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EvoMuse Fat Loss Sponsored Log - Kaprice

HIT4ME said:
Keep working it. It is amazing how proper strengthening exercises can improve injuries. We always think that is something hurts we should avoid it. But sometimes getting proper movent will work it out. This is something I tell people a lot when they have posterior chain pains - start squatting a lot! Start light, go for volume and work it 3-6 times a week. One day you realize you haven't been in pain for a while.
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I agree to an extent.

Taken at face value, your advice would have me NOT do rehab work and stretching but just continue to do my routine, but with lower weights and higher volume.

That's not what I'm doing. Nor do I recommend it -- esp for shoulders.

Instead, I'm doing a lot of stretching and roller work. And when I do work with weights, it's still for ROM and working out kinks more than for building muscle and strength -- though it does that, too.

I read one strength coach saying everyone should have to EARN the right to lift heavy by testing their shoulder strength, flexibility, and proper positioning, first.
 
Here's what's been going on...

I spent the last 2 or 3 weeks doing only shoulder rehab for my workouts. It seems to have helped my ROM quite a bit and I've had far fewer cases of shoulder pain when I reach in various ways.

On Sunday, I moved to a new stack -- mostly from Get Diesel:

Anabolic Unwind
Brite
Chiro Pharma
Diesel Test
Nos Ether
JP8x (pre workout)
RPG (intra workout)
Nos Precursor (pre/post workout)
Raw Test
Ready4War

and
Octadrene Hardcore (morning)
EC (afternoon)

I do seem to feel more energy on this stack. I was starting to feel pretty rundown.

I've been stuck within a pound or so of 240 for over a month.

This morning, I weighed in at 236. Pre BM. That's a drop of 4 pounds since I started the new stack.

I had no workouts until today. And my diet has has included quite a bit of snacking at night.

It's possible the weight drop was due to shrinking muscles for not lifting for 2 or 3 weeks. Or it could be the stack.

I do get mild head aches, periodically, on this stack. Apparently, lots of water helps mitigate that.

Since my shoulders have been feeling better (though not 100%), I decided to try my chest workout today.

I modified my workout from a tip I saw from Ben Pakulski, and that is to lower the weight and do 4 count negatives. Also, on the bench, he recommends squeezing your hands toward the center on the bar. I tried that.

I definitely felt the effects of being away from lifting for a month. But I don't think I hurt my shoulders today, so that's a big plus. But, we'll see.

I fee like my body has been leaning out. I'll probably take pics on Sunday to document any progress the new stack might produce.
 
Bodybeast said:
That's a huge stack
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I agree. I hope it's not overkill. I'm going off of recommendations by BigHulkSmash who seems to have a pretty good handle on this kind of stuff.

BTW, there's supposed to be a be boost to libido from these Get Diesel product, but so far, I can't report I've noticed a difference in package size, sensitivity, arousal, load, or ability to "last". Nor any feelings of aggressiveness.

I'm 55, so maybe it's got a lot of work to do in that area!
 
Kaprice said:
I agree. I hope it's not overkill. I'm going off of recommendations by BigHulkSmash who seems to have a pretty good handle on this kind of stuff.

BTW, there's supposed to be a be boost to libido from these Get Diesel product, but so far, I can't report I've noticed a difference in package size, sensitivity, arousal, load, or ability to "last".

I'm 55, so maybe it's got a lot of work to do in that area!
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One of those has horny goat weed which is meh. It may help slightly. But you're older and it won't change it forever/much.
Also check the ingredients on those. Most of them overlap. Looks like overkill to me
 
Bodybeast, your inbox is full so I can't reply to your most recent PM.
 
Well, I guess I pushed hard enough at the gym today, because it's 6 hours later and my arms are shaking every so often when I lift them!

BUT, it was chest day, so the real test will be to see if my pecks are sore, tomorrow.
 
Kaprice said:
Well, I guess I pushed hard enough at the gym today, because it's 6 hours later and my arms are shaking every so often when I lift them!

BUT, it was chest day, so the real test will be to see if my pecks are sore, tomorrow.
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Always great to feel the work after. It can be very satisfying in a strange way. Good work.

Just to brag, I mean motivate you, I benched 195 x 10 tonight. I was pretty happy with that. Probably shouldn't mention it since you are doing shoulder rehab. ...but thought I would anyway
 
That's awesome, Hit!

