Jeff Rodriguez Thread

[mophat63]

nice thread jrod. jsut got a question for u. after seeing ur pic before bodybuilding, i was wondering what was ur strategy when u began. like was it to get to a certain size first then slowly lean out? or gaining a bit at a time? and which ever way it was, what adjustments would u have made along the way? thanks!

[captaincardio58]

hey jrod,

first time post for me...i was curious bc i saw u on the species site and understand they are a sponsor...does this mean ure using daves program now...or are u staying with ure program...i hope to be on stage wit u someday...im a natural comp and look foward to being in the team u if not this year then next...

[jrod]

nice thread jrod. jsut got a question for u. after seeing ur pic before bodybuilding, i was wondering what was ur strategy when u began. like was it to get to a certain size first then slowly lean out? or gaining a bit at a time? and which ever way it was, what adjustments would u have made along the way? thanks!

When I first started training I had NO strategy. I used to train with my best friend ONLY for fun. Fortunately, now that I look back, we didn't really neglect bodyparts. We trained everything, but it was pretty much just cause we liked the intensity of training.

After a few months, I started learning a bit about bodybuilding. I started eating cleaner and more protein and my goal then became to be more muscular. However, I still liked training mostly because it was fun ***(this reminds me of "Ultimate Workouts!!!" I want to answer your question first, so I'll tell the story below,after).

My goal was never to put on weight for the sake of weighing more, or get leaner for the sake of lookiing good; I always just wanted to put on more MUSCLE (not with fat). It was never really complicated or fancy, I just wanted to train, get stronger, and put on muscle. It was, and still is, always about FUN. I did, and still do (probably more now) really enjoy training and eating the way I do.

As for adjustments I made along the way, they were always in the form of bettering my nutrition or training from learning. I learned more about training and my training became more productive and the more I learned about nutrition the better my nutrition became.
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***** Two of my friends and I used to have what we called "Ultimate Workouts." The 3 of us put our money together and bought (used) a barbell and 2 sets of each plate (as in 4x(45,35,25,5,2.5)) for about $120. On Friday nights, after school, we would meet up at my house, watch Ronnie's "Unbelievable." After that (I used to live next to a grocery store) we would load up a shopping cart with all the plates we had and the barbell (we would set the barbell through some plates so it stayed upright; looked like a flag pole coming out of a shopping cart). Then we took turns as we pushed the shopping cart (weighed about 600lbs) about 15 blocks to Golden Gate Park. The was a bandstand in GGP and that's where we set up our workout(here's a pic of where we held our "ultimate workouts" : http://www.lightight.com/GGP/act_images/ActL17.jpg (it was empty)). It was a nice place because there were outlets for our stereo which we played on full blast (because it echoed, the music sounded great), we could yell all we wanted, train with or without a shirt, and sometimes we had some bums watching us (they would sleep there sometimes)! Ultimate workouts were pretty much only leg days, we only did the following exercises: squats, front squats, lunges, deadlifts, and stiff legged deadlifts (EG, to squat, two of us would hold up the bar, one on each side, and the other person would get under it). We always had AMAZING workouts when we did this. After we trained to death, we would push the cart back to my house, carry up all the weights, and sit on the couch eating steak and watching "the unbelievable" again (we did this until 2-3am!). The whole ordeal, from pre-training video watching to post-workout steak, would take about about 6 hours! We loved it.

[Deerod021]

Whats up JROD, hope your holidays are going well. I wanted to know If you've had a chance to try the Waxy Maize starch yet, also If you know when your In the trenches will be out again.

[jrod]

Whats up JROD, hope your holidays are going well. I wanted to know If you've had a chance to try the Waxy Maize starch yet, also If you know when your In the trenches will be out again.

Thanks, buddy; I hope yours are going well too.

No, I have not had a chance to try Waxy Maize; but dextrose is doing a good job.

As for the In the Trenches, I, too, have not heard anything about it. No progress has been made regarding the voice-over, so that is what needs to get done first. I believe Dave is the decision maker in this stage (he's the one that I need to do the voice over with).

[flexingtonsteele]

Thanks, buddy; I hope yours are going well too.

No, I have not had a chance to try Waxy Maize; but dextrose is doing a good job.

As for the In the Trenches, I, too, have not heard anything about it. No progress has been made regarding the voice-over, so that is what needs to get done first. I believe Dave is the decision maker in this stage (he's the one that I need to do the voice over with).

