Well, here it is. The thread of champions.

The thread is Bluestreak v Reno, and the fact that its a V and not Vs should tell you a whole lot. In English law a V means "and" rather then "versus", even though it still means two people going at it together. I think this is more of a thread for getting each other to where we each wanna be, rather then to battle against each other. Kinda like make sure we both finish the race, not trying to win the race. For this thread, there is no specific joint goal, other then simply to get to where we wanna be, as individuals, together. If that makes sense ?

I will leave Blustreak to open with his goals etc, and mine shall be posted tomorrow, which is officially my first day. I have high hopes, but its going to be tough, as i have a lot on right now, and a whole heap of personal family stuff to. But I am up for this, i will not falter, i will not fail. We shall succeed.

Welcome to the thread. :)

Good luck guys! This should be a good one. Blue, hopefully your shoulder won't be too much of a factor and you can find your way around any troubles it gives you. And Reno, you have to make sure that you hold Bluestreak to his update pics :whistle:(you know what I'm talking about BLuestreak!) Anyway, I'm cheering for you guys... I know you both have the heart to get to any goals you want, whatever they may be. :tucool:

Champions? :o No pressure. :lol: I wasn't going to post until later, but I need a 15-minute break or my eyes are going to pop out of my head.

As with Reno, it's going to be an interesting and bumpy ride. I'm busier than ever personally, academically and professionally. If it matters to you at all, you can peek in here (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=9399&goto=lastpost) and see what's been going on.

Target Date: 7/1/2005 (first day of summer vacation)

Personal Goal: Lowest body fat possible with 60 days left as of 5/2/2005.

The Workouts: For those who're familiar with my overly opinionated, extremely wordy diatribes, you know that early morning fasted state low-intensity steady-state (LISS) cardio will be utilized here. Cardio duration will vary between 40~60 minutes including an absolute minimum of three sessions per week. I may, as time permits, return to the gym in the evening on training days to perform some cardio in the evenings. It likely won't happen often with work and school looming over my head most nights.

Resistance training will be broken into three workouts per week (1-back/abs, 2-legs/chest/triceps, 3-shoulder/biceps). This will also be performed in a fasted state, first thing in the morning. I know this is contrary to what many believe, but historically, I can look back and easily say that my best physique was created when employing early morning, fasted state exercises.

Shoulder update: For those newbs or if you've been under a rock where my forum entries are concerned, I've battled a shoulder impingement since roughly Sept/Oct of 2004. Two weeks ago, during my final doctor's visit with regards to the situation, I was told to continue with the exercises learned during physical therapy... and basically, the doc said... don't come back unless it gets worse. Surgery is not considered an option at this time due to my young age and the perceived good health of the joint, as the x-rays and MRI's say I have a perfectly healthy shoulder. Any shoulder stabilized exercises are to be performed with extremely strict form, low weights and high reps. Any pain will be cause for immediate cessation of that particular exercise. There will be no more wussing out for shoulder-related reasons. Either that, or shoulder-limited days will be utilized for cardio while the joint is allowed to rest.

The Diet: I'm not tracking this quest to the gnat's ass. I do have a few staple diet plans that are tried-and-true, with a tweak here and there specifically designed to support this effort. The basics of my diet will be to restrict carbohydrates to an absolute minimum. Carbs will be centered around two basic times of day. First, they'll be utilized around my physical activities (of course, the classic protein/dextrose PWO shake). I will also have a small portions of carbohydrates with the last two meals of the day. Caloric intake is designed to be around 1,700 to 1,900 kcals per day. Macronutrient content for the day will hover around 50:35:15, p:c:f.

Notable supplements being employed are L-carnitine and creatine. ALCAR will be taken three times per day in 1-gm liquid doses. Creatine in 5-gm doses will be used; on training days, it will be taken with the PWO shake. On cardio-only days, pre-cardio with water and 200-mgs of alpha lipoic acid. I don't count things like glucosamine to be supps, as it's just good health maintenance to take certain other vitamins/supplements and they're a part of my everyday life, not something specific to this journey.

Other requirements/information: Pictures will be taken and posted once per week. If not, Slush_puppy, Escher or Reno all have the right to remind (read: harass) me after every one of my replies in the forums with the largest, most annoying font they can find until I do post my overdue pictures. I'm doing it weekly because of the shorter time frame. I think the morphology might be a little more interesting that way, as it has proved so in the past. I considered using body fat testing as well, but in all honesty, I'm worried about what the mirror, the camera lens, and the people reading these words have to say, not what some numbers off a caliper says.

This picture edit turned out kind of crappy. I should have worn something else as you can't see my legs and the inset of the flex pose is a bit small. I'll fiddle with standardizing a closer, more detailed set of shot for next week's pic posting.

Here goes nothin'...

-Roger

Bluestreak....only one question for you...why do you not lift your legs??

That is pretty much the most important lift day you can have

...why do you not lift your legs??

Oversight. Fixed.

Well, my goal is to get fit and to look fit. Simple in theory, but in practice, it gonna be tough. Im not a fan of cardio, running etc. Never have been. I doubt i could jog 2 miles without passing out. Thats not coz im overweight or terribly unhealthy. I just dont really train in that way i guess. So im gonna start doing more CV work and push myself in that department.

Weights wise, my goal is to improve my legs. Again, legs is something ive always neglected. I put that down to arrogance i suppose, legs aint the muscle you see in a tight t shirt, you know. So i wanna get some good leg work in and really hit them hard. Other body part will be trained once a week as part of a 4 day split. Legs, back bi's, chest tri's, shoulders traps. Abs thrown in with cardio. Im going to go with 8 reps, which will mean dropping the weight i lift down at first, but ive been doing MAX-OT style 4-6 reps for a while now, so time for a change. I also want to do a minimum of 2 early morning cardio sessions per week, and get one other CV session in where i can, be it AM or PM.

I have no specific BF goals as such, so long as my abs stay visible. No weight goals, though i want to gain weight. My basic idea is a slow bulk, to hit what i call a "bulking maintainance", ie, eating just enough to build muscle without gaining BF. Its do-able, especially for me, as i struggle to gain weight rather then lose weight. Ive never been 12 stone. (168lbs) I would like to get to that and have visible abs.

Diet wise, lots and often is my aim. No fasted state workouts, the emphisis is on having the energy to push it, as fat loss is not my ultimate goal. A typical day will look something like: (This was todays)

Protien shake mixed with 50g Oats
(Post cardio if applicable) 2 slices wholewheat toast, 2 eggs
150g Cottage cheese
1 chicken breast, salad, wholemeal pitta (or white potato), low fat mayo, cheese
50g Wholemeal pasta, 1 tin tuna, olive oil salad dressing
Pre workout - 50g maltodextrin and water (thoughout workout)
Post workout - 1 scoop whey, 50g Dextrose
Evening meal - Whatever, something balanced and healthy

In the past when bulking, i have always succummed to the notion of "its ok to eat this (insert junk here), im bulking." Not this time. This time its clean all the way. Also, am going to really go for nailing healthy weekends, getting in proper food and gym sessions. Will have cheat meal once a week.

Photos will be up as soon as i get my camera back of someone tonight. I do have some pics from recently, but i feel i have put on a bit more BF since then, so want to get an accurate picture.



Today marked day 1. It was a tough day today, for reasons i wont go into here, but i got to the gym and did my first leg session of what will be many. Took it "easy" as i want to be able to walk tomorrow, but with legs, DOMS is a forgone conclusion after a long break. Im going to use a different gym for legs then for everything else. Its an old "rocky" style gym with really old equiptment and stuff. The guy who owns it is a former powerlifting world champion and record holder. He is 70 odd now, but he still keeps his gym going, even though only about 10 people ever go there. The reason im going is that it has a squat and deadlift rack and a leg press machine, all of which my "modern" gym doesnt have (it does however, have lots of women in full makeup walking on the treadmill for 2 hours at 2mph reading a magazine.)

One question, does raising your deadlift bar up to shin height place more emphisis on the legs or the lower back ?

Diet wise for today, see above. Will be preparing my meals for tomorrow
later and will hopefully get up and go to the gym in the AM.

I feel positive abut this challenge, i really feel a new sense of focus that i havent had for a while now.

Looks good, fellows. We're watching. Good luck. You've got friends in your corner, rooting for you. :jumping:

... Took it "easy" as i want to be able to walk tomorrow, but with legs, DOMS is a forgone conclusion after a long break.

Hey, Reno, good you said that. I lifted my legs last Saturday for the first time since December and today I still find it difficult to walk. DOMS are soooooo intense it's almost scary. I never had such a soreness level ever in the past. But if you say that, then I'm less concerned, it should be a matter of time. Hope next Saturday I can lift again.

Also, best of lucks to you both. This should be a very interesting challenge since both of the participants are highly knowledgeable.

:tu:

(Note: it's the first time, Reno, I see somebody having simple carbs pre-workout. I don't know how usual is that, but I guess it has some science behind. I'm curious to see the result. Have you used maltodextrine prewo in the past?)

Hey, Reno, good you said that. I lifted my legs last Saturday for the first time since December and today I still find it difficult to walk. DOMS are soooooo intense it's almost scary. I never had such a soreness level ever in the past. But if you say that, then I'm less concerned, it should be a matter of time. Hope next Saturday I can lift again.

Also, best of lucks to you both. This should be a very interesting challenge since both of the participants are highly knowledgeable.

:tu:

(Note: it's the first time, Reno, I see somebody having simple carbs pre-workout. I don't know how usual is that, but I guess it has some science behind. I'm curious to see the result. Have you used maltodextrine prewo in the past?)

Doms after a long break from legs is par for the course. I dont think its necessarily worse just because its legs per se, i think its coz unlike chest or back, you have use your legs all day, so you feel it more, you know. Usually hurt for 3-4 days after a break, but then you get into it and DOMS are just normal again. No worries.

I have had Maltodex Pre WO before with noticable energy level gains compared with nothing. I see a few people have simple carbs pre workout, like a bannana. Remember, i have wholemeal pasta and tuna 1 1/2 hours before working out as well. I start drinking the water/malto mix about 15 mins before working out and then continue right through the workout. Best of both worlds. :) In an article i read on pre and PWO nutrition, it said to go with

complex carbs + Whole food Protien + fats 1 1/2 hours before
Simple carbs + whey protien 15-30 mins before
PWO - Simple carbs and whey protien
About 2 hours PWO (Complex carbs and whole food protien).

I dont have whey protien in the immediate pre workout meal any more, as it was too much whey in terms of money, liquid protien upsetting the stomach (if u know what i mean? ;) ) and frankly just health wise.

T-Minus 59-days, Reno v. Blue (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=149208&postcount=155)

I guess I'll continue to let my rants do the talking for the most part... but, for posterity's sake, since I'm not tracking via spreadsheet these days (do I really need one more thing to remember to do daily?)... I'll outline the diet.

Pre-workout (5am): L-Carnitine, glass of water
PWO Shake (meal 1, 7am): Immediately post workout, 50g:30g, p:c, creatine (5g)
Meal 2, 10am: Protein/fat
Meal 3, 1pm: Protein/fat, L-car.
Meal 4, 4pm: Protein/fat
Meal 5, 6:30~7pm, Carbs, protein (roughly 2:1, p:c), L-car.
Meal 6 (optional) Small portion, carbs, protein (roughly 2:1, p:c)

This'll add up to about 1,850 calories per day. We'll see how that does for the first couple of weeks and tweak from there. I'm also going to limit cheating. One or two meals per weekend, no booze, no empty calories no matter what (no sodas, junkfood, etc...).

We shall see where this takes me...

-R

Good luck guys, I'll be keeping tabs on yall. Reno your about on the same lifting program I am on it looks like, your split that is.

Reno, I also just read that having the simple carbs before/during your workout can mess with your insulin spike of your PWO shake after lifting. Swole cat had that to say on a different site.

But of course, the best thing is what works for you, and you say it does. I may try it sometime, to see what kind of energy it can do for me.

Good luck guys, well you should need luck, so; Do well guys!!

Reno, I also just read that having the simple carbs before/during your workout can mess with your insulin spike of your PWO shake after lifting. Swole cat had that to say on a different site.



Hmmm, never thought of that. I can see how perhaps if the PWO insulin spike was based on the shock of the sudden carb intake then taking simple carbs just before and during could effect that. But then by having more energy, i can push harder and lift more, so get more overload. Hmmmm, i will think about this for a while and decide. :confused:

Thanks for that, very helpful input ! :tu:

Hey Reno, FWIW, I do exactly the same thing. I mix up a half serving of N-Large 2, which is basically 25g whey protein and 40g maltodextrin, and I drink a little bit of that after each exercise. I've been doing that since the start of the year and I 've noticed a big difference in my energy while lifting.

Jeremy said the same thing as Swolecat, but when they said that, they were talking about having a full fast carb meal pre-workout, not taking it during your workout. I remember Jeremy saying that it would likely cause you to crash halfway through your workout. However, he actually recommended maltodextrin as a good during-workout drink. I'll try to dig up a like to that thread. Anyway, I agree, I've had good success with some malto during the workout followed up by dextrose post-workout.

-----------------------------------

EDIT : Ok, I found the link (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=12510) (from the last post by taffer). The quote is actually by John Berardi, not Jeremy as I said before. Here's the quote, as posted by taffer:
Maltodextrin is the absolute best carbohydrate to consume during exercise for rapidly delivering blood glucose and for muscle glycogen recovery. It's also best for fluid uptake.

T-Minus 58 days, Reno v. Blue... (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=149538&postcount=156)

With regards to Reno's pre/post workout eating habits... I'm of the opinion that it may not be the optimal route, but if it makes him feel better and workout harder, the end result will be that he'll benefit with his self-created methodology over what's "scientifically" optimal or otherwise endorsed by our resident fitness experts.

Lots of what I do is not optimal by letter of physiological and biological rules or accepted practices. But I do it because I feel better doing it that way, and because I feel better, I am more consistent. If there's one thing I learned, it's that my way is the best way for me, and while I'm open to suggestion, I'm not likely to change something that works for me and makes me feel better, despite it not exactly being the most efficient route.

Just somethin' to think about...

-R

All points taken and noted. For now, im gonna stick with my Maltodex during weights workouts. But im going to bear the idea of dropping it mind for future times. :)

Today was another good day fitness wise. I got to the gym twice, once this morning, and then again this evening. However, i am off work this week, so that does make things easier. The real challenge will be the "proper" early starts next week and so on. Its kinda good to have a week like this to get back into the swing of things, kinda like easing myself in gently. Although, todays workout was far from easing myself in. Chest and Tri's. Gotta love it. Hammered my triceps until i couldnt lift my own arms, never mind a weight. :D

Its amazing how endorphines work, coupled with eating clean. I feel so much better in myself already, after only two days. I got a pump on and my arms felt great and big and i felt good. Physically, its far to early to see any actual change, but in your mind, you feel 10000 times better, you know.

Diet was good again, spot on thus far, with only the evening meal to go. Im craving sugar, but thats usual for me when i go from junk to clean, it'll pass in a week or so.

My friend hasnt given me back my camera, so i may have to just go off the pics from a few weeks ago, though i dont really want to, as i have slightly more BF now then then. Oh well, close enough i guess and better then no befores. :rolleyes:

Later guys. Keep on truckin.

T-minus 57 days, Reno v. Blue (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=149874&postcount=157)

I went through our travel documents for Jamaica this morning to make sure everything was in order. As suspected, all was as it should be. But now I feel guilty for not getting up and at least doing some cardio... now I remember how I was in such a good groove with cardio. My conscience wreaks havoc on me when I don't do what I know I need to do with an important goal looming.

Tomorrow's a new day. I looked at tonight's homework and it's really involved... if I don't go straight home whenever I get done at the office, I don't think I'll finish by bedtime tonight... and if I get to bed too late, I'll never get up... and the viscious cycle will plague me through my Friday. Nay, I'll call today lost to chores and pick up the torch at 5am tomorrow.

Such is life.

-R

Checking in late today, been at it since the minute i got up.

Managed 2 gym sessions again today. :) That means i have 1 more cardio and 1 more weights session to hit target for the week. I have such a busy and personal day tomorrow that i wont get it in then. And i never train sundays. That means saturday will be another 2 session day. No problem. :cool:

I wish i worked from home, its so much easier to keep on the diet. No food prep, carry bags, tubs etc. Time to eat ? You got a kitchen within spitting distance. Since tuesday, ive been spot on diet wise. Its gonna be tough when i get back to work, but i cant begin to define the new sense of "doing this" that i feel this time round. I have had many training periods since last year, but none as concentrated as my initial transformation. I have that same sort of feeling this time round. Lets see what happens.

Got a weekend coming up. Plans tomorrow mean it will be somewhat of a cheat day i think. (buffet lunch and probably pizza for tea) so that means i need to stick to my plan sat and sunday. Gonna be a challenge, but i must do it, as every other transformation ive done ive let loose at weekends. If i want to push myself the extra to make a real change, that is one thing that, like legs, will make the difference. The way i look at it now, last time i went all out, i did it in 4/5 days per week. Imagine if i did it in 6, or even 7 with just one cheat meal ? I think thats why John did so well bulking, he made the little changes that pushed him from successfull to unbelieveable. :nod:

1st session of the day was abs and cardio. Abs was brutal. Love abs.
2nd session was back and bi's. Lifted well on everything, but my arms hit failure fairly early on. Just put that down to it being my first session back for a while.

I keep imagining what i will look like this summer. I wanna look fit, BE fit, athletic looking, but muscular. I have an image in my head. I cant wait to be it.

Laters people. Its late here in England, and time for bed.

Imagine if i did it in 6, or even 7 with just one cheat meal ? I think thats why John did so well bulking, he made the little changes that pushed him from successfull to unbelieveable. :nod:

This is where I'm coming from now. What if I went full bore, back to the way I used to do it pre-shoulder... 6 or 7 solid days of dieting effort, 6 or 7 days of exercise... one, perhaps two cheat meals a week, and reasonably healthy ones at that... what will I look like at the end? I'm trying like hell, but some days are better than others.

I keep imagining what i will look like this summer. I wanna look fit, BE fit, athletic looking, but muscular. I have an image in my head. I cant wait to be it.

As do I. It's just I seem to come upon these asymptotic walls - no matter what I do, it's just not enough, or so it has seemed to this point. But with each and every effort, since I finished my initial transformation, going all the way back to July of 2003... I can point to some flaw in what I was doing. Usually, it's nutritional slipups. Those are faux pas I can't afford if I want to see my abs exposed before they spread my ashes to the wind... and spreading my resources as thin as I have recently doesn't help either (Berklee, PE exam, work, fitness, social life... music... sheesh). The next 6 months will be a challenge to maintain myself, let alone improve, but I have to try, damnit. I have to try... after all, reaching for the impossible and failing is better than reaching for nothing at all. You'll come out ahead of the do-nothing option every time.

-R

Well, the weekend has passed and Monday has arrived. Always a time for reflection...

I did "ok" this weekend, but i had hoped for a lot better. I had a very personal day friday which isnt for these pages, but i knew that would erase friday from my plans. I didnt really keep on track saturday, though no major incidents, but managed to get on track for sunday, and even made my final weights session of the week. That means 2 cardio sessions at the gym, and all 4 weights sessions, including legs. Apart from Friday and saturday, my diet was perfectly in line with what i had aimed for. All in all, a good first week back. Feels good. :cool: Gotta tie down the weekends more though. :nod:

Hard to tell if theres any progress after one week. I always think week one is about getting back into things and ajusting, any visible gains are usually placebo from endorphines. I dont weigh or BF. I hope to start really lifting big this week. :bb:

Work is madness after having been off for a week. I have a great team here who have kept up with everything for me, which is more then i could ask for. Im lucky with where i work. Most places would just let the backlog pile up, you know. Its always weird when you havent worked for a week dont you think ? Wish i was still off.

Legs tonight... or should i do...NO NO. Must do legs... must do legs... ;)

Keep on truckin people.

Must have missed this thread!
-Blue its good to see your back in the game, and feeling a little better! You are actually looking leaner than I remember you were after our challenge!

Reno- Haha.. Your goal is to 'look fit'? Well I guess you're done, as you look awesome. I havent seen any real recent picts, but I bet you are just as ripped as you were before! I know what you mean about the running thing. I'm going to be doing some cardio soon when I start to cut, and I'm actually nervous about running. Not looking forward to it!
Keep it up guys, we'll be watching!!

Great to read about your challenge lads.

