Weights up, scales down…

akboom87 said:
I’m not sure maybe with the drop in calories I’m getting more of a hit? Not sure but was not enjoying it as much 1/2 scoop was really good and I’ll taper to just coffee after the tub is gone.
Click to expand...

IDK, generally I think if someone performs as well without stims, then hey go without...

looking at Edge of Insanity (i've never used it) I see 350mg of caffiene per scoop, plus the y0hombine hydro and alpha yohimbine.

Whereas I keep Steves Pump Addict at my office for lunch or after work sessions, it has 150mg caffeine per scoop. and I don't see any yohimbine. maybe it's the higher dose of caffeine and/or the yohimbine?

it's sorta funny, I think of myself as a stim addict, but I typically have:

1/2 cup coffee at shower time
1 cup at work (rarely a second)
1 scoop pump addict, rarely do I opt for the full 1.5 or 2 scoop serving
1 sugar free redbull occasionally, which only has like 80mg

so yeah... definitely have stims in my life but I guess it's lower than i thought
 
akboom87 said:
Think I’m trimming back on stims, once tub is gone just coffee for a while. My session seemed a lot better today on just half scoop.

Also pretty exciting my wife has dropped 10lbs on her journey so far and she is doing 2 a day body weight workouts at home, can already see the difference body wise. Mood wise has really improved for her. I do believe it’s helping her regulate her hormones and just putting her in a great mood!
Click to expand...

Blasphemy!

But also, kudos to your wife on her progress! Two a days is no joke.
 
More isn’t better - better is better!

With steroids and stims and really lots of things in life. The right dose at the right time relative to your specific needs & readiness is going to produce the best results. Once you crest onto the far side of that dose/response bell curve, you may be getting stronger effects, but not necessarily more benefit - and certainly not optimal.

That’s not a judgment on dosages, just a reality I’ve found. Once my heart is feeling overworked, like the stims are draining me, it’s no longer a Performance Enhancing Drug - it’s become a Performance Affecting Drug.
 
Hyde said:
More isn’t better - better is better!

With steroids and stims and really lots of things in life. The right dose at the right time relative to your specific needs & readiness is going to produce the best results. Once you crest onto the far side of that dose/response bell curve, you may be getting stronger effects, but not necessarily more benefit - and certainly not optimal.

That’s not a judgment on dosages, just a reality I’ve found. Once my heart is feeling overworked, like the stims are draining me, it’s no longer a Performance Enhancing Drug - it’s become a Performance Affecting Drug.
Click to expand...
My personal opinion with stims is less is better. Especially if you big and lifting heavy and on steroids. I dont know a lot of big guys that take a pre workout and many of them save there stims for the end of contest prep when there lean, eating good and doing cardio as they handle the stims better.

Plus high stim = crappy pumps. Not always. But many times
 
Smont said:
My personal opinion with stims is less is better. Especially if you big and lifting heavy and on steroids. I dont know a lot of big guys that take a pre workout and many of them save there stims for the end of contest prep when there lean, eating good and doing cardio as they handle the stims better.

Plus high stim = crappy pumps. Not always. But many times
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For bodybuilding it’s counterproductive probably beyond a cup of coffee.

For performance it’s definitely not, but you do have to get through your training and the simple fact is the heavier you are, older, and more gear you’re taking the less you will tolerate.

On blast, I can’t take too much more than a scoop of Focus XT. The L-Theanine helps curb bp increase. It also curbs the stimulation, energy-wise, but you still get more CNS performance with the higher stims it allows you to tolerate than without.
 
Smont said:
Plus high stim = crappy pumps. Not always. But many times
Click to expand...

Doesn't nicotine also have the same effect? reduced oxy, narrower blood vessels, etc?

Hyde said:
On blast, I can’t take too much more than a scoop of Focus XT
Click to expand...

that focus XT is really good in hot water during the winter... I'm not a tea drinker, can't stand the stuff, but I have had the Focus XT in hot water before, good ****.
 
Hyde said:
More isn’t better - better is better!

