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I feel you. No sense in just showing up and going through the motions, that's just a waste of time.
I’m following all this and honestly, I’m pretty lost. I think I don’t really know how to work out like a body builder at all. Everything I know about lifting comes from Reddit and from Reddit the StrongLifts 5x5 app, and my X3 bar for when I travel. I think I’ve got my form dialed in because I’m not hurting myself anymore. And I do things like pauses and really slow reps and either really full range of motion or I’ll just do the hard range of the rep, like prison pushups… you don’t go all the way to the top or bottom because that’s resting. Before all that all I ever did was calisthenics. Pushups, pistol squats, pull ups, one arm push ups, planks. I could do front and rear levers and a shaky planche. Some other things. I could do one bad muscle up.
I like the power lifting lifts. I feel like I’m getting a lot out of them. Except maybe my chest and I really hate doing rows because I could pull a lot up but it always hurts my neck so I can’t actually get anything out of it. And I can’t do any curls right now because of the stupid tendinitis
You guys are doing a lot of isolation stuff, yeah? Does that make it so you can workout everyday?
I weight train 5 days a week right now, but I think I'm pushing the limit of what I should be doing. I have a hard time determining what is my maximum recoverable volume now that I'm on cycle and I'd rather overdue it then under. Guess I'm just a meathead that way lol. The big 3 powerlifting moves and some of the other compounds do have a high systemtic burden and can wear you out more. Doing more isolations can allow you to do more work, but then you're missing the benefits of the big compounds, so its really a balancing act depending on how you're feeling. Deadlifts are something I can go without for some weeks. It's literally my favorite lift but when it comes to asthetics it has the worst benefit to burden ratio. Bench I also skip a fair amount because I find I get way better chest activation from other movements. Squats are always a must for me personally because for me I find they're worth the cost. Dips and pullups are pretty much a must for me every week.
Can you do other row variations? Chest supported? T-Bar? Have you tried playing with grip types or widths? Also try dropping the weight and increasing the reps and see if that helps a bit. Focus on form, good flexion to maximize the stretch, driving through your pinkies, squeeze tight on the contraction. Try and figure out what part of the seated row causes pain and maybe that can help you figure a way around it.
Literally 90% of weight lifting is just pick weight up and put weight down. If you do that then you're literally getting 90% of the benefits. The finer details are really where you get that last little bit, and that's all the science based lifting nerdy stuff. A lot of the old school guys poo poo all this kinda stuff but I'm not really sure why. We're all chasing small improvements so why not try new techniques and see if they help right?
Don't feel like you're missing out bro. You're doing most of the work from the sounds of it and thats the main thing. NOTHING is more important than consistency. As long as you do the work every time its money in the bank. Even if you have a bad session, its better than nothing at all. Even if you can't finish a session, STILL better than nothing at all. Its all money in the bank.
For your tendonitis get yourself a thera-band flexbar and just youtube the training for it. It will help A LOT. I barely get flare ups anymore thanks to this thing. Make sure you order a light one to start. Lighter weight higher reps are better for curing the tendonitis.
For training to keep things simple I just use the RP Hypertrophy App. It can program everything for you or you can customize it yourself. Each movement has video explanations telling you cues and form. It's really good for tracking purposes and the UI is great. Its designed for hypertrophy unlike a lot of other apps that focus more on powerlifting.
I would love to workout more often, but I think I’m on the right track for what I’m trying to do for now. If I can ever work my way into a desk though I’m going to go full body builder mode.
I think I can do anything but bent over rows. Like I can do them but any real weight just pulls on my old neck injury and it’s a hard no. I’m working out under a carport ghetto as all hell until one of these kids moves out, then I’ll build a home gym. So right now it’s just a garage sale squat rack, a bench, and Olympic plates from Amazon. I can only really find time to go to a gym in the winter, but they’re always packed. I can’t do it.
