To Infinity.... and Beyond!

[GreenMachineX]

Squats
10 x bar, 95, 135
5 x 185
1 x 225, 265, 295
2 x 315
1 x 325
2 x 5 x 275
10 x 225
15 x 135

Front squats
3 x 10 x 95

Ez bar curls
3 x 12

DB curls
3 x 12

Leg ext
3 sets

Adductor machine
2 x 20

Leg curls
3 sets

PreWO

2 pumps gear cream
2 pumps carnitine
All Out Ultra

Last night did reset meal with my wife. Steak salad @GreenMachineX with the focaccia bread and a couple drinks. Woke up +1lb this morning.

Weight 192.6lbs

Got home, turned on happy gilmore, fell asleep, in bed by 8:30.

Woke up about 6 this morning, took a leak and climbed back into bed till about 8am.

That's a long time in bed but this week has really exhausted me despite getting around 8hrs every single night.

I don't know if it's the Gear Cream or the Carnitine but squats were absolutely fire

I probably haven't hit 315 for a double or more in over a year or two. I certainly had a triple in me too.

Skipping cardio to go build a deck. This session was hard.


Invalid Link RemovedInvalid Link Removed

When’s the next squat max attempt?

 

[PolishHamm3r77]

Only being 2 weeks in, it's obviously too early to say but it really feels like I'm having some productive hypertrophy gains,

Granted there is a difference between Gear Cream and the 4Andro I’m using, I didn’t really feel it kick in until the middle of week 3. That is also when I could see visible change. To me, the reaffirmed that a 4wk cycle doesn’t make sense. Why drop something when “the gettin just got good”?

I think by week four you’ll feel like you just grabbed another gear you didn’t know your “car” had.

 

[GreenMachineX]

Granted there is a difference between Gear Cream and the 4Andro I’m using, I didn’t really feel it kick in until the middle of week 3. That is also when I could see visible change. To me, the reaffirmed that a 4wk cycle doesn’t make sense. Why drop something when “the gettin just got good”?

I think by week four you’ll feel like you just grabbed another gear you didn’t know your “car” had.

Is his plan only 4 weeks?
I would’ve thought 6 weeks.
i

 

[Dustin07]

Granted there is a difference between Gear Cream and the 4Andro I’m using, I didn’t really feel it kick in until the middle of week 3. That is also when I could see visible change. To me, the reaffirmed that a 4wk cycle doesn’t make sense. Why drop something when “the gettin just got good”?

I think by week four you’ll feel like you just grabbed another gear you didn’t know your “car” had.

Like upgrading from the TH350 in my old C10 to the Tremec 6spd manual my CTS-V had? Man I miss that car.

Looks like today is day 14. Last night wife was craving wood fire pizza on her reset so I slammed a bunch of hard boiled eggs, a little ground turkey, tiny of of chicken breast (from our prepped food in the fridge) before we drove down the road to the pizza place, I also added a prosciutto board and did what I could to focus my aspect of the meal around meat and carbs. I had a whiskey cocktail and ordered a beer but admittedly I was only really able to force down like to slices of pizza and half the beer.

I woke up at 193.4.
Yesterday's wake up was 192
My afternoon weight was 191.8 after I had already downed a sparklingly water and a couple eggs before dinner. Being up only 1 or 1.5lbs sure doesn't seem like much to me for how much I tried to eat in that window (yes I definitely stretched my 1hr window to 2hrs)

She did not have the pre meal meal, just the nice date night and woke up down .2lbs to basically tie her 2 year low. She's a little frustrated at times feeling things are moving too slow but hot damn I can see it. The hip bones are starting to get defined, mid section has slimmed down drastically, and she has a tiny hourglass shape showing which is impressive on a little 5'3" petite woman.

I'm really happy to see her progress and it's keeping me motivated too.

 

[Dustin07]

Is his plan only 4 weeks?
I would’ve thought 6 weeks.
i

I have a second bottle of gear cream in the mail, as well as an order of Tamoxifen. Plan is at least 8 weeks. That would wrap things up around Sept 16. I have to go to Mexico around Oct 30th so I should be done with the PCT by then so I think this timing works really well unless I find myself going to Mexico for work the first week of Oct in which case I'm not sure how to take/use the Tamoxifen, not sure what it's like to travel with that product?

We do have a trip planned Sept 1 but I have a plan to pack my gear cream in shampoo travel containers and we've been scouting out gyms on our road trip so we are pretty excited about keeping our routine.

