The War Against Genetics: 2006-2007

[pu12en12g]

About me:

If you want to know more about me:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...9&postcount=52
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=629506
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=628759
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=608116
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=478824

[pu12en12g]

Stats:

Age: 27 (almost 28)
Sex: Male
Height: 6ft
Weight: 244
Bodytype: Ecto

Progress Photos:

http://technologyorgasm.com/upload/130-248.jpg

"However Beautiful the Strategy, You Should Occasionally Look at the Results."
- Winston Churchill

Measurements:

Neck:
Chest:
Bi unflexed:
Bi flexed:
Forearms:
Waist:
Quads:
Calves:

1 Rep Max (1RM):

Bench: 305
Deadlift: 355
Squat: 335

Prohormone/Steroid use:

None. I did a few clean cycles of 6-OXO, which overwhelmingly is NOT considered a PH/PS/Steroid. The cycles were cut short due to unpleasant side effects around week 2-3.

Training experience:

In the last 3+ years I went from a out-of-shape 175lbs to a leaner 250lbs.

I've tried 5x5 training and liked it
I've tried MAX-OT and liked it
I've attempted Conjugated Periodization and didn't enjoy it

I made a HUGE mistake last year when I did a cutting phase from 225lbs to 205lbs, but I have since bulked back up, and broke through a 220-225lb plateau.

Training Schedule/Protocol:

5 days a week, with a 4 x 8-12 rep range. Workouts usually last around 1.5 hours.

Sun: Legs
Mon: Off
Tue: Chest / Back
Wed: Legs
Thu: Off
Fri: Chest
Sat: Back

Note: This is simply a "basic" outline that I follow.

Cardio Schedule/Protocol:

Currently 3 days a week, moderate intensity 30-60mins unless otherwise noted.

"Budget" Diet / Macros:

http://technologyorgasm.com/upload/breakdown.jpg

Daily Constants (majority of my daily calories, making my daily totals more consistent):

Steel Cut Oats______Cals:2400__Fat:32__Carbs:400__Protein:64
1 Gallon Milk________Cals:1760__Fat:40__Carbs:208__Protein: 128
Whey Protein_______Cals:660___Fat:9___Carbs:18___Protei n:138
Bread, whole wheat__Cals:472___Fat:8___Carbs:89___Protein:19
Macaroni salad______Cals:269___Fat:9___Carbs:43___Protein:6

Typical Grocery List:
- Steel Cut oats
- Whole Grain Wheat Bread
- Skim milk
- Lean Ground Beef
- Frozen boneless Chicken breast
- Frozen Pizza
- 32oz Dupont Lowfat Yogurts
- Tuna
- Rice
- 99% fat free turkey breast
- Lean Honey Ham
- Cottage Cheese
- Tomato
- Mixed Sprouts
- Swiss and American cheese
- Potato salad
- Macaroni salad
- Tuna Helper
- Hamburger Helper
- Italian Meatballs
- Pasta / Sauce
- Manwich (Sloppy Joe mix)
- Celery
- Mrs dash seasoning
- Eggs
- Almonds
- Peanuts
- Peanut butter

Prescription/Recreational drugs: None

Supplement history:

I respond fairly well to creatine, and in the past I have tried Green Bulge, MAN Clout, Omega Thunder, NOS Ether, Swole V2, BSL Kre-alkalyn, Phos****en, Creapure, Bulk CEE, and many other creatine products.

I respond very well to Cell Volumizers, and in the past I have used White Blood, NOS XXX, Extreme NOS Precursor, L-Arginine powder, L-Arginine Pyroglutamate Powder, L-Citrulline Powder, Ergopharm Stamino2, Carnosine, Glycerine, Ribose, Taurine, Twinlab Male Fuel, Syntrax Nitrous

I respond fairly well to stimulants/thermogenics, and in the past I have used Ready4War, Diesel Fuel Reloaded, Powertrain, ECY Stack, Tyrosine, Green Tea Extract, Nicotine 1mg Gum, Caffeine, EPH 833, EPH 1000, Ripped Fuel, Y-HCL on it's own.

