The Maximus Pact

[Shadowblaze]

The past 2 years were rough. But that changes today. I am going to work harder than everyone else competing in Canadian rugby.

In high school I was an absolute beast, but shortly after I graduated I tore my rotator cuff, got an autoimmune disease that damaged my spine, and a gallbladder disease that made it practically impossible to digest food. The gallbladder disease was probably the worst for my health since I was so malnourished even though I was eating a old, my body couldn’t break down a lot of the food so I lost 30lbs of muscle in 1 year (went from 185lbs to 150lbs, I lost some body fat too.) that on top of not being able to train since my own immune system was attacking my spine and I had a torn rotator cuff I practically lost everything when it comes to physicality.


Right after I graduated one day my spine started hurting and nobody knew why, I saw over 4 doctors and had about 10 doctor appointments, next thing I knew I got 16 X-rays, an emergency room visit because it felt like I was burning alive, having to relearn how to run properly at 19 years old, 2 mris and a ultrasound. After that I was hit with a diagnosis, Ankylosing spondylitis. The most painful autoimmune disease there is, it’s roughly equivalent to giving birth in terms of pain according to the university of McGills largest pain perception study.


It took a year and a bit for my rotator cuff to heal but as of a few months ago it’s all better.


My gallbladder has been doing better, I talked extensively with Steve from SNS about gallbladder issues and he helped me with supplementation, it’s been helping quite a lot, I’m starting to gain some weight again, but still not like before I got the disease (biliary hyperkinesia, which is incredibly rare)


This thread isn’t only about gym lifts but rugby, athletics and life as well. I never thought I would get out of the situation I was in but here I am starting to heal and get better


So I created the Maximus pact, it’s a pact I made with a friend of mine to work harder than anyone else in Canadian Rugby.



My current stats and lifts are:


Quad measurements: ~20”

Bicep measurements: 15”

Vertical jump: haven’t measured properly but used to be 38”

100m time: haven’t measured properly

Body weight: ~160lbs

Height: 5’10”

Bench: 245x4 (up 30lbs in the last month)

Overhead press: 120x6

Squat: 325x7

Weighed dips: 100x5





My goal stats are:


Quad measurements: 25”

Bicep measurements: 17”

Vertical jump: 50”

100m time: 10.5s

Body weight: 190lbs (lean)

Height: hoping to grow a few more cm haha, I know my as can stunt growth during teenage years pretty significantly and when you start biologics you can get that back. Considering the fact I got AS at 17 while I was still growing it most likely delayed my growth a bit and I can get it back after starting my biologics.

Bench: 365lbs

Overhead press: 225x6

Squat: 600x5 lifetime
(405x5 by my birthday, August 30th)
I also want to break the Canadian squat record of 668lbs (185lbs body weight)

Weighted dips: 225x5


Life goals: become an electrician working for my city, get to team Canada for rugby and grow closer with the lord.


Whether or not you think I can achieve this won’t change the fact that I’m going to work harder than everyone else to do it. If I shoot for the stars I’m going to get further than if I make goals I know I can achieve.

Welcome to the Maximus pact.

 

[Shadowblaze]

My lift yesterday I hit 11 prs, I will include a screenshot of my workout. I’ll also include some physique photos.

 

[Shadowblaze]

I’m pretty restricted with my leg days since I’m going through an AS flare up right now, within the next 2 weeks the biologics should start working and I will be able to squat again. 3 weeks ago I was doing 325x7.

Today I trained legs and did 220x10 and 190x12 on hamstring curls, trained calves in the leg press with 3 plates and rode the bike for 30 mins. I couldn’t do that much because of my spine but will hopefully get back to it soon when the biologics kick in.

I also trained rugby for about half an hour today. Practiced my left handed passes and bounce kicks.

I also read my bible, I finished the book of James today. The part that stuck out most was the verses in James 5. They referenced Job as a man of great patience through his trials, the book of Job is my favourite and it gave me hope when I was going through hard things the past 2 years. In James 5 they mention how the prayer of a righteous person is powerful effective. It’s interesting that being righteous doesn’t depend as much on the actions we do but rather the price Christ Jesus paid on the cross for us. Too often we believe that it’s our own sins that make us unrighteous but that’s not true since the lord always forgives, all you have to do is ask.

 

[Shadowblaze]

Sundays are my rest day so no training today. Have a good one!

 

[Hyde]

Here to follow. I wish you all the best in your journey - the only things you can count on for sure, is that you can only realize your full potential (whatever that is) by doing all you can to the best of your ability, and that you can count on a hard & uneven path.

You will be tested! Don’t quit. The power to endure is the winner’s truest quality. Because most had to lose many times before they finally succeeded.

 

[Shadowblaze]

Since my gallbladder issues started getting better I have gained a good roughly 5 lbs, I mainly have Steve to thank for that since he helped me with supplementation.

I was ~155lbs a month ago and now I’m 160 morning weight and closer to 165 evening weight. That’s great news, and it’s mainly been muscle, if anything I have lost fat during this.

My gallbladder and digestion still isn’t what it used to be but it’s gotten so much better than it was.

 

[Dustin07]

your tris' and back make you look much thicker than 160 considering your height, IMO. a lean 190 would be built like a brick shithouse.

