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Wow...really interesting point of view on dieting. Would you say that genetics play a role in allowing you to approach your diet with more "feel", or is it simply a bi-product of doing what it takes in the gym to ensure that you're fairly lean all year round?
Haha! Nice! I like!
Eric
I think your approach in doing this together both eating , your cardio "Dates" etc is very cool , looking forward to watching this progress , looking great guys !!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ange_d
I don't think it has anything to with genetics, I think it's just experience. Steve and I have both been in this game a long time. We know our bodies and we know calories. Staying lean all year round definitely helps and allows these "cheats" here and there.[/I]Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveFinistauri
I personally think genetics play a role in what you look like - but not so much how one responds to a diet - give or take a little. I too often here the saying "all our bodies are different" or "this diet didn't work for me, I need to do ____ instead". I don't know one person who started eating like me who didn't see results. I am not saying my way is the BEST way, but it does work. My motto is more use an approach that you find easiest. If that is keto, go for it, but if keto is too hard for you, then its not the way to do it. Bodybuilding is one thing - yes, we need to get ripped, and no its not easy...but the whole lifestyle thing of staying lean etc should be done in a way that you are comfortable and not suffering. There is a reason that most dieters are yo-yo dieters...while they are losing weight, they are depriving, and they aren't eating in a way that they can sustain long term. The way I eat is easier to sustain mentally (at least for me)....Quote:
Originally Posted by ange_d
Honestly, in a lot of ways its similar to the weight watchers approach! lol...(as bad as I hate to admit it)...You know, the point system? Ie - eat the cake, but thats alot of points, etc.... Yes, throughout my prep I probably will have consumed an extra 100 calories per day on average of something the normal person would be shocked to see on a bodybuilder diet. But again, keeps me sane. Telling yourself you can't have something only means you want it more. 12 years ago, when I first started competing I didn't allow myself ANYTHING on a no-no list. What happened after? I am sure I am not alone here, but I started making mental lists of things I craved during the diet that I could eat after it was over. Didn't take more than a week to go through that list, but after the week was done I looked worse than I did 12 weeks out. Live and learn....now I don't restrict foods (well, I still do - I mean, I am not getting lean eating pizza everyday!) ... but I don't take it to extremes anymore, and funny part is, I get leaner every show and have an easier time with the diet each time. And not only that, I stay leaner long after the show.
Good stuff guys......It is fun reading your journals as a couple, as countrychic and i are in the lifestyle big time and together through it all as well....I find it rewarding, fun, and even exciting watching your partner and yourself improving and killing goals in the process...It is good to read from some folks that have that commonality that is fairly rare these days....
It gives a lot of conversations and thoughts and reaching goals together, all very healthy IMO...Plus there is nothing more relaxing than snuggling in watching some good shows or movies after a long week of working very hard together!! And partaking in a well deserved meal together...
We dont put our BB life in front of social activities either, we eat what is there, and just make up for it the next day as you say....Nothing more annoying than someone cringing, and turning up their nose because they think they are curing world disease, when all they are doing is dieting....lol....
Keep up the great work...
Countrychic and i may do a log for fall contest....except we are the extreme west coast as far as geography....lolol:o
would be interested in that log for the same reasons...do it up! West coast edition!Quote:
Originally Posted by ironwill
I like your approach.
Holy crap. I have the worst friggen luck.
I was walking my 70 pounds front speaker accross the room, and it sorta slipped under my hand and fell on my bare feet. corner of it landed straight across my big toe. I screamed like you wouldn't believe...pain lasted a good minute or so of non stop moaning. Blood dripping, the whole bit. Ange was right there when it happened. Finally able to make it to the tub to clean out some of the blood and see what was up.
Cracked right through at the base of my big toe. Only attached one 1 side by the looks of it, and it seems like i've exposed about 1/4 inch of nail at the base that i never knew existed....like the skin pulled back??? Not sure if broken...feels as though it is. Set back # 2 already?
Will obviously be taking a little more time from squatting. I hope to be back in the gym at least doing somwthing. Short term goal. Maybe sleep an hour tonight?
FFFFFUUUUU, that really sucks!!!!!! :(
Ice time + anti-pain pills, keep it higher then the rest of the body time, you already know that obviously.
When you'll get a bit better your head is not there obviously, I have a HIT training (I got from Arthur Jone's) I can share, that I did after my second competition, only 2 set, minimal of time, but extremely effective, no squats.
