Hyde’s Strength Odyssey

[Hyde]

11/14/23

MiniBand Pullaparts
4x25

ss w/ Bench
45x15
135,185,225x5
265 4x3, 1x12

NG WG Pulldowns
60,100x8
140x15,15,10

ss w/ 2-Boardpress
225 2x12

10-sec Eccentric DB Curls
15 2x8

Bar Cable Tri Pressdowns
40x25,25,30

Took entirely too long to peel myself out of bed this morning, so I needed to make everything concise & effective when I finally did make it to the gym. I am really happy with how productive this session felt. I believe I will continue using 5th Set for bench for now and evaluate as I go.

I am also am a bit stronger still on bench than I expected, with calculations putting me around 355-360 1RM.

 

[MrKleen73]

You've got to love realizing you are holding more strength than expected!

 

[Dustin07]

that 1 x 12 though

 

[Hyde]

You've got to love realizing you are holding more strength than expected!

Yeah based on a 328 Swissbar last week I could only for sure count on ~345, but the straight bar is feeling a lot more powerful. I hit that 308 on Friday that was 380+ at the top, so 360 seems pretty realistic.

363 is my best 242 comp bench, so I would call that progress considering I’m on a TRT dose vs gassed up.

 

[Hyde]

11/15/23
BW 248.4

KB Suitcase Carries
KB One-leg Deadlifts

Hi Bar Squat
45,45,45,135,135,245,295x5
+deadlift belt
335x5
355x12

RDL
155,265,315x5
+deadlift belt & straps
315x10

Leg Extension
70 3x15

ss w/ Lying Leg Curl
70x15,20

Still feeling out now I want to lay this meso out. Started warming up with Zerchers, which I haven’t done in a decade, but they just felt entirely in my arms. And the point is more quad/ab/upper back emphasis to aid deadlift so it really made zero sense. Switched to a hi bar supersquats approach on an itch. Left about 3 in the tank on my work set, so plan is to try to add some reps next week. Maybe add 5-10lbs as well.

 

[gphagan1]

11/15/23
BW 248.4

KB Suitcase Carries
KB One-leg Deadlifts

Hi Bar Squat
45,45,45,135,135,245,295x5
+deadlift belt
335x5
355x12

RDL
155,265,315x5
+deadlift belt & straps
315x10

Leg Extension
70 3x15

ss w/ Lying Leg Curl
70x15,20

Still feeling out now I want to lay this meso out. Started warming up with Zerchers, which I haven’t done in a decade, but they just felt entirely in my arms. And the point is more quad/ab/upper back emphasis to aid deadlift so it really made zero sense. Switched to a hi bar supersquats approach on an itch. Left about 3 in the tank on my work set, so plan is to try to add some reps next week. Maybe add 5-10lbs as well.

I’ve tried Zerchers a few times, but never liked the way they feel. I actually usually would end up switching to front squats, but of course I never did high bar squats for 355x12 or 15 either. Ha, my work sets are mere warmups for you though.

 

[Dustin07]

yeah I hate Zerchers with a passion. why not fronts?
goblet squats might sorta be an option although you're likely going to struggle to find a heavy enough weight to create the stimulus you're looking for.

 

[MrKleen73]

High SSB Squats pushing the handles up to get the weight out in front of you might also be a decent option.

 

[Hyde]

yeah I hate Zerchers with a passion. why not fronts?
goblet squats might sorta be an option although you're likely going to struggle to find a heavy enough weight to create the stimulus you're looking for.

Fronts are definitely a real option, but I have had them seriously bother my back on more than one occasion. Like something randomly gets pinched/slips and it kills the rest of the training (and the Frontsquat cycle).

Goblets are not a viable option for this use case. Even if I could hold the db properly with my left elbow, and I can’t, the 105lb db we have isn’t going to cut it. Even if I could hold a 200lb db & had one, that would be a poor stimulus specific to aiding deadlift strength. I would say even very light fronts would be the better tool there. Or something like holding a big sandbag.

High SSB Squats pushing the handles up to get the weight out in front of you might also be a decent option.

They are indeed the top dog solution here, but for the moment I’m already doing them on Sundays before deadlift.

