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Slicin' and Dicin'

Squats
10 x bar
5 x 95, 135
3 x 185, 225, 265, 285, 300

Front squats
15 x 135, 95

Leg press
10 x +270, +360, +450
20 x +270

Leg ext
3 x 15

Calf ext
2 x 25 x 210lbs

Finisher
20 min incline LISS

PreWO my cranberry juice + pump addict concoction. So far that's a real winner. Pretty happy with a high output day. Stuck with my honey and fruit all day. Will eat normal mixed macro tonight. I'm curious to see what the scale says tonight/tomorrow cause today I was clearly holding some water at 193. But that's pretty low for weekend cheat. My worst cheat was likely a BLT I was craving for breakfast yesterday anyways lol.
 
BLT is such a great useless food lol. No protein, lower quality fats & carbs, but it just tastes something special.
 
So true lol. As I was eating it I was like, damn. There's literally no protein in this but it tastes great


Hit 190.4 tonight. Typically my evening weight matches my morning weight so I'd say all in all still chipping away.

The trend line is good. 190 appears to be my hardest barrier to break through right now.
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So true lol. As I was eating it I was like, damn. There's literally no protein in this but it tastes great


Hit 190.4 tonight. Typically my evening weight matches my morning weight so I'd say all in all still chipping away.

The trend line is good. 190 appears to be my hardest barrier to break through right now. View attachment 254044


This held up, weighed in at 190.4 on the dot again this morning. Took the dog for her 4:30am walk for about 3k steps or 25+ minutes ish. My legs are fried today so it will be a bit of a grind lol.
 
Warmup
10 min incline LISS

BB rows
20 x bar, 95, 135
10 x 155, 175, 195
20 x 135

Cable lat extensions
20 x 30
15 x 50
10 x 72.5
+ 15 x 35 dropset

Kroc rows
12 x 60, 80
20 x 60

Face pulls
3 x 20

Lat pulldowns
10 x 115, 160, 190
+ 15 x 110 dropset

Seated cable rows
1 x 20 x 100lbs (2 x 50lb stacks)
 
Lzzy got spayed a week+ ago so today I had to take her to the vet for follow up, sutures, etc. Which meant I got to sleep in and go to work late (my wife took her for the spay so we traded and I took her for follow up) so this morning we didn't do our morning walk until after 5am. it was already daylight which was nice, not walking with a flashlight. we extended the walk to about 45 minutes of up and down hills and I had about 7k steps before I ever got to work.

I think today will be a light cardio day. I'll make sure to hit my 10k+ but I'm going to run my sugar/juice preWO and have a fun arms day today after work and just enjoy life.

Last night had a (what I consider) very clean but heavy dinner. mom and dad had prepped these fat ass steaks and let me grill them since they were busy, so I cranked that thing to a million degrees to get a great sear and the center was still nice and rare, well on mine. they like theirs overcooked, lol.

anyways all that said and done I was at 190.2 this morning. Which cracks me up cause breaking through 190 has been an insane barrier.
 
Morning walk with the dog
42 min

Even session:

Warmup
10 min incline LISS

Seated DB curls
2 x 15 x 25s
2 x 12 x 30s
12 x 35s

Cable tri ext
20 x 70, 100
15 x 140

Single arm pulldowns
10 x 50
15 x 40
20 x 30

Ez bar curls
10 x 80
15 x 70
25 x 60

H/S dips
15 x +180
10 x +230, +300
20 x +180
+ 25 x +90

Hammer curls
2 x 12 x 40s

Superset with standing DB curls
2 x 12 x 30s

Single arm cable curls
4 x 12 x 30
(Just cause the pump was fun)


Finisher
10 min incline LISS
Total 62 min
Steps so far about 11,000


Notes: feeling pretty lean. 190.2 this morning. Started up the full stack from that photo I posted. Jumped straight to two Alpha One caps vs starting with one since I've used it before. (One in morning, one preWO. ). Had orange juice + pump addict preWO.
 
