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Why FLEX and MuscleMag almost destroyed my body...


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Old 02-06-2004, 03:46 PM   #1
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Why FLEX and MuscleMag almost destroyed my body, and why sites like this one saved it

After attempting to bodybuild and grow for the past 5 or so years, only the past 8 months or so have been what I consider to be truly productive. I have read and researched and experimented and done everything in my immediate power to learn everything possible about bodybuilding, hypertrophy, strength and human wellness. Yet, it seems the more I research and the more I read, the more confused I can become. I have sat here on this computer, for hours upon hours at unGodly hours in the morning reading and learning and trying to figure out what routine works best for ME, and could pack on solid pounds on anyone if they gave it a good solid time frame.

Let me tell you all a little history about me. I am 23, and I used to be skinny AND I used to be FAT. I am a rarity that I have been on both sides of the equation. Although I am naturally thinner and leaner, I can become quite large, and not in a good way.

When I graduated highschool, I was a football/basketball player, so I was in decent shape. I was about 6'2 and weight about 185-190. I wasnt very muscular, but decently strong and fairly agile. I was by no means a star player, but I was pretty good.

After highschool, I started thinking more about weight training in general, not so much for sports, but for enjoyment, bodyshape, size, and an overall desire to become "buff". I enjoyed nutrition and was on a quest to become good at it.

Unfortunately, I was lost for years. I was in and out of college, with no real major in mind. I was reading the bodybuidling magazines such as "FLEX" and "Muscle and Fitness". By the time I was about 21 or so, I wanted to put on serious size, and although I had grown to about 210 lbs or so, I was still weak and thought that eating like the pros would make me be BIG like the pros. Bad choice.

I got all the way up to 268 and my bodyfat was probably 20-23 percent. I was big and round, and my strength was absolutely pathetic for my size. Here I was this eating machine (eating mostly Jack in the Box) weighing 268 lbs, but only squating 225, benching no more than 195 and deadlifting no more than 255. I could not figure out why my strength wasnt increasing as fast as my size was. I didnt FEEL fat, but looking at past pics and hearing the testamonies of my friends on how I look now and back then, I was FAT. Plain and Simple.

Well, I lost some of the weight, still clueless and got down to a managable 245, and then went through a painful breakup with my current fiance (women, ugh) and lost about 20 lbs from not eating and being in a mild depression. So I entered a certain training regimine for my job, that gets you in tip top shape. I went in at a raw and chubby 225 at approx 18.7 percent bf, according to their caliber tests.

The training was really was rough, lots of cardio, very little if ANY weight training. But it worked well to lose my bf. When I left the training facility 6 and a half months later, I was 204 lbs, and my bf was 13.1 percent. I was leaner, not fitting into any of my clothes, and felt better than I had in years. Now of course, I was weaker too, but this is what set the stage for me to become truely knowledgable.

This time around I was not going to be a fool, I had started reading website and researching bodybuilding, I began to figure out that reading those magazines was about as useful as applying your local storybook fiction thriller to real world events. Thus I went on an 8 month journey to become TRULY knowlegable and learn what REALLY works for regular people like myself, who want to become as large as possible, as fast as possible safely and effectively. The research I have put into the past 8 months has literally changed my life. I do things ENTIRELY differently, and look so diffrerent, people that havent seen me in awhile gawk and tell me how much better I look. I couldnt be more proud, because thanks to people like you guys on this board, who are into discussion and giving honest feedback, people like TP ,Prince, GoPro and Fortified and many others who are not only into bodybuilding themselves, but are into the science of bodybuilding and the research, constantly trying to determine new and better ways to recover and grow and keep yourself healthy. Not like some stupid magazines that almost ruined my physique for good, only thinking about what makes them the most money, and how much 8000 calorie diets can make you huge like Ronnie Coleman, forgetting to tell you that people like Coleman, while great, are on so much juice it would make your avg trainee sick. Places like this board are true eye openers for people like myself, who only a year ago, was very lost in his quest for true growth and bodybuilding in general.

I wish more people had access and knowledge of boards like this one, because they would no longer be lost in the incoherrent ads of silly magazines. They would have a wealth of research, cheaper yet more effective supplements, better bodies and much better lives because of it. I feel like these people who are searching through the magazines are in a bad dream, and I just want to wake them up!

Now I am proud to say I am a lean and solid 211 lbs, at 6'3. I have about 14 percent bf,and a 35 inch wasit. I am WAY stronger now than I was at 267.

Just to compare:

Best Squat: 325 X 6
Best Bench 245 x 8
Best Deadlift: 355 x 6
Military Smith Machine Press 225 X 5


Those basic exercises have increased leaps and bounds since my research began almost 8 months ago. If I had pics, I would be very glad to show.

