August Most Improved Competition [ENTRY OPEN until start]

[cousinmuscles]

It's back day, posterior chain has yet to recover, again can't do both deads and heavy leg work on same week, so I'll be skipping deads tonight.

Focusing on rowing instead, leaving pulldowns for last if anything.

This is the sort of seated row machine we got at gym (not as fancy and much older), is it worth using?

Looks good but in the long run free weights are better. I'd use it though if your lower back needs rest.

[PeanutbutterDC]

From the last training session, got some other pics but no time to clean up EXIF and cut out face for now

Looking good!

[PeanutbutterDC]

It's back day, posterior chain has yet to recover, again can't do both deads and heavy leg work on same week, so I'll be skipping deads tonight.

Focusing on rowing instead, leaving pulldowns for last if anything.

This is the sort of seated row machine we got at gym (not as fancy and much older), is it worth using?

I've got plenty of rows planned for back tonight, too.
I use a machine like that maybe once every month or two just keep things fresh/mix it up

[KittyO1]

Evening all,

Shoulders tonight:
Warm up: random front/side/rear raises
Shoulder press machine x4
Rear cable flys x3
Standing Side laterals x4
DB presses x4
Bent over DB rear raises x3
Superset with changing weights 3 sets:
Seated side laterals 10,8,6,4,4,6,8,10
Seated front raises 10,8,6,4,4,6,8,10

20 mins on the elliptical.

Not much else to report. I'm headed to Texas end of this week for 5 days... It's really hard to stay on track while traveling, especially when you're surrounded by exquisite BBQ.

Book report: I'm about halfway through Arnold Schwarzenegger's biography "Total Recall". I like it so far. Pretty sure I'm ready for the Olympia.

Sleep well my friends,
C-

Mmm Texas bbq....I sure miss that style! Over on the east coast they put mustard on meat and call it bbq! Thankfully we just make our own Texas style at home!

I did, some Boston butt too! The butt was so tender, I hard time getting off the grill without it falling apart.
Attachment 174106

Attachment 174107

That looks delicious!

How's everyone doing? We're about midway through the competition.
My update: not much improvement. My weight has held steady. I guess that's good seeing as I came off my first cycle. Holding onto gains but not getting any leaner.
It's been hard to motivate myself this competition. At least for diet.
Keeping up with my workouts but miss the anavar pump. Cardio plan is easy rn (30 min LISS 6 days/week). Took a break from HIIT bc burnt out, tired, and in pain a lot lately (fibromyalgia flare up)

So, in a word: meh

Hoping to turn things up for the second half

Fibromyalgia is such a pain! Literally! Hope you get to feeling better!

I have been at a bit of a standstill progress wise. Hoping things start changing again this week!

From the last training session, got some other pics but no time to clean up EXIF and cut out face for now

Looking thick and lean!!




“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11‬ *NLT‬‬

[KittyO1]

Switched up my workouts as of today. These are high density-fat loss based. Better to burn more calories in the little bit of time I have to train. Upper/lower split so I hit all muscle groups twice a week.

Today was 3 circuits as many rounds as possible in 15 mins
1. Bench, Row, plank
2. Pull-ups, hanging leg raises, Db shoulder press
3. Db Lateral raises, rev flyes, curls, extensions

Went back for sprints 25 mins


“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11‬ *NLT‬‬

[hammerheart]

Had a better back day indeed -

BB bent over row 2 wu 2 wo
Seated cable row 2 wo +RP
Lever row machine 1 wo +RP

Reverse grip pulldown sset straight arm pushdown 1 wo
Close grip, same as of above 1 wo
DB Pullovers 2 wo

Shrugs BB 2 wu 2 wo + RP
Shrugs smith 2 wo + RP


Good enough.


Hope fall hits with some cold weather soon, women got to cover themselves up can't stand to sight of half naked girls around anymore.

[almostgone]

There's no such thing as 'a little brisket'.

Sure it is! Any serving of smoked brisket between 3 and 5 pounds is a serving, 1-3 pounds is a snack, and less than a pound is an insult.

[guitarzan]

Not bad for a 46 year old on tren , huh!
Clen is the reason for the high hr

[KittyO1]

Dinner...



“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11‬ *NLT‬‬

[cousinmuscles]

Dinner...


