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ryane87s ride to awesomeness

Interesting turn at my gym. Awhile back I told you guys my gym might be closing. Well, it was bought awhile ago by a bodybuilder sized guy maybe a month or two ago. I talked to him for awhile and it is TJ Clark, national level NPC bodybuilder that finished second at either the USAs or Nationals a couple of years ago.

Anyway, he made it a point to stop and talk to me today. We were talking about competing and such and he said with my structure and build I could be ready to do a show by spring/summer. I always thought of competing but thought I needed a ton more size. He said I just needed a look and with my structure and shape I could be ready by spring/summer. Very encouraging and inspiring. He even offered to help get me ready. Cool freaking dude

Awesome!!! Do it. You have a goal and a challenge my man.
 
Interesting turn at my gym. Awhile back I told you guys my gym might be closing. Well, it was bought awhile ago by a bodybuilder sized guy maybe a month or two ago. I talked to him for awhile and it is TJ Clark, national level NPC bodybuilder that finished second at either the USAs or Nationals a couple of years ago.

Anyway, he made it a point to stop and talk to me today. We were talking about competing and such and he said with my structure and build I could be ready to do a show by spring/summer. I always thought of competing but thought I needed a ton more size. He said I just needed a look and with my structure and shape I could be ready by spring/summer. Very encouraging and inspiring. He even offered to help get me ready. Cool freaking dude

That is Awesome. You going to do it?
 
Interesting turn at my gym. Awhile back I told you guys my gym might be closing. Well, it was bought awhile ago by a bodybuilder sized guy maybe a month or two ago. I talked to him for awhile and it is TJ Clark, national level NPC bodybuilder that finished second at either the USAs or Nationals a couple of years ago.

Anyway, he made it a point to stop and talk to me today. We were talking about competing and such and he said with my structure and build I could be ready to do a show by spring/summer. I always thought of competing but thought I needed a ton more size. He said I just needed a look and with my structure and shape I could be ready by spring/summer. Very encouraging and inspiring. He even offered to help get me ready. Cool freaking dude
Nice bro. I'm thinking its finally time for you to make the jump. I hear DBol is really nice this time of year.....lol.
 
Interesting turn at my gym. Awhile back I told you guys my gym might be closing. Well, it was bought awhile ago by a bodybuilder sized guy maybe a month or two ago. I talked to him for awhile and it is TJ Clark, national level NPC bodybuilder that finished second at either the USAs or Nationals a couple of years ago.

Anyway, he made it a point to stop and talk to me today. We were talking about competing and such and he said with my structure and build I could be ready to do a show by spring/summer. I always thought of competing but thought I needed a ton more size. He said I just needed a look and with my structure and shape I could be ready by spring/summer. Very encouraging and inspiring. He even offered to help get me ready. Cool freaking dude

NICE!!!!! Go get it
 
Interesting turn at my gym. Awhile back I told you guys my gym might be closing. Well, it was bought awhile ago by a bodybuilder sized guy maybe a month or two ago. I talked to him for awhile and it is TJ Clark, national level NPC bodybuilder that finished second at either the USAs or Nationals a couple of years ago.

Anyway, he made it a point to stop and talk to me today. We were talking about competing and such and he said with my structure and build I could be ready to do a show by spring/summer. I always thought of competing but thought I needed a ton more size. He said I just needed a look and with my structure and shape I could be ready by spring/summer. Very encouraging and inspiring. He even offered to help get me ready. Cool freaking dude

Sweet! When you're famous we get to say we know you, right?
 
Interesting turn at my gym. Awhile back I told you guys my gym might be closing. Well, it was bought awhile ago by a bodybuilder sized guy maybe a month or two ago. I talked to him for awhile and it is TJ Clark, national level NPC bodybuilder that finished second at either the USAs or Nationals a couple of years ago.

Anyway, he made it a point to stop and talk to me today. We were talking about competing and such and he said with my structure and build I could be ready to do a show by spring/summer. I always thought of competing but thought I needed a ton more size. He said I just needed a look and with my structure and shape I could be ready by spring/summer. Very encouraging and inspiring. He even offered to help get me ready. Cool freaking dude
Dude that's awesome. I talked to my buddy who competes today too. He said he's going to compete in classic next year and said he would help train me to compete in physique. Maybe we can duke it out on stage together
 
I think I am going to pursue it. My wife is extremely supportive. I have always wondered and it kind of helps hearing that because it shows I am heading in a good direction even with all the obstacles I deal with each day. I am definitely not getting any younger. So fck it!
 