Yeah, I was hoping to catch up to you, but that's not going to happen any time soon. I'm lowering my weights and doing 4 counts on the negatives.
 
Yes...the 4 counts on the negs are awesome. That's how I always try to do it...although lately I am probably doing more like 3 counts. Need to be better about that.
 
And you will catch me. Soon isn't important. Just get things working properly and keep improving. That's all that matters.
 
HIT4ME said:
Yes...the 4 counts on the negs are awesome. That's how I always try to do it...although lately I am probably doing more like 3 counts. Need to be better about that.
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DANG IT! You're saying you're doing 195 WITH 4 count negs??? I hate you. :)
 
Haha, I've been preaching slow reps for a while. That's how I do it...4 up, 2 hold, 4 down....BUT....I probably don't hit that cadence in my current training style because I just don't pay as much attention. I should. I need to fix that. I'm probably more like 3/1/3 or 2/1/3 more often than I should be because I'm focused on the prescribed reps too much.
 
The guy I read recommends 1 up, NO HOLD, 4 down.

I've read multiple guys saying the hold at the top reduces time under tension and reduces the benefit.

Of course, there are a TON of opinions and variation, so just because I read it doesn't make it true. Or best for you.
 
Yup, most people recommend fast contractions because they believe it is better for power since it is explosive. If you are powerlifting or an athlete that needs to make quick powerful movements then I agree that the training may have a better effect being explosive and quick during the contraction.

I don't believe it matters for strength or muscle building so much though...And I think explosive movement with weights are the best way to get hurt. Slower contractions reduce impact dramatically...Maybe this is why I am one of the few people on here with no chronic joint issues at all? I don't know. I could just be very lucky.

As far as the pause, if the pause is completely under tension, I think it would increase TUT but...I'm some cases like a barbell curl where the top of the movement is actually a break because the muscle isn't under tension you are probably right. I guess I'm some way the fully contracted position seems like a reduction in tension for every exercise because static strength is your strongest of the 3 phases...And lockout reduces activation...Maybe I will have to rethink it a little. Interesting point.
 
HIT4ME said:
Maybe this is why I am one of the few people on here with no chronic joint issues at all? I don't know. I could just be very lucky.
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Or it could be because you're still a young pup and you haven't reached the point where your body is easily injured!

As for explosive positives, I don't see a 1 count as explosive. I guess it depends on how fast you're counting. But my cadence is along the lines of "One mississippi, two mississippi..."
 
Well, I hit a new weight low!

235 lbs
upon waking, post BM.

I was stuck at 240ish for about 2 months.
Now, within a week, I dropped 5 pounds!

So, I'm hoping that means I've broken through the plateau and am on my way to more weight loss.

My goal is 215.

As for my muscles...

I AM feeling a small bit of DOMS in my pecks. I expect it will get a bit worse as the day goes on.

But, it's in the front of my shoulders where I'm feeling it the most. It feels like DOMS and not an injury, but I'm not sure if it means I should go back to shoulder rehab for a day or two before lifting heavy again.
 
Kaprice said:
Well, I hit a new weight low!

235 lbs
upon waking, post BM.

I was stuck at 240ish for about 2 months.
Now, within a week, I dropped 5 pounds!

So, I'm hoping that means I've broken through the plateau and am on my way to more weight loss.

My goal is 215.

As for my muscles...

I AM feeling a small bit of DOMS in my pecks. I expect it will get a bit worse as the day goes on.

But, it's in the front of my shoulders where I'm feeling it the most. It feels like DOMS and not an injury, but I'm not sure if it means I should go back to shoulder rehab for a day or two before lifting heavy again.
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Awesome Progress!!
 
I gotta say, the Get Diesel supplements are MASSIVELY sized. They look like horse pills and I'm finding them extremely hard to swallow.

But since my weight loss breakthrough happened right after I started the new GD stack, I gotta believe the new stack is responsible for it. So, I'm going to suffer through the huge pills.
 
Hold at the top doesn't necessarily mean lockout.
 
Since my shoulders were still a bit tender, today, I had to choose between more rehab or doing legs.

I chose legs.