 

[Smont]

Shredded dude! If you're not afraid to let your body fat go up you could definitely eat your way to some significant strength gains cuz you have a lot of room for error with calories.

If you're 5'10 160 I'm going to guess you're like 8-9% body fat tops. I'm significantly stronger at 15-18% then I am at 10%.

If you're worried about your physique I really feel like 12% is a good trade off you can still have a full set of abs and be big and strong.

 

[Smont]

your tris' and back make you look much thicker than 160 considering your height, IMO. a lean 190 would be built like a brick shithouse.

As clean as he is in those pictures and going by his weight I bet he can still be fairly lean at 190. Especially with the right tools

 

[Smont]

Subbed by the way

 

[Hyde]

So what supplements have you found helpful for your gallbladder issues and digestion?

 

[Shadowblaze]

So what supplements have you found helpful for your gallbladder issues and digestion?

Steve let me try a new unreleased SNS product for liver / gallbladder health. Other than that in the past month I have gone through about 3 bottles of cel tudca. I also take soy lecethin with every meal to assist fat emulsifying. Fat malabsorption doesn’t sound like a big deal but it’s so bad for you, if you can’t digest fat you will also be deficient in fat soluble vitamins which can be very harmful long term, your endocrine system will
Also be screwed up and you won’t be able to absorb any omega 3s or anti inflammatory fats.

Also I take taurine for bile imbalances, betaine for further digestive help, glutamine, digestive enzymes, fibre and magnesium with trace minerals.

 

[Shadowblaze]

your tris' and back make you look much thicker than 160 considering your height, IMO. a lean 190 would be built like a brick shithouse.

LMAO. I have always been a very light guy, I like to say I have thin bones.

I’ll send some photos of me at 16 and 17 in high school in a bit, but AM says the photos are too big to upload so I have to shrink them first. The ones where I am shredded lean are near the end of grade 12 when I was 175lbs.

I’ll also include 2 photos of me a few months after high school at 185lbs, but I’m significantly less lean in those photos.

 

[Shadowblaze]

Shredded dude! If you're not afraid to let your body fat go up you could definitely eat your way to some significant strength gains cuz you have a lot of room for error with calories.

If you're 5'10 160 I'm going to guess you're like 8-9% body fat tops. I'm significantly stronger at 15-18% then I am at 10%.

If you're worried about your physique I really feel like 12% is a good trade off you can still have a full set of abs and be big and strong.

Yeah, I am trying to bulk but my digestion still isn’t where it was, I have to eat a very by the book diet with my gallbladder issues. Eventually when it keeps getting better I will try to bulk harder.

I appreciate the encouraging words. I’m 160lbs morning weight rn and about 166 in the evening.

 

[Smont]

Steve let me try a new unreleased SNS product for liver / gallbladder health. Other than that in the past month I have gone through about 3 bottles of cel tudca. I also take soy lecethin with every meal to assist fat emulsifying. Fat malabsorption doesn’t sound like a big deal but it’s so bad for you, if you can’t digest fat you will also be deficient in fat soluble vitamins which can be very harmful long term, your endocrine system will
Also be screwed up and you won’t be able to absorb any omega 3s or anti inflammatory fats.

My buddy has similar issues. Through diet he eats very low fat. Avoids saturated and trans fats, Most of his fats come from avocado and MCT oil which is beneficial for people with gallbladder issues and people who've had their gallbladder removed.

Supplements with a lot of antioxidants, OX BILE, TUDCA and milk thistle

 

[Hyde]

Yeah, I am trying to bulk but my digestion still isn’t where it was, I have to eat a very by the book diet with my gallbladder issues. Eventually when it keeps getting better I will try to bulk harder.

I appreciate the encouraging words. I’m 160lbs morning weight rn and about 166 in the evening.

Loads of Jasmine rice sprinkled with dextrose. Honey is also great on top, if pairing with lean chicken or turkey.

 

[Shadowblaze]

My buddy has similar issues. Through diet he eats very low fat. Avoids saturated and trans fats, Most of his fats come from avocado and MCT oil which is beneficial for people with gallbladder issues and people who've had their gallbladder removed.

Supplements with a lot of antioxidants, OX BILE, TUDCA and milk thistle

The best supplement by far I have ever taken for gallbladder issues and the only supplement that has ever actually changed my life is lecethin. It does the same thing our bile acid does and emulsifies fat. So before every meal I will eat a small bowl of yogurt with 2 tablespoons of lecethin granules (from the brand fearn, they make the best lecethin I have ever taken, it’s a 97% phospholipid extract)

It’s basically just a broad spectrum phospholipid supplement, It works very very well for fat digestion.

 

[Shadowblaze]

LMAO. I have always been a very light guy, I like to say I have thin bones.

I’ll send some photos of me at 16 and 17 in high school in a bit, but AM says the photos are too big to upload so I have to shrink them first. The ones where I am shredded lean are near the end of grade 12 when I was 175lbs.

I’ll also include 2 photos of me a few months after high school at 185lbs, but I’m significantly less lean in those photos.

Just found these old physique photos, in the 2 where I’m a lot less lean I am 185lbs and in the ones where I am lean I’m 175lbs. I want to get to 190 lean within the next year or two.

I am considerably smaller and weaker now than I was, in those photos I have 16 inch biceps and now I have 15 inch biceps.

