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It's TRENbelievable! 1ifeblood's tren cycle

superbeast668 said:
Lighting sucks. I'd push for more quad sweep, lat spread and shoulder width. You have a narrow build looking at those. Widen it out.
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so harsh!
I see improvements there blood...lighting issues are always a bane to the muscular reality, and proper posing will aid in the illusionary deceptiveness of online pics as well
you're a work in progress -- but I DO see progress!

1ifeblood said:
And here's video of my squats...one side shot and the other from the back. Oh, and Snags, there's a special "hello" I gave you at the end. :-)
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would that I could view your "hello" to me..unfortunately, these vids are marked private?
I guess I don't rate high enuff on your scale
:sad:
 
snagencyV2.0 said:
so harsh! I see improvements there blood...lighting issues are always a bane to the muscular reality, and proper posing will aid in the illusionary deceptiveness of online pics as well you're a work in progress -- but I DO see progress! would that I could view your "hello" to me..unfortunately, these vids are marked private? I guess I don't rate high enuff on your scale :sad:
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Not meant to be harsh. I just re read it and kinda feel like a dick. Whoops. :-/. Sorry bro meant no harm.


Lb I don't see much of an issue with side to side. Maybe hit some more db work if it's bugging you. That's the only thing that really helps with even-ness in my experience. I usually rotate every week on which side gets hit first.
 
snagencyV2.0 said:
so harsh!
I see improvements there blood...lighting issues are always a bane to the muscular reality, and proper posing will aid in the illusionary deceptiveness of online pics as well
you're a work in progress -- but I DO see progress!

would that I could view your "hello" to me..unfortunately, these vids are marked private?
I guess I don't rate high enuff on your scale
:sad:
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Lol...I've never uploaded video before so I'll try to fix it. Thank you for the compliment though, my man! It really means a lot coming from you. As far as a work in progress...I'm not quitting! I'll continue to push myself, better myself, and learn add much add I can with the time I have (not that my job allows me much), and with you guys supporting me...there's no way I can fail!
 
superbeast668 said:
Not meant to be harsh. I just re read it and kinda feel like a dick. Whoops. :-/. Sorry bro meant no harm.

Lb I don't see much of an issue with side to side. Maybe hit some more db work if it's bugging you. That's the only thing that really helps with even-ness in my experience. I usually rotate every week on which side gets hit first.
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Lol, it's all good bro! I know you well enough by now as to not take anything harshly. I appreciate the feedback!
 
Little more thought if your immensely worried about side to side , the mind muscle connection is real. Lighten it up significantly and really concentrate on the squeeze. You'll naturally slow the speed in doing so. I swear I can burn my self up with 40lb dumbbell rows doing this.
 
1ifeblood said:
Video is fixed!
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And with the squats, EVERYTHING except taking it from the rack looks good. Keep both legs under you to unrack and re rack. Squat it out squat it in. Definitely nice form though. You get your ass back, keep your heels planted and drive. And you get plenty low enough. Good stuff.
 
superbeast668 said:
Little more thought if your immensely worried about side to side , the mind muscle connection is real. Lighten it up significantly and really concentrate on the squeeze. You'll naturally slow the speed in doing so. I swear I can burn my self up with 40lb dumbbell rows doing this.
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I'm definitely going to work more on this. It's easy to let the ego push you passed efficiency but it's obviously what I need to do...thanks!
 
1ifeblood said:
I'm definitely going to work more on this. It's easy to let the ego push you passed efficiency but it's obviously what I need to do...thanks!
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We're all guilty of this from time to time.. sacrificing a little technique/that connection for those grand numbers.
 
I agree on the squats, put both feet under you and powerfully unrack the bar. Other than that you need to work on your Abductors, the muscles on the outside of your hip. Your adductors are overpowering them pulling your knees in during the ascension. To stop that drive your knees outward, but also strenthen them by doing leg abductors, or put a band around your ankles and side step 10 paces in one direction then 10 in the other to work the outer hips. You can also do pull throughs, and or just put your leg up in a side kick chamber and hold it there and extend your leg out and back 50 x per each leg. That will strengthen that up quickly!

As far as the imbalance I can see what you are referring to. It is not really that bad at all but if you want to correct it you can probably do something as simple as doing an extra set on that side every time you lift. It won't be immediate but the extra work will start catching it up. I would also look into doing more DB or single arm work...
 
