Walking Beast's Journal

[Walking Beast]

About to hit some arms. Tricep may still have some strain from a few weeks ago, but hasnt affected my pressing strength in any noticable way.

Even though Ive gone up to 300x30 on pressdowns, coming up to 90 degree angle, back down, I want to incorporate fuller stretch into all movements now. So I will be doing more sets where I come all the way up , rather than stopping at 90 degrees. I feel that the ultimate for building size now, for me, is to get constant tension with a fuller stretch at the bottom of movements, or with back holding contractions for several seconds. I get a much deeper stimulation and soreness in my chest when I get deeper down at the bottom. When my joints allow I will be incorporating that as I did yesterday. Same with just about everything else. Eventually I get used to the added range and strength adapts accordingly but I want to try and focus on contraction quality more and depth , and hopefully be more pre exhausted by the time I do some of my heavier sets with less range. Too much volume with the heavier shit can become a nuissance later with the joints. Though I lack restraint once I get in the gym, but I will focus on trying to get in some full stretch sets. Its all effective but I am stubborn as fuck and tend to stick to certain exercises and ranges for a very long time. The body just gets used to the shit. Part of that is because Ive found angles that dont fuck with my joints as much. But there is always room for more experimentation.

KILL SHIT

[Walking Beast]

Arms


Started off with full range pressdowns for triceps. Coming up to about chin level or so , rather than the usual 90 degree angle. Part of what Ive been doing now to work some deeper contractions into the routine.

I did go up to 300 for 12 heavily pre exhausted, with 90 degree range style. My triceps were feeling kind of like they wanted to cramp somewhat from the beginning. Definately from that strain a few weeks ago. Luckily it doesnt seem to be an issue as I could hardly extend much weight the last arm session, and now Im repping 300 again. The extra stretch irritated that cramping sensation some more, so as I went heavier I got in my usual 90 degree sets to overload them some more.

For biceps I went extremely light and low volume. They were feeling very tender and beat up as well. I did go heavier on the alternating dumbbell / reverse curl negative movement. Hitting 60s for a few reps. Its a much harder movement then a standard alternating db curl. I can easily continue to go up heavier on those, but the 60s gave me some wrist strain, so I held back. Biceps were not feeling strong today as mentioned. Sometimes it comes in phases.

Triceps still not at full strength due to the strains from a few weeks ago, and also only my second month or so back from taking MOST of the year completletly off from trainng. 10 months of break . (8 months off, then 2 months on, then 2 months off). The good thing is my strength and size has been returning extremely quickly. I really expected maybe needing 6 months or longer just to get back, after taking such a massive break, but that doesnt seem like it will be the case. My arms were down to 16 inches as mentioned and I weighed around 200-205 lbs, just a few months ago. Maybe 5 months ago, because I regained alot of size during my 2 months back, then took another 2 months off and my arms still stayed around 18 1/4 , 18 1/2 range. Rest of body as well stayed mostly. In 2 months I gained most of it back.

So it was good that I still hit 255 for 12 with full range (up to chin) on pressdowns, despite current limitations. It should come back quick though. Once my 300 lb set is back at 30 plus reps with the 90 degree sets, then everything else will follow massively.

Weekly strength gains at this stage are very large since Im just regaining old muscle memory. Eating is still half assed but good enough for now.

Also going off tramadol for about a month atleast. To see if it affects my acid issues in throat. So right now going through some cold chills, flu like symptoms, and electric zapping feeling in brain, light headedness. Trained through it for now.

225 lbs before meals


Curved Bar Pressdowns

Full range reps (up to about chin level and down, very strict)

KILOGRAMS for pressdowns unless otherwise noted

No rest til line

35x65
65x20
95x5-10 (210 lb stack. These fatigued quickly due to that cramping in triceps from previous strain)
-----------------

No rest til line

95x20
65x10
55x10
----------------------

Alternating Dumbbell Curls

40x15
50x4-5 (very weak today due to bicep tenderness, all around arm tenderness)
--------------------

No rest til line

Pressdowns again

255 lbs x8 (Heavy friction set. Bent pin causing friction on stack, making it much harder)
50x8-10 alt db curl
40x8 same
----------------------

