Journey of a newbie lifter

Smont said:
I hate how females think saying you look skinny is a compliment. One year I was juiced up, on gh, 205-210ish, lean with veins in my head lol, and my girl says wow your getting skinny. Instantly irritated me 😂 😂 😂
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my wife's so funny, I know sometimes she's patronizing me but hillariously she will think and pick her words to figure out which ones she thinks I want to hear. It probably comes from her spending a decade in an xfit gym and raising a son who was a bit of a gym rat, lol. The other day I was like fully sodium and glyco pumped getting dressed in front of the mirror and I'm like 'holy ****, my muscles look huge, where did that come from' and she's like 'yeah I was just thinking that too' ahahaha
 
Dustin07 said:
my wife's so funny, I know sometimes she's patronizing me but hillariously she will think and pick her words to figure out which ones she thinks I want to hear. It probably comes from her spending a decade in an xfit gym and raising a son who was a bit of a gym rat, lol. The other day I was like fully sodium and glyco pumped getting dressed in front of the mirror and I'm like 'holy ****, my muscles look huge, where did that come from' and she's like 'yeah I was just thinking that too' ahahaha
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She sounds like she's one of the good ones :)
 
Good morning, just doing quick check in.
Been a busy busy past several days with storm passing thru, my best friends wedding, and then getting stuff ready to go to hunting camp, on top of work and regular day life things.

Still on the search for a bench/bar setup on marketplace as the one I was suppose to pick up was sold kinda out from under me even tho I had arranged a day to go pick it up, oh well.

Last 2 Workouts have been tougher just do to already being exhausted and fitting them in my schedule when I had the extra time. But I still managed to PR a few lifts. I won’t be getting my normal Friday routine in because after work today I’m heading straight to the camp, but I’ll be doing plenty of labor to semi make up for it.

Also meal prepped last night to get me thru the weekend at camp so not tempted to do my normal sloppy eating when up there.
Nice combination of grilled chicken and grilled lean pork chop, sweet potato, green beans and rice.

Thanks to all for the continued support and encouragement. Keep on pushin!
 

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Your meal prep looks great. having good options to stay balanced so that you don't find yourself starving and desperate definitely helps avoid bad decisions. there are some pretty decent beef jerkeys out there that are reasonable on the protein:fat ratio for macros that make a nice pocket item if you're doing much hiking on the hunt. The past few deer hunts I had were pretty rigorous hikes so I'd pack in some food with me which always seemed to help.
 
Dustin07 said:
Your meal prep looks great. having good options to stay balanced so that you don't find yourself starving and desperate definitely helps avoid bad decisions. there are some pretty decent beef jerkeys out there that are reasonable on the protein:fat ratio for macros that make a nice pocket item if you're doing much hiking on the hunt. The past few deer hunts I had were pretty rigorous hikes so I'd pack in some food with me which always seemed to help.
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I certainly like variety but not to much to be overwhelmed. Somewhat creature of habit but it’s easy to burn out on the same meal over and over. I’m starting to find more and more recipes that I’m saving to build off of for some more options.

I usually do carry some beef jerky with me, I need to stock up on some good stuff for later season long hunts. My biggest hurdle will be when all the guys are up we tend to do lots of fried foods and cobblers/desserts. But I think I’ve established a good change of eating lifestyle I won’t give in…..too heavy! Ha
 
LOL thats funny. I've never been surrounded by a lot of dudes with sweet toothes, but what would be more likely for my hunting/fishing buddies to bring would be beers, chips, and all the fattiest types of meats and other foods you can possibly pack on a camping trip lol. no sugar really, but lots of fats and carbs for sure. My brother and I were usually pretty good about packing tho, he'd usually bring like deer heart or something from last year that we'd cook up as a traditional meal for soft tacos, eggs every breakfast, but usually with sausage/bacon etc.
 
Calebd91 said:
I certainly like variety but not to much to be overwhelmed. Somewhat creature of habit but it’s easy to burn out on the same meal over and over. I’m starting to find more and more recipes that I’m saving to build off of for some more options.

I usually do carry some beef jerky with me, I need to stock up on some good stuff for later season long hunts. My biggest hurdle will be when all the guys are up we tend to do lots of fried foods and cobblers/desserts. But I think I’ve established a good change of eating lifestyle I won’t give in…..too heavy! Ha
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You can eat a legitimate cheat/trash type meal once a week if you’re not trying to lose weight (and sometimes even then). People get into trouble when they rampage for the whole weekend or trip like you said. You can’t eat a bunch of crap daily and expect it not to add up.

It’s helpful for me to save that special meal for the last one of the day if possible. It’s also good to call your shots - have ONE good slice of cobbler, but don’t keep going back. The point is to enjoy sharing delicious foods with others, but it’s not like you’re going to actually feel meaningfully happier eating multiple extra helpings.
 