Morning walk with the dog
42 min

Even session:

Warmup
10 min incline LISS

Seated DB curls
2 x 15 x 25s
2 x 12 x 30s
12 x 35s

Cable tri ext
20 x 70, 100
15 x 140

Single arm pulldowns
10 x 50
15 x 40
20 x 30

Ez bar curls
10 x 80
15 x 70
25 x 60

H/S dips
15 x +180
10 x +230, +300
20 x +180
+ 25 x +90

Hammer curls
2 x 12 x 40s

Superset with standing DB curls
2 x 12 x 30s

Single arm cable curls
4 x 12 x 30
(Just cause the pump was fun)


Finisher
10 min incline LISS
Total 62 min
Steps so far about 11,000


Notes: feeling pretty lean. 190.2 this morning. Started up the full stack from that photo I posted. Jumped straight to two Alpha One caps vs starting with one since I've used it before. (One in morning, one preWO. ). Had orange juice + pump addict preWO.
I bet your arms were pumped after that workout.💪
 
I bet your arms were pumped after that workout.💪
thats a big part of why I ended up going an extra set or two deep on the cable curls, I was just enjoying the pump too much, lol.

for dinner I had a burger on ciabatta with salad and a lot of water and woke up a bit bloated at 192lbs lol. 190 hangs on as the elusive goal to beat 😂

the harder it gets the more I become motivated though lol
 
It might be elusive, but that is part of what will make it so rewarding.
 
Morning dog walk
20 min

Pre lift warmup
10 min incline LISS

OHP
20 x bar
10 x 95, 115
3 x 135, 155

Push press
5 x 185

Strict again
20 x 95

DB laterals
12 x 32.5s, 37.5, 45s
15 x 32.5

H/S shrugs
3 x 20 x +180

SS with DB OHP
15 x 35s, 45s
10 x 60s
+ 20 x 30s dropset

Finisher
10 min incline LISS

Notes only at 7600 steps so far but I'll finish it off with some evening cardio. killer pump and shoulder vascularity today.
 
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Morning dog walk
20 min

Pre lift warmup
10 min incline LISS

OHP
20 x bar
10 x 95, 115
3 x 135, 155

Push press
5 x 185

Strict again
20 x 95

DB laterals
12 x 32.5s, 37.5, 45s
15 x 32.5

H/S shrugs
3 x 20 x +180

SS with DB OHP
15 x 35s, 45s
10 x 60s
+ 20 x 30s dropset

Finisher
10 min incline LISS

Notes only at 7600 steps so far but I'll finish it off with some evening cardio. killer pump and shoulder vascularity today.
The ladies love the shoulder veins.😜
 
The ladies love the shoulder veins.😜
I honestly have no idea if thats true or not lol. I like wearing a tank on shoulder and arm days for my own benefit so I can see the progress, I've heard way too many women make their "that's gross" comments when they see pro bodybuilders, yet when I have a full pump and shoulder strirations I notice the looks coming my way. so either they like it or they look at it like a crime scene they can't look away from 😂 😂

I have this older gal who flirts with me at the gym, she's gotta be about 20 or 25 years older than me. she always asks me when I'm going to teach her how to squat lol. she caught up with me after a shoulder session a couple weeks ago and told me "how strong I'm looking" (haha), I just said thank you and that I wasn't feeling strong. I didn't mention that I'm mid cut and moving like half the weight I would have 6 months ago, lol.
 