 

[Dustin07]

FWIW, I do screencaps from mobile, or snips if you are on desktop to make the photo resolution light enough to post on AM.

you and I had some similarities, I graduated at 186, got as heavy as 242, then cut down to mid 160s. I hung out in roughly the single digit bodyfat for years between 172-180lbs and these days I tend to cruise around 190+. no where near as lean, but less injury prone and a bit stronger.

 

[Shadowblaze]

FWIW, I do screencaps from mobile, or snips if you are on desktop to make the photo resolution light enough to post on AM.

you and I had some similarities, I graduated at 186, got as heavy as 242, then cut down to mid 160s. I hung out in roughly the single digit bodyfat for years between 172-180lbs and these days I tend to cruise around 190+. no where near as lean, but less injury prone and a bit stronger.

Yeah that makes sense. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about it or anything since I’m never really in the anabolic section but I’m guessing your enhanced right?

 

[Smont]

Guess what bud, you got bodybuilding genetics. From these pictures you seem to have a fairly normal frame but with a tiny waist and tiny joints and really good muscle insertions. Now I can understand your body weight. I've got a buddy who's 6 ft 190 and he looks like he's 220 all the time, he just looks like a bigger version of you basically. I'm 5'9 190 and I have a good amount of muscle and really lean too, but it's not pretty like yours is lol. Im vascular like you too. But on you it flows, on me it's too much I don't know how to explain it.

Just pointing out genetics, you have good ones for physique.

A little tidbit of advice when you're training heavy is to still try to train as smart as possible, I turned 40 this year and I have beat the s*** out of myself from ripping deadlifts with bad form and benching too heavy all the time. Just in the past year or two I started doing all the injury prevention and mobility stuff and I so much wish I had started when I was like 20

 

[Shadowblaze]

Guess what bud, you got bodybuilding genetics. From these pictures you seem to have a fairly normal frame but with a tiny waist and tiny joints and really good muscle insertions. Now I can understand your body weight. I've got a buddy who's 6 ft 190 and he looks like he's 220 all the time, he just looks like a bigger version of you basically. I'm 5'9 190 and I have a good amount of muscle and really lean too, but it's not pretty like yours is lol. Im vascular like you too. But on you it flows, on me it's too much I don't know how to explain it.

Just pointing out genetics, you have good ones for physique.

A little tidbit of advice when you're training heavy is to still try to train as smart as possible, I turned 40 this year and I have beat the s*** out of myself from ripping deadlifts with bad form and benching too heavy all the time. Just in the past year or two I started doing all the injury prevention and mobility stuff and I so much wish I had started when I was like 20

Thanks man, I always looked up to you guys on AM here so it truly means a lot with all the compliments and motivation. You guys are a big part of the reason why I want to pursue weightlifting further so it truly means a lot.

I never thought I had good genetics until
I started lifting. When I was in grade 8 I was the smallest kid in my high school of 1300 people. I had rheumatoid arthritis and HLA B27 as a kid, was getting a blood test every single week, in and out of the hospital all the time. My immune system was attacking my eyes, knees, feet and hands pretty badly. Because of my severe immune dysfunction and chronic inflammation I had very bad muscle wasting (similar to how people with HIV get muscle wasting because of inflammation), stunted growth and many other health problems. All that and the intestinal inflammation made me very underweight. Like very underweight, at the start of high school when I was 13 I was about 65lbs and 4’10, RA stunted my growth really bad. But then after 2 years of being in remission I achieved catch up growth. When I graduated I was almost triple my weight. I have never seen anyone get bigger faster than I did during that time, I just hit a huge growth spurt and finally hit puberty quite later than normal. Within my first year of training I gained 45lbs. I am very blessed that treatment for HLA-B27 Bourne diseases have come so far, when I was born my life span was supposed to be up to 15 years shorter than normal because of my health, now it’s closer to 10 years shorter and every year that number gets closer and closer to the average human lifespan every year because of new drugs and therapies. That’s just to give anyone reading a little insight on my journey and where I have come from.

Again man, I’m very appreciative of you and your support. Hopefully one day I will be as strong as you guys!

 

[Dustin07]

Yeah that makes sense. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about it or anything since I’m never really in the anabolic section but I’m guessing your enhanced right?

eh, hardly. the past 3 years I have used plenty of over the counter retail PEDs like epiandro, dhea, gear cream, androsterone. my top pics probably being xpg epiandrosterone and Iconic's Ultra Hard. a little bit of var here and there. but nothing injectable, no runs over like 6 weeks ish and never intense enough to require a pharma grade PCT. like right now I'm on anabolic XT, prime XT and M-Test.

When I finish these I'll probably go back to Alpha One and Maybe Phosphatidic Acid XT.

I've never noticed strength gains on any of the PED products I've used (both on cuts and bulks) but I do think they've contributed to hypertrophy and lean mass gains. I'll be 43 this year and seem to still put on a fair amount of lean mass when I'm focused on that endeavor.

A little tidbit of advice when you're training heavy is to still try to train as smart as possible, I turned 40 this year and I have beat the s*** out of myself from ripping deadlifts with bad form and benching too heavy all the time. Just in the past year or two I started doing all the injury prevention and mobility stuff and I so much wish I had started when I was like 20

I honestly sorta think I need to make heavy pulls a bigger priority. when I deadlift or hold very heavy weight infrequently I get sore hands. I don't think its any kind of arthritis though, just hands working hard and straining on a heavy pull after a few weeks of not moving heavy enough stuff.