With steroids and stims and really lots of things in life. The right dose at the right time relative to your specific needs & readiness is going to produce the best results. Once you crest onto the far side of that dose/response bell curve, you may be getting stronger effects, but not necessarily more benefit - and certainly not optimal.

That’s not a judgment on dosages, just a reality I’ve found. Once my heart is feeling overworked, like the stims are draining me, it’s no longer a Performance Enhancing Drug - it’s become a Performance Affecting Drug.
Click to expand...
FWIW, I was only half joking of course. While I certainly like my high stims (I'm a preWO & coffee type of guy), I also totally agree with too much overstimulation can be counterproductive. I have this problem particularly with alpha-yo pre's, which is why I tend to steer clear for the most part.
 
Steps - 10,377

Had to get a pretty Long walk this evening as I was behind in steps today.

Another great day in the books!
 
So much to like in here the last few days. Congrats to both you and the wife for breaking the 10lbs barrier, that is very impressive. Also remember your steps are just extra credit, you don't have to make them up if you are super behind or tired one day. It helps burn a little more calories, and is just a good way to make sure you are not slowing down everywhere else due to the increased workload in the gym and the deficit. You are killing it for sure.
 
MrKleen73 said:
So much to like in here the last few days. Congrats to both you and the wife for breaking the 10lbs barrier, that is very impressive. Also remember your steps are just extra credit, you don't have to make them up if you are super behind or tired one day. It helps burn a little more calories, and is just a good way to make sure you are not slowing down everywhere else due to the increased workload in the gym and the deficit. You are killing it for sure.
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Well me and her are trying to complete 10k a day so if she is behind then I try to help motivate and we go for a longer walk to help hit the #, or vise versa. So in some ways may not need to but support for the other we make it work 😂
 
Macros today
IMG_1396.webp


Steps - 10,060
Another great day in the books. Along with drinking actually tracking my water intake and adding salt along, seems to be keeping me full. Not really having hunger issues or really craving anything, seems odd but no complaints!
 
1100 calories :oops:

akboom87 said:
Another great day in the books. Along with drinking actually tracking my water intake and adding salt along, seems to be keeping me full. Not really having hunger issues or really craving anything, seems odd but no complaints!
Click to expand...

I tried to take my electrolyes more seriously by Hyde and Kleens advice when I got into fasting, so I'd like to believe I improved, but when my wife picked up her coach one of the first things she requried was mixing up a batch of her own electrolyte water daily and I think that has had a great impact on she and I both.
 
akboom87 said:
Well me and her are trying to complete 10k a day so if she is behind then I try to help motivate and we go for a longer walk to help hit the #, or vise versa. So in some ways may not need to but support for the other we make it work 😂
Click to expand...
That is awesome! I love that you both are on the same page and having some fun competing with each other as well. I just wanted to make sure you didn't feel like it was a bad if you don't hit it one day kind of thing where you needed to make up for it. I think healthy competition is well, healthy! Plus it is good quality time together.
Dustin07 said:
1100 calories :oops:



I tried to take my electrolyes more seriously by Hyde and Kleens advice when I got into fasting, so I'd like to believe I improved, but when my wife picked up her coach one of the first things she requried was mixing up a batch of her own electrolyte water daily and I think that has had a great impact on she and I both.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it definitely makes a difference overall when you don't let yourself become dehydrated and many people don't realize they are walking around only partially hydrated at all times.
 
Dustin07 said:
1100 calories :oops:



I tried to take my electrolyes more seriously by Hyde and Kleens advice when I got into fasting, so I'd like to believe I improved, but when my wife picked up her coach one of the first things she requried was mixing up a batch of her own electrolyte water daily and I think that has had a great impact on she and I both.
Click to expand...
Well I hate that my app connects to my watch and subtracts what it thinks I have expended. I pay no attention to that. Calories were 2,141. I don’t hold any stalk to what my watch says I burn in a day.
 
Wake up time 4:30 am, 1/2 scoop edge of insanity. Pre workout shake.

