(anyone please give me advice on how to better create a journal page... heres my feable attempt at one but i need one none the less.)

Discovered this site through wannabebigforums.com. checked it out... found a lot of help and stayed. People are so helpful here... thanks to all here who have helped me so far... you know who you are.

A little bit about myself... im an artist. im in grad school currently and plan on getting another grad degree in art soon. Art is my thing. I do graphic design for extra money. Im deep into art theory and philosophy to the point that it sometimes drains me and i have to to something completly opposite to stay afloat. If i didnt have fitness to balance my life out or God id probably be strung out somewhere.

Anyways, I started a diet about a month and a half ago. I cut bread, coke and sweets entirely out.... started drinking a lot of water. I then decided i wanted to lift wieghts again (after 2yrs of not doing it... when i did before i was loosley doing them... didnt have a diet then though). I found this site... found a lot of helpful info and cleaned up my diet... found out about high glycemic carbs and cut most of them out. I eat sometimes 5 to 6 meals a day... small portions. Sometimes I graze too. I started lifting about a little less then a month ago and starting doing cardio at the track. Weight dropped from 245 to 230. Bloated look in face is going away.... belly is getting flatter. I should point out my goal.... my goal is to get lean... a cutting goal im assuming here. My numero uno priority is to loose most of the fat in my gut area and then second to build and sustain muscle mass while at it. After i get to a point where im happy ill start adding muscle mass. So right now im on a caloric deficit. I believe im suppose to be getting around 3400 cals a day to maintain my mass (maybe lower now) and 2900 to loose about a pound a week. Im lucky if i get 2000 cals a day currently. I suck at counting calories but i plan to get that area figured out soon. I dont eat much anymore... like i used to. My food portions are way smaller then im used too. I just portion my foods and cross my fingers and hope i get close to the right amount of calories... its just so damn hard to count calories when one has to graze or doesnt understand calorie judgement.

well my clothes are feeling better now. Lot looser and more comfortable. I feel better also... not as depressed, tired or moody as i used to be.

here are some of my current stats... some may not be accurate cause i did them myself with a tape measure but im trying (again im a fine artist so analytical precision is not where i excel)...

Age: 27
Sex: Male
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 230 lbs
Neck: 16
Shoulder: how do i measure shoulder? from shoulder one shoulder bone to other shoulder bone?... correct?
Chest: 49 inches
Waist: 36 inches
Abdomen: 45 inches
Hips: 38 inches
Thigh: 23.5 inches
Knee: 17.5 inches
Calf: 14.5 inches
Ankle: 9.5 inches
Arm: 14.5 inches
Forearm: 11.5 inches
Wrist: 7.2 inches

Body Fat: not sure (32% on scale but you know how accurate those are... im having trouble loggin into mybodycomp.com so i cant know for sure yet)
Fat Mass: ?
Lean Body Mass: ?



will post more later.

Cool, starting a journal is a great way to watch your progress over time. It looks like you're doing everything right... don't underestimate those changes like giving up soda and sweets all that, those are BIG hurdles, ones that a lot of people just can't get past. The calorie counting may seem like a lot at first, too, but it really does get easier with time. Best of luck, I know you'll have great progress with such a good start to build on.

thanks slush!


just started using some concepts from MAX-OT. See how this goes.

started to add more fat to my diet and more food.

dropped 2 pounds of water weight i believe... after i cheated.

face is looking less bloated.

since my gut is the most important thing for me to loose at this time im keeping real good track of it. besides loosing more then 3 pounds a week my gut is going down also... which leads me to believe im loosing fat.

on jan 13 my gut measurement was 45 inches

on feb 13 my gut measure ment is 42 1/4.


i'll continue to work it down.


ive upped my cardio to about 5 to 6 days a week.

im determined.

march 10, 05

wieghed in at 202.


decresed my carbs... upped my cardio and upped my intensity level in lifting. starting to vary my diet with more organic foods.


going to work on carbing up a little more around lift time and keep it the same every other time.


started taking multivitamins also. still on EC stack.

Hey krosspyder, it's really cool watching the changes you're making. I remember when you started here you were hesitant and unsure of how to really get started. It seems like with every post I see from you you're learning more and getting more confident in your plan and the tweaks you make to it. That's a great sign of progress! Keep up the good work man, and keep us posted on the progress you make with the new changes.

hey thanks for those words of encouragement slushpuppy. Its cool to know someones checking in on me because it helps my attitude out that much more. Thanks again.

By the way... i checked out your journal page and man.... you've really gone from real skinny to adding some good muscle on you... bulky... from that first pic to the last. I hear your having trouble keeping the fat off when you bulk but from my view/opinion i dont think that it looks like a problem... id be really fine with that level of bf%.... but yeah i realize how important it is for everyone on here to get to a low bf level even when bulking.

i just may be there next year if i keep this up... hopefuly in the future ill be asking questions related to bulking.

gut measurement...

march 11, 05 ( a month since last measurement)


40" 1/2

went down about 2" + in about a month.

guess im doing good. fuck you gut im owning you!

fuck you gut im owning you!
LOL - sorry man, but that's just hilarious! Got a good laugh out of that one. Need to come up with a graphic showing your gut and then the letters PWNED over it - hehe

Awesome progress dude!

LOL - sorry man, but that's just hilarious! Got a good laugh out of that one. Need to come up with a graphic showing your gut and then the letters PWNED over it - hehe

Awesome progress dude!

lol

thanks man. i just may do that... heh... you know once i get down to my goal as it relates to gut fat desctruction. thats a good idea.

during the 1st week of june (05) i should be at least 24 pounds lighter... if im loosing at least 2 pounds a week from today which is .
march 13,05.


so i should be around 178 pounds during the first week of june going by those calculations.

march 29, 05
gut measurement:

39 3/4 inches.

april 5,05


wieght: 197 (not seen lower then 194)

gut: 39 1/2

april 8,05

started taking stacker3 instead of no doz for preworkout supplment and sometimes after meal.

not seeing lower then 193.

top end... at night.... food in stomach... now 196.

was 199 to 201 a week ago with food in stomach (at night).


shit man.. im loosing muscle... got to be.. i believe.


pics here (as posted in the fat loss section)...

LINK (http://www.jbernardo.com/pages/iwillslimdown.html)

april 10,05

not seeing lower than 192.5.... this right after cardio workout.

april 11,05

gut measurment: 37 3/4

what the hell? i had to check that again ... but yep thats correct. sounds to me like im kicking my guts ass. this is where im dropping most at the moment.. im guessing...finally! was about 39... 6 days ago... this is incredibly fast... or im measuring wrong.


wieght: after cardio.... 191.5

almost in the 80's!

hell yeah...rock!

april 15, 05

a 190.5 was spoted on the scale... and to my surprise i was the one on it... which means that that is what i weigh now! (after cardio session that is).


wow... almost hittin them 80s. i cant believe it. i must celebrate... fried chicken and stuffed crust pizza here i come.... no, wait?





:tu:

april 17, 05

I BROKE THE 90'S!

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0002ZG7L4.01-A2F4CV2MYJ9OAU._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

189.0 after morning cardio. now to get to a point to where my night time wieght is under 190.0.

i really need to celebrate.

april 19, 05

gut measurment: 37

may 2, 05


lowest wieght seen.... 186.0

hovering between that and 191.

updated my i will slim down (http://www.jbernardo.com/pages/iwillslimdown.html) page with the most recent pics.

ive done away with stacker and im now back on no doz and ephedrine.... its been about 2 weeks without ephedrine. the first time back on it i could really feel it in my workouts... a lot more energy... seriously. i was having more fun ... not worrying and thinking about my body hurting or getting tired ... you know that slight exhausted feeling. that was not evident in my workout after taking epehdrine for the first time in 2 weeks.

seems as if wieght is slowing down... to normal levels that is... just right i guess... not too much and not too little. i've been hovering around 187 and 191 for sometime now.... just saw 186.... will post back when i see a 185.

may 7, 05

just saw a 185.5

gut measurement: 35 3/4

i had a pizza (one slice) and a whaterburger hamburger with fries and some micholob ultra beers yesterday and after that i saw a decressed difference in my gut size... it was exactly 36 1/4.

wierd.

i just noticed something. i measured my waist size with a tape measurement and it said 35 (close to it). i always went on my pant sizes... my 34s that fit me perfect back when i ever first started working out (2000-2001) fit me very loose right now... i have some 32s that fit me just right. but judging from the tape measure im a 35... wierd... dont know whats up with this... i mean im not worried at all about my waist increasing... infact i know for sure its decreasing... im just confused on the measurement in pants and the tape.