 

[Hyde]

eh, hardly. the past 3 years I have used plenty of over the counter retail PEDs like epiandro, dhea, gear cream, androsterone. my top pics probably being xpg epiandrosterone and Iconic's Ultra Hard. a little bit of var here and there. but nothing injectable, no runs over like 6 weeks ish and never intense enough to require a pharma grade PCT. like right now I'm on anabolic XT, prime XT and M-Test.

When I finish these I'll probably go back to Alpha One and Maybe Phosphatidic Acid XT.

I've never noticed strength gains on any of the PED products I've used (both on cuts and bulks) but I do think they've contributed to hypertrophy and lean mass gains. I'll be 43 this year and seem to still put on a fair amount of lean mass when I'm focused on that endeavor.

You’d have failed a WADA-approved screening in tested powerlifting for at least 5 different compounds on that list I know what you’ve used isn’t something you believe to be particularly aggressive, but you still can’t claim virginity just because you’re not a career prostitute! And remember OTC is irrelevant, as is doctor-prescribed therapeutic use. Superdrol was OTC when I started lifting, and true TRT is banned even with a doctor’s note in tested powerlifting.

Most people who haven’t used anything overestimate what they could get out of anabolics, while many who use fail to give credit to just how much it is helping them.

 

[Smont]

Yeah that makes sense. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about it or anything since I’m never really in the anabolic section but I’m guessing your enhanced right?

He's dabbled with the over the counter gear that's still legal. But his cherry is pooped. No more Natty.

eh, hardly. the past 3 years I have used plenty of over the counter retail PEDs like epiandro, dhea, gear cream, androsterone. my top pics probably being xpg epiandrosterone and Iconic's Ultra Hard. a little bit of var here and there. but nothing injectable, no runs over like 6 weeks ish and never intense enough to require a pharma grade PCT. like right now I'm on anabolic XT, prime XT and M-Test.

When I finish these I'll probably go back to Alpha One and Maybe Phosphatidic Acid XT.

I've never noticed strength gains on any of the PED products I've used (both on cuts and bulks) but I do think they've contributed to hypertrophy and lean mass gains. I'll be 43 this year and seem to still put on a fair amount of lean mass when I'm focused on that endeavor.



I honestly sorta think I need to make heavy pulls a bigger priority. when I deadlift or hold very heavy weight infrequently I get sore hands. I don't think its any kind of arthritis though, just hands working hard and straining on a heavy pull after a few weeks of not moving heavy enough stuff.

I think you would be infinitely happier if you double or tripled the pro-hormone doses and grab some nolvadex for PCT. Epiandro @1200mg alongside 300-400mg of 4 Andro and in 8-12 weeks you would see some good strength gains. But at that point $$$ it gets expensive. A bottle of test is $50-75

For $350 you can stay on 200-300mg 24/7 - 365

 

[Smont]

You’d have failed a WADA-approved screening in tested powerlifting for at least 5 different compounds on that list I know what you’ve used isn’t something you believe to be particularly aggressive, but you still can’t claim virginity just because you’re not a career prostitute! And remember OTC is irrelevant, as is doctor-prescribed therapeutic use. Superdrol was OTC when I started lifting, and true TRT is banned even with a doctor’s note in tested powerlifting.

Most people who haven’t used anything overestimate what they could get out of anabolics, while many who use fail to give credit to just how much it is helping them

If I failed the drug test for Andros, I'd feel like I got busted for eating the poppy seeds when I should I've just smoked the opium! Lol

 

[Smont]

Im busting Dustin's balls but it really is a compliment. I know your gains took more hard work then mine. My last cycle was test eq and HGH, I'm cheating way harder lol

 

[Shadowblaze]

Day 3 of the Maximus pact.

I believe the biologics are kicking in, no spine pain today at all which is pretty unusual. For most people they kick in within 2 weeks. I’m gonna squat light tmrw and then if it goes well go back to 315 the next session, I know my limits pretty well with my disease.

I’m trying a lower volume training plan, I find that it’s hard for me to do more than 2 all out sets for one exercise before starting to get fatigued so I’m trying a lower volume approach.

I woke up at 3:30am today and couldn’t fall asleep again, I’m like a zombie in the gym but the show must go on. I’ll get my 8 hours again tonight, but I’ll have to make do with 5 hours today. I’m just gonna be a bit weaker today.

I didn’t tell you this right but I’m in university full time right now. I usually work out at my university gym but today I’m going to the gym closer where I live with a buddy of mine, he just broke up with his girl and has been going through a really rough time so I try to see him every day and check up.

The gym I’m at here doesn’t have a weighted belt for dips so I have to do bodyweight dips, it’s all good I’m just gonna do really slow reps with a pause.

Please keep the advice coming!

I think in today’s photos you can more easily tell I’m 160lbs, the lighting is worse than that first photo I sent. I’ve been thinking of getting into powerlifting, I have a few buddies who do it and they all say even in the drug tested competitions a lot of them are on gear. And I don’t want to be competing against dudes who took shortcuts when I haven’t even touched any PED in my life.

