HardNHeavy's Post Competition Journal

[fittofattofit]

It's great to see you back Brad and good to know that you've put the operation behind you. Bummer about the RC again, and it's hard to imagine that you haven't deadlifted for 10 months, but it sure hasn't stopped you gaining size ... delts are fcuking ginormous! Huge traps, chest, back and bis as well. I look forward t seeing you post a few workouts so I can see what you're doing!
Are you planning on a BB show at all?

[hardNheavy2011]

It's great to see you back Brad and good to know that you've put the operation behind you. Bummer about the RC again, and it's hard to imagine that you haven't deadlifted for 10 months, but it sure hasn't stopped you gaining size ... delts are fcuking ginormous! Huge traps, chest, back and bis as well. I look forward t seeing you post a few workouts so I can see what you're doing!
Are you planning on a BB show at all?

Thanks Andrew!! By the way, I did read your message and it did give me some things to think about as far as the second surgery. I appreciated you taking the time to reply. I didn't respond because I just had a lot to think about. lol

I've went back to my old BB routine that I used years ago and it still works for me. My delts exploded when I started training them again. It was actually quite shocking. Leg training is hit and miss with my knees. Some days they hurt and some days they don't. I've dropped squats completely. :/ I have also stopped training my glutes directly. My ass was too big and it was screwing up my symmetry.

[hardNheavy2011]

I'm back to doing 100 reps under a time limit again. I think getting older and past injuries are the main reason.

Last workout was this:

Leg Press: 590 for 100 reps in 7:40
Shoulder Press: 130 for 100 reps in 12:15

Not as easy as it looks lol

[hardNheavy2011]

Me and my 16 week old puppy headed for the woods to explore

[raynerd]

Think I'll tag along if you will have me! Cute pup....and massive back in that pic!

[hardNheavy2011]

Think I'll tag along if you will have me! Cute pup....and massive back in that pic!

Thanks brother. I don't do much in here anymore. lol Since I stopped power lifting, there isn't much to my workouts.

[fittofattofit]

I'm back to doing 100 reps under a time limit again. I think getting older and past injuries are the main reason.

Last workout was this:

Leg Press: 590 for 100 reps in 7:40
Shoulder Press: 130 for 100 reps in 12:15

Not as easy as it looks lol

Nothing's easy about doing workouts for time ... it's something I've been adding n a lot and it actually takes a lot of mental effort (as well as physical) to squeeze out those last few reps

Me and my 16 week old puppy headed for the woods to explore

You're looking great in that pic Brad .... traps, delts and last are huge (and you know your Tollers are just beautiful )

Thanks brother. I don't do much in here anymore. lol Since I stopped power lifting, there isn't much to my workouts.

I'd love to see you keep posting Brad .... it's always good to watch how people adapt their training and you've managed to switch back from PL to BB seamlessly. Are you thinking of competing n BB again?

[hardNheavy2011]

Nothing's easy about doing workouts for time ... it's something I've been adding n a lot and it actually takes a lot of mental effort (as well as physical) to squeeze out those last few reps


You're looking great in that pic Brad .... traps, delts and last are huge (and you know your Tollers are just beautiful )


I'd love to see you keep posting Brad .... it's always good to watch how people adapt their training and you've managed to switch back from PL to BB seamlessly. Are you thinking of competing n BB again?

I agree with you about workouts under time. When I was doing PL I could take as long as I wanted. Now, there's no time to mess around. I'm enjoying being back in that mental state too. Feels great. What ways are you incorporating working under a time limit?

Thanks for the compliments too!! I'm starting to get big again. I managed to hit 240 way before I planned to. I'll probably keep going up and see what I look like. haha I have no plans on competing. Although, this cancer thing has given me much to think about so I guess I won't rule it out lol

Here's a nice pic I shot of my new pup.

[fittofattofit]

I agree with you about workouts under time. When I was doing PL I could take as long as I wanted. Now, there's no time to mess around. I'm enjoying being back in that mental state too. Feels great. What ways are you incorporating working under a time limit?