Other logs / reviews I have done:


Whey Protein:

Syntrax Nectar - Fuzzy Navel
Syntrax Nectar - Roadside Lemonade
Syntrax Nectar - Apple Ecstacy
Syntrax Nectar - Crystal Sky
Syntrax - I****trix Reloaded
Syntrax Matrix - Perfect Chocolate
Molecular Nutrition - Whey Fruity
All The Whey - Orange
All The Whey - Chocolate
All The Whey - Vanilla
All The Whey - Banana
Optimum Nutrition - Anabolic Milk Protein
Optimum Nutrition - Vanilla Ice Cream
Optimum Nutrition 100% - Vanilla
Dymatize - Elite Whey (Berry Blast)
Dymatize - Elite Whey (Butter Cream Toffee)
Dymatize - Orange Dreamsicle
Cytosport - Cytogainer - Cookies n Cream
Instone - Smooth Chocolate
Substance WPI - Grape
Substance WPI - Watermelon (Original Version)
Substance WPI - Watermelon (New and Improved version)
Substance WPI - Vanilla Bean
Black Star Labs - Watermelon Isolate
Black Star Labs - Chocolate (WPC)
Black Star Labs - Orange (WPC)
Black Star Labs - Fruit Punch (WPC)



Cell volumizers:

Controlled Labs - White Blood / Green Bulge Stack
NOW Foods 100% Pure Glycerine
Omega Sports Cre-Ethyl Thunder
Man - Clout
Get Diesel Nutrition - NOS Ether
Syntrax - Swole V2
Ergopharm - Stamino2
Met-Rx - Amped



Nitric Oxide precursors:

Controlled Labs - White Blood / Green Bulge Stack
Get Diesel Nutrition - Extreme NOS Precursor
Get Diesel Nutrition - NOS XXX
Cnidium



Fatloss / Thermogenics / Stimulants / Energy:

Myochem - Throttle 1400x
Get Diesel Nutrition - READY4WAR
KAL Fishoil
Get Diesel Nutrition - Diesel Fuel
LegalGear - Powertrain
Scivation - Neurostim / Neurostim C
Omega Sports - Powerjolt vs. Powerjolt V2
Epic Nutrition - 5-Tetra
Nutraceutics - ProEndorphin



EAA's / BCAA's:

Optimum Nutrition - Superior Amino 2222
Universal - Animal NitroG
Black Star Labs - NitroJet
Xtreme Formulations ICE



Other / Specialized:

Legal Gear - Dermasize
Molecular Nutrition - X-Factor
Ergopharm - 6OXO (standalone)

[pu12en12g]

Inspiration and Shoutouts:

I'd like to thank Dave Gulledge for inspiring me to keep bulking:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...0&postcount=12

I'd like to thank Arnold Schwarzenegger for inspiring me to continue a bodybuilding lifestyle.

I'd like to thank the following forum members for their contributions, advice, insight, and help along the way:

Loki / Lok7y
Par Deus
Chuck Diesel
Ceaze
JRod
Patrick Arnold / Giant Nutrition
Derek
Layne
Pharm
Carcinogen / Proviant
Sawastea
Proverbs @ Omega Sports
Matpal @ Omega Sports
Tank @ Controlled Labs
Molecular Nutrition
BAC
C N W
Mike @ BN
Black Star Labs
Syntrax
Myochem

[waitlifter82]

*subscribes*
You've always been inspiration for us ecto's

Now let's see you get those deads and squats up, pronto

[Boots]

Merry Christmas pu

[Fuerza_M]

good luck with your journal, i will follow your journal

[tennguy]

you've already mande some impressive gains. keep at it.

is your diet posted on here somewhere?

[pu12en12g]

you've already mande some impressive gains. keep at it.

is your diet posted on here somewhere?

Thanks man... yes my diet is above:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...32&postcount=2

[pu12en12g]

Jan 1, 2006: Existential crisis

A existential crisis is a point in your life where despite your career, hobbies, relationships, and principles / beliefs... you feel that your own life / existence lacks "meaning".

Bodybuilding truly is an amazing lifestyle to live. From the time that many of us looked at our first bodybuilding magazine or saw our first Arnold movie, we became inspired. That inspiration lasted and became something more: commitment and love. Each of us fell in love with the iron game at an early age and are still at it today. But what have we given up to get here? Because everything requires sacrifices, what have we GIVEN in order to GET, from the iron sport?.....