But when I got to the gym, I noticed my right hamstring and glute were pretty tender and tight. So, I spent some time stretching and on the roller.

And because of the tightness, I decided to not do my normal heavy routine. Instead:

100 Lunge walks. BW only.
50 BW squats. My goal was 100 but my quads got super sore at the end of 50 -- the kind of sore that feels like a warning.

2 x 10 x140 leg ext
2 x 8 x 100 leg curl
2 x 10 x 150 calf ext

Nothing overly strenuous but my legs were shaking and it was hard to get down the gym stairs, so I guess it was a reasonable workout.

I do find it interesting... A few months ago, the lunges and bw squats were a regular part of my routine and was getting my reps up pretty high between breaks. But I stopped that and went to lower rep (8 to 12) heavy squats and deadlifts, instead. I was surprised the heavier lifting didn't translate into the high rep bw stuff. My reps between rests on lunge and bw squat went way down.
 
New weight record.
Morning, pre WO
234.4 lbs

So, progress is continuing.

Again, I can't say for sure it's not due to my cutting back on my lifting. I spent two (was it three?) weeks on shoulder rehab. And my last 3 workouts (including this afternoon's) were scaled back to lower weight and either higher reps or much longer negative reps.

So, it's POSSIBLE the weight loss is actually my muscles losing their pump. But, I'm hopeful that it's actual fat loss and that I've finally broken through my plateau.

I'm watching my eating but still not being so strict that I feel like I'm dieting.

I was also encouraged that I gained no weight over the holidays, while being even less careful.

My shoulders are feeling MUCH better. I feel like I've got MOST of my ROM back -- without pain, but still tender as I move my arms about.

Today, I opted for a quick full body workout. Not too strenuous, but I still felt like I did some good.

I'm going to do that again on Thursday and if my shoulders continue to feel good will go back to my regular routine. Though I AM going to stick with 4 to 5 second negatives.

I'm seriously considering going with only machines and skipping the free weights. I feel like I waste so much time changing weights. And of course it's harder to go to failure with free weights without a spotter. Machines are quicker and there's no danger pushing to true failure.

We'll see.

I'm feeling quite good on my Get Diesel stack. I'd been feeling pretty lethargic prior to this stack. Tired a lot. I feel much more energetic on this stack. AND, I'm hopeful that this stack is the reason for my renewed weight loss.

I've been taking RPG intra workout, but can't say I've noticed a huge difference. Of course that might be because my workouts are relatively short. Studhorse has been hitting 2.5 hour workouts and swears RPG is what's making it possible (including 45 second rests between sets). Maybe my 70 minute workout isn't long enough for RPG to make a difference. Of course, it could also be because most of my workouts since starting RPG have been rehab or scaled back.

So, next week when I start pushing to failure again RPG might have a more noticeable affect.

I DO sometimes take a dose of RPG at night when I'm starting to fade and I DO feel it gives me a boost and helps me stay productive without negatively affecting my sleep.
 
Things looking good!
RPG is BCAA's and some other goodies. For me it makes a slight difference, especially when I cut pauses between sets -but don't expect a mayor miracle. :) It will help you grow some muscles -or keep them when in a deficit too. What flavor do you got?
 
hairygrandpa said:
Things looking good!
RPG is BCAA's and some other goodies. For me it makes a slight difference, especially when I cut pauses between sets -but don't expect a mayor miracle. :) It will help you grow some muscles -or keep them when in a deficit too. What flavor do you got?
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* Thanks!

* Yeah? Well, Studhorse makes it sound like it delivers miracles! :)

* Green Apple.
 
Kaprice said:
* Thanks!

* Yeah? Well, Studhorse makes it sound like it delivers miracles! :)

* Green Apple.
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I bet he never used BCAA's intra workout before, that's why he notice it more. I used bulk BCAA's for a year. The profile of RPC is way more complete than using just BCAA's and not overly expensive for that.

IMHO, BCAA's and EAA's are as useful as is whey protein.So even you don't feel it, it's beneficial.
 
Kaprice said:
Well, I hit a new weight low!

235 lbs
upon waking, post BM.

I was stuck at 240ish for about 2 months.
Now, within a week, I dropped 5 pounds!

So, I'm hoping that means I've broken through the plateau and am on my way to more weight loss.

