Walking Beast's Journal

[Walking Beast]

I can't do any DB fly's or pull ups anymore due to shoulder injuries. However, I can do shrugs, laterals, and all types of rows. I feel your pain, Beast. But the good deal is that you can still train with movements that don't cause pain. You must simply adjust to what your body is telling you. Nowadays, I train legs and shoulders every 10-12 days, but I am still making progress with size. It's also going to be the nutrition as a major factor. And if you can get in a 30-60 min nap during the day, then this will be VERY beneficial for growth, repair and recovery.

Agree. I dont find it neccesary to work within a seven day structure anymore, as far as getting all muscles trained within that time period. When you step back to think about it, that is a very rigid structure based only on the typical division of time that people use. I have done it for a very long time but later I realised that things dont need to line up in that way. There is always many option to hit all body parts. I just try to hit all the main muscles and then from that point I may try to add in some of the extra but less important movements. If I can only do one exercise for a muscle I will make sure its done with the same intensity, regardless of the movement.

KILL THAT SHIT

[Walking Beast]

Arms


Nothing special today, but despite being in a downsizing phase due to strain and eating less (staying clean) , arms are still staying around 19 cold and 19 1/2 pumped once I got home and was less pumped, so likely still 19 3/4 in the gym pumped. Which is not bad for me since I am getting leaner now and waist is down into the low 37 range.

My smaller periods are slowly getting larger and larger each year while getting leaner, so when I hit my growth phases they should be that much more effective.

Eating somewhat less and training less intensely and frequently , lighter,
due to strained left shoulder at the moment. Not going to failure and taking it to the limit with my shoulder and leaving when the pain flares up in the left side to a good degree.

Chest around 52 measuring myself.
Waist was in the 37 1/2 or slightly lower range upon waking as
well. So leaner definately. So its not all bad.

I will try to maintain some type of training to maintain what I
can and heal at the same time, if i cannot heal while training
i will fit in some more breaks as a last resort,before starting

my next growth phase.
Its strange how I percieve myself. Whenever my shoulders appear
smaller it makes me feel especially small. However I realized
my arms have also been at an all time high as well and they are
now making the shoulders look different in proportion to the
arm. So its possible they didnt shrink or shrink much but my
arms are dwarving them more.

Back looks horrible to me and chest looks less full in my mind
but for some reason its still 52 inches. Got to just keep
killin that shit and not analyse too much

(215 lbs before meals)

Everything very strict with a focus on holding getting strong contractions and holding some, squeezing hard.

At home before gym: (testing my shoulder with what I have here)

25 lb dumbbells alt db curl

25x30

into

25x10 hammer curls

into

25x15 laterals no rest
-------


same

25x25
25x15 hammers
25x15 laterals
no rest
----

At the gym:

incline dumbbell curls

35x30
50x8 (very shortly after)

DB laterals

35x20

alt db curl

35x9

v bar press downs (no rest til line)

KILOGRAMS

35x70
72x25
95x10

into alt db curls

45x10

into

hammer curls

45x5

no rest
-----
curved bar pressdowns

72x10-15

45x8 alt db curls no rest
----
cb presdowns

95x20

v bar pressdowns

95x8

incline db curls

50x11

cb pressdowns

92x15

hammer curls

50x11

into

50x3 alt db curl no rest
-----
db laterals

45x20

v bar pd

95x20

concentration curl on bench

50x10 on right arm, 50x5 on left (shoulder strain)

V bar pressdowns

95 kilograms plus 15 lbs x20

into

40x8 alt db curl

no rest
------

db lterals

45x20

concentration curl on bench

70x6-7 on right arm only

alt db curls

30x17

alt db curls

55x8 right arm only

into

55x5 right arm only

no rest
-------
alt db curl

50x11 right arm only

incline db curls

40x15 both arms again

v bar pressdowns

95x25
95x12
95x16

Very light but decent pump considering

KILL

[Walking Beast]

Legs


Extremely low volume and light today. Joints and tendons are still beat up from the 4-6 month rampage. Hamstrings especially tight and knees slightly beat up.

I will likely be switching to a lighter body building style as Ive been doing lately when strains flare up. Less rest between sets, more focus on the contraction, slower reps, etc. Then over time tendons will heal somewhat and Ill repeat the heavy work again, it just cant be all the time anymore. I mainly want to heal up my shoulder enough to row heavy again.

One thing Ive learned that has been very useful in adapting to all these strains and keeping shit rolling, was a piece of advice from my uncle. He was a mass monster as Ive mentioned and posted pics, we trained together at periods in my early 20s and late teens, and he made me feel like a tiny bitch, but I kept pretty close with the weights he was using at the time, as my strength far exceeded my size always, and he was training lighter at this point in his development, having built all his size already and being peaked out in size. All he needed was moderate weight with almost no rest between sets for an hour straght and he was done. He would do a set, then I would immediately, and we went nonstop for 40+ sets for about an hour then into cardio, 45 mins. This training was not as effective for me because I didnt have that foundation at the time. I needed much heavier sets with long rest periods and high volume to really respond. All sets to failure, but fresh enough to be able to push the heavier weights. Now I am learning that this type of training can be useful to me as I become further developed and accumulate more injuries.

The piece of advice was to keep training no matter what. Not to stop. He explained to me that this was my biggest issue from his perspective, halting progress. I had a problem transitioning mindsets. I came from a past mindset that I was invincible and didnt need recovery and to keep KILLIN THAT SHIT regardless of any pain. That was because for many years this was a reality. I moved furniture when I was 16-17, cleaning out entire trucks almost solo, since I had broken the arm of my scumbag employer, twisting a sofa on him, at the time. After a full day of that shit, I would bike 7 miles each way to the gym and train with my high volume to failure. So overtraining was not even a part of my thinking. Problem back then was my metabolism was lighting fast from anxiety and my routine and I hardly ate. So I mainly only got stronger and not larger for a while.

Now at this point I am much stronger and larger but I have to put limits on how much I abuse myself, to keep shit rollin. Once I ruptured the disks in my spine I took myself out for 2 years and lost all my size. I had pushed myself beyond the limits of pain and fucked myself up. Since my mind is all extremes, I went from destroying myself completely and ignoring all pain, to taking longer breaks then needed when pain flared up. Nothing with me is ever balanced. It was difficult and unnatural for me to learn to restrain myself. It always will be. However Ive learned that there are many ways to adapt and train and still heal up in the process, rather then completely stop for weeks. Sometimes it will be neccesary for me to switch nearly all the exercises in my routine and be very limited to certain movements and angles. I can still train at the same intensity but it will be lighter overall usually and more reps. I have done this recently and have been able to avoid taking time off. So it is something to consider for those of you who have alot of injuries flaring up and feel backed into a corner. If you train differently for some weeks or months you may be able to return to the heavier work. Sometimes you just need a break from certain movements. The repetitive strain of the same angles repeatedely can take a toll. I have been incorportating that advice more lately and still making gains every year, even though I will lose some size during lighter training and eating periods.:


(212 lbs before meals)

Did leg extentions very light and high rep and leg curls light.

Main sets were Leg press

300x50 warm
400x50 warm
600x70
700x60

Letting knees heal up

KILL SHIT

[moreps]

Awesome post, Beast. Probably the best I've read on any message board. Especially regarding your uncle and his advice. Can you share with us what his stats were?? Many trained like your uncle back in Arnold's days. Virtually no rest between sets, and high volume. The benefit here was the fact that these guys, like Arnold, Frank Zane, Mohanmmed Mackawy, Mike Mentzer, Ed Corny, etc... did not not do any conventional cardio at all. Even a mass monster like Tom Platz, relied only on his diet to getting shredded. What were your uncle's stats (at his best) and his best lifts. Thanks again man, this was a great post...

[Walking Beast]

Awesome post, Beast. Probably the best I've read on any message board. Especially regarding your uncle and his advice. Can you share with us what his stats were?? Many trained like your uncle back in Arnold's days. Virtually no rest between sets, and high volume. The benefit here was the fact that these guys, like Arnold, Frank Zane, Mohanmmed Mackawy, Mike Mentzer, Ed Corny, etc... did not not do any conventional cardio at all. Even a mass monster like Tom Platz, relied only on his diet to getting shredded. What were your uncle's stats (at his best) and his best lifts. Thanks again man, this was a great post...

Glad you were able to take something from it. I always like to take from a massive pool of information, experiment and apply, and find what works best for me. I never accept anything as fact. He was 5'10 , 285 lbs, 23 inch arms at his largest. His other stats I do not know since he did not measure often. He did not keep journals he just ate and trained. Anabolics goes without saying. His doses from what I was told were usually not above 700 mgs test with some other compounds, mostly injectable. He avoided growth at the time, which was something he did not want to do to reach a further level. He competed at 215 lbs but then later got much more massive in pretty lean offseason shape, but by that point was done with competition. He was also a skeleton when he started training. Genetically I think that my shape is good,which maybe comes from my mother's side, which is only useful for looking pretty, so not what I am really after. My progress is extremely slow however and diet is always limited by my digestive issues so it becomes more challenging to progress.


Some of his best lifts from our discussions were 700+ lb deadlift, 455 lbs bench for reps, 140 lbs dumbbell shoulder presses for reps, fully loaded t-bars, 800 lb shrugs, though I did not train with him when he was doing the real heavy crazy shit. Even though his size was peaked he was training much lighter and mostly maintaining that mass at the time. So I only know some of these that he mentioned. He was much stricter with form then I am as well. Alot of other lifters at the time were tearing chest on the bench press, so at some point he stopped and just started hitting the machines hardcore. So his strength could have easily surpasses what I mentioned. He tore both biceps and ruptured some disks as well. One bicep tore from side arming someone and another from arm wrestling, which he tore it doing tbar rows shortly after. One he got repaired with pins, the other he said fuck it and let it roll up. He still kills that shit in his 50s. Doesnt care anymore about being a mutant. None of that synthol bullshit.

Here are some pictures that he slightly enhanced, which he never needed too. Its all I have though. Like me, he always felt small as fuck, so no matter what the delusion just gets worse the more you grow. Im starting to understand why, as my mind continuously distorts with this pursuit, gradually over time.





In the beginning of the movie Dropzone on the left



KILL THAT SHIT

[moreps]

What was his diet like for gettin bigger? His arms are huge. Thanks again, Beast...

[Walking Beast]

What was his diet like for gettin bigger? His arms are huge. Thanks again, Beast...

When I trained with him and when he was between 260-285 lbs (the period I trained with him) he would eat every 2 hours consistantly. They would be small meals with 30-50 protein and usually a light amount of carbs. Each meal was structured like this but might be something different. Usually it was egg whites and grits or oatmeal, thin sliced lean steak with some carb source like rice, thin sliced chicken, egg and tuna salad, etc. I couldnt tell you the exact macros, he wasnt one to count at all. He just kept eating on the clock. When we trained I would eat the same meals. Im not sure what his diet was when he was in the process of gaining most of his mass, since this was more maintenance for him at this point.

KILLLLLL

[ChromeHearts]

Awesome posts. That's pretty good information about your uncle. After his biceps tore (I am assuming it came off the bone near the joint ?) did it eventually reheal itself ?

[Walking Beast]

Awesome posts. That's pretty good information about your uncle. After his biceps tore (I am assuming it came off the bone near the joint ?) did it eventually reheal itself ?

One bicep still retained most of its shape, the one repaired with pins, the other is shorter and there is a gap between the elbow and peak of the bicep. A longer gap then the other. The second time he tore it, he said fuck it, didnt want to deal with the recovery of surgery again.

He definately regained strength in both biceps. It would be hard to say if it affected his strength a great deal because he was never one to be limited by injuries. His training definately changed all around over the years though. With the toll this shit takes on the system.

Hes not one to stay on topic for long, but I have always tried to pick his brain for what has worked, since we share the same blood and similiar genetics. Its been inspirational as fuck to see him still KILLING THAT SHIT and to have seen the process unfold throughout the decades. It gets me fired up to KILL SHIT, especially when I fuck myself up particularly bad.

His training now is overall lighter at this point. Hes more focused now on being leaner. He ranges between 208-230 it seems now. He will always appear massive to me regardless because that is the way its programmed in my mind. When I am beaten down, its good to see that its not a permanent condition. I just hate the fucking wait. Like I mentioned though, breaks are not as neccesary as I thought they were. Sometimes you just have to restructure everything and be willing to make some temporary changes to keep shit rollin. My problem is restraint so it doesnt last long with me at all. So sometimes for my own sake, I need to stay out of the gym. He was also never one to believe in overtraining.

KILL THAT SHIT

[Walking Beast]

Chest


Alot of strain today in chest and shoulders. Everything felt very tender and sore, especially chest. Even 225 was slow and painful somewhat, so I didnt think that I would be able to get 12 with 315 and 335 for 7. 225 is usually almost weight less and today it felt like it had some weight to it.

Reps had to be very slow and controlled since the descent was more painful.

This was my first time in a while on smith machine incline presses. I am using this fucking slanted incline machine which is not the same to me, feels off for me. The ones I used in the past were completely straight with no slant. So that was a factor as well.

This is a maintenance phase for me anyway, so it was good to get some blood in there and have a little strength despite. Pulled out neck and ended it:

(214 lbs after meal)


Incline Smith Machine Press (Constant tension style, down to chin level then just short of lockout. Very controlled, and slower descent today due to tendons and muscle tore up)

135x30 warm
225x30 (felt heavier then it should have)
275x16
315x12
335x7
315x9

DB laterals

35x45 (warm up)

Dropset with smith inclines (no rest til line)

275x15
225x10
-------


Incline DB Presses (light to stretch and pump chest)

50x38
80x24 (Then pulled upper left trap , into neck at some point during. Shit killed for today)


KILL THAT SHIT

[moreps]

That is some incredible pressing strength. The 80x24 is just sick... Do you remember what some of your lifts were when you weighed 30 pounds less?

What are your feelings concerning smoking and drinking? Any experience with either? Especially when training?

Thanks,

moreps

[Walking Beast]

That is some incredible pressing strength. The 80x24 is just sick... Do you remember what some of your lifts were when you weighed 30 pounds less?

What are your feelings concerning smoking and drinking? Any experience with either? Especially when training?

Thanks,

moreps

Appreciate that shit

Im beat up and out of it at the moment. Dumbbells I started doing super light just to stretch and pump my chest some after the heavier primary compound type lifts. Lately hammer strength incline and smith inclines. Ive done 100x20 or so on shoulder presses. This was during my brief superdrol phase, but had only been doing dumbbells again for a few weeks.

30 lbs less would put me at around 185. When coming back from my injuries early on, when I was back up to 180 lbs I hit 37 reps with bodyweight bench for some easy money in a bodyweight bench competition at the gym. It was basically one of my usual warm up sets at the time, but I was already hitting 225 for pretty high reps. Then of course with every small weight gain I made huge strength increases. So at 212 or so I hit 225x52. The strength not only increased but strength for my bodyweight, and endurance GREATLY increased. So once I get heavier and thicker my strength will ramp up an extreme amount, but I will have to restrain myself from testing it fully, as I do now.

