Thread: MonStar's Journal: Time to Get Serious

Tuesday, 4-6-2004

Diet:
- orange juice
- Powerade during workout, whey protein afterwards
- 2 Balance Gold bars
- 1/2 turkey & cheese sandwich
- 1/2 turkey & cheese sandwich, mixed fruit
- cheeseburger
- mixed nuts
- 1/2 peanut butter sandwich

I would guess about 3,500 calories today. Give or take.

Sleep: 9 hours.

Weight: 220 lbs.

Back/Biceps

CG Cable Pulldowns
170x10, 185x10, 200x10, 215x8.5, 185x11

T-Bar Rows
270x5, 270x5, 270x5, 270x5, 270x5, 270x5

DB Shrugs
100x8, 100x8, 100x8, 100x8

Standing BB Curls
135x4, 135x4, 105x7, 105x7

Hammer Curls
30x36

Good workout today! Really beat the f*ck out of my lats completely. I am definitely going to be trying to up my volume now that I have started S1+. We'll see what happens. Going to really try and change things up. Eat up big time, and really just focus on a lot of calories, a lot of volume, and a LOT of strength/size gains. This is my first PH cycle so I don't want to screw things up. T-bar rows today really beat the hell outta' my lats, ouch.

S1+ application I kind of struggled with my first time. This morning I used it and sprayed it 5 times on my chest and let it set in. Then I read the prohoromone FAQ from Avant Labs and it says to use rubber gloves and rub it for a few minutes, and then let it dry for 10-15 minutes after that. It also says to scrub the area first with soap before applying it. This is all coming as news to me but I am glad that I read this when I did. So far I have noticed nothing, I am hot, but it's probably the usnic acid. Not really lethargic which is nice. I am really trying to focus on eating a lot more than I have been eating. Just because I don't want to cut my gains short on my first PH cycle. I think I made a good choice with S1+, the reviews are about 95% extremely positive, and the side effects seem minimal. I am really hoping for some serious strength gains. I would love to pull 600+ conventional style. Damn that would be insane.

Want to note today that I feel extremely, extremely flabby. Cheated/binged the past 2 nights on my diet---so it's no surprise how flabby I feel. But I guess I just really didn't expect to feel THIS bad. It's amazing how much bodyfat you can put on in just a few days. I mean 3 nights ago, I felt so friggin' lean. Now tonight I just feel bloated, and bla. Anyway, I am hoping to make some serious progress on S1+. Both in hardening up some and my strength/size. My bodyfat % though is just honestly ridiculous, considering its April and warm weather is practically here already.

Wednesday, 4-7-2004

Diet:
- MRP + 2% milk + banana
- tuna sandwich
- 1/2 peanut butter sandwich
- 4 breaded chicken strips
- 1/2 banana, apple sauce
- Powerade during workout, whey protein postworkout
- 6" tuna salad & cheese sub, dry roasted peanuts
- MRP + 2% milk + Cool Whip

Way too much f*cking Cool Whip tonight, damnit. Pretty much ate a 1/2 container in all. Which comes out to like 500 f*cking calories. F*ck. Today I would estimate probably around 4,000 calories. Roughly.

Sleep: 8 hours.

Weight: 220 lbs.

Legs/Abs

Box Squats
135x10, 225x10, 315x6, 365x3, 405x1, 445x1!, 275x8

Leg Presses
860x4, 860x4, 860x4, 860x4

Nautilus Lying Leg Curls
140x20, 140x20

Smith-Machine Calf Raises
180x20, 180x20, 270x8, 270x8

Nautilus Crunches
220x4, 220x4, 220x4, 220x4, 220x4, 220x4

Wow. My workout today in the gym honestly kicked my f*cking a*s. I really am trying increase my volume now that I am on my 2nd day of S1+. I know its soon but I really want to push myself while I am on my first prohoromone cycle. Really hoping for some damn good results. Hit a huge box squat PR today, so I am probably going to hit box squats again when the cycle is almost over and see what I can do. We'll see what happens.

Like I said, this workout kicked my a*s all over the place! I have never been so exhausted. Maybe the volume was a bit more, myself I am just not in that great of shape when it comes to leg workouts. Especially leg workouts that involve heavy squatting. Used box squats today as my main lift. The box is about 11-13" it's really hard for me to tell. Its right about what parallel is for me, or just a tad lower. Hit a really really nice PR today with 445. And damn 445 was friggin' intense. Halfway up with 445 I got a VERY strange feeling. Basically the feeling like you're going to sh*t and throw up at the same time. No exaggeration at all, I am not sure what causes that feeling either. Oh well, nice PR for me.