No rest til line

255 lbs x12 (eliminated friction this set)
50x6 alt db curl
40x6 same

----------------


90 degree curved bar pressdowns (forearms coming up to 90 degrees then back down)

No rest til line

280 lbs x 8 (Friction is back for this set)
40x10 alt db curls
----------

No rest til line

300 lbs x 8 (Heavy friction set again)
255 lbs x10 (I believe this set had less friction)
95 kilos x10 (back to normal)
72x10


No rest til line

300 lbs x10 (Friction may have been resolved from this point on)
255 lbs x10
95 kilos x10
72x10
50x5 alt db curls
40x5 same
-------

No rest til line

300 lbs x 12
255 lbs x6
95 kilos x5
72x10
---------

One Arm Dumbbell Curls on incline bench

45x10 (Killing joints. All of em in the arm. Bad angle for me today)

Alternating Dumbbell Curl With Reverse Curl Negatives (twist palm toward face to contract bicep, twist palm away from face and lower)

(I did a set of these with 40 lbs in one of the earlier sets but unsure which one it was)

40x10
45x10

No rest til line

50x10 (may be a technical PR since this exercise is new for me)
40x5
-------

Incline DB Curl

50x8

Alternating db / reverse curl negative

no rest til line

60x4 (Possible PR, again because I just started doing these a few weeks ago)
50x6
-------

KILL SHIT

[Walking Beast]

Size on the rise again. Largest arm (right) one line below the 19 mark at 18 7/8, left arm at 18 5/8. Chest still at 54 inches, legs still 27 inches (have not trained them since the massive break). Shows that only the trained body parts grow. Arm growth and leg growth i notice often within 24 hours of a training session targeting them, when it happens. Legs were 27 inches when i returned from the break without training them for many months.

Shouldnt be much longer to get my old size back.

My eating is still half ass and im having more fun with my routine now. Not busting my fucking ass with meals, as mentioned. Legs have had alot of pain so havent even trained them yet.

Today i had only 130 grams of protein and grew. My average has probably been like 80 to 130 with all these throat issues. Calories not that high either. Body is at a different stage though now. Slower metabolism, 20 years of muscle memory, etc.

I will probably go in and hit some back in a moment

kill that shit

[Walking Beast]

Back and delts



I switched the order and started with cable and pinloaded machines, which I usually finish off with. I also did 2 variations of low cable rows. I havent done them since Ive been back due to the extra shoulder strain they cause, but for now it wasnt too bad.

The holds are about three times as hard rep wise and long holds 5 to 6 times as hard, so that meant I didnt have to overload the stacks which is more issues for my shoulders over time. My lats felt swollen since I did all holds for the most part.

I used to have the luxury of letting the weight yank my arms up and just let the shit drop without control, then maintain a ballistic rhythym. So I have gotten 300x30 lat pulldowns in the past, but now without being able to do that, and adding holds into the mix, its much more controlled and much more difficult. As a result my back has grown alot over the past several years since I made that transition.

Second day off the tramadol and withdrawals havent been that bad. When I went off 150 mgs , straight off , I felt very ill. Cold and hot sweats, constant non stop sweating which made sleep impossible. So I weaned myself off over the course of a few weeks. It was much easier to get off of them from 1 pill a day, occasionally 2. Im going off for a month now to assess whats causing my acid reflux. Need to look into everything before I plan the next step.

The hiatal hernia I can feel pain and strain in it as Ive been training. My acid has also been getting worse. So the hernia may be growing. Hernia repair is supposed to work well, but I dont know for the way I lift. It may not be needed though. Ill see with time what options seem good. The sooner I resolve it the sooner I can eat heavy amounts again and grow faster.

Right now growth has been good. As mentioned, arms are one line below 19 inches, so its coming back. Chest still at 54 and legs the same at 27 since I havent trained them since ive been back.

This phone is very difficult to mount and falls constantly as it doesnt fit my tripod right. So there are some shitty angles and phone falling a few times in the videos.

