Journey, Not A Destination

You're chat with Val was very informational... I'm in the same boat with her paddling away like mad.... these last few pounds are going to be brutal; but doesn't mean I cant push forward!

Thanks for all your support Steve... I really appreciate it! :)
 
Hey Dee. I like seeing you in here. :)

Yea, in general, what works for most doesn't work quite the same for the last 5 lbs or so.
 
Hey Steve,

I was wondering a few things about my current routine. In general, what I am doing, is it enough to produce growth? Is failure necessary? Generally to gain 18-20 cals per pound?

Sorry for bending your ear on this, but I am wondering what type of growth I should expect to see, and how long it usually takes when starting a routine (remember, it's pretty much like a beginner's bulk for me, even though its my second go around).

Thanks man... you know I appreciate all you do for me.
 
Hey Steve,

Hey man. Did you see I opened my forum?

I was wondering a few things about my current routine. In general, what I am doing, is it enough to produce growth? [/quote]

Lay out for me exactly what you are doing and how much you're doing it. I look at about a 20 routines a day, lol, so if you told me it's already long gone by now. They all blend after a bit.

Is failure necessary?

Nope.

Progressive overload and a caloric surplus are the primary fundamentals. Failure is more neurological than muscular.

Generally to gain 18-20 cals per pound?

Meh, really depends on the person. I've seen guys gain on 16. I've seen guys have to go well over 20.

Sorry for bending your ear on this, but I am wondering what type of growth I should expect to see, and how long it usually takes when starting a routine (remember, it's pretty much like a beginner's bulk for me, even though its my second go around).

They're tough questions to answer man. I usually stay away from quantifying such things since there's a lot of variables (genetic) that play a massive role in this. In general though, rate of muscle gain is excruciatingly slow.

I'd say in general 1-2% of total body weight per month is a real expectation.
 
Hey Steve, big bummer about that finance exam. I know how that feels. And you really do want to kick its ass the second time around -- serious ownage! ;)

Since Val is talking about those last few pounds, I thought I'd ask you why my last 3-5 pounds seem to be taking it's sweet freaking time leaving.

It's directly on top of my RA. You can see a small line running down the middle of my core, but no six pack. And I don't have any extra at the sides -- you can see my external obliques.

I've also got two blobs (they're small) on my lower back sitting on my waist to each side of my erectors. No matter what I do, Steve, I can't get rid of this fat. I just seem to keep getting leaner everywhere else.

Is this tied in to hormones or is this something I can get rid of through diet? The rest of me is lean, and I can hardly grab anything but skin. But those two areas are KILLING me.

Thanks for any info you can give to me, because I'm almost ready to go for lipo -- not that any surgeon would do lipo on me, but it's driving me CRAZY MAD because I can't seem to shake this subcutaneous resilience :p


EDIT: I have a feeling you're going to suggest I get Lyle's book about stubborn fat loss ... that's one I don't have, and I plan on ordering the protein book as well, probably this weekend. I just wondered whether you had any thoughts on why I'm not losing this fat, because it's what keeping me from looking in the mirror and saying "Ah, perfection" :D J/K, but you know what I'm saying ;)
 
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Stubborn fat is stubborn for a reason; primarily to do with hormones, catecholamines, receptors and blood flow. In women, as you know, it's usually the hips and thighs giving the biggest problem. Sound like for you it's the belly and upper back... which isn't unheard of either.

I used Lyle's SFP after I did a PSMF to get pretty damn lean and SFP worked quite well. Is it a magic formula for spot reduction? Fuck no. But I think it helps more than anything with stubborn fat for people who are relatively lean to begin with.

Outside the realm of Lyle's methods in that book, there's nothing I know of. I mean you can tell someone to keep dieting, then diet some more... eventually the fat has to come off, right?

The SFP is for women who are in the mid teens in terms of bf%, which sounds like you're close to.

In my experience it's wrong. I mean I'm talking seriously lean here, not your average member here, but the few people who desired and I've helped get really lean proved to me that some people are more genetically inclined to have abs and others aren't.

Even myself... I've gone down to single digit bf% and my abs are never glaringly obvious as in a magazine shoot. They're no doubt there but not how I'd imagine it.

Given that you already follow a low carb diet (right?) I think SFP would be your best bet.
 