I had thought about doing more hypertrophy work last night, a bunch of belt squats, but I really don’t think that that makes any sense when neither my calories or anabolics are in surplus at the moment and the intention is to lean out if anything. I felt pretty worked from the squat set, and I’m not realistically in a position to grow. So the general hypertrophy work needs to be more about maintaining tissue & work capacity for the moment.

 

[MrKleen73]

Smart move.

 

[Hyde]

11/17/23

Miniband Pullaparts
35,33,32

Cable Lat Warmups, Band BTN Press

DB 45* Incline Bench
30,55x15
70 2x30

NG Chins
2x14

DB Side Raises
25,30x10

Rolling EZBar Skullcrushers
+50x10
+70 2x10

DB Rear Raises
30 2x12

One-arm Cable Tri Ext
20 4x25 (2 underhand, 2 overhand)

I was wondering how this day would go in my head prior to doing it. I have to say, I enjoyed it & am glad I went with it. Elbow mobility has improved enough recently with work that I feel alright about doing chin-ups again. They are better than where I was before, and sets of 14 weighing about 250lbs is a great starting point to come back to.

 

[MrKleen73]

Coming back to 14 at 250 is better than a great starting point in my opinion! It's already a pretty elite level of pull ups for that body weight.

 

[Hyde]

11/19/23
BW 248.0 yesterday

6 min walk
KB Suitcase Carries
Roll Feet bottoms, ITB, quads, adductors
KB One-leg Deadlift

Hi Bar Squat
45 2x5
135,225x5
+deadlift belt
315x5
365x3
415,455,475x1

Deadlift, stiffbar
135,225,315x5
+deadlift belt & straps
365x3
415x5

GHR
3x12

Hatfield Back Extensions
100x8,12,12

DB RFE Splitsquat
35 2x15

6 weeks since the meet/coming off today, and I haven’t squat anything over 355, so worked up conservatively on hi bar & smoked 475. Happy I can do this with a small belt, old Rehbands, hi bar in a tank top, & still leaving something in the tank. I knew I had 500, so I saved the recovery debt & moved on. Deadlifts however felt pretty heavy - especially since I didn’t spend a ton of time or energy on the squat work-up.

Glad I did not hammer volume on this, because I had about 90 minutes of raking/bagging leaves after this as soon as I got home that would not have happened with a 6x4, even if I had used lighter weights.

My fitness in training feels pretty solid, and in general right now I am feeling really great overall on 180 test/wk & eating pretty clean, probably in a tiny deficit. I can IF while I work on mornings I don’t train until it’s convenient to eat, I enjoy my meals, and I feel good from the foods I’m eating with enough energy to train & live well.

 

[rascal14]

Not much more you can ask for, sounds like everything’s going smoothly and strength is obviously still out of this world!

 

[Hyde]

11/21/23

MiniBand Pullaparts
4x25

Band Mobility/Warming

ss w/ Bench
45x10
95,155,205x5
245x3
275 3x3
315x1
275x10

NG WG Pulldowns
70,110x8
150x13,13,14

ss w/ 2-Boardpress
225 2x15

Williams Plate Raises
45 3x10

10-sec Eccentric DB Curls
20 2x6

V-Bar Cable Tri Pressdowns
50x35,25,25

Solid improvements all around over from last week. 275x10 clocks in at 365 e1RM potential. I can tell you by how 315 felt there’s 0 chance I could have actually benched 365 today, but the reps in the AMRAP felt easy and it’s progress.

Been going over what else I could be doing to improve my bench, but I’m honestly not sure I should mess with anything as long as things trend in the right direction!

 

[Dustin07]

275x10

Look at you crushing all that cardio!
solid set duder, that's moving some weight.

 

[Hyde]

Look at you crushing all that cardio!
solid set duder, that's moving some weight.

Thanks man. I had really hoped 2023 would be there year I’d bench 405 raw, but ultimately I wasn’t going to get there without doing things that I simply deemed not worth it for me. Even now, I could probably still make it by New Years if I started slamming orals/fast esters & food like a madman, but that doesn’t align with my family/health goals at all. I did still PR at 396, closer than ever, and really brought my squat/total up, so I am just going to enjoy the journey for now!

Odysseus took half his life to make his way home, but the trials are what made it all worth it.

