Stephanielynn's Journal: Finding the beauty in the beast

[stephanielynn76]

depends how you put it. the rate of muscle gain is the same regardless. but obviously you have to spread the same amount of muscle over a larger surface area so it looks like less than it actually is . . . or 'long and lean' as opposed to 'bulky'. dunno if that's 'better' for BB. a lot of it has to do with your build and bone structure too. you can be tall and proportionately large to go with it. or you can be tall and built like a bird. it's like comparing a mastiff to a whippet.

BBing is all about illusions. if you take a good look at many competing women (not pro FBBers), you notice they don't have all that much muscle. (only slightly talking out of my arse here.) now, of course they have 'more' muscle than your average non-training woman, but it only looks like a lot because they're so lean. put them in tracksuits and they're stick figures.

^^Yes, you've explained it well. The rate of muscle gain may be the same but it "looks" different on different people. Case and point. My friend and I are both bulking to compete in figure. I'm just a little taller (1-2 inches) but my arms are a LOT longer (her hands end above wrists). She looks "bigger" than I do because of the way we carry the muscle but our weights and measurements (around biceps, back, shoulders, waist, etc) are very close to the same. She is always complaining about her belly fat and how my waist is so much smaller... then we measured only to find out that our waists are exactly the same. I am thinking mine just LOOKS smaller because my arse is quite a bit bigger than hers. LOL .... and as for competitors... I agree. That's what kinda sucks about leaning out. When you're all bulked up you think you're gonna be all swole... then you lean out only to realize what little is there...

Have to love the week after a deload!

hell-to-the-yeeeeah.

Awesome PRs up in here, Stephanie. You have some crazy upper body strength 180 on the glute machine is insane too. I only ever got up to 120 on that back when I used to do it all the time.

Hahaha!!! ... and Oy are my glutes sore!!!

Lol "melons", that is awesome!

tee hee hee... I must admit I kinda like it...

Brb... bodybuilding... the only context where being told you have a big butt is a complement.

I see, thanks. I haven't noticed anything like that but there are a few machines I haven't paid attention to so at my gym. I'll take a closer look and see if we have one of those- a variation for when I don't want a barbell on my back for whatever reason would be nice.

Right now I am alternating between 3 "big" leg exercises... BB squat, plate-load squat machine, and leg press. I like the variation. I can push a LOT more weight on the plate-load machine than I can with the BB (obviously) but I don't get the benefit of engaging the stabilizer muscles and such. I am getting a great workout and making progress on all three so it's all good! I may, however, change things up whenever I go into cutting mode...

Haha..yup. I look sickly thin at the end of a cut. I keep thinking, there is a point where you no longer look good in clothes (because nothing fits or hangs right) but look smokin naked

Haha!!! That is so TRUE!!!! By the time I'm stage ready I am swimming in all my clothes and most all the men at the gym are looking at me as if I'm the nastiest thing they've ever seen. It looks great on the stage but awful anywhere else....

[cmg1976]

and most all the men at the gym are looking at me as if I'm the nastiest thing they've ever seen. It looks great on the stage but awful anywhere else....[/QUOTE]

I'm kinda doubting the nastiest part, lol. I've not seen a picture where you weren't beautiful and I'm sure the gym dudes agree with me- but I bet they have a hard time keeping up with you and figuring out what you're gonna do next

[stephanielynn76]

I'm kinda doubting the nastiest part, lol. I've not seen a picture where you weren't beautiful and I'm sure the gym dudes agree with me- but I bet they have a hard time keeping up with you and figuring out what you're gonna do next

Well thanks... haha .... At the gym on Saturday two of them were arguing... one said I looked better ripped and the other said I looked better thick. Ironically, the one who said I looked better thick is a really small dude that I can outlift even on a bad day. LOL. It's funny how no one seems even the least bit hesitant to say, "Hey Stephanie... you've put on some WEIGHT huh!??!" <--There aren't many situations where such a statement is acceptable. I don't get offended by it. This bulk was, indeed, a bit of a fulk. No regrets. It's been fun.

[ms_mac]

Haha..yup. I look sickly thin at the end of a cut. I keep thinking, there is a point where you no longer look good in clothes (because nothing fits or hangs right) but look smokin naked

I 3rd this Toward the end of my last prep, my clothes were fallin' off me and in clothes I really looked horrid!

[cmg1976]

Well thanks... haha .... At the gym on Saturday two of them were arguing... one said I looked better ripped and the other said I looked better thick. Ironically, the one who said I looked better thick is a really small dude that I can outlift even on a bad day. LOL. It's funny how no one seems even the least bit hesitant to say, "Hey Stephanie... you've put on some WEIGHT huh!??!" <--There aren't many situations where such a statement is acceptable. I don't get offended by it. This bulk was, indeed, a bit of a fulk. No regrets. It's been fun.

