When you've got ab vascularity, you've made it in life. You're there bro. The Donald Trump of AM but with better hair.
Day #4:
AM Cardio:
60 minutes Stairmaster; Fatburning mode; Level 8
- got a test to study up for in a couple of hours, so I will update later on.
Looking solid man, keep it up. 60 minutes on the stairmaster would flat out kill me haha.
Day #5: AM Cardio
Stairmaster; 60 minutes; Fatburning mode @ level 8
Calories: 825
- I've got a PM weight training session coming up, but I haven't decided what I'm doing just yet. Still got about 6 hours to find out though.
You know what, I fricken love it when I see that my estimated kcals burned was anywhere above 700. Sometimes when I want to quite, my only motivation to keep pressing on is so I can see the estimated kcals burned.
You know what I started doing. When I'm reaching for a snack, even like a protein bar and the back reads 270 calories, I start to think, that's like.... 30 min on the stairmaster at level 7, F-that, where's my chicken salad?!?!
Good job Norwegian, staying consitent with the 60 min killers. Way to be dedicated.
Nice job Norweigan. Sounds like your liking those high reps. I've never gone quite that high before. I can't imagine doing sets of 20 on deadlifts. Also glad to see your back in full swing and giving it 150% again. Keep kicking ass man and I want to see some pics.
Standing Dumbbell Shrugs - 125 * 30 reps * 4 sets
I've got a busy 8 days ahead of me, and I've got to masterfully combine interviews, studying, training, eating, and seeing my girl.
I'm looking BIG and FULL ! Stomach isn't as lean as a week and a half ago, but oh well for now .. Got a feeling my girl will like that, actually ! haha .. but then again, I got a feeling she will complain at the size of my arms and traps, and the width of my back and shoulders .. I mean, not too cut, not too vascular, yet not too big; some criterias I've got to meet !
I've got a couple internship interviews this week, one of which is tomorrow, and finals begin on Friday morning. I've got a busy 8 days ahead of me, and I've got to masterfully combine interviews, studying, training, eating, and seeing my girl.
Your 125lbs Db shrugs for 30 reps straight through inspired me, so today I went nuts on the traps.
Norwegian... whats the current opinion? Working for you?... detrimental?
Day #11: PM Workout
Chest:
Incline DB Flyes (palms facing ahead) - (30 * 25) 40 * 25, 45 * 20, 50 * 20, 50 * 20
Wide-grip Hammer Press - 140 * 25, 160 * 20, 160 * 20, 160 * 20
Pec-dec Flyes - 150 * 25, 170 * 20, 170 * 20, 170 * 20
Incline DB Press - 70 * 20, 70 * 18 (changed exercise due to too much strain on my bud's wrist)
Incline Machine Press - 110 * 25, 110 * 25, 110 * 28
Weight - 226 lbs.
I originally planned on doing chest, hams and abs, but as I began my workout, I ran in to an old workout buddy of mine (one of the two I trained with for the first 6 weeks of the semester). I had not seen or spoken to him in almost 2 months, and he told me it was his first day back in the gym after a long lay-off as a result of a broken right wrist, so I told him to join my workout. Normally, I fuel my own fire in my workout, sitting there in my own little world, but he did not have an ipod even, AND it was his first day back, so there was a little too much conversing.. No problem, though, my mind was more concerned with my different classes at this time being, so I don't think I would've done hams and abs had he not been there either.
All in all, a good work out, got a great upper body pump, and hopefully fried my pecs enough to broaden out a little bit.
Hey Norwegian, what kind of physiological changes are you noticing with this uber-high rep scheme? I've always questioned my bodies ability to appropriately hypertrophy when my reps are that high because the weight isn't high enough, but you seem to love it. Apart from just the pump, have you noticed any adaption(s) going on? Changes in muscle size or shape. And can you tell if the changes are adaption(s) to your volume scheme and not depth created by diet & cardio?
I've done the 15-8 rep, traditional hypertrophy routine and I do respond just as I should to it, but I'm always open to give something different (for me) a shot if other respectable people have had success with it.