MrKleen73 said:
I agree on the squats, put both feet under you and powerfully unrack the bar. Other than that you need to work on your Abductors, the muscles on the outside of your hip. Your adductors are overpowering them pulling your knees in during the ascension. To stop that drive your knees outward, but also strenthen them by doing leg abductors, or put a band around your ankles and side step 10 paces in one direction then 10 in the other to work the outer hips. You can also do pull throughs, and or just put your leg up in a side kick chamber and hold it there and extend your leg out and back 50 x per each leg. That will strengthen that up quickly!

As far as the imbalance I can see what you are referring to. It is not really that bad at all but if you want to correct it you can probably do something as simple as doing an extra set on that side every time you lift. It won't be immediate but the extra work will start catching it up. I would also look into doing more DB or single arm work...
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Yeah I noticed my knees doing that after watching the video. Funny I've never noticed it before but now that I can be aware of it, I'll be able to improve it. Thanks for the awesome advice Kleen. I'm going to lighten my load a bit and focus on getting my muscle/mind connection. Really try to get that left side pumped up and activated.
 
My wife found this pic of me when we were in the hotel before heading out to Cancun for our honeymoon almost 2 years ago. Shows how scrawny I was. I think I was 175lbs here.
 
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Even being "scrawny" as you put it you already had nice chesticles...
 
MrKleen73 said:
Even being "scrawny" as you put it you already had nice chesticles...
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I've actually had those since I was a kid. I always thought I'd be able to develop a really nice chest but I can't seem to get the upper middle to puff up.
 
1ifeblood said:
I've actually had those since I was a kid. I always thought I'd be able to develop a really nice chest but I can't seem to get the upper middle to puff up.
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Low incline. Follow the meadows stuff IMO. I feel like it hits much higher.
 
snagencyV2.0 said:
pretty stealthy flirt there, chris...shrewd

yup
and bring that bar to your neck, not your chest...smash that goddam adam's apple
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Well every once in a while you have to use finesse...

Yeah I tore some Guillotine Incline Press up on the Smith machine Saturday. My upper pecs looked like shelves... Gotta incorporate those 1ifeblood just remember to concentrate on the contraction not the weight with these. They are not a power move, the shoulders are in a pretty tight position so mind muscle connection is imperative especially if doing free weight.
 
MrKleen73 said:
Well every once in a while you have to use finesse... Yeah I tore some Guillotine Incline Press up on the Smith machine Saturday. My upper pecs looked like shelves... Gotta incorporate those 1ifeblood just remember to concentrate on the contraction not the weight with these. They are not a power move, the shoulders are in a pretty tight position so mind muscle connection is imperative especially if doing free weight.
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I guillotine flats during warm ups as well for the stretch. Love them.
 
Just a small critique on your squat form, it looked like in the video of your rear that you lean forward on a couple reps and push up with your toes not your heel, nothing major just remember to keep a strong back with your head up and chest out. Other than that man things looking good in here. Looking forward to the next few weeks.
 
Lukef2000 said:
Just a small critique on your squat form, it looked like in the video of your rear that you lean forward on a couple reps and push up with your toes not your heel, nothing major just remember to keep a strong back with your head up and chest out. Other than that man things looking good in here. Looking forward to the next few weeks.
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You're right actually...I catch myself rocking forward once in awhile but for the most part I'm able to stay back. It's actually what I'm concentrating on the most when squatting...to stay on my heals. Now I need to think about pushing the knees out too.
 
Squats look pretty solid except for that knee problem. I have a tendency to do the same from years of playing hockey goalie and training my knees to bow in on purpose. I have to concentrate on squeezing outward when I squat I keep them even straight.
 
booneman77 said:
Squats look pretty solid except for that knee problem. I have a tendency to do the same from years of playing hockey goalie and training my knees to bow in on purpose. I have to concentrate on squeezing outward when I squat I keep them even straight.
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This is supposed to give you more power in the squat, correct?
 
1ifeblood said:
This is supposed to give you more power in the squat, correct?
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Yes. By pushing the knees out so that they stay straight in line with your heels you'll have better leverage. Think of it like trying to stack two things, you can't lean one and get maximum support
 
Today I focused on the muscle mind connection through each of my exercises by lightening weight and feeling each stretch and contraction...especially on my left side. I ended up with a great pump as you'll see in the swelfies but I just couldn't get the skin splitting pump like I had in my legs. I also notice a tight pain in my right bicep right in the tension that connects to the pec. It's not really debilitating but definitely interferes with my focus.

WORKOUT
Bench Press
205x5
225x3+2
215x3+2
205x4+1
205x4+1

Incline DB Press
40x8x8

Smith Machine neck press
50x12x3

HS Decline Press
160x8x8
*I could really feel the pain in my pec during these. Felt like my right gave out 3 reps before my left...so I gave my left side 3 more reps on the last few sets.

