Addicted much? hope so =P

[TopHatPlus]

I'm thinking this could be a mental block on your part here TP.I can't see how could use your ankles,knees and hips for cycling with some impact added in and worry about squatting.What I do know is that people who do not get into at least a moderately deep squat stance also get pretty stiff don't they?

I appriciate your concerns. I have been tampering with this for about 6 years now to find something that works. When i bike its usually VERY low impact. When i mountain bike i run a $3000+ mountain bike with 5.5" on the front and 5" on the back of Fox custom air ride suspension that is tuned up for my weight so drops upto 3' really have no impact on me, on that note i am never doing drops of 3' or any kind its ussually just fast flowing trails for 10 or so kms. When im on the road i run a Kona Jake the snake cycle cross bike and avoid pot holes so i don't buckle my rims >_< I bike with higher revolutions per minute then most riders and keep a very consistant and even pace. The low impact motion combined with clipless pedals/shoes keeps a nice uniform motion thats very very good for my joints.

Unicycle... its a little different i am running low pressure in my tires (around 12 psi) so the downhill tires side walls become the shock absorption but it does cause me a lot of hip pain... its just so damn fun! Trials unicycling... i have hopped off 2' ledges and it is brutal but.... so much fun....


I have had some good workouts! Weighed in at 146 lbs today. Absolutely kills some 85 lb dumb bell sitting shoulder press with full range of motion (touched my shoulder to full extension) with no spotter and re racked without touching the ground for 3 reps! I was on fire!!! I am getting some intense vains showing that i havent had before, like tricep and my bicep vain is getting SO much better! The visual effe t of my vains popping is a mental stimulus for me for getting pumped and workout harder!

Legs... they keep popping up from you guys as recommendations and i am trying my best! I have done legs the last 2 workouts with some good success's and failures.

Squats - Were a complete terrible fail! I started with the bar and then worked upto 95 pounds, i could not get close to 90 degree angle, and it felt like someone lined my left hip joint with razor blades... the pain was very uncomfortable...

Leg press - I also seem to surprise myself on it. I did just the sled for 5, 1 45 per side for 5 2 45's for 5 and then added another 25 for 3. I have been keeping the outsides of my feet touching the sides of the foot plate, and aligning my foot angle to correspond and keep in line with my knees and hips while i press. I was able to exceed 90 degress both days by quite a bit and went as low as the machine would allow on every rep. I am not going to increase weight beyond this until i can pump out some serious numbers and a few weeks of it with minimal hip discomfort. If all goes well i will take another stab at squats.

[cog]

If leg press works then do leg press.You have to do something for lower body or you will become very unbalanced.

[cog]

I used to do a fair amount of mtn biking in the mtns,I know what it's about.As far as I know from visiting every shop in town,I had the first fully suspended bike in Calgary,92.I took an aluminum Offroad Proflex,replaced the Girven flex stem with Rockshox.Nobody believed in this at the time.Still have this bike.

[TopHatPlus]

Hey cog if you don't mind me asking how much did your first full suspension mountain bike set you back? They were bloody expensive >_<

I have been having some great workouts, Took the weekend off and went upto my uncles house in the haliburton area with my girlfriend and spent tons of time skating on the lake and tobogganing and just have a blast! But with all good things i was back yesterday went to a pretty awesome new years eve perty and hit the gym when i woke up this morning!!

Things to report:
Shoulder press, sitting Dumb Bell - 85 lbs for 3 and i made and attempt at 90 lbs for 3 but only snagged one.
Leg Press - 365 lbs for 3 (3 plates and a 25 per side plus sled) with full ROM down till the rack stops it and then full extension. Shooting for 5 plates
Weight - 150 lbs, not quite as lean as i was but noticing some substancial muscle size gains, finally getting the bicep and tricep vains to the tube look and feeling a ton bigger.


There was a guy i chum with a bit at the gym doing some flat bench and was not eveningly doing the negative rep and dropping it a bit at the end so i mentioned it to him, and another guy at the gym starting beaking off how i know everything and i have no girls swooning all over me at the gym... this guy may be 6' 5" 240 lbs mostly fat but he was working himself into a beat the **** down... Typical meat head i suppose...