As far as squats go, I'm just enjoying them at the moment and not putting the pressure of a PR on me yet. Focus is hypertrophy and consistent progress, building the base. Take what I can when it's there, avoid injury, be more supple and nimble and flexible than I have the past 2 years. #1 goal is really just getting the abs to pop right again. I'm not sure I'll have to go all the way to 10% for that.

I have 180lbs in my head as a target bottom weight although I'm not sure I'll have to get that low. With the gear cream I do feel like I'm leaning up with less weight loss than usual so it truly does feel after only 2 weeks that I'm seeing some lean mass either develop, or be saved.

 

[Hyde]

Is his plan only 4 weeks?
I would’ve thought 6 weeks.
i

I think it’s 8

 

[MrKleen73]

She's a little frustrated at times feeling things are moving too slow but hot damn I can see it. The hip bones are starting to get defined, mid section has slimmed down drastically, and she has a tiny hourglass shape showing which is impressive on a little 5'3" petite woman.

I'm really happy to see her progress and it's keeping me motivated too.

Time to increase the level of grab assing, and objectifying! Single women say they hate it but a taken woman wants that from her man! My wife used to complain about it so I stopped doing it for 2 days... In less than 48 hours she came and told me she needed to talk to me. She asked me if we were doing okay, I hadn't been loving on her or flirting like usual and she felt like maybe she had done something wrong and wanted to know what we needed to do to fix it. I lasughed and told her "No Babe, you told me you were tired of all the grab ass and constant flirting and innuendo. So I just stopped doing those things because you said you were tired of it." She was like well, I was wrong... I was totally wrong, I hate this, it feels like you don't find me attractive anymore or desire me at all.You win. I said good, and walked up and gave her a smack on the ass and said I have been dying to do that for days!!!! We both had a laugh, but ever since then if I walk through a room more than once or twice and don't touch her or rub her as I walk by she will call me back and tell me to pay the tax. LMAO!

But seriously, if she ain't feeling it yet, you have to make it abundantly clear you are. Even if you over do it, going overboard with compliments will only get you a positive reaction. Treat those compliments like sexual assault... if you see something... say something. Next time you notice those hips make sure to say something or walk up and run your finger across it and tell her how sexy you think it is now. You probably already do that because I imagine you are as much of a horndog as I am but it definitely goes a long way especially when they are working hard but not seeing what you are.

 

[Dustin07]

Warm up
RDLs, OHP, air squats etc

Squats
10 x bar, 95, 135
3 x 185, 225
1 x 265, 285,
2 x 315, 315
2 x 5 x 280
11 x 225
15 x 135

Fronts
10 x 135, 115
15 x 95

(Had to change tshirts here, dripping sweat)

Seated DB curls
5 x 10-15

Leg curls
3 x 12

Bike - 15 minutes
Incline - 15 minutes





Notes
Felt great but on those 295+ sets the weight felt like it was throwing me around more this week. Felt strong coming out of the hole but it felt heavy on the back. Definitely left 1-2 RIR.


Weight belt now on the third hole easily.
1st hole was 207lbs
4th hole was 176lbs
Today in 3rd hole at 193lbs

Off to build my deck.... .again ....

 

[Dustin07]

Time to increase the level of grab assing, and objectifying! Single women say they hate it but a taken woman wants that from her man! My wife used to complain about it so I stopped doing it for 2 days... In less than 48 hours she came and told me she needed to talk to me. She asked me if we were doing okay, I hadn't been loving on her or flirting like usual and she felt like maybe she had done something wrong and wanted to know what we needed to do to fix it. I lasughed and told her "No Babe, you told me you were tired of all the grab ass and constant flirting and innuendo. So I just stopped doing those things because you said you were tired of it." She was like well, I was wrong... I was totally wrong, I hate this, it feels like you don't find me attractive anymore or desire me at all.You win. I said good, and walked up and gave her a smack on the ass and said I have been dying to do that for days!!!! We both had a laugh, but ever since then if I walk through a room more than once or twice and don't touch her or rub her as I walk by she will call me back and tell me to pay the tax. LMAO!

But seriously, if she ain't feeling it yet, you have to make it abundantly clear you are. Even if you over do it, going overboard with compliments will only get you a positive reaction. Treat those compliments like sexual assault... if you see something... say something. Next time you notice those hips make sure to say something or walk up and run your finger across it and tell her how sexy you think it is now. You probably already do that because I imagine you are as much of a horndog as I am but it definitely goes a long way especially when they are working hard but not seeing what you are.