Any update pics Reno, you were always a great inspiration to me and no doubt others

HIIT MAN

Escher: Actually, I'm quite a bit fatter. :o But thanks for makin' me feel better about it. :lol:

T-minus 53 days, Reno v. Blue (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=151076&postcount=160)

As Reno says, there are things that just aren't meant for these pages. I've been accused of "oversharing" in the past, but there's just a few things that I can't share about myself here. These are things that the world at large won't ever understand for a plethora of reasons far beyond the scope of this thread, let alone this message board. It's just that I prefer total disclosure - it's something I can't have in real life, let alone here. It frustrates me to no end to have to hide things about who I really am. :mad:

Momentum is a great thing. A little momentum goes a very, very long way. I'm back in the game, 100%. I made all my trips to the gym last week, got in all my cardio and with the exception of shoulders due to the rotator cuff flare up, I got all my body parts done. Seven more weeks to go to see what happens at the end of this effort... it's not that far away. And you have no idea how badly I want to be on that beach in Jamaica...

I did my cardio this morning. I wanted one more day of rest for the shoulder before going back to weights tomorrow. It hasn't ached for several days, but I don't wish to push my luck. I'm taking it easy. Tomorrow is legs/chest, so I want the shoulder to be as close to 100% as it can be - someday, I'd like to leave this bird chest behind.

Off to meetings, headaches, etc.

-R

Yesterday was a good day all round. Work went well for a Monday / First day back day, i ate perfectly and got in my leg workout, which was a hard but worthwhile session. I quite enjoyed it. :nod:

I go to a different gym to do legs then for all my other sessions, as they have "better" leg equiptment. I use the inverted comma's, as the stuff there is OLD. rusty old weights, squat rack etc. But they work, and i need them, plus i quite like it there. Its in an old church, just open plan with all the stain glass windows towering over you. I will try and get some pics next week.

Didnt do much else last night, went to a mates house and watched some TV, the contender was on last night (were behind the US over here, so no spoilers please). Its a great show.

Am feeling pretty lean today. Am hoping to see some real progress this week, gonna get lots of cardio in as well. 3 sessions. Although i really cant see the AM thing working for me. Im just not a morning person, and i just need my sleep. I suppose i can get the sessions in all in the evenings, and maybe just go for one morning session. We shall see how it pans out. Im not about to run myself to the ground by getting too little sleep, as that will affect my entire life, including my fitness goals. I will make this work, in a way that works for me. Not excuses, just reality. Feeling good today.

Laters peeps. :tu:

Great to read about your challenge lads.

Any update pics Reno, you were always a great inspiration to me and no doubt others

HIIT MAN

I will post pics every 2 weeks, unless the changes are minimal, in which case i will switch to monthly. I feel the purpose of pics to to make the little changes over time stand out. 1 week aint enough of a period of time for me.

Glad your checking in mate. :)

Any update pics Reno?
:lol: :lol: :lol:

ok, wait a second...

:lol: :lol: :lol:

HIIT MAN is wondering where Reno's pics are! That's classic! LMAO!

Just kidding HIIT MAN!

T-minus 52 days, Reno v. Blue (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=151479&postcount=161)

Tough morning. I was tired and legs ain't a good idea when you're dragging your butt, but I did it. Barely.

This is becoming more of a challenge to maintain consistency than anything else.

-R

The bug is back !

I cant wait to get to the gym and workout ! After a week and a half of dragging myself there, i finally feel that i am starting to get the bug again. I even turned down muffins at work yesterday, and i LOVE muffins. I really feel that i am starting to see results. My metabolism is fast and my maintainance high (for my weight). I am loosing body fat and gaining muscle, i have found my perfect level of eating again. Not many people can gain muscle and loose fat, but i seem to be able to. I dont shy from carbs, i keep everything low fat and get lots of protien. Im not at all carb sensitive, which helps. So i have energy. Which is key. Im not a believer in the low carb thing (even though i know it works for most people). I just think extra energy = better lifts = more cals burned and bigger muscles. But then thats coming from someone who doesnt gain fat through carbs. :p

Another good day fitness wise yesterday. Did a cardio session at the gym, made a killer beef stirfry for tea, ate well, felt good. Chest and Tris tonight, my favourite.

Got a gig lined up for June, its a local bar in town. Not the prestige that liverpool gigs have, but it should mean a packed house as lots of people will come see us who perhaps wouldnt make the journey out of town to liverpool.

I finally got the pics from our last gig at the world famous cavern. Playing is everything to me. Its was a great gig, we took over 50 people to liverpool on a coach to see us. Im the guy with the SG on lead, Liam Shields on Rhythm and lead vocals, Woody on Bass and Julian Forshaw on Drums. Excuse my face, i was "lost in the moment" of my music. ;)

Infact, thinking about it, thats the first time ill have posted my face on these forums. Not that i dont want people to see my face, doesnt bother me. Just never has...

Laters.

T-minus 51 days, Reno v. Blue (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=151815&postcount=162)

This morning was a very tough wake-up, but I got up, did the cardio and here I sit... legs are quite sore from yesterday, which is a good thing. I have a hard time getting a good workout on them, or at least, I have a hard time getting any DOMS out of them. Yeah, yeah... DOMS isn't a good measure of a workout, blah, blah... it's my measuring stick of sorts. If I can elicit some DOMS from my legs after a workout, I know I'm on the right track. My knees appear to be strengthening by keeping the weight the same for a few weeks and then upping the weight when I feel little to no stress or pain in the knee joints. It's a bitch gettin' old.

Tonight I'll set up the tripod with the camera and when I drag my cherubic ass outta bed in the morning, I'll put it in front of the camera. Excuse any bed-head I may present in the pictures. I ain't doin' my hair at 5am to document how much fat I have to lose... I may be vain, but I ain't that vain.

Calories. Some days are better than others. Yesterday was a lower calorie day. Around 1,750 for the day if I had to guess based on what I ate all day. I'm getting back into a good groove now. Getting up isn't easy but once I'm moving I'm on autopilot and I get my workouts done. Today should be low in kcal's and carbs. As well it will be.

I'm discovering that foods that I used to eat as a chubbier me are actually usable in my diet and exercise program. Funny how you can make things work if you read the labels and eat proper portion sizes. This makes my diet a lot less bland, I still hit my macros and kcal targets for the day, and I feel... more normal, eating food I like. It's so simple to make what I used to eat healthy... I just didn't know how to do it before. All those years I wasted in ignorance...

-R

Dude! Great pic! So you do have a head! :lol: I was typing as you posted. Cool as hell. "Music face" is excusable. It just means you're into the tunes and you're concentrating.

My drummer from the semi-fictitious "project that never took off" is supposed to stop by today with some MP3's for a project he wants me to play lead on. I told him last week I'd listen and we'll talk from there. Not that I have time to get involved with yet another project, but if the tunes are worth it... I'll make time.

-R

Dude! Great pic! So you do have a head! :lol:
-R

My thoughts exactly!!! :lol:

Very nice picture!
AND
You look great!
AND
You're a musician! YAY! :claphigh:

T-minus 50-days, Reno v. Blue (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=152228&postcount=167)

I think I'm getting that bug, too, Ted. I can feel the momentum building.

It was a tough morning getting up, but a good workout made the effort worthwhile. Places that I tend to lose fat first look like they are now really starting to lean out - most notably, shoulders, arms, thighs/quads. Now if only it'd start coming off my butt and my stomach... soon enough. It can't be far away, as I don't have much fat left to lose anywhere else. Guess I wasn't all that chubby as I thought I was. The good news is, my weight is staying well above 143-lbs. Hopefully that extra weight (I'm up from 136-lbs. when I started up working out again post-physical therapy) is lean muscle mass I gained. Seven pounds of lean mass seems like a lot for me... but hey... a scrawny guy can hope... can't he?

I got invited into another music project this morning. All I did was jam with four guys about a dozen times last fall... and I've gotten a ton of offers since. Word-of-mouth is a powerful thing, and I think maybe a dozen people floated through those jams we held. Here's the project I was invited into. (http://www.hillsidestudios.net/home/Misc/livesoundframes.htm) Click on "Listening Room/Sound Samples" in the top frame. Listen to the songs labeled "... Introducing The Draft". These are two samples they wanted me to hear. Personally, I think they have some potential but... the guitar sound has to go in favor of something more ballsy, and that grunge flavor has to be squashed too. I was specifically asked how they can "metal up" the songs, and I told them. Not bad. Not the best, but not bad. I could work with that type of music. I lean towards passing on it, since they want to take the songs live in a short amount of time, and I just don't have the time to give the project, even if I was totally taken by the music...

-R

Yesterday's chest and tri's was not as good as i would have liked. Sure i lifted all my usual lifts, but it was hard work and they felt heavy. You know those workouts where you feel like you couldnt lift a feather ? It was one of those. I prefer the days where you feel full of beans and have the energy to lift anything. Where you feel really strong. :flex:

I think it may be due to continuous training. I have cardio tonight, then weights tomorrow and saturday. If i struggle with those, i may have to rethink my plan and throw a day off in on a wednesday. No problem, ill work something out, but just think no day off Mon-Sat may be effecting my workouts, which is counter productive in the long run. Maybe i will have to make some AM sessions, only i feel that wont help, as i will have less energy in the evening of that workout, you know.

Work is doing my nut in today. Stressing out bigtime. We are paying other "agencys" to do stuff for us, and they keep askin me what to do. Whats the point in that ? We pay them an agency fee in order to take the work and hassle away from us. Useless.

Booked an appointment to get my haircut saturday. Thinking i may get some colour put in for the summer. Not sure what to go with yet. Man, do i sound like a chick. :o

Well, heres to another good day. I had a rather high cal sandwich for lunch, nothing too bad, but a fair amount of cheese pushed it over what i should probably have had. Still. Extra energy for that treadmill. ;)

T-Minus 49 days...

Not a problem in the world getting up this morning. I've found the formula to get to sleep quickly and the sleep has been restful and uninterrupted (for the most part). Last night, I had one of my standard issue nightmares. It was really, really weird and I got sick of being in the dream, so I woke myself up (a technique I learned many years ago to deal with nightmares as a child). But I slept really well otherwise, and getting up was not a problem at all. I need to keep that momentum going for sure. I have to be up around 7am tomorrow to take the car to the shop... so I'll be getting up early, even on my day off.

Today was just the usual 45 minutes on the treadmill. Tomorrow morning will be a "clean up" resistance training workout to hit one or two areas that I didn't get in during the week. And I'll lightly hit bi/tri's, lower back, abs, and do my rotator cuff exercises again.

Best news of all: I put my jeans on in the locker room this morning, and they're looser. :claphigh: The past 24-hours have tried my patience on many levels, but when I start feeling fitter, leaner, and better... that's always a plus.

I'm off to battle the day.

-R

Yesterday i will give a 6/10. I didnt get to my cardio session, as the day i had at work, coupled with previously mentioned energy problems just made it a now show. I ate well, but had a late night yogurt, which wasnt too good an idea.