Merry christmas and a happy new year to all!

2013 goals - 160 lbs weight, 315 lbs flat bench for 3, 100 lb dumb bell sitting shoulder press for 5, 6 plate leg press with style!

[cog]

[U]I think it was around 2500 I had into it.Around that time I once saw a guy from Colorado with a fully suspended titanium Manitou.

[tex]

hey tophat....if you are interested in strength (which it sounds like you are) you should follow up with the 5/3/1 program by jim wendler that talo recommended.......you could also do some form of WSB (westside barbell)........90lb db shoulder press is awesome for being at 150lbs bodyweight!

[Talo]

I agree with Tex. You need a plan of attack if you want your numbers to go up.

[TopHatPlus]

I have looked into the 5 3 1 workout briefly, i will put more intensive effort into it over the next tiny bit.

Had a good workout today! Spent around 2 hours lifting weights, hit every muscle group, got in my 5 mile sprint on the spin bike, a good 10 minute stretch before i started. hit all my target weights.

Weight gain - i am up to 153 lbs as of today, i am hungry as hell every second of the day... and i am maintaining most of my definition while i am gaining.

Started a new exercise today, mixed martial arts, picked up a pair of 14oz everlast heavy bag boxing gloves, and spent 45 minutes with one of the trainers at the gym learning some of the basics. The leg stuff was really tough on my hips, i was working on a knee jab and it was just painful... we'll see how that goes.. Took a few nice hits in the nose and walked out alive. Went well.

[TopHatPlus]

I have almost burnt myself out... I spent 3 hours working out friday night, mainly focusing on core, shadow boxing and what not, did around 350 sit ups, 150 push ups, and all my ussual weights. I went in on saturday to do some MMA stuff and ended up staying for 3 hours and doing a good shoulder workout. I did shrugs for the first time, on the smith machine, hit 415 for 2 full reps. Then sunday morning was my ussual gym day... byt the end of my workout i was so exhausted it wasn't even funny... So i spent all monday night after work playing minecraft and relaxing, but i was just feeling whipped today. Hit good weights, good form, lots of control... but tired...

So i am thinking about taking all my time at the gym and research outside of the gym, and taking a personal trainer course and trainging some people as a part time after hours job. I am not sure how the best approach would be but i really do enjoy training people.

Whats the best course? I would be doing this after work and weekends etc...

Do's and don'ts?

Any imput is appreciated, thanks!

[tex]

3 hours is a loooooong time to be working out.....do you at least drink a shake during your workout?

[TopHatPlus]

hey 3 hours is a long workout >_< 3 days in a row... it was gettng unsafe!

I have a shake before and after and drink water during. I cramp to easily while i exercise to ingest anything with substance.

[tex]

yeah if you arent used to that amount of training you will burn out really quickly....and i hear you on the shakes during workout.....ive nearly barfed on several occasions hah

[TopHatPlus]

Had a great workout this evening!!! I was so stiff by the time i got done work it was rather uncomfortable to walk down a set of stairs... i got into the gym, did my 10 minutes of stretching, 10 minutes of intense cardio on the spin bike, killed 3 reps 265 lbs decline bar bell bench, 1 rep (did not have a spotter so i was just avoiding and potential injury) 255 lbs bar bell flat bench, 3 reps 225lbs barb bell incline bench. 80 lb dumbel sitting shoulder press for 3 and 70 lbs for 6. did some legs, 1 minute of shadow boxing with 15 lb dumbells, around 100 sit ups (on an exercise ball), 75 or so push ups of varius types (close grip, feet on a ball, regular). Spent about 2 hours at the gym and felt SO good leaving!

Haha yeah Tex, you gotta know how your body works and work through it!!!

[TopHatPlus]

Hello everyone, so my bulk is coming to an end. I am fairly glad to... i am not nearly as lean as i once was and i must say i really don't like not feeling ripped... I will post later on my gains and experience with it.