I honestly have no idea if thats true or not lol. I like wearing a tank on shoulder and arm days for my own benefit so I can see the progress, I've heard way too many women make their "that's gross" comments when they see pro bodybuilders, yet when I have a full pump and shoulder strirations I notice the looks coming my way. so either they like it or they look at it like a crime scene they can't look away from 😂 😂

I have this older gal who flirts with me at the gym, she's gotta be about 20 or 25 years older than me. she always asks me when I'm going to teach her how to squat lol. she caught up with me after a shoulder session a couple weeks ago and told me "how strong I'm looking" (haha), I just said thank you and that I wasn't feeling strong. I didn't mention that I'm mid cut and moving like half the weight I would have 6 months ago, lol.
Yeah you better watch her…..she’s probably thinking she will “rock your world”. If she starts feeling on your biceps you better run while you can get away.😂
 
I honestly have no idea if thats true or not lol. I like wearing a tank on shoulder and arm days for my own benefit so I can see the progress, I've heard way too many women make their "that's gross" comments when they see pro bodybuilders, yet when I have a full pump and shoulder strirations I notice the looks coming my way. so either they like it or they look at it like a crime scene they can't look away from 😂 😂

I have this older gal who flirts with me at the gym, she's gotta be about 20 or 25 years older than me. she always asks me when I'm going to teach her how to squat lol. she caught up with me after a shoulder session a couple weeks ago and told me "how strong I'm looking" (haha), I just said thank you and that I wasn't feeling strong. I didn't mention that I'm mid cut and moving like half the weight I would have 6 months ago, lol.
Remember you always look biggest to them when you’re smallest, so to speak
 
If I ever want to go somewhere to feel lazy... This is the spot! You have been steady killing it in here. A man on a mission!!!
 
If I ever want to go somewhere to feel lazy... This is the spot! You have been steady killing it in here. A man on a mission!!!
I definitely appreciate the support but man it's tough. I've been sticking to sugar/fruit during the day then mixed macro with protein emphasis at dinner. I do feel like I'm stalling a bit but I'll keep pushing a bit longer and see if I need to make another change somewhere. last night for instance:

weighed in at 190 when I got home.
snack: fat free cottage cheese, left over salmon
Dinner: pork tenderloin we grilled up + broiled sweet potato and broccoli

weight this morning: 191.00

so either:

a. I'm set up nicely for a wooshy step down
b. I'm overconsuming at dinner
c. I'm seeing better muscle retention / swelling now that I'm back on supplements

I know all of these things are possibilities, I highly doubt my caloric intake is too high though. I just went back to log everything I can think of for food yesterday and I'm pretty sure I was sub 2k calories.
 
Lots of things in that group of feedings that could increase liquid held dairy will do that, veggies, and carbs, lots of seasoning. I wouldn't sweat it over that. If you are under 2k you are in a deficit.
 
That is my thinking too, it seems like even when I'm holding extra water, the top end number on the scale is still trending down so I'm not too worried.
 
I definitely appreciate the support but man it's tough. I've been sticking to sugar/fruit during the day then mixed macro with protein emphasis at dinner. I do feel like I'm stalling a bit but I'll keep pushing a bit longer and see if I need to make another change somewhere. last night for instance:

weighed in at 190 when I got home.
snack: fat free cottage cheese, left over salmon
Dinner: pork tenderloin we grilled up + broiled sweet potato and broccoli

weight this morning: 191.00

so either:

a. I'm set up nicely for a wooshy step down
b. I'm overconsuming at dinner
c. I'm seeing better muscle retention / swelling now that I'm back on supplements

I know all of these things are possibilities, I highly doubt my caloric intake is too high though. I just went back to log everything I can think of for food yesterday and I'm pretty sure I was sub 2k calories.
I agree with Kleen so many factors, especially doing the sugar/fruit diet…it’s new to your body, even though you have been on it for a few weeks, your body probably is still somewhat adjusting. But if your calories are as low as they seem I’m sure you’re in a deficit. I would check your waist, and if it’s still shrinking then you’re losing fat. You’re just gonna have to face it man, your body has more muscle and it doesn’t want to get smaller. And you’ve really been hitting the weights with intensity for awhile now, and with all the good anabolic supplements you’ve just added more muscle. 😎👍
 
But if your calories are as low as they seem I’m sure you’re in a deficit. I would check your waist, and if it’s still shrinking then you’re losing fat.
yeah for sure, on my lifting belt I have a baseline:

last hole is my maximum fatness hole when bulking. I always find it around 205lbs+ lol
second hole is normal
hole 3 is a cut
hole 4 is the leanest I think I've ever had it

in the past couple months I've gone from hole 2, to BARELY into hole 3 after a couple sets stretching the belt, to now I'm very easily on hole 3 from the first set that I use the belt, and starting to chase hole 4. visually, the veins are starting, but maybe its age IDK the hardest part is that layer of fat right at the belly button area.