Also when I was at 185 in 2003, after about 9 years of training without drugs, my best lifts were 370 flat bench press, 505 lb deadlift, 590 lb beast lift (deadlift with bar behind legs), 730 lbs beast lift off bottom rung in rack. 150 lb dumbbell rows for many reps and cheat barbell curls with over 200 lbs for reps.

My main feature has always been strength and not size. Due to the brutal training, the mindset of never losing a rep once I completed a certain number (lift or die trying), and extreme rage, ability to trigger adrenaline like a switch, and fucked up nerves from all the adrenaline and intensity internally. Early on when I was only about 140 I was already racking all the pin loaded nautilus machines for reps, due to that mindset and fury.

I didnt have video capabilities back then but I got some pictures from one of my deadlifting days:


2003 at 185 lbs

505 lb deadlift




590 lb Beast Lift



There was only two sessions where I had pictures taken, so thats why the same ones.


Strength was something that just got more extreme for me over time with the added size along with muscle endurance from pushing to failure, constantly adding another rep to everything that I could. I would always train the full spectrum of rep ranges. This was shortly before I took myself out for two years. After crushing two disks, ignoring pain. Once I found out my disks were crushed I went on a fucking destructive rampage, training wise, to finish myself off at the time. The nature of the beast. I am most dangerous and violent towards myself. Its something I have to try and restrain.

I nearly hit a 400 lb bench once I got to around 195 lbs and I got much stronger on M1t at the time. Which was super toxic. And arms hit just under 19 inches by late 2004. I stopped deadlifting for a while by that point, but then I destroyed and had to back off. I kept trying to come back , and kept fucking myself up. Eventually I had to stay out of the gym. Im unable to train light mentally.

This was at the end of 2004 before I took myself out for 2 years. At 195 lbs, arms 18 3/4 cold, chest 49 at the time. :





Right where I stalled with 400 at the time (I had gotten 395 previously, and didnt break 400 until returning years later)





Its 18 years late, but atleast now I can put up some videos. I never gave a fuck to prove anything to anyone, since I live this shit and dont give a fuck about anyones thoughts. I wanted to film for my own personal reflection and records. Since at anytime I can destroy myself completely with the way I train, live.



KILLL THAT SHIT!!

[Walking Beast]

Smoking and drinking. Many years ago I had 6 beers and then drove to the gym during the day. Hit like 6 parked cars , setting off one of the alarms, bludgeoned myself with various weights. I remember curling with the dumbbells striking me in the face and benching where the bar seemed to skip frames. I completed the session though. I was never one to stop doing anything once I set myself in motion. Its a very dangerous mindset, when you dont have the ability to stop something, and you go into an automatic mode. Best not to combine drinking with lifting.

Aside from doing both simultaneously, I always hated alcohol. Always made me very nauseated and fucked up my eating. I would get sick anytime I did it. It was never that often but it was always a fucking waste. I like to smoke an occasional cigar to calm nerves. Clove cigarettes have a decent taste. Pipe tobbacco I like for the flavor. I never smoked consistantly. I had a period when I was injured where I did daily for several months straight, then I just stopped suddenly. There was never a lack of control to stop doing it. Now its very rare but occasionally I will, usually a cigar. Drinking I havent done in a long time.

What I like now are painkillers and stimulants. I dont follow typical mindsets and beliefs regarding inability to control self and fall into addiction. Thats dependant on the make up of someone's mind. I have never followed convention. I keep it at a very low dose a few times a week. Painkillers are only for my mind. My physical pain is normal to me. The mental pain is normal also, but I like to take the edge off the demons a few times a week. Training is the best vent, but I cant train the way that is neccesary every day or all day.

My energy levels are shit and painkillers make me drowsy, so then I will chase it with some monster energy drinks. The tea versions. Not that many, maybe one or two at most in a day. Usually one painkiller as well. Niether is daily. Caffiene by itself puts me in a much better mood, for whatever reason. I am pretty immune to the energy effects of caffiene however, and by the time I feel the shit it is already making me dizzy and lightheaded, so it cancels most of the effect at this point.