Cable Crossover
40x12x3
*I always bring the outside of my fists together during the squeeze.

BB reverse grip bench press
95x25
<drop to>
Bench Press
95x15>BBx30

SWELFIES

2014-04-16 16.55.52_resized.jpg




2014-04-16 16.56.29_resized.jpg




2014-04-16 16.57.21_resized.jpg




2014-04-16 16.58.03_resized.jpg




2014-04-16 16.58.37_resized.jpg


VIDEO
On the second video...I demonstrate how to go to failure. :-)

Watch "Bench Press front" on YouTube
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Watch "Bench Press side" on YouTube
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wasme said:
That was funny. Camera gets all shaky dude comes to spot you. Nice.

Those pics today you look thicker up top.
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Yeah it was a helluva pump. I wish I could look like that all the time lol.
 
You can really tell your chest is pumped it's like 2x the size of your other pics ha
 
Agree with the chest comment. It looks totally different than your previous pics. Very full and pumped with more definition.
 
1ifeblood said:
Today I focused on the muscle mind connection through each of my exercises .. I ended up with a great pump as you'll see in the swelfies but I just couldn't get the skin splitting pump like I had in my legs.
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looks like you inserting an inflatable device under the skin there to me..
swole!
 
Any advice on my bench form? I can't seem to get to 225x5. It's quite frustrating. I figured I would've blown by it by now.
 
1ifeblood said:
Any advice on my bench form? I can't seem to get to 225x5. It's quite frustrating. I figured I would've blown by it by now.
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Drive with your hips, press your back into the bench, drive the weight up and visualize pulling the bar apart to generate force.
 
DangerDave said:
Drive with your hips, press your back into the bench, drive the weight up and visualize pulling the bar apart to generate force.
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Pull the bar apart...I've never thought of that but definitely makes sense. I mainly try to focus on driving with my hips and bracing against my feet. I like the thought of "pressing" my back against the bench. That's a different visual for me too...thanks D-dubs!
 
1ifeblood said:
Pull the bar apart...I've never thought of that but definitely makes sense. I mainly try to focus on driving with my hips and bracing against my feet. I like the thought of "pressing" my back against the bench. That's a different visual for me too...thanks D-dubs!
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No problem man. Trying to pull the bar apart helps build muscle tension in your triceps. Once I started visualizing that my bench went up easily. It really helps that lockout
 
Last night I was drawing the tren from its bottle, concentrating on getting every last drop out since it was the last of it. I didn't think it would end up being 80mg lol. So last night my tren dose was a little more than usual. I did have difficulty falling back to sleep after the baby woke up in the middle of the night and I felt like my whole body was on fire! Made me wish I could run higher doses but I just remind myself that there we'll always be future runs. I fully intend on my next run to be test/tren/mast with tren dosed at 70/day. But first I have to get all the knowledge and experience I can from this cycle, keeping things consistent and measurable.

WORKOUT
SOHP
95x5
115x5
120x5
120x5
120x5

Power Partials
40x8
40x8
40x8
40x8
35x8
35x8
35x8
35x8

Machine Delt Raise
20x12
20x12
20x12>10x15

DB Reverse Grip Shoulder Press
35x8x8

Reverse Grip Cable Front Raise
20x12
25x12
25x12>15x20

DB BO Reverse Fly
30x8x8

Machine Reverse Fly
50x12x3
30x50

DB Shoulder Shrugs
80x20>60x20>40x20
 
1ifeblood said:
Last night I was drawing the tren from its bottle, concentrating on getting every last drop out since it was the last of it. I didn't think it would end up being 80mg lol. So last night my tren dose was a little more than usual. I did have difficulty falling back to sleep after the baby woke up in the middle of the night and I felt like my whole body was on fire! Made me wish I could run higher doses but I just remind myself that there we'll always be future runs. I fully intend on my next run to be test/tren/mast with tren dosed at 70/day. But first I have to get all the knowledge and experience I can from this cycle, keeping things consistent and measurable.

WORKOUT
SOHP
95x5
115x5
120x5
120x5
120x5

Power Partials
40x8
40x8
40x8
40x8
35x8
35x8
35x8
35x8

Machine Delt Raise
20x12
20x12
20x12>10x15

DB Reverse Grip Shoulder Press
35x8x8

Reverse Grip Cable Front Raise
20x12
25x12
25x12>15x20

DB BO Reverse Fly
30x8x8

Machine Reverse Fly
50x12x3
30x50

DB Shoulder Shrugs
80x20>60x20>40x20
Click to expand...