In the past year my back has improved night and day, it’s always been a weak point for me. I’ve been training it harder than anything else and it’s finally practically proportional with the rest of my physique. If you look at my old photos I’m definitely smaller now than I was before.2


Lat pulldown:
210x7

Bench press:
240x4

Barbell rows:
190x10

Incline db press:
75x7

Single arm db rows:
65sx8

Smith machine shoulder press:
145x7

Incline db rows:
75sx10

Dips:
Bodyweight X 12 paused

Cable lateral raises:
23lbsx6 > 17lbs x5

Hammer curls:
55sX6

Bicep curls:
40sX7

Overhead cable tricep extension:
80x6

Cable tricep pushdowns :
70x8

 

[Dustin07]

You’d have failed a WADA-approved screening in tested powerlifting for at least 5 different compounds on that list I know what you’ve used isn’t something you believe to be particularly aggressive, but you still can’t claim virginity just because you’re not a career prostitute! And remember OTC is irrelevant, as is doctor-prescribed therapeutic use. Superdrol was OTC when I started lifting, and true TRT is banned even with a doctor’s note in tested powerlifting.

Most people who haven’t used anything overestimate what they could get out of anabolics, while many who use fail to give credit to just how much it is helping them.

Oh for sure I don't deny the products I've used, I just wouldn't ever categorize myself as someone who has used enough legit PEDs to give real meaningful feedback in any kind of way. It's like having the appetizer at a steak house and not trying the ribeye.

 

[Dustin07]

Day 3 of the Maximus pact.

I believe the biologics are kicking in, no spine pain today at all which is pretty unusual. For most people they kick in within 2 weeks. I’m gonna squat light tmrw and then if it goes well go back to 315 the next session, I know my limits pretty well with my disease.

I’m trying a lower volume training plan, I find that it’s hard for me to do more than 2 all out sets for one exercise before starting to get fatigued so I’m trying a lower volume approach.

I woke up at 3:30am today and couldn’t fall asleep again, I’m like a zombie in the gym but the show must go on. I’ll get my 8 hours again tonight, but I’ll have to make do with 5 hours today. I’m just gonna be a bit weaker today.

I didn’t tell you this right but I’m in university full time right now. I usually work out at my university gym but today I’m going to the gym closer where I live with a buddy of mine, he just broke up with his girl and has been going through a really rough time so I try to see him every day and check up.

The gym I’m at here doesn’t have a weighted belt for dips so I have to do bodyweight dips, it’s all good I’m just gonna do really slow reps with a pause.

Please keep the advice coming!

I think in today’s photos you can more easily tell I’m 160lbs, the lighting is worse than that first photo I sent. I’ve been thinking of getting into powerlifting, I have a few buddies who do it and they all say even in the drug tested competitions a lot of them are on gear. And I don’t want to be competing against dudes who took shortcuts when I haven’t even touched any PED in my life.

In the past year my back has improved night and day, it’s always been a weak point for me. I’ve been training it harder than anything else and it’s finally practically proportional with the rest of my physique. If you look at my old photos I’m definitely smaller now than I was before.2


Lat pulldown:
210x7

Bench press:
240x4

Barbell rows:
190x10

Incline db press:
75x7

Single arm db rows:
65sx8

Smith machine shoulder press:
145x7

Incline db rows:
75sx10

Dips:
Bodyweight X 12 paused

Cable lateral raises:
23lbsx6 > 17lbs x5

Hammer curls:
55sX6

Bicep curls:
40sX7

Overhead cable tricep extension:
80x6

Cable tricep pushdowns :
70x8View attachment 253421View attachment 253422View attachment 253423View attachment 253424

Arms are for sure yoked on your frame dude, keep up the good work

 

[Shadowblaze]

Arms are for sure yoked on your frame dude, keep up the good work

Thanks bro. I truly appreciate the kind words.

do you think one day I can get a physique like these guys? One of them is a fighter from the pride fc, I used to watch him when I was younger a lot. The other guy is a professional sprinter, the thing that sticks out most about them that I like is they are both crazy athletic on top of being strong.

Not only that, they are all 5’10 aswell and the sprinter only weights 187lbs, the fighter weighs 205. They are pretty light for their size.

 

[Hyde]

Get a band you can pack in your gym bag, for warmups, added resistance, etc - you can use that to loop through plates and hang it from your own weight belt, or around your neck. Then stabilize with the knees while you do weighted dips.

Or, you can pinch a rubberized db between your knees and cross your legs under it. This can be tougher to get in position though if the dip handles are higher up.

If I failed the drug test for Andros, I'd feel like I got busted for eating the poppy seeds when I should I've just smoked the opium! Lol

Bro you can get some good hypertrophy off enough Andros and virgin receptors. I mean to act like it’s not helpful is blatantly misleading: someone natty who was going to powerbulk anyway doing it on handfuls of the old 1/4/19/epiandro pills could add almost double the body mass. I did it. And that new size, with a greater percentage of muscle, helps in turn lift more weight. There is a reason DHEA use is banned in tested sport. Put a natty on 500mg plain DHEA/day and watch your lifts (and acne) take off.

Thanks bro. I truly appreciate the kind words.

do you think one day I can get a physique like these guys? One of them is a fighter from the pride fc, I used to watch him when I was younger a lot. The other guy is a professional sprinter, the thing that sticks out most about them that I like is they are both crazy athletic on top of being strong.