However, the day of rest has led me to tonights workout which i have just completed and was out of this world. Shoulders and traps, every lift easy and flowing and heavy yet light feeling. Just the perfect combination. Made me feel a whole heap better about yesterday, the day off did me the world of good and i feel like the whole week has been one big success thus far. I can see definite improvement, so will try and get some pics up middle of next week.

Back and Bi's tomorrow morning, before a busy day of getting shit done. Why is it the older you get, the more your weekends seem like hard frickin work !?!?! Will have fun though.

Later guys, im off for my cheat meal. :drool:

Later guys, im off for my cheat meal. :drool:

I didn't have my normal Friday lunch semi-cheat. With what's in store this weekend, I won't be eating very saintly. I will be preparing as much food as I can take with me for the weekend (probably lots of shakes) but that's it. I'll try to keep calories reasonable no matter what/where we eat and eat cleaner than I normally do when these types of weekend present themselves.

I'm hopefully out of the office a little early today, and likely won't be near a computer until I get back to the office on Monday. Wish me luck...

-R

Well, i didnt cheat badly at all friday night. We had a chinese, which was not the healthiest thing ever, but by the same token, it wasnt all that UN-healthy either. So i took the liberty of chilling last night and wound up munching my way through a few bags of crisps (thats chips for those over the pond). Nothing too major, and i managed to eat very well throughout the day AND i got to the gym yesterday, meaning ive made my 4 weights sessions for the week. Just the one cardio session though, so need to pick that up a bit. Im made up with the progress im making already and feel positive that im going to nail down the body im after. :tu:

Got my hair done yesterday. Got very subtle highlights, not so its very noticable. a few people notice and a few people didnt, which i like. I didnt want anything drastic ! Ill pop a picture on next week when i do my progress shots.

Hope your all having a great weekend.

Keep chillin'. :cool:

Good luck guys !

Looking forward to seeing that all time low bf, Blue.

Hey Reno, haven't seen any recent pics...

Please do show...I need some motivation .

Last night could have been a disaster, but I prevented it! Yeah, I (we) cheated, no small one either, but it did end up being reasonable simply because I can only eat a certain amount of anything. The ol' bod knows when to stop, and I generally listen lest I pay a hefty price for gluttony.

I am a bit sunburnt. We spent the afternoon at Coconuts on the Beach, a trendy little hangout in Cocoa Beach. Lots of eye candy and it reminds me why I do what I do. I admitted a while ago that this was in at least some part about vanity for me... yesterday was a big reminder. The cool part is... I looked like I fit in there. Both of us did. Mrs. Blue is doing great in her program and is lookin' smoking in a bikini again.

I woke up this morning a bit dehydrated and with red skin. I was really pale and the extra time in the sun wasn't the best thing to do yesterday... but damn. What a bit of color in the skin will do to enhance muscle definition. Once I no longer glow in the dark, I will take new pictures and see what a difference I've made in the last couple of weeks.

Man... I love the beach. I hope y'all had as much fun this weekend as we did.

-R

Just a quick check in before i hit the hay. Am completely knackered, done in, ready for my pillow.

Diet was once again spot on, and i did legs as promised. After only 3 legs sessions, im making some real progress and i must admit, im starting to enjoy it.

Work was crazy and i got another crazy day ahead of me.

Take it easy yall. Im off to bed. :d_tongue:

T-minus 45 days, Reno v. Blue

Things are really coming together and I've got a full head of steam going. Today should be a normal day, with homework to do tonight, but nothing strenuous (or so it seems) is on tap for today. I will take some pictures tonight, now that the sunburn has faded to a non-glowing status on my chest. I look forward to putting on a good tan, and if things continue to lean out as they have been, I'm going to have to think about... *gulp*... shaving. I've been keeping my body hair really short so I can see all the definition I already have because it's really motivating to see the vascularity come through now. My skin is tightening and pulling against my muscle, shirt sleeves are fitting tighter again on my upper arms (I love that!)... and it's all just settling into an awesome groove. I've never been this happy with my workout regime or the results of the labor - even my initial transformation wasn't this good - even though I'd lost 37-lbs. by the end of that first go-around, I didn't have the physique I do now. Some areas are still "a mess", and when I say "a mess", I mean they're not up to my standards... and I'll focus on those areas as I go. My standards are getting more an more stringent the closer I get to the goal, something that always pushes me to be better and reach further. Just 'cause I'm short doesn't mean I can't reach for a star or two...

Here's to another perfect day...

-R

My skin is tightening and pulling against my muscle, shirt sleeves are fitting tighter again on my upper arms (I love that!)...Is this a challenge thread or a romance novel?

Sounds like you guys are both making good progress... just curious where you both were at with your body fat measurements and how that's changed since you began the challenge.

Is this a challenge thread or a romance novel?

Hey! This is all new to me! :spaz: Last time I was this lean when we challenged each other, I was considerably less muscular. That "paper thin skin" look has never come around for me before... and it's starting to now. Give a brother a break and let this geek be excited!

Sounds like you guys are both making good progress... just curious where you both were at with your body fat measurements and how that's changed since you began the challenge.

My relative self-measurements were about 14.5% three weeks ago. As of last night, the relative measurement said 11.5%. It's got to be higher than that, 1% a week, while doable, really isn't quite the effort I've put in thus far. I could buy a 2% change, I'd say looking in the mirror 12.5% would be reasonable, but I'm not 100% sure. I'm probably going to have a trainer do my fat test soon so I have a slightly more accurate measure.

-R

Reno looked over with baited breath, not really too sure if what was about to happen, should happen. His heart skipped to a pace that felt as though it may jump up through his throat and out through his mouth in a huge gasp of yawning love. How could something so wrong, ultimatley feel so right....

;)

Well, today i got a bad headache and feel as though im a little run down, so am taking today as my rest day and will go to the gym through the rest of the week. Better to take one day (which i will make up for later in the week) then to write off the whole week through ilness. I know me, and i know when my body needs a rest. No biggy, im doing great thus far. Another good day of diet, ive cut out my 4pm meal due to no gym session.

I may get some pics up tonight to.

Oh, and i would say i was around the 10.5-11% range at the start, but ive gained about 3lbs since then, and my BF has dropped for sure. Gaining muscle, losing fat. All good. :cool:

Well, heres come updated pics:

I have included my face on one so i dont get accused of having no head again ! ;)

Im very happy with my progress overall. Wanna drop a bit more BF so im more defined when relaxed (see photo 1). I hope the side chest and bicep shot shows how my chest has improved in shape and thickness. Arms and shoulder are always my best developer. Side tricep shows little BF on the arms, most of my fat, like most, lies on the stomach area. Cant wait to see what the next few weeks will bring. Hopefully more of the same. :nod:

Any comments welcome !

Blue, get them pics done ! Naggin will commence very soon otherwise, as instructed. This challenge with you is keeping me bob on track man, really hope its doin the same.

Yowza!!

Nice work (as always). :tu:

At what weight is that ?

Reno,

Looking great as always. Triceps are looking really good. Wish I could see the 'fat' on your stomach.

Doug

OUSTANDING!!!!!

:bow:

I would give nearly anything to have your stomach. Amazing. I wonder how can you get any better. But I'm sure you know. Keep the good work!

hah, i take it reno's winning so far? ;)

hah, i take it reno's winning so far? ;)

Puh-leeze. The Ford Pinto had a better chance than I did! :p

Wait'll I tell you guys what the f*ck I did tonight... I must have been high.

-R

You're looking great Reno, nice work as always! :tucool:


Other requirements/information: Pictures will be taken and posted once per week. If not, Slush_puppy, Escher or Reno all have the right to remind (read: harass) me after every one of my replies in the forums with the largest, most annoying font they can find until I do post my overdue pictures.Don't make me go there...

Don't make me go there...

Don't worry tonight I'll take pictures. I have good reason to.

T-minus 44 days, Reno v. Blue... (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=9399&goto=lastpost)

-R

At what weight is that ?

Weighing in at 156lbs at 5'8''. But i dont really use weight as any indication of anything. Thanks for the comments. :)


Wish I could see the 'fat' on your stomach.

Dont get me wrong, im not one of those "Im so fat" people who really arent. Thats why my goal isnt a strict cut down. Im looking to build up and get fit while keeping the BF real low, if not a touch lower. 8% would be good. Good to hear from you again, not seen ya for a while.

I would give nearly anything to have your stomach. Amazing. I wonder how can you get any better. But I'm sure you know.

There is no reason on gods green earth why you cant have visible abs ? Have you seen my before photos from last year ? I have no big secret, just the John Stone way of eating healthy, working out and reading up.

As for improvements, they are minimal in some senses. But i want to get fitter, tighten up the BF a touch round the abs, so they are tighter unflexed. I wanna gain strength and most of all, build up the legs more. I didnt intentionally not put a legs pic up, i just didnt think. But ive been doing legs now for 3 weeks solid. I will get some up soon.


hah, i take it reno's winning so far?

No challenge against each other here, just the challenge to meet our own personal goals and ambitions, while helping each other get there. I havent had the misfortune of a serious shoulder injury, or had to press on and make real visible progress and gains despite that, something which i admire greatly about my collegue here.

Thanks for all your comments. Means a lot :)

Well, chest and tri's today, followed by a massage at the gym. Jeez, the chick who does them is fit (fit not as it good lung capacity. Fit is english for DDDDDAAAAAAAYYYYMMMMMMMNNNNNNNN! ;) ) Should be a relaxing and enjoyable half hour.

Other then that, loads to do at work, but unfortunatly all boring stuff. You never know with my job what will come in, so somedays are fun and enjoyable, other days can be filling forms etc.

Going round to the bass guitarists with my laptop and guitar to record some demos to show the rest of the band. Just a few licks and riffs we both got. Hopefully get one good song out of it all.

Laters yall. Keep on grafting.

Well, chest and tri's today, followed by a massage at the gym. Jeez, the chick who does them is fit (fit not as it good lung capacity. Fit is english for DDDDDAAAAAAAYYYYMMMMMMMNNNNNNNN! ;) ) Should be a relaxing and enjoyable half hour.

I can think of worse things. The masseuse at our chiropractor is a dude.

Going round to the bass guitarists with my laptop and guitar to record some demos to show the rest of the band. Just a few licks and riffs we both got. Hopefully get one good song out of it all.