Thanks, Steve!!! I'll keep trying, but I think that maybe I'm just naturally "thick" :D

There's no harm done in ordering Lyle's books, either. I get a kick out of his writing style anyway. I find myself laughing a lot while reading his books, so even if my abs don't come through, at least the books will be entertaining and informative :)
 
If you know a lot about the biochemistry and physiology of fat cells, you won't get a lot out of his this book except for the programming. If you don't know a lot about those things, it's an amazing book.

Even if you did, Lyle has a way of writing that usually helps you see things in a different, clearer light than you already did.
 
As noted there, thanks a ton for you support Lena. It means a lot.

Hope you're weekend is going well.
 
I have to keep up with updating my journal here and on my forum. I can't let this monster die!

This weekend pretty much sucked, but it's all good. Training is still on point. Today will be weighted hill work intervaled with some stead state, moderate intensity stuff. It will be cold. And it will be snowy. I'll be running in boots today.

Yesterday was upper body strength day:

A1 - Flat bb bench - 8x3 @ 265 lbs
B1 - Neutral grip incline db press - 3x10 @70
B2 - Medium grip cable rows - 4x10 @ 110
C1 - Prone trap raises - 3x12 @ 15
C2 - External shoulder rotations - 3x12 @ 5
D - Side planks
 
I have to keep up with updating my journal here and on my forum. I can't let this monster die!

This weekend pretty much sucked, but it's all good. Training is still on point. Today will be weighted hill work intervaled with some stead state, moderate intensity stuff. It will be cold. And it will be snowy. I'll be running in boots today.

Yesterday was upper body strength day:

A1 - Flat bb bench - 8x3 @ 265 lbs
B1 - Neutral grip incline db press - 3x10 @70
B2 - Medium grip cable rows - 4x10 @ 110
C1 - Prone trap raises - 3x12 @ 15
C2 - External shoulder rotations - 3x12 @ 5
D - Side planks


I dont know how you work so hard on both forums, great job :) It's snowing here in good ole' SC too...LOVE IT!! Have fun running in boots.
 
running in boots? is that good for your body?

The military does it.

:p

It will surely throw off form a bit but my form will be screwed up hiking too given the load on the back and the ridiculous plastic boots that have no give we'll be wearing.
 
The military does it.

:p

It will surely throw off form a bit but my form will be screwed up hiking too given the load on the back and the ridiculous plastic boots that have no give we'll be wearing.

Sounds pretty darned sexy to me, Steve!!! You'll have to post some pics of you guys in those "plastic boots" :D
 
Ha!

I won't have those boots long. We're renting them. Most hikes we do don't require plastic boots so none of us have them. They're damn expensive. I hear they're uncomfortable as hell too.
 
running in boots? is that good for your body?

Muhammad Ali did it every morning for 6 miles in 40 minutes as part of his training, that monster!

I need to sit and read the entire Lyle interview--I've skimmed through but it's LONG, man! :eek: Worth it, I'm sure. Perhaps I'll get that SFP book. I feel I'm pretty successful with weight loss as long as I can bear dieting, though--the only time I hit plateaus is.....when I'm eating to maintenance. :p I'm sure I would hit one eventually even if I was STRICT with nutrition--but I'm never honestly that strict. I think we're somewhat alike when it comes to eating: we both have sweet tooths, we both "refeed" (although I call it fucking up, haha!), and neither of us are "linear" about dieting. HA! What's your top 3 favorite sweet treats, I'm curious? :drool5:
 
SFP isn't so much about breaking plateaus. It's more about teaching you physiology of fat.

3 favorite sweets... that's damn tough! I'm a candy maniac.

I love candys that involve chocolate and almonds.

Ohhh, and Take 5s or any other chocolate covered pretzel.

I like ice cream too.
 
OK, I'm jumping in on this one!!!

3 favorite sweets? That's going to be impossible for me, because I never acquired a taste for candy because we never had it in the house when we were kids. We had fruit ;)

As for ice cream, I think that's really American. You just don't see us Canucks devouring ice cream the way you guys do! But I will eat my home made ice creams and sorbets :)

Bittersweet and dark chocolate are my drugs of choice, together with a dark, strong cup of java with 18% cream and a rounded teaspoon of raw sugar.

Do those count as "sweets"?
 
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