Not only that, they are all 5’10 aswell and the sprinter only weights 187lbs, the fighter weighs 205. They are pretty light for their size.



View attachment 253426View attachment 253428View attachment 253429View attachment 253430View attachment 253431

No, never. Nevermind the fact that I don’t think they’re natty (fighting and sprinting are exceptionally dirty sports) AND have god-tier genetics for power sports, something I wish someone told me sooner was that you will look like a transformation of YOU.

All of your insertions, the way you tend to fill out or not, your dispositions for where you carry more tissue and tend to store more fat, all of it is unique to your God-given your physique. Even if you managed to get more jacked than them, you would be unique in your look. With or without steroids.

It’s great to admire and desire their physiques, but just understand that the Sparrow will never be the Eagle. You just don’t know what bird you are until you get out there and see how high you can fly; it takes years of hard work to start to figure that out.

 

[Hyde]

Also, on the subject of tested & untested powerlifting…look up Jesus Olivares and Austin Perkins. They genuinely total more raw than any lifter ever, regardless of drug use, bars used, with just a 2-hour weighin. They’re better than the untested record holders for their weightclasses.

Now Jesus certainly could be up to some kind of PED use somehow as big as he is (there’s no way to tell with a super heavy because there’s so much fat to hide the more telling signs of a steroid-influenced physique), and he probably uses insulin just out of necessity as he’s likely diabetic, but Austin barely looks like he lifts - and he is monstrously, impossibly strong. So to think that lifting in a tested fed is going to protect you from always competing against big sharks in deep waters is a fallacy. The talent pool is arguably greater - certainly, better genetics at the top of the bell curve. Sonita has squat 700lbs as a drug-tested female in knee sleeves.

Who wins a meet is purely about who shows up, because there’s always someone better somewhere in the world that could have come. You go to validate your lifts in competition, performed to a standard in front of unbiased judges. If that appeals to you, you should do it! It’s very different from lifting at the gym.

 

[Shadowblaze]

Also, on the subject of tested & untested powerlifting…look up Jesus Olivares and Austin Perkins. They genuinely total more raw than any lifter ever, regardless of drug use, bars used, with just a 2-hour weighin. They’re better than the untested record holders for their weightclasses.

Now Jesus certainly could be up to some kind of PED use somehow as big as he is (there’s no way to tell with a super heavy because there’s so much fat to hide the more telling signs of a steroid-influenced physique), and he probably uses insulin just out of necessity as he’s likely diabetic, but Austin barely looks like he lifts - and he is monstrously, impossibly strong. So to think that lifting in a tested fed is going to protect you from always competing against big sharks in deep waters is a fallacy. The talent pool is arguably greater - certainly, better genetics at the top of the bell curve. Sonita has squat 700lbs as a drug-tested female in knee sleeves.

Who wins a meet is purely about who shows up, because there’s always someone better somewhere in the world that could have come. You go to validate your lifts in competition, performed to a standard in front of unbiased judges. If that appeals to you, you should do it! It’s very different from lifting at the gym.

That sounds great bro, thank you.

I follow this one powerlifter called Colton Engelbrecht on TikTok who’s the strongest person of all time, at least that’s what he claims. He has the highest SBD total of all time if I recall. He’s 120kg and lean too. Obviously not natural but he’s honestly the most impressive an athlete I have ever seen, he attempted 500kg deadlift in competition but failed it. The fact that a 120kg lean powerlifter got the worlds heaviest ever deadlift off the ground in a competition is just crazy to me.

He regularly puts up 1000+ pounds on squat and deadlift in competition.

Colton Engelbrecht Achieves All-Time Raw Powerlifting Total Record | BarBend

Humankind rarely wholly advances in strength. Records in weight classes are broken over time as athletes grow stronger and train harder, and the target in

barbend.com

 

[Shadowblaze]

Get a band you can pack in your gym bag, for warmups, added resistance, etc - you can use that to loop through plates and hang it from your own weight belt, or around your neck. Then stabilize with the knees while you do weighted dips.

Or, you can pinch a rubberized db between your knees and cross your legs under it. This can be tougher to get in position though if the dip handles are higher up.

No, never. Nevermind the fact that I don’t think they’re natty (fighting and sprinting are exceptionally dirty sports) AND have god-tier genetics for power sports, something I wish someone told me sooner was that you will look like a transformation of YOU.

All of your insertions, the way you tend to fill out or not, your dispositions for where you carry more tissue and tend to store more fat, all of it is unique to your God-given your physique. Even if you managed to get more jacked than them, you would be unique in your look. With or without steroids.

It’s great to admire and desire their physiques, but just understand that the Sparrow will never be the Eagle. You just don’t know what bird you are until you get out there and see how high you can fly; it takes years of hard work to start to figure that out.

Thanks for the advice, I had no idea about the band idea, I’ll use that next time for sure.

Yeah that fighter is not natural and he’s open about it. The sprinter could be but I doubt it and he still competes so I doubt he would admit it. I appreciate the real talk, they both have incredible physiques for sure.

 

[Shadowblaze]

I’m not gonna hop right into my rugby and lower body training so I did my regular lower body day, abs and sprinting today but less intense and with less volume, usually I go 315+ on squat and hit it between 4-8 reps. Today I only went to 295 since it’s my first time squatting in nearly a month.