I’m going to get that flex bar right now! My left arm is my dominant skiing arm, and it has the tendinitis right now. It’s sucking bad. I’m performing in a water ski show twice a week, practicing twice at least, plus a tournament Saturday and at least two more this season. It’s never going to heal like this…
@toddthelineman you aren't missing out brother and i know all of this is hard with tracking and if you've never seen actual bodybuilders or people who are competitive or taking it super serious, this can all be overwhelming from the outside looking in, i agree with @BeMe you are doing a fantastic job and don't feel like you are missing out on anything, as long as you see results and you progress over time that is all that matters, alot of what i talk about is more intermediate/advanced by design. BE follows my log and took an interest in how i think and how i work, so sometimes he asks me questions that i put alot of details in so he can full see it from how i see it and apply it himself if he so wishes, alot of the stuff i do or talk about came from a very long time of trianing and experimenting for what is best for my body and my goals long term, alot of what i say can apply for anyone in various different degrees, always happy to help or explain something 
Right on, man! I’ll get there. I’m really just building a base still, I think, but I like seeing how other people are doing it.@toddthelineman you aren't missing out brother and i know all of this is hard with tracking and if you've never seen actual bodybuilders or people who are competitive or taking it super serious, this can all be overwhelming from the outside looking in, i agree with @BeMe you are doing a fantastic job and don't feel like you are missing out on anything, as long as you see results and you progress over time that is all that matters, alot of what i talk about is more intermediate/advanced by design. BE follows my log and took an interest in how i think and how i work, so sometimes he asks me questions that i put alot of details in so he can full see it from how i see it and apply it himself if he so wishes, alot of the stuff i do or talk about came from a very long time of trianing and experimenting for what is best for my body and my goals long term, alot of what i say can apply for anyone in various different degrees, always happy to help or explain something
Lol that's crazy, I used to water ski in tournaments too and I would always get tendonitis after. Now I only ski a couple times a year to make my mom happy and man there's a lot of muscles you just can't train for when it comes to slalom skiing. I'm sore for days after everytime...but it makes my mom happy so I gotta do it. She's already bugging me to go this year and the lake is still freezing cold lol.
Bro as long as you're doing something, doesn't matter the equipment or conditions, just something then that's 90% of the battle. If you stay consistent and eat then you'll gain. I know enough guys that came outta prison jacked and all they ate was carbs and sugar and no gym. Dudes always come out fat or jacked lol
Well said! Plus some of us are just geekier about it than others and go way overboard at times lol @toddthelineman@toddthelineman you aren't missing out brother and i know all of this is hard with tracking and if you've never seen actual bodybuilders or people who are competitive or taking it super serious, this can all be overwhelming from the outside looking in, i agree with @BeMe you are doing a fantastic job and don't feel like you are missing out on anything, as long as you see results and you progress over time that is all that matters, alot of what i talk about is more intermediate/advanced by design. BE follows my log and took an interest in how i think and how i work, so sometimes he asks me questions that i put alot of details in so he can full see it from how i see it and apply it himself if he so wishes, alot of the stuff i do or talk about came from a very long time of trianing and experimenting for what is best for my body and my goals long term, alot of what i say can apply for anyone in various different degrees, always happy to help or explain something
I think @Noah Wixx and I are both a bit geeky when it comes to lifting. It just sounds crazier than it really is cuz of the terminology and things like that.
You got the meat and potatoes @toddthelineman bro. What were talking about is just the BBQ sauce on the side lol.
That’s crazy dude. We’re like alternate reality versions of each other hahaha. I do show skiing, so I’m carrying chicks that climb into pyramids. It’s very challenging for me, and I was the worst skier on the team for yeeeeaaaaars because they start when they’re 6 and I was like 32 lol. I also barefoot and trick ski, but barely show worthy.
Crazy that your lake is still so cold. A couple years ago some friends and I took skiing Christmas pictures in December hahaha. We’re all nuts here. I’ll go in 40° water and 40° air.
I know so many people that grew up behind a boat that don’t do it anymore. My son refused to ski until he moved back in with me at 18, and Saturday he made his first slalom deep start. My daughter skis about 8-10 times a year, and still enjoys it. We were ski partners in the show for like five years until she had scoliosis surgery and didn’t want to be the top of a four tier pyramid anymore. She’s gymnast size so the team always pressured her to do it and she just stopped going.
I did get big and strong as hell in jail. If I had actually gotten hard time I would be huge. All that grits and baloney had me at 195 in just three months, still with abs. And I couldn’t weigh myself until I got home from 3 days on the bus!