Imo it works well I actually had great sucess with it about a year ago (maybe a lil less) anyhow... I'd take advantage of it on cycle...Have you ever sen how many reps the pros are doing? I really havent seen them doing sets of 5.. there more like 12-15 (especially victor and ronnie).. Anyhow best of luck Volcom!:thumbsup:
I'm curious about the hypertrophic adaption(s) us non-hot sauce mortals and make with such a high rep scheme. I liked the ultra hgh rep shrugs I did with the Db's and I looked like a trap monster when I was done, but I've not tested that high of a rep scheme for anything else.
The time has come..Or at least in the near future.... Why not give it a shot while on cycle?:cheers:
I'll give it a go in a month or sooner. I want to wait until my body is done adapting to my strength routine, then I'll go back to a more hypertrophic volume scheme. I want to get more perspective on it before I implement the 20+ rep routine for hypertrophic purposes.
Hey Norwegian, what kind of physiological changes are you noticing with this uber-high rep scheme? I've always questioned my bodies ability to appropriately hypertrophy when my reps are that high because the weight isn't high enough, but you seem to love it. Apart from just the pump, have you noticed any adaption(s) going on? Changes in muscle size or shape. And can you tell if the changes are adaption(s) to your volume scheme and not depth created by diet & cardio?
I've done the 15-8 rep, traditional hypertrophy routine and I do respond just as I should to it, but I'm always open to give something different (for me) a shot if other respectable people have had success with it.
Volcom, thus far, it seems my muscles are shaping up better. My triceps have gotten a deeper etched and taken on a much better shape, and my bicep brachii is more pronounced; stands out much more when I do a side chest pose. My biceps have gotten 'wider' when flexing them - the peak is broader - and the many inner bicep veins are much more apparent as a result of the bicep growth I feel like I've had. I feel like my shoulders have responded in the same manner as my triceps; the high volume has given me better lines and and much better definition while hanging on to the size. Yesterday when I did a side chest pose, I saw - for the first time ever - the front delt stick out of my 'upper/outer chest' as the lump-looking muscle it is (let's be honest, it doesn't always look like the front delt 'belongs' there on some bodybuilders..). My back may have gotten a little broader, but mainly more defined as a result of the high-volume training. I see a better separation in my rear laterals/upper back area as well. I've been doing calves, too, although not reporting on it, and I've got a very nice diamond shape to them - although I've got high insertion calves - but could've beefed them up some more.
I will go back to more calf focusing as school gets over with, because nowadays I won't waste too much time and energy switching things up in the gym nor outside of the gym. My lower pecs have gotten a little wider - I can tell because my nipples aren't located on the lower corner of my pecs as much as they used to be - if that makes sense ? There's more width on the outside of my nipples before the pec curves upward .. My traps and neck have also responded very well to my high-rep sets, and neck has broadened up, while traps stick up more and look thicker and denser. Got to admit I'm not stoked about my neck growing, but that comes with the territory of doing lots of shoulder, back and trap work.
I bet I would've been more cut had I been on NO carbs, period, but with my busy schedule and stressful situations (hello catabolism) I allow myself carbs when I feel I need them or when I don't have time to waste cooking a meal/dinner. I'm enjoying the hell out of 2 cups Kashi GoLean cereal pre-workout and then a full serving of Cytogainer following my workout, but also find myself with an orange here, some peanuts there, and snacking on some more cereal as the sugar cravings come at night.
Hope this answered your question ..
On the other hand, I've got 4-5 X 120 count NO2 Platinum (by MRI) coming in middle of next week. I was the 'poster-boy' of NO2 back in high school at my local GNC store, because I responded VERY well to it. The manager at that GNC store would ask any teenager who came in and asked what to take if they knew 'the Norwegian at such and such school..' because NO2 was what got him big. Haha, priceless.. Anyway, I haven't tried MRI's version in 4 years, and I'll be running it at 12 caps/day for 40-50 days, so I'm stoked to say the least!
Day #12: PM Workout
Back/Traps:
- first off, you'll probably think I'm full of it with the amount of weight and reps I did today, but each to his own. I'm accurately recording the weights and repetitions performed, no BS.