One thing i was wondering about is the natural testosterone boosters.The universal N1 T looks pretty decent but i haven't been able to find a lot on them?

Pros?
cons?

[cog]

If test boosters worked docs would prescribe them.

[tex]

If test boosters worked docs would prescribe them.x2

[TopHatPlus]

I asked, you replied, advice taken. Makes sense!

So i have been busy... working out a lot, missed 2 gym days in the last week due to weather and valentines day, but i am making up for it.
(all reps were with full range of motion, touched my chest or shoulders to full extension just before your elbows lock)
PB this week:
Flat bench bar bell: 3 reps @ 275lbs
Decline Bench bar bell: 3 reps @ 275lbs
Incline Bench bar bell: 3 reps @ 225 lbs (there three benches were in sequence on the same day)
Sitting shoulder press dumb bell: 3 reps @ 90 lbs per hand
Cable low rows sitting: 5 reps @ 210 lbs
Dips (with belt only weight added): 5 reps @ 165 lbs
Cable Lat pulldowns: 5 reps @ 210 lbs
Cable rope tricep workout thingy: 10 reps @ 110 lbs
Dumb bell flat bench: 8 reps @ 100 lbs per hand

i combine mix and use a lot of chin ups both wide and close grip, push ups both wide and close grip, sit up on a exercise ball with around 70 per workout, one handed push ups, "man ups" my push ups holind myself on a 45 degree angle on the dip rack for around 15 reps per workout. And a few other things.

My average weekly diet:

Breakfast

Protein shake - 1/2 cup 2% milk, 1 scoop black cherry chapmans ice cream, 1 scoop protein powder (28g protein,1.5 gram carbs, 1g fat)

Lunch - 2x buns with a slice of chicken and a hint of mayo (hell mans)

Dinner -

Workout nights: 1x protein shake before and 1x protein shake after the gym, identical mixture to breakfast

The in between nights - I usually stay at my parents, lots of casseroles, meat potato and veggies, fajitas, chicken ceasar raps, etc the usual stuff. Half decent as far as healthy ingredients so i work on portion control (i can eat and abundant amount of food)

Weighed in today at 152 lbs. I am down from 157 when i finished my bulking. I am feeling so much better having lost so much water weight.... my psychological state was going insane... i just couldn't mentally handle not looking shredded all the time... So as spring approaches the push is on...!

[TopHatPlus]

I have been very very busy lately. Work has been insanely busy... Girlfriend issues... and i must say taking personal life drama into the gym can really ruin a workout...

I have been working on doing as much unicycling as i can, although not a lot... I just purchased a new camera (camcorder) so i can film better videos, and for my works youtube channel which is doing quite well.

Here is my latest unicycling video with my brither and myself riding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO4Ti4iwUXA

My workouts have been all over the map... but on a good day... things happen.. like 315 lbs on the decline bench for 2 reps, and feeling amazing! 95 lb dumb bell sitting shoulder press iwth full range of motion for 5 reps. I have been working on leaning out some recently, but not as drastically as i used to in the past. I am currently sitting at 153.2 lbs.

For those of you who do and those who don't i manufacture house trailers for a living. The highest quality and the lightest weight in north america. One of our recent videos has been sparking a fair bit of attention as it would not seem to be possible. We had a guy drive up from Kansas city with a Mini Cooper S and pick up a 2006 8' Lil El he had purchased used from us. It weighs in at 750 lbs. His car did very well towing it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHJCA06cQ90

[cog]

Are you sure lightweight construction is good for a trailer?What if big guys drink and fight in it?

[tex]

Are you sure lightweight construction is good for a trailer?What if big guys drink and fight in it? lol!

[TopHatPlus]

We have had driver error flip them at 120 km/h on the 400 series highways and not even break a window, just tossed there dished out of the overhead cabinets and scratches on the exterior. We build the strongest in the industry =D

Quick update, been busy... working 60-70 hours week... we are having customers drive from florida, battlefeild saskatchewan, and 3 from BC to pick up there trailers... we are running a few weeks behind due to the insane amounts of business...