Gym time 5:10 am - 6:25 am

Warm ups stretching

Seated DB shoulder press -2rir
50# x8
35# x15 x myo reps 8–4-3
Super set ez bar seated tricep extension- 2 rir
40# x15 x14 myo rep 9-3-2

DB upright row- 2rir
35# x 15
25# x20 myo rep 10-8-2
Superset ez bar cable tricep pushdown
40# x17 x15 x14 go up next week

BW dips
X15 x14
Superset bent over DB rear delt raise/fly
12.5# x18 x15

25 minutes incline treadmill, 6.5 % incline, 3.5-6.0 mph, 148-165 bpm. Having to bump speed up to a jog then back down and repeat to keep the heart rate in the zone. Definitely a sweat soaker!

Really good session, getting in the groove with super sets and super short rest times.
 
akboom87 said:
25 minutes incline treadmill, 6.5 % incline, 3.5-6.0 mph, 148-165 bpm. Having to bump speed up to a jog then back down and repeat to keep the heart rate in the zone.
Click to expand...

yup, that would do it lol. I think you're a bit taller than me but 3.5 is a good clip regardless and 6 with that 6.5% incline is gonna be felt 😅
 
Wake up time 5 am, slept in a little as a pretty light schedule today.

1 cup of coffee and then pre workout shake.

Gym time 5:30am - 6:50am

Warm ups/ stretching

Trap bar deadlift low handles 2rir
185# x14 x12 x10
Seemed to be a little slow moving this morning

Cable flexion row
70# x 20 x15 x10
Dropset 50# x20
I was dying on these but man they light me up in a good way!

Assited pull up
+40# x 12 x10

Meadows lat stretchers on cable pull down
85# x 16 x15

Lower back was just feeling tight and stiff, so jumped on the hyper extension stand

Bw x12 x10 long pause at bottom just letting things stretch

#40lb db x10 x10

This felt really good and felt way better afterwards.

25 minutes incline cardio, 6% incline, 3.5-5.5 mph 148-165 bpm

Another great session. Had a Dr appointment this morning and blood pressure checked in at 108/68. I don’t check blood pressure that often but that is definitely lower than normally for me.
 
akboom87 said:
Wake up time 5 am, slept in a little as a pretty light schedule today.

1 cup of coffee and then pre workout shake.

Gym time 5:30am - 6:50am

Warm ups/ stretching

Trap bar deadlift low handles 2rir
185# x14 x12 x10
Seemed to be a little slow moving this morning

Cable flexion row
70# x 20 x15 x10
Dropset 50# x20
I was dying on these but man they light me up in a good way!

Assited pull up
+40# x 12 x10

Meadows lat stretchers on cable pull down
85# x 16 x15

Lower back was just feeling tight and stiff, so jumped on the hyper extension stand

Bw x12 x10 long pause at bottom just letting things stretch

#40lb db x10 x10

This felt really good and felt way better afterwards.

25 minutes incline cardio, 6% incline, 3.5-5.5 mph 148-165 bpm

Another great session. Had a Dr appointment this morning and blood pressure checked in at 108/68. I don’t check blood pressure that often but that is definitely lower than normally for me.
Click to expand...
Great sessions. Love the supersets and myo-rep matches and drop sets. Seems like it was time to turn up the heat!!!
 
PolishHamm3r77 said:
Great sessions. Love the supersets and myo-rep matches and drop sets. Seems like it was time to turn up the heat!!!
Click to expand...
I mean worst case Ontario, he’ll burn some extra fat, right? After all, this stuff’s not rocket appliances, boys….
 
Last edited:
So check in this morning. Had a wish effect this week so I’ll be waiting to see if coach wants to adjust.

So the day I started
9-7-24 ( 228lbs )

9-14-24 ( 220.8lbs )

9-21-24 ( 219.2lbs )

9-22-24 ( 217.6lbs )

9-28-24 ( 214.6lbs )
 
akboom87 said:
Yeah it try’s to make me sign in to watch it.
Click to expand...
Al Gorithm is being a punk today!!! It wants me to sign in w the RP Hypertrophy App when I click on the vid on how to execute exercises. I had to create an account to watch “Bro Chat” w Fouad and Co. the A.I. must have seen me throw my bench a few weeks back and assumed I’m a child 🤣🤣🍪🥛
 
Man weather has been weird cool and nice then back to scorching heat. Definitely up and down. This weekend was kinda cramped with the wife’s parents being in town. Also was slightly annoyed at how they picked fun at us of and on about being on a diet and that we didn’t want to go out and eat etc. etc. So I invited them to go on an evening walk with us and walked them into the ground maybe intentionally 🤷🏻‍♂️ lol all in good fun though.