I swear to God you're my big brother from another mother . I smashed twice in the last 12hrs already and threw $ singles at her Weds night "for fun"

It's definitely a fine line. She needs and deserves to be treated like a queen, but also like my dirty little side piece

I told her today in the kitchen "I know I've said this a thousand times, and I feel bad saying it because I didn't think you were fat before, but DAMN you are getting RESULTS!"


I give her the helicopter every morning when she makes my coffee before work


Definitely have heard "you only want me for sex" but honestly haven't heard it in years and I think it's a matter of finding that line to make sure she knows she's both my queen and my lusty little girlfriend. There's great value in good intimacy! I had a life before her filled with hunting and fishing and hotrods, semi pro softball teams, snowboarding and all kinds of **** I don't have time for but damn she's worth it



Invalid Link Removed

 

[PolishHamm3r77]

Time to increase the level of grab assing, and objectifying! Single women say they hate it but a taken woman wants that from her man! My wife used to complain about it so I stopped doing it for 2 days... In less than 48 hours she came and told me she needed to talk to me. She asked me if we were doing okay, I hadn't been loving on her or flirting like usual and she felt like maybe she had done something wrong and wanted to know what we needed to do to fix it. I lasughed and told her "No Babe, you told me you were tired of all the grab ass and constant flirting and innuendo. So I just stopped doing those things because you said you were tired of it." She was like well, I was wrong... I was totally wrong, I hate this, it feels like you don't find me attractive anymore or desire me at all.You win. I said good, and walked up and gave her a smack on the ass and said I have been dying to do that for days!!!! We both had a laugh, but ever since then if I walk through a room more than once or twice and don't touch her or rub her as I walk by she will call me back and tell me to pay the tax. LMAO!

But seriously, if she ain't feeling it yet, you have to make it abundantly clear you are. Even if you over do it, going overboard with compliments will only get you a positive reaction. Treat those compliments like sexual assault... if you see something... say something. Next time you notice those hips make sure to say something or walk up and run your finger across it and tell her how sexy you think it is now. You probably already do that because I imagine you are as much of a horndog as I am but it definitely goes a long way especially when they are working hard but not seeing what you are.

Lmao. I have done this same thing…. “You treat me like an object” or “all you think about is sex” or “I’m not just meat”. Treat physical contact and innuendos like a No-fly Zone and she thinks I no longer find her attractive.
We all want to be pursued in one way or another. And in every relationship there is one who pursues and one who is pursued. The ego and the id exists in all of us, just on diff levels

 

[Hyde]

My wife always wants to be pursued/given that physical attention. Every woman I’ve ever been with did. I’m sure there are some who don’t like that, but my belief is it’s the norm to wish to feel sexually desired. It’s not objectification - it’s the focus of energy.

 

[Dustin07]

Bench sesh with my boy

Bench
20 x bar
12 x 95
8 x 135
3 x 175, 230
3 x 3 x 260
10 x 225, 205
25 x 145 (wide grip)

Laterals
3 sets

Tri cable extensions
3 x 15+

Machine dips
3 x 15

SS with Arnold's
2 x 10+

Pec deck
3 sets

Cardio
Bike - 10 min
Incline - 15 min

Sorta rushed day working to keep the teenager engaged lol.

 

[Dustin07]

Body is wrecked today, slept pretty poorly after about 1am. Just DOMS everywhere. Today is my scheduled back/bi day and I will stick to it, but probably go light on pulls. One thing I notice on the Gear Cream, similar to a big epiandro run, is the soreness and slight fatigue I get from big sessions. Feels reminiscent of that teenage growth period. I assume, that's because I'm growing. Even if I'm wrong, that's the mentality I'm enjoying lol.

Getting compliments on my shoulders again which is nice, arms are definitely filling out the sleeves. Sat on my balls once while building the deck this weekend which is usually a sign that my leg size is coming back. Seeing good vascularity start to come back in the biceps which could be fat loss or the carnitine or both, IDK but I'm happy.

Fire is lit and looking forward to a really positive and progressive August!

I want to start accumulating supplements for when I finish this run.

