JMike progress pics and thoughts

jmike · Sat, March 24th, 2012, 06:20 PM

got tired of spinning my wheels and flipping from 5x5 to 4x15 w/ 3 days splits and back again and enlisted the help of mastover.

i wanted places to post pics of my progress and thoughts. so i am starting a progress pics and thought thread.

history:
started working out on my own, looking through forums and figuring out what i wanted to do July 2011, with a break from mid-january to the end of february. (was supposed to be mid-february - but i got sick and had to skip 2 weeks).

I have been working on bulking and strength gains that entire time. My weight has been bouncing between 221 and 203 since then, usually staying in the 212 - 217 range. My body fat has gone from 30% down to 18% and is probably at around 19-20% right now.

Goals:
Short term - finish bulking with a 1 month volumizing routine with Mastover.

Mid term - sign up for the 3 month fat loss exercise and nutrition with Mastover so i can look like i always wanted to.

Long term - learn the exercise and nutrition aspects so i can change whatever part of my body displeases me.

jmike · Sat, March 24th, 2012, 06:22 PM

My 30 day progress picture from July 2011

weight 220-ish
BF% 28-ish

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmike

30 day progress pictures

jmike · Sat, March 24th, 2012, 06:54 PM

Here are the pics of where i am now

i still have a ton of fat to get rid of

i apologize for the pictures - there aren't very many mirrors in bagram

user786 · Sun, March 25th, 2012, 01:45 PM

Looks Like you got a Lot of muscle

user786 · Sun, March 25th, 2012, 01:46 PM

Looks Like you got a Lot of muscle

your lats look huge

jmike · Sun, March 25th, 2012, 01:52 PM

thanks for the positive feedback

been working my butt off for anything i could gain. i want to finish getting big by April 20th.

Then i want to cut as much fat as i can so i can actually see what i have been working for.

I want to finish by July 19th 2012 (i finish my contract in Afghanistan then and get to go home to see my amazing wife)

i don't think anything will be as satisfying as watching her jaw drop. It's my motivator.

OneGTR · Sun, March 25th, 2012, 05:33 PM

you can tell in your overall body size and your face looks smaller.

jmike · Sun, March 25th, 2012, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneGTR

you can tell in your overall body size and your face looks smaller.

thanks

jmike · Tue, March 27th, 2012, 12:48 PM

mastover is killing my legs .. they will be sore 2 days after a lower body session.

i did squats and have realized how jacked my form is, i have been watching video's to fix my problems, i think my lower back is my weak part.

i got dizzy doing squats with 135 and even 95 pounds was a challenge. i am going to try and make sure i get my squats 2 times a week to i can kick the crap out of them like they kick the crap out of me.

jmike · Tue, March 27th, 2012, 01:46 PM

on a positive note -- my chest/biceps/lats are feeling fuller

jmike · Tue, March 27th, 2012, 09:28 PM

i veered off the plan today -- it was a planned rest day

but my workout buddy knocked at my door and wanted a spotter for his 1 rep max

i couldn't resist the urge to check mine as well

10x135
5x185
1x225
1x245
0x255 [rep attempt failure]
2x225

i took 6 weeks off starting mid-january -- 4 weeks planned and 2 weeks sick ... 1 rep max after being sick was 225 -- i felt like a big ol' sissy ... i feel better now

but i lost 4 pounds of water weight between yesterday and today .. 220 down to 216

Whoracle · Tue, March 27th, 2012, 10:34 PM

225 ain't nothing to be ashamed of, especially after being sick. Keep it up man.

jmike · Tue, March 27th, 2012, 11:29 PM

thanks whoracle

it just hurt my pride a little ... it will recover eventually

LarssonCrew · Wed, March 28th, 2012, 12:15 PM

Is that bench, squat, DL?

jmike · Wed, March 28th, 2012, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarssonCrew

Is that bench, squat, DL?

bench

i completely fail at squats --- my lower back is a weak point (i have a herniated disc)

DL i can do 5x275

-- edit --

and when i say i fail at squats ... i can do 225 to paralel .. but ass to grass i have a hard time with 135

jmike · Thu, March 29th, 2012, 01:17 PM

angry day -- pretty sure the guys that manage my network accounts are retarded

i would like to stab them in the face

user786 · Thu, March 29th, 2012, 07:13 PM

I would start with the 4 x week upper lower ... as you progress further into your cut and your bodyfat / calories drop you may find that it would be better to add extra rest day and drop to three times a week.

in all honesty its a lot of trial and error. your current bench is bout 245 at the moment so if in 3 months you dropped fat can still bench around 235 your doing great

same with other lifts .

realistically you will drop some strength as you getting lighter but you wanna minimise this as much as possible.

of course we all have bad workouts but if you find a trend of your lifts getting weaker and weaker then you need to reasees as it indicates that your are losing lean mass. (note this may not happen hell you may get stronger!! ).

jmike · Thu, March 29th, 2012, 07:26 PM

i think that might be demoralizing for me

i worked my butt off and spent most of the past year with DOMS to get here

i guess it is time to do some more studying to see what i can do to get cut and keep strong

jmike · Thu, March 29th, 2012, 11:30 PM

V-Squat -
10x144
10x234
8x324
12x234 + 8x144 (12 reps - unload - 8 reps - no rest)

cookeecrumbs · Thu, March 29th, 2012, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmike

V-Squat -
10x144
10x234
8x324
12x234 + 8x144 (12 reps - unload - 8 reps - no rest)

You so just posted these here so I'd look at you without a shirt

I'll chase that gladly... the weight and reps, of course