“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11‬ *NLT‬‬

Looks delicious. Chicken and peppers? I am so hungry right now I could eat all of those at once lol

[KittyO1]

Looks delicious. Chicken and peppers? I am so hungry right now I could eat all of those at once lol

Haha yes! Marinated in lime juice, cilantro, and a little honey. They were good! Had asparagus on the side! Now I have meal prep done too! Lol


“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11‬ *NLT‬‬

[guitarzan]

Dinner...



“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11‬ *NLT‬‬

Thst looks great!

[charger69]

Not bad for a 46 year old on tren , huh!
Clen is the reason for the high hr

Tarzan...... you behave and get that HR down!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[guitarzan]

Tarzan...... you behave and get that HR down!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not all day and night like with the t3, good to go at night

[Couchlockd]

Dinner...



“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11‬ *NLT‬‬

I'm coming over for dinner

I'll bring the port wine

[almostgone]

Dinner...



“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11‬ *NLT‬‬

Now that looks tasty!!!
I had what was supposed to be blackened cod, but I strongly suspect it was bottom feeding suction eel/steakfish.
Didn't even bother to heat it up.

[Charlie67]

Sure it is! Any serving of smoked brisket between 3 and 5 pounds is a serving, 1-3 pounds is a snack, and less than a pound is an insult.

Because I'd hate to make you a liar AG, I'll order at least a pound... At a time.

Not bad for a 46 year old on tren , huh!
Clen is the reason for the high hr

Just curious, How much clen are you taking?

I hit legs tonight:
Warmup: extensions and curls
Leg press x5
Hack squat machine x4
Front squats x4
BB lunges x3
Calf press x4
Ab machine x4
Leg raises x4

15 mins on the elliptical.

Regarding my Texas trip: I'm not SAYING I picked an Austin hotel BECAUSE it's 3 blocks from a Planet Fitness... BUT.... it is

Unrelated to anything but Interesting quote I heard today: More Americans died in the Civil War than in any other US involved war COMBINED. Damn.

Sleep well all,
C-

[almostgone]

Because I'd hate to make you a liar AG, I'll order at least a pound... At a time.
C-

Much appreciated, C! Don't let them trim the fat off either. That's pure flavor!

[hammerheart]

My lats aren't sore today and that has me disappointed, hope DOMS to hit later in the day. Traps are though, pulling those rest pauses elicited some burn.

Chest tonight.

[cousinmuscles]

Last night's training

Squats 190x6 PR +2 reps since last time I did 190
Speed pulls 130x3,3,3

Felt like crap before training but grinded through it. Nose popped at first rep had to wipe a pool of blood when I did the squat set lol

[guitarzan]

Because I'd hate to make you a liar AG, I'll order at least a pound... At a time.



Just curious, How much clen are you taking?

I hit legs tonight:
Warmup: extensions and curls
Leg press x5
Hack squat machine x4
Front squats x4
BB lunges x3
Calf press x4
Ab machine x4
Leg raises x4

15 mins on the elliptical.

Regarding my Texas trip: I'm not SAYING I picked an Austin hotel BECAUSE it's 3 blocks from a Planet Fitness... BUT.... it is

Unrelated to anything but Interesting quote I heard today: More Americans died in the Civil War than in any other US involved war COMBINED. Damn.

Sleep well all,
C-

I've worked my way up to 100 mcg

[BG]

It's back day, posterior chain has yet to recover, again can't do both deads and heavy leg work on same week, so I'll be skipping deads tonight.

Focusing on rowing instead, leaving pulldowns for last if anything.

This is the sort of seated row machine we got at gym (not as fancy and much older), is it worth using?

Absolute definite for me. I do a set for each grip in a row, so thats three sets at one weight and I do three different weights, so 9 sets all together. I usually start with that, not going crazy with weight but slow tight movements. Then I move on to the heavy more compound movements. Great way to get a real good pump in the beginning. I do three sets in a row, then take a break.

[hammerheart]

Absolute definite for me. I do a set for each grip in a row, so thats three sets at one weight and I do three different weights, so 9 sets all together. I usually start with that, not going crazy with weight but slow tight movements. Then I move on to the heavy more compound movements. Great way to get a real good pump in the beginning. I do three sets in a row, then take a break.

Noted. I did only one set and it felt brutal, left the gym with nothing in the tank. Yet I don't feel like I have trained lats at all last night. Guess I got pretty strong lats but struggle to activate them, or got some other limiting factor in the compound moves.

