>> Blazed's 50 Week Journey To The Pro Stage <<

[Blazed]

9 hours of sleep AND a rest day? That must be heaven!!

Feeeeels gooood!

Woot!

Paul knows what to do, he just wants a coach as a 2nd pair of eyes for his prep like many people do. What he chooses to do is HIS personal preference. what you like to do on your own is your own personal preference. Everyone likes to do things different way. There is not an optimal way.Some people may help (such as coaches) bring people into their best condition that like to be monitored. You dont always have to do things on your own even if you have the knowledge to do it, sometimes that extra pair of eyes could help you along the road. its never a bad idea or a bad investment if its worth your time, and you can learn something along the way while having someone keep tabs on you during prep where it is easy to slip up. hell even some Natural pro's still have eyes on them during their prep or people have someone watch over the last few weeks to make sure they are not sugarcoating or they are not double guessing themselves on the final stretch.

I won't feed the troll anymore lol.

I prefer having a coach. I know what to do, I just prefer not thinking about it, and following orders .

=D Exactly.....did my last prep myself, and have very successfully prepped others.

[Devils]

I won't feed the troll anymore lol.

=D Exactly.....did my last prep myself, and have very successfully prepped others.

Ok I noticed you were surprised your weight wasn't dropping whilst eating 600g of carbs.

Solution ^ Layne talks about optimal a lot, hence the demonizing of LISS recently.

[rypkr]

Are you lumping the alcohol in with the carb grams when you post your macro totals or are they omitted?

Curious as to if the beer intake was reduced when you started working with Jeff. Which would be the probable reason why the initial bump in body weight.

[The Solution]

Ok I noticed you were surprised your weight wasn't dropping whilst eating 600g of carbs.

Solution ^ Layne talks about optimal a lot, hence the demonizing of LISS recently.

Layne use to advocate Dextrose post-workout, but you can see he clearly has negated that in his modern research, he is always changing his thoughts and always learning new things as nutrition, diet, and training as always changing. He use to be a huge advocate of the 4 week bulk 2 week cut, now he really does not pertain to that either.

[Bnizzle163]

Layne use to advocate Dextrose post-workout, but you can see he clearly has negated that in his modern research, he is always changing his thoughts and always learning new things as nutrition, diet, and training as always changing. He use to be a huge advocate of the 4 week bulk 2 week cut, now he really does not pertain to that either.

I actually applaud Layne for this. He is constantly striving to discover what is more optimal. He takes risks and experiments. A lot of us tend to do the same thing, and end up spinning our wheels (myself included, at times). Some of us are too scared to try a different approach .

[Blazed]

Are you lumping the alcohol in with the carb grams when you post your macro totals or are they omitted?

Curious as to if the beer intake was reduced when you started working with Jeff. Which would be the probable reason why the initial bump in body weight.

Yup any beer is counted as CHO, so a 100 calorie light beer I'll count as 25g CHO......I did cut down drastically over the past week. Still had a few beers with dinner last night. Gotta get that liquid bread in lol!

I actually applaud Layne for this. He is constantly striving to discover what is more optimal. He takes risks and experiments. A lot of us tend to do the same thing, and end up spinning our wheels (myself included, at times). Some of us are too scared to try a different approach .

I agree here, Layne does not try to justify past statements when new research emerges.

Layne use to advocate Dextrose post-workout, but you can see he clearly has negated that in his modern research, he is always changing his thoughts and always learning new things as nutrition, diet, and training as always changing. He use to be a huge advocate of the 4 week bulk 2 week cut, now he really does not pertain to that either.

yup, I've noticed he has changed his opinion on a lot of tops over the years.

Ok I noticed you were surprised your weight wasn't dropping whilst eating 600g of carbs.

Solution ^ Layne talks about optimal a lot, hence the demonizing of LISS recently.

I wasn't surprised at all. Nor was I expecting it to drop on 4100 calories lol.

SMOLOV WEEK 3 DAY 1

Morning Weight

221.2 (5 Day average 221.4, -.6lb again =D )

Sleep
6 Hours

Diet

Nailed 90/500/210 Yesterday

Today will be almost identical.

Training

ATG SQuats

45 x 20
135 x 12
225 x 10
275 x 8
330 x 9
330 x 9
330 x 9
330 x 9 VOLUME PR

MUSINGS

Def the hardest workout thus far, physically and mentally. 386 for 10x3 was cake compared to this. I was winded after each set, feeling as though I had just done HIIT. My lifting partner didn't show again, so I went at it solo too. Blarg. Off to work =D

[Rypt1]

Nice job on that volume PR. Definitely learning a lot in this log and it is motivating, too!

[TakedaShingen]

Dat Smolov sure looks fun

[Blazed]

Nice job on that volume PR. Definitely learning a lot in this log and it is motivating, too!