Eric
Had a difficult sleep, but Ange said I was snoring, so I at least got a couple hours in there I am sure.
Surprisingly it isn't very painful right now. Was at about 3am, when I guess my Ibuprofen's started running out. Haven't looked at it since the 2nd time wrapping it up, but I am sure it's not the prettiest thing. Hoping the docs just freeze the sucker, rip the rest of the nail off and let the healing begin. I am about 90% sure it isn't broken.
Tough break, Steve. Glad to hear it doesn't sound as if it's broken.
Keep grinding!
Doesnt it seem like that is the way.....Damn Steve...Good luck with the healing......
BTW, i had no idea you held so much mass in offseason, good on ya....I have only seen you looking like a ripped ,peeled human anatomy chart....Looks good bro, no homo!!:hu
doc said the nail will fall off in its own for sure. She didn't think it was broken either but she was surprised what it looked like after taking off my sock, lol..
I will be back in gym tomorrow for some back, sunday shoulders triceps biceps, monday hoping I can get something in the way if legs. No squats this week, lol
My goooodness I cringed reading that about your toe....I bet some prime words were being said. Goodluck with the healing.
Ang, you look fantastic....post baby to boot, good on ya girl, I look forward to watching your journey!! :)
Just another check-in...Had no trouble getting into the gym once I could put the shoe on with no laces, lol...Each day is better, but each day I get more and more confused about whats going to happen to the toe. Thankfully, its only my toe. Doctor said I could have easily broken my foot had it landed a bit higher up. Didn't even think about that, but its true. I have to consider myself lucky. Anyway:
Lifts are going well, ange and I had a very intense shoulder workout. I've really been doing a lot more smith machine than I have in the past. I always been against doing them in favor of dumbells (ie stability, etc), but when you have injuries, I think its good to switch things up. I honestly never had a better pump in the delts ever just by doing this new movement. I've also been using smith for bench (incline and decline) and same theory there. Will be good to get back to flat benching fully though. The other day I tried my first flat bench in a while without the sling shot, and managed 275x12. I was quite pleased with that considering it felt awkward and was at the gym with the crazy bent and thick bars... I figure I will easily get 3 plates for a dozen in a couple weeks - as long as my weight doesn't continue to drop...
Today was the first time my scale showed sub 180...179.8! eek...A bit lighter than I want to be, and this after having a hefty cheat meal on the weekend. My scale IS 2 pounds or so light, so I am still not officially under 180, but pretty close. My brother measured my body fat on the weekend at 9.9%. He is quite strict too when he measures, and I find he's the closest I get to a true bodyfat reading. For example, most people who saw me in the gym would assume I am 6%, but that's just jokes. Honestly, I think I am closer to 12%, but who cares really! All I know is I have about 7-9 pounds of pure lard to shed before I look like I did in sudbury and I got about 1-2 more pounds to really come where I want to be. My goal (guess) is 170 on stage.
This puts me 10 pounds up in 2 years. Not shabby!
Pun intended? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveFinistauri
Good work Steve...keep it up!
What does a cheat meal for you look like?
Do you ever do the "everything you can get your hands on" cheat meal?
I've done that type of cheat meal in the past, but only after realizing I was too lean too early and maintaining that level of leaness without re-feeding was simply a no no for me. I have never really been a fan of cheat meals, and favored more or less eating a constant supply of calories to keep myself always feeling "good" rather than have a few days of feeling great followed by some really hard days.
However, my contest prep approached seem to evolve and this whole cheating thing really has helped me feel 'normal'. With family life, etc, I find it too difficult to always be 'on target' so by allowing a normal meal here and there, it really helps when dealing with people who may not understand the whole diet. Basically allows me to feel normal rather than isolated! FOR EXAMPLE: superbowl party this weekend, I won't be eating salad and tuna :)
That said, my cheat meal was actually nothing crazy. I ended up eating about 1kg of extra lean ground turkey in the form of meatballs that Ange cooked up, 2 cups of cooked rice, and some peas/corn. Followed up by about 750 calories of brownies :)
I TRY not to cheat on things that are deep fried, etc, but some pizza or nachos here and there isn't out of the question! Again, I only cheat if I really think I need it. And I never overdo it. I don't feel its healthy to feed yourself to the point where you don't want more.