Whenever I get to my commercial gym it's all upper body stuff, so I've been setting myself rep targets and I'm keeping to strict break times between sets. I've been doing 'FST-7' type work generally once per week with only 30 seconds between sets for up to an hour and a half, and in most other upper body work I'm keeping the breaks at a minute max. In my sessions with my trainer we always have a 'metcon' set where I'm up against the clock. I'm seeing some size gains with the upper body work now and the metcon has done wonders for my fitness
Of course, my classic work for time was trying to get out 100 pull-ups in 10 minutes

Thanks for the compliments too!! I'm starting to get big again. I managed to hit 240 way before I planned to. I'll probably keep going up and see what I look like. haha I have no plans on competing. Although, this cancer thing has given me much to think about so I guess I won't rule it out lol

'Get big again' ..... you were big before, now you're just enormous
I'd like to know how much volume you're knocking out each week and what your macros are now

Here's a nice pic I shot of my new pup.

I had to show my girls the pic .... such a cute pup!

[hardNheavy2011]

Whenever I get to my commercial gym it's all upper body stuff, so I've been setting myself rep targets and I'm keeping to strict break times between sets. I've been doing 'FST-7' type work generally once per week with only 30 seconds between sets for up to an hour and a half, and in most other upper body work I'm keeping the breaks at a minute max. In my sessions with my trainer we always have a 'metcon' set where I'm up against the clock. I'm seeing some size gains with the upper body work now and the metcon has done wonders for my fitness
Of course, my classic work for time was trying to get out 100 pull-ups in 10 minutes


'Get big again' ..... you were big before, now you're just enormous
I'd like to know how much volume you're knocking out each week and what your macros are now


I had to show my girls the pic .... such a cute pup!

I'm actually seeing some gains too by doing everything under a time limit. This is sort of how I used to train back when I was doing BB. Do you find it almost more satisfying to get an awesome pump than to lift a ton of weight? Honestly, I really don't miss lifting heavy! Did you ever get your 100 reps in 10 minutes on pullups? I might actually try that on my next back day.

I'm eating essentially the same thing every day. A few 1000 calorie shakes for snacks and then chicken with cottage cheese and eggs and bacon lol Oatmeal....mostly just good carbs, proteins and fats. I shoot for 4000 calories per day. I usually don't make it lol

Here was my workout for today:

Leg Press: 630lbs x 100 in 7:35
Front Shoulder Press- 140lbs x 100 in 12:00

Workouts are so much quicker lol!!

Here's a pic I took today. I will credit PL with adding more thickness all over and some places I didn't want it, like my big ass

[Plateauplower]

Looking pretty lean for that weight with vascularity still plenty visible. Your a monster. Pup looks cute, I might get a black mouth cur dog when I'm ready to get another (had to put my old lab down in late summer).

Interesting training approach, it sounds awful . The pump and burn must be pretty intense.

[fittofattofit]

I'm actually seeing some gains too by doing everything under a time limit. This is sort of how I used to train back when I was doing BB. Do you find it almost more satisfying to get an awesome pump than to lift a ton of weight? Honestly, I really don't miss lifting heavy! Did you ever get your 100 reps in 10 minutes on pullups? I might actually try that on my next back day.

I love the pump and since I've never lifted anything heavy (at least anything heavier than your warm-up sets) I wouldn't know what that was like
The most I got to was 97, all dead hang to chin over bar ... I was in around that mid-90s for months but just could not make that last few reps. I loved the pump through the delts, lats and upper chest after though

I'm eating essentially the same thing every day. A few 1000 calorie shakes for snacks and then chicken with cottage cheese and eggs and bacon lol Oatmeal....mostly just good carbs, proteins and fats. I shoot for 4000 calories per day. I usually don't make it lol

Here was my workout for today:

Leg Press: 630lbs x 100 in 7:35
Front Shoulder Press- 140lbs x 100 in 12:00

Workouts are so much quicker lol!!

When you look at it it's a huge amount of volume ... 63,000lbs of presses and 14,000lbs of shoulder presses
I assume there are warm-up sets and maybe some other exercises in there but does that mean that the whole session is done in less than an hour? How many days a week are you working out and are you doing any deads in your routine now?

