Running with the Demon- my long, long journey to the stage.

[demonwareltd]

I would be lying if I didn't tell u I am probably as excited for your transformation as you are! You are just as inspiring to us as we are to you - trust me!

The reason u are seeing results is because you are PERSEVERING! Many people quit when a week or two go by and they see little or no progress. Our bodies are complex to say the least and sometimes our weigh doesn't drop at a uniform rate like we would prefer.

Keep grinding and let's kill that comp. 10 more weeks!!!!

[TakedaShingen]

I know the feel of those slow ass treadmills. 12mph? My grandma run faster in her walker : )

BUT, how many people do you know who say the treadmills don't go fast enough for em?

Keep killin it!!!

[curjo]

I know the feel of those slow ass treadmills. 12mph? My grandma run faster in her walker : )

BUT, how many people do you know who say the treadmills don't go fast enough for em?

Keep killin it!!!

Mine at home only goes to 10.0, if it did 12.0 I think I'd be alright for a little longer!

[TakedaShingen]

Mine at home only goes to 10.0, if it did 12.0 I think I'd be alright for a little longer!

Not for long. You're comin for us all bro.

[Ccm644]

I would be lying if I didn't tell u I am probably as excited for your transformation as you are! You are just as inspiring to us as we are to you - trust me!

The reason u are seeing results is because you are PERSEVERING! Many people quit when a week or two go by and they see little or no progress. Our bodies are complex to say the least and sometimes our weigh doesn't drop at a uniform rate like we would prefer.

Keep grinding and let's kill that comp. 10 more weeks!!!!

This

Great motivation and its all very true, this is going to be exciting and amazing

Your bicep looks good

[curjo]

Yesterday's workout went well, I dialed back the weight on my early sets so I wasn't so fatigued with my heavy sets and it worked quite well. Also did a burn out set after my heaviest set, I dropped the weight to 135 and did a quickset of 30 with it. The last few reps I really felt the burn. I was also feeling good after my last exercise I did some t bar rows. Maybe it was from the great weigh in that I had.

Lat pulldowns
150x10x3

SS with db row
70x10x3

Bent over bb row
110x12
120x10
140x8
160x6
170x6

Deadlift
190x12
230x10
295x8
320x6
135x30

Straight arm pulldowns
60x12x3

T bar rows
100x10x3

Then 30 minutes on the elliptical.

[curjo]

Took Sunday off from everything and it was needed, my legs feel much better today. Went to my last Christmas party yesterday with my wife's family, it had been postponed several times. Got a few compliments which was nice. My wife over heard her mom telling her aunts that I don't eat normal food lol. My wife stool up for me telling them that I eat plenty of normal food. I understand both sides of the argument. By normal food her mom is saying that I won't eat her homemade BBQ beans with loads of sugar in it and the cheesy potatoes that they have. Not a big deal to me, heated up my tilapia and broccoli and snacked on some almonds. Her other aunt saw my wife heating up my food and asked about it and when my wife told her what it was she said she hates people that dedicated lol. I take that as a big compliment because I am dedicated and I'm glad it shows. I'm really looking forward to the next year and a half and working hard to blow people away with my conditioning.

[demonwareltd]

Took Sunday off from everything and it was needed, my legs feel much better today. Went to my last Christmas party yesterday with my wife's family, it had been postponed several times. Got a few compliments which was nice. My wife over heard her mom telling her aunts that I don't eat normal food lol. My wife stool up for me telling them that I eat plenty of normal food. I understand both sides of the argument. By normal food her mom is saying that I won't eat her homemade BBQ beans with loads of sugar in it and the cheesy potatoes that they have. Not a big deal to me, heated up my tilapia and broccoli and snacked on some almonds. Her other aunt saw my wife heating up my food and asked about it and when my wife told her what it was she said she hates people that dedicated lol. I take that as a big compliment because I am dedicated and I'm glad it shows. I'm really looking forward to the next year and a half and irking hard to blow people away with my conditioning.

Way to stick to your guns. I can tell you from experience that those who fail themselves often hate to see others succeed. It's a selfish way to live, but the way it is... Great job

[Ccm644]

Got a few compliments which was nice.

My wife over heard her mom telling her aunts that I don't eat normal food lol. My wife stool up for me

I take that as a big compliment because I am dedicated and I'm glad it shows. I'm really looking forward to the next year and a half and working hard to blow people away with my conditioning.

Great news to get compliments and so you should

My family now laugh at me, its nice that your wife is by your side all the way

You are very dedicated, your going to smash it

[TakedaShingen]

"Hates dedication."

^^what a shame to have such a mindset.^^

Keep it up man. Just wait til they see what you build.

[curjo]

Thanks guys, I know the negative comments people have are just jealousy because it is hard to stay dedicated and seeing someone who is dedicated just shoves their failures in their faces. I don't look down on anyone who eats poorly because I know how hard it is to turn it down. It really is so easy yet so difficult at the same time.