All of my assistance work today I was just exhausted. Leg presses my friggin' quads were already drained. Leg curls I was f*ckin' exhausted there too. Decided to do 20-rep sets basically just for the hell of it. Calf raises were nothing special. Crunches, bla... they're crunches, boring. Overall workout was very good, though.

Today overall I think that I feel good. But lethargy is starting to get to me. Whether it's from the usnic acid or the S1+ it's really starting to sink in. And cutting out the ephedrine all at the same time really kicked me in my balls I think. My S1+ application is getting better though, so that's good. I just wear a rubber glove on one hand and spray it into my cupped hand and then rub it on. I am so anal though I am always so afraid that I am going to lose some. Whatever. Still trying to get over this godd*mn cold/cough/flu thing I have. It's better today, but still not as good as I would like. Going to most likely take off tomorrow. Maybe do some cardio, I havn't decided yet.

Your back double bi... *DROOOOLLLLLL*

You will do fine sweetie, and the bloating is just water! Do some cardio to sweat it out!

Originally posted by greekblondechic
Your back double bi... *DROOOOLLLLLL*

I agree Looking awesome!! Good Luck!!

greekblondechic- Yeah I really need to lay off the binging, haha. I have gotten in pretty good control of it lately. Not in complete control like I would like to have been. But my binges lately have not been at all extreme the way that they used to be. So I guess thats a step in the right direction.

Andrea- Thanks, really appreciate it.

Nice job!

I'm w/you on the alcohol....its my downfall. I could drink red wine every night , but I'm only letting myself drink on Sat now.

Your pretty strong bro
keep up the good work

Hey Mon, welcome back. You were AWOL for a while.

Im gonna be keepin close tabs on this journal... im considering a cycle of S1+ this fall.

how do you deadlift now? what style did you use when you did 615? And conventional is just arms outside legs and legs are shoulder width or so. Is that correct?

MIKEY!!!!!! Glad to see you back here! and ready to buckle down.. (no more drinking heavy you crazyman!).
Looking great as always!

Cate- Yeah, I know exactly what you're saying. I absolutely love wine as well, damn. Funny thing is that I never really was into drinking at all until recently. That's why this is all so new to me. Feeling extremely dehydrated, etc. Really need to get my sh*t together though and stop making excuses. Thanks for the post.

myCATpowerlifts- Thanks man.

Monolith- Yeah, I did go elsewhere for a while. But now I am back, and most likely back for good. Where I was posting I just completely lost interest. I will definitely keep everything up to date on S1+ though. It's my first PH cycle, so I am hoping for some good results.

X Ring- My deadlifts have been confusing man, to say the least. I was deadlifting sumo style (feet very wide, hands shoulder-width apart) and making good progress. Then out of nowhere for some reason my sumo strength just went to sh*t. I hurt my lower back, and as I was recovering sumo style just felt so awkward, and weak. So then I moved onto conventional (feet and hands roughly shoulder-width), which is what I am doing now. I have been wearing a belt for my deadlifts and squats lately which I think is really helping. We'll see how things go. Thanks for the post man.

Jen- Yeah it is definitely great to be back here at IM. I definitely missed this place. I am hoping that the site gets upgraded though to the new style vbulletin. It's so much more clear and easy to read IMO. Thanks for the welcome back.

Thursday, 4-8-2004

Diet:
- MRP + 2% milk + Cool Whip
- orange juice
- Gatorade during workout, whey protein postworkout
- Pure Protein bar
- turkey & cheese sandwich, mixed fruit
- 6" tuna & cheese sub
- Balance Gold bar
- peanut butter & jelly sandwich

Also drank a lot of diet sodas and I also had a coffee. I just needed something honestly to kill my appetite. That tuna sub must have been 1,000 calories---it was friggin' loaded with tuna salad, etc. Took in around 4,000 calories again today.

Sleep: 8 hours.

Weight: 220 lbs.

