The Prodigal Celery Stalk

I wish I could say that the rumors of my scrawnification were greatly exaggerated, and that I didn't fall from my previous all-time personal high of 160 Lbs all the way back to a self-loathing 143, but alas, it happened.  Marc David said I reminded him of Tim Ferriss' trip "from geek to Greek and back to geek".  Well, if you thought I was going to accept that as my epitaph, you underestimated the ol' Veggilante.

It took me a full two years to pull my head out of my butt and follow IBB's advice, but I finally shamed myself into action back in March, and I'm happy to report that I gained back all the progress I lost.

And then some.


Today, I'm flirting with 175 Lbs -a full 15 pounds more jacked up than my previous record (where I was convinced I had hit my genetic limit).  Granted, I would much rather be celebrating 190 right now –and probably could have been, if I hadn’t become such a flaming, hypocritical slacker.  But I’m not going to waste another second speculating about that.  I honestly feel like the past two years of crap I’ve put up with elsewhere in my life has hardened me and given me a degree of patience that I hadn’t fully appreciated before.

In any case, I thought I would pull my “Johnny Come Lately” impression and let you all know I’m still alive.  Now if you’ll pardon me, these noms aren’t going to eat themselves.

My home away from DBB

How tall are you?

You look like you put 20 lbs on just in your legs! Pretty incredible for just 3 months.

wow Veg.... you've put on some serious mass in 3 short months.. You should share your routine, diet and supllementation with everyone cause that's a pretty impressive transformation!  Keep it up.

There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing

 

That looks like a years worth work (not discrediting, just saying you did a good job).

Most people can't add 10lbs in three months, you tripled that.

ACE-CPT, NASM-CPT, AFPA-Nutrition Consultant 

I don't give smileys often, enjoy it.

Current Supplements: Multi, Whey, Caffeine, BCAA, Vitamin C, Calcium
Current Cycle: Strength

"Do not go where the path may lead, instead go where there is no path, and leave a trail."

Thanks guys!

My bad... I should have clarified that for those joining my epic saga in progress... I'm 6'2".

Indeed, there's no way I could have gained that much in three months if I was really starting out totally noob.  The fact is I started at 134 Lbs in August 2005 and clean bulked all the way to 160 Lbs over the next 18 months.  Then, in February 2007, I fell off the wagon and lost almost all of that to atrophy between then and March of this year.  I put the extreme success rate down to muscle memory (and getting really sloppy with the calories this time 'round -you happy, Nic?)

Looking back at my first assault on the mass barrier, I can honestly say that I was still holding back.  I mean, I went crazy with the occasional carb-loading binge back then, but nothing like I am now.  I definitely don't recommend it as a long-term strategy, unless you want to become insulin resistant and pre-diabetic

I'll be happy to post a synopsis of what I'm doing this time 'round -though I should warn you up front, it's not very glamorous.  I'm all about big, boring, compound lifts, obscene amounts of whole foods, lots of water, and tons of sleep.  I'll put it in the "Over 35" forum.

My home away from DBB

Love it.. love this story.

Marc C. David - NGA CPT
Author of NoBull Bodybuilding
www.nobullbodybuilding.com

Marc David


Love it.. love this story.

...and I love being able to say, "Marc, you were right.  As usual."

Not that I ever doubted you or anything.

My home away from DBB

good job

HOLY SH!T!!!!!

The vegenator lives...Jeez I thought you were gone forever buddy!!!!
Glad to see ya back......Great progress too.

Looking awesome, Keep up the good work!!!!

Current Stack: HDROL,Celltech,Superpump 250, Glutamine,Beta alanine,Whey protein.

NOM
but in ur before pic u look 5 years younger :P
and neways unbelievable what uve managed to pull off!!!

veggeep


Thanks guys!

My bad... I should have clarified that for those joining my epic saga in progress... I'm 6'2".

Indeed, there's no way I could have gained that much in three months if I was really starting out totally noob.  The fact is I started at 134 Lbs in August 2005 and clean bulked all the way to 160 Lbs over the next 18 months.  Then, in February 2007, I fell off the wagon and lost almost all of that to atrophy between then and March of this year.  I put the extreme success rate down to muscle memory (and getting really sloppy with the calories this time 'round -you happy, Nic?)

Looking back at my first assault on the mass barrier, I can honestly say that I was still holding back.  I mean, I went crazy with the occasional carb-loading binge back then, but nothing like I am now.  I definitely don't recommend it as a long-term strategy, unless you want to become insulin resistant and pre-diabetic

I'll be happy to post a synopsis of what I'm doing this time 'round -though I should warn you up front, it's not very glamorous.  I'm all about big, boring, compound lifts, obscene amounts of whole foods, lots of water, and tons of sleep.  I'll put it in the "Over 35" forum.