well my gut becoming closer and closer to being the same size as my waist so thats good. one mu gut shrinks to at least the same size as my waist or smaller i will consider bulking... probably needs to be smaller then my waist.

im looking the best ive ever looked. my stomach is going away and im damn happy.

may 10, 05
(just recieved my second degree...masters... working on my third)

just saw 183.5 on scale after intense cardio session. highest im seeing now is 187.5


looks like i broke that plateu. awsome. adding jump roping and sprints and eating a little more did it i guess.

i think the lowest i should see at the end of this month should be 180.

theoretically that is.

may 18

doing flys for bench now.... concentrating on leg excersizes... trying to incorporate different lifting excersizes... past due.

im having trouble counting calories... i cant do it for the life of me. its just not feasible. i wish someone came up with a device that would measure the exact number of cals we put into our body and the micronutirent ratio etc. we can measure heart rate, cholesteral levels, blood suger levles etc. but we cant measure caloric levels with a device? why?

started my week break from working out.... rest time. started on friday may 20. will continue working out on friday may 27.

i havent had a break... so im long past due. todays the 23 and im feeling good. stress on my legs and arms is going away.

todays may 27, started back on my lifting and cardio routine.... I MISSED IT!

saw 181.0LBS on the scale on may 26.

june 2,

saw 179.0 on may 29.


holla!

june 5

lowest seen on scale thus far...

177.5

ive upped my cals and my carbs and im still loosing wieght. good deal.

Phenomenal progress!! Keep at it!!

thanks man... thanks for the words of encouragement.

;)

this is the type of body figure im trying to achieve...


http://www.screensaverjapan.com/sport/tyson/tyson.jpg


so after i cutt down to where most of my gut fat is gone... maybe 165.. not sure... i will start bulking.

i know.... mike tyson probably has a different body makeup then i do and i may never achieve that figure... because my genetics prevent me... or it will take too long... but i know if i try to achieve it i should look pretty damn good... not as good as tyson in that pic but better then i ever have.

im sure up to that pic tyson trained and ate like a motherfu*ker and hade people around him that know about the fine details of body mechanics and composition etc... so it be really hard for me... going solo to achieve close to whats going on there.


oh and.... im not trying to be like mike.... i just like his build... we are about the same hieght, have kind of the same broad shoulders thing going on.... im a meso endo so im pretty close to that body type, we both have striking features... though he looks more intimidating then i do....... i dont have a pretty boy face and niether does he. thank GOD! so i dont have to wear piercings to counteract a pretty soft face with a harsh metal object.... i have to go the other way around.... have a sensual long medium haircutt to counter balance my striking features in my face.

why am i saying this? who cares.

:d_rolleye

You're doing awesome and setting an example for others. I just got a blast of encouragement reading this, thanks.

you know hearing that my progress inspires someone else inspires me and makes me feel all tiggly inside. lol

thanks brah.

june 6,05

just started using creatine monohydrate as ive become really concerned about muscle loss. so.... not too sure what ill see on the scale... i need to get a good body fat measurement device asap... so i can determine if any wieght im gaining is fat or muscle.

Hey man... keep up the good work. Enjoyed reading your journal.

thank you good sir!

looks like you're off to a good start. shouldnt take much from where you are at.


im hesitant on taking creatine. ive enjoyed seeing the scale drop every week. im going to havt to get a body fat analayzer device asap. this should solve my hesitantcy issue and make me more comfortable with gaining a few pounds due to water retention.


well... off to do my squats. love these bad boys!

newest figure pics of me...

http://www.jbernardo.com/images/general/slimdown1.jpg http://www.jbernardo.com/images/general/slimdown2.jpg

thier added to my slim down page. my apologies for the different image sizes.


gotta keep it up right? get rid of that gut fat. damn i just wish the rest of me in terms of size would stay the same... though hope more fat off my face comes off too. seems like its taking forever.

just got my body fat analyzer... omoron.... recorded during the evening... it says 15.5% ... i'll do it after i wake up in the morning.... which i think is the best time for it.


15... damn!

june 21/05

started HITT on this day. did johns scheme but apperently it wasnt technically HITT... so im not sure what use that was. i will make sure and do exactly what HITT is next time around. no problem. expierenced gained... learned.

i noticed too that my wieghts gone up... not much .... maybe 2 to 3 pounds. and my bf has gone down... which suggests to me that im loosing fat and gaining LBM. cool deal.


need about 4 weeks to see a concrete trend.


i'll keep rocking this shit! its too fun to stop.

june 22
im seeing 14.8% on omoron BF device. lowest ive seen so far.


lowest i saw prior was 15.4% with it going from that at 16.4%.

now im hitting 14.8%

im taking measurements after i wake up... before working out and eating.


same time of day everyday.


im pretty much seeing the same thing on the weight scale. fluxuating. never lower then 177.

I can finally wear tight shit! sorta.

http://myspace-922.vo.llnwd.net/00137/22/91/137651922_l.jpg

Kross: What's your gut measurement now? Are you measuring at belly button level and with love handles included? I wanna see how much progress you've made since your last gut measurement update.

sure thing Mooshie...

i think ive messed up on my measurements before... but im trying to get them right now. i do measure at belly button level... love handles and all.. but at times i gather i wasnt concious of the breathing part and sometimes i may have tighted... constricted my gut and my tape measurement a little... just so you know.
thats why its hard to rely on this part now for me. but i still do it... the measurement now... trying to do it right is a little under 35... close to 35 1/2.

Ahh, thx Kross. We measure at the exact same spot and I also find that very slight changes in position, how I breath, tightness of the tape, whether I'm bloated or not, can really change the measurement.

I pretty much use this measurement as the top indicator of progress since gut and love handles are really the only trouble spot I have left.

exactly man. i dont give a damn about my waist size. if my guts going down ... my waist is going down with it. the gut area... love handles and all is the most important thing for me to loose.... since in most guys and especially in me since gut area fat is the last to go.


i use a combo to track my progress...

1) Body fat
2) Abdominal size
3) Wieght

june 29/05

starting back on fasted 45 minute cardio. HIIT never seemed to get me out of my plateau.... seemed like i was maintaing. i know it has only been about 8 days but damnnn! im trying to listen to my body and my body was telling me to go back to fasted moderate state duration cardio... i believe. we'll see how this goes. i plan on still using HIIT maybe twice a week on my off lifting days. i think one beneficial thing HIIT did was up my endurance.

an hour and a half before lifting im trying this out...

along with a regular meal...

sugar free/fat free jello banana cream pudding... mixed with 1 cup skim milk and one cup water... add two packets of splenda.

june 29/05
changed it up a bit...
did 45-50 fasted cardio
in the evening lifted.

alright im going to be documenting my plateau breaking numbers here...

im increaasing my cals by 100 a day and if i see a wieght change.... im going to change respectivley... if i gain wieght and if it looks like im gaining bf then im going back down by 100 cals if the opposite then i either go back down a little or stay at that caloric number. so im on a mission to break this plateau... if in fact i am on one which i think i am.

okay todays numbers..
7/2/05

yesterdays (7/1/05) caloric intake=2300
split 40/40/20

before 45 minute (under sout texas sun) fasted cardio
wieght = 181.0
body fat % = 14.7

after 45 minute (under sout texas sun) fasted cardio
weight= 179.9
body fat %= 13.7

Ive never done HIIT cardio after 1930 cals (evening). wow... i dont know if this is a good feeling or not. im full and tired at the same time. of course i waited an hour and 20 minutes till i hit that HIIT.
crazy. well my body is definitly not used to this i guess... so hmm maybe thats a good thing.

will continue fasted morning cardio or in my case fasted afternoon cardio being that im a night owl.

ending creatine phase one. i guess ill be back on it in 5 weeks.

okay todays numbers..
7/4/05

yesterdays (7/3/05) caloric intake=2580
split 43/28/28

before 45 minute (under sout texas sun) fasted cardio
wieght = 180.0
body fat % = 14.6

after 45 minute (under south texas sun) fasted cardio
weight= 175
body fat %= measured at 180LBS---- 14.3
measured at 175LBS-----13.2-13.4

holy hell!

did i break it?