KILLLLLLL

[moreps]

Alcohol caused me severe cramps, so I don't drink anymore. Dehydration. Painkillers keep me sedated. At this point, after 30+ years of lifting, I have to find the foods and meds to calm me, and help me sleep and recover. I also routinely take 4 weeks off from training 2x per year just to help my joints and tendons heal some, and to recover from training. I probably need surgery on my shoulders, but I take time off, recover, then train again. I cannot rival the weights you use, (I weigh about 50 lbs. less) but I usually train heavier than I know I should. As long as my healthy fats and protein is high, my sex drive and T levels are above average for a guy my age. I have never used. I also don't do cardio. To me, it's a waste of time. High rep leg presses will take care of aerobic health and GH release.. Thanks for sharing your journal. Good stuff!!

[Walking Beast]

Alcohol caused me severe cramps, so I don't drink anymore. Dehydration. Painkillers keep me sedated. At this point, after 30+ years of lifting, I have to find the foods and meds to calm me, and help me sleep and recover. I also routinely take 4 weeks off from training 2x per year just to help my joints and tendons heal some, and to recover from training. I probably need surgery on my shoulders, but I take time off, recover, then train again. I cannot rival the weights you use, (I weigh about 50 lbs. less) but I usually train heavier than I know I should. As long as my healthy fats and protein is high, my sex drive and T levels are above average for a guy my age. I have never used. I also don't do cardio. To me, it's a waste of time. High rep leg presses will take care of aerobic health and GH release.. Thanks for sharing your journal. Good stuff!!

I can get bad cramping regardless but it seems to be the worst lately on creatine. Which wasnt an issue in the past. I dont use it seperately anymore. There is just trace amounts in my preworkout. Ive never been one to drink alot of liquids. I dont go out of my way to do it.

Ive definately been incorporating some off periods each year. I dont plan them but sometimes its best so I can come back more recovered and train better. Im trying to adapt more now and to train even when injuring certain parts, to keep shit rolling. Learning angles and ways to train around an injury while it slowly heals, then going back to my main exercises. That comes down to experimentation and is always changing, since I dont know until I try training around an injury for a while, if it is really healing. I go by feel and switch it up until the area seems to be improving pain wise.

Thats the hardest part for me, restraint while training. I thrive off pushing my limits and there is always a curiosity within me to see what will happen when I do something rediculous to myself. Its always been an obsession. I try to keep it more under control these days, for longetivity. I can only restrain it so much though. Training for me has to be all or nothing for that vent I seek. Otherwise the effect is very weak for my mind.

I dont count fats, and Im sure I dont have many healthy fats in my diet, nor do I take vitamins. Never have done anything conventional. Since I dont even have a sleep schedule. My methods are very unstructured in ways and structured in others. Since that chaos is my structure.

Protein is still usually not above 200, sometimes around 230, other times 160 or 180 daily. Protien is all I count anymore. If I need more calories I will just eat more carbs with protein meals and inbetween. Alot of my meals lately have been protein only but now im adding more carbs back in, since I got rid of the majority of excess bodyfat that I didnt need.

Cardio doesnt seem to do anything for me. I did it when younger for transportation, 7 miles biking to gym and back, but eventually when I had a vehicle I was mostly done with cardio. The times Ive added it in I didnt see a difference in being leaner. If its for health that doesnt motivate me. To get leaner just means eating protein and dropping carbs for me, or the best way is anxiety and stress at severe levels. I never really tried to lean out since my goal is always size and strength. It happens on its own with anxiety at certain points.

You can definately get a cardio effect with high intensity high rep weight lifting, especially legs, combined with less rest between sets, caffiene and eliminating most carbs will add to that effect for leaning out.

KILL THAT SHIT!!