 
This. Everyone should follow this when it comes to building mass.

I agree with everyone else, impressive work.

5'8.1"
Age = 20 
started in February 16th 2007: 58kg (127.6lbs)
current : around 79-80kg (173.8lb-176lb)

WOW!! Yeah you did put on alot of size!  I notice alot in the legs.  Cool man really cool!  Your still fairly lean You could go either route bulk more or cut back down a tad maybe 6 - 7lbs.. then clean bulk from there.    Either way you and the other guy cody made alot of progress. 

You have a small frame, ectomorph what ever a bodybuilder at your height looks bulky at you can weigh 15lbs less and have the same type of look, but it's mainly an illusion cause your measurements will be smaller.   Not everyone can drop to a very small waist size and you could probably get down to 28inches.   You might look pretty outstanding in another 1 - 2 years at a lean 185lbs.

Have you tried starting strength? Or even one of the more advanced versions of it (in case you are unable to make linear progress every workout)?

That program + his recommended gallon of milk a day is designed specifically for guys like you.

I'd say that you definately made some excellent progress, but your mid-section width is still very skinny.  Lots of heavy squatting, deadlifting, and OH progress is the solution to that. 

I also think that the GOMAD (gallon of milk a day) would be great for you because I know that you are a vegitarian, and due to the lack of protein from meat, milk is a great source. 

That said, you've made some great progress again.  I remember when I first joined this site, and you were pretty ripped.  You'll be back there again in no time.  I do know that SS piles on the mass like nothing I've ever seen though.

"True genius, in many fields of human endeavor, is often revealed in elegant simplicity."

- A smart man

Journal: http://www.wannabebigforums.com/showthread.php?t=117358

'Sup, Jerry?!  Nice to see you're still taking all the wind out of the "over 35" myths and misconceptions Last I saw you, you had just ripped down to shredditude and blew everyone's mind -now you look even more jacked up!  Kudos!

Thanks Bruiser, Grover, and Trubeginner!  I too noticed that the combination of a tan and a really severe haircut makes me look older -you should see when I leave my glasses on; I look like Larry King, LOL.  Not really

Good observations, IBB and brihead, but you know me by now -I'm done with clean bulking... for the near term, at least.  I still take my goal-setting in six-month intervals, and to be completely honest, all I was hoping for during this interval was to get back to 165.  I had no idea I would blow clean past that so fast.  And here's the kicker: last time, when I plateaued around 160-163, I was really worried about picking up too much body fat.  Well, here I am at 172, easily five more pounds of body fat than I picked up last time, and I'm nowhere NEAR as worried about it.  I guess what I'm trying to say is I've lost most of my obsessive compulsive love affair with staying shredded all the time.  I know the name of the game is extreme definition and vascularity, but I'm starting to admire the kind of size and fullness you see on dudes in pre-contest condition.  It just looks healthier to me these days.

I'll check out SS to see what I can draw from it, but you also know I'm loathe to screw with something when it's working, LOL (I just mixed it up again this week with supersets on all my target muscle groups, and I swear to god, it's like another fresh infusion of instant gratification -I'm still pumped from yesterday's upper body smackdown).  As for the GOMAD suggestion, I'm gonna take a rain check on that one.  I do still use a Whey protein supplement post-workout, but other than that, I've completely cut dairy out of my diet -I just have too many ethical hangups about that industry, and getting that volume of milk all organic would bankrupt me, LOL.  But never fear -I promise you, with the amount of noms I'm shoving down my throat these days, protein is the least of my worries

Funny that you mention my midsection still being very skinny.  Truth be told, I've always felt that was an illusion wrought by a lagging lat spread and lack of deltoid width.  Aside from blocking up my obliques a tad more, I would be perfectly content not to gain another inch on my midsection.  What I really need right now, if I'm to be taken on sight as a bodybuilding enthusiast, is to widen my back and get my guns up to "normal" proportions.  In my estimation, that's at least two more inches away.

My home away from DBB

Well, I can't argue with that! You have yourself pretty figured out.  You are making great progress again though, looking forward to seeing future pics.

"True genius, in many fields of human endeavor, is often revealed in elegant simplicity."

- A smart man

Journal: http://www.wannabebigforums.com/showthread.php?t=117358

^^^^^^
Totally agree with Bri
It does seem that you've figured this thing out Veg!
as long as it's working...keep it up(LOL...what my wife always says...HaHa!)