226 lbs after previous nights meals

Low Cable Rows with Wider Narrow Grip Handle

Holds

135x25 (not to failure, warm up)
195x12
245x10
270x8 (see video)


Low Cable Rows with Narrow Grip handle

Holds

210x12
255x8 (see video)

Strength in back not bad, for just returning from the break a few months ago, and first time doing this movement in many months


Cybex Lat Pull (pin loaded)

Long holds (see 305 video, these make up for the weight limitation of the stack somewhat)

225x15
305x11 (see video)

No rest til line

Long holds

305x7
205x10
------------------

Db laterals

40x30
60x10
----------------

Hammer Strength lat pull over (plate loaded)

Holds

140x25 warm up
190x16


Iso Low Row Hammer Strength (plate loaded)

90x25 (warm, not failure)
180x20 (holds)
270x10 (holds)

Iso High Row Hammer Strength (plate loaded)

270x8 (holds)

No rest til line

Holds

270x6
180x15
-----------------

Db laterals

no rest til line

55x20
50x10
45x10
---------

No rest til line

70x10
60x10
55x10
50x10
45x10
----------

No rest til line

60x15
55x10
50x10
45x10
-------

60x10

As always dumbbell weight is listed as the weight per dumbbell. Ive restrained myself enough, atleast , not to to start with the 100s as I did before and work my way down the rack. My joints will last longer and I get plenty of pump with 70s or 80s and down. Even 60s are often good enough for high reps for building

KILL SHIT

videos below

[Walking Beast]

[Walking Beast]

[Walking Beast]

[Walking Beast]

Just ordered another tripod to fit this model of phone. Its been very difficult to get my old tripod to fit the phone. This one seems much higher quality and should work much better. This old tripod constantly spits out the phone, flinging it and falls constantly. Whenever it comes in the angles should be better again.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


KILL THAT SHIT

[Walking Beast]

About to hit some chest and delts, I think. Sleep wasnt happening. Too fired up to KILL THAT SHIT despite my aches and pains. Too much shit in my head.

I will start off , most likely, with strict reps on the hammer strength incline presses, seat set up high for a full deep range of motion. Then After my 450 set with strict reps (maybe 5 or 6) , I will possibly go back up to 500 and go for 3 or more. (Ill set the seat lower again when I go for 500 or up most likely)

I cant tell yet how shit will feel until I put weight on it. So I dont fix my mind in any one direction, but adapt in the moment.
I do have numbers in my head, which are based on what I hit last week. So as usual I will be looking to break all those numbers (not including the warm up sets). Of course, Im just climbing back up from my massive break. So all time records arent the target ,yet. They may be in a month or two. Its going to come down to what I decide to do once I get back to that crossroads.

Its a dangerous area for me to tread these days. I have a vicious cycle and pattern of taking myself out yearly, even multiple times a year, because of my obsession with destruction and pushing my body until it breaks. Despite, Ive been making yearly gains in size and strength. But WAY below optimal. Since the vent came first for me, despite the consequences. So already the weights are getting dangerously heavy again and approaching a dangerous point. I spend most of my time climbing back up to where I was, it seems. Endless destruction.

If I do manage to keep my training focused more on building, deeper reps, lighter weight, etc (never light, just lighter) I can really hit massive gains in size and strength and be at my largest ever. No doubt. That may not be enough motivation to stop the cycle though. My bloodlust for KILLING THAT SHIT and quenching that destructive desire disregards all other feelings.

My diet is still half ass, as mentioned, as I havent been giving a fuck lately. My training only goes one way though. Thats all I know. I cant turn that shit down or off. Full blown killing desire


KILL THAT SHIT

[Walking Beast]

Chest and delts



Joint inflammation a big issue today. Weak. Whenever my joints flare up, even though I ignore the pain, I notice large strength decreases and much quicker fatigue. So I am limited on those days. Even at my largest and strongest there would be immediate strength loss on those weeks. By a large amount.

The early sets had pain and neck is still compressed from weeks ago, but by the time I got to 360 my joints were a problem. I could also feel my hiatal hernia bulging and quivering during sets, straining. Main issue was joints today though.

Might switch it up next week to dumbbells or some other shit. I will definately have issues if I continue trying to push strength limits again at this stage.