It's kind of embarrassing that newcomers skinny guys lift as much as me in the pulldowns.

[guitarzan]

Slowly making progress. Though I would rather lose the fat faster, I know lose skin would be a issue. I've finally gotten in a groove with recomp, so I'm happy I'm slowly losing fat, but adding muscle too

[KittyO1]

Noted. I did only one set and it felt brutal, left the gym with nothing in the tank. Yet I don't feel like I have trained lats at all last night. Guess I got pretty strong lats but struggle to activate them, or got some other limiting factor in the compound moves.

It's kind of embarrassing that newcomers skinny guys lift as much as me in the pulldowns.

Remind me...Do you do pull-ups or just pulldowns and rows?

Slowly making progress. Though I would rather lose the fat faster, I know lose skin would be a issue. I've finally gotten in a groove with recomp, so I'm happy I'm slowly losing fat, but adding muscle too

I think you’re coming along very nicely!





“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11‬ *NLT‬‬

[KittyO1]

Did lower body work today. Still steering always from the deads probably for the rest of the week due to the lower thoracic/pirifomis not fully healed from last week.

Workout was brutal! Made the mistake of wearing blue. Think I’ll have to stick to all black to hide some of the ridiculous amount of sweat! Lol

Leg press
Rev lunges
BB Hip thrusts
Jump squats
Banded lateral squat walks
Leg extensions/curls
Calf work & Ab work

Finished with 20 mins of LISS.

Legs are already sore!




“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11‬ *NLT‬‬

[almostgone]

Did lower body work today. Still steering always from the deads probably for the rest of the week due to the lower thoracic/pirifomis not fully healed from last week.

Workout was brutal! Made the mistake of wearing blue. Think I’ll have to stick to all black to hide some of the ridiculous amount of sweat! Lol

Leg press
Rev lunges
BB Hip thrusts
Jump squats
Banded lateral squat walks
Leg extensions/curls
Calf work & Ab work

Finished with 20 mins of LISS.

Legs are already sore!




“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11‬ *NLT‬‬

No way!!! Light grey; let the sweat show.

[hammerheart]

Remind me...Do you do pull-ups or just pulldowns and rows?‬‬

Well never mind my lats are sore by now. I can rejoice lol.

Just switched from mainly pulldowns to more rowing.

BTW, I just bought one of those compression shorts from UA and they are blue (royal). Why mind to show the sweat or not?

[BG]

Ultimately that’s the best way for you.

Slowly making progress. Though I would rather lose the fat faster, I know lose skin would be a issue. I've finally gotten in a groove with recomp, so I'm happy I'm slowly losing fat, but adding muscle too

[BG]

It happens, keep at it and it will catch up.

Noted. I did only one set and it felt brutal, left the gym with nothing in the tank. Yet I don't feel like I have trained lats at all last night. Guess I got pretty strong lats but struggle to activate them, or got some other limiting factor in the compound moves.

It's kind of embarrassing that newcomers skinny guys lift as much as me in the pulldowns.

[hammerheart]

Did chest few hrs ago, session was meh. Suffered some grip limitation, was doing fine until Monday morning then some relative weakness set in. Go figure.

Ches flies machine 2 wu
BB flat press 2 wu

Incline DB press 1 feel 2 wo
Incline DB flies 2 wo

Chest flies machine 1 wo
Decline DB press 1 wo

Cables low pec flies 1 wo


Side bends 1x each

[Charlie67]

Evening all,

Arms tonight. I've fallen into switching back and forth from biceps to triceps each exercise, rather than just doing sets of biceps, followed by sets of tris. I'm not sure it's any better, but the pumps seem to last through the whole workout. I'll stick with it for a bit.

Nothing else to really report. Work is incrementally crushing my soul, I'm ready for my little vacation this weekend. While work never really leaves me alone, at least I'm harder to find.

The most challenging thing I'm dealing with is my oldest daughter's first trip to homecoming in a few weeks.... We bought the dress and the shoes, not sure about hair and nails. Pretty sure I'm chauffeur'ing to dinner and the dance, then I'm on pickup duty afterwards. The worst part about this whole thing is that she's just not 5 any more. I wish she were still 5 yrs old. She was PERFECT at 5.... Sigh.

Still reading through Arnold's biography, damn that guy had his shit together.

