Darth Pooh, Sith Lord of the Honey Pot

Hola.

Here is a much easier way to post my logs (and to see comparisons).

Ate 2450 yesterday (did about 20 mins cardio on the eliptical ~250-300 calories burned) and I am going to do the same thing today... I miss it too much. Comments that my face isn't looking as thin as it used to... but still getting the too skinny comments. Eh.
 
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Hope everyone's weekend was grand.

Not much of anything here, had Bio Chemistry homework... nothing else exciting.

Measurements, Weigh-in and Pics were today.

No changes from a month ago as far as measurements go. BF is the same ~11.2%. Weight actually went down by a lb... could be a whole bunch of things however, I am going to go the 10% increase in calories this week, which would be 2420 (but for simplicities sake, I'll go with 2400 cals).

This should be interesting. I've found that my strength is increasing a bit and that makes me happy. I'd prefer the size to go with it... I thought I started seeing a "change" in the mirror, as far as size gain AND definition loss were concerned. It could also be that I haven't measured in about a month and a half, so while I did loose some measurements in that month and a half I could have gained it back in two weeks from muscle? Very doubtful and thus the reason for my increase in cals. Oddly enough, 200 extra cals a day is a lot to me... like, it's very nice to have (since I've started snacking a bit after dinner, 2-3 different snacks, it's really fun actually... cereal, PB and J, Almonds/Peanuts, Ice Cream sandwiches... sorry), but it only amounts to 2800 calories for 2 weeks, not even a 1 lb gain, I think taking this slow might really irk me some, but I know it's the right thing to do for finding that ideal situation of muscle vs. fat gain.
 
I've been very sore lately in my back... no doubt from getting rear ended last week. I think I am going to start taking it easy at the gym til I feel better.

Other than that... no real progress to report. Kind of status quo.
 
maleficent said:
if you're not feeling better -do you get yourself to a doctor... that's not something you want to mess around with..
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I saw my chiropractor yesterday. He said my back is fairly screwy (tight and my hip seems displaced), so he is going to probably work on me for a few weeks (I hope thats all) until I can get back into the gym. I wanted to avoid opening a medical claim... this sucks.
 
No gain of anything, anywhere. :(

So I am going up 200 more calories.

Sorry I have been MIA from the forums (might be a good thing to some people).

I've been quite busy with my graduate school work and my thesis paper (Advantage to Ketosis diets i.e. is there a metabolic advantage?).

I hope to get back around here soon.
 
Darth Pooh said:
No gain of anything, anywhere. :(

So I am going up 200 more calories.

Sorry I have been MIA from the forums (might be a good thing to some people).

I've been quite busy with my graduate school work and my thesis paper (Advantage to Ketosis diets i.e. is there a metabolic advantage?).

I hope to get back around here soon.
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you knew it was going to be an experiment and that it was going to take time...i hope you aren't too frustrated :)

how's the back?
 
ali said:
you knew it was going to be an experiment and that it was going to take time...i hope you aren't too frustrated :)

how's the back?
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Still tweaked a bit. I am allowed to work out, but nothing crazy. So I have been taking it easier than normal.

I know it's an experiment... and I am not FRUSTRATED as much as I am disappointed. 2600 calories will be a challenge for me I think. I will probably bump up my breakfast from 250 calories worth of oatmeal to the oatmeal, an apple, and a cheese stick. Almost a 400 calorie breakfast...
 
My bulks take me close to 4000 cals man... trust me, bulking isn't as easy as it seems!

I'm interested in hearing what you have to say in this paper. I've done a lot of looking at it in my time and given adequate protein and isocaloric diets.... there is no metabolic advantage from my perspective.
 
Steve said:
My bulks take me close to 4000 cals man... trust me, bulking isn't as easy as it seems!

I'm interested in hearing what you have to say in this paper. I've done a lot of looking at it in my time and given adequate protein and isocaloric diets.... there is no metabolic advantage from my perspective.
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I myself, don't believe in the macro nutrient advatanges when it comes to ketosis diets. I won't ignore the glaring facts that within the first six months, ketosis dieters tend to lose more, but I don't see it as significant by any means... ESPECIALLY when you look at how many ketosis dieters DON'T keep the weight off long term.

I mean, I doubt I'll EVER get to 4000 cals for my bulk (considering, historically in my life, I don't have a hard time gaining weight)... still I am getting stronger in the gym, but I don't see the physical gains I was hoping for.

How's everything with you man?
 
Hi Guys... I know it's been a long while... My master's program is pretty time consuming and when I do get a moment to relax, I'd prefer to stay away from the internet as most of my research has been via internet.

At anyrate, I thought I'd check in and just post some random thoughts... I'd love to hit up every thread I am usually in but I figure the people who know me are subscribed to this thread and will see it (hopefully).

I started my bulk in the beginning of June and have gained about 7 lbs. I personally don't know where it's at, I don't see any real size gains, but I stopped taking pictures every two weeks and decided to do it monthly, maybe I'll see it this Sunday.

I am up to 2800 calories a day, still following a routine suggested by Steve. I've been told by guys at the gym (and my gut tells me they shouldn't be listened to) that I should probably keep my routine changing every two months but I feel since this is my first time bulking, I'd like to wait until the 4-5 month and see some results before I change anything. I think guys need to change it up if they've been doing it frequently for years and need to shock muscle groups and/or prevent boredom. I am not bored yet. I have seen some strength gains... nothing like OMG I AM SO BUFF now type crap. But enough to notice an increase. For instance, pull-ups have to be done with a 30 lb weight to feel like there is a challenge going on. Little things like that...