228 lbs after previous nights meals


Hammer Strength Incline Press

15th indentation (high seat setting for deeper range. Just short of lockout but all the way down)

90x65 warm up, not failure
180x45 (same)
270x21 (stronger this week by 6 reps at this range, but alot of pain in shoulders by this point, and heavier sets were worse)
360x9

Lowered seat to usual height, Less pressure on shoulders.


450x6 (one rep short of last week due to shoulder strain)
500x1 (one rep off as well.)


High seat setting again for deeper contractions to finish off


no rest til line

360x6
270x12
180x12
90x15
-----------------

Incline Dumbbell Press

Constant tension style, very shortly after previous dropset

80x16
70x15 (done soon after previous set as well)
80x27
80x18

Wide Chest Hammer Strength press (Full range with long holds at top. Hernia starting to really bulge during these)

180x15
180x12
180x10

Backed off

Hammer Strength MTS shoulder press (pin loaded)

Acid in throat causing constriction in throat again as well.

210x20
310x11

Seated machine fly (pin loaded)

220x10 (long holds, joints are done for today)

Didnt do any laterals to let the joints rest. Still returning from a massive break, but size has come back fast despite less eating then usual.

KILL SHIT

[Walking Beast]

[Walking Beast]

Arms

73 sets today. Volume was good and movements were more varied than usual, mainly with triceps. Focus today on quality sets with deep contractions and full stretch, as well as super slow reps and holds on curls.

I attempted to do pressdowns with 300 lbs today but the pins at this gym are no longer holding the plates in place. So I had to stick with 255. Which is definately heavier with the full range of motion Ive been intergrating on pressdowns (coming up to top of head or chin level then back down, rather then the usual 90 degree range). There was still some friction on the stack which made it harder as well. (the friction comes in sometimes when plates are pinned onto the stack).


Im going for fuller stretch on triceps now because they have adapted to the 90 degree range for many years now, and have more than maxed out the weight I can even get onto a stack. I was getting the stack up to 300 lbs and still getting 30 reps. So I am very limited with that range and its hard to force new adaption without going for a greater range of motion and deeper stretch. Pre exhausting is not that effective either since I have a shitload of muscle endurance.

I added some more variety with some v bar pressdowns and straight bar as well. As Im going more for growth now. Eating is still shitty while I am trying to figure out this issue with the acid in throat.

227 lbs after previous nights meals


No rest til line

Alternating dumbbell curls with reverse curl negative (palms twisted toward face at top, then twisted in a reverse curl position, then lowered slowly)

40x20
80x5 standing cambered bar curl
55x3 alternating db curl
50x2-3 db hammer curl
---------

One arm preacher curl on incline bench

45x12 (both arms but still doesnt feel right on joints today)

ALternating db with reverse curl negatives

no rest til line

55x8
40x5
--------------

Alternating DB Curls

no rest til line

70x5
55x5
40x5
------------------

Alternating db curls with reverse curl negative

no rest til line

60x4
45x4
80x5 standing cambered bar curl
--------------------

Alternating db curl

no rest til line (likely done without much rest before the prior sets)

40x6
45x6 db hammer curl

--------

Incline Db curls

40x8 (fucks with joints)

Alternating db curls

no rest til line

SLOW MOTION type reps (including the negative as well, possibly holding some reps at top too)

60x5
55x2
45x5

--------

Curved Bar Pressdowns (been starting triceps later lately to switch shit up)

FULL RANGE reps (all the way up to top of head or chin then back down, no swinging, very strict)

KILOGRAMS unless otherwise noted for the curved bar pressdowns

no rest til line

35x85
65x10
95x5

---------

255 lbs x 11 (this was as much as I could get on the stack today before the pins gave out. Some friction against the cable as well on these today. Makes it considerably harder)

300x1 ( the pin was bending and causing major friction, and plate was falling off end, so I moved on)

No rest til line

255 lbs x 12 (friction present)
95 (kilos again for rest) x8
80x8
72x10
57x10
-------------------------

No rest til line

255 lbs x10-12
95 kilos x7
72x10-15
65x10 ?
57x10 ? (memory might be a little off on the last two.)
-------------------
No rest til line