 

[Hyde]

BW 247.4

Down 20lbs now in 6 weeks.

My Telmisartan and Ezetimibe came in recently, so I am good for the next year on those. Also took some inventory and should be good on gear for the next year as well, unless I try to use larger doses of testosterone. But I have other stuff that needs using, so it seems silly to reinvent the wheel for now.

 

[MrKleen73]

BW 247.4

Down 20lbs now in 6 weeks.

My Telmisartan and Ezetimibe came in recently, so I am good for the next year on those. Also took some inventory and should be good on gear for the next year as well, unless I try to use larger doses of testosterone. But I have other stuff that needs using, so it seems silly to reinvent the wheel for now.

Very nice! It's good to know you have what you need for the year already. I am pretty sure I will have to reup on some things or get some new compounds for prep but I have most of what I need for the year already myself.

 

[gphagan1]

Yeah you’ve been all around that 405 bench, and probably on the right day could have already hit it, but there’s no doubt you’ll hit 405 and beyond in 2024.

 

[gphagan1]

Happy Thanksgiving

 

[Hyde]

—BIGGER BY THE DAY—

Ended up fasting all Wednesday until 9pm or so since I was moving my Wednesday night training to Thanksgiving morning - I didn’t plan it, but it’s just something I find easy that drew me like gravity. I spent a lot of time that day reflecting on the idea of benching 405 this year. Not so much that it needs to happen this year, but that I shouldn’t be waiting around to try to make it happen. I had huge squat progress last bulk that would translate to a big total PR, but I needed to play that safe & take the 5.5lb bench PR to lock it in. And it was the right call, competitively that I would do all over again.

I realized I’m at this jumping off point - after losing 20lbs and being off supraphysiological doses for 6 weeks, my body is primed to rebound. My gut is healthy, my body has been recovering, my appetite is solid, and I only need to eat 3 easier meals a day to maintain lately. Everyone knows people who lost 20lbs and gained back 25 as soon as they thought they could go back to their old dietary habits - why should I be any different? So if I eat like it’s my job AND have the benefit of pharmacology behind me, I should be able to exceed my greatest bodyweight ever. And 6-8 weeks is definitely doable to keep up the big eating; it’s 4+ months that can be defeating. It’s a lot of time to be able to lose resolve/focus.

So if I can bloat back up rapidly, add that extra last 5lbs of bodyweight, don’t have to max out on squats prior, and get to do this in the gym, on my time, when I feel ready (regardless of date) - this all seems like a true & reasonable goal. I realized that if I don’t, it might be half a year at least before I get the chance again. My elbow has taught me how fast things can change - you really never know how long you have to do something. So I’m not wasting another day - I’m going for it.

Lowest weight, Wednesday 11/22:

Invalid Link Removed

Starting composition at 246lbs:

Invalid Link Removed

 

[PolishHamm3r77]

—BIGGER BY THE DAY—

Ended up fasting all Wednesday until 9pm or so since I was moving my Wednesday night training to Thanksgiving morning - I didn’t plan it, but it’s just something I find easy that drew me like gravity. I spent a lot of time that day reflecting on the idea of benching 405 this year. Not so much that it needs to happen this year, but that I shouldn’t be waiting around to try to make it happen. I had huge squat progress last bulk that would translate to a big total PR, but I needed to play that safe & take the 5.5lb bench PR to lock it in. And it was the right call, competitively that I would do all over again.

I realized I’m at this jumping off point - after losing 20lbs and being off supraphysiological doses for 6 weeks, my body is primed to rebound. My gut is healthy, my body has been recovering, my appetite is solid, and I only need to eat 3 easier meals a day to maintain lately. Everyone knows people who lost 20lbs and gained back 25 as soon as they thought they could go back to their old dietary habits - why should I be any different? So if I eat like it’s my job AND have the benefit of pharmacology behind me, I should be able to exceed my greatest bodyweight ever. And 6-8 weeks is definitely doable to keep up the big eating; it’s 4+ months that can be defeating. It’s a lot of time to be able to lose resolve/focus.