This thread seems to be implying contest prep dieting is easy for us....so not true. Just because there are a few "cheats" here and there it doesn't mean we don't suffer. Most days are very little carbs, high fats, and protein. I go to bed hungry every night, not starving but empty feeling. Every afternoon now I get very cranky and having 2 babies around makes it tough.
I always forget how little I need to eat and how hungry I need to be to get ripped. I am eating 15-1600 cal's a day and that is starting to be too much (no cardio). It's funny how I could ever forget but every prep I go through the same realization process. My AS is attacking my hip this time around so cardio will have to wait until I have less inflammation and pain. So have to cut cal's back to the 1300 range and see what happens. I am right on track but have to step it up a bit if I want to compete close to as lean as I was at Nationals in 2010. My main goal in every prep is to improve on my past physique. Ideally I would like to be as lean as last time but a little smaller and less round looking in my upper body. Not much I can do about that though, we found my high school prom photo in which I weighed not much more than 100lbs skinny-fat and I even had capped delts then. Just my genetics I guess, not complaining though!
I will post pic's this weekend...exactly 6 months post baby #2.
Thanks for the clarification Ange...I think the thread followers were secretly starting to hate you for your "easy" diet down haha.
hahaha...yeah, easy is definitely not the word to describe the dieting feeling...Easy describes me knowing what I have to do. AS IN: it's easy for me to know what needs to be done to get ripped. Been doing it so many times now, it just becomes 'easy'... But yeah, dieting is never easy, lol.
So far I've had it pretty good though. Only a few odd cranky times, but I personally believe it has MUCH more to do with set backs (toe, back, etc) then it does being on a diet. I think Ange has it worse than me. Chronic pain is not fun. For anyone that feels pain non stop 24/7, you know exactly what I mean. Sure, sometimes we have a nagging injury, but when pain limits every day life (walking to the bathroom, down stairs, sitting on the toilet), it will accumulate to living a miserable life! Ange is a trooper - that is for sure. I feel bad because I complain about this and that, meanwhile she has it probably worse constantly.
SO! Here's hoping the pain symptoms can be controlled somewhat, and we can get to the next 10 weeks. I am confident Ange will look her best. Like she said, it's all about imporving.
you guys are looking incredible! great improvements Steve. I look forward to seeing you on stage in April. I may test judge that show??
Here are some pic's 6 months exactly post baby #2. Certainly not show shape but I think I am right on track. Time to step it up a notch...stricter diet and cardio starting this week!
Don't kill me Steve... but your wife looks hot! Nice work, can't even tell you've had a baby just recently!
^ lol... yes, she's a looker!!
This is the part where it starts getting tough though I think, mentally / physically... Shifting from "you look insane for someone who just had a baby" to... "you look insane" period! :)
I think she's well on her way...Soon those abs will pop out, and I will be jealous every morning trying to flex mine next to hers.
I was going to wait until 7 weeks out to post official pre-contest in my underwear shots, which is what I did last time for sudbury...I feel as though I am apporaching that leanness now, which is good because I still have 3 weeks to go before I need to be comparable to that. The good news is as predicted, the initial water is out and now the minor changes is pure fat loss. I am still holding above 180, and in fact closer to 185 now. Here's one of me in the gym yesterday...I am puzzled as to why I see imbalance in my arm. I know I've had an injury to my right delt which has caused a lot of trouble in my workouts, but I am hoping its just lighting or the pose I am in ... I didn't notice until just now so most likely thats it - if not, no concern - muscle memory will do its work over the next 10 weeks because the injury is now at 98%, and I am having WAY better workouts now. EX: bench 295 for 12 with a major hamstring cramp on my 10th rep which made me do the last two reps with one leg striaght up in the air. I think in a few weeks I'll get the 3 plates for 15 that I had as a goal for myself for the last 2 years...
Attachment 28891
Dude your arms are huge! They seems way bigger then in your avatar's picture! For the difference in size it might be the light, but to be sure put the tape on it and you'll see right away if left is bigger!
Eric
I see what you mean Steve, but you are definitlely holding the shoulder in a different position, and delt is a bit smaller, or so appears......I am in the exact same boat, but left side, my frigging delt is bad injured as well for the past 6 weeks or so, and i am seeing it in my delt size and bicep size. Curling an 80 lb DB on right, and a 40 if im lucky on the left lately, can lift more, but it is brutally painfull and want it to heal up.......Not to hijack, just relating as it is a bugger...