Well lucky boys, there will be a season for each of them, lol. I'm excited to see what you unveil with the next cut- your body seems made for this bulk/cut business.

[taiga1]

Well, not all that impressive but here ya go...

Impressive. Very, very impressive!!

^^I've got very long arms with long muscle bellies. It takes a lot of muscle mass to even make a little bump there... :/

Long arms of peace, checking in.

I'm so friggin' impressed with the weight you are curling. Gotta quit using my long limbs as a cop out and keep pushing harder!

Thanks for the inspiration! You are incredible.

[gobbles23]

Awesome workouts in here Stephanie! The most I ever d.b curled was 40x2 That's pretty crazy!

[stephanielynn76]

Well lucky boys, there will be a season for each of them, lol. I'm excited to see what you unveil with the next cut- your body seems made for this bulk/cut business.

Ya know... I kinda like the change myself. In the summer I can wear any swimsuit I want without being self conscious... in the fall/spring (when I'm in between) is when I look best in clothes... in winter I get to eat my arse off and cover up the consequences. I am told that I do "carry the weight" well so I guess that's why I can tolerate the gains. One more thing I love about bulking... boobs. I actually have them right now!!! I can barely fill a B when leaned out but right now I'm a full C... apparently a lot of the fat is going there! No complaints about that. I'll miss them when they're gone though...

Impressive. Very, very impressive!!

Long arms of peace, checking in.

I'm so friggin' impressed with the weight you are curling. Gotta quit using my long limbs as a cop out and keep pushing harder!

Thanks for the inspiration! You are incredible.

Haha! Thanks! Hey we all have our "stronger lifts" and curls just happen to be one of mine. Can't say that about my bench... much improvement is needed there.
Lmao at "long arms of peace!" Did you know that your arm-span should be the same as your height? If you put your middle-finger tip on the floor and stretch your arms vertically against a wall and mark the length... that should technically be your height. Not for me. Mine are several inches longer! My mom said when I was a kid I had "gorilla arms."

Awesome workouts in here Stephanie! The most I ever d.b curled was 40x2 That's pretty crazy!

Thanks!!! Hey my workouts ain't got nothing on yours. I get tired just reading all you do! I was pretty shocked I was able to do that many reps with the 40's since the last time I did them I could only do a few. Who knows... maybe it was a lucky fluke!

[stephanielynn76]

MONDAY - JANUARY 28TH - PUSH

So my super-woman streak of PR's did not last. Today's workout was somewhat mediocre. I didn't lose any reps but I didn't gain any either. Meh... it is what it is...

Seated BP
70lbs per side x 5 x 2
60lbs per side x 10
55lbs per side x 10

DB Shoulder Press
40's x 10
45's x 6
-->30 x 7 drop set
45's x 4
--> 30 x 7 drop set
35's x 8

Rope Cable Pressdown
120 x 9
120 x 10
110 x 12
-->80 x 8 drop set

Zumba - which was killer!

[cmg1976]

MONDAY - JANUARY 28TH - PUSH

So my super-woman streak of PR's did not last. Today's workout was somewhat mediocre. I didn't lose any reps but I didn't gain any either. Meh... it is what it is...

Seated BP
70lbs per side x 5 x 2
60lbs per side x 10
55lbs per side x 10

DB Shoulder Press
40's x 10
45's x 6
-->30 x 7 drop set
45's x 4
--> 30 x 7 drop set
35's x 8

Rope Cable Pressdown
120 x 9
120 x 10
110 x 12
-->80 x 8 drop set

Zumba - which was killer!

Beast mode will be back for both of use next time And, I have DB shoulder press envy.

[potatoe]

MONDAY - JANUARY 28TH - PUSH

So my super-woman streak of PR's did not last. Today's workout was somewhat mediocre. I didn't lose any reps but I didn't gain any either. Meh... it is what it is...

Seated BP
70lbs per side x 5 x 2
60lbs per side x 10
55lbs per side x 10

DB Shoulder Press
40's x 10
45's x 6
-->30 x 7 drop set
45's x 4
--> 30 x 7 drop set
35's x 8

Rope Cable Pressdown
120 x 9
120 x 10
110 x 12
-->80 x 8 drop set

Zumba - which was killer!

BP= Bench press?

BTW, do you warm up prior to each?

[thehobbes]

45s on shoulder press damn, I bet you could do at least 65s on flat db bench srs, with spot, those beatches are hard to get into position.