Thanks man!!

Dat Smolov sure looks fun

More like brutal haha!!

Morning Weight
220.6 (5 day average 221.2)

Sleep
7 Hours

Diet

Hit 100/500/200 Yesterday

Shooting for around the same today.

Training

UPPER PUSH

BB Bench
45 x 20
95 x 12
135 x 12
135 x 12
185 x 10
225 x 8
245 x 8
265 x 5

Cable Cross Over
3 Sets Pins High
3 Sets Pins Low

DB SHoulder Press
60's x 8
70's x 7
70's x 6

Upright Rows
100 x 8
100 x 8
100 x 8

Side Laterals
35's x 10 x 3

Incline HS Press
1pps x 10
1pps+25 x 10
2pps x 8
2pps x 7

DOne and Done

Musings

Nothing Special here. Upper has been kinda ****ty, got a pretty annoying TOS issue.

[The Solution]

Feels weird to train upper after squatting all week? haha

[jaredmus]

so far killin this prep and its just gettting going man !

[Blazed]

Feels weird to train upper after squatting all week? haha

It did actually!

so far killin this prep and its just gettting going man !

This is the easiest part though haha!

Smolov Week 3 Day 2

Morning Weight
220.6 (5 Day Average 221.1 (-.1lb here, down 2.5lbs so far )

Sleep
8 Hours

Diet
Hit 100/550/200 Yesterday

Training

ATG Squats
45 x 20
135 x 12
185 x 10
225 x 8
275 x 7
315 x 7
350 x 7
350 x 7
350 x 7
350 x 7
350 x 7 PR's up in dis ish

Musings

Felt great! After my tight ass hips and stiff legs got the blood flowing these sets felt pretty easy actually. Prolly 8/10 effort except for last which was a 9/10, I'll take it for week 3! Weird observation, my strength seems best when I get a good chunk of CHO from beer the day before vs food.

[Buns09]

Starting November 2nd I'll be back and start prepping with Blazed! ;-)

[GHOSTN]

Late but in! Good to see you back posting

[Buns09]

Late but in! Good to see you back posting

Thank you! I am quite excited to see my progress over the last 2 years! =)

[Blazed]

Starting November 2nd I'll be back and start prepping with Blazed! ;-)

Cool story babe, now make me a sandwich

Late but in! Good to see you back posting

Good to see you are still around these parts!

7 Days Till Poverty Macros

Morning Weight
219.8 (5 Day Average 220.4, whopping -.7lb drop here from yesterday =D )
So far I'm down 3.2lbs off of the 5 day average weight, I'll take it

Sleep
7 Hours

Diet
NAILED 80/550/200 Yesterday

Training

Upper Pull TOday

Lat Pull Down
90 x 15
120 x 12
150 x 12
180 x 10
210 x 8
240 x 8
270 x 7

Neutral Grip LAT PD
270 x 8
255 x 8
240 x 8

HS Iso Row
1pps x 15
2pps x 12
3pps x 10
4pps x 8 PR MATCH
3pps+25 x 9

DB Curls
70's x 6
50's x 10
45's x 8

Reverse Grip Curl
90 x 10
90 x 10

Cable Rows
180 x 10
180 x 10

HOrizontal Lat Pulldown
130 x 10
160 x 8
180 x 8

Pull Up
BW x 7
BW x 5

Done and Done

Musings

Pretty good workout, going to enjoy brunch with my parents followed by football Sunday with Buns and her pops. Lots of beer, pretzels and roast beef sandwiches to nail those macros today =)

Super happy with the progress in weight, even if its just bloat leveling off from the decreased food/sodium I'll take it. Means I am roughly 40lbs over my last contest weight, I don't think I'll really be significantly heavier this time around but we shall see.

[IK9]

1 week til you work with Jeff..!!

Poverty macros.. I feel you on that one lol

[Blazed]

1 week til you work with Jeff..!!

Poverty macros.. I feel you on that one lol

Been heading Jeffs advice for a lil over a week now, granted he won't have my full blown protocol till Saturday, where I suspect he will pull the rug out from under me =D

EPIC SMOLOV WEEK 3 DAY 3

Morning Weight
219.0 (5 day Average 220.2, another welcome drop) NEW LOW!

Sleep
8 Hours

Diet
Was under on fat/protein yesterday due to falling asleep at 8 PM lol. 65/500/160

Today will be 90/500/200 on the $$, need dat der recovery fuel.

Training

ATG SQUATS
45 x 20
135 x 12
225 x 8
325 x 5
375 x 5
375 x 5
375 x 5
375 x 5
375 x 5
375 x 5
375 x 5 HUGE PR's!!!!