For compound lifts I usually do 5 sets of sprints max effort, plyometrics, 5x5 squat, 2x lunges, 3x back extensions, and then my isolation work after.

Next lower body day I will increase the volume if I don’t get any pain.

Tmrw will be my rugby training day so I probably won’t go to the gym.



Sprints:
1 set of 30 second 70% effort

Squat:
295x10

Back extension:
BwX12

Hamstring curls:
155x12 (different machine vs last time)

Adductor machine:
140x6

Abductor machine:
140x6

Calf press:
330X12
330X12

Biking:
10 mins intense

Ab wheel:
BwX3
BwX3
BwX3

The legs aren’t nearly what they used to be but still not bad.

 

[Hyde]

That sounds great bro, thank you.

I follow this one powerlifter called Colton Engelbrecht on TikTok who’s the strongest person of all time, at least that’s what he claims. He has the highest SBD total of all time if I recall. He’s 120kg and lean too. Obviously not natural but he’s honestly the most impressive an athlete I have ever seen, he attempted 500kg deadlift in competition but failed it. The fact that a 120kg lean powerlifter got the worlds heaviest ever deadlift off the ground in a competition is just crazy to me.

He regularly puts up 1000+ pounds on squat and deadlift in competition.

Colton Engelbrecht Achieves All-Time Raw Powerlifting Total Record | BarBend

Humankind rarely wholly advances in strength. Records in weight classes are broken over time as athletes grow stronger and train harder, and the target in

barbend.com

Lol yes I know who he is; Colton is by actual definition the GOAT of raw powerlifting. No lifter in any weightclass has totaled as much in wraps as he has.

This is what I mean when I say genetics are so unique & important. He isn’t doing anything so special that he’s better than even the best 450lb behemoths - he was born special.

Thanks for the advice, I had no idea about the band idea, I’ll use that next time for sure.

Yeah that fighter is not natural and he’s open about it. The sprinter could be but I doubt it and he still competes so I doubt he would admit it. I appreciate the real talk, they both have incredible physiques for sure.

You also have a terrific physique; Smont wasn’t blowing any smoke. Your natural muscular development far exceeds loads of guys who use steroids. Keep doing what you’re doing homie.

 

[Shadowblaze]

Day 5 of the Maximus pact

I would have gone to rugby training today but it might get cancelled because of bad weather so I’m in the gym. It works out well since I have a final on Friday and can train today and then use class time to study tmrw and when I get home today and tmrw I’ll just grind studying all day. So tmrw I won’t post since I’ll be studying.

I try to take 2 rest days a week. With an upper lower split training 5x a week I train everything on average 2.5x per week. I do my rest days on Sunday and any day in the week which works best for me.

It feels good to be back at it. I’ll attach photos of my workout tracking app, I’m still trying a lower volume approach. Usually I do 5x5 for bench, lat pulldowns, dips and rows however I figured if I’m too fatigued to do those later sets I just shouldn’t do them.

Benching was shitty today, idk what’s up with me on some days but I feel I get way too fatigued way too quick and my strength varies way too much day by day. Any of you know why this may be? Recovery? Motivation? Sleep? Hydration? Pre workout nutrition? It’s been something I have struggled with for years. Last time I hit 100x5 on weighted dips and 245x4 on bench, today it was 100x3 on dips and 245x3 on bench.

What I probably should start doing again is taking salt pre workout, I used to take 1 tsp 30 mins before every workout and it helped so much.

 

[Smont]

Day 5 of the Maximus pact

I would have gone to rugby training today but it might get cancelled because of bad weather so I’m in the gym. It works out well since I have a final on Friday and can train today and then use class time to study tmrw and when I get home today and tmrw I’ll just grind studying all day. So tmrw I won’t post since I’ll be studying.

I try to take 2 rest days a week. With an upper lower split training 5x a week I train everything on average 2.5x per week. I do my rest days on Sunday and any day in the week which works best for me.

It feels good to be back at it. I’ll attach photos of my workout tracking app, I’m still trying a lower volume approach. Usually I do 5x5 for bench, lat pulldowns, dips and rows however I figured if I’m too fatigued to do those later sets I just shouldn’t do them.

Benching was shitty today, idk what’s up with me on some days but I feel I get way too fatigued way too quick and my strength varies way too much day by day. Any of you know why this may be? Recovery? Motivation? Sleep? Hydration? Pre workout nutrition? It’s been something I have struggled with for years. Last time I hit 100x5 on weighted dips and 245x4 on bench, today it was 100x3 on dips and 245x3 on bench.

What I probably should start doing again is taking salt pre workout, I used to take 1 tsp 30 mins before every workout and it helped so much.

I've been dieting and a lot of how I'm eating is higher in potassium and lower in salt or no salt at all, so after a few ppl pointed that out (I missed it) and (I was getting some muscle cramps in the gym).

But I can also tell you that strength performance in the gym is fuel/food and hydration. Hyde probably has better advice for this directly related power lifting. But Ideally for a great workout regardless of what you're doing you want to be hydrated and your glycogen stores topped off. In a perfect world your sipping carbs intra workout and keeping those glycogen stores full.

 

[Hyde]

I've been dieting and a lot of how I'm eating is higher in potassium and lower in salt or no salt at all, so after a few ppl pointed that out (I missed it) and (I was getting some muscle cramps in the gym).