Just wanted to share this with people who think they will never figure it out. IT CAN be done, and with all the wealth of resources in books, libraries, internet sources (such as this one) and trial and error in the gym, you CAN BECOME HELLA BETTER!

Good luck to everyone.
Learning is half the fun.



"TOLERANCE is the virtue of a man without convictions"

G.K.Chesterton


Boot Shine and Polish $15.
New Uniforms: $250
New gun and holster: $450
Looking like a stud in uniform: Priceless

Girl: Me and this new guy are getting kinda chummy.
Me: Good chummy? Like friends forever?
Girl: Ya
Me: Or Chummy like, spank my ass chummy?
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Old 02-06-2004, 03:58 PM   #2
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Great stuff bro! Enjoyed your story and to see that you're doing better than ever today.
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Old 02-06-2004, 04:15 PM   #3
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Wow what a great story, thanks for sharing. Sounds like you and I have somewhat similar stories. I've been up and down the chain when it comes to bodyweight as well. During my school years for the most part I was a tall skinny kid, then towards my last couple of years in high school I started picking up weight. Although I was'nt fat I was still weighing more than I should.

After I graduated a couple of years later I managed to land a job at a fairly decent company. There was a gym on the first floor of the building that was open to employees for the company I worked for, so I joined up and thats how I got into weight lifting. I went from being a tall chubby guy with a weight of about 200 to around 6-8% body fat at 195 with great muscle development. I kept this up for a few years but then I started dating and eventually got married and my workouts ceased.

Today I'm about 275 and I've been having a difficult time losing the weight. I've tried low carb diets, intense cardio and other programs but I've yet to really lose any weight. I've recently decided that I need to get back into weight training. Unfortunately my knowledge of proper weight training is'nt what it should be so i'm slowly try to learn the best way to train and eat. Its been about 3 weeks since I started lifting again and I'm noticing some positive improvements. However I want to learn a bit more on how to schedule my training for the week and I'm looking for a full range of dumbell based weight training.

Well thats my story, I'm looking forward to learning some good info and of course getting in shape. Once I get the nerve I'll post some pictures of my progress.
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Old 02-06-2004, 04:16 PM   #4
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good story man. I kind of sound like you, i read basically everything i can that relates to bodybuilding training and nutrition, but so much of the info seems to conflict these days (and you just can't know if a company is being sincere or simply trying to hook people that don't know better).

by the way, do you believe in the Post Workout Spike? (high GI carbs after you workout).



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he is proud of this fact.
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Old 02-06-2004, 04:26 PM   #5
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Actually yes I do. Although many will argue against it if your on a cutting cycle, but I have read quite a few articles stating that the spike will not effect your fat loss, that ur body is in such a hungry state, that I will do you good with no ill effects.

I use it with plain ol grape juice and creatine, and my bodyfat has dropped while using it.



"TOLERANCE is the virtue of a man without convictions"

G.K.Chesterton


Boot Shine and Polish $15.
New Uniforms: $250
New gun and holster: $450
Looking like a stud in uniform: Priceless

Girl: Me and this new guy are getting kinda chummy.
Me: Good chummy? Like friends forever?
Girl: Ya
Me: Or Chummy like, spank my ass chummy?
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Old 02-06-2004, 04:40 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally posted by camarosuper6
Actually yes I do. Although many will argue against it if your on a cutting cycle, but I have read quite a few articles stating that the spike will not effect your fat loss, that ur body is in such a hungry state, that I will do you good with no ill effects.

I use it with plain ol grape juice and creatine, and my bodyfat has dropped while using it.
cool. looks like you and i are in the same boat. I spike bulk or cut, i just lower the amount of sugar on a cut obviously.



Foreman_Rules could masturbate with one hand and finger his own anus with the other at the same time.

he is proud of this fact.
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Old 02-06-2004, 04:41 PM   #7
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If it aint broke, dont try to fix it



"TOLERANCE is the virtue of a man without convictions"

G.K.Chesterton


Boot Shine and Polish $15.
New Uniforms: $250
New gun and holster: $450
Looking like a stud in uniform: Priceless

Girl: Me and this new guy are getting kinda chummy.
Me: Good chummy? Like friends forever?
Girl: Ya
Me: Or Chummy like, spank my ass chummy?
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Old 02-06-2004, 05:10 PM   #8
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I wish i had a means of testing my BF %
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Old 02-06-2004, 05:17 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally posted by myCATpowerlifts
I wish i had a means of testing my BF %
BODYFAT CALIPERS HERE