We did bump calories up a tad so we will see how my body responds for next weeks check in. Definitely felt a little extra pep today with the slight bump. Also betting that my gym performance this week will be improved.

Pretty excited and proud to be under 220, that seemed to be such a hard push to get under and seeing it drop below has really been a huge boost in confidence. Next week I will post a halfway progress picture.

Steps - 12,269
 
akboom87 said:
Man weather has been weird cool and nice then back to scorching heat. Definitely up and down. This weekend was kinda cramped with the wife’s parents being in town. Also was slightly annoyed at how they picked fun at us of and on about being on a diet and that we didn’t want to go out and eat etc. etc. So I invited them to go on an evening walk with us and walked them into the ground maybe intentionally lol all in good fun though.

We did bump calories up a tad so we will see how my body responds for next weeks check in. Definitely felt a little extra pep today with the slight bump. Also betting that my gym performance this week will be improved.

Pretty excited and proud to be under 220, that seemed to be such a hard push to get under and seeing it drop below has really been a huge boost in confidence. Next week I will post a halfway progress picture.

Steps - 12,269
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You know, I was just listening to one of Dr. Mike's podcasts about this very topic. Best case with family (minus spouse) was him saying that they are neutral vs negative or sabotaging. Totally get it though, it's a pain in the @$$ sometimes all the little digs.
 
akboom87 said:
So I invited them to go on an evening walk with us
Click to expand...

You're a very different person than me lol. I believe your approach is one we call "killing them with kindness" where I come from. I prefer the knuckles and and cold shoulder approach when people insult me lol.
 
Dustin07 said:
You're a very different person than me lol. I believe your approach is one we call "killing them with kindness" where I come from. I prefer the knuckles and and cold shoulder approach when people insult me lol.
Click to expand...
Well ultimately the joke was on them. As they are both severely overweight, on high blood pressure meds and a slew of other things. So ultimately it’s almost laughable at my worst I was still in better shape than them….. so yeah wasn’t even worth my time lol.
 
akboom87 said:
Man weather has been weird cool and nice then back to scorching heat. Definitely up and down. This weekend was kinda cramped with the wife’s parents being in town. Also was slightly annoyed at how they picked fun at us of and on about being on a diet and that we didn’t want to go out and eat etc. etc. So I invited them to go on an evening walk with us and walked them into the ground maybe intentionally 🤷🏻‍♂️ lol all in good fun though.

We did bump calories up a tad so we will see how my body responds for next weeks check in. Definitely felt a little extra pep today with the slight bump. Also betting that my gym performance this week will be improved.

Pretty excited and proud to be under 220, that seemed to be such a hard push to get under and seeing it drop below has really been a huge boost in confidence. Next week I will post a halfway progress picture.

Steps - 12,269
Click to expand...
Haha, I love that you walked them into the ground. I can see you intentionally walking out farther and farther and not turn around until they start complaining of being tired. :) Then i would have probably been like, "I guess it is easier for us because we are in much better shape than you."
Dustin07 said:
You're a very different person than me lol. I believe your approach is one we call "killing them with kindness" where I come from. I prefer the knuckles and and cold shoulder approach when people insult me lol.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I liked his approach, but I am a little more forward about it. I am not really a keep the peace kind of guy if you take the first swipe. You will get an assertive response followed by an olive branch to allow you to return us to a place of peace. My response would have probably been more like. Well we looked at how you all are aging and it frightened us so we figured we had better do something to fix it before we ended up in your situation. Would you like to join us?
 