[stephanielynn76]

BP= Bench press?

BTW, do you warm up prior to each?

Yessir. It's one of those plate-load hammer strength seated BP machines. Yes I do warm up but not much (something my coach gets on to me about) When I first get there I do some front/lateral raises to loosen up. Now before I did that exercise I put some of 25's on there and did a few reps to wake up the muscle. Then I went right over and slapped some wheels on there... No point in playing around I say... get the weight on the bar while I'm fresh!!

Still waiting on that arm/bicep picture you were supposed to post. My neg canon is ready. Srs. ... ok not srs

45s on shoulder press damn, I bet you could do at least 65s on flat db bench srs, with spot, those beatches are hard to get into position.

Ya think so!!?!? But my bench sucks??!? My incline bench is much stronger than my flat.... which is odd because everyone else's seems to be the opposite. I think it's because I have stronger shoulders than traps... but I digress. I haven't even attempted flat DB bench in years. Now I'm curious....
You ain't kidding about getting them suckers up. My first set with the 45's today went well... got them up and got several reps with no help until the last rep. My second set... not so much. I needed help just getting them up. I should have taken a bit longer break between those two sets to recover...

[stephanielynn76]

I ordered some shoes last week. They looked nice enough online. I get them here and they are like slutty torture devices of peace. What do YOU have? Send me links please. :/

[dreahere]

I get them here and they are like slutty torture devices of peace.

I literally laughed so hard I choked.

[pharty]

Pics of slutty shoes!
Nice bicep sheesh!

[thehobbes]

Ya think so!!?!? But my bench sucks??!? My incline bench is much stronger than my flat.... which is odd because everyone else's seems to be the opposite. I think it's because I have stronger shoulders than traps... but I digress. I haven't even attempted flat DB bench in years. Now I'm curious....
You ain't kidding about getting them suckers up. My first set with the 45's today went well... got them up and got several reps with no help until the last rep. My second set... not so much. I needed help just getting them up. I should have taken a bit longer break between those two sets to recover...

I think you're benching wrong srs, reassess form and your benching probably won't suck.

[stephanielynn76]

I think you're benching wrong srs, reassess form and your benching probably won't suck.

You are probably right. I need to do that. Perhaps I need to video it for critique...

[stephanielynn76]

I literally laughed so hard I choked.

Pics of slutty shoes!
Nice bicep sheesh!

hahaha!!! Oy... if I can even walk to the mirror in them. My toes feel like they are in a vice grip!

[potatoe]

Still waiting on that arm/bicep picture you were supposed to post. My neg canon is ready. Srs. ... ok not srs

My peashooters

EDIT: Not so blurry pic.

[stephanielynn76]

My peashooters

Peashooters??? Lmao!!! That's a new one for me. Seriously though... that's a real nice bump there. It probably would look even better if half of it wasn't covered by your sleeve!

[stephanielynn76]

Well, even though today was not a training day... I went to the gym anyway just to visit with friends and do some abs, calves, and cardio. Upon leaving the gym I was in a pretty bad car accident. It was a 3-car accident where car #1 clipped car #2 and sent it spinning into oncoming traffic... which was me. I saw it all happen. I saw this white car spin around and it was sliding side-ways towards me. I slammed on my brakes and braced myself. The front of my car crushed into the side of car #2. All 3 drivers (no passengers) walked away. I feel like God was with me and giving me an unexplainable peace throughout the whole incident. Things could have been so much worse. I am so very grateful! I was not hurt!!! I predict I will be a little sore and achy for the next few days but I'll survive.

[gobbles23]

Oh my Stephanie!!! Thank goodness you're ok! Wow!

[stephanielynn76]

Oh my Stephanie!!! Thank goodness you're ok! Wow!

Thanks Lori! I seriously am just thrilled that I was able to open the door and get out of the car right after it all happened. The car was not drivable and had to be towed. I am not sure if it is fixable or if it will be totaled. Whatever the case... it's just a car. Thank goodness my kids weren't with me either...

[megdaig]

Glad to hear that you are fine. Talk about scary when you see a situation like that developing and there is nothing you can do to avoid it.

[pharty]

Oh shyt SO glad you are all OK! I'd still be shaking.

[toodlepip]

So scary - glad to hear you're ok. Take care...hope you don't have too many aches and pains.

[geek23ka]

Stephanie, I am really glad to hear you were not injured. That is scary as hell.

[dreahere]

OMG, that's scary. So glad you weren't hurt, Stephanie.

[BubsNBean]

Oh shyt SO glad you are all OK! I'd still be shaking.

Me too! Glad you're okay Stephanie... car accidents scare the bajeezus out of me!!