Here's a pic I took today. I will credit PL with adding more thickness all over and some places I didn't want it, like my big ass

Looking hyoooge and still showing cuts and vascularity
Great work Brad!

[hardNheavy2011]

Looking pretty lean for that weight with vascularity still plenty visible. Your a monster. Pup looks cute, I might get a black mouth cur dog when I'm ready to get another (had to put my old lab down in late summer).

Interesting training approach, it sounds awful . The pump and burn must be pretty intense.

It IS awful! That shoulder workout yesterday has left me a cripple today. Delts, tris and even my lats are freaking sore. Give it a run some time. It is definitely something that has given me a boost here lately.

I love the pump and since I've never lifted anything heavy (at least anything heavier than your warm-up sets) I wouldn't know what that was like
The most I got to was 97, all dead hang to chin over bar ... I was in around that mid-90s for months but just could not make that last few reps. I loved the pump through the delts, lats and upper chest after though


When you look at it it's a huge amount of volume ... 63,000lbs of presses and 14,000lbs of shoulder presses
I assume there are warm-up sets and maybe some other exercises in there but does that mean that the whole session is done in less than an hour? How many days a week are you working out and are you doing any deads in your routine now?



Looking hyoooge and still showing cuts and vascularity
Great work Brad!

Oh come on Andrew!! You've lifted plenty of heavy stuff!!

You got to 97 and couldn't get 3 more? Damn!! See, that's called intensity right there. I'm seriously considering trying 100 pullups....I won't get anywhere near 100 in 10 minutes. What would be a good starting point? 20 minutes?

Well yeah, the volume is a lot when you break it down I guess. I'm just used to single after single..... I do very few warm up sets. Maybe one or two and I go. So, I can do legs and shoulders in 30 minutes if I don't mess around too much between body parts.

I'm working out about every other day and it's been almost a year since I did any deadlifts. Maybe not quite that long. Not sure if I'm going to bring them back or not. My right bicep is still pissed off from tearing it early last year so I have to be careful.

OH...my wife and I are starting to workout together at a commercial gym tomorrow. I haven't been in a real gym in almost 8 years.

[raynerd]

Those timed workouts look kickazz, tons of volume crammed in a short blast! Commercial gym... that sounds like a fun for you and the wifey. Does she train with you now?

[induced_drag]

H&H

Just dropping in to say hey! Glad everything still kicking along for you. Looking great man. I too have taken some time away from super heavy stuff. Been almost 8-10 months since my last deadlift too! No real reason, just wanted a change. Been doing more 'bodybuilding' stuff similar to you. Playing around with various things....

Glad to see things are going well!

[hardNheavy2011]

Those timed workouts look kickazz, tons of volume crammed in a short blast! Commercial gym... that sounds like a fun for you and the wifey. Does she train with you now?

I am quite crippled today from yesterday's workout. I guess I didn't realize until Andrew pointed it out how much volume it actually was in such a short period of time. lol

She does train with me, but she doesn't like my intensity. I tone it down for her though.

H&H

Just dropping in to say hey! Glad everything still kicking along for you. Looking great man. I too have taken some time away from super heavy stuff. Been almost 8-10 months since my last deadlift too! No real reason, just wanted a change. Been doing more 'bodybuilding' stuff similar to you. Playing around with various things....

Glad to see things are going well!

My deadlift brother!! Still recovering from our battle. lol!! You're looking comp ready to be honest. You really need to do it and get it over with. You'd likely win anything you entered. I hear there is a new class called "Classic Physique". You would dominate that bro. What all are you playing around with? Are you a believer in the occlusion training? I know you were messing with that some time back.

[hardNheavy2011]

First night in a commercial gym in almost 8 years didn't go too bad.

Dumbbell Press- 110's for 100 reps in 18:09
Dips- body weight for 100 reps in 9:45

Dumbbell press was a little harder tonight. I built a bench years ago that would allow me to rack and un-rack dumbbells like regular bench. I spent most of my 18:09 trying to relearn balancing the weight as I went back on the bench. I also remember now why I built the thing in the first place. It saves wear and tear on my elbows and shoulders. Oh well, I'll find a different exercise to do next time. Dips were easy and I was flying through them. I'll likely add weight next time

[fittofattofit]

Oh come on Andrew!! You've lifted plenty of heavy stuff!!