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Old 02-07-2004, 01:18 PM   #10
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payment....lol
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Old 02-08-2004, 04:01 PM   #11
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so wait a minute here, you are saying MARIGE= F A T !!! ???
damn, no wife for me then,,,,, lol, j/k man, good luck to you and i hope you loose all that fat,




















and that woman..... ghhhmmm opss
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Old 02-08-2004, 11:27 PM   #12
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yayyyy

I hope I have a good story to tell soon too!
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Old 02-09-2004, 07:49 AM   #13
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Great read Camaro. Very inspiring.
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Old 02-09-2004, 07:53 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally posted by myCATpowerlifts
I wish i had a means of testing my BF %
Got a tape measure?
http://www.mybodycomp.com/members/login.asp
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Old 02-09-2004, 08:57 PM   #15
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lol i did it wrong, i came up with 4.9 % bf hahahah
i redid it though, but its still not right i dont think, they dont specify how you measure ( for instance chest, go all the way around your back or what?? same thing goes for the waist too and anything upper body besides arms, no specification...)
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Old 02-09-2004, 09:58 PM   #16
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Im telling you guys, the best way to lose weight is go through a painful breakup with someone you love, I lost a good 25 lbs just in depression!

Thank the Lord we got back together and are now engaged to be married next January You dont realize what you have until its gone.



"TOLERANCE is the virtue of a man without convictions"

G.K.Chesterton


Boot Shine and Polish $15.
New Uniforms: $250
New gun and holster: $450
Looking like a stud in uniform: Priceless

Girl: Me and this new guy are getting kinda chummy.
Me: Good chummy? Like friends forever?
Girl: Ya
Me: Or Chummy like, spank my ass chummy?
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Old 02-10-2004, 03:49 PM   #17
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*marks down one more reason why women sux*
just kidding ladies :P
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Old 02-11-2004, 06:33 PM   #18
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no way man you read those mags wrong i was thin in high school after high school got married and went up to 320 pounds of fat plus on crystal.then i quit drugs and started working out lost 100#'s down to 220. then went up to 246 i was eating about 200 to 300 grams of protein. but i stop cardio. that wAS the problem. so i still eat 200 to 300 grams of protein and low carbs .but i do alot of of cardio.now i weigh 237 and my body fat is 18%. i'm 5'11 too. 18" arms and 50" chest.
benc press: 300
curl: 130
pull down (triceps) 200+ i do all the weights.
so i'm proud of my self thanks to flex. no personal trainer etc. i don't know any one who works out either.
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Old 02-11-2004, 07:16 PM   #19
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I've been bodybuilding/strength training on and off for about 5-6 years. I'm not really a big believer in BB magazines as their sole purpose is to make enough content to fill the pages between the advertisements. So I've accumulated a little fitness/bb library at home. The advice in some of these books was downright destructive. After following the advice on how to eat in some of these books I ballooned to an incredible 215lb with almost 20% bodyfat. I thought I was getting big...but...I was getting fat. The worst dieting book I ever owned is POWER EATING, by Dr.Kleiner. The second worst
advice section is in what is otherwise a pretty solid book : IRONMAN'S BODYBUILDING ENCYCLOPEDIA.

This site is a god-send. Save your money and read up the articles on ironmagazine.com abuse this area.
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Old 02-11-2004, 07:16 PM   #20
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That's a great post Camaro. Congrats on your recent success. I too have found an abundance of useful info and testimonies/journals on this forum. It's helped clear up a lot of questions and confusion I have had while jumping back into the fitness arena...this time for good!
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Old 02-11-2004, 07:49 PM   #21
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Glad I could inspire some people. I'm not trying to blantantly condem bodybuilding magazines, because some are better than others, and some advice they give isnt that bad. However, as a whole, most magazines are destructive to the regular person, including things like meal plans, workout programs and supplement advice. Flex ROUTINELY advertises overpriced worthless supplements with little or no scientific background, along with routines used by people like Lee Priest who advocate 30 set workouts PER BODYPART, which for the average person would send them into a super-overtrained, catabolic state.

Forums like this one REALLY saved my body, and helped me begin my journey to discover what bodybuilding really is all about.



"TOLERANCE is the virtue of a man without convictions"

G.K.Chesterton


Boot Shine and Polish $15.
New Uniforms: $250
New gun and holster: $450
Looking like a stud in uniform: Priceless

Girl: Me and this new guy are getting kinda chummy.
Me: Good chummy? Like friends forever?
Girl: Ya
Me: Or Chummy like, spank my ass chummy?
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