Body image is a term that has come to represent the "internal" image or representation that we have of our physical appearance (Thompson, Heinberg, Altabe, & Tantleff-Dunn, 1999). It is to be contrasted with the "outer" image or an objective view of attractiveness (i.e., a rating made by a supposedly unbiased observer). Although commonly thought of as overlapping substantially, in fact one’s inner view (body image) is only minimally correlated with actual ratings of attractiveness. The overlap is an astonishingly low 5%. Additionally, it appears that body image, rather than objective appearance, is more closely related to psychological factors and clinical conditions (e.g., eating disorders, depression, low self-esteem).

What's interesting is that as a teenager, I definately had low self-esteem, and I was treated for depression around the age of 21 or so (Zoloft)... zoloft put my mind in such a fog that I could barely function, so I stopped taking it.

Despite my "quality of life" getting worse since the age of 17, bodybuilding so far has (overall) helped my self-esteem, posture, "body-image", and overall feeling of well-being. Lately however, I feel that I am experiencing a terrible combination of:

- Stress (can't even describe it)
- Muscle Dysmorphia
- Existential crisis

I feel that any one of these on it's own I could handle, but that the combination is almost completely debilitating.

[sword chucks]

damn u are a smart thinker bro

whats up with your workout program, though, all you have is chest, back and legs in there

[mivi320]

*subscribes*

Good luck PU!

[pu12en12g]

damn u are a smart thinker bro

whats up with your workout program, though, all you have is chest, back and legs in there

Everything else varies... so those are the constants. I do gripwork pretty much every day when bulking.

I do Arms 2 x a week
Abs 2 to 3 x per week (and often at home[gravity boots].. not part of my workout )
I usually do delts on chest day, but I switch that up quite a bit too.. I sometimes dedicate a day to delts... maybe once or twice a month.

I will try to document sets, reps, hydration, calories, rants, PR's, supplements, and grocery $$$ as best I can.

[geoffsherman]

I rarely waste my time with these logs, but this is definitely one I am curious about. I am curious though why you say that conjugated periodization didn't work for you. What kind of program was it?

Also, you gotta add some chicken salad to your grocery list, it is good, cheap, and very calorically dense, not quite oats though

[nick912]

Good luck Paul.. I hope this year brings you inner peace and all your goals met..

[young_squatter]

"Subscribes" Im looking forward to following this journal, your gains are inspirational. Good luck.


Happy New Year

[chickeneater]

Jan 1, 2006: Existential crisis

A existential crisis is a point in your life where despite your career, hobbies, relationships, and principles / beliefs... you feel that your own life / existence lacks "meaning".




What's interesting is that as a teenager, I definately had low self-esteem, and I was treated for depression around the age of 21 or so (Zoloft)... zoloft put my mind in such a fog that I could barely function, so I stopped taking it.

Despite my "quality of life" getting worse since the age of 17, bodybuilding so far has (overall) helped my self-esteem, posture, "body-image", and overall feeling of well-being. Lately however, I feel that I am experiencing a terrible combination of:

- Stress (can't even describe it)
- Muscle Dysmorphia
- Existential crisis

I feel that any one of these on it's own I could handle, but that the combination is almost completely debilitating.

Do you feel that AAS is going to help your dilema? IMHO your'e the inspiration you are because you offer HOPE to us ecto's while staying away from the "dark side"

[pu12en12g]

Do you feel that AAS is going to help your dilema? IMHO your'e the inspiration you are because you offer HOPE to us ecto's while staying away from the "dark side"

I hear ya... and NO I definately WILL NOT be taking PH / AAS under these conditions. When I start my first PH cycle, it will be noted... right now I am still hoping to hit 260lb @ around 10-12% (all natural) first... it's MUCH harder than it sounds

I'm a supplement guinea pig so the next supplements I will be adding to the "arsenal" are:

- Peak ATP powder
- MRM BCAA
- Bulk Leucine powder
- GlycerGrow

[geoffsherman]

I hear ya... and NO I definately WILL NOT be taking PH / AAS under these conditions. When I start my first PH cycle, it will be noted... right now I am still hoping to hit 260lb @ around 10-12% (all natural) first... it's MUCH harder than it sounds

I'm a supplement guinea pig so the next supplements I will be adding to the "arsenal" are:

- Peak ATP powder
- MRM BCAA
- Bulk Leucine powder
- GlycerGrow

I just want to see what your kitchen counter looks like. I can only imagine that it is full of every chemical known to man

[BigNorwegian]

Subscribed.

Good luck Pu!
BigNorg

[pu12en12g]

I rarely waste my time with these logs, but this is definitely one I am curious about. I am curious though why you say that conjugated periodization didn't work for you. What kind of program was it?

"WestSide Made Easy"... go figure

[geoffsherman]

I heard your boy Shai1 has just subscribed to this journal so that he can introduce you to increasing your bench through high intensity salsa dancing

[pali012]

*subscribes*

looking forward to seeing ur progress

good luck!

[pu12en12g]

January: 2006 Summary


Despite having some of the best workouts I've had in a long time, this year is definately not off to a good start for me personally. The first part of Jan. was looking good, and I started using MRM BCAA+G during my workouts. This stuff is awesome and I highly recommend it:

MRM BCAA+G Review:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=664566

The last few weeks of Jan. I was involved in beta testing a upcoming herbal AX product:

Herbal Hypertrophic Log / Review
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=681169

Things were going great until the very end of the month (see log)...

Pain in my left side (neck / shoulder) this is a injury that has bothered me on and off for a couple years and it's the reason that I rarely 1RM... I'm going to the doc on monday if no improvement. I have a VERY high pain tolerance, so this is bad news for me... I can barely stand up straight and Percoset is just barely taking the edge off.

January measurements:

Neck: 16.5
Chest: 46
Bi unflexed: 17
Bi flexed: 17.75
Forearms: 13.75
Waist: 35.5
Quads: 26.5
Calves: 17.5

Stats:

Bench: 305
Deadlift: 365
Squat: 335

Bodyweight: 246-250

Recovery is awesome
Intensity was starting to improve
Muscle fullness is great
Appetite was starting to improve
Libido was starting to improve

Things can only get better (including the format and updates of this journal)... thanks for reading.

[waitlifter82]

I'm sorry about your injury, pu I hope you have a successful (and speedy) recovery!

[young_squatter]

Sucks about your injury bro, I hope you get better soon, I am looking forward to your progress once you get better

[pu12en12g]

Well I went to the doc and chiro today and I got some good news and bad news. The bad news is that when discussing my MRI results before, my doc somehow failed to mention that I have some degeration of the C4 thru C6 vertebrae which is causing the neck pain that radiates all the way down past my shoulder blade.

The good news is:

1) The localized problem and lack of other issues indicates that this was due to neck trauma (Biking Accident, 4-Wheeler accident, and hit a deer) and NOT due to anything bodybuilding related ! ! .

2) Now that I know what the **** it is, I'm not (as) worried about MS, Muscular Dystrophy etc.. etc..

3) I should be able to hit the gym as often as I want. The real problem will be ongoing sleep (pain) issues.

4) I'll be supplementing with NOW Foods GCM:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/gcm.html

(Glucosamine & Chondroitin Plus MSM)

[pu12en12g]

Upper Body:

Those of you who have ever come back from a injury can relate to my workout today.... my numbers sucked, endurance wasn't anywhere close to normal... and yet it felt awesome. If anything, I actually appear leaner.. so I can't wait to take measurements soon.

Hydration was on-point and that always makes a huge difference.

My neck / shoulder still feel excellent ever since the chiro.

[MuZI]

I also have back pains (at age 18 :/) due to a little accident as a kid.

Sometimes I feel great and some times it is havok, it can either make or break your day and workout.

So what's next for you Pu12?

[pu12en12g]

So what's next for you Pu12?

BBQ Chicken... and LOTS of it

Also 3 flavors of ErgoPharm I-PRO:

Orange
Rasberry
Cherry

woot woot

[MuZI]

BBQ Chicken... and LOTS of it

Also 3 flavors of ErgoPharm I-PRO:

Orange
Rasberry
Cherry

woot woot

Ohhh, I got some before the special (Just my luck).