My goal is 215.

As for my muscles...

I AM feeling a small bit of DOMS in my pecks. I expect it will get a bit worse as the day goes on.

But, it's in the front of my shoulders where I'm feeling it the most. It feels like DOMS and not an injury, but I'm not sure if it means I should go back to shoulder rehab for a day or two before lifting heavy again.
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Hey man check out the youtube channel SmashweRx for some awesome shoulder prehab drills.
 
Today's workout:

8 mins warmup on stationary bike

2 sets x 48 lunge walks
2 sets x 25 indian squats
100 toe steps (for calfs)

Then some machine work on upper body.
2 sets each on bench, curls, rows, tricep pulldowns
Didn't push TOO hard, but I hit NEAR failure on each set with a 4 to 5 second count on the negative.

I took JPX8 and Nos Ether pre
I MIXED RPG for intra, but forgot to take the shaker bottle. DOH
So, I took the RPG post WO.

I started with some stretching and discovered my right hamstring is pretty tight and sore. Worked on it a bit, but never quite "cleared" it. Really good improvement on my shoulder ROM, but I still have one spot where my shoulder gets "stuck", so I still have work to do.

(It gets stuck if I'm lying on my back and raising my arms above my head (on the floor) in a jumping jack motion. My left shoulder sticks at the 10:00 position.)

Still, that's a big improvement from a month ago.
 
hairygrandpa said:
Follow my advise with the wooden spoon on your ham.
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There's so much FAT on my leg and glut, I'm not sure the spoon can even REACH the muscle. But, yeah I'll go check out that video. THANKS!
 
Kaprice said:
There's so much FAT on my leg and glut, I'm not sure the spoon can even REACH the muscle. But, yeah I'll go check out that video. THANKS!
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Will work, even with a bit of fat. Keep me informed how it went please.
 
On Monday I did sort of a hybrid shoulder workout with rehab. I feel like I'm making good progress in healing and strengthening my shoulders. ROM is near 100% and very little pain when moving my arms around. And no stabbing. Still have the occasional "catch" (where it sort of like a double jointed thumb -- it holds in place and then pops to catch up to where I moved it).

Today was leg day and something very strange and disconcerting happened.

I started out with 98 lunge steps (48, rest, 24, rest, 24). Then 200 toe walks (to strengthen calves for running). 150 heel walks (to protect against shin splints for running).

Then 100 hindu squats (50, rest, 50).

Those were all big improvements than the previous time I did that.

My plan was to then stretch and move over to the leg ext and curl machines to wrap up the workout.

I did various stretches and then did this one:

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Except I was able to get my nose much closer to my knee. I held there for about 60 seconds and was getting a good release in my ham. Then all of a sudden my abodmen on the right side (where my appendix used to be) cramped up. HARD. I couldn't move for several seconds and it took me about 2 minutes to work it out enough to where I could straighten up. It was painful.

It's been almost an hour since then and it's still a bit tender down there. I can't think of what caused it or if it's serious or not. Seems strange to get an ab cramp while stretching my legs.

Anyway, I stopped my workout for fear of doing more damage. That was frustrating because I felt I still had pretty good steam in reserve.
 
Kaprice said:
On Monday I did sort of a hybrid shoulder workout with rehab. I feel like I'm making good progress in healing and strengthening my shoulders. ROM is near 100% and very little pain when moving my arms around. And no stabbing. Still have the occasional "catch" (where it sort of like a double jointed thumb -- it holds in place and then pops to catch up to where I moved it).

Today was leg day and something very strange and disconcerting happened.

I started out with 98 lunge steps (48, rest, 24, rest, 24). Then 200 toe walks (to strengthen calves for running). 150 heel walks (to protect against shin splints for running).

Then 100 hindu squats (50, rest, 50).

Those were all big improvements than the previous time I did that.

My plan was to then stretch and move over to the leg ext and curl machines to wrap up the workout.

I did various stretches and then did this one:

Invalid Link Removed

Except I was able to get my nose much closer to my knee. I held there for about 60 seconds and was getting a good release in my ham. Then all of a sudden my abodmen on the right side (where my appendix used to be) cramped up. HARD. I couldn't move for several seconds and it took me about 2 minutes to work it out enough to where I could straighten up. It was painful.

