MonStar's Journal: Time to Get Serious!

[M.J.H.]

Time to Get Serious!

Jen (atherjen) is going to make sure that I cannot start another journal, this is my last and final journal here at IM. No matter what please make sure I do not start another journal.

I think this is going to be exactly what I need to force myself to keep one journal. If I know I will not be allowed to have another journal here at IM I will just naturally force myself to post everything. If I binge, I'll post it. I am not going to hold anything back or leave anything out. I am going to keep things straightfoward and simple. Not obsess about diet, not obsess about my training, not obsess about anything at all.

This is my journal for good, and that will be that.

 

[BritChick]

Good luck (Talk about deja vu! )

 

[fantasma62]

Hey Mike, good luck and don't forget, keep it simple and stick to it. By the way, don't be surprised if you get ragged on now for this one. I came close to it, but what you need is for Mike to help Mike out here.

Work at it and stick to one journal. Hell, you should have just called it Mike's journal, so that you can write all you want and not care whether it has to do with P/RR/S or Westside or Atkins Diet, etc....
If you try to stick to it you'll do it.
By the way, Jen is going to kick your ARSE

 

[M.J.H.]

BritChick: Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.

Tony: Hey man, thanks for the post, and support. I am not too worried about hearing a bunch of crap for this journal. Because I know that this is going to be my last journal. And Jen is going to make sure that I don't change my journal again. I told her to not let me change no matter what. If I start a new journal, delete it immediately without hesitation. I believe that is what I need at this point.

 

[M.J.H.]

Thursday; 9-9-2004

Shoulders

Overall workout today was great, really great focus and intensity and everything like that. Workout lasted 70 minutes. I was definitely pleased with my workout. I really like training instinctively. I don't have to worry about have a bad chest workout, etc. I am going to determine what I do at the gym when I get there, and not thing twice about it.

Seated BTN Presses
2 sets of 12 with 135
2 sets of 6 with 175
2 sets of 2 with 195
1 set of 14 with 135

Arnold Presses
5 sets of 5 with 75's

Upright Rows
1 set of 10 with 125
2 sets of 8 with 150
2 sets of 3 with 185

Nautilus Lateral Raises
2 sets of 12 with 180
2 sets of 5 with 230

DB Shrugs
3 sets of 10 with the 100's

Did lots of volume for my shoulders today, started off with some heavy sets of BTN presses. My ROM on them isn't anything special because when I take the bar low it really aches my rotator cuffs. Worked up to 195 for 2 sets of 2. Not bad. Hit up 5x5 on Arnold presses, great sets there. Moved onto some upright rows with the cambered-bar. Good sets. My shoulders were drained. Finished up my delts with some Nautilus lateral raises. And then some 3 sets for my traps.

I try to keep my trap work minimal, basically because I prefer the look of wide well-developed shoulders not big traps. So on my days where I train my shoulders I am going to focus on my delts, and do just a few sets for my traps.

Diet:
- cottage + pineapple
- protein oatmeal
- V-12 preworkout
- whey protein postworkout
- tuna & cheese sandwich, apple
- MRP + 2% milk
- chicken parmesan, pasta
- whey protein + 2% milk
- 1/2 peanut butter sandwich

Sleep: 9 hours.

 

[shutupntra1n]

This is not in reference to your wo or diet... I guess you know you seem to have OCD. I have it too but for other things. Yours is for the journal thing. Just do what you do. People without OCD aren't going to understand so don't feel the need to explain.

 

[Monolith]

I think its closer to ADD than OCD.

 

[fantasma62]

This is not in reference to your wo or diet... I guess you know you seem to have OCD. I have it too but for other things. Yours is for the journal thing. Just do what you do. People without OCD aren't going to understand so don't feel the need to explain.

Hey Lis, I think everyone has some form or another of OCD. I mentioned this to him in another journal. I think it may have been yesterday's.

 

[BritChick]

Workouts looking good Mike.

 

[M.J.H.]

shutupntra1n: Thank you for stopping by and posting. I appreciate it. And you're absolutely right that people without OCD will not be able to understand what I am going through, etc.

Monolith: I disagree. I have never had a problem paying attention in my life. Once again me creating journals is not really me losing focus of my goals, it's an excuse to binge the night before, nothing more. It's a way of justifying my binging. So I am not really losing focus or attention on my original plan, it's more me wanting to binge, etc.

Tony: I agree that everyone has OCD in some form. But it's all about how you control it. And yes that probably was yesterday's journal, lol.

BritChick: Thanks, I appreciate it! I had a great shoulder workout today, I was very pleased.

 

[Jill]

I hope this journal works for you.

 

[M.J.H.]

Jill: I hope so too Jill, thanks for the support. Regardless of whether it works for me or not though it's going to be my last and final journal. No matter what I do not want Jen to let me start another one---regardless of the circumstances.

 

[blueboy]

"it's all about how you control it." -monstar

So Jen is your answer to not starting a new journal?

 

[fantasma62]

"it's all about how you control it." -monstar

So Jen is your answer to not starting a new journal?