So if I can bloat back up rapidly, add that extra last 5lbs of bodyweight, don’t have to max out on squats prior, and get to do this in the gym, on my time, when I feel ready (regardless of date) - this all seems like a true & reasonable goal. I realized that if I don’t, it might be half a year at least before I get the chance again. My elbow has taught me how fast things can change - you really never know how long you have to do something. So I’m not wasting another day - I’m going for it.

Lowest weight, Wednesday 11/22:

Invalid Link Removed

Starting composition at 246lbs:

Invalid Link Removed

You are like the Heisenberg of this forum. Set that goal and SMASH IT!!!

 

[gphagan1]

—BIGGER BY THE DAY—

Ended up fasting all Wednesday until 9pm or so since I was moving my Wednesday night training to Thanksgiving morning - I didn’t plan it, but it’s just something I find easy that drew me like gravity. I spent a lot of time that day reflecting on the idea of benching 405 this year. Not so much that it needs to happen this year, but that I shouldn’t be waiting around to try to make it happen. I had huge squat progress last bulk that would translate to a big total PR, but I needed to play that safe & take the 5.5lb bench PR to lock it in. And it was the right call, competitively that I would do all over again.

I realized I’m at this jumping off point - after losing 20lbs and being off supraphysiological doses for 6 weeks, my body is primed to rebound. My gut is healthy, my body has been recovering, my appetite is solid, and I only need to eat 3 easier meals a day to maintain lately. Everyone knows people who lost 20lbs and gained back 25 as soon as they thought they could go back to their old dietary habits - why should I be any different? So if I eat like it’s my job AND have the benefit of pharmacology behind me, I should be able to exceed my greatest bodyweight ever. And 6-8 weeks is definitely doable to keep up the big eating; it’s 4+ months that can be defeating. It’s a lot of time to be able to lose resolve/focus.

So if I can bloat back up rapidly, add that extra last 5lbs of bodyweight, don’t have to max out on squats prior, and get to do this in the gym, on my time, when I feel ready (regardless of date) - this all seems like a true & reasonable goal. I realized that if I don’t, it might be half a year at least before I get the chance again. My elbow has taught me how fast things can change - you really never know how long you have to do something. So I’m not wasting another day - I’m going for it.

Lowest weight, Wednesday 11/22:

Invalid Link Removed

Starting composition at 246lbs:

Invalid Link Removed

That sounds like a great plan, and with that extra size coming back, there’s no doubt that 405 Bench is going down. When I was 39 I had benched 395, but tore my left upper pec and front deltoid racking the weight of all things. I caught the left hook trying to rack, and it came crashing down, ouch. Twenty years later and many trials and I was never able to hit that 405 mark. The point is, you never know what tomorrow brings.
I really believe the way you’ve been all around it, that you will be able to get it within a couple of months with the increased weight and some gear.
Man your arms, delts and traps are looking huge. You definitely held on to some size from that last bulk….looking Beastly.

 

[Hyde]

11/23/23 - Day 1
BW 247.4

5 min walk
KB Suitcase Carries
KB One-leg Deadlift
Arm Circles

SSB Squat
60,150,240x5
+1-ply gateway briefs & Rehband sleeves
330x5
+deadlift belt
380,400,420x5

RDL, beltless
135,225x6
+straps
315x15
345x12

Ate a Jack’s pizza, some ramen, & mandarin oranges before bed Wednesday after fasting all day and preemptively began 80mg Telmisartan. That got me filled back out Thursday morning enough to return to my 247 low weight.

Pinned 21mg Trest Ace & took 15mg Mk677 prior to this Thanksgiving morning garage session. As I reflected on all the things I was grateful for, I decided what I wanted to do more than anything else with my privilege to be there was SQUAT HEAVY! I haven’t decided if I would also like to try to take some kind of deadlift or squat PR with unlimited equipment with the surge in size/strength coming, so I figured some hard sets with the safety bar & high volume RDLs will serve either goal admirably. The final sets of both exercise took me to the absolute limit!

I am grateful for all of you here on the forum, our exchange of ideas & friendship. We are lucky people!!!