It's been almost an hour since then and it's still a bit tender down there. I can't think of what caused it or if it's serious or not. Seems strange to get an ab cramp while stretching my legs.

Anyway, I stopped my workout for fear of doing more damage. That was frustrating because I felt I still had pretty good steam in reserve.
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That sucks brother. AB cramps like that can sneak up at strange times....I get them once in a while just like you are describing. I think the first time it happens...It feels like it hurts worse than it does...Because of the concern of never having it happen before. Next time it happens, you will be able to finish your workout I bet. It hurts, but it will go away with more movement.

Make sure you have enough potassium and sodium...But it is likely not related to that.
 
Yeah, I was really worried I ruptured something, but that seems unlikely given the pain abatement.
 
Kaprice said:
Yeah, I was really worried I ruptured something, but that seems unlikely given the pain abatement.
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Yeah - next time, if you think it's a serious injury - just work out like mad and punish yourself hard!! Either you will find out that it was really nothing at all, or you will realize that was the last workout you will ever be able to do and you will be glad that you got the most out of it.

haha :)
 
I last took pics in early October. I've held of taking more pics due to lack of progress and because I took down all my lighting and didn't feel up to putting it all back up.

But, I wanted to do some quick & dirty pics focusing not on muscle but on my fat because a), I THINK I'm making progress there; and b) I want to use these as new starting pics for future progress.

For comparison, here's my pics from October (which also includes my very first pics).

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These are my current pics and I didn't try to match poses. I TRIED to do angles that showed where I think I have progress and that's mainly in the areas above and left and right of my belly button. I couldn't get an angle that does it justice because I can clearly see an feel indentations there but they don't show well at all in the pics.

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EDIT: comparing these to my last ones, I have to sadly admit I'm not seeing much difference. I FEEL thinner. And shirts are fitting better, but I'm not really seeing the difference in the pics.
 
I don't know man. I see quite a change in those photos. I think when we look at ourselves we often see things in strange ways and don't see changes. Kind of like, you are looking at yourself in the photos and you just see yourself...Not someone totally different.

Maybe lighting, but those latest pics are a nice improvement. Keep going. Great work.
 
Thanks! I appreciate it. I DO see a difference in the mirror, but we often fool ourselves in the mirror, so I was bummed to not notice much in the pics. So, your more objective observations help a lot.
 
I see it too, you look slimmer. Maybe you lost fat uniformly, you definitely look more "sporty".
 
I also notice a big difference in the very subjective and unscientific "pinch test".

The area I notice it most is the same area where hairygrandpa has vertical cuts in his abs. Mine aren't anywhere near that pronounced, but the indentations, at least, are starting to introduce themselves. :)
 
After not hitting arms for over a month to work on shoulder rehab, I did a full arm workout, today.

I'll post the actual workout, later, but for now, here are a couple pics right afterwards. I feel like my arms are starting come in nicely. Decent size (unless you compare them to hairygrandpa but still need more definition.

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My arms are still a bit shaky from the workout, and it's been almost an hour.
 
Yep. 15.5 inches. Good eye! How'd you do that?

This is actually a reduction from a month ago. I had reached 16 inches but then took over a month off for shoulder rehab. So, I feel pretty good about where they are. Especially because I'm starting to see some separation from my shoulder muscles. No separation between bi/tri yet. I'll really celebrate when I get to that point!

But, my shoulders are doing pretty well so I'm back to serious lifting. Slightly lower weights with longer negs.

I've always done a controlled eccentric, but it was at about a 2 count. Now I'm trying to get a 4 count on the negs.
 
Leaner looks bigger! The negatives are awesome for inducing new growth, don't overdo them. Personally, I do negs every 2-3 month for 1-2 weeks, when I think I stalled.
 
Yes, I'm a believer in cycling workouts -- a cycle of heavy low reps, a cycle of lighter high reps, a cycle with negs, a cycle for functional strength, flexibility, and endurance.
 
Kaprice said:
Yes, I'm a believer in cycling workouts -- a cycle of heavy low reps, a cycle of lighter high reps, a cycle with negs, a cycle for functional strength, flexibility, and endurance.
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Exactly, just do what feels good! Variation is awesome, cuts the boring out of workouts. You are on the right path -and it shows!
 
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