But I can also tell you that strength performance in the gym is fuel/food and hydration. Hyde probably has better advice for this directly related power lifting. But Ideally for a great workout regardless of what you're doing you want to be hydrated and your glycogen stores topped off. In a perfect world your sipping carbs intra workout and keeping those glycogen stores full.

Bingo.

@Shadowblaze you know the salt helps! So use it. Being well-hydrated is important both for health and power output. 2% loss in bodyweight is a 10% power cut the military studies found!

Nutrition also is big, not even so much your preWO meal (although that is most important if you don’t have stable blood sugar available) as getting in sufficient nutrition overall in the day prior. You undereat, expect to pay for it a little.

Sleep is honestly not an issue for performance - it’s an issue for recovery. Very important for longterm progress but basically no issue acutely. So the time between sessions and what you can handle to recover from will decrease over a span of time, but your peak power output isn’t going down if you only get a shoddy 4 hours of sleep one night. It’s just going to mess up the overall training plan & progress.

Eat food, drink your water, get your salt in!

 

[Shadowblaze]

day 7 of the Maximus pact:

Yesterday was my rest day, I was studying for finals all day. I had my magnetism final this morning so I got off school really early. I woke up at 6am, ate and drove to school and my final was done by 9am so I just went to the gym right after.

Finally starting to get back to squatting and lunging. I didn’t sprint today but increased my volume on squats which I will continue doing if the biologics do their thing.

I hit 315x9 on squat, its good that my squat has stayed the same practically even though I couldn’t squat for 3 weeks.

I also did some lunges and threw belt squats into my routine since they don’t load the spine.

Soon when I’m gonna be 100% again I will hold up my part of the Maximus pact and work harder than everyone else in Canadian Rugby, I’m just trying to work my way back up slowly to that point.

I also trained rugby today for half an hour, worked on my passing, tackling and kicking.

 

[Shadowblaze]

Day 8 of the Maximus pact:

I had a great lift today, the pre workout blueberries hit hard, my strength was pretty high all workout.

I’m still on the lower volume approach I just switched to, my physique has been looking great so I will probably stay on it at least for a while. What I’m thinking about doing is switching to full body 4-5x a week.

I went to a different gym today and did mainly machines just to switch things up, since sometimes I’ll get bored from doing the same exercises all the time. so I didn’t track my lifts in my workout app.

I did:

Underhand lat pulldown:
190x6
190x6
145x8

Chest press:
245x6
245x5

cable row:
160x8
160x8

Incline dumbbell press:
75sx8
75sx6

Lat focused rows:
70sx6
70sx6

Smith machine shoulder press:
160x5
110x10
110x10

Paused JM press:
100x8

Overhead tricep extension:
75x8

Tricep push down:
55x8

Preacher curls:
100x8
100x8

 

[Shadowblaze]

I forgot to add, I trained rugby today for half an hour. I also took these physique photos.

It’s hard to believe I had arms that were over an inch bigger in high school.

 

[Shadowblaze]

Yesterday was my rest day but today I’m back at it, gonna hit lower body after school.

I’ve been locking in so hard in school. Just got my quiz and final back and my mark is looking pretty good, my GPA rn is 91%

 

[Shadowblaze]

@Hyde did you see Colton just hit 500kg on the deadlift in a post competition lift? Crazy man

 

[Shadowblaze]

I have a question for you guys.

I’m trying to find my best training split for me. Usually I will do 20 sets of major muscle groups per week since it’s best for strength and hypertrophy. I’m also trying to train for athletics and power for rugby and track.

Which split should I do based on that?

Upper / lower 5 days a week doing 5x5 bench, and 5 sets of other pushing exercises, 5x5 barbell rows and 5 sets of other pulling exercises. And then all my isolation work for triceps and arms and shoulders.

Or

Full body 5x a week. Doing lower volume of each exercise but therefore more frequently, still adding up to 20 sets of major compound exercises a week for a muscle group.

Lmk what you guys think. I’m leaning slightly towards full body because it’s easier to recover from. But full body may be difficult to switch from lower to upper.

Or is it a better idea to cut back on volume? I find that I get better results with high volume but it’s harder for me to push each set if I’m doing so many.

 

[Shadowblaze]

Day 9:

Sheesh today was a good day, I have another quiz tmrw though.

I beat my all time best squat today, increased my amount of sets of sprints and still didn’t get spine pain.

I was surprised to hit 325x8 on squat but so far it’s going great. I’m gonna switch to full body 5x a week soon probably.

 

[Shadowblaze]

Day 10:

Today I had an insane workout, didn’t sleep great but otherwise it was a great day.

I finally hit 245x5 on bench, I like my current lower volume split so I may continue with it for the time being.

My physique was looking crazy today, super striated and vascular.

 

[Hyde]

Whether you do upper/lower or full body won’t really make any meaningful difference right now, as long as you can recover from whatever layout you use. Not just muscle recovery, but especially joints - including your spine. If that’s working, do what you enjoy the most!

 

[Shadowblaze]

Today I got my final test results back, I got 84% which is the 2nd lowest mark I have ever gotten. It was all about adding electrical vectors, so hard. I have another final on Friday.

Today I will be training rugby for 2 hours so no gym.