I'd be interested in hearing the snippets. Perhaps a little overseas collaboration might be in order at some point. I can condense my stuff to MP3 format for listening/working purposes (I can't post the song itself from my digital studio board, the raw data is between 200 and 400 MB's for all my songs). I do have a Win2K server at the house on the cable modem with an empty 10-GB disk on it we could use to store stuff. I could set up an FTP access 'n everything for us to use to bounce parts back and forth.

I had every intention of going to the gym tonight, but I don't think it's going to happen. Work has been absolutely hellacious today, and I'm battling a screaming headache since about noonish. I had a great workout this morning, so I'll not push the issue and rest up tonight so I awake fresh tomorrow for cardio.

-R

Id be happy to share and swop some tunes etc. Im not to hot on FTP but id love to learn, as id like to be able to connect to my friends and swop MPEGS / MP3s etc. Let me know.

Good call on skippin the gym if you decide to, better to keep what your doing going well then overdo it.

Man the massage was tops. For the first 10 mins i was totally wired but then slowly i began to chill and get into it, by the end i was almost in a trance. Sweet.

Back and bi's preceeded the massage and went very well. Still got a bit of a cold coming on feeling / run down feeling, so may give the gym a miss tomorrow and chill. Then i will get a cardio session in on sunday to make up for it. I will see how i feel tomorrow.

Maybe this weekend I'll set up the FTP server. I can pre-package a nice little freeware FTP program I use for you complete with all the login information pre-setup for you. All you'll have to do is unzip the files and put 'em on your hard disk, and voila! Instant FTP access to my server across the pond. It has two windows, on the left is your computer and its hard disks, on the right is my server and the FTP space. Drag & drop. It's pretty much idiot-proof.

Tough day yesterday. Didn't feel good in the afternoon, and had a headache the size of Alaska. As soon as I left work, life got hunky dory. I think I've just got too much stress around the office to be healthy for me right now. Jamaica is but 43 days out... *sigh*.

We have pictures!. No, really. I took 'em last night, guys. But... today is our wedding anniversary, so cut me some slack for the day. I'm leaving early today and have lots to get done, so no time to be editing pictures. I'll edit and post them in the next 24 hours. You can see me in all my hairless glory. Which, by the way... seems to be working out better than I thought. I figured the instant I shaved down, I'd glow red with irritated skin and wonder why I ever tried to shave. But... other than a few shaving bumps and getting used to not having hair after spending most of my adult life in a blanket of fur, it's going ok. I shaved two days in a row to see how irritated the skin would get. It didn't really get aggravated. Now I'll let it heal a couple/few of days, shave and start the tanning process this weekend. Gotta be ready for JA... that sun is harsh down there, and for a Floridian to say that, that's saying something!

I'm outta the office after 3pm today. Of all things she wanted to do on our anniversary, it was go to the movies. To see? What the hell else? Episode III. My buddy got tix and we're going to see it late this afternoon. I'm sure we'll end up eating out tonight. I'm thinkin' steak, man. A big, fat, juicy steak. And AOK for my diet, too! I promise I'll try to keep it reasonable. Believe me... every time I look in the mirror now, I'm reminded how much work I have left to do. No hair = motivation. Nothing to cover up flaws. I'm getting so lean now that scars I haven't seen in years are showing up as my skin seems to be looking thinner and stretching to my muscles a bit. My appendix scar. A scar on my neck from surgery I had when I was 18. My hip flexors are becoming visible! I love that "V" shaped look, and it seems genetics has blessed me with it and some skin that thins out nicely to show muscle. 'Bout time I discovered some facet of my genetics that were kind to me, 'specially with the friggin' bird chest I'm saddled with.

Yay and hoorah for short workdays. Won't be here much today on JSF (I always say that when I'm busy, but I manage to pop up...)... lots to do! See y'all.

-R

Holy shit, Reno. I hadn't scrolled up to see the new pictures. Damn. Which, BTW... workload is too heavy, I'll post mine when I get home tonight.

T-Minus 42-days, Reno v. Blue (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=155343&postcount=186)

Tough day today, as ye olde journal will clue you in. No workouts today. Not enough steam left in me. I'm struggling to keep moving as it is and it's 1:15pm according to my clock.

Back to the grind, just wanted to check in.

-R

Getting crazy cut, Reno. How much more do you want to lose? What are your goals from there? How bout for you Blue?

Goal is to drop 1-2% BF and up the muscle. Get fitter and stronger. Live well.


Well, the weekend was far from ideal. Actually, if im honest, it was a white wash. Poor show and am disappointed, as for three weeks i had been spot on. Im back on the horse and dusted off today, but shouldnt allow weekends to get like that. 3 real cheat meals and no gym. :rolleyes:

Didnt get to practice with the band either as the room was unavailable at the last minute. Time is ticking for the gig and we need to be ready, as it will be a packed house (of only a hundred or so mind). I tend to panic when we dont rehearse. Sure we'll be fine though.

Legs again tonight, quite looking forward to it actually. Then going to the sunbeds and then going to watch the Lions game with my old man on TV. Apart from that, nothing else planned.

Hope ur keeping on track Blue and did better then me over the weekend.

PICS!!!!!!!!!!

Laters.

Goal is to drop 1-2% BF and up the muscle. Get fitter and stronger. Live well.

Mine is to reduce as much body fat while gaining as much strength/size as I can on a restricted calorie plan. For the most part, this is an SGX based effort.

Well, the weekend was far from ideal. Actually, if im honest, it was a white wash. Poor show and am disappointed, as for three weeks i had been spot on. Im back on the horse and dusted off today, but shouldnt allow weekends to get like that. 3 real cheat meals and no gym. :rolleyes:

You're not alone here. While I did get to the gym, and did have a great workout this weekend, my diet wasn't perfect either. Dinner out for our anniversary was Saturday night, a wakeup and breakfast out yesterday morning, then pizza last night. Hey, it has been a month since I had pizza and that has to be a personal record.

Didnt get to practice with the band either as the room was unavailable at the last minute. Time is ticking for the gig and we need to be ready, as it will be a packed house (of only a hundred or so mind). I tend to panic when we dont rehearse. Sure we'll be fine though.

Damnit, I'm jealous. I'm dying for a live project... can't seem to come by one worth the time, though. Not that I'd have the time to invest...

Pics are coming tonight. I edited them down yesterday but for some reason, never posted them yesterday...

-R

T-Minus 38-days, Reno v. Blue (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=156423&postcount=189)

It's shapin' up to be one of those days... I can't get five minutes to type... :mad: I like being busy, time goes quick and I get more done under pressure... but damn. If I hang up my phone, it rings again. I just put it on DND for a few minutes. :evilgrin:

Yesterday was a good day. A little heavy on the calories, as I look at my spreadsheet, that's something I can't let happen often from here on out. And... as I make that statement, I am likely having dinner in the unhealthiest venue my friends could have chosen tonight. I'll figure something out.

So...

.
.
.
.

I forgot the assignment.

I left it at home.

I didn’t have time.

The dog... I mean cat... ate it.

My wife didn't remind me.

Well, that's kinda what follows here is going to sound like.

So last night I thought I'd get all fancy and finish the setup on my server at the house. And I did. After I worked on my homework for the week, I setup and started the FTP and web services on the server.

But... and you're gonna have a hard time believing this... our cable modem has been having service problems. No, really. Ask the wife! It's been having trouble receiving signal for about two weeks now, and it seems to come and go as it pleases. So over the last weekend, I called and raised hell with the cable company. We have an appointment to have the cable service looked at late today.

My pics, which I'd hoped to put up here this morning, reside on my web server as we speak. As a JSF subscriber, I have space here, but since that space is limited, I sometimes go back and delete old pictures to make space for new ones. So I figured I'd set up a directory on my server where I could keep pictures on the web indefinitely and not have to worry about deleting them ever again.

Well, that plan has gone to shit. I didn't check the computers to see if the cable modem had signal when I left for the gym this morning, but the IP isn't there and I can't FTP into the server right now which leads me to conclude that our cable modem doesn't have service at the moment. And that, ladies and gents, is why this slacker still has no pics. Not for lack of trying, for once. :mad:

Stupid. I should just have posted them when I was at home last night. The King of Procrastinators once again earns his crown.

-R

T-Minus 37 days...

Or... 36 days and a wakeup. Anything I can do to make that vacation get here faster! Sooooo much work to do between now and then.

Yes, I went to Winghouse (think Hooters, only nicer) with a good buddy of mine last night. I had two light beers a grilled chicken sandwich. All in all, not bad. A bit of a cheat, especially the beer, but not bad for an evening out. Normally, I'd go in there and eat nothing but junk.

*Ahem*... pictures. Jeez, I'm a mess. These were taken a week ago at 5am, so excuse the clueless look and bed-head. You can see the fat on my midsection... the last "holdout" fat-store on my body, pretty much. That and my butt, anyway. I did cardio this morning, and I plan to go back and do more tonight if I can get there. Tomorrow morning will be another weight training day, and if I can muster it, cardio in the evening. This will all come down to how much cardio I can cram in and how clean I can keep my diet for the next 36 days. A challenge to say the least.

-Roger

Side profile view shows some great pec definition coming through. Arms looking toned to, especially the tricep !

Although the abs are covered at present, i really dont see all that much fat on the midsection. Seriously.

And your back is getting a good V forming. Nice.

Keep going like your going, you'll make your goal no worries. :nod:

So im sat here at my desk at work right now on lunch, eating a sandwich which really, i shouldnt be eating. Man, i just need the calories today, was feeling like the living dead all morning. Work is due to be at its peak the end of this month and next month and i guess my body was just crying out for a refuel. I needed it. Its not the worst food i could have. wholegrain bread, chicken, spring onion...erm... cheese, mayo :o Well, i always say listen to your body, and my body needed this. Its no big deal really, though i aint gonna make a habit of it
.

Yesterday was shoulders and was another good session. Im back to my PB level now after my injury earlier this year and it feels good to know im back where i was.

No gym tonight as its my scheduled day off, following a few weeks ago when my wednesday workout sucked ass due to three days in a row. Plus, its the european cup final. Liverpool v Milan. Should be a great night. Come on Liverpool !

Laters peeps.

Side profile view shows some great pec definition coming through. Arms looking toned to, especially the tricep!

Glad to hear that. I work hard on those arms. They're finally starting to look like I work out.

Although the abs are covered at present, i really dont see all that much fat on the midsection. Seriously.

Everyone ought to know one thing about me - I'm my own worst critic. Always have been, always will be. Someone elses' idea of a glowing success might be my idea of a marginal failure. It's just the way my brain is wired. Perfection is the goal, no matter how tough that may be to achieve, and anything less, while appreciable in its achievement, just isn't the end-goal to me. I think it's silly to some degree to aspire to so much, but my opinion has always been that the higher you reach, the higher you achieve.