Dude that's awesome. I talked to my buddy who competes today too. He said he's going to compete in classic next year and said he would help train me to compete in physique. Maybe we can duke it out on stage together

That would be pretty awesome!
 
Sweet! When you're famous we get to say we know you, right?

Shyt, if that ever happened, it would be partly because of you guys and your support and encouragement
 
Nice bro. I'm thinking its finally time for you to make the jump. I hear DBol is really nice this time of year.....lol.

I think this could be the thing to really tip cycling in my favor....lol
 
ryane87 that's incredible my man! Your hard work has apparently been noticed. NOW, the harder work begins, and I highly doubt you will, would or can fail, just not in you my man!! Congrats
 
Today is the start of the next part of my journey. My wife and I are going to sit down this evening and pick a TX area show. TJ didn't make it in until I was leaving so I didn't have an opportunity to really hammer out what is going on with his help. In the meantime, I am training as I was, trying to put on as much clean mass as possible. Quads today. Hip and knee pain on the right side is still fcking ridiculous. But I am grinding through and I won't allow it to be an excuse. I still don't feel comfortable squatting first, but I will get there in time hopefully.

Single-leg leg press: 2 plates per side + 25s x12, 3 pps x12, +25s x12, 4 pps x 10, 2 pps x20 3 second negative each rep

Front squats: 155x8, 165x8, 175x8, 185 cut short because it didn't feel quite right. For reference, I squat down until my hamstrings touch my calves

Barbell hack squat/standing calf raise superset: 185x8/ 3pps x15 with 5 second negative and pausing at top. 3 sets of this total
 
Keep grinding it out, gettin it done despite the pain (in a smart way, of course). Love it bro!

Man I appreciate. I just think about how things could be worse and just accept the pain and go
 
Today is the start of the next part of my journey. My wife and I are going to sit down this evening and pick a TX area show. TJ didn't make it in until I was leaving so I didn't have an opportunity to really hammer out what is going on with his help. In the meantime, I am training as I was, trying to put on as much clean mass as possible. Quads today. Hip and knee pain on the right side is still fcking ridiculous. But I am grinding through and I won't allow it to be an excuse. I still don't feel comfortable squatting first, but I will get there in time hopefully.

Single-leg leg press: 2 plates per side + 25s x12, 3 pps x12, +25s x12, 4 pps x 10, 2 pps x20 3 second negative each rep

Front squats: 155x8, 165x8, 175x8, 185 cut short because it didn't feel quite right. For reference, I squat down until my hamstrings touch my calves

Barbell hack squat/standing calf raise superset: 185x8/ 3pps x15 with 5 second negative and pausing at top. 3 sets of this total

Man im stoked for you. Just stay safe with the hip and all else will work out
 
I have felt so busy the last couple of days. I haven't even been able to post in my own log let alone follow my friends the way I would like. So, if you are following me and I am following anything you are doing (which is very likely HAHA) I am sorry I have been a slacker the last couple of days. People's logs are like pages in a couple of days and I am lost. All this derailing and I am missing it! HAHA

To update: my b@stard goats ate part of my log book. I left the back of my vehicle open and the fckers were going to town.

Chest is still sore from yesterday. Nothing real special to report (don't feel like digging out my log haha) didn't feel as strong but did do 180lbs on incline barbell 5+2. So I am trying to get there. Mostly upper chest related work with dips at the end

Back today. I got 6 reps with 225 on barbell rows although the sixth wasn't the prettiest so I didn't count it for logging purposes. Also added an extra set of 225. Wasn't feeling my strongest again, but the weights went up.

On the competinr front, TJ still hasn't been in during morning hours. I did look up show dates for next years schedule and if there is one positive about being in TX, there are a plethora of competitions going on. Any where from end of April to August/September there are shows going on locally that are national qualifiers. I would love nothing more than to do that. So we shall see. It will be my first show
 
I have felt so busy the last couple of days. I haven't even been able to post in my own log let alone follow my friends the way I would like. So, if you are following me and I am following anything you are doing (which is very likely HAHA) I am sorry I have been a slacker the last couple of days. People's logs are like pages in a couple of days and I am lost. All this derailing and I am missing it! HAHA

To update: my b@stard goats ate part of my log book. I left the back of my vehicle open and the fckers were going to town.