Im 100% in agreement with this dosing. I loved the last few days of my cycle where I was up to 70-80mg to finish my bottle as well... Next run might be at that dose and maybe ad some var or mast
 
There's not enough chatter in this thread...wtf! How about some music to spark things a bit. I've got 2 new bands I'm really digging right now...here's a couple of their songs that's breaking them out.

Watch "Nothing More - This Is The Time (Ballast)" on YouTube
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This is a 2 man band, a bass player/singer and a drummer. The sound!!
Watch "Royal Blood - Out Of The Black" on YouTube
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Looking good man!

One thing I noticed on your bench is when you get close to your chest and you accelerate you are not in control of the weight on every rep. You are going to about an inch above your chest then letting it almost drop to your chest and changing direction before you have control of the weight. That messes with the CNS a bit. Now it is a great way to get more weight up off your chest if you keep control but I noticed a few times you weren't in control of the weigh when you start pushing and that is shocking to the CNS. Get better control, as you change directions and you will find more reps in the tank. Same as with people who lower to quickly and try to "catch" the weight and explode up. If not in control it is a slight shock to your nervous system and can basically ruin a set.
 
MrKleen73 said:
Looking good man!

One thing I noticed on your bench is when you get close to your chest and you accelerate you are not in control of the weight on every rep. You are going to about an inch above your chest then letting it almost drop to your chest and changing direction before you have control of the weight. That messes with the CNS a bit. Now it is a great way to get more weight up off your chest if you keep control but I noticed a few times you weren't in control of the weigh when you start pushing and that is shocking to the CNS. Get better control, as you change directions and you will find more reps in the tank. Same as with people who lower to quickly and try to "catch" the weight and explode up. If not in control it is a slight shock to your nervous system and can basically ruin a set.
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I think I know what you mean. I'll have to experiment with concentrating on controlling the weight through the directional shift. Implementing what DD said will probably help me with that as well.
 
1ifeblood said:
I think I know what you mean. I'll have to experiment with concentrating on controlling the weight through the directional shift. Implementing what DD said will probably help me with that as well.
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Yeah it probably will because pulling the bar apart / bending the bar in half focus is going to tighten your lats which will give your triceps a backboard of stability to rest on in the bottom position.
 
1ifeblood said:
I think I know what you mean. I'll have to experiment with concentrating on controlling the weight through the directional shift. Implementing what DD said will probably help me with that as well.
Click to expand...

I don't train for strength obviously but this is what I concentrate on for my chest movements-

I build a nice solid stable base with my lower back slightly arched and shoulder blades driven into the bench.

I bring the bar down to about 1-2 inches above my chest and hold a very VERY small split second pause. I then press with my chest and try to pull the bar apart. I stop about 2-3 inches from lockout and pause again VERY slightly then right back to lowering the weight. All slow and controlled with hard squeezes and stretches.

This does a few things-

Constant tension in my pecs.
A nice stretch
Hard contractions
Allows me to get more out of less weight
Saves my rotator cuffs
Builds stabilizer muscles
Insane pumps

Emphasis on the controlled weight because I can focus on that muscle mind connection that causes more activation and growth.

My goal is size not so much strength so I don't know how those things carry over since I never focus on how much I'm lifting. I'm sure some translates into strength tho.
 
DangerDave said:
I don't train for strength obviously but this is what I concentrate on for my chest movements-

I build a nice solid stable base with my lower back slightly arched and shoulder blades driven into the bench.

I bring the bar down to about 1-2 inches above my chest and hold a very VERY small split second pause. I then press with my chest and try to pull the bar apart. I stop about 2-3 inches from lockout and pause again VERY slightly then right back to lowering the weight. All slow and controlled with hard squeezes and stretches.

This does a few things-

Constant tension in my pecs.
A nice stretch
Hard contractions
Allows me to get more out of less weight
Saves my rotator cuffs
Builds stabilizer muscles
Insane pumps

Emphasis on the controlled weight because I can focus on that muscle mind connection that causes more activation and growth.

My goal is size not so much strength so I don't know how those things carry over since I never focus on how much I'm lifting. I'm sure some translates into strength tho.
Click to expand...
Any time you stop the weight and destroy momentum or the recoil reflex you have to start using pure muscle power that definitely transfers over to strength because it takes more strength to make a control change in direction than to piston through it. Only difference if training for strength in lifts is you have to use the full ROM for it to count but muscle building is the opposite you will build more muscle keeping the continuous tension on the muscle via shorter ROM and ad you said it is much safer for your joints. Just look at the pro's you almost never see those guys doing full ROM any more. Everything is about muscle tension and time under tension when it comes to growth not the ROM.
 
I really need to work on my bench.
 
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