And your back is getting a good V forming. Nice.

I hadn't really noticed that, either. A side benefit of some of the physical therapy exercises for my shoulder has been some ancillary lat development. That's a great thing; I was really worried about how I could develop my lats with things like pulldowns/pullups being off the list of approved exercises (due to the over head reaching movement, which is one thing my physical therapist suggested I avoid at all costs to help the shoulder heal and strengthen).

Keep going like your going, you'll make your goal no worries. :nod:

Your assessment helps. Like I said, I tend to look to the negative rather than the positive.

-R

... Plus, its the european cup final. Liverpool v Milan. Should be a great night. Come on Liverpool !
...


Talking about Liverpool, yesterday I witnessed a miracle.

I'm quite glad, since there is a little spanish community in that team. The coach is very nice as well.

Sorry, didn't want to hijack.

EDIT: Blue, you are looking awesome. Keep doing like that, you are almost there.

^^^

Liverpool had there name on the cup already i think. Everything went right for them the whole competition. The last minute gerard goal at anfield to get to the knockout stages, the goal against chelsea and the last minute save by Dudek last night. I wouldnt say they were jammy, but luck was in their favour for sure. And good for them. It was a great match.


Well yesterday was somewhat of a write off. Not damaging at all, but then not overly productive either. And i guess a day wasted is kinda damaging, if not directly hurting my progress. Back on track bigtime today and eating perfectly once again. Definatly starting to see more definition, abs are looking tighter. If progress continues, ill pop some new pics up next week.

Chest and Tri's tonight. :D

Gonna be a big weekend this weekend. Going for a few beers after work friday, then for a jam at the drummers house. Got a load of new material to work out. We usually get together and throw all our ideas on the table and jam through them and work bits out etc, we normally get a good song by the end of it. I got this new killer riff which i hope we can make a tune out of. Then saturday night i got practice at the local church hall we use, then a BBQ at the drummers house again, we may pop to liverpool for the afternoon and grab a few drinks there, do some shopping and grab a bite to eat. Then sunday and monday are days of rest. Need to chill. I love Bank Holiday weekends in England, theres a real sense of fun about them.

Well, keep working out and working hard people.

Laters.

T-Minus 36 days to Jamaica (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=157342&postcount=195) - Reno v. Blue

Keep it reigned in as best you can, man. It's going to be tough for me to do the next couple of days myself. With camping and a family visit on the slate for this weekend, keeping the kcal's in check will be a monumental task. I'm going to do my best.

Beer. Beer is my weakness. Especially in the middle of nowhere, out on the ATV with the rednecks I go out there with... and I mean rednecks... not drinking beer is almost an affront to them. And I love a cold beer on a screaming hot Florida afternoon... when we've been in the sun all day riding... ugh! I'm practically giving in right now, and I'm not even out there yet!

Just do your best. I've got some protein bars, I'll make up some shakes, and carry plenty of water on the trip Fri/Sat. This should help keep me in check.

Have fun jammin' out!

~R

Beer. Beer is my weakness. Especially in the middle of nowhere, out on the ATV with the rednecks I go out there with... and I mean rednecks... not drinking beer is almost an affront to them.
Light beer is probably out then too, huh?

Oh and you guys both look great. a couple of JSF giants going at it here, in this challenge.

Light beer is probably out then too, huh?

Actually, any beer is good beer to those folks. If it's cold and says "beer" somewhere on the can (yes, CAN... I hate drinking from cans, but rednecks tend to be a lot less discriminating than I am)

Oh and you guys both look great. a couple of JSF giants going at it here, in this challenge.

Shortest "giant" EVAH!

I still think I look like a mess, but that harks back to another thread about pictures and self-image. I can't help but look in the mirror and see the flaws instead of the successes. My brain just ain't wired that way, and it takes a strong mental effort to turn that tide. I can do it, but the slightest ripple in the water and that boat will capsize. Read on...

T-minus 35-days (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=157739&postcount=196)... Reno v. Blue

We're chugging along at this point. I wore a shirt to work today (it's one of my hangout-at-home shirts, a looser version of an UnderArmour type shirt, but it looks nice enough for a casual Friday) and have been complimented a couple of times this morning on my physique of late. Man, did I ever need that. The cute new girl in the civil department's engineering section asked me if I workout... she said... "... it looks like it. We'll have to talk sometime..." Made my effing week. That sort of thing makes whole kit 'n kaboodle worth every early wake up... every temptation resisted... every sore muscle... it's all worth it when people notice.

Reno, you're looking fantabulous, man. You got the genes for it. You might want to snap those pics for posterity's sake soon, just to have more of a documented record of what you looked like along the way. Even if they don't get posted... it's nice to have them. Since I never snapped beginning pics years ago, I tend to get carried away with pics, even if they never make it to the board. :p

Counting the minutes until noon...

~R

Well its friday afternoon and the long weekend is but a few hours away. Thank god.

Its been one of those weeks and im deterimined to enjoy this weekend to the full. Got loads of good plans, and providing i make the gym, ill be happy. Sure i will, my mate (heads up col if your reading) is going with tomorrow so should be motivation. Get a swim and a steam in to. All good.

Have a great weekend, keep on surviving.

Laters.

Great progress Blue! I don't know how it compares to the progress in our challenge (because I never saw anything past beginning pictures, ahem) but you're really looking good. I think that we're birds of a feather when it comes to missing the positive for the negative in our progress. It looks like you've got a good lock on your goal. Keep up the great work! :tucool:

The cute new girl in the civil department's engineering section asked me if I workout... she said... "... it looks like it. We'll have to talk sometime..." Made my effing week.
~R

Heh, did you forget your wife reads the forums there, boss?

:d_biggrin

I kid, I kid... compliments are always awesome for the motivation as well as the ego!

- Matt, getting the hell out of here soon.

T-Minus 36 days to Jamaica (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=157342&postcount=195) - Reno v. Blue

.......And I love a cold beer on a screaming hot Florida afternoon... when we've been in the sun all day riding... ugh! I'm practically giving in right now, and I'm not even out there yet!

~R

Steady.......deep breathes... :p

Heh, did you forget your wife reads the forums there, boss?

Ah, ye know not my wife. She is far from the jealous type, as am I. And I know what side my bread's buttered on. Of this, she is all too aware...

T-minus 31 days to Jamaica... (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=158825&postcount=198) Reno v. Blue

Hope your weekend was as relaxing as mine was.

And hopefully you were more vigilant than I, Reno. I drank beer every day this weekend. Not a lot, but I did. We had a pizza. It didn't do much damage except to make me retain water, or so it seems. I'm up in weight and I don't look bloated at all. I'll take new pictures in the next couple of days when the water weight comes down. I'm doing my usual post-weekend flush... I've already had five bottles of water this morning - as soon as I finish the bottle I'm on, that'll be half my daily water intake, done before 10am. I plan to continue drinking it like crazy today.

This morning was a great chest/tri/leg workout. Tough one. My legs are wobbly and that's hard to do of late. I'll head back tonight for some cardio and I'll do abs daily from here on out. We are now at exactly one-month-out from vacation.

Work will be crazy today. I'm off to face the music...

-R

Well, i have'nt checked in all week, mainly due to being majorly busy at work. For those who dont know, i work for a law firm dealing with Motorbike accident claims. We are a very specialist firm and have a good reputation, dealing with work from major insurance companies, including the number one insurer of bikes in the UK. I have been with the firm for over 2 years and have just last year been promoted to a fee earner, which basically means im a lawyer, but not fully qualified yet. I have the law degree, i just need the 1 year Solicitors course and the two years training. As you can imagine, its highly competitive and im lucky to work here, its a great oppotunity and i intend to make the most of it. I hope they will pay towards my solicitors course and offer me a training contract. If i get that, i will be made up. To give you an idea, this firm alone gets at least 1-2 applications for a training contract PER DAY.

For this reason, i am working my ass off to impress and do well, but its hard when your thrown in at the deep end, all eyes are on you and not only do you have to learn the job, you have to perform well. However, i love the job and the firm. I get up in the morning and look forward to working, so im lucky in that regard to.

Anyway, thats a bit of background for ya. The relevancy is that i needed a blow out and this weekend was it. Three days off, 2 BBQ's (1 at the beach), a party and a "photo evening", during which we all bought our photos of various times gone by which we were all involved in and reminissed. Plenty of beer, plenty of sleep, relaxing and good food (though wasnt too bad on the eating). No gym, but it was totally worth it. Just what to doctor ordered and now im back in work, working hard, training hard and eating spot on.

The moral of this story. Take time to relax, its totally worth it. ;)

Laters

The moral of this story. Take time to relax, its totally worth it. ;)

Sounds like we took similar paths this weekend, my friend. Glad to hear yours was as much a success as was my weekend. I wouldn't officially call this past weekend a "blowout" for me as I did keep overall calories in mind, but I didn't really stop myself from eating in moderation quite a few things I shouldn't have - a hot dog, some Pringles, and a few other items I snacked on throughout the weekend that I would have been better left uneaten. As you said, it was a time to relax and enjoy... and I think we both needed it.

But... I woke up with a sinus infection and the possible beginnings of a head cold today. I'm doped up on Thera-Flu and coffee right now, and functioning well. I felt this coming on yesterday, and as a pre-emptive strike, knowing it was a bacterial infection I caught from my wife, I broke out some antibiotics my doctor advised me to keep in the closet for just such an event, since I'm prone to sinus infections this time of year. I figure with a couple days of rest, I'll be back at the gym full steam, but I'm not pushing myself. I did wake up at 5am as though I were going to go to the gym, but when I realized how sore my throat had become, I considered it best to rest today, probably tomorrow and we'll evaluate things again when I wake up Saturday morning. Better to get the cold out of the way now than catch it when vacation gets closer - we're now at T-minus 28-days and a wakeup!!

I'm having a helluva a time concentrating on work, but I think I'll be okay. I'm going to increase carbs a bit over the next 48 hours to keep my strength up and let my immune system do its thing along with the A/B's.

-R

This morning i woke up and noticed i could see my abs pretty well without tensing at all. They were just outlines and a bit blurry, but you could see the shape and each line was visible. Looking down at them, i can see the bumps and lines. A way to go before they become proper tight, but it was a good sight after a months work. :)

I guess im lucky not to be carb sensitive, as im hammering the carbs and still seeing positive results. This means im lifting very well and keeping, if not gaining LBM. People say thats not possible, but i think if your not carb sensitive and consume carbs, you can very much do both. :nod:

Can you believe that Blue, its been a month since we began.