Shoulders

Seated DB Presses
40x10, 50x10, 60x10, 70x10, 80x6!, 50x13

Upright Rows
95x10, 135x10, 165x7!, 115x15

Nautilus Lateral Raises
160x12, 180x12
Dropset: 170x10, 140x8, 110x8, 80x8

Friggin' incredible shoulder workout today. On the way to the gym I was thinking to myself, am I going to have a good workout? I kept telling myself I was but I still had this feeling that I needed a rest day, not sure why. Got to the gym though and felt great. Shoulder workout was one of the best that I have had in months and months.

Started off with DB presses, which kicked my a*s because my overhead press strength is just awful. Hit 6 reps with the 80's which isn't so so bad I guess. Whatever. Upright rows were good. Tiny bit of body English with 165, but nothing too bad at all. Then onto one of my favorite exercises, Nautilus lateral raises. Dropset completely beat my shoulders into the f*cking ground. No complaints at all today. Everything is feeling damn good.

This morning my application is S1+ kind of bothered me. I shook up the S1+ a little like it says, and sprayed one spray into my hand. Well barely anything came out. So of course I just didn't count that spray and redid it. It's so hard to get an accurate 5 sprays it's really driving me crazy. Half the time I never know how much I am actually applying. I read all about how much better transdermal PH's are than oral, but this is really getting to be a serious pain in my f*cking a*s. I guess I'll just have to suck it up and deal because I am on day 3 of 30 roughly, lol.

Still have a damn cold/cough/flu thing going on. Can't seem to get rid of it. The heavy training and tanning is sure as f*ck not helping but I just can't help myself. As long as I am eating and sleeping a lot, and hitting new PR's in the gym, no breaks for me. At least not anytime soon.

hey , Welcome back !

This site is more addictive than crack, im not too suprised to see him again

Hey bro, looking good! Keep tearing up the weights... hope the PH give you an extra kick!

Hey welcome back here Mike. Good luck!!!

gwcaton- Thanks man, it's definitely great to be back.

PreMier- Yeah, I really like IM a lot. I strayed for a little bit, but now I am definitely back to stay. There are so many things about this forum that I absolutely love. The picture gallery, the layout of the posts/threads, etc. Of course, the members.

Eggs- Hey thanks a lot man, appreciate it. Yeah I really hope that PH's give me that extra edge as well. I would like to tighten up my midsection some but maybe add some strength at the same time. We'll see what happens.

I'm Trying- Thanks a lot man.

While you've been away have you still been lifting?? Youre just huge man. I'm just about your height (5'11.5) so I guess you have no problem packing on that muscle.It seem like you definatly look bigger then last time you were on here.
Thanks!!

Nice work on the shoulders man, 80 x 6 is damn good seeing as how you got 3 out last shoulder workout. Just wondering, do you do traps w/ back? Also, I'm sure you'll figure that damn spray bottle out before too long haha, good luck with that.

I'm Trying- Yeah man, when I say that I went away for a while, I definitely never stop training, lol. All I am really referring to is that I was not posting on IM for a while. That's all. Thanks for the comments though. I am not sure if I have added any real size or not. I hope so, of course, but who knows.

GRIFF- Thanks man, appreciate it. Yeah I was fairly happy with the 80's for 6, I don't know. Overall though, honestly, I am very dissapointed in my overhead strength. For some reason that's always been a weakpoint for me. I am not sure why. At least compared to my chest presses, etc. Whatever.

I'm with you on that one, my overheads suck bad, especially compared to my chest presses, but this is just something that we need to concentrate on more and really try to get it up, as long as you've identified it I think you can do something about it.

GRIFF- Yeah man, I hear you. My overhead presses have always been weak compared to my chest presses. Always frustrating. My upright rows were never that bad, though. I think it's just the movement I could never really increase my strength that much. We'll see if PH's help that any.

I dont think youll ever be really happy with you weights! It all looks great to me!
and your right the skullcrushers make it so much harder going to your forehead-I feel it so much more that way!
thats cool that you and your brother worked out together! If only mine was a bit more interested!

ok no more cool whip mister from now on if you mention you ate some in your journal you get crap! lol

haha, who eats straight cool whip? honestly? haha amazing, workouts are lookin good though bro. I always feel the skull crushers way down towards my elbows, is that what should be happening? oh well. Did you decide to cycle the s1+ for 2 weeks or 4 weeks??

Yeah I was fairly happy with the 80's for 6, I don't know. Overall though, honestly, I am very dissapointed in my overhead strength.

You did 50 reps and THEN hit the 80s. I don't know what you were expecting to happen. Next time get to those 80s sooner .

