Z's Shrink the gut expedition

ORIGINAL: twistedlink

Methinks a new weight and measurement update is needed

I want to see how things have gone so far, last one youd lost 7lbs and 1% BF% in quite a short time.

Here you go, twisted.

As you can see, some of my measurements went down, especially in the chest (well, you wouldn't think so from the last time I posted stats, but I had gone up almost another 1/2 inch in the chest in between time) and thighs.  But yet I'm stronger.  I think this speaks to fat loss (13-14% by the last pinch, although I think this is an underestimate), not muscle loss.  My weight has decreased by only a pound or two.  This doesn't suprise me--I had expected in this "mass" phase to stay at about the same weight, hopefully gaining some lean mass and losing fat (a temporary situation at best, I know!).  I think it's working for right now. 

I'm getting some nice veins on my forearms.  I want that to  crawl up to my (puny) biceps, so that at least they look serious!

Future plans:

This program ends the last day of September.  Originally I was going to pursue a pure bulking phase for 4 weeks, but then Muscle Nerdy Jeff Anderson offered his contest, just the motivation I needed to do that half-hellish Optimum Anabolics program.  That's a 9 week bugger.  I'm putting myself on the variation where the bodyweight stays overall the same (the other versions are pure weight gain, and the other is net weight loss)>  I'll leave my plans after that in the air for now (that ends around December 1).  Right now I'm working on the diet portion, especially the low protein phases, which has me in slight conniptions on what to eat (but I've started a thread of recipes in the Critique My Recipe section), and I've layed hands on an excellent vegetarian cookbook, Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, a great tome that almost had me convinced to go herbivore.

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"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

ORIGINAL: danmirage

I think I'm liking deadlifts.  I think I seriously need help!

You like em now, you learn to love em later...

HE he he...wait till you feel comfotable to do reps at 225, 245, 305 ...THEN you will start to love em!

Wow, at this point I can't even imagine it!  But I can't wait.

I'm just impressed with myself that I'm deadlifting over 100 #s for multiple reps!  Everyone has to start somewhere!  (And I'm always the only one in the gym that seems to do them).

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

I don't mean to say your lifts are light!
You are doing great!!!
 
I mean simply to excite you with something you are not even aware of...when you work your way up to lift those heavier..it is like a different lift all together!
 
At some point your body sort of clicks into a groove and you lift with a full body intensity that is like a drug!
 
HECK - IT IS A DRUG!

My Journal Gain Muscle - http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/fb.ashx?m=111173 Lose Fat - http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/fb.ashx?m=111175

ORIGINAL: danmirage

I don't mean to say your lifts are light!
You are doing great!!!

I mean simply to excite you with something you are not even aware of...when you work your way up to lift those heavier..it is like a different lift all together!

At some point your body sort of clicks into a groove and you lift with a full body intensity that is like a drug!

HECK - IT IS A DRUG!

Oh, I didn't take your comment the wrong way at all!  I was just reflecting on how cool it is I've moved up in weight from the very first time I did a deadlift (yep, the bar, the whole bar, and nothing but the bar).

I think I am already addicted.  I've never learned so much about myself, my body, patience and preserverance than when I've embarked on this journey of mine!

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

dont worry G, i started out on 110lbs, 3 months later, im repping 220-245lbs for 5-8 reps and maxxing on 300lbs odd, keep it going man, and yeah, youre losing fat but gaining muscle so ending up maintaining weight.
Best way to go about things really.
You have a really strict diet, wish i was that good, i eat enough, just never structure it properly, and cheat a few times lol.

ORIGINAL: twistedlink

dont worry G, i started out on 110lbs, 3 months later, im repping 220-245lbs for 5-8 reps and maxxing on 300lbs odd, keep it going man, and yeah, youre losing fat but gaining muscle so ending up maintaining weight.
Best way to go about things really.
You have a really strict diet, wish i was that good, i eat enough, just never structure it properly, and cheat a few times lol.

Oh, I cheat!  Go through each week's logs (except this last week's), and you'll see it.  I'm still smarting over the 1200 calorie dessert I had out one evening (if I would've known, I would've never eaten it, or split it four ways!).  Cheating is part of the program--just one "meal" is the official line.

Inspiring on how fast you went up in your deadlifts.  Let's see you're 19-20, and I'm almost 40.  So if I'm twice as old as you, it will probably take me twice as long to get there (don't you love my warped logic?!?).  That alright--6 months to double my deadlift . . . I can live with that.  I'm not going anywhere!

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

haha!
to be fair, a good 50lbs of the deadlift weight was from noob gains, and youre right your age will go against you, but still, you'll be doing loads of weight in no time.
 
Im pretty sure ON will appear soon making sure you never state how age can be used as an excuse in bodybuilding gains! lol.

So if I'm twice as old as you, it will probably take me twice as long to get there

No I think the math goes like this...I am twice your age (1/2) with twice the experience (1/2) so it should take 1/4 (1/2 x 1/2) the time to have the same gains you have...
 
I am about the same age...
 
But really, it is far better to raise the resistance gradually as you can, to milk all the gains you can get from every pound!!!

My Journal Gain Muscle - http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/fb.ashx?m=111173 Lose Fat - http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/fb.ashx?m=111175

ORIGINAL: danmirage

So if I'm twice as old as you, it will probably take me twice as long to get there

No I think the math goes like this...I am twice your age (1/2) with twice the experience (1/2) so it should take 1/4 (1/2 x 1/2) the time to have the same gains you have...

I am about the same age...

But really, it is far better to raise the resistance gradually as you can, to milk all the gains you can get from every pound!!!

Dan Dan Dan Dan!  When will you learn?!?    You're a god.  The rest of us are mere mortals!  But I'm taking to heart your comment about milking those gains!

"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

I know I coud deadlift 400-500 maybe 600 right now...but I'm milking it 310-315-320!!!
 

You're a god

 
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh!  Don't tell! [sm=superman.gif]

My Journal Gain Muscle - http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/fb.ashx?m=111173 Lose Fat - http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/fb.ashx?m=111175

09-18-2006 food
I'm getting sloppy on my food entries!  ARGH!  Bad bad bad bad. . . .




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"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

09-19-2006 excercise
puff puff puff intervals . . .  puff puff puff




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"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

09-19-2006 food


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"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

09-20-2006 workout

I did not feel as energetic or psyched today.  Those pull-ups are a bear.  Note that in the first serious set (the one after the warm up), I was able to do 2 (w/ 30 lbs assist, which feels like nothing), the next set 1.5, and each set after that, just 1.  All the others are just negatives.  But I've improved a wee bit.  I can't wait until I'm one of those show-offs who jump on the bar and pump out at least 10 of them, no sweat!!


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"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"

09-20-2006 food

Heh heh heh *blush* dinner at friends is never good on the ol' eating plan.  At least I kept the wine to one glass.  Not so strong in the dessert section. . . heh heh heh

Also had serious cravings in the middle of the night for cereal.  So I had some at about 3 a.m.  Raisin Bran w/ milk.  It's not on the log, but I admit it.  I'm not sure where those cravings are coming from, or if it's just part of a habit?  Did I truly "listen" to my body, or did I succumb to something bad?!?




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"If there's nothing else that's relevant, I'll be leaving now"

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground"