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Absolute Dedication


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Old 03-23-2005, 01:53 PM   #1
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Post Absolute Dedication

Time to get my sh*t together, once and for all.

In my last journal I swore that I was going to keep it for 6 months---and of course, I didn't. I ended up constantly binging out of control, like always. When am I ever going to learn? I am completely obsessed with weigh-training and of course I can never get my damn diet in line. I can't figure out what the hell the problem is. I was striving for perfection, but no longer. I am not going to spend all of my time trying to eat a perfect diet, find a perfect routine, and find a perfect supplement regime. It’s about time I face reality, and take things one day at a time.

With this journal, I am going to be absolutely dedicated to one thing: and that’s enjoying myself. Having fun at the gym, eating clean overall but cheating here and there and not feeling bad about it. I am not going to force this strict lifestyle on my life, when obviously it’s not for me. I am 21 years old! Why the f*ck should I strive for perfection? Most guys my age don’t even workout, and if they do they’re smoking weed and getting drunk nonstop on the side. I cheat on my diet and feel like total sh*t the next few days, this is absurd. When I start to think outside myself and why I am doing these things, it makes no sense.

I am going to be absolutely dedicated to having fun, and making progress. I am going to train instinctively, not really follow much of a strict routine. Eat clean overall, not really follow much of a diet. And just strive for gains. Gains in strength, gains in size, etc. I am not going to strive for PERFECTION. If I slip up, I am going to laugh about it, and move on. If I eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, I am going to enjoy every bite and move on. I am really getting sick and tired of this crazy bullsh*t cycle that I put myself through.

I am having 2nd thoughts about even posting my diet, I don’t even know if I should bother posting it. I think its an obsessive compulsive thing and in a way I don’t feel responsible for something I eat if I don’t post it. But in reality I should always hold myself accountable for what goes in my mouth. I am thinking about just commenting on my diet everyday instead. Like saying what stuff I had that was good, and what things I ate that weren’t so good, etc. The bottom line is that I need to start ENJOYING life, and enjoying the gym, enjoying what I eat, and not stressing out about everything. Life will go on if I eat a bowl of ice-cream, lol.

Please keep the negative comments to a minimum. I have always depended on you all for support.

Last edited by M.J.H. : 03-23-2005 at 02:29 PM.



Stats!
23 years old, 5'11.5", 206 lbs., ~8% bodyfat

380/455/655 bench/squat/deadlift (current)
405/495/675 bench/squat/deadlift (goals)

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Old 03-23-2005, 01:55 PM   #2
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Wednesday; 3-23-2005

Feel like a fat f*cking slob today, last night the girlfriend and I pigged out on Ben & Jerry's and Combos, lol. So my diet definitely needs to be cleaned up over the next few weeks.

Today I did some quads/abs in the gym. I was originally going to do legs, but I after doing ATF squats and leg presses, I was drained. There was no way I was going to be able to do my hamstrings after that. In a few days I'll do hamstrings/calves together. Tomorrow I am thinking shoulders/traps.

ATF Squats:

135 x 10
225 x 8
275 x 6
315 x 3
335 x 2

Went very very deep today on my ATF squats, literally as low as I could possibly go with my flexibility. Worked all the way up to 335 for a double, which was nearly impossible. I felt like a weak b*tch today in the gym, because I haven't trained legs in so long. After these 5 sets of squats I could barely walk, my knees were wobbling so bad.

Leg Presses:

14 Plates x 8
16 Plates x 6
18 Plates x 5

OUCH, OUCH, OUCH. My legs were screaming after these 3 sets. Worked up to 18 plates, which comes out to around 860 lbs. or so if you include the leg press apparatus. My quads were shaking like crazy during each of these 3 sets. Felt good, but the same time I couldn't stop thinking about how hard it's going to be to walk tomorrow.

Nautilus Leg Extensions:

Stack x 8 (2)

Dropset:
Stack x 7
210 x 8
170 x 6

Did some leg extensions to finish up my quads. Hit up 2 sets of the stack, then a triple drop. Quads were on smoked.

Cable Crunches:

180 x 10 (3)

Hanging Knee Raises:

8 (2)

Did some abs to finish up my workout today, not too bad at all. Few sets of rope cable crunches, then some hanging knee raises. No complaints.

Diet- So far so good today. Been very clean. Good amout of protein today, so far I am up to right around 270g. Not too bad so far. Had tons of whole-wheat bread today, oh well, at least that's better than white. I have been taking 2 scoops of Cytogainer before my workout with skim milk and I think it's really helping. I am also still taking 50mcg of T3 a day, and my body temperature feels through the roof!

Sleep- 8 hours.

Weight- 228 lbs. This was on the gym scale today, before I worked out. This is fully dressed too, of course, with sneakers.

Last edited by M.J.H. : 03-24-2005 at 11:45 AM.



Stats!
23 years old, 5'11.5", 206 lbs., ~8% bodyfat

380/455/655 bench/squat/deadlift (current)
405/495/675 bench/squat/deadlift (goals)

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Old 03-23-2005, 02:10 PM   #3
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Quote:
Went very very deep today on my ATF squats, literally as low as I could possibly go with my flexibility. Worked all the way up to 335 for a double, which was nearly impossible.

glad somebody believes me.



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Old 03-23-2005, 03:43 PM   #4
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Patrick: I definitely believe you bud, I am a huge fan of ATF squats. Even though they're extremely difficult, I think they're one of the best leg builders out there. It's the only exercise that I really get a nice deep burning in my quads. I noticed that my quads really responded immediately when I started doing them.

Last edited by M.J.H. : 03-24-2005 at 01:55 PM.



Stats!
23 years old, 5'11.5", 206 lbs., ~8% bodyfat

380/455/655 bench/squat/deadlift (current)
405/495/675 bench/squat/deadlift (goals)

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Old 03-23-2005, 05:31 PM   #5
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You owe someone 5lbs of whey

ATF or break!



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"the post-workout high is more profound than any drug-induced rush imaginable." -Dante B.
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Old 03-23-2005, 06:07 PM   #6
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FUCK --- I knew I should have gotten in on the betting, last journal.


Mike, how much does the Leg apparatus weigh?

Last edited by Cold Iron : 03-23-2005 at 06:39 PM.
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Old 03-23-2005, 06:15 PM   #7
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Smirk

Hey bro...you know what you need...

1.


2.


3.



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Old 03-23-2005, 06:50 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MonStar
In my last journal I swore that I was going to keep it for 6 months---and of course, I didn't. I ended up constantly binging out of control, like always. When am I ever going to learn?
I don't want to sound negative Mike, but why do you relate your journal to your eating habits? The two are different things. I've had one journal here at IM. If I changed it everytime I fell off my diet, I'd have more journals then you .

I do support you, and I will continue to support you .
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Old 03-23-2005, 07:22 PM   #9
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You binge on Journals We all support ya though.
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Old 03-23-2005, 07:29 PM   #10
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Jake: I am hoping that he can forgive me, lol. I would hate to fork out $40 or so over something like this. I'm a broke college student.

Cold Iron: LOL, a*swipe.

Yunier: LOL, smoking up or getting wasted? I think that would make me feel even worse. I absolutely hate how I feel when I drink. I'll have a glass of wine here and there, but that's it. For whatever reason I have never been big into drinking. Even back in highschool when the cool thing was to go out and get trashed all the time, I never got into it.

JerseyDevil: I agree, that's why I am not going to be posting my diet anymore. Because I am not going to correlate my diet and journal. Because they're honestly not related at all. I am going to just post what I slipped up on that day, etc.

Luke: LOL, can't argue with you there.

Last edited by M.J.H. : 03-24-2005 at 01:56 PM.



Stats!
23 years old, 5'11.5", 206 lbs., ~8% bodyfat

380/455/655 bench/squat/deadlift (current)
405/495/675 bench/squat/deadlift (goals)

The M.J.H. Chronicles
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Old 03-23-2005, 08:02 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MonStar
Jake- I am hoping that he can forgive me, lol. I would hate to fork out $40 or so over something like this. I'm a broke college student.
Oh no!! A bet is a bet. You would have expected HIM to pay up.



I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain...
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Old 03-24-2005, 06:58 AM   #12
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nice leg routine, I know exactly how you feel about the binging and feeling bad. I
started that when I was 18yrs and It pretty much made me nutz. Damn near had
and eating disorder. Then all the sudden I was like "screw it" i just don't give a crap
anymore. I was doing absolutly nothing but my routine in the gym and thinking about
my diet. I had absolutly no life at all. So, don't beat yourself up about it. I haven't
been getting crazy about it like that for more than 3yrs and I tell you what! I am allot
happier and a much better person to be around. Sorry to throw the 2cents in man, but
I have been there and it sux. Don't let it f#ck ya up like it did me. Just have good outlook and set your goals mildly if you know it's gonna be something that you are
gonna tear yourself apart about. I found out that this lifestyle is very very much
as mental and phsyical and it's very trying on a human being no matter how long you
have been doing it. but anyways I think i'll have to snag that routine from ya for a week or 2. Good luck man, you'll do great.
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Old 03-24-2005, 11:03 AM   #13
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rock: Thanks for stopping by my friend. And if I kept the journal 6 months, I might have wanted the 5 lbs. tub of whey protein, who knows. I am not greedy though.

joesmooth20: I completely agree with you man, obsessing about diet isn't worth it at all. Especially since I don't have any desire to compete at all. I really feel like it's pointless. Sitting around thinking about what I am going to eat all the time, and whether or not I want to binge, etc. It's totally retarded, IMO. For whatever reason I make good gains in the gym no matter how good or bad my diet is. I have always been that way. I have never had a problem not hitting new PR's on a regular basis, etc. Thanks again for stopping by. And by the way, I don't really follow a routine, lol.

Last edited by M.J.H. : 03-24-2005 at 01:56 PM.



Stats!
23 years old, 5'11.5", 206 lbs., ~8% bodyfat

380/455/655 bench/squat/deadlift (current)
405/495/675 bench/squat/deadlift (goals)

The M.J.H. Chronicles
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Old 03-24-2005, 11:10 AM   #14
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Thursday; 3-24-2005

Today is my first day back on M1T (methyl-1-test), I am going to be taking 15mg per day for about ~6 weeks or so. I am also taking Cytomel (T3), 50mcg per day. So hopefully this combination will help me put on some decent size, and keep my bodyfat % relatively low.

Shoulders!

Seated DB Presses:

80's x 7
90's x 4
75's x 6

Pretty good sets today of seated DB presses, no complaints at all. Really seemed to hit my shoulders hard. No complaints at all here today. Going to try and work my strength back up.

Upright Rows:

135 x 10
185 x 3
155 x 7

DB Lateral Raises:

40's x 10
50's x 5

Upright rows and laterals were great. I used straps on the upright rows and used around a shoulder-width grip. Not too bad at all, IMO.

DB Shrugs:

100's x 12 (3)

Finished up my shoulders today with some DB shrugs, 3 sets of 12 with the 100's. Did these nice and slow today, and of course, I used straps. Not too bad at all.

Nautilus Lateral Raises:

Dropset:
180 x 11
140 x 8
100 x 8

Nice dropset today of lateral raises, really beat the hell out of my shoulders, hard. Shoulders were pumped like crazy.

Diet- Not too bad so far today. Was pretty clean yesterday as well. So far, so good. I have put down a ton of skim milk so far today, around 10 cups so far.

Going to have some chicken teriyaki tonight with some rice, really trying to up my calories and protein while I am on M1T.

Sleep- 8 hours.

I starting back on M1T today. Maybe some of you guys think its a bad idea, but I got GREAT gains on the stuff before. So I am hoping for great gains again.

Last edited by M.J.H. : 03-24-2005 at 07:00 PM.



Stats!
23 years old, 5'11.5", 206 lbs., ~8% bodyfat

380/455/655 bench/squat/deadlift (current)
405/495/675 bench/squat/deadlift (goals)

The M.J.H. Chronicles
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Old 03-25-2005, 11:07 AM   #15
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Friday; 3-25-2005

This morning I had a great workout, and its only my 2nd day on M1T. Somehow I almost always have incredible workouts while I am taking this stuff. I am taking 10mg postworkout then another 10mg before bed, so a total of 20mg per day. So far, so good. I feel foggy-minded right away on M1T. I couldn't believe right after I took my first dose I literally started to get that foggy-mindedness.

Arms, today.

Alternating DB Curls:

60's x 8
70's x 5
80's x 1

Supersetted with:

Skullcrushers:

125 x 8
145 x 6
145 x 5

First superset today was absolutely great, really pumped up my arms right away. Started off with some DB curls, standing, supersetted with skulls. Worked up to the 80's, but my arms were already tanked. Only got 1 rep per arm with the 80's, whatever, I was pissed.

Seated French Presses:

135 x 6 (2)

Supersetted with:

Reverse Curls:

85 x 8 (2)

At this point my arms were pumped, period. Really pleased with the pump that I got in the gym today. No complaints at all. French presses followed up immediately with reverse curls (with an EZ-curl bar).

Cable Curls:

120 x 12 (3)

Supersetted with:

Cable Pressdowns:

Stack x 10 (3)

Nice way to finish up a fantastic arm workout. Used the entire stack for pressdowns and then 120 for the curls. Great form on both exercises. My arms were trashed.

Diet- Good today so far I guess. Last night the girlfriend bought some Ben & Jerry's, I was tempted, but I stayed strong and turned it down.

Today I tried a bar called a Bonanza from Designer Whey, it wasn't too bad actually. A bar made with rolled oats that has 30g protein, 60g carbs, and 500 calories. Trying to keep my protein intake up while I am on M1T. So far I am up 200g or so.

Tonight I went to Macaroni Grill with the girlfriend. Ate some pasta and chicken for my entree, then I had a salad and a glass of wine, then of course some bread. The bread is GREAT at Macaroni Grill! Of course, after the meal, I felt like a fat a*s, oh well.

Sleep- 7.5 hours. Woke up twice throughout the night to take a piss.

Last edited by M.J.H. : 03-25-2005 at 11:55 PM.



Stats!
23 years old, 5'11.5", 206 lbs., ~8% bodyfat

380/455/655 bench/squat/deadlift (current)
405/495/675 bench/squat/deadlift (goals)

The M.J.H. Chronicles
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Old 03-25-2005, 11:13 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by big guy
I stayed strong and turned it down
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Old 03-25-2005, 11:25 AM   #17
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Luke: Haha, thanks bud.

Some random pics I took today after my arm workout. Felt like my arms were pretty pumped, lol.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg random 012.jpg (18.6 KB, 62 views)
File Type: jpg random 013.jpg (16.1 KB, 59 views)



Stats!
23 years old, 5'11.5", 206 lbs., ~8% bodyfat

380/455/655 bench/squat/deadlift (current)
405/495/675 bench/squat/deadlift (goals)

The M.J.H. Chronicles
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Old 03-25-2005, 11:26 AM   #18
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Nice wood flooring! Big arms
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Old 03-25-2005, 01:00 PM   #19
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Luke: Thanks for the kind words, bro. LOL, yeah we just got the wood flooring put in the hallway a few years ago. It used to be white carpet.