I always feel the skull crushers way down towards my elbows, is that what should be happening?

Are your elbows out or in? Generally, if you keep your elbows in, you'll feel it around the elbows. Plus, I can generally move more weight with my elbows out.

Your workout looks awesome! And judging by your picture, I didn't see anything flabby!! I guess we're our own worst critic though !!

Keep it up

There is some fat free and low calorie Cool Whip if you look around. I tossed it on a few things while I was cutting. LOL, that plus some sugar free Jello hits the spot when you are having that sweet craving.

You worry too much about being flabby. If anything, from one day to the next its just water retention. Look at how much sodium you get one day and how you feel the next. You'll see that it probably is just that.

Like SF mentioned on the shoulder presses, do a different style of warm up. You really don't need that many reps to warm up. Think of it as acclimation sets instead of warm ups. After the first 20 you really don't need to go above 4 reps. If I'm warming up to do shoulder presses it'll look like this:
65x6
85x2
95x2
105x8
I've probably already done a set or 2 of bw dips for just around 4-6 reps. The sets before 105 are just to get used to the weight, not really to get warmed up, per se. You just need to get the blood flowing a little bit. No need to beat the crap out of your shoulders before you actually get to your working sets. What do you think will work better, doing a couple of sets at lower weight or actually getting up to your working sets and doing more sets there?

As always though, dude, nice work! You've got a ton of potential, and I'll be interested in seeing how this S1+ treats you.

Jen- Yeah I really don't think that I will ever really be pleased with my strength either. I am really not sure why. The only exercise where I can say that I am somewhat satisfied is deadlifts. Just because seeing the bar bend with 600+ lbs. is one of the greatest feelings in the world. But I definitely do need to lay off the Cool Whip. It's not even the fat or sugar-free kind, its regular ol' Cool Whip. 25 calories per 2 tbsp. I think it is. I can literally sit down and eat and entire container, which is just ridiculous.

GRIFF- Hey man, yeah I didn't realize I guess it's pretty strange to be able to eat an entire container of Cool Whip. I always think that everyone loves it. To me it just tastes like ice-cream, I don't know why. And the nutritional facts on it are so misleading. It says 25 calories and 2g of fat and 2g of carbs or something. But that's per 2 tbsp.! Of course I am going to eat a lot more than that. I put a 1/2 container in my MRP the other night, which was like 500 calories, lol.

SF- Yeah I think I am going to start with a few easy warmup sets and then jump right into my heaviest sets. I was doing that for a while, Dorian Yates style, low-volume with extreme weight, etc. I just really like pyramidding up and then doing a burnout type of set at the end. Maybe next time for DB presses I'll do something like, 50x8, 50x8, 80x6, 80x6, 60x10. This way I should be fairly warmed up with 2 warmup sets and then right to my heaviest weight. And maybe even go heavier the 2nd set, depending on how it feels.

Andrea- Thanks so much, I really appreciate it. I hope to tighten up some throughout my midsection. For some reason everywhere else I am pretty confident but my midsection and my love handles just... make me crazy. I guess like you said though we are our worst critic.

Will- Nice to see a familiar face man! Thanks for stopping by. I am going to try a different kind of warmup from now on because honestly, like you said, my first couple of sets really exhaust whatever bodypart I am training so I never really hit anything completely fresh. I am thinking maybe do a few light sets and then jump right into my heavy sets. Well, maybe. Because I like pyramidding in some ways, but in some ways I don't. Maybe something like this for rows lets say: 135x10, 135x10, 225xfailure, 250xfailure, 270xfailure. Or something along those lines. I just can't be overcomplicating things, that's the bottom line, lol.

But yeah I need to invest in some sugar-free or fat-free Cool Whip, just because it's honestly the best thing I have found to satisfy my cravings. Has that creamy ice-cream taste that I love so much, lol. I am definitely trying to stop feeling flabby. Half the time I think it's all in my head. And considering my diet yesterday, I ate a LOT, its no surprise. I am definitely not going to be taking it easy on calories today. I am on 1-test and 4-AD now, so I am going to stay above 3.5K calories probably no matter what. Thanks again for stopping by, though.

BTW, wanted to add, that your workouts have been phenomenal lately Will. I can't post in your journal on WBB, so I figured I would tell you here, lol. ATF squat strength is crazy, your bench 1RM now is great, and of course your dips and rows are always sick.