akboom87 said:
Well ultimately the joke was on them. As they are both severely overweight, on high blood pressure meds and a slew of other things. So ultimately it’s almost laughable at my worst I was still in better shape than them….. so yeah wasn’t even worth my time lol.
Click to expand...

gymtalk can be hard with normies. I truly dislike the word "diet". I feel like if I tell someone I'm on a diet, it implies my weight is higher than I had intended, but in actuality I just finished many long bulk and cut cycles and now I'm in a prolonged cut. I also hate the term bulk, since I was strength focused, I call it a strength cycle (which obv comes with some bulking) and "now I'm leaning up". Honestly I hate the discussion so much wiht non gym rats that I crack jokes at my own expense most of the time and just say like I'm trying to get my bikini to fit. I dodge those conversations entirely with people not in the know.
 
When I was just out of college and had started working on aircraft, something a colleague told me that would come to have a lasting impact (that I wasn’t yet ready to full appreciate) was,

“Folks is folks.”

Profound, I know - analogous to ‘It is what is is.’ But it reminds a simple truth: people & the world are exactly how they are, not how perhaps they should be to align with things that may be better for them or others. You have to accept that you must meet them exactly where they are if you wish to connect, and they very likely will not change or grow or be able to relate to anything they aren’t interested in or already familiar with.

People often criticize or fear what they do not understand or feel threatened by. Do not expect that to change. It’s your job to get them to understand or appreciate if that’s important to you, but especially it’s your job to be tough enough to shrug off the digs. So what if they don’t like how you live? You aren’t hurting them, and you all know it. So be confident in your decisions & pay the doubters no nevermind - most people will never even have the gall to pursue the things they would really like to.

You cannot go around asking other people for their approval, because if you do “they will convince you that what you’re doing doesn’t have any value - and you’ll give up on your dream.” - Les Brown
 
Hyde said:
When I was just out of college and had started working on aircraft, something a colleague told me that would come to have a lasting impact (that I wasn’t yet ready to full appreciate) was,

“Folks is folks.”

Profound, I know - analogous to ‘It is what is is.’ But it reminds a simple truth: people & the world are exactly how they are, not how perhaps they should be to align with things that may be better for them or others. You have to accept that you must meet them exactly where they are if you wish to connect, and they very likely will not change or grow or be able to relate to anything they aren’t interested in or already familiar with.

People often criticize or fear what they do not understand or feel threatened by. Do not expect that to change. It’s your job to get them to understand or appreciate if that’s important to you, but especially it’s your job to be tough enough to shrug off the digs. So what if they don’t like how you live? You aren’t hurting them, and you all know it. So be confident in your decisions & pay the doubters no nevermind - most people will never even have the gall to pursue the things they would really like to.

You cannot go around asking other people for their approval, because if you do “they will convince you that what you’re doing doesn’t have any value - and you’ll give up on your dream.” - Les Brown
Click to expand...

that's awesome. Reminds me of a Kurt Vonnegut quote I heard on Hubberman recently, "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.". <-- that one, to me, should boost the confidence and motivation in anyone trying to achieve something great in their life.
 
Hyde said:
When I was just out of college and had started working on aircraft, something a colleague told me that would come to have a lasting impact (that I wasn’t yet ready to full appreciate) was,

“Folks is folks.”

Profound, I know - analogous to ‘It is what is is.’ But it reminds a simple truth: people & the world are exactly how they are, not how perhaps they should be to align with things that may be better for them or others. You have to accept that you must meet them exactly where they are if you wish to connect, and they very likely will not change or grow or be able to relate to anything they aren’t interested in or already familiar with.

People often criticize or fear what they do not understand or feel threatened by. Do not expect that to change. It’s your job to get them to understand or appreciate if that’s important to you, but especially it’s your job to be tough enough to shrug off the digs. So what if they don’t like how you live? You aren’t hurting them, and you all know it. So be confident in your decisions & pay the doubters no nevermind - most people will never even have the gall to pursue the things they would really like to.

You cannot go around asking other people for their approval, because if you do “they will convince you that what you’re doing doesn’t have any value - and you’ll give up on your dream.” - Les Brown
Click to expand...
Pretty spot on. That’s why I didn’t make a big thing out of it.