Chest is still sore from yesterday. Nothing real special to report (don't feel like digging out my log haha) didn't feel as strong but did do 180lbs on incline barbell 5+2. So I am trying to get there. Mostly upper chest related work with dips at the end

Back today. I got 6 reps with 225 on barbell rows although the sixth wasn't the prettiest so I didn't count it for logging purposes. Also added an extra set of 225. Wasn't feeling my strongest again, but the weights went up.

On the competinr front, TJ still hasn't been in during morning hours. I did look up show dates for next years schedule and if there is one positive about being in TX, there are a plethora of competitions going on. Any where from end of April to August/September there are shows going on locally that are national qualifiers. I would love nothing more than to do that. So we shall see. It will be my first show

Still here for you my man!! All of us, especially me understand busy.
 
I have felt so busy the last couple of days. I haven't even been able to post in my own log let alone follow my friends the way I would like. So, if you are following me and I am following anything you are doing (which is very likely HAHA) I am sorry I have been a slacker the last couple of days. People's logs are like pages in a couple of days and I am lost. All this derailing and I am missing it! HAHA

To update: my b@stard goats ate part of my log book. I left the back of my vehicle open and the fckers were going to town.

Chest is still sore from yesterday. Nothing real special to report (don't feel like digging out my log haha) didn't feel as strong but did do 180lbs on incline barbell 5+2. So I am trying to get there. Mostly upper chest related work with dips at the end

Back today. I got 6 reps with 225 on barbell rows although the sixth wasn't the prettiest so I didn't count it for logging purposes. Also added an extra set of 225. Wasn't feeling my strongest again, but the weights went up.

On the competinr front, TJ still hasn't been in during morning hours. I did look up show dates for next years schedule and if there is one positive about being in TX, there are a plethora of competitions going on. Any where from end of April to August/September there are shows going on locally that are national qualifiers. I would love nothing more than to do that. So we shall see. It will be my first show
Busy is good! Keep banging out the iron.
 
Thanks fellas...I can't say this enough how much I appreciate you all. I know are just communicating through some electronic device and we may not get the chance to meet "in real life", but I do consider you all friends and you help keep me sane....lol
 
Thanks fellas...I can't say this enough how much I appreciate you all. I know are just communicating through some electronic device and we may not get the chance to meet "in real life", but I do consider you all friends and you help keep me sane....lol

Same here brother!!
 
Thanks fellas...I can't say this enough how much I appreciate you all. I know are just communicating through some electronic device and we may not get the chance to meet "in real life", but I do consider you all friends and you help keep me sane....lol
That's basically real life lmao
 
I have felt so busy the last couple of days. I haven't even been able to post in my own log let alone follow my friends the way I would like. So, if you are following me and I am following anything you are doing (which is very likely HAHA) I am sorry I have been a slacker the last couple of days. People's logs are like pages in a couple of days and I am lost. All this derailing and I am missing it! HAHA

To update: my b@stard goats ate part of my log book. I left the back of my vehicle open and the fckers were going to town.

Chest is still sore from yesterday. Nothing real special to report (don't feel like digging out my log haha) didn't feel as strong but did do 180lbs on incline barbell 5+2. So I am trying to get there. Mostly upper chest related work with dips at the end

Back today. I got 6 reps with 225 on barbell rows although the sixth wasn't the prettiest so I didn't count it for logging purposes. Also added an extra set of 225. Wasn't feeling my strongest again, but the weights went up.

On the competinr front, TJ still hasn't been in during morning hours. I did look up show dates for next years schedule and if there is one positive about being in TX, there are a plethora of competitions going on. Any where from end of April to August/September there are shows going on locally that are national qualifiers. I would love nothing more than to do that. So we shall see. It will be my first show

Can't wait to see when you head to your first show! You'll make it with no problems now that you've decided to do it.

But one thing.....How many times have you used the excuse that your goats ate it????
 
Can't wait to see when you head to your first show! You'll make it with no problems now that you've decided to do it.

But one thing.....How many times have you used the excuse that your goats ate it????

LOL This was a first. My wife hates them the boys wanted baby goats when we were getting ready to move to buy our property. Wife told them yes and guess who got stuck taking care of them? This guy.