You’re just gonna have to face it man, your body has more muscle and it doesn’t want to get smaller.

😂 😂
I guess thinking it through, arms feel like they're holding size and fill out the shirt sleeves pretty well despite the belt and slacks getting loose so these are good things!


I keep thinking about these morning dog walks too. I've been getting about 2,500 steps but if I could get out of bed a little earlier I could add to that. we'll soon be in the rainy and very dark season so I"ll need to figure out a safe way to do that. maybe a rain coat, reflector or flashlight or something. coats are funny, cause I rarely wear one in the pnw to be honest. they annoy me, lol. today for instance I'll have well over 6000 steps in before I ever get to the gym, and I'll probably get 3k more there just with a little warm up cardio + lifting. so hitting 10k a day is getting more and more reasonable but I am LOVING having so much of my cardio done BEFORE work.

I just struggle to hit my wifes treadmill when I know my little heeler/collie mix puppy needs the stimulation and she loves the walks. since I've started walking her I noticed at night when my wife and I finally sit on the couch, Lzzy comes and crawls up at my feet instead of my wifes, lol.
 
yeah for sure, on my lifting belt I have a baseline:

last hole is my maximum fatness hole when bulking. I always find it around 205lbs+ lol
second hole is normal
hole 3 is a cut
hole 4 is the leanest I think I've ever had it

in the past couple months I've gone from hole 2, to BARELY into hole 3 after a couple sets stretching the belt, to now I'm very easily on hole 3 from the first set that I use the belt, and starting to chase hole 4. visually, the veins are starting, but maybe its age IDK the hardest part is that layer of fat right at the belly button area.



😂 😂
I guess thinking it through, arms feel like they're holding size and fill out the shirt sleeves pretty well despite the belt and slacks getting loose so these are good things!


I keep thinking about these morning dog walks too. I've been getting about 2,500 steps but if I could get out of bed a little earlier I could add to that. we'll soon be in the rainy and very dark season so I"ll need to figure out a safe way to do that. maybe a rain coat, reflector or flashlight or something. coats are funny, cause I rarely wear one in the pnw to be honest. they annoy me, lol. today for instance I'll have well over 6000 steps in before I ever get to the gym, and I'll probably get 3k more there just with a little warm up cardio + lifting. so hitting 10k a day is getting more and more reasonable but I am LOVING having so much of my cardio done BEFORE work.

I just struggle to hit my wifes treadmill when I know my little heeler/collie mix puppy needs the stimulation and she loves the walks. since I've started walking her I noticed at night when my wife and I finally sit on the couch, Lzzy comes and crawls up at my feet instead of my wifes, lol.
Yeah I love walking the dog, and it really does make a bond with them. And with the breeds in your puppy, he’s got herding breeds in him, so he loves to walk and work.
 
If you believe your nutrition and activity are solid, hold the course. You are at a point where you can’t expect fast or heavy weight loss, so even half a pound per week is fine if it’s fat loss.

You can always get more drastic if another week passes of no change in look or scale.
 
Warmup
10 min incline LISS

Deads
10 x 185
5 x 225
1 x 275, 315, 365, 405


Finisher
15 min stairs

Notes
Can't do a two a day cause we have friends coming over to bbq and record a podcast tonight. But luckily my wife planned a good spread of food to keep the calories in a good place so I don't expect a big setback by any means.

Only goal today was to maintain my 10k+ steps and get a little pulling practice in. Otherwise a mildish day is probably due anyways. .
 
