I've been following MAX-OT for the past 6 weeks and started my first bulking phase. I have only been working out for about 5 months now but for the first 3 & 1/2 I was eating to gain and was doing more cardio then I should have so I didn't realize any gains.
What I am looking for is three things:
1) Comments on my current physique
2) Comments on my current workout plan
3) Comments on my current nutrition (this I know needs some help)
For some background, January of 2003 I was 182 pounds. Not really fat, but overweight. January of 2004 I was down to 136 but still had excess baggage in my stomach / abs. Since I lost some much weight and didn't think it was healthy to lose any more I started weight training. My intentions now are to bulk up a bit then cut to hopefully shed some more fat.
Here are my stats from 6 weeks ago:
136 pounds
Arms 12.5 inches
Chest 35.5 inches
Waist 29.5 inches
Forearm 10.5 inches
9.4 % body fat
Here are my current stats:
141 pounds
Arms 12.75 inches (.25 inch gain)
Chest 36 inches (.5 inch gain)
Waist 30 inches (.5 inch gain)
Forearm 10.75 inches (.25 inch gain)
The guy who did my bf test the last time was not in today so I decided to wait to get that tested again to keep everything equal.
This is the first time since I started lifting I have seen any size gain. Not sure if the arms / chest are typical or not but not exactly happy with the waist although not sure if that is really bad or not (the bf test should help).
Unfortunately I did not take any lower body measurements so not sure what changes might have been made there.
Any thoughts, comments would be appreciated.
Training:
First, I want to mention that I workout at home with a Crossbow, so some exercises (deadlifts and squats for example I can't do). But here is my current routine:
Sunday:
Biceps: Standing Curl, Lying Curl & Concentration Curl
Chest: Chest Press, Decline Press, Chest Fly
Monday:
20 Minutes cardio (about 100 fat calories burned according to treadmill) about 1.65 miles
Abs: Crunches (2 sets of 30), Reverse Crunches (2 sets of 15), Bicycle Crunch (2 sets of 15), Vertical Crunch (2 sets of 15) & Side Bridges (2 sets each side for 1 minute)
Tuesday:
Triceps: Lying Tricep Extension, Tricep Pushdown (with bar) & Tricep Kickbacks
Back: Wide Lat Pulldown, Reverse Lat Pulldown & Seated Rows
Wednesday: Same as Monday
Thursday:
Shoulders: Seated Shoulder Press, Upright Row (with bar), Reverse Fly & Shoulder Shrugs (for traps)
Legs: Seated Leg Extension, Seated Leg Curls, Standing Calf Raises & Leg Press
Friday: Same and Monday and Wednesday
Saturday: Off
I am looking for feedback regarding my current exercises. Specifically should I substitute some of my exercises with others that might hit the muscles better? Is my current routine OK? I think aside from my legs I am hitting everything else pretty well.
Gains:
Chest: + 33.33 pound increase
Biceps: + 33.33 pound increase
Triceps: + 40 pound increase
Back: + 50 pound increase
Shoulders: + 50 pound increase
Legs: +50 pound increase
Nutrition:
Here's my current problem. In my line of work I do a lot of traveling, though most day (driving) trips so it is hard to prepare meals since I have no idea what is available to me so here is a typical day:
Weekdays:
Breakfast: 2 slices Whole Wheat Toast with Peanut Butter & Protein Bar (25 grams)
Lunch: Turkey & Cheese, Ham & Cheese or Tuna Fish Sandwich
Afternoon: Protein Shake (40 grams)
Dinner: Steak, Chicken, Pork Chops (some kind of meat) with two sides (corn, broccoli, carrots, celery, potatoes and/or brown rice)
Post Workout: Weight Gainer with Non Fat Milk, 1 scoop of Peanut Butter and Creainte
Bedtime: Protein Shake (40 grams)
Weekends:
The same except for breakfast I usually have 2 eggs, cheese and bacon instead of the toast/PB.
I usually get an apple or orange in there with lunch or one of the protein shakes.
The only supplements I am currently doing (not including the protein and weight gain are creatine and Thermo Burst (1 hour before workout)).
So any advice on how to optimize this, considering my situation, would be appreciated. The calories probably only average out to about 2000 or so a day, but I think when I lost all that weight and started eating much less, my metabolism really slowed down. I have put on 5 pounds in 6 weeks with this so I don't think the number or calories are an issue.
Now for the pictures.
< Message edited by y2j2k -- 6/1/2004 5:56:34 PM >