[Keyboardsmasher]

Good stuff man.

[curjo]

Good stuff man.

Thanks!

Yesterday was chest day and my gym was packed. There haven't been that many people there since the first week in January. Luckily I was able to get everything in. Weigh in tomorrow and I'm hoping to see another good drop. Seems my wife tells me everyday that I seem smaller lol. I don't think you can tell day to day but with the weight that's finally coming off again I am looking forward to the next time I take my measurements. The last time only a couple of measurements dropped, just about the only thing I don't want to shrink right now are my arms lol. Getting really excited for the Arnold Classic in just a little over a month, I can't wait to meet some of you guys that inspire me daily. If you're going to be there drop me a pm.

Bb bench press
145x10x3

SS with flat db fly
25'sx10x3

Incline db press
45'sx10x3

Incline db fly
25'sx10x3

Assisted dips
-60x8x3

Machine chest press drop set to 40 reps x 2

The HIIT on the treadmill at home.

[curjo]

Weight: 242.6 -1.8 new low

Weights still going down and I'm lovin it! 9 weeks and 2 days left and I'm hoping I can keep this pace up. Still have plenty of room to drop cals when the weight loss slows so I think I'm gonna be quite happy when this is over. Maybe if I keep losing and we don't get down to my minimum cals that Stan wants me on (1800) we could extend it past 9 more weeks but that will be something we deal with when it comes, for now I'm very happy with how things are going.

I was feeling good in the gym yesterday, work was a little slow so I got out early after 10 hours and there wasn't a whole lot of people in the gym. Busted out my leg workout and then did a couple heavy back exercises. I really want to be able to start doing pull ups soon so I figure I'd through in a couple heavier low rep sets. Finished it all off with 30 minutes on the stairmaster later in the evening.

Squat
135x12
185x10
225x8
250x6PR also the first time I've squatted more than my body weight

SLDL
225x8x3

Hack squat
180x10x3

Lying leg curl
110x12x3

Leg extension
150x15x3

Standing calf raises
225x15,12,12,10,10

Seated calf raises
135x15,12,12,10,10

Bent over db row
100'sx5
110'sx5

Wide grip lat pulldowns
195x5x3

[curjo]

I was looking back and comparing the first set of pics that I sent to Stan vs the last ones and though I'd share the side shot.
Weight:251.2


Weight: 244.4


Only a 6.8lb difference but quite a change. It's so important for me to look at these cause I get caught up on numbers too much.

[curjo]

Cardio only for yesterday and I didn't even feel like doing that. Went into work an hour later than normal because of the shift in my hours and then another department needed help so I stayed for 13, by the time I got home I just wanted to sit, but just because I felt that way I jumped on the stairmaster and put it on interval program level 7 which I have never done before just as punishment for even thinking of not putting in the work that I need to. It was a long 30 minutes and I sweat my ass off but it felt good afterwards. Today is arm day and I may throw in some heavy bench press to start things off. I'm really unhappy with my benching and figure I may throw in some 3x5 heavy chest exercises on arm day like I did for my back on leg day.

[Ccm644]

I was looking back and comparing the first set of pics that I sent to Stan vs the last ones and though I'd share the side shot.

well done on the new low

Your pictures = Knowledge + hard work + dedication = Success

Well done


Man your squats are improving massively

[curjo]

well done on the new low

Your pictures = Knowledge + hard work + dedication = Success

Well done


Man your squats are improving massively

Thanks Dean, I'm really trying to stick to good form on my squats and not push the weight to fast.

[curjo]

Really good arm workout yesterday, had an incredible pump going. At work yesterday was our monthly luncheon and it was pizza and pasta this month, my two favorite things. While I can't wait for the day when I can enjoy a piece, that day was not yesterday and it didn't even but me one bit to sit and eat my chicken and broccoli while everyone else gorged on probably 3 days worth of my calories. I have one goal in mind and nothing is going to get me off track. Oh ya, I started with a "heavy" bench set of 3x5. Started with 185 and got it up for 4 and I'm sure I could have gotten 5 but I didn't have a spotter so I didn't want to risk it. Dropped to 175 for the next two sets and it worked fine.

Bench
185x4
175x5x2

Seated db curl
40'sx10x3

SS with lying db extensions
25'sx10x3

Ez bar curl
95x10x3

SS with rope extension
55x12x3

Skull crushers
75x10x3

Wide grip bb curl
70x12
80x10
90x8
90x6

Dropset standing db curl from 50's down to 5's to failure. Talk about a pump!

Then 30 minutes on the elliptical I terval program level 13

[curjo]

Oh ya, 9 weeks til my epic building year starts. All gains so far have been on a deficit, can't wait to see what I can do on maintenance/slight surplus.