If you believe your nutrition and activity are solid, hold the course. You are at a point where you can’t expect fast or heavy weight loss, so even half a pound per week is fine if it’s fat loss.

You can always get more drastic if another week passes of no change in look or scale.
agreed, the big thing I'm trying to do is find little life hacks to make sure that a slow sustained cut becomes more of a lifestyle than a chore. obviously I could throw down a few long hard fasts in August and hit a number on the scale fast, but if I'm going to hold on to anything I've built these past few years then slow and steady is going to be the winner.
 
Warm up
10 min incline LISS

Bench
20 x 95
10 x 135
5 x 175
3 x 205, 225, 245
4 x 245
10 x 185
20 x 135

Flat DB
10 x 80s
20 x 60s

Low incline DB flies
15 x 30s 40s
+ 15 x 25s dropset

Incline bench
1 set
20 x 115

Machine flies
1 set
25 x 190lbs

Finisher
10 min incline liss





Notes
I did briefly show under 190 again last night, progress is still moving forward. Today will be interesting, gotta take the dog to class at noon, then yard work. Hoping to get a long walk in tonight with the wife and dogs.


Honestly stayed up super late last night and might again tonight, the August Sturgeon moon is too cool to miss!





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Warm up
10 min incline LISS

Bench
20 x 95
10 x 135
5 x 175
3 x 205, 225, 245
4 x 245
10 x 185
20 x 135

Flat DB
10 x 80s
20 x 60s

Low incline DB flies
15 x 30s 40s
+ 15 x 25s dropset

Incline bench
1 set
20 x 115

Machine flies
1 set
25 x 190lbs

Finisher
10 min incline liss





Notes
I did briefly show under 190 again last night, progress is still moving forward. Today will be interesting, gotta take the dog to class at noon, then yard work. Hoping to get a long walk in tonight with the wife and dogs.


Honestly stayed up super late last night and might again tonight, the August Sturgeon moon is too cool to miss!





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Nice workout……congrats on breaking 190, and those pictures of the moon are incredible.👍
 
Is that the view on walks from you house? That's awesome man, no wonder you love the outdoors where you live.

Also, what's this about recording a podcast?
 
Sat night we were up late again to enjoy the moon, Sunday I didn't lift but I did get cardio in and once I passed my 10-11k steps each day I took the watch off and put it on the counter. Last night we had very clean but sodium filled thai food so I woke up at 194 this morning, I could feel the bloat encroaching during the meal. But I love how clean and fresh legit good Thai food is. Today is my wife's bday so I'm hoping to get a good leg session in because I already have a steak dinner planned for her tonight.

Nice workout……congrats on breaking 190, and those pictures of the moon are incredible.👍

Is that the view on walks from you house? That's awesome man, no wonder you love the outdoors where you live.

Also, what's this about recording a podcast?

I shoud have taken a pic this morning walking the dog, the moon was so incredibly bright at 4:30am that it was almost as if the sun was up, the road was completely lit up. those pics I posed above were from our backyard deck.

this august full moon every year right around my wife's birthday is always awesome!

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Happy bday to the wifey!
PS, yall got a beautiful home there
thanks man, yesterday we were out breaking backs in her garden, which I'm really glad she's embraced so thoroughly this year for the first time in a long time. its a lot of manual labor on my part, but she's really been getting into it again with the weeding, moving plants around, fertilizer etc. I let her know I called the plumber cause the 15ft drain snake I have wasn't long enough after I took apart the kitchen sink plumbing to find the clog. We have this incredibly blessed view and we are a bit back in the woods so its such a nice quiet place away from society after a long day of commutes and whatnot but the house being a 1938 needs a lot of constant work. Still, the 59F living room temperatures during the winter are 100% worth it! we live sorta a settlers lifestyle. in many ways it reminds me of my mom and dads first house in the 80s with how rustic a lot of our lifestyle is, but it's really special.
 
called an audible yesterday and skipped gym to pull things together for my wife's bday dinner. She had already thawed out shrimp and scallops so I grilled those up with a couple small filets, grabbed some asparagus, fingerling potatoes and a bottle of champagne and set things up for her to just get home and chill. I did hit about 11k steps before I took the watch/pedometer off for the night. Back at it today-

honestly taking my first day off from any form of gym (cardio or lifting) left me with a much better feeling body today. Been pretty sore lately-
 
Sounds like you all had a great night! Happy Birthday to your Queen!
 