Yea it’s comical some of the guys act like Betty Crocker at the camp but won’t lift a spoon when they at home with their old lady!
I prefer to do the grilling side of things mainly. Got a coon ass that can fry fish, backstrap, frog legs, you name it better than anyone. And then 2 retired fellas that do the cobblers/pies and one that does breakfast almost every day with big loadouts or his “famous” breakfast soufflé.
Makes for a good time even if the hunting is bad! I just enjoy being out in nature and away from the hustle and bustle of work
 
Calebd91 said:
Yea it’s comical some of the guys act like Betty Crocker at the camp but won’t lift a spoon when they at home with their old lady!
I prefer to do the grilling side of things mainly. Got a coon ass that can fry fish, backstrap, frog legs, you name it better than anyone. And then 2 retired fellas that do the cobblers/pies and one that does breakfast almost every day with big loadouts or his “famous” breakfast soufflé.
Makes for a good time even if the hunting is bad! I just enjoy being out in nature and away from the hustle and bustle of work
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The “men” who act like it’s only women’s work to cook crack me up. You think early men out on the hunt waited until they got home so their wives could feed them like helpless children? They ripped that flesh from the bone and got to it. Cowboys didn’t have ladies out on the range, sailors and soldiers don’t get mom or wives feeding them in the field - a man has to be able to feed himself!
 
Back from the camp and back to the grind.
Put in some MAJOR work over the weekend so don’t feel too bad for missing my Friday workout.
Planted 12 plots, got 9 feeders going an filled. About 13-1400 pounds worth in 50# bags. Had to cut up a big ass oak tree that fell across road an loaded an unloaded it for firewood.

Tons of leg and arm work, had me little exhausted and sore for today but still got up early enough before going in to work tonight to get my regular workout in. Also meal prepped just a few meals for next 2 days until I’m off again an can reload up on groceries.

Think I’m going to try an up my calories another 200-300, I’m maintaining my weight at 158-160. But it could be that I’m losing fat still while gaining muscle so I’m more re-comping then straight bulk/gaining.


Upper B
Monday, Oct 19, 2026 at 12:06pm

Floor Press (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 35 lbs x 12
Set 2: 35 lbs x 14
Set 3: 35 lbs x 16
Set 4: 35 lbs x 16

Bent Over Row (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 37.5 lbs x 14
Set 2: 37.5 lbs x 16
Set 3: 37.5 lbs x 16

Shoulder Press (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 35 lbs x 8
Set 2: 35 lbs x 8
Set 3: 30 lbs x 10

Lateral Raise (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 12.5 lbs x 12
Set 2: 12.5 lbs x 12
Set 3: 12.5 lbs x 14

Triceps Extension (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 30 lbs x 12
Set 2: 30 lbs x 12
Set 3: 30 lbs x 14

Hammer Curl (Dumbbell)
Set 1: 30 lbs x 12
Set 2: 30 lbs x 10
 
Calebd91 said:
Planted 12 plots, got 9 feeders going an filled. About 13-1400 pounds worth in 50# bags. Had to cut up a big ass oak tree that fell across road an loaded an unloaded it for firewood.
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I really need to priortize this type of behavior, and some practice shooting with the bow. still have 2+ months left out here to shoot but they will disappear fast.
 
Dustin07 said:
I really need to priortize this type of behavior, and some practice shooting with the bow. still have 2+ months left out here to shoot but they will disappear fast.
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I didn’t have much practice this year, but I love to just shoot a bag every now and then. Our season opened on the 1st of this month and runs until Nov 20th. It’s a hit or miss on early season catching the bachelor groups of bucks still. Then a lull a late season if you get in the hardwoods after acorns drop heavy it gets good. With my work schedule this past weekend might be my only bow hunt time so I only went Friday and sat morning before doing my work. I was by myself so I had to really hit it hard till dark each day.
Hyde said:
Not gaining weight over the trip is a great thing!
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Taking my meals I prepped and being by myself really helped! I made breakfast bowls with sausage eggs a potatoes for mornings and for dinner I went and got 2 footlong subway sandwich’s. Only cheat I did was got white chocolate macadamia nut cookies lol
 
Sounds like a great time! I had big plans of trying to get out with my bow this year but I’m not going to make it just haven’t shot enough to be able to make an ethical shot. So I’ll be patiently waiting rifle season!
 
akboom87 said:
Sounds like a great time! I had big plans of trying to get out with my bow this year but I’m not going to make it just haven’t shot enough to be able to make an ethical shot. So I’ll be patiently waiting rifle season!
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It certainly takes time, and the right setup in the woods to. Most of my spots are really setup best for rifle season, but with a climber or ground blind I can easily transition to hunt by bow. Years of scouting the same woods I’ve learned most of the travel patterns. But it’s still luck of the draw (no pun intended) on a big buck cruising thru. They are incredibly smart, an we don’t give them enough credit in my opinion, on knowing when their domain is infiltrated and throws them off.
But I am eager for rifle season as well! I’m due for a decent buck, I’ve been humbled the last 2 years.
But it’s ok, I don’t hunt for the kill, I enjoy the calmness of watching the woods wake up at daybreak, the life that’s hidden in plain sight that most don’t experience, the one place I can not think about anything and be immersed fully into the experience. The harvest is just a reward to fulfill the dedication and perseverance put into outsmarting nature, and being blessed and thankful for the meat it provides my family.
 
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