Stats!
23 years old, 5'11.5", 206 lbs., ~8% bodyfat

380/455/655 bench/squat/deadlift (current)
405/495/675 bench/squat/deadlift (goals)

The M.J.H. Chronicles
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Old 03-25-2005, 01:11 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MonStar
Luke: Haha, thanks bud.

Some random pics I took today after my arm workout. Felt like my arms were pretty pumped, lol.

lookin' big!!

Not that you care, since you aren't going to compete, but when doing the double bi don't pull your shoulder blades together so much. it will make your lats and big look much bigger and your bicep will still show all the same. Think, fists to ears. Maybe even try and fan the lats out a bit.



http://pwtraining.blogspot.com/.....come and see what is on my mind!

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Old 03-25-2005, 01:48 PM   #21
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Patrick: Thanks bro. I appreciate it, especially coming from you. Honestly, I have no idea how to pose at all, lol. I never pose unless I am taking a pic to post here at IM. I really should work on my lat spread. I have decent lats but I can never take good back pics, for some reason. I am going to work on getting a decent back up maybe tomorrow after my back workout. So I shouldn't pull my elbows as far back for the back double biceps? I always think I am flexing my shoulders harder when I pull back my elbows and pinch my shoulder blades together.



Stats!
23 years old, 5'11.5", 206 lbs., ~8% bodyfat

380/455/655 bench/squat/deadlift (current)
405/495/675 bench/squat/deadlift (goals)

The M.J.H. Chronicles
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Old 03-26-2005, 01:18 PM   #22
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Saturday; 3-26-2005

Taking 20mg a day of M1T, and damn I feel foggy-minded as hell! That's really the only side effect that I have ever noticed from this stuff. And the fact that my boys seem to lose some fullness. Other than that, I think M1T is fabulous. Great workout today.

Back day!

Bentover Rows:

115 x 10
205 x 8
255 x 8
295 x 8
345 x 5
225 x 12

Nice sets of bentover rows, today. Did these Yates style, and used a double-overhand grip. I am working on bring my rows back up to where they used to be. I think I hit 405 for a couple of reps in the past. We'll see how things work out on this M1T.

T-Bar Rows:

315 x 10
385 x 6!
270 x 10

Nice sets today of t-bar rows. These are, of course, ghetto style, on one side of a barbell with a v-bar attachment. Worked up to 385 for 6, not too bad at all, IMO. After the set with 270 my lats felt like they were going to explode---they were completely trashed.

Crossbench DB Pullovers:

90 x 8
105 x 6!

Nice PR today! Used a 105 lbs. DB for pullovers today for 6. Great stretch, really hit my lats and serratus very hard. Going to try and work up to a 120 lbs. DB.

Bentover DB Lateral Raises:

30's x 12 (3)

Finished up my workout today with some bentover laterals, not bad at all. My rear delts were fried.

Diet- Pretty good, last night went out to dinner---kept it relatively clean but high in carbs. I should have ordered my pasta whole-wheat, but instead I ordered regular, damnit.

Sleep- 6 hours.

Weight- 227 lbs. (gym scale)

Last edited by M.J.H. : 03-26-2005 at 01:33 PM.



Stats!
23 years old, 5'11.5", 206 lbs., ~8% bodyfat

380/455/655 bench/squat/deadlift (current)
405/495/675 bench/squat/deadlift (goals)

The M.J.H. Chronicles
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Old 03-26-2005, 01:22 PM   #23
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"foggy minded" I know exactly what you mean. I think that stuff (and other PH's) do more harm than good I wish ya luck though.
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Old 03-26-2005, 02:55 PM   #24
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I have to ask about the T-Bar rows. How do you fit that much weight on there? It seems like using 45's you would run smack out of room. Are you hoisting 100's? lol. Nice work in any event.

And I though I was doing okay with 180 lbs for 5 reps. hehe. Keep it up. Just try not to break the bar.