Have not missed a workout, and my workouts have been good, consistently smashing out 315 lbs on the decline bar bell bench for 2-3 reps. with 5 being my personal best. I am consistently hitting 95 lb dumb bells on the sitting shoulder press for 5. I have not been spending quite as much time at the gym for my workouts as i had been, i have been ditching after about 1.5 hours to go unicycling or biking >_< Did a 20 km unicycle ride the other day.... what the hell haha its actually easier on the hills.... got my first stretch mark in the arm pit region... inevitable signs of progress >_< A new slew of supplements... all is good.

[TopHatPlus]

Hello everyone

I have not posted in a while and i guess i have come to the conclusion that no news is good news. Generally means i am busy. (its also not nice to post how awesome i feel and how well my life is going... not everyone can handle it on a regular basis)

The gym - apparently i do this? Been keeping 100% true to my every other day routine for almost 3 years. I have been achieving large increments of success in both the physical and social aspects of the gym.

Person bests:
Flat bench - 285 lbs x 4
Decline bench - 335 x 3
Incline - 235 x 5
Dumb bell sitting shoulder press - 95 lbs (per hand) x 7
Barbell standing shoulder press - 170 x 5
Hand stand push ups (leaning against a wall) 25 reps
Inverted push ups on the roman chair - 15 consecutive but 70 total in a workout
Lateral pull downs (cable) - 250 lbs x 5 (you should see me hook my legs on the bench and get myself down and under the knee supports.. its about a 2 minute procedure involving a lot of grunting)
Low rows (cable) - 250 x 5 (close hand)
Chin ups - 35 consecutive 90 in a total workout (all done wide arm (wide arm = my elbows are always wider then 90 degree))

there is obviously good days and bad days but those are my bests, a lot of which all tend to happen on the same day? A good day = a good workout, but for some reason when i am dead tired from a 12+ hour labour intensive work day i get pumped on animal rage and just obliterate weights? (not com paining)

What i have learned -

I have come to many revelations in the gym :

1: a 260 lb weight lifter benching 300lbs is a lazy sack of sh@t and thus for a grotesquely inferior athlete
2: Everyone is a professional trainer so you will never teach them anything
3: The only intense athletes at my gym at 40-50 year old woman who are so fit i am actually intimidated and grotesquely attracted to them all at once...
4: All the supplements in the world do not mean anything with out a solid night sleep
5: Girls are trouble
6: The only advantage a athlete can have is a mental drive
7: With all the issues i had to deal with physically i am actually EXTREMELY genetically gifted when it comes to athletic potential
8: People find me overwhelming, to fast moving to keep up with
9: Telling people your problems is irrelevant, although people are polite and ask no one cares
10: A good set of headphones turns your life into a master piece theatre

Work -

We are currently booking December of 2014 for 2015 model delivery with several slots sold in the spring of 2015... I worked 70-80 hours a week for over 5 months to get my 3 weeks paid vacation time, and i made sure to be at the gym first thign in the morning and out on the bike on my in between days and after the gym. We launching our 2014 production year tomorrow (a production year runs from Sept - Aug then we take 3 weeks holidays) and are set for a INCREDIBLE year! Very excited about all of this!

[cog]

Which one is the vid of you in the gym?

[TopHatPlus]

No videos, you want to see the magic come for a workout =D Then we will go unicycling

I just got off 3 weeks holidays... How would one spend time off work (paid of course... i do have the best job ever...)

Workouts at 8 am every other day, followed by 30 km worth of mountain biking, and 30 km of mountain biking on the in between days... now my thighs don't fit in my pants...

[cog]

Seriously,you should make a vid.If you can make them uni cycling the gym should be no problem.Some would love to see those dips for sure.

[TopHatPlus]

I would love to make a video! I have some exceptional camera equipment to do it, but my gym has a NO picture NO video policy... "privacy issues" for other members. If any one has a great gym that i can come do it at let me know, i will come do a few workouts there to get myself acquanted with the gym and then get some footage.