I am disappointed in my forearms... I know it sounds weird, but I have skinny arms and I'd prefer a little more mass to them. Having lost the weight, has really made them thinner than I'd like, They have some NICE tone, muscle is very identifiable, they are just, thin. Maybe I'll share those pics on Sunday to demonstrate my whining.
 
Good to hear from you.

1) Changing up your routine for the sake of changing it is stupid... don't listen to those guys. You change up a routine when it's time to change it and nobody is going to be able to tell you that but you. Sucky answer, I know... but if things aren't working or you aren't progressing... than things need changing. Or even if you need a psychological change...

2) Have you been taking measurements?

3) I used to hate the size of my forearms. I've come to accept the fact that I'll never have enormous forearms. They're veiny and I get comments on that... but when I look down, compared to the rest of my body, my forearms suck! Even when I was my biggest they were small. But they were bigger. And they were the last thing to 'bulk up.'

Hope all is well, man.
 
Steve said:
Good to hear from you.

1) Changing up your routine for the sake of changing it is stupid... don't listen to those guys. You change up a routine when it's time to change it and nobody is going to be able to tell you that but you. Sucky answer, I know... but if things aren't working or you aren't progressing... than things need changing. Or even if you need a psychological change...

2) Have you been taking measurements?

3) I used to hate the sized of my forearms. I've come to accept the fact that I'll never have enormous forearms. They're veiny and I get comments on that... but when I look down, compared to the rest of my body, my forearms suck! Even when I was my biggest they were small. But they were bigger. And they were the last thing to 'bulk up.'

Hope all is well, man.
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Steve,

great to hear from you bro. All is doing very well, I just got married last week (honeymoon is next month, Penn is killing me). So things are what they are.

Just did some rough measurments with the wife, and I went up in a few areas since June 15th (last date I had things from):

chest up to 42.5 from 41.5
waist (stomach) up to 35 from 33 (problem is, end of the night, not really fair since I just ate about 700 calories including a protein shake).
thighs up from 21.5 to 22.5
biceps from 13.5 to 14.5 not reall flexed.
calves no change.
forearms from 11 to 11.5.

nothing major, the stomach doesn't worry me because I just ate a shitload of food and a bulk will lead to fat gains (which I totally plan to cut off at the end of this bulk sometime in january).

I don't know if these numbers mean anything, my weight is around 178-182 depending on the day. My bf when I calculate it with the hand tool hasn't gone past 11.8 (last month it was 11.2, which makes me feel good about body fat percentage.
 
Wow man, huge congrats!! That's awesome. Where will the honeymoon be?

Dude, your measurements are great. Muscle growth is much, much slower than fat loss. It's a tedious process. You should be happy as hell with those increases.
 
Steve said:
Wow man, huge congrats!! That's awesome. Where will the honeymoon be?

Dude, your measurements are great. Muscle growth is much, much slower than fat loss. It's a tedious process. You should be happy as hell with those increases.
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thanks bro... she is a great girl, my wife said I should be happy too but I don't listen to her because she doesn't know the first thing about fitness. :)

We are going to Riveria Maya in Mexico. Looking forward to it a lot, Adventura Spa and Resort (palace run resort). Just paid off the balance tonight and got our documents.

I am not frustrated over my progress, just wasn't sure what is considered "good". I also figured for my first bulk, I was going to fuck things up anyways. The worst that can happen is I gain way too much fat and I have to get back into my old routine of full body and cardio with a reduced calorie intake. I've been down that road and I am not afraid of it.

I think I need to take pictures again to really see the comparison photos for myself.
 
That will be a great trip, take lots of pics.

For real, your numbers are nothing to bark at. I'd be happy with them personally. Take pics and see where you stand.

And as I've said before... it's tough to gain a ton of fat. You gain until you feel uncomfortable and than switch things up. Do the right things when you switch to cutting and preserve as much of the new muscle as you can. The new cut you should be better than the old cut you. Then you bulk again and the rinse and repeat. It's a slow, tedious process. But if you don't want the drugs and want to feel really accomplished at the end of the day... it's well worth the journey.
 
Yah, I am very looking forward to the results of my routines. I've had several solicitations for HGH and the like at my gym. I kindly decline but I won't lie and say I am not interested in what it could do for my growth... that being said, I prefer to do this the right way so I can learn to appreciate the methods.

I am starting to gain weight, so going up in calories won't be an issue for me anymore. I might keep at this 2800 level for a bit... not sure what I am expecting to see if I even went up to 3000 (I think I would be asking for trouble at this point since I am gaining).
 
If you're gaining, sit tight. It really is all about finding that sweet spot where you're eating enough to trigger hypertrophy but not so much that you're packing on the fat.

A lot of guys get stick in the trap of thinking if I'm gaining strength and muscle at this intake, I'll bump it up even more and gain X amount more strength and muscle.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work like this. You can't fast forward hypertrophy. It's genetically controlled. So find the sweet spot and hold tight.

And avoid the drugs. I've never touched the stuff and with hindsight, it really is one of the best moves I've ever made. Very rarely have I seen someone come out on top of it.

Physically they look great when using. But it robs them of their 'soul' so to speak as it relates to fitness. They stop wanting to train without the drugs. The net outcome is they end up looking and feeling like hell.
 
Darth Pooh said:
Yah, I am very looking forward to the results of my routines. I've had several solicitations for HGH and the like at my gym. I kindly decline but I won't lie and say I am not interested in what it could do for my growth... that being said, I prefer to do this the right way so I can learn to appreciate the methods.
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good boy...

just say no :D

unless of course I request naked pictures then that makes a yes response :D
 
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