Closer to 300!

ICEMAN

This is an update to the Exercise thread that was started, but I thought it would get lost there so I made a new thread. Mods: if you choose to move it to the Exercise thread, that's cool with me.

Last week I went to the gym and had to max out on bench presses and deadlifts to see what % of weight I'd be using for both on this new workout routine I started. In 4 weeks my max bench skyrockted 30 lbs., up to 255 lbs. and my deadlift went up 50 lbs. to 275. My weight has also gone up, from 194 pounds to 197 pounds, which is nice b/c ideally I'd like to weigh 205-210.

Hopefully I'll be at 300 for deadlift soon and the way things are progressing, I should be able to get a 300 bench sometime in the next year. My squat numbers are a bit low, but since I'm a tall guy (6-2) that's understandable. I haven't maxed out on squat yet, but am able to handle 225 for 5 reps right now.

And no, there's "illegal supplementation." The only supps I take are fish oil, multivitamin, a postworkout shake consisting of carbs and protein and I also drink a protein shake and eat a protein bar for snacks. I'm eating 6 times a day, have cut out sugar from my diet (except my postworkout shake, which contains sugar to help spike insulin levels) and make sure to get plenty of rest (8-10 hours of sleep).

I can't state this enough, lifting heavy weights will help you change your physique, but to get optimal results, you've got to eat right and get your rest so your body can recover. Remember, workout is stress and your body needs time to recover from that stress.

Sorry to sound like a PT, but I'm super-charged about exercise right now after the last month of great gains I've had. Hope everyone else is kicking ass in the gym too.

Danny Diamond

Founder/Admin

To not even weigh 200 pounds and being able to push up 275 is quite an impressive feat. Congratulations on your sucess in the weight room.

ICEMAN

Thanks Simon. My shins are pretty tore up from the deadlifts, though. But like they say, if your not bleeding, your not deadlifting properly! Just kidding (kind of).

Dr. Giganto

good stuff dj...I dont think I could do 255 anymore, and if I can, it's probably my absolute max. I gotta start lifting again...

ICEMAN

Thanks, D. Yesterday I did 205 for 10 sets of 4 (part of this new routine I'm on) and man am I sore today! I don't know what your schedule is like, but I've found that lifting first thing in the morning is the way to go, for me. That way if I get busy at work or something comes up during the day, I'll have already gotten my workout in and won't have to worry about missing a day.

Dr. Giganto

I'm not what you would call a "morning person"

I wake up at the last possible minute that still gets me to work on time

Optimal for me would me early to mid afternoon

ICEMAN

I wasn't a morning guy either and I always brushed off comments from people that lifted early in the morning and how it gave them energy throughout the day. Turns out they were right. I get up a little over an hour earlier than normal and as long as I get enough sleep during the night, I'm fine. It's the days where I've stayed up too late the night before that I find myself feeling a bit slugglish, but nothing a quick cup of coffee won't cure.

Mid-afternoon used to be my time to lift, too, but now my schedule is too busy for me to get to the gym at that time.

AudioSavior

Djwlfpack, did you get that link I sent you in PM? Good job on the lifting. I don't bench press because I am focusing on getting my stabilizers stronger and stick to db presses.


I am lucky if I can lift my left arm to beat it in the morning let alone go and lift lol. It is mid-afternoon or night for me.

I am only 5'5 and like 170 so my lifts aren't going to be the same compared to yours so I won't mention them lol.

So I go to the gym tonight for shoulders. It is such a different crowd at night then the day. I like the day crowd so much better. It is an odd bunch the night lifters. I enjoy the early afternoon group a lot more. I so look forward to hitting the gym lately.

My arm day I was pretty not into it and didn't get the workout I wanted but I did it anyway. Out of all my days I would say chest/back are my fav. I love working my chest and I see my biggest gains on chest day.

The only thing I will say is that I can curl 100 for 2 reps as my 4th set.

ICEMAN

Hey Ida. Yeah, I got your PM and link the other day, thanks.

Sounds like you're getting stronger, that's good. I prefer DB Bench to BB Bench but the program I'm on right now calls for BB Bench, so I'm sticking to that. I'll switch back here in a little bit.

My gym is dead when I go at 7 a.m. so I'm able to get in and out pretty quickly. I used to lift at 5 p.m. but it's WAY too crowded then. All the meatheads like to workout at that time and then stare fondly at the 15-year-old girls that wear nothing but a sports bra and rolled up shorts.

Dr. Giganto

*raises hand*