it now...

Let's do this thang... inn

Its about damn time you started to log again! Welcome back!

in dude!

In on this! I remember you from way back when you made that awesome transformation, good luck bro!

Thanks for all the support =)

Hit Lower Hypertrophy Tonight.

Warm up with my first cardio session in 6 weeks haha.

.25 Mile uphill walk. 5 min
1.25 Mile Run 11:45

Front Squat
Bar x 20
95 x 15
135 x 12
155 x 12
155 x 11

SLDL
135 x 15
185 x 12
225 x 12
225 x 12

Abducter
80 x 12
100 x 12
120 x 12

Abducter
120 x 12
140 x 12
160 x 12

Leg Ext
125 x 12
150 x 12
180 x 10

Leg Curl
110 x 12
110 x 8
120 x 8

Calf Raise
225 x 12
275 x 12
275 x 12

Wobbled out of the gym.

Nutrition ~55/250/200 so far today.

[jpfaherty]

In on this! Where da nudey shots?! (no homo?)

[NattyFLEX]

In on this! Where da nudey shots?! (no homo?)

Yes this ^ ^ Maybe homo.... (not srs)

[areya2005]

Paul, you know we NEED nudez.

[Blazed]

In on this! Where da nudey shots?! (no homo?)

Yes this ^ ^ Maybe homo.... (not srs)

Paul, you know we NEED nudez.

I will get some noods asap I promise! Didn't bring a camera to the gym lol! I'll remember next time!

Morning Weight
191.8 (Down some bloat from hitting macros)

Sleep
~7 Hours

Diet
~60/250/225

Training

UPPER POWER!

BB Bench (Superset w/ Rows)
45 x 20
95 x 15
135 x 12
185 x 8
225 x 5
225 x 5
225 x 5
225 x 5
225 x 5

BB Rows
45 x 20
95 x 12
135 x 8
155 x 8
185 x 8
185 x 6
185 x 6
185 x 6

Incline DB Press (Superset w/ Pullups)
60's x 10
75's x 8
75's x 8
75's x 8
75's x 8
75's x 6

Pullup
BW x 8
BW+25 x 5
BW+25 x 5
BW+25 x 5
BW+25 x 5

DB SNatches (per side)
60 x 5
70 x 5
70 x 5

Musings
Great Workout in the books!! Taking it one day at a time with the diet.
Tomorrow is off as my next day is Lower Power and I just did lower Hypertrophy yesterday.

[areya2005]

So are you looking at a show, or are you just trying to get you bod in check?

Try to hit a show before it gets too cold, then get fat. Pleeze.

[Blazed]

I have no goals at this point other than to get my eating habits in check, get stronger, build up my cardiovascular endurance. I guess I would like to see a drop in BF/weight but I'll take anything I can get on these macros. Not pushing any kind of deadline.

So far I've been good today......GF brought home some Frozen Yogurt.....will have a weighed out 2 servings =) Then im done for the day.

[Blazed]

Morning weight - 190.8 today

Off from gym...work all day. Tomorrow off from work and hitting lower power followed by a polish festival and bbq with Buns family.

[areya2005]

I have no goals at this point other than to get my eating habits in check, get stronger, build up my cardiovascular endurance. I guess I would like to see a drop in BF/weight but I'll take anything I can get on these macros. Not pushing any kind of deadline.

So far I've been good today......GF brought home some Frozen Yogurt.....will have a weighed out 2 servings =) Then im done for the day.

LOL at "I have no goals at this point other than to........."

That's a lot of goals, man! Good going!

[Blazed]

LOL at "I have no goals at this point other than to........."

That's a lot of goals, man! Good going!

Well you know what I mean.....no weight goals, no weight loss goals, no competition goals........just get back into the grind and see what happens these next few weeks.

I have been feeling good about the diet.....today is my third day back on the horse and it hasn't been too much of a struggle avoiding temptations. I am going to have to guesstimate calories both tomorrow as well as Tues-Thursday next week for camping. Will do my best =)

Debating on going for a jog tonight.....might save my energies for lower power tomorrow morning.

[bballbrett5]

have you posted at length about your struggles with food before? if you have, i'd love to read it if you have a link...and if not i'd love to hear about it. sounds like temptations still plague you in the present day?

[Blazed]

I've definitely posted about it throughout the end of my original prep thread in 2009......and a decent amount after the show when I gained 46lbs in 12 weeks.......the problem is that every time I fall off the wagon bad I get discouraged and stay off the boards....I should be doing the exact opposite and seeking not only motivation but writing about it puts it into perspective I guess.

If you have any specific questions I would be more than happy to elaborate. This has been a struggle for me since elementary school lol.

[domingochavez]

I've definitely posted about it throughout the end of my original prep thread in 2009......and a decent amount after the show when I gained 46lbs in 12 weeks.......the problem is that every time I fall off the wagon bad I get discouraged and stay off the boards....I should be doing the exact opposite and seeking not only motivation but writing about it puts it into perspective I guess.

If you have any specific questions I would be more than happy to elaborate. This has been a struggle for me since elementary school lol.

Wow didn't know you put on 46lbs post contest!

I am fearful of things getting out of hand myself post contest, I really want to maintain a physique I've worked so hard for so long for, but at the same time I know the temptation to eat is going to be very strong, as my set point is probably around 20% bodyfat

Any tips?