:confused:

July 12/05

wieght: same... low 175, high 181

bf%: before fasted morning cardio--- 15.0-15.3
after---- 12.8-13.0

still not sure whats going on. i can say this though that if there is a discrepency on the body fat readings... that discrepency seems to be getting lower... so if that discrepency is getting lower then i conclude that my average or my "real" body fat percentage is getting lower also... its definitly not getting higher. yet my wieght is pretty much staying the same.... which i cant figure out why. if im loosing body fat but mainting my body wieght then i can i can conclude that im adding muscle... or lean mass.... but that seems too good to be true so therefore im not sure .

i guess i just need more time.... but how much more? i'll keep rocking whatever the case. im going back on the cycling carbs deal. ive been eating a lot of carbs ... about a 40% portion average for about 3 weeks... and no real big shift. so lets see what this carb cycling deal does.

todays last day of my extended cardio break (july 22).. been off for about 10 days from now.
back on on sat (july 23)... maybe doing HIIT.

note for me: need to get back on creatine on august 9th... should be 5 weeks from when i stopped.... early july.

ive been basically maintaing for about 10 days and doing no cardio to get my metabolism up again after what i think and other folks here on JSF think was overtraining for me. metabolism slowed down because of it which is why i was plateauing... so we think. hopefully i break it after i get back on cardio again.

*crosses fingers*

went back on cardio july 23. did HIIT.... on the track... ran/sprinted the straights and jogged/walked the curves. 25 minutes... 4 minute warm up 4 minute cool down.

im glad im doing cardio again... ive missed it. this session really exhausted me which it was suppose to do. i ate a pretty big meal 2 hourse before and im not too sure that was a good idea. couldnt tell if my stomach pains were because of this or just standard HIIT pains... you know when your out of breath and your stomach hurts... that was what i was feeling... but it was sharp this time.

regardless it was good.

todays a perfect day to do my fasted cardio so im going to do it while i have the chance.

july 28

before fasted cardio
179.5
14.7%

after
177.5
14.3%

the day before this had very small amounts of carbs. spinach and 1/2 cup of oatmeal and a peach were my only carb sources.

ahhh it felt good to do long duration cardio again. i love it.
135HR

I BUSTED THRU!

past week and a half ive seen consistent lower body fat readings. I had to wait a while to make a definite take on the situation. I feel slimmer and I look slimmer in the mirror.

Now lets see how far my new understanding of carb cycling takes me.

updated pics coming soon.

JUNE 15:
http://www.jbernardo.com/images/general/slimdown1.jpg

AUGUST 9:

more pics...

Wow my man. Your hard word and dedication have certainly paid off. The pic of you with your hands crossed is the bomb.!!!

Keep up the good work. :tucool:

much thnx Coachese.

:tu:

started back on creatine on august 8th.

the 34 size pants i purchased back about 2 months ago when i weighed pretty much close to what i weigh now... 180... realy close actually not much difference... are very loose right now... it bothers me wearing them. even the shirts i purchased along that time with them... very annoying... good sign though.... says im loosing fat and creating muscle... amazing. i put that shirt on today... and i was like... damn what the hell!! i remember the shirt was pretty snug on me... semi tight....now its very loose.

however.... the difference between that first pic (with the red star belt buckle) and the most recent one is not that obvious.... or is it? i cant tell.

however.... the difference between that first pic (with the red star belt buckle) and the most recent one is not that obvious.... or is it? i cant tell.

I can tell, look at the side bicep shot, see how much more separation you have between the side delt and bic and tri? That is a huge difference, much less bodyfat. The bicep also looks more peaky and the skin much thinner. Now given that photos tend to not show up minor changes this suggests your progress is very good.

I can tell, look at the side bicep shot, see how much more separation you have between the side delt and bic and tri? That is a huge difference, much less bodyfat. The bicep also looks more peaky and the skin much thinner. Now given that photos tend to not show up minor changes this suggests your progress is very good.


thnx!

what side bicep shot are you talking about here?

thnx!

what side bicep shot are you talking about here?

See image

oh yeah i agree with that.

however those pics you are comparing are from march to june.
the last one being in june.

im at august with pretty much the same weigh as were i was at june (maybe one pound less).... however my body fat is being recorded consitently about 1 to 2% lower then that of june.

i need to take another side bicep shot...get a most recent one... and then compare.

thnx for the comment and observation. i agree though. i just have a hard time seeing my difference (cause there is a difference as minor as it might be) from me now then me in june.

i need to buy new clothes now. lol


i'll be purchasing some adult size small t-shirts for a tight fit and some tight jeans... the kind of clothes i always wanted to fit into.

:tu:

been awhile since i posted a mid abdomen size.

aug. 20
32.75-33 inch

august 21 was a cheat day long overdue (diet wise).

I hadn't had "bad food" in a long long time. I think its been 4 months since i had a whataburger... not sure.... but it was awhile back. Ever since then my only bad nutrional intake was the occasional alcohol (not much by the way) and thats it.... though everything was planned in my diet. I do 3 consecutive high protein/low carb days then on the 4th day Im doing a refeed day higher in carbs. On my high protein days I get around 2200 cals and on my high carb days I get around 2800-2900. My maintenance level for a day is about 2800.
Today was a refeed day and I just had to get in some "bad" food becuase it was about time. I think my body was getting too used to all the good food i was giving it... and ive been really religious about it... or dedicated.. no straying one bit.
So what did I eat? I went out and bought a Digiorno's Pepperoni Pizza from Walmart and ate the whole damn thing. One half in one sitting and the other half about 3 hours later. It jumped my cal intake for the day to around 2900-3100. My body is definitly not used to it... im waiting for it to kick my ass in second...any time now. I hadn't had Pizza in about 8 months so my body is not used to this. It should be good for it though... my metabolism will jump now... ready for the rest of the week where I will be as dedicated as usual and the fat should slip off easier. I should expect good progress from this.. not only functionaly but psychologically.

Good pizza day! Its probably going to be awhile before I have another one. I might choose some Popeyes chicken for my next cheat meal.

2 days after and im still thinking about that pizza. lol

:lol:

started two a days again.

Wow! Your change has been phenomenal. I also liked the description of your program. It seems you have done a great job tailoring a workout, clean living lifestyle for yourself.

You look really great!! (and extremely cute, too... ;) )

Wow! Your change has been phenomenal. I also liked the description of your program. It seems you have done a great job tailoring a workout, clean living lifestyle for yourself.

You look really great!! (and extremely cute, too... ;) )
:o

thank you Ma'am. really appreciate those comments.

:tu:

after 45-50 minute fasted cardio (LISS):

wieght: 175.5 (as expected)

body fat: 11.1% (not expected)


the lowest ive EVER seeen was 13 one week ago... after fasted cardio.


though the percentage may not be accurate... my lowest calculation is getting lower and my highest calculation is getting lower as well. its a relative comparison but all indications show that im dropping fat ... even if its slow.

today was my second day of my new routine
august 25, 05

doing fasted (liss) cardio 6-7 days a week now... keeping with HIIT 2 days a week on the evening and lfiting 3-4 days a week in the evening. HITT on days im not lifting.... and fasted cardio at least 8 hours apart from my lifts.

cals... 2100-2200 on high protein days
on high carb days.... 2300-2400

dropped cals 100-200 on high protein days
and 400-500 on high carb days.... compared to previous 6 week routine.

the previous routine basically served me a metabolism booster and gave me mass... with only a slight drop in fat.
i only did LISS one day out of the week and HIIT 2 days out of the week... keeping lifts 3 days out of week.... all on seperate days... nothing overlapping.

now its different.

lets see what happens.

my meal timming has become more acute.

Man, I just checked out your pics... I didn't realize how far you had come since February... you're making me look like a slacker (although we've got different goals and programs)... big ups to you, my friend.

Man, I just checked out your pics... I didn't realize how far you had come since February... you're making me look like a slacker (although we've got different goals and programs)... big ups to you, my friend.


thnx dude. i started before you man. You've made a great improvement since you started as well. I wouldn't knock your progress one bit. We just have different bodies and come from different areas in life... so its hard to compare. You've done great with what you got man.... i hope I can say the same for myself.

august 26
regular time body fat measurement...

12.2%


after fasted morning cardio...

11.2%

time to change my sig and update my pics.



:eek:

4th day on fasted LISS cardio. I took a different route today. I usually always take the same route... towards the naval base here in kingsville and back home... more private this way.. helps me concentrate on the music and my cardio and my breathing. With this route I dont have to deal with traffic or other folks. Im a very reserved person so I dont really like to workout in public. But today I went into the town.. jogged with my shirt off. It was in the afternoon... texas sun/heat bathing me. I made sure and put extra sunscreen... 50spf. I notice that my heart rate is more elevated when im around to be seen by the public. Goes back to me being naturally shy. Well... it felt good none the less.... to go a different route... see different things. Was fun. I had to slow down a little at times... to a walk... because the heat and sun were so potent and the public eyes were out that my heart rate was jumping/climbing.
I managed to keep it between 140-155.... fighting to keep it from being in 160-170 at times.