I worked legs last night at the "Rocky" gym. You know, im actually getting into a bit of a love affair with legs. I was looking forward to the session and enjoyed it greatly. Im so close to Body weight and a half squats (6 reps). My aim is 2 x Bodyweight. Should be there in no time, im making real strength gains there and after 4 weeks im getting bigger claves and hamstrings, though my quads are still unimpressive. I dont want to do cable kicks, as they are the worst for your knees. Just keep plugging away at the leg press and squats i guess. :rolleyes:

All in all then, the day is off to a flyer. Its friday, work is going well (so far) and my progress is doing excellent. Hope you all have a super weekend, i know i will. Big brother and cheat meal planned for tonight, just chillin, then taking my godson to a carboot sale tomorrow, hes just turned two, hes ace. Then out tomorrow night on the town (hopefully if i can drag someone out). Chillin sunday.

Have a good one.

Alex

Hey,

Please check out, input on and motivate my friend in his new journal. I train with this guy and he is a good mate. Could be good to see two sides to the story. ;)

He has tons of mass and will be a great transformation.

http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?p=159727

Thanks
:tu:

Struggling to maintain my fecal cohesion. Been sick since Thursday. I'm about 90% right now... hope to be back and operating 100% by tomorrow. For now, I've got to keep this short. More to come later if I can...

-R

Struggling to maintain my fecal cohesion.

-R

That term is now officially stolen, on account of it being completely awesome.

Feel better, sir.

- Matt.

Well blue, i write this message from home, on my couch, in my room, in sweat pants and my JSF tshirt, offically classed as ill. ;)

It started with feeling sick and hot last night, i slept for 13 hours (didnt go into work first thing, then went into work, sat at my desk, felt like i was going to burst into flames, wrote two urgent letters and then was sent home by all who saw me. It does mean no gym, and eating is making me feel a bit quezy, but i REFUSE to not eat. Period. I put too much in to starve myself now. Missing the gym is one thing, i can make up for that later in the week (hopefully) but not eating, for me, means you can practically see the mass vanish into thin air. Seriously.

Its a shame really as the weekend was my best yet in terms of diet and workouts. I got to the gym saturday and had a great cardio session, and apart from 2 cheat meal of a pizza and a chinese (which really wasnt that bad) i did great with my diet, and it really shows. I took a few new snaps, ill get them up later.

So me and you is layed up dude. Bummer. It seems your probably worse then me, but at least this has returned some "balance to the force" so to speak.

Heres to gettin well soon.

That term is now officially stolen, on account of it being completely awesome.
Ha! Bluestreak, of all your great quotes here on this message board, "fecal cohesion" is the one that makes it to plagerized status. :lol:

Hope you guys are feeling better soon!

Ha! Bluestreak, of all your great quotes here on this message board, "fecal cohesion" is the one that makes it to plagerized status.

Somehow I was credited with "manscaping" too, but admittedly, I stole that one from a source I can't remember. :lol: I guess I should have said that I have negative fecal cohesion today. I just can't get my shit together.

So me and you is layed up dude. Bummer. It seems your probably worse then me, but at least this has returned some "balance to the force" so to speak.

We're a mess, Alex. Ride it out and get better.

I don't think I'm all that bad right now, but I'm definitely having "issues" with post-illness recovery this time around. I've got a bad case of "the shakes" right now. A serious headache. Feels like a mule is trying to kick my eyes out from inside my head because of the relentless sinus pressure. I'm operating on about 5 hours of sleep from last night. It's just the culmination of all these little things - then you lump on top the fact that work's a bit slow... and I've got lots of small nagging tasks to be taken care of that are just grating on my last, frayed nerve.

I just have this exhausted feeling that I can't shake. I think I will skip any further gym activity today and make a beeline for the house as soon as the five o'clock whistle rings. If I can just get home and rest a little, I think I'll be fine for tomorrow. Hopefully you'll be over yours in a day or two as well.

All our dietary vigilance... all our effort to take better care of ourselves... and we still get floored by colds. Life just ain't fair. :confused:

-R

This week has just been a wash trying to get over the cold, dealing with stress at work, and generally feeling like crapola. Alex... you back on your feet at all yet?

With any luck, I'll get plenty of rest tonight and I'll evaluate how I feel over the next 24 hours as to when I return to the gym. Nutrition is staying on track - I won't let myself slide there anymore.

-R

Alex, buddy... I'm gettin' worried over here. Hope this cold didn't floor you that bad...

We're under three weeks to vacation. Oh, how I need it. And the physique is coming along. I'm lagging on pics (big surprise there!) but I'll take some tomorrow. I needed to stay on the wagon today as we're off to a party tonight and I wanted to look my best. I need to refeed on something tomorrow or I'm going to crazy in the nearest McDonald's or something. My body is really craving junk for some reason the past few days. I'm not giving in... I haven't and won't until I have a meal that'll back the cravings off.

Other than that... good workout today... gonna go tomorrow to. Get some cardio done.

Hope you're feeling better Ted.

-R

Floored is not the word.

Never in all my life have i been ill enough to warrent an entire week off work. Until now.

Today im back in and still not feeling good, though a lot better then last week.

Saw the doctor, he diagnosed either a sinus infection, or a random virus. And he diagnosed me just by looking at me. Thats pretty amazing, what a doctor. He tells me i have a virus or an infection. No shit Sherlock. And GP's say they work too hard. Oh yer, someone pay me 40 g a year to tell people they have undiagnosable viruses without even taking my f**ing temperature or a blood test. Wankers.

So im out of action for all last week and this week. Aint no way i could work out in this state, i can barely work!

No good. No good at all.

I know the feeling. It's been 11 days since I got sick, and I'm still feeling a little bit of an after-effect of the cold. I finish up my antibiotics today. Rest, recover, then regroup my friend.

Cardio only today. T-Minus 18 days; there's not much I can do now except stay the path as best I can until 7/1. Losing last week to illness/recovery was a big hit! I was 140.0 lbs. this morning - my projections, taking a look at them, said I'd be 139.0 by today, so I'm not far off where I wanted to be. I'm a full 4~5 lbs. heavier than I was at this same body fat around Xmas - I'm hoping the bulk of that weight is lean mass addition. Probably about time I got body fat testing done. Oh yeah... and pictures! :o I took some ... I think it was Fri/Sat. Can't remember. Now I just have to get them downloaded and posted.

-R

Ha! I finally did it. Here's tonight's pictures.

-R

I think you guys both got a bit of the "challenge curse". It seems like at least one really awful setback happens to anyone entering one of these challenges... Blue, remember when I got pneumonia during our last challenge? Ugh, that was the lowset I have ever felt... ever!

Anyway, you're looking great in your pics. You should have no problem looking buff on the beach for your trip... hey, you already look buff. Good job sticking to the plan when the junk food was calling. :tucool:

Blue, I see a lot more muscle definition over your pics on page 4. Waist is more trim too, especially from the back.

Slush,

You're right. If I'm involved in a challenge, you can bet your ass it'll be a challenge. Just call me the anchor around the challengers' necks... :D ... 'cept this time around, I got sick too... if anyone really wants a challenge, just invite me to join... :p

Blue, I see a lot more muscle definition over your pics on page 4. Waist is more trim too, especially from the back.

My "fatback" is finally starting to dissipate - that's the best feeling I've had in ages. I have long since had this mental stigma that my lower-back, lovehandle, and abdominal fat were permanently affixed. I have trudged on day after day with the blind faith that if I stay the path, it'll come off. A long fight, but damnit, it's coming off now...

I've made a pact with myself that I will take advantage of the gym at the resort this time - no compromises. Since we already know the routine for the resort... I know I can I get my ass up from bed in the morning, hit the gym, and then the rest of the day is mine. I can donate an hour a day - I do it when I'm home and busier than a one-armed wallpaper hanger, so I can do it on vacation. And I love how I look pumped up... and I need to try to stay on the wagon and in the habit of hitting the gym. This vacation last year signaled a downward spiral that I'm only recently finally recovering from and I'm not going to let myself lose momentum. I know that's a bad idea for me.

Anyhoo, we're 16 days and a wakeup from getting outta dodge. It'll be nice to be isolated from the world in that tropical paradise. No Internet, no cell phone service, no TV, no nothing. Just peace and relaxation.

I worked out upper body this morning (chest, tri, abs). A good workout, but I'm still a bit fatigued from whatever that bug was that I caught. I've been putting off my leg workout because of it. I can't do a leg workout without going balls-to-the-wall, and I just haven't quite had the strength for it. If I don't feel like I'm just on the verge of puking, I haven't pushed legs hard enough. I can't push that hard if I'm not operating at 100%+.

Alex... how're you feeling? As I said... I'm still feeling the aftereffects of my cold...

-R

Well, i have taken this week off as official recovery week. I dont want to overdo things and get ill again, apart from anything else, i cannot afford the time off work right now. Busy busy.

I took some new pics and am having a good think about what direction to take myself when i kick back in next week. The lower belly is not as tight as i would like, but there is little fat left anywhere else. If i drop much lower in BF, i dont think i will like the way everything else looks.

I have come to the conclusion that i can drop BF pretty darn well when i do what i know works. And i can do so without much lean mass loss. However, one thing i struggle to do is put mass on. Believe you me, it took a lot of training to get to where i am, even in my before pics i had been lifting for a while.

So i may go on an all out bulk. Eat big, lift big and just let the weight pile on. Dont worry too much about gaining fat, though i dont mean eating junk. I will have to eat A LOT to gain. And i can stip the BF away well, so why not ? 170lbs would be an awsome weight. Maybe i will make that my goal. You see right now i havent really got much of a goal. I need new focus. And i NEED to start the cardio going.

Then again, i may just keep cutting. I dont know. I will think this one over.

Either way blue, i aint leaving the challenge. We will push each other till your holiday no matter what. :)

laters.

You are right where I want to be with respect to body composition. I still have at least a few percentage points to drop before I hit that degree of leanness and definitely won't make it that far by the time we leave in 15 days.

The good news is I'm now at my lightest since Xmas '04. I weighed in at 138.5-lbs. and things are really starting to lean out. If I wasn't late getting up and out to the office (see my journal (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showpost.php?p=164866&postcount=230)), I'd have set up the camera and taken a picture or three for posterity.