Musings

FANTASTIC workout, looked at pictures and recaps from the Yorton Cup for a solid 2 hours before smashing the weights! Super motived to get my own prep under way =)

[Vanguard1965]

Great stuff my legs are sore just reading that! Grats on the new low! Only the beginning!

[Blazed]

Great stuff my legs are sore just reading that! Grats on the new low! Only the beginning!

Wish me luck tmrw. Last day of smolov and a true test of mental fortitude and one HELL of a workout 10x3@396 =D

[Max_Powers]

Good to see you back on the boards mate. In on this!
'Go make me a sandwich' LOL
Better be careful... Hahahah

[Young9]

Hai Pual! reli xcited 4 dis prep. Long time follower and jus wnted 2 say "gud job on smoo-love bruh!"

^naw naw naw **** that ****!

GODER!

welcome to the team my man and Im excited to see the new physique that you have built with the 2 years of hard work you have put in since your last prep.

[Blazed]

Good to see you back on the boards mate. In on this!
'Go make me a sandwich' LOL
Better be careful... Hahahah

Thanks for the support!!! Haha, love me a good sammich

Hai Pual! reli xcited 4 dis prep. Long time follower and jus wnted 2 say "gud job on smoo-love bruh!"

^naw naw naw **** that ****!

GODER!

welcome to the team my man and Im excited to see the new physique that you have built with the 2 years of hard work you have put in since your last prep.

WAADDDDDDUP Brother!!! Missed ya man. You back to journaling too? I'm pretty stoked to see what kind of changes have been made in the past 2 years as well. Hopefully its enough to noticeably beat my previous best!

SMOLOV Week 3 Day 4

Morning Weight
218.8 (5 Day average 219.8, -3.8lbs here since start)

Sleep
6.5 Hours

Diet

Hit 75/470/205 Yesterday

Today 90/500/200

Training

ATG Squats

45 x 15
135 x 12
225 x 8
275 x 7
335 x 5
396 x 3
396 x 3
396 x 3
396 x 3
396 x 3 HUGE PR!

Musings

Well, that didn't go as well as I expected, after 5/10 sets my lower back and hips were FRIED! I decided to call it rather than hurting myself. My ultimate goal for smolov was to increase metabolic capacity and leg strength before starting full blown prep. I think I did just that.

Jeff wanted some nudes before giving my my protocol for Saturday. I wasn't planning on sharing these here but I figured what the heck. You can see me at my worst before you get to see my best

218.8, after the leg workout, no food in me today yet.

[Blazed]

[jpfaherty]

Can already see changes happening! Posing looks good too!

Jeff is the posing godfather so he'll have your already good posing even better!

You're competing the early half of the year right?

[Blazed]

Can already see changes happening! Posing looks good too!

Jeff is the posing godfather so he'll have your already good posing even better!

You're competing the early half of the year right?

Thanks for the kind words, I don't see any changes yet, but then again I have nothing to compare against.

Posing here is meh, I didn't bother spiking one foot back on the rear shots. At this point I am not sure how to optimally display my physique yet, as its still covered in ~39lbs of fat. Looking at these again, I am not too disgusted, the lighting is honest, I have 0 pump, and last carbs were 14 hours prior. Looking forward to the progress going forward from this point.

And yes, I'll be stepping on stage in May/June most likely. Maybe toss in a warmup or two a tad bit earlier if I make some headway in the conditioning department. Just taking it one day at a time for now =)

Thank you for the support as always!

[The Solution]

Plenty of time to shred up with a nice big base man. Gonna be packing some serious size on stage.

[Blazed]

Plenty of time to shred up with a nice big base man. Gonna be packing some serious size on stage.

Sure thing man! I plan on coming in fuller and tighter, with better posing. As long as I beat 2011 Paul......I'll be happy. THough the goal is to blow him out of the water =)

[IK9]

Dang man.. your chest/back/legs are huge! Can't wait to see the work that you and Jeff gun put eeen

[Blazed]

Dang man.. your chest/back/legs are huge! Can't wait to see the work that you and Jeff gun put eeen

I wouldn't say huge lol! Chest was a BIG weak point of mine back in 2011.....hope to have brought it up once dieted down. Time will tell.

REST DAY!

Morning Weight
218.6 (5 Day Average 219.4, Boom down again! Very legit 4.2lbs lost thus far)

Sleep
7 Hours, with crazy dreams, great REM

Diet
Nailed 90/500/200 Yesterday
Same goes for today, gotta enjoy these macros while they last =D

Training

Nada, 3rd rest day this month haha!

Musings

Happy I am getting lighter, also very excited to start hammering upper body hard again. Curious to see if smolov helps me with strength in my other leg exercises too. 3 Short days till I start full blown prep, watching Berto/Ron Parmeters video of the Yorton Cup shenanigans and pre judging has my motivation absolutely through the roof, gonna have to rewatch when I'm in the slumps 6 months from now loL!