Well i took new pics. Ill post them soon.
I'm at 174-177LBS @11-12% body fat.

newer pics aug 25/05

174-177LBS @ 11%-12% BF

dude... its happening.

:d_eek:

imma turn this sh*t up. about to start my first two day cardio. im READY! ITS ON!

did LISS after i woke up... and 9 hours since then im doing HIIT.

twelve percent, one seven seven, five eight, boxed orthodox, all raw holla at me!

i kicked it in the ass. didnt phase me one bit. sure shins are throbbing slightly but thats it. i wasnt even exhausted. might have to turn it up a notch next round. my hearbeat was between 175-204 on the up and 149-159 on the down.

aug 29

ab/gut measurement: a little over 32.

MAN!!!!

Through all of your ups and downs and the Billions upon Billions of questions you have asked one thing clearly stands out!!!

YOU HAVE ROCKED A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION!!!!!!!

The pic with your traps kicked out: HOLY SH*T!!!!!!!

Man, I cannot say enough, how much admiration I have for your hard work, dedication and perserverance!!!


Great Job!!!

-Steve

very nice lats too!
btw - what nationality are you?

ps... we have the same bodytype, so i know how hard it is to lose that fat. be thankful that you'll be able to put on muscle very quickly.

MAN!!!!

Through all of your ups and downs and the Billions upon Billions of questions you have asked one thing clearly stands out!!!

YOU HAVE ROCKED A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION!!!!!!!

The pic with your traps kicked out: HOLY SH*T!!!!!!!

Man, I cannot say enough, how much admiration I have for your hard work, dedication and perserverance!!!


Great Job!!!

-Steve

ah thanx man. i may not be doing things right or not that understanding/versed or as expierenced as the other posters on here but i guarentee you that i do have a lot of determination at this. that i do have if nothing else.

very nice lats too!
btw - what nationality are you?

ps... we have the same bodytype, so i know how hard it is to lose that fat. be thankful that you'll be able to put on muscle very quickly.

yeah i hear ya... watch out when i start bulking ... right? lol
i cant wait.

im of hispanic decent. though i dont consider myself hispanic... census does. i consider myself a hybrid, a mestizo. a mixture of 25 % mexican indian (aztec), 25 % spanish and 50 % american urban. lol

something like that.

aug 30

started stacking again.

this time im adding the anarchy stack.


so its

EC(A) +

{{{ ANARCHY STACK }}}}
- ALCAR
- CLA
- ALA
- Green Tea

holy CARP man... can i feel that stack.

you know how like your body feels hot when after a good HIIT session or jogging under the sun... well thats how my body feels well after my Liss workout.... like 10 hrs after. Today I just had LISS on my schedule ... the evening was no wieght training... its an inbetween day as far as lifting goes. On top of my body feeling warmer or hotter then usual i feel a tinkling sensation throughout. Im not joking. Its not scary or anything to worry about... its kinda theraputic. My heartbeat is fine... no problem. I dont have high blood presure or anything like that so im in good shape. Ive done ECA before but never an anarchy stack like this. Its been 2 months since ive hit an EC stack... so thats probably why.


also... i wieghed myself after my LISS session and the scale read 173. Thats the lowest ive ever seen.

before LISS
wieght: 175.5
body fat: 12.3%

after LISS
wieght: 173
body fat: 11.2%


scary LISS session today. I usually do LISS fasted under the hot texas sun in the heat etc. on asphalt (road)... no shade. I noticed my hear rate climbing... so i stopped to walk... it still kept climbing... so i slowed down even more and concentrated on breathing better... still kept climbing. I became more frightened so that im sure effected my heart rate also. It soon stalled at 177-178 and then started going back down slowly. I could see some tree shade to my side so i knew if it didnt go any lower or kept climbing i would go get that shade. This is a very private area... hardly any public around.... so if i was in trouble... i was in trouble... no help.

Luckily all this happed 31 minutes into the session so i was in fat burning mode already when i just walked the rest of the way. my heart rate stayed around 125-134 the rest of the way just walking... so i was well in the good medium range for LISS for me.

I noticed that when a cloud blocked the sun my heart rate got lower.... im serious.

I will now have to think about not letting me get into this situation. I will either get an eliptical, do LISS earlier .... like in the morning when there is no afternoon sun/heat.... or whatever. I need to take precaution with this stuff. This is no screwing around matter.

I guess i'll look into an elliptical so i can use that as an alternative when its really sunny or hot out.


Thanks to God im okay.

I think you need to look at those stacks, bro... something in there is tweaking your heartrate.

it most definitly is. it raises it about 10 points. it raises my body heat level without a doubt. i knew this... before when i was on eca... earlier in the year i witnessed this. without the ec stack i had to struggle to get to 144-150 while doing liss... keeping it there... with the stack it was a piece of cake.

so this combined with the hot sun... yeah ... it could be a problem.

i just realized that ive been starting to do LISS more later on... so that put me at doing LISS around 2pm in the afternoon as opposed to 11 am.
i just started this about 4 days ago... because im not needed to go into work until way later in the day now... i work evenings.

so yep... the combo of all this is what did it. plus the fact that today the sun was out more... not much clouds... or wind. it was rather calm... as opposed to most days.

i can take the stack.. im very healthy... no high blood presure... but that doesnt mean i can abuse them.. i just need to be extra careful now.

the only thing in the stack that does this as i understand is ephedrine.
that combined with the caffiene. the other stuff doesnt do this.
thats why its so effective.. because it raises your body temp/hear rate to above average for you levels. that thru out the day aids in fat loss. my body is simply burning/metabolism raised to that of average levels for an echto... im a meso-endo.

so its a good thing.... i just need to be more responsible.. thats all. which is why im looking into an elliptical or doing LISS way earlier in the morning. there is no other way. my life is not something to be played with... you best believe me about that. im a healthy guy and im going to keep it like that.

on another note... i OWNED my first major plateau and never gave up! im the man. HOLLA!


:tucool:

carb load day/cheat day coming up manana!! i cant wait. im becoming beligerent and ill because of low carbs. i will get me a cheat meal infact. im gonna make it 6 pieces of popeyes or kfc fried chicken and smother it in high fructose catsup and lime juice baby... THATS HOW WE DO IT IN THE DIRTY SOUTH!!!

hadnt had friend chicken like this since about 9 months ago. hell yeah! rest of the day... im eating clean as ever but loading on carbs.


oh im soo set.


:tu:

I will now have to think about not letting me get into this situation. I will either get an eliptical, do LISS earlier .... like in the morning when there is no afternoon sun/heat.... or whatever. I need to take precaution with this stuff. This is no screwing around matter.

I guess i'll look into an elliptical so i can use that as an alternative when its really sunny or hot out. Thanks to God im okay.

Yeah, um, doing that stack AND working out in the extreme heat is REALLY a bad idea, IMHO.

You know the stack already raises your heartrate and body temp., son't push it by working out in a "sauna."

Be careful bro!!!!

Yeah, um, doing that stack AND working out in the extreme heat is REALLY a bad idea, IMHO.

You know the stack already raises your heartrate and body temp., son't push it by working out in a "sauna."