Now they are almost 2 and think I am their fcking mom. Ricockulous
 
Do they call you RAhahahahahyan

(Supposed to be a goat noise, with ryan on the end)
 
Do they call you RAhahahahahyan

(Supposed to be a goat noise, with ryan on the end)

LOL my wife does tell me they make a funny, excited noise when I pull up. They are weird
 
Very large setback this morning. I pulled my 395 today with no belt. Repping 315 and my back popped. Both times it has happened I have been out of the gym for months. At least 3 or 4. Then it takes forever to get comfortable again. I will try h heat on it tonight and ibuprofen and maybe, MAYBE I will get lucky. I doubt it. Not the greatest time for this very depressing actually
 
Very large setback this morning. I pulled my 395 today with no belt. Repping 315 and my back popped. Both times it has happened I have been out of the gym for months. At least 3 or 4. Then it takes forever to get comfortable again. I will try h heat on it tonight and ibuprofen and maybe, MAYBE I will get lucky. I doubt it. Not the greatest time for this very depressing actually

Definitely no bueno! Hope it gets healed up quickly, and I hope somebody doesn't push it too hard and just make it worse
 
Very large setback this morning. I pulled my 395 today with no belt. Repping 315 and my back popped. Both times it has happened I have been out of the gym for months. At least 3 or 4. Then it takes forever to get comfortable again. I will try h heat on it tonight and ibuprofen and maybe, MAYBE I will get lucky. I doubt it. Not the greatest time for this very depressing actually

That sucks brother! from experience you need to lay off any lifts that will jack with your back.. Don't want to F with your back. Need to Ice the crap out of it for like 3 days and take some NSAIDs, Before hitting it with the heat. Got to get the selling down brother.
Make sure you lay off the squats, (Do hack squats if it has a back support on it that does down to your lower back). also need to match any lifts that stretch the lower back too much for a while. Got to get that healed up!
 
Very large setback this morning. I pulled my 395 today with no belt. Repping 315 and my back popped. Both times it has happened I have been out of the gym for months. At least 3 or 4. Then it takes forever to get comfortable again. I will try h heat on it tonight and ibuprofen and maybe, MAYBE I will get lucky. I doubt it. Not the greatest time for this very depressing actually

"Not the greatest time for this very depressing actually" it is brother, But hang in there your days of growth are not over!
need to accept it and move on. I denied it for too long and now its been at least 10 years since I can do any good compound lifts. its dam hard to accept but there are a lot of other lifts it just takes more time in the gym and really get into focusing on the muscle your working. trust me brother I almost packed it in and was depressed and though my lifting days were over. they are not! Be CREATIVE and if it hurts in the wrong way scratch it off the list and move on.

I think I have made better gains in the last 10 years and my workouts are more exciting. Note it does take more gym time when you cant do the good old compound lifts. Oh and keep the rep range no lower than 8. I know what a pus sy but it does work.
 
List of my set backs over the years. its been 35yrs. and the old body can only take so much.
1. about 20 years ago tore my left bicep dead lifting.
2. about 12 years ago slipped a disk in the lower back, Back squatting.
3. about 8 years ago slipped a disk in my mid back doing weighted dips of all things. this one really f'd me up.(couldn't do anything for 6 months got down to 180 lbs.) had not weighed that since high school. Now that is depression looking in the mirror every morning!
4. about 16 weeks ago I f'd up my left shoulder benching 365. what a dumb ass. was in a competition at the gym. However still 1st. on the board big board at the gym in the 50+ class.(called the old fart class) (still paying for that one).

but like I said I'm still making gains just got to listen to the body and learn from the past to not make the same mistakes.
 
Very large setback this morning. I pulled my 395 today with no belt. Repping 315 and my back popped. Both times it has happened I have been out of the gym for months. At least 3 or 4. Then it takes forever to get comfortable again. I will try h heat on it tonight and ibuprofen and maybe, MAYBE I will get lucky. I doubt it. Not the greatest time for this very depressing actually

Man that really sucks. Hope the heat does the trick, brother!
 
Thanks guys. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time this has happened. I am going to try and be very proactive with it. Probably take a week off at least. Depends on how it feels coming out of the weekend. I will an alternative to heavy bent over rows as I think instead of strengthening my lower back with the static hold, it progressively weakened it. We will find it. Thanks again guys
 
Thanks guys. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time this has happened. I am going to try and be very proactive with it. Probably take a week off at least. Depends on how it feels coming out of the weekend. I will an alternative to heavy bent over rows as I think instead of strengthening my lower back with the static hold, it progressively weakened it. We will find it. Thanks again guys
See if your wife will massage your lower back. Or go and have a deep tissue massage.
 