Early morning dog walk
About 30min/3k steps

Warmup
15 min Incline LISS

Squats
10 x 95
5 x 135
1 x 185, 225, 265, 285, 305

Fronts
3 x 135, 175, 195
1 x 215, 225

Leg press
10 x +270, +360, +450
+ 20 x +180 dropset

Finisher
15 min incline LISS


Notes
Left knee had a twinge in it today so I opted not to push the barbell too hard since knees are rarely an issue for me. Sorta funny cause today was a day of discipline forcing myself to get in and squat despite being a bit worn out then the knee gets janky as I'm slipping into a groove

I absolutely buried that 305 ATG though which honestly is a great rep for me since 300+ is always where I get funky.

I did wake up again at 193 but that's sorta to be expected cause I cook with a fair amount of salt when I make steak/seafood. The lifting belt was looser than usual so that's the sign of progress.
 
Morning dog walk
About 30min / 3k steps

Warmup
15 min incline LISS

DB curls
20 x 20s
15 x 30s
10 x 40s, 42.5s
+ 12 x 30s dropset

Tri push downs - rope attachment
3 x 20+
+ 1 x 15 dropset

SS with cable curls
3 x 12+
+ 1 x 15 dropset

H/S dips
20 x +180
10 x +240, +300
+ 20 x +200 dropset

Ez bar curls
15 x 80lb
20 x 60lb
30 x 50lb

Seated incline DB
2 x 10

Tri cable pull downs
3 x 10

21s in ez bar
1 set at 60lbs
Might be time to go to 70lbs+ on 21s

Dips - 1 set AMRAP
25 reps
Runners high

Finisher
10 min incline LISS

Notes
Hit 16k steps yesterday

Also wtf is wrong with people. The disgusting things I see in this locker room on a regular basis makes me wonder about their homes and feel bad for their wives.

Dirty Diana was the perfect vibe at the tail end of a pump sesh.









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Wife and I were talking about stuff and I told her my gym routine so far today. She said "far more motivated than I am!". it was very complimentary, but I don't feel like that's what this is. It's 99% discipline. I'm honestly not certain what drives me.

I know if I were to win the lottery all the sudden and retire young I'd still be hitting the gym normal like I do now, but I'd sleep in, have a good breakfast, meander down and gym rat and enjoy it. whatever I'm doing now is burning the candle at both ends and I'm not really sure what the drive is. of course I want to lean up, but I'm not planning to compete. I'm not exactly chasing any PRs at the moment.

the gym has become such a part of my life that when my wife and I go out I often have no idea what to wear because I only really have gym clothes and office work clothes. so its like a pair of jeans plus the best smelling gym shirt? LOL
 
That said, the pump today was fire. no matter how shitty I feel going into the gym, once you get that blood flowing and the pump started, you never want to stop.
 
Interesting thought on body dysmorphia, which isn't something I give much thought to because generally speaking I'm overly confident to the point of arrogance in many aspects of life. I know my short comings and they don't bother me because I live under a state of mind that if the juice is worth the squeeze, there's nothing I can't do.