Be careful bro!!!!


yeh man. i already have tweaked my situation a little. im no longer taking ephedrine before this workout... and im working out earlier in the morning... cooler and less sun.

unless... does the rest of the stack create a problem ... i mean does it raise body temp to high?

ive been doing this already... and have had no problems... 3 days so far... no issue.

sept. 3

before fasted LISS
wieght: 174

after fasted LISS
wieght: 171


body fat 12.1%

what a cheat day/meal i had yesterday! wow!

this is what i had...

large chicken breast sandwich (two large pieces of processed white bread... thats the only cheat part about it really)... from a local seafood place... and the rest of the food was clean.


later on in the day i had 3 large cheese/chicken enchilladas. mmm good stuff.


then later on that night... last meal.... one bacon and cheese whataburger from whataburger.... and two chocolate chip cookies.
i fogot how sweet processed sugar was. damn man.

went to sleep feeling really full and really really fullfilled... i slept like a baby. awoke with a lot of energy. felt rejuvinated.

back on my diet now. im immediatly hitting my low carb... high protein/fat day today. hit a cup of egg whites, one whole jumbo egg and 1/2 cup of cottage cheese along with a TBS of natty pb.

my body is freaking the hell out im sure.

good stuff. preparing to do HIIT tonight (second day).... skipped my LISS cardio... because i felt i needed to give my legs a break (listening to my body). i should be ready to go for my HIIT session. yesterdays HIIT session was amazing man. i actually felt atheletic for once in my life. i just bought myself an armband/holder for my ipod and it felt good having that out of my way while i did my cardio. normally id have to hold it in my hand because it would swing around to much on my waist with the clip. so that was a hinderance off me when i did hiit.


everyone around is wondering when im going to stop loosing wieght.
how far im going to go. they tell me i dont have any fat left. i then hit them with the fact... that yes obviously i do or else i wouldnt be at 12% ... id be at 1% or 0% which will never happen... no bruce lee for me. im telling them... hey im not stopping cutting until my abs are pretty defined and as it stands right now... they arent... they are presenting themselves slightly... but thats it. probably around 8% will i really be able to see them.

then i just tell them.. im not into looking scrawny... dont worry about that... im just having to get lean first before i start doing what i really want which is growing muslce/bulking.

HIIT kicked my butt today. great workout.

also... im taking ephedrine (by way of primatine tablets) on my down times... when im just on my puter doing my work.... not before my workouts anymore. i can feel it while im pushing them pixels.


;)

yep... seems like its getting increasinly harder to drop the fat .. the more i go (the lower i get) so... after i finish this 6 week program i put myself on i will hop on SGX. im going to let Swolecat configure a program that will get me from where i am at to seeing defined abs.

ill do this around early october.

untill then... ill see what i can further do. most of my fat is in the lower gut section... lower back. i have a lot of loose skin too.

i just cant afford winging it anymore... waiting... trying to test out what works best for me especially the lower i get in body fat. its gets more advanced the lower i get and everything is in the details if you know what i mean. i have a good general understanding of what works and what doesnt work for me.. but to see abs... shit man... thats really advanced and only a trained pro can help me out there. it will take yrs i imagine for me to be able to figure out how to define my abs.

so make some room Swolecat... im coming in!

i hope there is still room. lol

just sent swolecat the flow so i can rock n roll.


i should be able to start SGX either this weekend or on Mon... not sure... whenever he gets it and sends me the program or something. im ready now.

anyways... ive been just maintaining as of recent. for about a week and a half my right knee was out of commision... so i was only able to do upper body work. i messed it up doing HIIT on asphalt...never again man... i usually do it on the track.... first time i didnt is when i messed it up. just when it was good to go all healed and stuff the hurricane (RITA) comes knocking up the gulf coast... so i switched to evacuation and survival mode... put a damper on my workout for a week. so thats 2 weeks. now that i know i will be on SGX... im taking it easy before i start up again... this time with something a lot more suited for me... so no stressing right now. i cant wait for it to start up.

im soon to be a swoledier!

Alright im starting SGX on monday... tomorrow ... October 3/05.

Im using today to plan my attack... getting the foods and patterns in check... and asking questions.... while im doing that... im eating what i want!! LOL
its my last day to eat without any concern... well... limited concern... im not going to eat 3 large pizzas or anything... all though that doesnt sound like a bad idea.

So... October 3, 2005 Krosspyd3r becomes a Swoledier. Awsome.

started today!

so far... man.... i was missing out on some much needed specilized info that only Swole can give. its going to be a fun ride. :tucool:


all i needed was the right info for the most effecient fat burning and muscle gaining on a cutting diet.... because.... i have NO ISSUE with my will.... it was the knowledge part that i was stuck at. now thats taken care of i should have no problem reaching 8% in no time man... rock!

started today!

so far... man.... i was missing out on some much needed specilized info that only Swole can give. its going to be a fun ride. :tucool:


all i needed was the right info for the most effecient fat burning and muscle gaining on a cutting diet.... because.... i have NO ISSUE with my will.... it was the knowledge part that i was stuck at. now thats taken care of i should have no problem reaching 8% in no time man... rock!


:tu: I just looked at your pictures and I am so pleased for you! Great work! :claplow:

thank you Carole. :tu:


Todays my 6th day on SGX and its also my cheat meal day.
How am I feeling? Phyiscally Im feeling sore in my legs... which replaced the soreness in my back i had the previous days because of the training. Im so stolked that im sore for the first time in a long time.. that means my body is not used to whatever Swoles got me on and that its working.

Im also seeing 171-173 on the wieght scale and not seeing any higher then 173. Just saw 10% on the omoron body fat scale and not seeing any higher then 12.6%. So its safe to say that im between those readings at least as far as the omoron body fat scale goes at this time.... the calipers... never used them... probably would record me as a little higher.

New pics coming up soon.

Well besides physically... how am i feeling?

Im feeling pretty lonely... thank God working out is helping curb any depression. As some of you know.. im a painter and they say that the life of a painter/artist can be a lonely life... and i dont like that stereotype. I miss having a girl to share/enjoy life with... i only had this for about 2 yrs max... but it was fun and enjoyable. Im just too picky... too quiet.... to odd for my area (not accessible to mainstream) and not sociable enough to go up to anyone and talk to them... to curb this issue. I wish i could just ease off and go up to chicks man... but its not me... i feel stupid and silly doing stuff like this because i suck at starting conversations. All the woman that I have had the oppurtunity to date in my life (not much) they've come up to me first.

Well... thats that. Just thought id point out whats going on in my head at the moment... which may or may not relate to my fitness. I know if i wasnt focusing on getting lean... that I probably would be pretty depressed by now. So I guess it does relate.

Im a very passionate person... and at the moment... im just not feeling passion for a lot of things... but im keeping up with getting lean... because im determined for whatever reason... and keeping up with painting... artwork... because thats my four tay. All I need is someone or something to inspire me again... and I know it will happen...because it always does... i see something in a mag... cool artwork... or i talk to some cool chick... and BAAM! out comes some cool artwork from me that i am happy with and out comes some fire in my lifts and cardio.

Speaking of cardio.... im out! I need to get steppin!


I'll be jamming to the new sevendust- next album... while doing my cardio today and hopefully that coupled with the flat farm lands of south texas as my scenery will spark some inspiration.. i doubt it but you know... anything can happen.

I met my wife just about the time I was going to leave! I was like, dude, I have suffered enough (from loneliness) I'm outa here! Then I noticed this short little chick where I was working. She had just started and she had been staring at me and all of that. She had a light around her and I'm like, holy shit! Anyway, this isn't about me. My point is, when I had finally given up trying to find my mate, she showed up. I'm not a very religious person, but I am very spiritual and I can tell you this...God is a last-minute motherfucker! Just hang on and they will come along...

I met my wife just about the time I was going to leave! I was like, dude, I have suffered enough (from loneliness) I'm outa here! Then I noticed this short little chick where I was working. She had just started and she had been staring at me and all of that. She had a light around her and I'm like, holy shit! Anyway, this isn't about me. My point is, when I had finally given up trying to find my mate, she showed up. I'm not a very religious person, but I am very spiritual and I can tell you this...God is a last-minute motherfucker! Just hang on and they will come along...

I hear ya man. They say that ... right... you'll find soemone when you're not looking. I wouldnt say im looking... but im concerned... im almost 30. I dont go out to look for chicks.. i just do my thing. I believe strongly in God myself and I guess God says its not my time yet. I am also not religious... but my foundation is in Christ... and everything after that can be grey or clouded.... but im firm in this one truth for myself.
Anways... i think to myself...wiegh the options...
i either have a chick or i dont
that either or has its positives and negatives.
its about taking the good from the bad.
and sometimes it can be about which negatives you want to deal with.
i think ive come to the conclusion that id rather deal with the negatives of having a woman because the positives of that would far out way the positives of being single... thus also the negatives would weigh less then the negatives for being single. thats the way i rationalize this.
dont get me wrong man... im making lemonaid out of being single fo sure. got all this flow for myself... and not having to answer to anyone... i have no kids either... so im very independent... dont have to think or support anyone else... and thats a positive in my world.

the last great chick i met.. i wasnt looking for her. i didnt want her at first. then after a while... BAAM! something hit me. crazy. i think thats the way its going to happen again. God is a wierd cat man. I dunno about him sometimes! LOL

thnx for your post by the way.