[Blazed]

Wow didn't know you put on 46lbs post contest!

I am fearful of things getting out of hand myself post contest, I really want to maintain a physique I've worked so hard for so long for, but at the same time I know the temptation to eat is going to be very strong, as my set point is probably around 20% bodyfat

Any tips?

Don't restrict yourself too much immediately post show.
Don't eat till you feel sick.
After you eat a cheat meal/treat wait 20 minutes before eating anything else......I realized that I would go on these crazy 15-20 minute spurts of junk eating where I would easily consume 1000-3000cal at a clip. If I spaced each item 20 minutes I would have been full much sooner and would never be able to pack in soo many cals before my brain realized I am full.
Roll with the punches.....understand you will slip up and don't try to do any kind of "damage control" by returning to crazy low pre contest macros, or trying to do crazy amounts of cardio....just get back on the train.
Give yourself a couple of moderate free meals a week....otherwise eat similar foods you ate on prep.....slowly reintroduce sweets and treats.
For me....I am all or nothing.....so when I slipped up I just said **** it and ate everything in site. I yo yo'd my way up all the way to 218lbs from 171

[jpfaherty]

For me....I am all or nothing.....so when I slipped up I just said **** it and ate everything in site. I yo yo'd my way up all the way to 218lbs from 171

Wow, that's crazy! How do you feel when you binge? Does it feel good or are you thinking of the consequences the whole time and not even enjoying it? Where do you currently sit?

[ErickStevens]

Wow, that's crazy! How do you feel when you binge? Does it feel good or are you thinking of the consequences the whole time and not even enjoying it? Where do you currently sit?

If I could chime in for Paul since I think we're pretty similar - Not a single fuk is given.

[The Solution]

I've definitely posted about it throughout the end of my original prep thread in 2009......and a decent amount after the show when I gained 46lbs in 12 weeks.......the problem is that every time I fall off the wagon bad I get discouraged and stay off the boards....I should be doing the exact opposite and seeking not only motivation but writing about it puts it into perspective I guess.

If you have any specific questions I would be more than happy to elaborate. This has been a struggle for me since elementary school lol.

Good thing you were hiding the bag of reese cups that you destroyed right after your show



Its a mental struggle, you recognize it, and you can only overcome it by taking it head on and slowly chipping away at it with mini/baby steps. All in due time Paul, you are mentally strong, you have gone through prep and got yourself into amazing shape. Its just another thing to check off the list in the future for learning self-control. Just take it one day at a time and you will overcome it given patience.

[Blazed]

Wow, that's crazy! How do you feel when you binge? Does it feel good or are you thinking of the consequences the whole time and not even enjoying it? Where do you currently sit?

I know I shouldn't but the high from the food temporarily clouds my judgement.....Teh suk......I ALWAYS feel extremely guilty/low about myself the next few days.....yet I repeat the vicious cycle. Though I haven't "binged" per say in a while.....I have just said **** it numerous times this year and ate whatever I felt like.

If I could chime in for Paul since I think we're pretty similar - Not a single fuk is given.

During the binge/cheat no......afterwards.....whole diff story for me lol.

Good thing you were hiding the bag of reese cups that you destroyed right after your show



Its a mental struggle, you recognize it, and you can only overcome it by taking it head on and slowly chipping away at it with mini/baby steps. All in due time Paul, you are mentally strong, you have gone through prep and got yourself into amazing shape. Its just another thing to check off the list in the future for learning self-control. Just take it one day at a time and you will overcome it given patience.

Thanks for the support BOB! That pic is EPIC! Do you have any more from that night? I would love it if you could email em to me as all I got are stage shots from most people!! Want those memories to last a lifetime!

Morning Weight
190.8lbs (Frustrating lol)

Diet
NAILED yesterday and today will be off macros but on point calorie wise as I'll be at a Polish Festival followed by a BBQ all day.

Sleep
5 Hours very interrupted

Training

Cardio + Lower POWAH!

.5 Mile uphill warm up. 10 min ~80 cals burned
1.75 Mile Run 15:40 =) (Which is good considering I did an extra .5 mile and knocked my mile pace by over 15 seconds/mile.

Deep Squats
45 x 12
125 x 12
185 x 8
225 x 6
295 x 5
295 x 5
295 x 5
295 x 5
295 x 5

Deadlifts
135 x 10
225 x 8
315 x 5
315 x 5
315 x 5
315 x 5
315 x 5

Calf Raises
1 plate x 12
2 plate x 10
2p+25 x 10
2p+50 x 8

Done and done

Musings
Great workout to start the day! This was my second lower power on this routine and I increased my working squat set by 20lbs and my deadlift by 40lbs Feels good!

Keeping focus on diet today will be a challenge. I hope my guesstimates are on point haha. Guess the weigh in tomorrow and Monday will tell all.

Tomorrow is Pull Hypertrophy and maybe some cardio if legs are up for it.

Thanks for reading guys =)

[ErickStevens]

During the binge/cheat no......afterwards.....whole diff story for me lol.

Yep. Binge -> Guilt -> Horrible mood -> Binge x Repeat. Viscous cycle indeed.

[StaticZ]

Don't forget, your training partner is in a recovery of his own BRAH!! You're not alone. We are going to continue to rock fitness plus this autumn