I think there are two major factors at play here...
First, my diet. This time around I'm not eating any processed foods (my foods were not nearly as "clean" in 2006), I'm not over-eating (which I clearly was in 2006) and I'm not having any cheat meals (I had at least one cheat per week in 2006, and they were quite "dirty").
Was eating some of the processed foods part of the SUP2 bulking protocol?
Stats: 5'5", somewhere around 125 pounds or so, near 17-20 %
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Stone
Wait, did you just say I have little baby shoulders?
Just catching up on your progress. Normally, I'm more enthusiastic about cutting results, but I like the results of this most recent bulk.
Were you specifically targetting hamstrings in the past few months, or did this growth come about incidentally?
I've always thought that your front pose looked a little bit awkward and bowed out; almost like your knee was trying to support too great of a load. But now with these new hamstrings (and they really do look new!), your leg looks like a completely different structure.
I'm always amazed at how amazingly consistent your progress photos are. Do you actually measure how far apart you put your feet, or is the distance somewhat guaged by your monster quads?
__________________ Looking forward to spending time with you again and having my family experience the essence of P'dude. ~Seltzer
Stats: 6', 199.6 pounds, 12.4% body fat (maintaining)
Quote:
Originally Posted by JONESY_87
Looking unreal John. As you said you are becomming more balanced in your appearance. I still have such a long way to go...
One day at a time, and remember to enjoy the process. You'll look back on these days fondly, I promise you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by boots
How's that foam roller working for you?
Quote:
Originally Posted by guava
Just catching up on your progress. Normally, I'm more enthusiastic about cutting results, but I like the results of this most recent bulk.
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by guava
Were you specifically targetting hamstrings in the past few months, or did this growth come about incidentally?
I worked my hamstrings no harder than any other muscle group. I think the reason for their growth is primarily due to my genetics combined with the intensity techniques I used this time around. I seem to respond very well to fairly high volume combined with short rest intervals, giant sets, supersets, drop sets, negatives, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by guava
I've always thought that your front pose looked a little bit awkward and bowed out; almost like your knee was trying to support too great of a load. But now with these new hamstrings (and they really do look new!), your leg looks like a completely different structure.
Thank you very much. I agree that the leg development you've noted has helped (aesthetically) a lot. I have weird knees (I don't think I would call my knees "knock kneed", they are just odd), so I was fighting an uphill battle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by guava
I'm always amazed at how amazingly consistent your progress photos are. Do you actually measure how far apart you put your feet, or is the distance somewhat guaged by your monster quads?
Well, in the old days I did have tape marks on the floor. But after we moved I never bothered, and just do it by feel. I guess after you've taken hundreds and hundreds of photos in the exact same position, you start to develop a knack for it.
Stats: 6', 199.6 pounds, 12.4% body fat (maintaining)
Today after my leg workout (), I started looking through some pictures I took of myself at the beginning of my bulk...
The first set of photos I took was after my October 2, 2008 Back & Bicep workout. That workout was the very first back/bicep workout of my current bulk, and I was extremely out of shape. When I looked at the pictures I took, I was shocked and horrified: I couldn't believe how much size I had lost, and how far I'd fallen over the past year. I mean, I knew I'd lost a lot of size and didn't look very good, but the pictures were like a slap in the face.
Once I got over the initial shock of how bad I looked, I decided right then and there that I was going to put everything I had into getting back to my former self. After 15 weeks of non-stop brutal workouts (and with two weeks to go on my bulk) I can finally say that I accomplished my goal. I feel great, I'm setting personal strength records every week and I got my physique back.
This bulk has been one of the biggest highlights of my journey thus far. I want to thank everyone who has supported me over the years, and especially over the past 15 weeks. It's made all the difference.
You guys never saw the picture I'm about to post because I was too ashamed to post it. In fact, I almost deleted it when I first saw it. I'll never let myself slide like I did in 2008 again.
I want to point out that I've been this big (actually, bigger) before. There is no way I could have put on this kind of size in 15 weeks otherwise (at least not naturally).
Beastly. Very dramatic difference. I think it looks as dramatic as it does because of how lacking in fat this bulk has been. 22lbs gained and about 75% of it was lean. You actually look leaner and more muscular, rather than just looking exactly the same as before, just bigger.
If you play your cards as well on your cut as you have on your bulk, it seems like this may be the first cut where you stay over 200lbs. Having only gained a handful of pounds in fat, and not having all that much to begin with, the end of cut situation should definitely be interesting.
First off, awesome change over the past few months. It's REALLY evident when you post side-by-side photos. More proof of the power of taking photos.
Also, I just took a back shot and my right scapula area looks just like yours. It's appears "raised" a bit. Is that the side that gives/has given you problems in the past? I only ask because I get tight in that area often and the pictures I took looks incredibly similar.
Also, I just took a back shot and my right scapula area looks just like yours. It's appears "raised" a bit. Is that the side that gives/has given you problems in the past? I only ask because I get tight in that area often and the pictures I took looks incredibly similar.
Weird, do you have any tightness/problems in the area ever? I know John has had some in the past and I have as well. Just trying to figure out if the "raised" scapula has any correlation to the pain/tightness that I experience at times.
Weird, do you have any tightness/problems in the area ever? I know John has had some in the past and I have as well. Just trying to figure out if the "raised" scapula has any correlation to the pain/tightness that I experience at times.
a bit. i think i have some rotator cuff issues in that shoulder as well from years of playing sports and making thousands of throws with my right arm. haven't really tried to figure it out yet, though i figure that's on my plate this year. what about you??
a bit. i think i have some rotator cuff issues in that shoulder as well from years of playing sports and making thousands of throws with my right arm. haven't really tried to figure it out yet, though i figure that's on my plate this year. what about you??
I played baseball all of my life (right handed) and drove a stick-shift for 5 years and use the compute way too much. I read that reaching and the like can cause problems in the shoulder and scapula area, which is what I am talking about. I have pain in the area between my right scapula and spine here and there. It's usually when I sleep weird, then lift, or I do overhead lifting without warming up.
Beastly. Very dramatic difference. I think it looks as dramatic as it does because of how lacking in fat this bulk has been. 22lbs gained and about 75% of it was lean. You actually look leaner and more muscular, rather than just looking exactly the same as before, just bigger.
I agree. One of the most impressive bulks I've seen.
On another note, the October shot just looks so "horrifying" because of how much progress you've made over the past few months, which really is insane. I'm sure 100s of people are striving to get to where you were at in October (at least aesthetically). Definitely nothing to be ashamed of.
Can't wait to see the result after you cut what little fat you did gain on this bulk.
- John Stone
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