You know what, Blueboy has a point. Don't use Jen as your excuse to not start a new journal. You are a strong young man and you need to exercise some major will power. Just don't give up anymore. Every time you start a journal it seems like you gave up and that does not constitute you. You need to be stronger than the urge. If you want to eat something that you know will make you binge, then eat it, don't punish yourself by not doing it or later, you'll be binging.
Use your will power. You know it's in there. Defeat your OCD. I'll be pulling for ya'.....

 

[M.J.H.]

blueboy: Great point man, I should be the one in control. And no one but me. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

fantasma62: Yeah I agree completely man. No one should be responsible for my dedication except for me. I mean regardless of whether I have ADD or OCD or anything---I need to keep in mind that I am controlling my actions. And no one else. I don't want 20K journals, I don't want to binge all the time, etc. I need to stay confident and just train hard and keep my diet clean, period.

 

[M.J.H.]

Friday; 9-10-2004

Legs

Great leg workout today, wow. Really one of the best leg sessions that I have had in a long long time. Haven't trained my legs in a long time, so maybe that had something to do with it. Lower back was feeling pretty damn strong.

Conventional Deadlifts
3 sets of 2 with 555
2 sets of 4 with 495
1 set of 8 with 375

Smith-Machine Lunges
2 sets of 8 with 195
3 sets of 4 with 245

Hyperextensions
4 sets of 4 with 165

Nautilus Leg Extensions
4 sets of 10 with 250

Smith-Machine Calf Raises
2 sets of 12 with 285
2 sets of 8 with 355
1 set of 15 with 265

Hit some new PR's today in my workout. First I hit 555 for 3 sets of 2, that's definitely a big PR for 3 sets. Not too bad at all. Then I moved onto some Smith lunges. Really good sets there. I was pretty happy with those sets. Hit 4 sets of 4 with 165 on hypers, nice PR there, no question about it. Really beat the hell outta' my a*s and hamstrings.

Finished up my legs with some leg extensions and then some calf raises. Workout today lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes. Not too bad.

Diet:
- cottage + pineapple
- grilled chicken sandwich
- 1/2 peanut butter sandwich
- V-12 preworkout
- whey protein postworkout
- tuna & cheese sandwich
- grilled chicken salad
- breaded chicken tenders
- whey protein + 2% milk

Sleep: 8 hours.

 

[Duncans Donuts]

Good workout. Great deadlifts. That's an amazing dl workout.

I'm glad that you are keeping this journal

 

[atherjen]

Don't use Jen as your excuse to not start a new journal. You are a strong young man and you need to exercise some major will power. Just don't give up anymore. Every time you start a journal it seems like you gave up and that does not constitute you. You need to be stronger than the urge. If you want to eat something that you know will make you binge, then eat it, don't punish yourself by not doing it or later, you'll be binging.
Use your will power. You know it's in there. Defeat your OCD. I'll be pulling for ya'.....

Well said!

Stick to it Mike.

 

[M.J.H.]

Duncans Donuts: Yeah I am definitely keeping this journal, no questions asked. And thanks for the support man, I was feeling pretty strong today in deadlifts---I havn't done them in forever.

Jen: Thanks for the support. This journal isn't going anywhere.

 

[dianas05]

Diet & training looking good there Mike. Keep it up!

 

[fantasma62]

Hey sir, good morning....

First of all, you know I have to take a little dig at you, but you'll know it's in good fun. Ok, here goes:
Your journal has made it almost two days without change? What happened, your keyboard got tired of starting new journals???

Not too tough on you right?

Anyway Mikey, I am very proud of you. So far you have kept this journal and have not veered off. Man, you can beat this. You were surrounded by bad foods yesterday and didn't touch any? Good man...
I, however, have to tell you, if you really have a big urge for tasting any of that food, go ahead and taste a small piece. Don't punish yourself. A little taste may go a long way in helping you cure yourself from binging because binging occurs when you miss some foods. If you taste them, you won't miss them.
I am going to keep up with your journal and I'll see how you are progressing. Believe me, I will be drawing strength from your journal when I have none to do my own thing. I promise you this, I will overcome my problem with weight by working really hard but if you don't keep this journal, any type of help that you may be able to give me will not happen and I won't be able to draw strength from you. I mean, every time I read how you kicked ass in your workouts it makes me feel that I can do it too. I know it may not be of any consequence to you, but it is to me, so you need to keep this journal going. Think of it as my psychological strength. Whaddaya think? Wanna help me out while helping yourself out? Stay the path

 

[M.J.H.]

Diana: Thanks for the support, I appreciate it. So far, so good.

Tony: Hey whats going on? Yes, I have made it 2 days without starting a new journal, and this is going to be my 3rd day. I am absolutely 100% confident that I am going to stick it out with this journal this time. Especially because now I am back in college so I don't have all that much time to be binging and living this rollercoaster lifestyle.