@Hyde / @MrKleen73 I have my second bottle of GC and Tamoxifen arriving today it looks like. Do you have recommendations on a post cycle stack you'd throw in (first choice of course being SNS/XPG products). I'll likely order more alpha gel this week. Maybe throw in some Phosphatidic Acid XT and Anabolic XT to fire up when the GC ends?

GC should basically be all of Aug and almost all of Sept, so I'd be looking at what I could run through Oct/Nov potentially.

 

[Hyde]

@Hyde / @MrKleen73 I have my second bottle of GC and Tamoxifen arriving today it looks like. Do you have recommendations on a post cycle stack you'd throw in (first choice of course being SNS/XPG products). I'll likely order more alpha gel this week. Maybe throw in some Phosphatidic Acid XT and Anabolic XT to fire up when the GC ends?

GC should basically be all of Aug and almost all of Sept, so I'd be looking at what I could run through Oct/Nov potentially.

Main thing is that first month cortisol will be higher while your body resets. So something to help moderate cortisol like a Sensoril ashwaganda twice a day is ideal, otherwise just make sure you eat some carbs at every feeding and take some Vitamin C each time as well. That’s not terrible advice whether or not you use the Sensoril btw.

 

[Dustin07]

Main thing is that first month cortisol will be higher while your body resets. So something to help moderate cortisol like a Sensoril ashwaganda twice a day is ideal, otherwise just make sure you eat some carbs at every feeding and take some Vitamin C each time as well. That’s not terrible advice whether or not you use the Sensoril btw.

I know that ingredient sourcing matters on things like Ashwaganda, but I do not recall the various types of both this and Tongkat very well, could I run Steves KSM-66 Aswhaganda then? I have the blood pressure support XT which is 150mg of vit C.

maybe something like:

XPG Suppress - C
XPG Alpha Gel
KSM-66
Blood Pressure Support XT

If you don't think Steves is the ashwaganda you'd recommend I can grab any of the dozens of others I see branded specifically as Sensoril, I just like to hit him up first.

 

[PolishHamm3r77]

Body is wrecked today, slept pretty poorly after about 1am. Just DOMS everywhere. Today is my scheduled back/bi day and I will stick to it, but probably go light on pulls. One thing I notice on the Gear Cream, similar to a big epiandro run, is the soreness and slight fatigue I get from big sessions. Feels reminiscent of that teenage growth period. I assume, that's because I'm growing. Even if I'm wrong, that's the mentality I'm enjoying lol.

Getting compliments on my shoulders again which is nice, arms are definitely filling out the sleeves. Sat on my balls once while building the deck this weekend which is usually a sign that my leg size is coming back. Seeing good vascularity start to come back in the biceps which could be fat loss or the carnitine or both, IDK but I'm happy.

Fire is lit and looking forward to a really positive and progressive August!

I want to start accumulating supplements for when I finish this run.

@Hyde / @MrKleen73 I have my second bottle of GC and Tamoxifen arriving today it looks like. Do you have recommendations on a post cycle stack you'd throw in (first choice of course being SNS/XPG products). I'll likely order more alpha gel this week. Maybe throw in some Phosphatidic Acid XT and Anabolic XT to fire up when the GC ends?

GC should basically be all of Aug and almost all of Sept, so I'd be looking at what I could run through Oct/Nov potentially.

GC?

 

[Dustin07]

GC?

Gear Cream

 

[PolishHamm3r77]

Gear Cream

DUH???!!!…. Polish so it takes me a while

 

[Hyde]

I know that ingredient sourcing matters on things like Ashwaganda, but I do not recall the various types of both this and Tongkat very well, could I run Steves KSM-66 Aswhaganda then? I have the blood pressure support XT which is 150mg of vit C.

maybe something like:

XPG Suppress - C
XPG Alpha Gel
KSM-66
Blood Pressure Support XT

If you don't think Steves is the ashwaganda you'd recommend I can grab any of the dozens of others I see branded specifically as Sensoril, I just like to hit him up first.

Steve specifically uses Sensoril in the Stress & Anxiety formula because it’s more potent for the calming, but you can use either. It’s not going to really matter so I shouldn’t have been so specific. Use what you’ve got brother! Or what’s most affordable.

 

[Dustin07]

Warm up
Lateral rows, DB curls

Power cleans
10 x 95
5 x 135, 155, 175, 195
1 x 215

2" deficit deads
3 x 5 x 225
5 x 275

DB rows
3 x 10+

Superset with machine bicep curls
4 sets

Standing rear delt swings
3 x 15

Seated DB curls
4 sets 10-12

Hammer strength iso lateral rows
3 x 12

21s
2 sets
+ 10 x 50lb straight bar finisher.