Wide-grip Pulldowns - 140 * 25, 160 * 25, 180 * 25, 200 * 20, 220 * 20
Yates Barbell Rows - (135 * 30) 185 * 25, 205 * 25, 205 * 25, 225 * 25
One-arm Vince Taylor Pulldowns - 45 * 25, 45 * 25, 45 * 30 reps
supersetted NON-stop with
Icarian T-bar Rows - 70 * 20, 70 * 20, 70 * 20
Standing Dumbbell Shrugs - 125 * 40, 125 * 30, 125 * 35
Machine Calf Raises - 150 * 25 reps * 4 sets
Seated Calf Raises - 90 * 20-25 reps * 4 sets
Weight - 223.8 lbs.
- I'm looking like a damn OAK ! My upper body is drastically wider than just a week ago. When I roll up the sleeves on my t-shirt to shoulder level, I'm displaying broad, capped shoulders with veins running vertically and horizontally. Arms are defined as hell, and my biceps are looking bigger and fuller than ever. My traps looked so jacked under my t-shirt that they actually looked out of place, and my pecs have gotten a more square look - as previously mentioned - which I'm really liking. My traps and neck are big and broad, almost too broad for my liking. Too big of a neck don't look too good under a professional attire - button down shirt and khaki pants - so I've got to chill out on that. Stomach is not as lean as before, but dayyyuuummmm, from my chest and up to my shoulders, arms, and back-width, it still doesn't look shabby at all !
Definitely liking my -3.5 lbs drop since weigh-in yesterday, as it makes me feel 'skinnier.' HAHAHA, right ! Now I'm enjoying the hell out of a Cytogainer shake, and I'll most likely endulge in some kind of carbohydrate source this evening, as I'm feeling quite deserving of it after a week of agony with studying, training, and just stressing out about the former.
My days at the gym haven't been this good since.. M-drol/H-drol last semester, and I $hit you not !![]()
Day #12: PM Workout
Back/Traps:
- first off, you'll probably think I'm full of it with the amount of weight and reps I did today, but each to his own. I'm accurately recording the weights and repetitions performed, no BS.
Wide-grip Pulldowns - 140 * 25, 160 * 25, 180 * 25, 200 * 20, 220 * 20
Yates Barbell Rows - (135 * 30) 185 * 25, 205 * 25, 205 * 25, 225 * 25
One-arm Vince Taylor Pulldowns - 45 * 25, 45 * 25, 45 * 30 reps
supersetted NON-stop with
Icarian T-bar Rows - 70 * 20, 70 * 20, 70 * 20
Standing Dumbbell Shrugs - 125 * 40, 125 * 30, 125 * 35
Machine Calf Raises - 150 * 25 reps * 4 sets
Seated Calf Raises - 90 * 20-25 reps * 4 sets
Weight - 223.8 lbs.
- I'm looking like a damn OAK ! My upper body is drastically wider than just a week ago. When I roll up the sleeves on my t-shirt to shoulder level, I'm displaying broad, capped shoulders with veins running vertically and horizontally. Arms are defined as hell, and my biceps are looking bigger and fuller than ever. My traps looked so jacked under my t-shirt that they actually looked out of place, and my pecs have gotten a more square look - as previously mentioned - which I'm really liking. My traps and neck are big and broad, almost too broad for my liking. Too big of a neck don't look too good under a professional attire - button down shirt and khaki pants - so I've got to chill out on that. Stomach is not as lean as before, but dayyyuuummmm, from my chest and up to my shoulders, arms, and back-width, it still doesn't look shabby at all !
Definitely liking my -3.5 lbs drop since weigh-in yesterday, as it makes me feel 'skinnier.' HAHAHA, right ! Now I'm enjoying the hell out of a Cytogainer shake, and I'll most likely endulge in some kind of carbohydrate source this evening, as I'm feeling quite deserving of it after a week of agony with studying, training, and just stressing out about the former.
My days at the gym haven't been this good since.. M-drol/H-drol last semester, and I $hit you not !![]()