. All this clean eating is not the same hahahaRight now, I’m trying to reconcile that if I can’t gain weight at this workload, with this heat, that’s ok. I’m still getting stronger. That will eventually equal mass on the scale when the time is right.
Yeah brother you aren't kidding we are mote so nerds with the analysis lol
Yea it's awesome lol
Holy shit that's so cool. You do the pyramid, that's sick! Barefoot skiing is bad ass too! I was always to scared to do it cuz our lake is weedy and has sticks and I've heard stories about people ripping their feet right open on a piece of lake garbage. Man that's so cool. Those ski shows must be a crazy workout! Between the training, work, and the shows you're gonna be yolked and peeled by the end of summer. Just stay the course bro!That’s crazy dude. We’re like alternate reality versions of each other hahaha. I do show skiing, so I’m carrying chicks that climb into pyramids. It’s very challenging for me, and I was the worst skier on the team for yeeeeaaaaars because they start when they’re 6 and I was like 32 lol. I also barefoot and trick ski, but barely show worthy.
Crazy that your lake is still so cold. A couple years ago some friends and I took skiing Christmas pictures in December hahaha. We’re all nuts here. I’ll go in 40° water and 40° air.
I know so many people that grew up behind a boat that don’t do it anymore. My son refused to ski until he moved back in with me at 18, and Saturday he made his first slalom deep start. My daughter skis about 8-10 times a year, and still enjoys it. We were ski partners in the show for like five years until she had scoliosis surgery and didn’t want to be the top of a four tier pyramid anymore. She’s gymnast size so the team always pressured her to do it and she just stopped going.
I did get big and strong as hell in jail. If I had actually gotten hard time I would be huge. All that grits and baloney had me at 195 in just three months, still with abs. And I couldn’t weigh myself until I got home from 3 days on the bus!
Right now, I’m trying to reconcile that if I can’t gain weight at this workload, with this heat, that’s ok. I’m still getting stronger. That will eventually equal mass on the scale when the time is right.
You could gain weight if you dirty bulk but it's not worth it to your long term health. Stick with it and the gains will come. You could always try something to boost your appetite? GH or MK77?
I did cave and start my gh last night. Nobody noticed it’s in my log hahaha. Now I’m trying not to fall asleep before I’m done eating
Barefooting is super tough. More exciting than skydiving. Absolutely it is very dangerous. The chick that got me into show skiing was competing for world comp. Broke her neck practicing. She’s a partial quadriplegic? They had to run new nerves for her to move her hands some. Very sad. The way she moved on the water was unreal. Made me look like a baby deer
Damn that's sad to hear. Hopefully neuralink or a company like that will be able to help people like her.
When I was young I was always pushing to get shoulder down and took a couple bad falls with minor concussions. Now I just take it easy and ski good enough to make my mom smile.
Your pyramid could be really dangerous. Remember Jaws
Yeah people get hurt for sure. There’s little kids in it even. Like 13 year old gymnasts climbing five high. It’s terrifying when they fall forward. I sure don’t remember jaws lol
Log Day 67
Going to start posting pictures of my meals and my logs. I ate the same thing all day everyday with the exception of dinner so I'll just post a photo of that each day.
Training was really good yesterday, figuring out the @Noah Wixx warm up working set. Why is it harder than my actual sets lol. Threw in some drop sets. I'm going to start doing extra work on my arms to try and help them catch up to my chest and back. My arms have gotten bigger but my side profile is so thick now it's making them look smaller.
Does NPP effect your sleep? I feel like I'm not sleeping as deeply as I usually do.
Going to start posting pictures of my meals and my logs. I ate the same thing all day everyday with the exception of dinner so I'll just post a photo of that each day.
Training was really good yesterday, figuring out the @Noah Wixx warm up working set. Why is it harder than my actual sets lol. Threw in some drop sets. I'm going to start doing extra work on my arms to try and help them catch up to my chest and back. My arms have gotten bigger but my side profile is so thick now it's making them look smaller.
Does NPP effect your sleep? I feel like I'm not sleeping as deeply as I usually do.
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I told you brother it is no joke and a challenge if you do it exact in the way i describe, glad it has added a level of difficulty, that will help with progressing in overload and endurance over time
lets get it 
Definitely more of a hockey guy but also like baseball and American football.
Last night was pretty sad @Masonic Bodybuilder
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