:tu:

I hear ya man. They say that ... right... you'll find soemone when you're not looking. I wouldnt say im looking... but im concerned... im almost 30. I dont go out to look for chicks.. i just do my thing. I believe strongly in God myself and I guess God says its not my time yet. I am also not religious... but my foundation is in Christ... and everything after that can be grey or clouded.... but im firm in this one truth for myself.
Anways... i think to myself...wiegh the options...
i either have a chick or i dont
that either or has its positives and negatives.
its about taking the good from the bad.
and sometimes it can be about which negatives you want to deal with.
i think ive come to the conclusion that id rather deal with the negatives of having a woman because the positives of that would far out way the positives of being single... thus also the negatives would weigh less then the negatives for being single. thats the way i rationalize this.
dont get me wrong man... im making lemonaid out of being single fo sure. got all this flow for myself... and not having to answer to anyone... i have no kids either... so im very independent... dont have to think or support anyone else... and thats a positive in my world.

the last great chick i met.. i wasnt looking for her. i didnt want her at first. then after a while... BAAM! something hit me. crazy. i think thats the way its going to happen again. God is a wierd cat man. I dunno about him sometimes! LOL

thnx for your post by the way.


:tu:


hey, clear out your pm's so you can recieve a reply :p

I hear ya man. They say that ... right... you'll find soemone when you're not looking. I wouldnt say im looking... but im concerned... im almost 30. I dont go out to look for chicks.. i just do my thing. I believe strongly in God myself and I guess God says its not my time yet. I am also not religious... but my foundation is in Christ... and everything after that can be grey or clouded.... but im firm in this one truth for myself.
Anways... i think to myself...wiegh the options...
i either have a chick or i dont
that either or has its positives and negatives.
its about taking the good from the bad.
and sometimes it can be about which negatives you want to deal with.
i think ive come to the conclusion that id rather deal with the negatives of having a woman because the positives of that would far out way the positives of being single... thus also the negatives would weigh less then the negatives for being single. thats the way i rationalize this.
dont get me wrong man... im making lemonaid out of being single fo sure. got all this flow for myself... and not having to answer to anyone... i have no kids either... so im very independent... dont have to think or support anyone else... and thats a positive in my world.

the last great chick i met.. i wasnt looking for her. i didnt want her at first. then after a while... BAAM! something hit me. crazy. i think thats the way its going to happen again. God is a wierd cat man. I dunno about him sometimes! LOL

thnx for your post by the way.


:tu:
Shit...don't sweat it man! I'm 42. I got my ass leaned up about 2 yrs ago after I left a money hungry ^&$#! I didn't have any fazoles then and I surely do not now! Anyway, got in shape...got my music together, started a band...and viola!

The chicks started coming around....was even pimping a couple in their early twentys :cool: (one was a kindergarten teacher from hell)

As they say, "pimpin' aint' easy" :tu:

Shit...don't sweat it man! I'm 42. I got my ass leaned up about 2 yrs ago after I left a money hungry ^&$#! I didn't have any fazoles then and I surely do not now! Anyway, got in shape...got my music together, started a band...and viola!

The chicks started coming around....was even pimping a couple in their early twentys :cool: (one was a kindergarten teacher from hell)

As they say, "pimpin' aint' easy" :tu:
:lol:

WERD!

pimpin a kindergarden teacher!! LMAO.

thats got to like go against some kind of grand universal human code.
i dont thing shaft was that cool.


:tucool:

Yeah, but it all came to a screaching halt when I got married last year :lol:

Yeah, but it all came to a screaching halt when I got married last year :lol:

oh... im so sorry then. :lol:

clear out some space Kross... :p

BOX CLEARED! nice tar mauldin!



well.... dang man.. its my birthday today and... i can see a difference in my appreance... feell it too ... because of SGX. im freaking out over here. I see hints of what may be abs. holy smokes man!

my gut is getting tighter and tighter and face is slimming up. will post pics in soon.

i cant believe this.

Swole is the man.

Happy Birthday K-Man ! :tucool:

G

thanks jabba man!

man... for my b day... i had so much oppurtunities to drink... folks wanted to buy me drinks all night. i obstained.

i told everyone i wasnt drinking... that i would still have fun without alcohol... but some cats still insisted on giving me some drinks. first person bought me a crown with coke.... i was like... all hell nah... but i said thnx... made sure that person felt appreciated for the gesture.

i carried it... made my way conspiciously to the rest room.. poured some of that out... anyways you get the picture. i felt bad about this very bad. this person... bought me a drink and i did this because i dont want to derail my SGX progress.

all night was like this... people just not getting the point that i dont want to drink because im trying hard to get lean... but still insisting on giving me drinks... hard and tough night for me.

friends purchased cases of micholob ultras... they of course were drinking from it ... or intended that.... handed me drinks... thank God they were already gone enough to not concern themselves on whether i was drinking or not... because i would end up just putting the beer back.. back in the fridge each and every time.

i know... i could of had just one or two and i would still be okay... but man... its a mental thing for me. .. its very psychological.... i knew if for some reason during the week... i wasnt seeing any progress or if i saw some failure in some parts i would thing to myself that it was because of those two or so drinks of alcohol. if i still had this progress issue without drinking... i would know it wasnt because of drinking.. so that could be ruled out and make it easier for me to diagnose my lack of progress... you hear me? crazy i know.. but this is how i rationalize it all. im just not the same anymore... am i becoming too obsessed? i dont know. i just want this bad enough that i guess ill go crazy getting there... but ill get there.

so on one of the toughest nights of my life to stay clean and stay focused... i won.... and i still feel bad.... but i know that when i hit that cardio in the a.m. and continue on my SGX(ing) that i will smile again.

thanks jabba man!

man... for my b day... i had so much oppurtunities to drink... folks wanted to buy me drinks all night. i obstained.

i told everyone i wasnt drinking... that i would still have fun without alcohol... but some cats still insisted on giving me some drinks. first person bought me a crown with coke.... i was like... all hell nah... but i said thnx... made sure that person felt appreciated for the gesture.

i carried it... made my way conspiciously to the rest room.. poured some of that out... anyways you get the picture. i felt bad about this very bad. this person... bought me a drink and i did this because i dont want to derail my SGX progress.

all night was like this... people just not getting the point that i dont want to drink because im trying hard to get lean... but still insisting on giving me drinks... hard and tough night for me.

friends purchased cases of micholob ultras... they of course were drinking from it ... or intended that.... handed me drinks... thank God they were already gone enough to not concern themselves on whether i was drinking or not... because i would end up just putting the beer back.. back in the fridge each and every time.

i know... i could of had just one or two and i would still be okay... but man... its a mental thing for me. .. its very psychological.... i knew if for some reason during the week... i wasnt seeing any progress or if i saw some failure in some parts i would thing to myself that it was because of those two or so drinks of alcohol. if i still had this progress issue without drinking... i would know it wasnt because of drinking.. so that could be ruled out and make it easier for me to diagnose my lack of progress... you hear me? crazy i know.. but this is how i rationalize it all. im just not the same anymore... am i becoming too obsessed? i dont know. i just want this bad enough that i guess ill go crazy getting there... but ill get there.

so on one of the toughest nights of my life to stay clean and stay focused... i won.... and i still feel bad.... but i know that when i hit that cardio in the a.m. and continue on my SGX(ing) that i will smile again.


Happy B-Day, brutha!

You got da discipline down, good things are gonna happen, watch.