2 weeks out from the Arnold! Can't wait!

[curjo]

Weight: 243.4 +0.8

Wasn't really expecting that since the last few weigh ins have been so great but no big deal. We'll see if I have a drop on Wednesday and go from there. I'm out of my Opus pre workout which was awesome btw, so I'm going to switch back to the Curse by cobra labs and give that a shot for my back workout today. Back is becoming my favorite muscle group to workout, gonna fry it today!

[curjo]

So I emailed Stan my weight and it looks like he's going to make some changes. I'll find out later today or tomorrow. Shoulders were ok yesterday, I upped my side laterals thanks to Alex making me feel like a wuss with him doing 70's, I upped it to 25's lol. It hurt my OHP though so whatever. HIIT on the treadmill yesterday, kicked my ass as usual, my knees were feeling it today and that reminded me that I hadn't been taking my animal flex, oops.

OHP
115x10
105x10x2

SS with side laterals
25'sx10x3

Bb shrug
205x10x3

SS with bent over laterals
25'sx10x3

Upright row
105x10x3

Front lateral
20'sx10x3

[demonwareltd]

So I emailed Stan my weight and it looks like he's going to make some changes. I'll find out later today or tomorrow. Shoulders were ok yesterday, I upped my side laterals thanks to Alex making me feel like a wuss with him doing 70's, I upped it to 25's lol. It hurt my OHP though so whatever. HIIT on the treadmill yesterday, kicked my ass as usual, my knees were feeling it today and that reminded me that I hadn't been taking my animal flex, oops.

OHP
115x10
105x10x2

SS with side laterals
25'sx10x3

Bb shrug
205x10x3

SS with bent over laterals
25'sx10x3

Upright row
105x10x3

Front lateral
20'sx10x3

You said your OHP suffered?! I would say 115x10 is pretty damn solid!

[curjo]

You said your OHP suffered?! I would say 115x10 is pretty damn solid!

Last week I didn't have to drop it down to 105 so it suffered from last week I guess

[curjo]

Got the update from Stan on Saturday, we're dropping another 125 cals down to 2125, 259p 142c 65f according to mfp, but that would add up to 2189cals? Idk something on mfp must have something wrong. Anyway that's what's nice about eating the same things all the time, the quantity is dropping so the cals are dropping no matter what the exact macros are. Less oats and less almonds. Hit a pr on some stuff on Saturday but my deads were not the best form so the weight will for sure stay there for next week, I may even drop it a little. Yesterday I had to clean carpets all day for my daughters birthday party next week. Should be the last time I have to clean them since the plan is to put in hardwood this summer. The carpet is only four years old and is trashed from 4 kids.

Wide grip lat pulldowns
155x10x3 PR

SS with one arm bent over db row
75x10x3 PR

Bent over bb row
135x12
145x10
155x8
175x6 PR

Dead lift
185x12
225x10
295x8
340x6PR

Straight arm pull down
65x12x2
65x8 drop to 50x4 I was fried!!

30 minutes elliptical

[curjo]

I have a feeling that my idea of doing my HIIT on the stationary bike today, day before leg day, was ill advised. I'm fried right now!!

[curjo]

Chest day actually went pretty good, I upped my weight on a few exercises and kept my strength for the others. Really need my chest to grow to fill in the skin that's gonna be left from my moobs!! First time I've done HIIT on the bike. Went all out for 15 seconds and then recovered for 45 seconds. Did that for ten minutes and by the last sprint I was fried. It'll be interesting to see how my legs hold up today.

Flat bb bench
150x10x3

SS with flat db fly
25'sx10x3

Incline db press
45'sx10x3

SS with incline db fly
25'sx10x3

Assisted dips
-50x8x3

Machin chest press dropset to 40 reps x 2

[curjo]

I'm pretty stoked right now, I know this is nothing for pretty much everyone in this section, but I just did my first two overhand pull ups ever. Like in my whole life! First time I think I've ever been proud of myself in the gym.

[curjo]

Weight: 242.6 -0.8

I'm glad the weight went back down but that's the same weight as last Wednesday so it's not that good for the week. It's going to be a good thu v to have this cut over in 8 weeks since I think my metabolism needs a recharge. At my weight and activity level and calorie level things should stil be moving down fairly rapidly. But oh well, stay the course and trust in the process right? Lifts are still going up which is awesome, and I'll really find out how we've done these past few months when I get another dexa scan the day after the wedding. That will give a good look at my 5 month progress with Stan and will also give a baseline for the bulk/maintain phase to follow.

[demonwareltd]

Awesome job on the pull-up. I know how difficult they can be, because I suck at them. I think it's great you continue to get stronger through such an extended cut. Keep pushing through the finish line, knowing that additional carbs and energy are right around the corner