I’m also a big believer in misery loves company. I find this to be more true the older I get.
 
Wake up time 4:45 am working from home today so not on as big of a time constraint. Cup of coffee and then my pre workout shake.

Gym time 5:20 am - 6:50 am

Warm ups/ stretching

Incline DB press 2rir
60# x 8 + 5 rest pause
40# x15
40# myo rep 8-4-3
Super set DB dead hang curls
25# x15
20# x14
20# myo rep 10-4

Seated vertical converging chest press machine 2rir
100# x13 x12 x10 drop 80#x8 drop 60# x 6 (no rest on double drop set)
Superset lying db curls
20# x15 x15 x12 (go up in weight)

3 round complex
Pec dec 2rir
80# x16 x16 x15 (dropped from 90# focusing more on the chest squeeze, it worked)
Db medial delt swings
20# x20 x20 x20 these really burn 🔥
Db rear delt swings (van WYCK style)
15# x20 x20 x20 🔥

Incline smith press for finisher
90# x15 x10 x5

Incline treadmill, 6% incline, 3.5-5.2 mph, 148-170 HR
25 minutes

Definitely had more energy this morning with the slight bump in calories. Pump was good was looking pretty swole in the reflection doing treadmill 😂
 
Dustin07 said:
gymtalk can be hard with normies. I truly dislike the word "diet". I feel like if I tell someone I'm on a diet, it implies my weight is higher than I had intended, but in actuality I just finished many long bulk and cut cycles and now I'm in a prolonged cut. I also hate the term bulk, since I was strength focused, I call it a strength cycle (which obv comes with some bulking) and "now I'm leaning up". Honestly I hate the discussion so much wiht non gym rats that I crack jokes at my own expense most of the time and just say like I'm trying to get my bikini to fit. I dodge those conversations entirely with people not in the know.
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I just tell people I am always on a diet, and so are you. Your diet is what you eat regularly, if you change it up for a specific goal it is still a diet, and if you pay it no attention at all it is still your diet. When people use diet as a verb is when it becomes confusing. A diet is a noun. It is a thing, not an action. You aren't dieting. you are eating a diet for a specific goal. You could simplify things just by telling people you are in a surplus phase of your diet, a maintenance phase, or a deficit / leaning phase.
 
akboom87 said:
Superset lying db curls
20# x15 x15 x12 (go up in weight)
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I have ever in my life done lying db curls. Might have to throw some in!

MrKleen73 said:
I just tell people I am always on a diet, and so are you. Your diet is what you eat regularly, if you change it up for a specific goal it is still a diet, and if you pay it no attention at all it is still your diet. When people use diet as a verb is when it becomes confusing. A diet is a noun. It is a thing, not an action. You aren't dieting. you are eating a diet for a specific goal. You could simplify things just by telling people you are in a surplus phase of your diet, a maintenance phase, or a deficit / leaning phase.
Click to expand...

solid. you have a more eloquent way of communicating my thoughts on the matter. Although I think "f off, I'm on a cut" is succinct, your way will probably retain more friends. and tbh, I like the state of mind here....
 
Dustin07 said:
I'm not sure I have ever in my life done lying db curls. Might have to throw some in!



solid. you have a more eloquent way of communicating my thoughts on the matter. Although I think "f off, I'm on a cut" is succinct, your way will probably retain more friends. and tbh, I like the state of mind here....
Click to expand...
Somewhere Mike RP strength has a video on them showing how he adjusts the seat part up to angle your head and get more stretch out of them, pretty sweet honestly
 
What's man! I thought I'd drop by since you showed some support in my log and I wanted to do the same here.

What kind of program are you running?
 
Anthony_ said:
What's man! I thought I'd drop by since you showed some support in my log and I wanted to do the same here.

What kind of program are you running?
Click to expand...
Well first part of the month @MrKleen73 was looking to pick up some clients so I decided to take him up on it. So he has my diet laid out and macros/meals and training program for me all laid out for me each week. I just got to do my part!

Welcome along though!
 
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