But I see this guy in the gym who looks bigger than me and I had a moment of humility. Sometimes you realize that no matter what you do for how long, there is always going to be someone bigger, stronger, faster. but you go anyways.

later in the session we were both on cable machines next to each other and I saw us side by side in the mirror and realized I was bigger than him. 😂 😂

it took me two days to realize that everyone looks bigger than me, to me. I'm like chronically 9 years old lol. Is that dysmorphia? 😂😂
 
I think we all go through the body dysmorphia to a certain extent. At my age I tend to compare myself to how I was built 20 years ago, probably more so than others at the gym, and even though I know I may not be able to get back to that physique I had at 39 or 40, that goal is high enough that as I progress and continue to build back I’ve learned to appreciate each little improvement along that journey. And it really does help when others give me compliments, because I know at least I’m improving.
With that drive and dedication you have you will be able to attain your goals, just make sure you enjoy the process on the way. And realize you will always be your on worst critic, but just be proud of your accomplishments along the journey.😎👍
 
Wife and I were talking about stuff and I told her my gym routine so far today. She said "far more motivated than I am!". it was very complimentary, but I don't feel like that's what this is. It's 99% discipline. I'm honestly not certain what drives me.

I know if I were to win the lottery all the sudden and retire young I'd still be hitting the gym normal like I do now, but I'd sleep in, have a good breakfast, meander down and gym rat and enjoy it. whatever I'm doing now is burning the candle at both ends and I'm not really sure what the drive is. of course I want to lean up, but I'm not planning to compete. I'm not exactly chasing any PRs at the moment.

the gym has become such a part of my life that when my wife and I go out I often have no idea what to wear because I only really have gym clothes and office work clothes. so its like a pair of jeans plus the best smelling gym shirt? LOL

This is the definition of discipline and routine. I am the same way these days. It doesn't really matter what's going on in life, work, stress, hardship, holidays, etc. You wake up, you go work out, you get your protein in. Like clockwork. I rarely "think" about it anymore. When I was younger sometimes it'd be a question of whether I was planning to workout the next morning. Now, it's a given - and the rare occasion (yesterday for me) where I make a conscious trade off or decision not to go to the gym. It's just ingrained in our daily routine.

later in the session we were both on cable machines next to each other and I saw us side by side in the mirror and realized I was bigger than him.

it took me two days to realize that everyone looks bigger than me, to me. I'm like chronically 9 years old lol. Is that dysmorphia?

This is definitely a mental "dysmorphia." But I get it, I fall into the same camp here too. It's that we see ourselves as we were in our formative years. Whatever that moment in time really was for you. So even though others notice our improvements and how far we've come, sometimes we don't until someone else pulls us out of it objectively.
 
I think we all go through the body dysmorphia to a certain extent. At my age I tend to compare myself to how I was built 20 years ago, probably more so than others at the gym, and even though I know I may not be able to get back to that physique I had at 39 or 40, that goal is high enough that as I progress and continue to build back I’ve learned to appreciate each little improvement along that journey. And it really does help when others give me compliments, because I know at least I’m improving.
With that drive and dedication you have you will be able to attain your goals, just make sure you enjoy the process on the way. And realize you will always be your on worst critic, but just be proud of your accomplishments along the journey.😎👍

This is the definition of discipline and routine. I am the same way these days. It doesn't really matter what's going on in life, work, stress, hardship, holidays, etc. You wake up, you go work out, you get your protein in. Like clockwork. I rarely "think" about it anymore. When I was younger sometimes it'd be a question of whether I was planning to workout the next morning. Now, it's a given - and the rare occasion (yesterday for me) where I make a conscious trade off or decision not to go to the gym. It's just ingrained in our daily routine.



This is definitely a mental "dysmorphia." But I get it, I fall into the same camp here too. It's that we see ourselves as we were in our formative years. Whatever that moment in time really was for you. So even though others notice our improvements and how far we've come, sometimes we don't until someone else pulls us out of it objectively.

Funny thing is last night I was thinking on my drive about how grateful I am to have been a gym rat for the past 25 years so whatever shape I'm in today, I know is a culmination of almost 3 decades of work. This morning I was thinking about how funny it is that I saw myself as a larger badass when I was 20lbs lighter than I do now 😂 😂
 
The thing to remember is, you will always be YOU. Whatever you put into your body, however you trained, the final package will still just be an altered version of yourself, nobody else.

This makes it easier to stop comparing to others, and keep the focus on your own process!
 
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