(06-20-2018, 12:36 AM)Scott Stevenson Wrote: I suspect a few people are expecting me to post a mini-novella here in response, but first things first:
Nordan - What are your goals (long and short-term) and are you progressing towards them (physique / body comp. wise and in terms of gym performance / strength?...)
(If you're not making good progress, then that can definitely knock down your enthusiasm for training... So, let's start with that.)
-Scott
Hi Scott, thanks for the reply.
My goal is to gain some serious muscle, and I have set myself out to be in a caloric surplus for an extended amount of time, I am aiming for 1 to 2 years at a push which is why I am utilising the slow and steady approach (0.25 - .5lb max per week) rather than gaining 1-2lbs a week approach. I used to get contest ready (natural) every year but felt the improvements made in the time being off-season weren't good enough, which is probably down to spending too little time gaining, getting scared I was too fat and then dieting down, repeat. I say all this and these different phrases as if I am a competitive bodybuilder but it is purely just to look good due to being bullied for the way I looked at school (over 10-12 years ago now) but it still unfortunately has had an everlasting effect. Of course I love my training and I am so passionate about it, its like a huge part of my life.. If I don't train I start going crazy and feel lost LOL.
Progress wise, for the amount of fat that I feel I have gained amongst my midsection I was kind of hoping for some bigger measurements upon measuring. In my response to Altamir above I mention only gaining .75- 1 inch at a push on my thighs, which I don't know if that's good for such a small increase in weight (10lbs approx). You're probably thinking "geez, what's this guy expecting, 5+ inches?". Tbh no, not 5 inches that's realistically impossible lol but I was hoping more so around 1.25-1.5. This is probably a body part which has grown noticeably if that makes sense, hence why I decided to measure it. Upon reflection and finding out it was so minimal, you can bet that I didn't measure anything else purely because I would feel disheartened and let down, so I did myself a favour mentally and didn't bother.
I am a numbers guy so I have a certain number in mind which I want my body parts to hit, regardless if it looks good/massive to other people at a certain measurement or not if it aint hit that number then it isn't good enough to me.
Bodybuilding, its very much a mental game and tbh a game that I have been losing for 8 years.. I still absolutely love it regardless though even though times it gets me down, like having to take time off, injuries, motivation slumps etc. I am just trying to figure out whats up so I can revitalise my love for the game.
(06-20-2018, 01:25 AM)Pumped340 Wrote: I think Altamir basically covered it. I like the idea of 3 blast 1 cruise personally. I just finished my 5th week straight and definitely feeling the need for my cruise soon.
Altamir, when you do 4 or 5 weeks how long is your intensive cruise? I just don't like the idea of having a non-weekly schedule like a 5 day intensive cruise where you're then trying to lift for 2/3 of that time (I guess 2 MR workouts in the first 3 days?) and then you get started with your next blast in the middle of the week, it's awkward from a timing standpoint. Personally I prefer to keep things clean cut in that regard. Even if I did 4 or 5 weeks I'd probably still do a 1 week intensive cruise to make things work in that way.
**Note** when I say I don't like it I don't mean because it's not a good method. Scott made it that way for a reason. It just makes it hard from a scheduling standpoint and I find the rotation changing midweek to be awkward personally. I usually only have 3-4 specific days per week I can workout.
I agree with you here, I hate having to end my cruise mid week. It screws everything up timing wise, this could be a reason mentally why I prefer to do 3 or 6 weeks as it gives you a bang on 1 week or 2 week cruise.