Notes
Deficits felt buttery smooth after those cleans. Three dudes on three platforms playing on their phones in the time I knocked out 8 sets of lats, curls, and rows with my buddy. I asked one if he was done "one more set" I knocked out two more sets then we cleaned and pulled.

3 other dudes on 3 lat pull down machines. We knock out 6 sets of hammer strength before any of them start their second set.

I walk up to one of the guys who had been camping and asked how many sets he had left "oh I don't know friend I just got here".

"No you didn't just get here, I just knocked out six sets in the time it took you to finish one. "

But we were slammed for time and hit some 21s and called it a day.

In the moment I felt like I needed more bicep and lat work but here I am a half hour later feeling pretty worked.


Tvs aren't working, gear is breaking, bathroom looks like ****. Yet gym is crazy over crowded all the sudden, even at a 10:30am lunch session on a Monday? Might be time to leave a review. I'm fairly certain there is new management cause this gym was pretty much perfect when it first opened which shocked me for a chain.



Invalid Link Removed

 

[Dustin07]

Steve specifically uses Sensoril in the Stress & Anxiety formula because it’s more potent for the calming, but you can use either. It’s not going to really matter so I shouldn’t have been so specific. Use what you’ve got brother! Or what’s most affordable.

Roger that, thank you Sir!
I'll put together my grocery list for Steve and make sure Fridays paycheck is gone before it arrives

 

[Hyde]

Well I want to point out that it being crowded is NOT the management’s fault, but obviously that implies they should have funds to start repairing broken things & hire a custodian.

But as far as people being slow & phone-addicted…that’s just our times and how many people train, especially at a commercial gym. That doesn’t mean it’s correct - it’s part of why many people never make much appreciable progress.

“You gotta train hard!” - Louie Simmons

 

[Dustin07]

They actually put up signs last week that said no tiktok videos lol
I've been more proactive in approaching people lately if they're taking forever to ask how many sets they have etc. The guy who was deadlifting I considered just asking if we could work in cause he was only working with 205lbs but I did want to warm up with cleans (they get me firing on all cylinders when I'm having a slow start).

I've spoken with management here a few times about gear falling apart. Barbells that need to be serviced (or BENT), as well as our weird allotment of micro plates. The Tacoma gym is a perfect dungeon for meat heads. The other gym has had some seriously disgusting issues in the bathroom lately, TV's just plain broken (not that I need them but they use the TVs as their clocks and gym music, and I tend to watch the clock closly if I'm making a mid day session). it's just a mess. been going downhill lately.

a crowded gym is a good sign of a lifting society so that part doesn't upset me, although the lack of etiquete for your fellow lifters gets on my nerves when DB's are left on the ground in front of the rack, or ONE db is put back, and the other one left out in the middle of the gym, etc. it's like a bunch of toddlers toys.

 

[Dustin07]

PM Cardio
Bike - 20 min
Incline - 25 min

Just sorta got into the zone watching Gen Iron 4.

Mostly LISS, no sprints just moved incline up and down and bike level up and down some.

 

[akboom87]

All this gear cream talk is tempting me! Some good looking sessions man!

 

[PolishHamm3r77]

They actually put up signs last week that said no tiktok videos lol
I've been more proactive in approaching people lately if they're taking forever to ask how many sets they have etc. The guy who was deadlifting I considered just asking if we could work in cause he was only working with 205lbs but I did want to warm up with cleans (they get me firing on all cylinders when I'm having a slow start).

I've spoken with management here a few times about gear falling apart. Barbells that need to be serviced (or BENT), as well as our weird allotment of micro plates. The Tacoma gym is a perfect dungeon for meat heads. The other gym has had some seriously disgusting issues in the bathroom lately, TV's just plain broken (not that I need them but they use the TVs as their clocks and gym music, and I tend to watch the clock closly if I'm making a mid day session). it's just a mess. been going downhill lately.

a crowded gym is a good sign of a lifting society so that part doesn't upset me, although the lack of etiquete for your fellow lifters gets on my nerves when DB's are left on the ground in front of the rack, or ONE db is put back, and the other one left out in the middle of the gym, etc. it's like a bunch of toddlers toys.