 

[Hyde]

11/24/23 - Day 2

Miniband Pullaparts
2x25

Band Warmups

Bench
45,135x10
205x8
245x5
280 5x3
245x14

CG 2-Board Bench
245x10,8,8

NG Chins
4x10

alt w DB Incline
75x12
80x10
85x12

giant set w/ Rolling EZBar Tri Ext
+70 2x12

ss w/ DB Laterals
30 2x10

& DB Side Raises
30 2x12

23mg Trest Ace & 15mg Mk677 again this morning; 400mg l-carnitine preWO. Full as a tick from Thanksgiving/Bigger by the Day 1. Began the Cube Predator bench program. It is a seriously tough program, but that’s exactly what gaining 25+lbs and benching a PR in a short timeframe is going to take. I busted my ass today.

500mg shot of Primo E this afternoon. Will be doing this weekly next 3 weeks to help add muscle, improve recovery and especially help prevent injury. 5mg/kg /wk of primo was shown to increase collagen synthesis ~90%, so this should still be helpful. I don’t have any EQ or spare var, and deca doesn’t sound like a friendly pairing with Trestolone, so this seems like the best insurance beyond smart programming decisions. Plus it will be the only compound in my system when I go to donate after this run (primo thickens blood) so it will be good to whoever is in need receiving it. Kid/female safe & raises WBC in addition to red.

 

[gphagan1]

11/23/23 - Day 1
BW 247.4

5 min walk
KB Suitcase Carries
KB One-leg Deadlift
Arm Circles

SSB Squat
60,150,240x5
+1-ply gateway briefs & Rehband sleeves
330x5
+deadlift belt
380,400,420x5

RDL, beltless
135,225x6
+straps
315x15
345x12

Ate a Jack’s pizza, some ramen, & mandarin oranges before bed Wednesday after fasting all day and preemptively began 80mg Telmisartan. That got me filled back out Thursday morning enough to return to my 247 low weight.

Pinned 21mg Trest Ace & took 15mg Mk677 prior to this Thanksgiving morning garage session. As I reflected on all the things I was grateful for, I decided what I wanted to do more than anything else with my privilege to be there was SQUAT HEAVY! I haven’t decided if I would also like to try to take some kind of deadlift or squat PR with unlimited equipment with the surge in size/strength coming, so I figured some hard sets with the safety bar & high volume RDLs will serve either goal admirably. The final sets of both exercise took me to the absolute limit!

I am grateful for all of you here on the forum, our exchange of ideas & friendship. We are lucky people!!!

11/24/23 - Day 2

Miniband Pullaparts
2x25

Band Warmups

Bench
45,135x10
205x8
245x5
280 5x3
245x14

CG 2-Board Bench
245x10,8,8

NG Chins
4x10

alt w DB Incline
75x12
80x10
85x12

giant set w/ Rolling EZBar Tri Ext
+70 2x12

ss w/ DB Laterals
30 2x10

& DB Side Raises
30 2x12

23mg Trest Ace & 15mg Mk677 again this morning; 400mg l-carnitine preWO. Full as a tick from Thanksgiving/Bigger by the Day 1. Began the Cube Predator bench program. It is a seriously tough program, but that’s exactly what gaining 25+lbs and benching a PR in a short timeframe is going to take. I busted my ass today.

500mg shot of Primo E this afternoon. Will be doing this weekly next 3 weeks to help add muscle, improve recovery and especially help prevent injury. 5mg/kg /wk of primo was shown to increase collagen synthesis ~90%, so this should still be helpful. I don’t have any EQ or spare var, and deca doesn’t sound like a friendly pairing with Trestolone, so this seems like the best insurance beyond smart programming decisions. Plus it will be the only compound in my system when I go to donate after this run (primo thickens blood) so it will be good to whoever is in need receiving it. Kid/female safe & raises WBC in addition to red.

That’s what I’m talking about, starting this journey to benching 405 with a bang. I’ve always liked your plans for each of the goals you pursue, whether powerlifting comps., PR goals, cutting, and working around injuries, your training, diet, and cycles are always smart and make sense in obtaining each goal. I love the choice of compounds for your cycle. Test, Primo or Mast, and Trest is one of my favorite cycles now, even at my age. A lot of younger future powerlifters could learn so much just following your log.
Oh you may want to warn Mrs Hyde to be ready for some extra bedroom cardio, now that you’ve added Trest, or get her running shoes on.

 

[Hyde]

That’s what I’m talking about, starting this journey to benching 405 with a bang. I’ve always liked your plans for each of the goals you pursue, whether powerlifting comps., PR goals, cutting, and working around injuries, your training, diet, and cycles are always smart and make sense in obtaining each goal. I love the choice of compounds for your cycle. Test, Primo or Mast, and Trest is one of my favorite cycles now, even at my age. A lot of younger future powerlifters could learn so much just following your log.
Oh you may want to warn Mrs Hyde to be ready for some extra bedroom cardio, now that you’ve added Trest, or get her running shoes on.

I have heard of several powerlifters using Trest as the primary driver for their size/strength. Big Trest is safer on the hairline than equivalent firepower of larger doses of test, Tren etc, easier on the liver than lots of orals, and helps maintain a better appetite for many. In my scenario, it’s fast-acting so I can start quickly, and Rocket gave me 4 bottles some time back (before he was ever diagnosed) that he decided he did not want to try. So there’s a bit of a sentimental value in using the gift he gave me as well.

Tentative plan is:
-500 primo e/wk for 4 weeks
~150 test e/wk
-15-30mg Mk677
~25 trest ace (or to tolerable limit)

Likely soon:
-20 tren ace
-Sdrol or Adrol preWO only

Invalid Link Removed

 

[MrKleen73]

Nice little stash there. Love your plan man. Excited to see you going for it!

 

[akboom87]

Looking great Hyde! Should be an awesome journey following along for the 405 train!! Pretty special to with the gifts from Rocket.

 

[gphagan1]

I have heard of several powerlifters using Trest as the primary driver for their size/strength. Big Trest is safer on the hairline than equivalent firepower of larger doses of test, Tren etc, easier on the liver than lots of orals, and helps maintain a better appetite for many. In my scenario, it’s fast-acting so I can start quickly, and Rocket gave me 4 bottles some time back (before he was ever diagnosed) that he decided he did not want to try. So there’s a bit of a sentimental value in using the gift he gave me as well.

Tentative plan is:
-500 primo e/wk for 4 weeks
~150 test e/wk
-15-30mg Mk677
~25 trest ace (or to tolerable limit)

Likely soon:
-20 tren ace
-Sdrol or Adrol preWO only

Invalid Link Removed

That’s awesome….in a way it’s like Rocket is contributing to your Bench PR.

 

[Hyde]

That’s awesome….in a way it’s like Rocket is contributing to your Bench PR.

That’s exactly what I think about every morning when I draw that Trest up. Rocket saying that Life is good, and going down to his basement gym to do what he loved to start his day before the sun rose!

 

[Hyde]

Bigger By The Day 3
BW 254.8

25mg Trest Ace IM & 60mg Test E subq this morning.

Felt a bit of nip sensitivity yesterday evening. Took 12.5mg of Exemestane before bed last night, which also helped knock some water off - still up 7.4lbs in 3 days. Using 400mg DIM and 2-300mg P5P over the day preemptively to help clear methylestro & prolactin, respectively. Primo should also help inhibit aromatization somewhat as levels rise.

Invalid Link Removed

@MrKleen73 ^you might enjoy this; I do.

 

[Segansational]

WOW, now that's the way to go get it @Hyde! I'm motivated just reading your post. Can't wait to see you crush this goal!Added weight will definitely ensure you can achieve, and man Trest/MK will def supercharge things. I'm a little jelly. Have you run Cube Predator before? I'm similarly chasing a (much lower) bench goal, so always looking for the right program/protocol to follow.

And Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[Hyde]

WOW, now that's the way to go get it @Hyde! I'm motivated just reading your post. Can't wait to see you crush this goal!Added weight will definitely ensure you can achieve, and man Trest/MK will def supercharge things. I'm a little jelly. Have you run Cube Predator before? I'm similarly chasing a (much lower) bench goal, so always looking for the right program/protocol to follow.

And Happy Thanksgiving!

Yeah, 3 different times over the years. I strained my pec on it the first time; I didn’t understand the need to use discretion on AMRAP work. If the technique would break down, end the set. There is plenty of total pressing volume to drive progress.