255 lbs x7
95 kilos x6
72x10-15
57x10-15
--------------------

Alternating db curls

Holds (contracted as hard as possible and held at the top of each rep)

no rest til line

50x10
40x5
----------------------

No rest til line

Holds

50x8
40x8
--------------------

no rest til line

Mix of slow and holds

50x6
40x6
30x6
---------------------

No rest til line

Regular reps here

50x7
40x5
30x7
-----------------

no rest til line

SLOW MOTION reps again (holds were mixed in with the slow reps as well. Difficult to list everything done per set as its adaptive)

50x6
40x4
30x5
------------
no rest til line

SLOW MOTION reps

50x6
40x4
30x5
---------

V Bar Pressdowns on alternate stack (Cable apparatus by basketball court and back machines)

This stack appears to be in KILOGRAMS as well but I am unfamiliar with this particular machine so I cant say for sure. Life fitness cable machine. Ill just list the numbers on the plates for these. This machine seemed to increase tension as I got closer to lock out, which was strange compared to the other but it felt good as something different.

no rest til line

97x10
72x10
57x10
-------------------

no rest til line (1.5 lb or Kg increments were added since it was on the machine)

100x10
75x8
60x10
48x10
------------------

No rest til line

100x5
75x10
57x10
---------------

Straight Bar Pressdowns on same alternate stack

no rest til line

100x7
75x7
57x10
------------------------

One Arm Cable Pressdown on same cable apparatus

40x8 (both arms)

Straight Bar pressdowns again

no rest til line

100x7
75x7
57x10
-----------------

Alternate db curls

no rest til line

50x5
40x5
--------



73 sets. Could have done more but was starting to feel bicep strain more and this felt sufficient. The deeper stretch for triceps should make a difference as well .

KILL THAT SHIT

[Walking Beast]

Size update. Right arm just hit 19 inches cold and left is at 18 3/4 cold flexed. Chest is back at its largest measurement at 54 1/4 cold flexed. Legs still at 27 inches since i have not trained them since ive been back from the massive break.


All this size has come back in a few months only eating half of my normal intake. 100-130 protein. Arms grew after the 73 set routine yesterday. Usually they will move up in size after an arm session, if its time. My calories yesterday were sub 2000 i believe. Very low.


My arms are only 1/2 an inch off from my largest now, so it shouldnt take long to get back. Chest is already at its largest measurement, so new size should come soon if i dont take myself out again.

Once i start training legs my bodyweight should jump up higher as well. Waist is 38 3/4 around waistline and 41 1/2 around navel after meals. Big , but actually a little smaller then when i returned from my break and weighed only 200 lbs or so with 16 inch arms. So this tells me ive put on close to 30 lbs of quality weight since ive been back. Maybe got slightly leaner even.




Im only training 3 days a week now at most. Sometimes its 2. When i train i fucking train though. Overkill that shit. So i dont need to train more.


Been having major issues with this acid so my diet is massively compromised. Due to muscle memory, slow metabolism, 200 mg testosterone replacement weekly, creatine (to some extent), i am getting the size back very quickly. I expected it to be way more difficult to get back to this size range as i never did it eating so little.


This is a half ass eating phase for me right now. If i ever get this issue resolved ill add more. For now i will work within this condition


kill shit

[CMC191]

Sounds like its working better eating half ass than it was the other way lol. good job

[Walking Beast]

Sounds like its working better eating half ass than it was the other way lol. good job

Definately didnt see that shit coming. I think its because I make up for it in training intensity, volume and the other factors mentioned. My body now is much more efficient at gaining mass (muscle and fat) then before, since my metabolism now is very slow, compared to being insanely fast and burning up everything I ate. Im almost exiting the muscle memory stage. So then I can see if new size continues on this path. If not I will find a way to get in whats needed but weight lifting hasnt been my main focus right now, like in the past. So I am just having fun with the shit for now. I still have the same goals, but none of them are stable goals. Meaning they all change as soon as I reach them.

If anything it shows that there are no bullshit magic numbers for protein, calories or any of that shit. I believed that for a long time as well. Later I learned it was bullshit. Aslong as progress moves forward its enough.

KEEP KILLIN THAT SHIT