It probably helped that my date and I had a few drinks last before and after the concert, so I'm a bit dehydrated from the booze. Man, what water weight will hide in your physique is just insane! I literally did a double-take in my groggy morning wakeup state when I walked past the bathroom mirror. All I had was a few light beers, but holy crap... I know for a fact that my metabolism is in turbo mode - I was barely through the first beer and I was tipsy. Drinking wasn't a bright idea because as I say, it can bring the liver's fat transport function to a halt while the alcohol is being dealt with. Eh. It was a fun show and we had an awesome time.

We'll get you through the bulk phase. I have no problems keeping tabs on things even if our goals are not congruent. We can continue this as long as we wish - who says we can't? We make the rules in this thread! I may even buy some Internet/web time at the resort in JA so I can report in once or twice - if I have to be report in and be accountable, I'll actually use the resort gym like I'd like to make sure I do. Yeah, I know I said I wanted to be disconnected from the world, but I do have the option (and it might be a good idea to use it) if I want to...

Just be cautious and don't overdo it with the job and working... it ain't worth a relapse.

-R

Well, i have taken this week off as official recovery week. I dont want to overdo things and get ill again, apart from anything else, i cannot afford the time off work right now. Busy busy.

I took some new pics and am having a good think about what direction to take myself when i kick back in next week. The lower belly is not as tight as i would like, but there is little fat left anywhere else. If i drop much lower in BF, i dont think i will like the way everything else looks.

I have come to the conclusion that i can drop BF pretty darn well when i do what i know works. And i can do so without much lean mass loss. However, one thing i struggle to do is put mass on. Believe you me, it took a lot of training to get to where i am, even in my before pics i had been lifting for a while.

So i may go on an all out bulk. Eat big, lift big and just let the weight pile on. Dont worry too much about gaining fat, though i dont mean eating junk. I will have to eat A LOT to gain. And i can stip the BF away well, so why not ? 170lbs would be an awsome weight. Maybe i will make that my goal. You see right now i havent really got much of a goal. I need new focus. And i NEED to start the cardio going.

Then again, i may just keep cutting. I dont know. I will think this one over.

Either way blue, i aint leaving the challenge. We will push each other till your holiday no matter what. :)

laters.
Tricky, Reno. I really don't see a lot of room for improvement in those pics. I don't think you'd look any better smaller (are you sure there's fat on those abs?), but I don't see a big need to pile on mass either. If you do a bulk, I agree that doing it big is the way to go. I'm a little envious of these people that are cutting and bulking, because they get to experience the high of seeing amazing results, whereas people that are maintaining just keep seeing the same damn thing over and over again.

Enjoy your recovery week. :whistle:

Alex!

We're slackin', man... we're slackin'. Where you be at? How are you feeling? Have you been back to the gym?

We are now single digits to vacation! Nine days and a wakeup...

I have been lax in doing my cardio. I've been so freakin' pleased with myself and my progress lately that I've laid off it. I have been a Nazi on my diet, though, with only a few Taco Bell taco's as my cheat for the whole weekend (no pizza! I was so proud of myself for showing restraint Saturday night...). I have kept calories in the 1,650~1,750 range to compensate for the reduction in cardiovascular activity. I've upped the intensity of my lifting (by shortening the rest period b/w sets) to try to keep the heart rate higher while lifting. I'm just not very motivated to do cardio at present, and I love the pump I've been getting from lifting, albeit lighter weights still, due to the shoulder. Which, BTW... the shoulder flared up because I was dumber than a sack of wet mice and I tried quitting my glucosamine for a week. Big mistake. I creaked, ached, and hurt in places that haven't hurt in years since starting glucosamine.

I'm going to take a new picture or two tonight for posting.

Ok... Alex, where are ya? Everything okay, my friend?

Alright... here they are. The lighting sucked, I snapped them in a total hurry, and I forgot to adjust the white balance, which is why I appear orangy-colored... damnit. The fancier the camera, the more mistakes I can make. I'm actually a nice shade of tanned brown now, not orange. :p But, no one had to poke or prod me to post my latest pics! Ha! Take that! ;)

Things are comin' along nicely.

-R

I posted a massive post and then it said "Down for daily backup". Guess it mustnt have processed.

Your right blue, we are slacking. I havent got time to go into this one now, but a long post will follow when i got the time. I got issues man, they need to be dealt with.

Man, your pics are the best yet !!! You actually look lean and defined. I dont mean that to sound surprised, im not, i knew you would get to this stage. But KEEP IT UP, dont let the next 9 days be a write off and you will be, dare i say it, pretty ripped looking for your vacation.

Nice job, Blue.

I see lots of definition all around. Enjoy your vacation. Just don't enjoy it too much :D I leave on Tuesday for mine.

I see lots of definition all around. Enjoy your vacation. Just don't enjoy it too much :D I leave on Tuesday for mine.

I'm going to need every minute of the weekend before we go back to work! I shall try not to strain myself. You do the same and enjoy, and thanks for noticing. It's nice to see the development finally comin' along. I've worked a long time for this.

-R

You guys are lookin' great - congrats... :tucool:

G

Well, here i am. Back posting in the thread again.

I made sub 9% body fat this week. Looking in the mirror, id say my cut is done. I will get pics posted this evening. Hopefully.

Its been a tough few weeks recently. Ive been suffering from various symtoms consistently for a while now. If you ignore my week where i was proper ill, i have been getting headaches, sore eyes, low moods, tiredness and an inability to concentrate. I still managed my cut. But its been real tough.

After a blood test, which came back as perfect, i have decided the root couse of this is stress.

The funny thing is, i dont in my mind feel stressed. Though now i look back in hinsight, this has possibly been the most stressful period of my life to date. I guess maybe, though your mind tells you your fine, your doing ok, A1 etc, your body doesnt always follow suit.

To say ive been thrown in the deep end at work is an understatement. Its all new to me in this job, but its the job that i could really enjoy for the rest of my life if the band doesnt work out, you know. I could see myself in this enviroment in 20 years time, and i didnt think i would find a job like that. And i want to do so well at it in order to move onwards that im really pushing myself every way i can. I also lost someone very close to me at the start of this challenge, which is having an effect on both me and my family. Couple that with trying to organise a household, a band and train on a caloric deficit, and looking at it, i guess i aint doing myself any favours. At least, though, i can see this all now.

So this week marks the start of a new chapter. Funny how you can devide life up like that. I am pulling myself out of the mire and back into focus. Im going to chill more, relax more and worry less. As the stress factors are going to be present for a while, and as my cut is done anyways, im going to bulk for a while. I could use the extra calories these next few months. Besides, as good as i feel i look right now, im sub 11 stone, which i dont like being. It aint no good for rugby.

Im also going to train harder, which is something ive been lacking the past few weeks. It may sound counter productive to train harder when im stressed, but, training makes me less stressed and not going makes me more stressed. Plus i NEED to get going for rugby next season and the fact that im not is adding to the stress. So its a good thing. I will put extra effort into work, in the right ways, to get back ontop so i can relax more and i will get more organised back at home.

This week feels like a positive week. I have even joined a new gym to mark this change. I have trained 3 times this week, with rugby training tonight and then the gym again twice tomorrow. And im still doing legs and making great gains there. I feel better already.

Blue, i apologise for not being around these last few weeks. Ive been lurcking, just not posting. :) Enjoy your vacation dude and keep us updated if you pass a Hedonist net cafe. I expect pics when you return. And i want pre holiday pics with befores side by side so we can see what you come up with in this time frame. I will do the same. I hope we carry on this thread after you return. Ill post my bulking goals and you can post your "perfection" goals. We'll hit em together, you and me dude.

On a side note, we had the best gig ever last weekend. We taped it and if anyone would like to see it, let me know. It was really a top show. I had my shirt undone, stood on a raised step, rocking out solos with the lights flashing upon me, and enjoying my new sub 9% body. Sounds arrogant, but hey, im a lead guitarist damn it. Thats what i do. ;)

Heres to chilling out. Keep on truckin'

:tu:

Blue, i apologise for not being around these last few weeks. Ive been lurcking, just not posting. Enjoy your vacation dude and keep us updated if you pass a Hedonist net cafe. I expect pics when you return. And i want pre holiday pics with befores side by side so we can see what you come up with in this time frame. I will do the same. I hope we carry on this thread after you return. Ill post my bulking goals and you can post your "perfection" goals. We'll hit em together, you and me dude.

No apologies necessary my friend. I knew if you weren't here, you had a good reason not to be. I'll buy some time in the Internet cafe when we get there so I can chime in on things here and there. I was considering tossing our laptop in the suitcases so I could download pictures, but the computer is so old, it doesn't have USB ports!

On a side note, we had the best gig ever last weekend. We taped it and if anyone would like to see it, let me know. It was really a top show. I had my shirt undone, stood on a raised step, rocking out solos with the lights flashing upon me, and enjoying my new sub 9% body. Sounds arrogant, but hey, im a lead guitarist damn it. Thats what i do.

Damn straight that's what we do! I'm considering re-prioritizing things later this summer so I can go out and get involved in a live band situation. No more waiting around for other people I want to work with to come around. If I keep waiting for that perfect situation, I'll never get out there and play again, and I've worked too hard to let these fingers waste away in my backroom for the rest of my existence.

And yes - if you have the show digitally, I'll reopen the FTP on my server at home and you can upload it to me. I'd be very interested to see the vid.

Yes, we'll continue this thread when I get home from Negril. With plenty of pics to follow. Good to see you back and getting things into focus.

-R

T-Minus 29-Hours to Jamaica

Alex,

This vacation last year signaled the start a downward spiral that took better than 8 months to recover from. From coming home from vacation last July, to dealing with three hurricanes, subsequent injury to the shoulder, the holidays, then more injury recovery and physical therapy this past winter... I've only found a good groove since February, and I doubt I'd be as far along without some eyes on me. I can only express my thanks for the support and encouragement of my partner in this melee as well as the rest of the collective for their input.

Looking back, this thread has helped keep me on the straight and narrow. We shall continue what we started when I return from the Carribean. I have more work to do and with this forum, I think I can get 'er done.

Now if only it'd stop raining long enough for me to cut my freaking grass before I get on the plane tomorrow. :p We're approaching the record rainfall totals for the month of June, and it seems like the weather today is going try its best to topple that record. I pity the poor tourists who came all this way to see "The Sunshine State" - they've only seen dismal rainy skies. The last time I remember this kind of constant rain in our area - it's been years - it was the first year I had my Trans Am, back in '99.

I'm off to close out my work for the week and get the hell outta here.

-R

Alex!

We're not done with this yet, buddy. I just haven't had time to give much thought to where I want to head towards with the next effort and when I want to achieve it.

I should have some downtime at some point over the next few days, and I'll give it some brain power at that time.

-R