 

[Hyde]

11/26/23 - Day 4
BW 257.0

Balance drills

Deadlift, stiffbar
45,45,135,225x5 RDL
315x5
+ belt & straps
385x5
435 2x2
405x8

CS Tbar Row
45,90,115x12
140x8
165x6

ss w/ Williams Plate Raises
45 3x12

GHR
3x15

Second Thanksgiving dinner last night helped load me up for today. First snow of the season here, so before training I took my son out to play in the snow this morning. Which threw off meal timing, but was a great experience (and worth deadlifting with a bloated gut ). Deadlift hasn’t been feeling strong for a long time now, but it is what it is and I will get better fastest just training with weights I’m capable of moving well. Pulling back to 405 was a great move.

Post workout leftovers:

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Dustin07]

405 x 8 might not be 600 x 1 but that is still a serious man rep dude. Even your "pull back " days are monstrous.

—BIGGER BY THE DAY—

Ended up fasting all Wednesday until 9pm or so since I was moving my Wednesday night training to Thanksgiving morning - I didn’t plan it, but it’s just something I find easy that drew me like gravity. I spent a lot of time that day reflecting on the idea of benching 405 this year. Not so much that it needs to happen this year, but that I shouldn’t be waiting around to try to make it happen. I had huge squat progress last bulk that would translate to a big total PR, but I needed to play that safe & take the 5.5lb bench PR to lock it in. And it was the right call, competitively that I would do all over again.

I realized I’m at this jumping off point - after losing 20lbs and being off supraphysiological doses for 6 weeks, my body is primed to rebound. My gut is healthy, my body has been recovering, my appetite is solid, and I only need to eat 3 easier meals a day to maintain lately. Everyone knows people who lost 20lbs and gained back 25 as soon as they thought they could go back to their old dietary habits - why should I be any different? So if I eat like it’s my job AND have the benefit of pharmacology behind me, I should be able to exceed my greatest bodyweight ever. And 6-8 weeks is definitely doable to keep up the big eating; it’s 4+ months that can be defeating. It’s a lot of time to be able to lose resolve/focus.

So if I can bloat back up rapidly, add that extra last 5lbs of bodyweight, don’t have to max out on squats prior, and get to do this in the gym, on my time, when I feel ready (regardless of date) - this all seems like a true & reasonable goal. I realized that if I don’t, it might be half a year at least before I get the chance again. My elbow has taught me how fast things can change - you really never know how long you have to do something. So I’m not wasting another day - I’m going for it.

Lowest weight, Wednesday 11/22:

Invalid Link Removed

Starting composition at 246lbs:

Invalid Link Removed

Its in writing now, in for the ride!
Also... Your guns and delts looks shockingly larger all the sudden

 

[Hyde]

405 x 8 might not be 600 x 1 but that is still a serious man rep dude. Even your "pull back " days are monstrous.

Its in writing now, in for the ride!
Also... Your guns and delts looks shockingly larger all the sudden

They had to get bigger to for my bench to go up. I may have cut a little fat back off, but I didn’t lose ALL of the muscle I built over that 5 month run

 

[MrKleen73]

They had to get bigger to for my bench to go up. I may have cut a little fat back off, but I didn’t lose ALL of the muscle I built over that 5 month run

Facts!!!!

 

[Segansational]

Snow?! Where are you located again? We had a super mild winter last year, don't think we had any meaningful snowfall here to do any type of sledding or anything like that.

 

[Hyde]

Snow?! Where are you located again? We had a super mild winter last year, don't think we had any meaningful snowfall here to do any type of sledding or anything like that.

Central IL; we are right at a point far enough north where it stays just cold enough all winter that eventually nothing will melt. All of the Chicago wind blows down across the open farmland, making it very breezy year round here. Thankfully the streets were warm enough that everything on them melted/didn’t stick, just a few inches on everything, but anything we have coming soon will probably be on the ground for months.

IL weather is always changing, but you can expect it to be miserable in summer AND winter here.