:tu:

thanks Tim!


my friend recently told me... one of the many philosophical discussions we have... that people are either in two states.... agony or something that relates to apathy... cant remember the exact name of it... ill have to ask my freind to get that exact term. that basically we are all trying to strive for happiness... to be happy or satisfied.. on one wanst to be sad and in pain. so either we live our lives striving for that and live in agony.. because we are never truely happy.... or that we just dont care... and give up on everything.. just not try and progress in really anything much. if we are striving for something and get it... we get there in agony... and then when we are there... we try to strive for something else... and continue the agony aspect.

sure you can be "happy".. but not truely happy... thats what my friend was saying i think. this guy is a like the resident philosopher in my area... and he is a very objective cat as i am... so he was just reciting to me what he learned from reading a certain philosopher.

this kind of made me think... made me think about the law of dimininshing returns and humans always wanting something more no matter what position one is at at life.

well... how does this relate to my current fitness... well initially i set out to just be slim.. to fit into tight shirts ... i didnt really care about showing abs... now im here without a doubt... the wearing tight shirts stage... now i think to myself that im not going to be happy untill i see abs... so now im going for abs as my main goal at the moment... i guess cause i think it will make me happy or something. the state i was in diminshed in its return... so now im moving to something that i believe will give me more of a return... i want more. like a fien. well what will happen when i get there? am i going to want more agaiN? whats more? well.. i think more will be ... mor muscle... bulking... that when i get to see abs that i think to myself that i wont be happy untill im at 210 at 10% or 8% body fat or something.

i dont know about all this man... its crazy.... really... but i love to think about it because its fun.

whatever the case... im still moving.... thats all i can do... thats all i know. to stop and move backwards or to maintian would be totally against my nature... my personality at this moment. i dont move back... or i dont like to stagnate... i like to progress in every area in my life becuase that to me is what i think will make me happy or makes me happy... and not doing this will make me sad... or in pain.

the above term i was looking for is called "boredom"... apathy is another way of terming it also. the philosopher is Kergigard.

okay...
had a good cheat meal last night.. without alcohol this time.

i had a double meat whataburger with cheese and fries. southern cats know how good them whataburgers can be.

also bought a C DEUCE coke with that and a king size milky way and a blow pop. lol

i rocked that shit. was fun.

actually felt full which was a little wierd. i was so being romantic about that food hitting my mouth and going down... my friends were trippin out on me.
_______

i was talking a little more about this kierkegaard philosophy with my friend... so i got a little better understanding of it.

everyone has a will to live. and its that will that pushes us. when our will is dead... we are bored... we give up. if we have will to press on... we are basically in agony no matter what.

this whole philosophy i understand it as a premise to buddhism and its goal of enlightment... of eternal peace.. without the agony state. im no buddahist and i dont even subscribe to most of thier beliefs but i find it interesting. im a definite judeo christian ideological entity... but i respect any belief systems that seems interesting and may help others be happy... im very objective.

i believe there is room for this kierkegaard philosophy and judeo christianity to coexist past this agony state. heaven.. in judeo chrsitanity is basically peace... no agony state.. above agony state.


anyways.. this is not to be a religious, theological or philosophical thread.... i understand this... but it is whats underpining my fitness. and if life is fitness as well as art (for me) then philosphy and theology and spirtuality all go hand in hand with fitness and art. one is not mutually exclusive... they all exist for me and feed each other... which is why im talking about other stuff that seems to have nothing to do with my fitness. but as you can see it very much so does have something to do with my fitness... and in fact has more to do with my fitness then anything.

im now in the understanding and accepting mode of this kierkegaard philosophy as it relates to my fitness. i welcome anyone to try and rebute or find some type of objection to my current understanding of this as it relates to fitness.

i will continue on with this agony state to try and reach "ab" status and well on again with it to try and reach muscle mass with low body fat.... see where that takes me.

ill find some other goal to try and obtain to continue on with the agony state. boredom is a position i dont want to live in as it leads to instant death and evil as i understand it.

we or I may never be really satisfied here on earth... but the least i can do for my health and the health of this planet in my own little world is stay away from the boredom state... and i think art and fitness will keep me as far away from that state as possible.

so far its been 18 days that ive been on SGX and 18 straight days of 45 minute fasted cardio. i havent taken ONE day off.


:woot:

okay today... oct. 20..

after a non training day...

before cardio:
173LBS

after fasted cardio
170.5LBS

body fat: 10%



thats the lowest in wieght and body fat i have ever seen

i know thats not my TRUE wieght and body fat but im looking at trends here.

ive never been that low at that time... so that tells me im droppin.... cutting. good stuff. not only does it look like it in the mirror but also with the scales.

another 3-4% in body fat and i should be THERE !

im having my cheat meal tonight. im going to go to TGI fridays and eat whatever i want on the menu. I used to love going there and eating thier onion soup before i tried getting lean. I will definitly have that along with something a cardiac doctor would disapprove of. No salad for me! Soup yes.. but no salad!



Ive been putting in the work 7 days a week and 41 out of 42 meals out of the week have all been about getting lean with one being my cheat meal.

I deserve it.

I'll also head to the local barnes and nobles and grab a book and some cappuchino and have fun there.
all this by myself. why? no one in my area cares to hang out with someone so dedicated to art and fitness like I am. so ta hell with um.

awsome cheat meal night.

went to tgi fridays and had...

appetizer chips and dip... double dip

double decker quesidella
fruit cocktail medley
coke drink... non diet
and a oreo moon madness.

lol


man i am full. i cant eat like i used to thats for sure.

no alcohol.... so thats good... i guess.

went to barnes and nobles and looked at some art magazines and an art book by alex grey called "the mission of art"... im going to look this up on amazon.com... should be cheaper there. barnes charges and arm and a leg sometimes. was a very good book... from the little chapters i read.

overall a very good night. i had fun.... i deserved it.

the life of a painter is a lonely life. i better get used to outings by myself.

alright. ive officially had the WORST stomach pain in my life. its unbearable. the food owned me. i had to go the store and by some pepto and rolaids. i got owned!


:d_redface

i missed my first SGX cardio. i have been going at it for 22 days straight... no missed cardio.

man i needed a break. i was feeling it. i feel bad.. but dang man... sometimes we need breaks i guess. Hopefully SC doesnt berate me too bad!!! :D

nah .. his cool... just gave me a slap on the wrist and told me not to do this too much.... cause it sets me back.


well... im dealing right now with the issue of loose skin and whether or not that will effect my abs being really evident.

its kind of disheartening to think that my abs might not show all the way thru because of a lot of loose skin... but SC told me to keep plugging away no matter what and see how much is loose skin or not.

Im not saying i have this problem im just saying i might.... and the thought of that hurts. If thats the case... oh well... i guess there always is the treasure of building bigger muscles... and that i CAN do and something i have no control over will not prevent that from happening.

one time i woke up early to do my cardio, and decided to go back to sleep.
i then had a dream of Swole's newest avator sending a purple popup message saying my face was getting chubby and i need to do my cardio.

(true story too!)

havnt missed a cardio session since. :nod:

one time i woke up early to do my cardio, and decided to go back to sleep.
i then had a dream of Swole's newest avator sending a purple popup message saying my face was getting chubby and i need to do my cardio.

(true story too!)

havnt missed a cardio session since. :nod:


:lol:

oct. 29-05

just saw 169LBS on scale after morning cardio. before cardio wieght was 170LBS

contemplating quiting fitness all together. its boring now.



SIKE.


people still say that? you know "sike". LOL... i doubt it. but i just did.



okay...



still rockin on SGX.


sent Swole my 4th week SGX pic.... and told me that i was lookin good and that I should still keep hammerin away.

well... thats not hard. that will be done.

im not sure how long it will take for me to achieve ab definition man... but im in this to win this. screw the haters. ta hell with temptation and im still ready to fight.

contemplating quiting fitness all together. its boring now.



SIKE.

:lol: :lol: :lol: I'm a sucker you actually got me, dam being gullible :p
For a brief second i was like damn your are one big F'n moron because you have had such phenomenal resullts...lol good to see your going to keep the results coming mate!! :tucool:

:lol: :lol: :lol: I'm a sucker you actually got me, dam being gullible :p
For a brief second i was like damn your are one big F'n moron because you have had such phenomenal resullts...lol good to see your going to keep the results coming mate!! :tucool:

:D
lol

i didnt plan on trickin anyone like that. i guess.. trick or treat... right?!

so...

you say "going going mate" i say "odelay thanks chica". :tu:


from one regional/geographical dialect to another!

props to the folks down under for being soo damn cool to america. :bow:

contemplating quiting fitness all together. its boring now.



SIKE.


people still say that? you know "sike". LOL... i doubt it. but i just did.



okay...



still rockin on SGX.


sent Swole my 4th week SGX pic.... and told me that i was lookin good and that I should still keep hammerin away.

well... thats not hard. that will be done.

im not sure how long it will take for me to achieve ab definition man... but im in this to win this. screw the haters. ta hell with temptation and im still ready to fight.

Fighting spirit Dude :claphigh:
I just rediscovered mine yesterday. I was like "fuck it. It has to stop somewhere." I mean Chenoa has cookies and chocolate in this house all of the time, or atleast she has in the past two weeks anyway...esp. since Halloween/Samhain. We are in this for the long haul right? It's a fight just as you said. IT'S A FIGHT! And as far as your abs, I remember seeing them in your last picture. Keep chillin' and fighting. If you need motivation or to vent, IM me dude...I somethmes need motivation but something tell me if I keep up the 7 days or cardio and eating clean, I'll break this damn platuea.