Very large setback this morning. I pulled my 395 today with no belt. Repping 315 and my back popped. Both times it has happened I have been out of the gym for months. At least 3 or 4. Then it takes forever to get comfortable again. I will try h heat on it tonight and ibuprofen and maybe, MAYBE I will get lucky. I doubt it. Not the greatest time for this very depressing actually

**** stick that sucks, I'm seeing so many people get injured all the time and from my past injuries i try not to lift heavy anymore. Where abouts in your back does the pain start? just curious if you do any back hyperextensions?
 
See if your wife will massage your lower back. Or go and have a deep tissue massage.

LOL i lay on the floor and get my wife to walk on my back....feels great. ART is also great as you mentioned. ryane87 try also using a lacrosse ball as message at your own convenience put the ball on the wall or ground and roll it around. I perfer using a wall as you can vary the pressure. I'd switch out the bent over rows with machine rows that you stand with your chest on the pad and start doing hyperextensions to strengthen you back doing to many static exercises will overstrain the lower back if it is a weak point and by the time you do your actual exercises its already spent and your now using different muscles to compensate and foot placement.
 
**** stick that sucks, I'm seeing so many people get injured all the time and from my past injuries i try not to lift heavy anymore. Where abouts in your back does the pain start? just curious if you do any back hyperextensions?

My back pops in the same place in my lower back. It's the 3rd time. I think my back is just done with heavy barbell rows. To be honest, I probably won't conventionally deadlift anymore either. Which sucks because I love the hell out of both of these exercises. But the positives are definitely being outweighed by the negatives. Just not worth it. Probably start doing Meadows rows instead
 
My back pops in the same place in my lower back. It's the 3rd time. I think my back is just done with heavy barbell rows. To be honest, I probably won't conventionally deadlift anymore either. Which sucks because I love the hell out of both of these exercises. But the positives are definitely being outweighed by the negatives. Just not worth it. Probably start doing Meadows rows instead

Could be a weak lower back or your lower back is trying to compensate too much for some aspect of the lift very hard to troubleshoot without seeing. Just curious do you have a pelvic tilt "sway back"? You'll love the Meadows rows, just keep good form. What i've found is try a light weight keep your core nice and solid and try different elbow positions until you really feel it. I've been able to build a decent back without deadlifts. Deadlifts and rows are very easy to cheat on and when your cheating too much other muscles compensate which can increase the chance of injury. im not saying this is your case but it's what i've observed over the years. Hopefully you sort it out and starting hitting the iron hard again, but i'd keep it slow until you figure it out.
 
Time to get this going again! I took a week off, had a real light week the week before, and more intense last week. I am thinking about changing up my split since I am not going to deadlift for awhile. Also, no more bent-over barbell rows at all. Deadlifts I may give another spin, but not for a bit.

Anyway, I am thinking of changing my split from shoulders and tris on Thursday to Friday and hamstrings on Thursday since I am not deadlifting for hamstrings right now. I figured it would allow me to really get more out of my tri training since I will have a 2 day separation from chest training.

TJ liked the idea of summer shows, so we are kinda looking into which ones because I am probably going to do 2. I don't want to compete for the sake of being up onstage. I would like to excel and eventually make nationals and get my pro card. That is my goal.

I have consciously decided to intensify my training even more. Especially if I am going to get even close to what I want to do. I still have severe hip and knee pain that I work through. I am still starting with single leg presses because I am not confident enough to start with squats. So here goes...

Single leg press: 3 plates per side x 12, 3 pps +25 per side x 12, 4 pps x 12, +10 per side x 10, 2 pps x 16 with full 5 second negative every rep

Front squats: 135x7, 165x7, 175x5. Them did something different. I put just 25s on the bar and did 1 and half rep sets. I did 8. I don't really know what to shoot for on these, so I figured 95 lbs was a good starting point

Leg extensions: 165x12, 180x11, 135x13. Every set had not only 3 second peak contraction holds each rep, but also 2 to 3 second negative every rep

4 sets of calf raises to finish. Beginning of the year I will be making more time after the talk with the wife. Very exciited!
 
That was long! Sorry fellas! LOL
 
ryane87 - I am sorry that I haven't been following this lately. I actually haven't been getting updates and with all the logs . ...it just got lost. Partially caught up on your log and it is great. It certainly wasn't the log to miss. I am sorry about your back - hope it turns out to be minor and heals up fast.

It must be hard to be excited about TJ getting you to a competition and then the back going - but don't even let it slow you down. Keep going. You will find yourself looking back at this in 5 months and being amazed at what you have accomplished. I can tell.
 
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