Time for dinner:
4 eggs
Cup of egg whites
2 cups of oats
Peanut butter

Have a great night folks,
C-

[guitarzan]

Remind me...Do you do pull-ups or just pulldowns and rows?



I think you’re coming along very nicely!





“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11‬ *NLT‬‬

Thanks!

[KittyO1]

No way!!! Light grey; let the sweat show.

Lol oh I did today!

Well never mind my lats are sore by now. I can rejoice lol.

Just switched from mainly pulldowns to more rowing.

BTW, I just bought one of those compression shorts from UA and they are blue (royal). Why mind to show the sweat or not?

That’s great!

I just have moments of being self conscious. Already pretty much the only girl that lifts in my gym and I’m not a size 0 so I don’t care to bring anymore attention to myself! 🤣

Evening all,

Arms tonight. I've fallen into switching back and forth from biceps to triceps each exercise, rather than just doing sets of biceps, followed by sets of tris. I'm not sure it's any better, but the pumps seem to last through the whole workout. I'll stick with it for a bit.

Nothing else to really report. Work is incrementally crushing my soul, I'm ready for my little vacation this weekend. While work never really leaves me alone, at least I'm harder to find.

The most challenging thing I'm dealing with is my oldest daughter's first trip to homecoming in a few weeks.... We bought the dress and the shoes, not sure about hair and nails. Pretty sure I'm chauffeur'ing to dinner and the dance, then I'm on pickup duty afterwards. The worst part about this whole thing is that she's just not 5 any more. I wish she were still 5 yrs old. She was PERFECT at 5.... Sigh.

Still reading through Arnold's biography, damn that guy had his shit together.

Time for dinner:
4 eggs
Cup of water whites
2 cups of oats
Peanut butter

Have a great night folks,
C-

I feel you on wishing your daughter was 5 again! I swear it’s so hard as they get older!! My daughter is a senior this year!



“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:11‬ *NLT‬‬

[guitarzan]

Ultimately that’s the best way for you.

I think so too

[hammerheart]

That’s great!

I just have moments of being self conscious. Already pretty much the only girl that lifts in my gym and I’m not a size 0 so I don’t care to bring anymore attention to myself! ��

‬‬

Strange gym if you are the only one gal training. I'm sure if there were others around you wouldn't feel as "self-conscious"

[hammerheart]

Having troubles with hands. Bit of numb feeling and the paresthesias have worsened. Good thing that today is leg day and don't have to be concerned with grip.

[almostgone]

My lats aren't sore today and that has me disappointed, hope DOMS to hit later in the day. Traps are though, pulling those rest pauses elicited some burn.

Chest tonight.

I incorporated Ms. Kitty's Meadows rows and they really hit the lats very well. If you get the hip on the rowing size higher it most definitely gives you a very long range of movement with a great stretch.
I highly recommend them!

[hammerheart]

Leg's day -

Leg ext 3 wu
hypers 1 wu

Back squats 3 sets at 1xbw (80kg)

Leg press 5 sets

Leg ext 1 working to failure +RPx2

Leg abduction machine 1 wu 1 wo +RPx2

Standing calves 1 wu 2 wo +RPx2

Seated calves 1 wu - bleugh couldn't finish.


Couldn't finish the last set of squats. Was unsettled by a senior member right behind me waving his arms in the air while grinding his teeth.

Not much else to report. Getting more and more attracted to a gal that works full body MWF just about the hour I'm at gym. That, while another one keeps smiling and glancing at my direction quite the often. What do?


Shoulders tomorrow.

[almostgone]

Leg's day -

Leg ext 3 wu
hypers 1 wu

Back squats 3 sets at 1xbw (80kg)

Leg press 5 sets

Leg ext 1 working to failure +RPx2

Leg abduction machine 1 wu 1 wo +RPx2

Standing calves 1 wu 2 wo +RPx2

Seated calves 1 wu - bleugh couldn't finish.


Couldn't finish the last set of squats. Was unsettled by a senior member right behind me waving his arms in the air while grinding his teeth.

Not much else to report. Getting more and more attracted to a gal that works full body MWF just about the hour I'm at gym. That, while another one keeps smiling and glancing at my direction quite the often. What do?

Shoulders tomorrow.

You should strike up a nice conversation with the ladies, but when they are not in the gym at the same time, that's kind of disrespectful, IMHO. Nothing too much, just a nice chat, maybe grab a post workout coffee or whatever y'all drink over there. See how things progress.