Gym I joined senior year in high school had a sign that read “IF YOU’RE STONG ENOUGH TO PICK IT UP, YOU ARE STRONG EBOUGH TO OUT IT BACK” This was sharpie on white paper every 10’ at the db rack! Employee put it up as he was sick of all the housekeeping, owner got misty and made him take it down. Owner went bankrupt and the other went on to WWE.

 

[Segansational]

Yeah, I mean I haven't really gone to a commercial gym for any stretch of time in a long while. But when I used to go, the etiquette I always adhered to and most seemed to, was if someone comes up to you and asks - you either offer to let then work in with you, unless you're on your last set.

 

[MrKleen73]

Gym etiquette has definitely changed for the worse. We used to be a bit of a gym culture and everyone was there for the same reasons. We had common goals, lift weights and do cardio and we all wanted everyone to succeed. Now it is just an all about me type of thing for so many people at the gym.

 

[Dustin07]

Yeah, I mean I haven't really gone to a commercial gym for any stretch of time in a long while. But when I used to go, the etiquette I always adhered to and most seemed to, was if someone comes up to you and asks - you either offer to let then work in with you, unless you're on your last set.

Gym etiquette has definitely changed for the worse. We used to be a bit of a gym culture and everyone was there for the same reasons. We had common goals, lift weights and do cardio and we all wanted everyone to succeed. Now it is just an all about me type of thing for so many people at the gym.

Seems to be a lot of society is like that these days. Don't get my wife started on how people park their grocery carts at the store lol. It's pretty normal for me to walk up to someone if I think they're peeping me and ask them if they're waiting for my machine, bench or rack and let them know how many sets I have left or ask if they want to work in with me.

I'm used to training with my normal lifting partner, my 15yr old son, or my wife so swapping weights out between sets is no biggy to me with a stranger or a normal partner.

Where I was starting to get irritated was when I was knocking out 4, 6 or even 8 sets to somebody elses 1 set, and them thinking it's OK to monopolize a machine for a half hour. Like... what are you even doing here? in 60 minutes I've lost 2-4lbs of sweat, had a pre-workout, an intra, and now I'm either jumping on cardio, finishing the pump, etc. You almost got your lats warm.

 

[Hyde]

Gym I joined senior year in high school had a sign that read “IF YOU’RE STONG ENOUGH TO PICK IT UP, YOU ARE STRONG EBOUGH TO OUT IT BACK” This was sharpie on white paper every 10’ at the db rack! Employee put it up as he was sick of all the housekeeping, owner got misty and made him take it down. Owner went bankrupt and the other went on to WWE.

Imagine paying money to go to a place to do fake manual labor, because our modern lives are so soft we can afford to expend time & energy doing that by choice. And then imagine not finishing that labor you intentionally started, because you think you paid the staff to do it for you.

That’s the society we live in folks

I see 150lb twinks all the time at the commercial gym leaving things like 95lbs on a benchpress or 115lbs on a bar in the squat rack. Too much effort & time to rerack the weight - I’m thinking ‘Buddy, this is why you’re still a twink!’

 

[Dustin07]

Maps said there was a ton of wrecks on the evening commute so I stopped at a gym and got some cardio in hoping it would pass.

Bike - 15min
Incline - 30min

Unfortunately it did not pass. Two hours to get home after that. Wrecks absolutely everywhere. There were three within a 1/4 mile of each other by the Tacoma Dome and one of them literally caught i5 on fire.

 

[Dustin07]

The extra cardio has definitely been paying off. Tipped the scales at 188.8 when I got home last night. Although I felt quite depleted and clearly dehydrated a bit. Had plenty to eat, chicken tortillas with extra meat, avocado, etc for dinner and finished off with my nightly protein concoction (oreo protein + peanut butter powder for about 40g of protein) before dinner. woke up at 190.2 this morning.

Puts me at around 13lbs down since June's high. I have 185 on my mind for end of August before we travel. My guess is 180 is probably where I'd be aesthetically happy but I'm sort of enjoying the slow go of it. Maintaining a decent amount of strength with a slower cut.

 

[Dustin07]

Squat
10 x bar, 95, 135
3 x 185, 225
1 x 255, 285, 315, 330, 340
5 x 285
12 x 225
15 x 135

Walk out
405 x 10 seconds

Leg extensions
5 x 10-12

Superset with leg curls
5 x 10-12

Adductor machine
30 x 85lbs
25 x 130lbs

Life fitness "Glute"
2 sets to failure per side.