I totally see where you're coming from though in terms of using my workouts as motivation. I used to do that (and still do) on the forums that I used to post at. There aren't TOO many guys here who are crazy strong but back at WBB there were a few that I was always striving to catch up to. I would try and try and try to get my strength up. And now when I look at their journals our #'s are very close in most of our lifts. Which makes me feel even better.

I am telling you Tony, I really think that this journal is here to stay. I always have people in the gym telling me I look "huge" or "bigger than ever" or how much potential I have. I am sick of just letting my potential go to waste with a sh*tty diet.

 

[M.J.H.]

Saturday; 9-11-2004

Chest

Good workout today I think. I need to be careful not to train shoulders and chest too closely together, which I think I did this time. I didn't experience any pain but I can definitely tell when my shoulders are feeling a little weak.

Decline BB Presses
2 sets of 5 with 295
2 sets of 3 with 335
1 set of 14 with 260

Flat DB Presses
4 sets of 5 with the 120's

Incline DB Flyes
2 sets of 12 with the 55's
2 sets of 7 with the 70's

Nautilus Pec-Deck Flyes
3 sets of 9 with 160

... Miscellaneous rotator cuff sets.

Hit my chest hard and heavy today for the most part, hit a PR on decline bench 14 reps with 260. That was definitely a bit PR for me. I expected to fail at 9 or 10. Really good set there. I was also pleased with 2 triples with 335. Flat DB presses I was pretty beat, I didn't have much left in pecs or shoulders for that matter. Finished up my pecs with some incline flyes and some pec-deck flyes. Then I did some rotator cuff work. I definitely don't want to risk injuring my rotator cuffs with all this heavy chest and shoulder pressing. I have just decided to devote a lot more time into training my shoulders. It's one of my favorite bodyparts---and I would like to develop my delts even more.

Diet:
- MRP + 2% milk
- tuna & cheese sandwich, banana
- 1/2 peanut butter sandwich
- V-12 preworkout
- whey protein postworkout
- turkey breast, mixed vegetables, garlic potatoes, corn bread
- MRP bar
- turkey & cheese sandwich
- cottage cheese + 1% milk

Sleep: 7.5 hours.

 

[BritChick]

Journal is looking great MonStar... keep up the good work!

 

[M.J.H.]

BritChick: Thanks for the kind words! I really appreciate the support. Today is day 3 now of eating clean (fairly clean at least) and no new journal!

 

[dalila]

hey monstar, this is the first time I am reading a journal of yours and the timing is obviously perfect as you've promised this is the final one too! What's your current goal?

 

[Rocco32]

Hey Monstar. Looking great in here and congrats on the clean eating and staying with the journal. Your doing awesome! I know you were having elbow problems awhile back, hows that been going?

 

[M.J.H.]

dalila: Yeah I am glad that this is my first journal that you have came upon. Basically because before this I was just starting new journals all the time, binging nonstop, making a fool or myself. I am sticking it out this time with this journal, and getting serious. My goals are basically just fat-loss, size, strength, everything, lol.

rock4832: Elbow pain isn't a big deal at all. It only gets to me sometimes. When I get it though my elbows really hurt. It's almost just a sharp pain in my right elbow. But it's hard to explain because it's not really my elbow---it's my entire forearm area as well. Whatever.

BTW, thanks for the support.

 

[M.J.H.]

Sunday; 9-12-2004

Arms

Awesome workout today, I honestly have not trained arms along in a long long time. Really love it, the pump that I get in my arms when hitting biceps and triceps is beyond words. Arms are looking better than ever, IMO.

Skullcrushers
3 sets of 10 with 105
2 sets of 7 with 130

Alternating DB Curls
2 sets of 9 with the 50's
2 sets of 5 with the 70's

Seated French Presses
2 sets of 9 with 125
2 sets of 4 with 155

CG Preacher Curls
2 sets of 10 with 100
2 sets of 4 with 125

Decline DB Extensions
3 sets of 10 with the 40's

Reverse Curls
3 sets of 8 with 95

Hit some great PR's today, and really good strength overall IMO. I absolutely love training my arms fresh, without them being exhausted from presses/rows. Started off with some skulls, didn't go crazy heavy with them because my elbows were kinda' aching. Then some heavy alt. DB curls, nice sets. Hit 2 sets of 5 with the 70's, nice PR. Then some BTN extensions for triceps, hit 2 sets of 4 with 155. Nice sets there. Preacher curls were good too, my biceps were exhausted after the preacher curls, damn. Finished my arms up with some decline DB ext. and some reverse curls---arms were pumped as hell, and exhausted.

Diet:
- MRP + 2% milk
- turkey & cheese sandwich
- mixed fruit
- 1/2 peanut butter sandwich
- V-12 preworkout
- whey protein postworkout
- tuna & cheese sandwich
- cottage cheese + pineapple
- 1/2 peanut butter sandwich

Damn, I was starving today! Ate a bunch of peanut butter before bed, lol.

Sleep: 7 hours.

 

[JerseyDevil]

Great job on all of your workouts, you are one strong dude Mike. Also, way to go on sticking with this journal.