From Fatass to Badass - A Journal of Change

[Big_Turtle]

Turtle, it's great to see that you're staying motivated? Whats the overall weight loss since you started doing the body weight exercises and cardio at your house? How is your diet looking? Using any supps?

I weighed in Sunday morning, down almost 12 pounds total. The diet is far from "perfect" but I'm working on improving it. I've gotten a lot better about controlling portion size and eating smaller, more frequent meals, but it's still way too often that I or my wife will swing by a fast food joint and pick up dinner rather than cooking. However, will that being said, I did some shopping after work today and we're loaded up for several days.

Tomorrow, my patented cornbread stuffed meatloaf.

And, no, I'm not taking any supps. I figure that with a healthy diet with lots of protein, clean carbs and tons of veggies, I shouldn't be lacking too much. I just need to eat clean and bust my butt and I'll see some good results.

 

[Big_Turtle]

Out of curiosity, has anyone noticed their aggression levels going up after they started working out again after a lay off? It seems like I have less and less tolerance for people and all of their stupidity, and it's getting harder for me to bite my tongue.

Maybe it's just me getting crotchity in my old age.

 

[Guinness5.0]

Out of curiosity, has anyone noticed their aggression levels going up after they started working out again after a lay off? It seems like I have less and less tolerance for people and all of their stupidity, and it's getting harder for me to bite my tongue.

Maybe it's just me getting crotchity in my old age.

Lately I've felt a huge increase in confidence and a general sense of wellbeing, not at all unlike the feelings one gets from steroids. I haven't felt aggressive or short-tempered, though I don't get that way even with gear

Are you jusr feeling 'testy' or do you have the more positive sides as well? I bet you're sleeping better and have more energy, too...

 

[BiggT]

I've been running a string of recent PRs lately and I've gained a lot of "good" weight, and my training is going through one of those periods where it is just clicking and I have had a lot of steroid-like good moods, increased libido, more confidence etc etc......I haven't had any short-temperedness or anything, but I also never got that with gear as I am usually a pretty cool customer and a pretty hard guy to piss off, unless someone is a total douche and begs for it, lol.

But that got long-winded.....to sum it up, yeah, returning to the gym, spiking your body's hormone levels, and gaining physical prowess can have huge effects on the psyche.

Are you training tomorrow Turtle? I'm following along all anxious because you're gonna be a monster in the weightroom, it is just a matter of consistency/time.

 

[ZGzaZ]

And, no, I'm not taking any supps. I figure that with a healthy diet with lots of protein, clean carbs and tons of veggies, I shouldn't be lacking too much. I just need to eat clean and bust my butt and I'll see some good results.

Even if you don't want to take any energy, or bodybuilding related supplements, I cannot stress the importance of a good multivitamin. And no, you will not get everything from a multi in a good diet.

 

[Big_Turtle]

Lately I've felt a huge increase in confidence and a general sense of wellbeing, not at all unlike the feelings one gets from steroids. I haven't felt aggressive or short-tempered, though I don't get that way even with gear

Are you jusr feeling 'testy' or do you have the more positive sides as well? I bet you're sleeping better and have more energy, too...

I definitely have the positive sides as well. I sleep like a rock for a solid 8 to 8.5 hours every night and I have tons of energy. I wouldn't say that I'm really feeling so much 'testy', it's more like. . . . I had my head down for years and tried to slink along in the shadows as much as I could, whereas now I'm walking with my head up and not letting anyone move me off my path. I don't feel like I'm being some aggressive dick to anyone, but I'm standing my own ground and not letting myself be intimidated or anything.

 

[Big_Turtle]

Trained this morning. Everything felt pretty good, I'm beginning to gain my confidence back with my lifting. It's one thing to know in my head that I can lift a certain amount, it's another thing to have that much across my shoulders and actually squat it. But it's getting better, I didn't have any trouble so I feel confident in increasing the weights more.

Week 1 Day 3

Squat - 5 x 75
5 x 105
5 x 135
5 x 165
3 x 195
8 x 135

Bench - 5 x 75
5 x 105
5 x 135
5 x 165
3 x 195
8 x 135

Row - 5 x 70
5 x 95
5 x 120
5 x 145
3 x 175
8 x 120


I should've gone a little heavier on the squats, but I wussed out. But, I really handled the weight without any trouble, even on the triple I felt like I could've knocked out another two or three reps without straining too hard. So I'll increase that appropriately. One odd thing, my knee was aching a little bit on the first couple of sets of squats, but once I got to 135 and over it wasn't really bothering me much. I think, with the lighter weight, I may have been coming up on my toes more and stressing my knee more. When I had more weight on the bar I planted my heel more and the stress was off my knee. I'm guessing that's it, at least.

On the bench, I was definitely feeling nervous coming up to that triple. I don't have a spotter and I was just picturing myself unracking the bar, bringing it down, and it just sticking there. In fact, I really debated with myself if I shouldn't maybe drop it down to 185. But, I decided that I had already wimped out on the squats, I had to at least freaking try. So, naturally, I tried it and I nailed it with relative ease. I've gotta get more confident in my lifting.

 

[Big_Turtle]

I'm following along all anxious because you're gonna be a monster in the weightroom, it is just a matter of consistency/time.

Believe me, we're both anxious for that. I love lifting and I'm enjoying the 5x5 thus far (the whole 1 week of it) but there's something decidedly unmonster-ish about putting a 10 and a 5 on each side of a bar and squatting with it.

 

[Big_Turtle]

Even if you don't want to take any energy, or bodybuilding related supplements, I cannot stress the importance of a good multivitamin. And no, you will not get everything from a multi in a good diet.

Agreed, I do need to start taking a good multi. Meant to pick some up yesterday at WM, but it slipped my mind. Hopefully this weekend.

 

[Protobuilder]

Solid workout.

I should've gone a little heavier on the squats, but I wussed out. But, I really handled the weight without any trouble, even on the triple I felt like I could've knocked out another two or three reps without straining too hard. So I'll increase that appropriately.

What do you mean by 'appropriately'? IMHO, I'd increase it mildly, according to whatever plan you have established, rather than throwing on a big jump b/c today was easy. It'll help string your run of PRs out further and further if you take small conservative jumps even though you felt great today. That's just my approach. Some people stall b/c they'll make aggressive jumps. You can do that, but usualy only briefly.

One odd thing, my knee was aching a little bit on the first couple of sets of squats, but once I got to 135 and over it wasn't really bothering me much. I think, with the lighter weight, I may have been coming up on my toes more and stressing my knee more. When I had more weight on the bar I planted my heel more and the stress was off my knee.

That's a good analysis. I sink into the hole better with some weight on the bar. Also, it oculd just be a matter of your knees groaning a bit until they got more warmed up. I often feel some aches & pains but they disappear as I get into the workout. Strange. Right up there with warmup sets feeling heavy and awkward and then adding 50 pounds and banging out good sets. LoL