 

[Dustin07]

Central IL; we are right at a point far enough north where it stays just cold enough all winter that eventually nothing will melt. All of the Chicago wind blows down across the open farmland, making it very breezy year round here. Thankfully the streets were warm enough that everything on them melted/didn’t stick, just a few inches on everything, but anything we have coming soon will probably be on the ground for months.

sorta cracks me up when people visit us from the mid west or east coast like upstate NY and we get that ONE snow of the year. Our whole west side of the state shuts down. we are horribly prepared for it. so if we get a good 6-12" dump (that's a lot for us at sea level) nobody drives, very few plows get out. I've heard new yorkers tell us we should be suing the govt for how poorly prepared they are and most of us are like..... dude this happens one day a year IF WE ARE LUCKY enough to get snow at all. nobody cares about a snow day lol

that said, the double edged sword is nobody can drive in it. we get a ton of black ice and cars line up the highway abandoned as soon as it gets that way lol

 

[Hyde]

sorta cracks me up when people visit us from the mid west or east coast like upstate NY and we get that ONE snow of the year. Our whole west side of the state shuts down. we are horribly prepared for it. so if we get a good 6-12" dump (that's a lot for us at sea level) nobody drives, very few plows get out. I've heard new yorkers tell us we should be suing the govt for how poorly prepared they are and most of us are like..... dude this happens one day a year IF WE ARE LUCKY enough to get snow at all. nobody cares about a snow day lol

that said, the double edged sword is nobody can drive in it. we get a ton of black ice and cars line up the highway abandoned as soon as it gets that way lol

Yeah it’s just something you have to sign up for here.

It’s sunny out, but only 27* right now, and with the crazy wind we have today the “feels like” is currently 15*.

 

[MrKleen73]

Yeah it’s just something you have to sign up for here.

It’s sunny out, but only 27* right now, and with the crazy wind we have today the “feels like” is currently 15*.

Yeah, that is one thing I don't miss about up north getting so darn cold. It was awesome as a youngster getting snow days but I didn't have to drive in it. Now, I would be like oh damn it!

 

[Hyde]

Bigger By the Day 5
BW 257.0

Didn’t take Mk677 yesterday to get a break from the lethargy. Added back today & so far so good. Began Tren Ace at 20mg daily today. I have use Tren Base in a blend as an isolated preWO before, and the oral Trenavar/Trendione with great success, but never cycled injectable Tren - so this was a big step in my journey. Trest has been going fine at 25mg, so I feel good to layer this in now.

This stack is inspired partially by Mike Arnold’s get-big-quick stack for guys coming off a layoff, 150mg each of test/tren/trest weekly & 50mg Anadrol daily. Adrol & most orals kill my appetite within a week, so primo made more sense for myself, combined with the collagen synthesis & estrogen competition it gives.

Current Anabolics:
500 Prime E/wk
150 Test E/wk
175 Trest A/wk
140 Tren A/wk
15mg Mk677 most days
3-400mg L-Carnitine most days

 

[Dustin07]

Yeah it’s just something you have to sign up for here.

It’s sunny out, but only 27* right now, and with the crazy wind we have today the “feels like” is currently 15*.

ha I have a customer over in the Plymouth, MN area and they talk about going out to start their cars on their breaks just to make sure they still run after work. Great stories, but they also had the Eel Pout festival which looked like a blast. Upside to you midwest folks is it's a shorter flight to the Caribbean side of MX! every time I go down there I might midwest folks who fly down for half of what we pay.

 

[MrKleen73]

WooHoo, 965mgs a week on the kick off. NICE you should definitely see some quick size with that and the MK!

 

[Hyde]

WooHoo, 965mgs a week on the kick off. NICE you should definitely see some quick size with that and the MK!

Up 10lbs of water in 5 days! Not messing around.

Also, consider there’s no time for long ester dose titration, or reason - this is like 45 days of all business. And primo is rather weak/slow, and won’t be at full levels for about a month, right when it will be discontinued (probably for some Mast Prop).

So it’s more like 465mg+ building primo (and 150 of that 465 was the testosterone I was already on).

 

[Hyde]

But the other 315mg of that 465/wk are ass-kicking Trest & Tren!

 

[akboom87]

Up 10lbs of water in 5 days! Not messing around.

Also, consider there’s no time for long ester dose titration, or reason - this is like 45 days of all business. And primo is rather weak/slow, and won’t be at full levels for about a month, right when it will be discontinued (probably for some Mast Prop).

So it’s more like 465mg+ building primo (and 150 of that 465 was the testosterone I was already on).

That’s impressive for 5 days! Looks like things are on the move!!!!