Notes
Walked in apprehensive because squats have been so linearly great lately.

340 is most likely a PR for weighing only 190. I'm 99% sure my all time best is 350.

405 on the back felt lighter today than 290 did last weekend.

 

[Dustin07]

Invalid Link RemovedInvalid Link Removed

 

[Hyde]

That glute machine is what I affectionately refer to as “The Bikini Machine”. It is a good isolation machine, way better than these silly girls putting cable handles on their feet trying to stabilize like crazy the entire time.

355 coming up soon!

 

[Dustin07]

That glute machine is what I affectionately refer to as “The Bikini Machine”. It is a good isolation machine, way better than these silly girls putting cable handles on their feet trying to stabilize like crazy the entire time.

I've never even noticed it before!
it was 100% solid isolation though. I would definitely throw that in with my RDLs in the future when that ligament issue in my back acts up. it really worked that entire area that I have rehabbed many times in the past 8 years.

355 coming up soon!

at 9am I was dogging it and already trying to mentally hype myself for an 11am lifting session. knew it would be a rough day but reminded myself to wait til the beta alanine kicked in, let myself get under a few warm up sets and see where I am. I did NOT think I'd be pushing 340 today but it felt GREAT.

it's been so long since my squats were chasing mid 300s I'm not even sure which year of my log to look for.

 

[Dustin07]

OK it was 2018. I hit 345 for a single, came back and hit it for a triple. I don't see myself having ever hit higher than that. about a month or two later was when we bought that gym we owned for a year, so my gears probably changed a bit.

so technically 345 is my current PR, but it was for a triple apparently. damn, that's hard to believe, I thought I was doing pretty well right now

 

[Hyde]

OK it was 2018. I hit 345 for a single, came back and hit it for a triple. I don't see myself having ever hit higher than that. about a month or two later was when we bought that gym we owned for a year, so my gears probably changed a bit.

so technically 345 is my current PR, but it was for a triple apparently. damn, that's hard to believe, I thought I was doing pretty well right now

405










It’s calling for you!

 

[dapack]

Squats are looking solid either way. Plus, you are 6 years older and getting close to doing it again.

 

[Dustin07]

Squats are looking solid either way. Plus, you are 6 years older and getting close to doing it again.

it's feeling good! It was nice to dip into the squats yesterday with my shorts on and feel like I could see size coming back in my legs. Feels like I'm getting a decent foundation put back together. I'm still a little surprised how much my legs shrunk spending all my focus on deadlifts. first time I wore shorts in 2024 and saw my legs in the gym was probably the biggest motivator to get squats back into focus.

 

[MrKleen73]

it's feeling good! It was nice to dip into the squats yesterday with my shorts on and feel like I could see size coming back in my legs. Feels like I'm getting a decent foundation put back together. I'm still a little surprised how much my legs shrunk spending all my focus on deadlifts. first time I wore shorts in 2024 and saw my legs in the gym was probably the biggest motivator to get squats back into focus.

Yeah, that will do it for sure. When my legs had gotten smaller a couple years back and I say the difference it was like Oh, Okay we have to fix this now.

 

[Dustin07]

Yeah, that will do it for sure. When my legs had gotten smaller a couple years back and I say the difference it was like Oh, Okay we have to fix this now.

now make my arms bigger! I guess upside down squats would be hand stand pushups?

 

[MrKleen73]

now make my arms bigger! I guess upside down squats would be hand stand pushups?

Yep, and those would build the hell out of your triceps with it being an overhead movement. Well maybe an under head movement considering you are upside down.

 

[Hyde]

it's feeling good! It was nice to dip into the squats yesterday with my shorts on and feel like I could see size coming back in my legs. Feels like I'm getting a decent foundation put back together. I'm still a little surprised how much my legs shrunk spending all my focus on deadlifts. first time I wore shorts in 2024 and saw my legs in the gym was probably the biggest motivator to get squats back into focus.

You need big legs to pull your biggest deadlifts, but deadlifting won’t really build up the legs too much.

Similar to how Sumo needs a strong back but doesn’t build one, and benching needs strong lats. You need parts of the puzzle to stabilize/contribute that the lift itself won’t develop well.