As you said muscle memory will clear you up in the next while as you regain 100%.....
I see the lady in blue in background trying to immitate you....The best form of flattery is imitation bro!!!lol...;^)
Yeah, I was looking at again in the gym today just to see what was up...Must be holding the pose wrong...I remember getting a little cramp waiting for ange to take the pic, lol...Definitely no imbalances from what I saw in gym today. I am certainly equally strong on both arms.
PS: my avatar is 2 years ago, on stage dehydrated to the max at about 160 pounds. The other is at 185, so.... :)
HAHAH! I totally didn't even notice that... I think she's competition for Ange, no??Quote:
Originally Posted by ironwill
So, good news today - my first day doing legs since the busted toe. And essentially the first day doing legs since before I busted my back up and had to rehab that. What an amazing feeling to get back to the office and after sitting for about 30 minutes and needing to get up to pee, barely being able to get there. My legs are already intensely sore, contracting, cramping, the whole bit. I love it...A first sign to really knowing that these next 10 weeks are going to be awesome as far as working out and progressing. I didn't do squats, but I was able to do leg press, lunges, leg press machine, extensions, calf raises, hams curls with little to no issue. My toe feels weird now from more movement, but its only because the nail is slowly coming off. I can't stress how high the motivation level is after today.
Im looking to go watch a show, i live in Fredericton NB i would like to do a show in Nov of this year. I just wanted to go see one before to see whats its all about. Do you know the Date of the moncton show and where it is.
Here are the shows in your area this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by crysaunders
The Moncton one on the 21st of April is at Mathieu Martin High School, Dieppe, NB
More info on the nbpfa.com website
Attachment 28897
So another very good workout. Got a chance to get a good chest workout in with my brother.
First, I have to say that a few months ago, when I first began taking the cygen supplements, I really felt as though decimate + toragen was having a very positive effect on my workouts. At the time, it was difficult to know for sure just how much each of them individually had on my workouts because I began taking them at the same time and it was a period where I had just recovered from injuries and was going to be making decent gains regardless. SO that brings me to now - I have only taken decimate consistently since then along with protein, etc. Just this past week I decided to give the toragen another go. I wanted to accurately guage just how much it impacted my workouts. I honestly believe toragen is responsible for all the strength increases I've been seeing this past week. Its just too much coincidence.
I am now doing 295 for 12 (flat bench) in the gym with the crap bar, which I have consistenly been 20 pounds weeker in. This means I am at 3 plates for 12 with a good bar. That is by far the strongest I have been. This at a bodyweight of about 182-183 in the morning.
We've both started our cardio sessions. 2 days in a row at 40 minutes. Treadmill for me at a very slow pace...just easing my way into it really for now. Pretty cool though doing cardio in front of a 110 inch screen! I'll need to get pictures of our setup.
Thanks for the detailed feedback on the supplements, Steve. Happy to hear that you're noticing a difference. Keep it up!
Make wanna try the toragen! How much caps per day do you take and for how long do you take/recommend ?
Eric
Eric,
We recommend taking 2 capsules (600mg) pre-workout on training days, and 1 capsule (300mg) 2x a day on non-training days. The clinical study conducted, used previously strength trained males at a body weight of approx. 180lbs, so Steve is right in that sweet spot. For someone over 200lbs, we've found that increasing the dosage to 900mg/day produces greater strength increases.
The clinical study was conducted over an 8-week period, so this is the amount of time we recommend people use the product for to get best results.
I take 3 caps about 1.5 hour pre-workout. I pretty much train every day now, so I am going to stick with that dose from here on out. I don't always say that more is better, but you know how it goes...Sometimes you just take a little extra, lol :) - especially now that I am in pre contest mode!
Ange had a chance to come train with me yesterday, made for a way funner workout! We had family able to babysit for a few hours, and even though its a 35 minute drive for her to see me at the goodlife near my work, I think it was worth it! I was surprised how good she is looking. I guess you get used to seeing yourself in good lighting and you assume you are shredded...I see girls in my gym and always think, yep - they are lean, they are doing well...until Ange shows up and makes you think...WOW - they're way off!
I was just under 180 on my scale this morning...179.8. This means I am about 181 to 182 now in the morning. I was really dehydrated, but looking really good for this far out. Pics this weekend. We're just waiting for there to actually be sunlight when we wake up so we can take some morning pics.