BTW...What leg routine have you been using...I noticed a huge change in your pics!
I cou;ld use some mass on my chicken legs....LOL

Current Stack: HDROL,Celltech,Superpump 250, Glutamine,Beta alanine,Whey protein.

bulkingup

...

BTW...What leg routine have you been using...I noticed a huge change in your pics!
I cou;ld use some mass on my chicken legs....LOL

I didn't realize it until last week, when I was trying to sort out a decent opposing muscle group routine that doesn't blast my arms two days in a row, but it turns out all my leg workouts have been holistic.  That is, I don't break them up into quads one day, hamstrings another.  I hit the whole shootin' match in the same workout, twice a week, no fewer than two days apart.

So, for the first few weeks, which were a simple upper/lower split, it looked like this:

Squats - 5 x 10 (moderately heavy weight, but stupid strict form)
Lying Hamstring Curls - 5 x 10
Single Calf Raise - 4 x 20 (Standing, add a dumbbell if they start to get too easy)
Ab Crunches - 4 x 50 (I like to break all my workouts in the middle with abs, it gives whatever else I'm working a chance to recover a bit more than if I tried pummelling it all at once)
Leg Extensions - 5 x 15

As I progressed to a Push/Pull/Legs routine, this became:

Squats - 5 x 8 (heavy, but not as strict -as in, not completely parallel.  I'd finish off with one extra set at a lighter weight with excruciatingly strict, slow eccentrics and explosive concentric reps.)
Lying Hamstring Curls - 5 x 10 (same as before)
Single Calf Raise - 4 x 20 (same as before)
Ab Crunches - 4 x 50
Deadlifts - 4 x 8
Leg Extensions - 4 x 15

Now, for a few weeks, I'm blasting as follows:

Superset Squats & Hamstring Curls - 5 x 8
Seated calf-raise - 4 x 20 (As much weight as I can comfortably balance on my knees with a cambered bar and a towel)
Ab Crunches - 4 x 50
Superset Dumbbell Lunges & Leg Extensions - 5 x 8

This last mix is positively brutal.  It doesn't look like much on paper, but the two supersets fill out the time.  This is also the first routine that got me to complete muscular failure on the leg extensions.

I always warm up with a couple sets of empty lunges.

Hope that helps!

My home away from DBB

GREAT JOB Veggeep!!!!!! Very glad to have you back!

veggeep

bulkingup

...

BTW...What leg routine have you been using...I noticed a huge change in your pics!
I cou;ld use some mass on my chicken legs....LOL

I didn't realize it until last week, when I was trying to sort out a decent opposing muscle group routine that doesn't blast my arms two days in a row, but it turns out all my leg workouts have been holistic.  That is, I don't break them up into quads one day, hamstrings another.  I hit the whole shootin' match in the same workout, twice a week, no fewer than two days apart.

So, for the first few weeks, which were a simple upper/lower split, it looked like this:

Squats - 5 x 10 (moderately heavy weight, but stupid strict form)
Lying Hamstring Curls - 5 x 10
Single Calf Raise - 4 x 20 (Standing, add a dumbbell if they start to get too easy)
Ab Crunches - 4 x 50 (I like to break all my workouts in the middle with abs, it gives whatever else I'm working a chance to recover a bit more than if I tried pummelling it all at once)
Leg Extensions - 5 x 15

As I progressed to a Push/Pull/Legs routine, this became:

Squats - 5 x 8 (heavy, but not as strict -as in, not completely parallel.  I'd finish off with one extra set at a lighter weight with excruciatingly strict, slow eccentrics and explosive concentric reps.)
Lying Hamstring Curls - 5 x 10 (same as before)
Single Calf Raise - 4 x 20 (same as before)
Ab Crunches - 4 x 50
Deadlifts - 4 x 8
Leg Extensions - 4 x 15

Now, for a few weeks, I'm blasting as follows:

Superset Squats & Hamstring Curls - 5 x 8
Seated calf-raise - 4 x 20 (As much weight as I can comfortably balance on my knees with a cambered bar and a towel)
Ab Crunches - 4 x 50
Superset Dumbbell Lunges & Leg Extensions - 5 x 8

This last mix is positively brutal.  It doesn't look like much on paper, but the two supersets fill out the time.  This is also the first routine that got me to complete muscular failure on the leg extensions.

I always warm up with a couple sets of empty lunges.

Hope that helps!

Hey Veg....Thanks a million I'll give it a shot...It actually works better with my routine to have a "leg" day...instead of splitting it up!
 
Thanks again

Current Stack: HDROL,Celltech,Superpump 250, Glutamine,Beta alanine,Whey protein.