 

[Dustin07]

had my whole workout logged on talkatap and it crashed so Hopefully I remember todays session:

Bench
10 x bar, 95, 115,
3 x 135, 185
1 x 215, 235, 265, 280, 290

Spottos
3 x 5 x 225
(the last set was by far the easiest, nice long pause at the bottom on reps 4 and 5)

CGBP
2 x 10 x 135

life fitness dip machine
5 x 15

super set with lateral db raises
5 x 12 x 27.5s (30s were missing)

lying ezbar skull crushers
4 x 15 x 50lb
1 x 12 x 70lb

super set with db forward raises
5 x 12

slight incline db flies
3 sets

pec deck
3 sets

Notes
weight 191 this morning. Enjoyed lamb burger with preztel bun with my boy last night, and carbed up today preWO (normal jasmine rice approach). Bench felt "strong" but felt a little pushed around by the heavier weights like I'm losing leverage a little with the weight loss. Scale is a slow indicator, but my slacks and belts are all getting loose. the mirror at home made me look washed out and was a bit depressing almost like I had gone backwards but the gym mirrors were fire

Seeing firmness and development across the board. I should probably be taking pictures to photo document but I'm enjoying the ride regardless. Vascularity still improving. still probably like 15% or something but at least I'm seeing the bicep veins coming back without a flex or anything so that feels good.

work shirts feel looser again, like a comfortable summer time fit. it's honestly a nice change of pace after a year of feeling like my lats were going to explode through dress shirts and having elbows destroy the arms on a couple shirts lol


2 pumps of GC around 5am after shower
4 pumps of carnitine about 1hr preWO
Been taking blood pressure support XT and pine pollen at night. I have occasionally also added some XPG Alpha gel here and there, especially if I didnt' feel like libido was firing on all cylinders but probably not necessary right now. (just ask the wife).

 

[MrKleen73]

Honestly with as detailed as you are about info in your logs and being able to go back and look I am surprised you are not the same way with your progress pics. Then again you have been focusing on strength, not aesthetics and hypertrophy but now it would just be that much more data at your finger tips since you are focusing on conditioning again.

 

[Hyde]

Bump those close-grip benches to 155 homie. 1 plate ain’t gonna build a 3-wheel bench!

 

[Dustin07]

Honestly with as detailed as you are about info in your logs and being able to go back and look I am surprised you are not the same way with your progress pics. Then again you have been focusing on strength, not aesthetics and hypertrophy but now it would just be that much more data at your finger tips since you are focusing on conditioning again.

Totally agree. a couple years ago I tried one of those "picture a day" apps when I was cutting. to be fair in terms of dysmorphia I am not impressed by what I see in the mirror at home. Could be mirror or lighting. The gym mirror even before a pump always feels way more complimentary but its very difficult to pull my camera out when I'm surrounded by a half dozen 80yr old schlongs. The gym mirrors really need one of those signs "object in mirror are not as sexy as they appear" but holy **** man some days it seems like things are really coming along with those gym mirrors!

Bump those close-grip benches to 155 homie. 1 plate ain’t gonna build a 3-wheel bench!

I know you're right, it crossed my mind. My weekend sessions I can let flow for 90+ minutes. these midday sessions are a little crammed and there is some time economy in play. I was running CGBP at 205-225 not long ago, and hindsight being 20/20 I could have probably just tossed 25s on the ends for my sets but I was trying to get back on the bench pretty much faster than my lifting buddy was getting off of it. so I was just running his weight for a few more reps.

 

[Hyde]

I know you're right, it crossed my mind. My weekend sessions I can let flow for 90+ minutes. these midday sessions are a little crammed and there is some time economy in play. I was running CGBP at 205-225 not long ago, and hindsight being 20/20 I could have probably just tossed 25s on the ends for my sets but I was trying to get back on the bench pretty much faster than my lifting buddy was getting off of it. so I was just running his weight for a few more reps.

Make him load the weights with you

 

[Dustin07]

PM session + extra credit

CGBP - extra credit
10 x 95, 135, 165, 185
2 x 7 x 205
2 x 12 x 155

Tricep cable push downs
3 sets

Cardio
Bike - 15 min
Incline - 30 min


Ok ok ok. Took my own medicine and decided to make up for my weak ass CGBP work today when I hit the Tacoma gym on my way home for cardio.

I had mixed feelings, thinking I'd be depleted but postWO meal had me feeling pretty good. Plus the vibe was solid, all the meatheads were lifting this afternoon.

The science on split sessions, while potentially in a deficit, and mixed with cardio, is fuzzy to me. But this felt good