:tu:
Mick

Fighting spirit Dude :claphigh:
I just rediscovered mine yesterday. I was like "fuck it. It has to stop somewhere." I mean Chenoa has cookies and chocolate in this house all of the time, or atleast she has in the past two weeks anyway...esp. since Halloween/Samhain. We are in this for the long haul right? It's a fight just as you said. IT'S A FIGHT! And as far as your abs, I remember seeing them in your last picture. Keep chillin' and fighting. If you need motivation or to vent, IM me dude...I somethmes need motivation but something tell me if I keep up the 7 days or cardio and eating clean, I'll break this damn platuea.

:tu:
Mick


thnx dude. you still on your plateau?

i remember i was on man for about 3 months. 179LBS at 15%

thnx dude. you still on your plateau?

i remember i was on man for about 3 months. 179LBS at 15%

not sure. I have lost 2.5 lbs since Monday though.....:lol:

we'll im almost done with my first session of SGX. new photos will be up soon. i have had good results for sure. SGX is legit.

just coming out of turkey day and i had a blast. i was allowed to enjoy myself the entire day... so along with all the usual T-DAY food i had A LOT of homemade pecan pie. i love that stuff. my favorite type of pie.

i didnt gain a single pound.... everything state the same.... you know when i did my wiegh in again in the morning.

awsome.

that pie is still calling my name. thank God i have enough strength to fight against it. it was good while it lasted.

Hi,
Pablo here, 29 male, 5’7” 170lb 20% body fat. I am looking at bulking up soon and was wondering if I should loose all my fat first or start bulking and gradually loose the fat? My goal is to gain muscle mass but have major problems with my mid section. I am thinking of going down to about 10% body fat before I bulk. What is best?
Thanks!!!

Hi,
Pablo here, 29 male, 5’7” 170lb 20% body fat. I am looking at bulking up soon and was wondering if I should loose all my fat first or start bulking and gradually loose the fat? My goal is to gain muscle mass but have major problems with my mid section. I am thinking of going down to about 10% body fat before I bulk. What is best?
Thanks!!!


what up man! normally folks "cut" in your position... then "bulk".

i would cut first if i were you... but its really up to you... what your preference is. i think its a good idea to cut first considering your body fat level.


ask around....on the bulk or cut areas of this site.... very helpful folks around here. good luck!

just bought new jeans. my current jean size is 30. dang.

still thinking about that pecan pie. im going to have to have some sort of sweet pie as part of my next cheat meal.

aight. folks curious about me here... what the deal is etc.

im still at it. just got done with 10 day rest after 60 days of SGX (which came right after 11 months Body4Life/JSF cutting. now im hitting SGX again till Spring Break '06 and lets see what happens. Now im at the point to where lower back fat and lower ab fat are the last hold outs.... im working on showing my abs now.

I maintained for 10 days.... had about 4 cheat meals out of 56 clean meals and i didnt gain a single pound.

oh yeah... and im now iced out!
holla!

haha

oh yeah... and im now iced out!
holla!

haha

Iced out??? As in...ah....are those your teeth?

lol


you read any jean baudrillard or maybe guillermo gomez pena?

aight. folks curious about me here... what the deal is etc.

im still at it. just got done with 10 day rest after 60 days of SGX (which came right after 11 months Body4Life/JSF cutting. now im hitting SGX again till Spring Break '06 and lets see what happens. Now im at the point to where lower back fat and lower ab fat are the last hold outs.... im working on showing my abs now.

I maintained for 10 days.... had about 4 cheat meals out of 56 clean meals and i didnt gain a single pound.

oh yeah... and im now iced out!
holla!

haha


You go "Nelly" don't forget to drink your "Pimp Juice"... :D

Mmmm... That new "Grill" should make it easier to down all that lovely Pecan Pie on your cheat meals...


http://www.decorating-country-home.com/images/southern%20pecan%20pie.jpg

G

You go "Nelly" don't forget to drink your "Pimp Juice"... :D

Mmmm... That new "Grill" should make it easier to down all that lovely Pecan Pie on your cheat meals...


http://www.decorating-country-home.com/images/southern%20pecan%20pie.jpg

G

man! you know how we dew!!!!!


:tu:

Yo K.S.;

Thanks to you I went & bought a small bag of Pecans... A wee wit co$tly but a good alternative to a serving of Almonds once in a while... :nod:

and great when you can't squeeze in a slice into your Pie Hole... :drool:

Keep on movin' buddy,

G

awsome! hows it taste brotha?

thnx.


man.... people seeing me that havent seen me in a while... totally freaking out. feels good. im sure you all know how that feels.
chicks eyeing you that normally wouldnt eye you before for. crazy!


let me brush my shoulders off.
lol

*rollys eyes*

ahhhh goodies all around me this holiday season. pecan pie.. cookies... candy... you know THE WORKS!

i will NOT partake of it this season. HOLLA! im e'fn crazy man.

imma push through this holiday season without touchin crap. why? cause i can.. and i have more fun eating what i need to eat as oppose to eating what i dont. if i eat what i dont need... i will feel very upset afterwards. ta hell with that.

i wasnt born to go with the grain.
i was born to rebel.
i dont privilage the form.

i just realized that i take in over 1200mg of caffiene on an average day.

should i be scared?

aight... just got my program tweaked from Swolecat. Im back in.

Ive been running initial SGX program since early october with about a 10 day break early dec. Ive been hittin it since then. I will start with my new program SGX part duece (adjusted for my new body comp) for about 2 months.. see how this goes.

Im seeing amazing results thus far. Abs are breathing a little more. Everything seems to be tightening up nicely. Not at 8% quite yet.. but im damn close ... i can feel it.

thnx to Swolecat and his program.




respekt

aight... just got my program tweaked from Swolecat. Im back in.


Good to see you back in the program. I can't wait to see how you rip it up now!!

Sweet Avatar!!!!

Good to see you back in the program. I can't wait to see how you rip it up now!!

Sweet Avatar!!!!

thnx man.
chyeh! this is going to werk. keep same level of commitment/determination with new math. should be it. holla! :claplow:

Damn what a change. Your pics show everyone that hard work pays off BIG TIME. Keep posting those pics man, it's going to be ridiculous in 6 months from now.

Damn what a change. Your pics show everyone that hard work pays off BIG TIME. Keep posting those pics man, it's going to be ridiculous in 6 months from now.

thnx man.
it better be. time to tighten up!

so i just started my new training regime. SGX part deuce.... road to 8% or lower... and man!... feels good. im enjoying it.

its just soooo much easier to rock n roll with this fitness stuff when you know its not in vain or you are guessing... trying to find out what works and what doesnt.... trail n error etc. that is worth its weight in gold.

i can feel my stomach suckin up now. the sounds of material tightening is becomeing more pronounced. its on.

okay today is offically the day that i started seeing and feeling a difference in the tightness of my gut area. i knew things were going down before... but i wasnt sure. now i know for sure. its happening. only 3 days into SGX part deuce with the adjustments.

ive taken some recent pics... will put them up on media part... they show slightly more ab def then before.


im on my 4th month of doing this whole SGX bit and the magic keeps coming.

i cant tell you how pimp it is to have found someone like Swolecat.

its been said a thousand times before and i will say it again... simply "the man knows his shit".

a Jedi of the fitness/body building world.

Hey Bro -

You still taking in 1200 mg of caffeine a day? That's mad caffeine dude!

My doctor and nutritionist friend recommends that I have 200-300mg a day. (ie 2-3 cups of coffee max)

i just realized that i take in over 1200mg of caffiene on an average day.

should i be scared?

Hey Bro -

You still taking in 1200 mg of caffeine a day? That's mad caffeine dude!

My doctor and nutritionist friend recommends that I have 200-300mg a day. (ie 2-3 cups of coffee max)


u bet! mad crazy.

im maintaining now. waiting around. sup2 is around the corner. cant wait to start concentrating on just building muscle alone for the first time in my 28 years.

Damn man, nice work. What were you eating around 200 pounds? like cals proteins carbs etc? Do you remember? Keep up the good work.

thnx. what do you mean "eating around 200 pounds"??

im not sure of my cal intake... but i know my macro intake... which can be figured for cals... but i hate math! lol

well.... im three days away from spring break south padre island texas. friends and i rented a condo down there... during the big texas week.

im still maintianing... and enjoying it. ive loosened up a little and see nothing but good results. speaks highly for Swolecats program.

Ive also just recently been accepted into two graduated school programs to recieve my Masters of Fine Arts in painting and drawing. The schools... University of North Texas (UNT) and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). I am having a hard time deciding which to go with. Very hard decision.