You got to 97 and couldn't get 3 more? Damn!! See, that's called intensity right there. I'm seriously considering trying 100 pullups....I won't get anywhere near 100 in 10 minutes. What would be a good starting point? 20 minutes?

Nah ... I'm getting weaker so I think I'll never see a 5pps dead, a 4pps squat or a 3pps bench
You are weighing 60lbs more than me so that's lot of extra weight to pull. I'd imagine that 20 minutes would be plenty of time for you to get to the 100. To get to my target I made sure that I only allowed 25 seconds between sets. I could get sets of 10 out for the first 4 minutes but by the end I'd be down to 4 rep sets and hoping to get through 2 x 4 each minute

First night in a commercial gym in almost 8 years didn't go too bad.

Dumbbell Press- 110's for 100 reps in 18:09
Dips- body weight for 100 reps in 9:45

Dumbbell press was a little harder tonight. I built a bench years ago that would allow me to rack and un-rack dumbbells like regular bench. I spent most of my 18:09 trying to relearn balancing the weight as I went back on the bench. I also remember now why I built the thing in the first place. It saves wear and tear on my elbows and shoulders. Oh well, I'll find a different exercise to do next time. Dips were easy and I was flying through them. I'll likely add weight next time

It's great that you both got to train together! That's an awesome amount of volume and those are heavy presses ... I've never pressed anything more than 100lb DBs and that would have been for only a few reps many moons ago

How did your wife enjoy the training?

[ilovethe80s]

The puppy is adorable.

Love how simply structured your workouts are. They seem to be working out very well for you

[hardNheavy2011]

began training with the owner of the gym I now go to and it's been working out pretty well. The guy is strong as hell and has some serious intensity! He's 31, but has been cutting me some slack at my advanced age. Still have the same nagging shoulder injury, but my bicep has healed up nicely!

Took this artsy shot the other night. haha

[fittofattofit]

Damn Brad ... you are carrying a huge amount of mass! Great that the bicep has healed up, even if the RC is still a problem. How is the elbow, what's your weight in this pic and what's your training programme like now? Doin sumthin right

[hardNheavy2011]

Damn Brad ... you are carrying a huge amount of mass! Great that the bicep has healed up, even if the RC is still a problem. How is the elbow, what's your weight in this pic and what's your training programme like now? Doin sumthin right

Thanks Andrew!! I'm in the 235-240 range right now depending on the day. lol I am now training with a guy who actually competes in BB and I'm just doing whatever he says. He's way younger than me, but as of late, I've been able to out train him. He trains balls to the wall honestly. Heavy weights, tons of failure sets. He's well aware of all my injuries and we train around them. He's a really great guy. The first thing he asks me before we do an exercise is if I can do it. If I can't, we move on to something else. Very generous person.

He wants to train with me for a year, bring up some of my weaknesses and then get me into a show. lol!! He's very energetic haha

[fittofattofit]

Thanks Andrew!! I'm in the 235-240 range right now depending on the day. lol I am now training with a guy who actually competes in BB and I'm just doing whatever he says. He's way younger than me, but as of late, I've been able to out train him. He trains balls to the wall honestly. Heavy weights, tons of failure sets. He's well aware of all my injuries and we train around them. He's a really great guy. The first thing he asks me before we do an exercise is if I can do it. If I can't, we move on to something else. Very generous person.

He wants to train with me for a year, bring up some of my weaknesses and then get me into a show. lol!! He's very energetic haha

That sounds great! I know you had a huge friend who used to do the PL lifting with you sometimes, but I know that most of the time you were training alone, so I think just training with someone else and having them to spur you on can give you a boost. Awesome to do a comp .... you are going to look even bigger shredded down. Keep us updated with your progress, especially when you start to cut ahead of the comp ... I'll love to see how he gets you to prepare for this