Jrod whats up brotha!! Hows that new job going?? Im assuming that its kicking ur ass because uv been on the board a lot less lately.

Is it affecting ur training at all?? Or are u still able to pound the weights??

well hope all is well, just wanted to catch up w/ya

Take care
Glen

[jrod]

Jrod whats up brotha!! Hows that new job going?? Im assuming that its kicking ur ass because uv been on the board a lot less lately.

Is it affecting ur training at all?? Or are u still able to pound the weights??

well hope all is well, just wanted to catch up w/ya

Take care
Glen

Hey whats up Glen.

The new job is going well: Enjoying it, nice people, great manager, etc. (speaking of, my manager likes working out (not necessarily BB) and we were talking today and we discussed getting a work out in together!).
Recently started going through some pretty intense training, which is why I haven't been on the boards as much as I have in the past; however, I still check and respond at least once a day. I enjoy this thread!

As for the job affecting my training, NOT AT ALL. In fact, I think it has made me more focused (Therefore improved my training). Reason being is that I more meticulously plan out my day: set out a specific time (early) and length to train (1 hour), plan out when I sleep and a minimum amount (8hrs.), make a bunch of meals and eat them all on time, etc. I think it's actually been a good thing.

Speaking of training going well, I set a personal record today: barbell rowed 355 with good control (Previous PR on BB rows with similarly good form was about 345). My goal for this cycle is to BB row 3 plates and 25 (365). I'll get this in a week or two!

How are things with you? Training going well?

[flexingtonsteele]

Damn bro, thats a super impressive bb row. anything over 3 plates on a bb row is no joke, especially with good form. Congrats man.

Training is going good for me, I just need to eat more, I need to pack on that size, im stuck at about 192-194, and im not even as lean as i would liek to be at this weight, so its a lil frustrating, but im doing the best that I can. I wish there was an easier way, but then again I dont, because thats the fun part. The struggle.

Glad to hear the job is going well, good luck w/that, I know how it is starting a new career, since im doing it myself, its tough.

Take care
Glen

Hey whats up Glen.

The new job is going well: Enjoying it, nice people, great manager, etc. (speaking of, my manager likes working out (not necessarily BB) and we were talking today and we discussed getting a work out in together!).
Recently started going through some pretty intense training, which is why I haven't been on the boards as much as I have in the past; however, I still check and respond at least once a day. I enjoy this thread!

As for the job affecting my training, NOT AT ALL. In fact, I think it has made me more focused (Therefore improved my training). Reason being is that I more meticulously plan out my day: set out a specific time (early) and length to train (1 hour), plan out when I sleep and a minimum amount (8hrs.), make a bunch of meals and eat them all on time, etc. I think it's actually been a good thing.

Speaking of training going well, I set a personal record today: barbell rowed 355 with good control (Previous PR on BB rows with similarly good form was about 345). My goal for this cycle is to BB row 3 plates and 25 (365). I'll get this in a week or two!

How are things with you? Training going well?

[Deerod021]

No kidding, those bb row #'s are insane! I would love to see you do back also on in the trenches,lol.

Hey JRod, since you are always trying to beat your prior numbers on weights and reps, do you ever regress? There are many times I'm in the gym and i can't perform the same weights or reps, it's really frustrating! I think It's mainly frustrating because I never miss days in the gym or meals. So when i can't beat the prior week's #'s or sometimes acutually have to go down in weight it drives me up a tree! Does this ever happen to you?

[Toddbz]

J- I just saw that your new job is with Cintas. That's who supplies the uniforms/supplies for my company (Powder Craft).
Sounds like Cintas needs to send us on a customer appreciation workout/lunch
What's your sales region?
Todd

[jrod]

No kidding, those bb row #'s are insane! I would love to see you do back also on in the trenches,lol.

Hey JRod, since you are always trying to beat your prior numbers on weights and reps, do you ever regress? There are many times I'm in the gym and i can't perform the same weights or reps, it's really frustrating! I think It's mainly frustrating because I never miss days in the gym or meals. So when i can't beat the prior week's #'s or sometimes acutually have to go down in weight it drives me up a tree! Does this ever happen to you?

YES! This happens to me.

My first priority is to have good/productive form. If I always put on more weight, I'd have terrible form (or get no reps). I always strive for more weight when I can handle it a) with good form AND b) within my rep range.

I tottally understand how you feel and I think there is good in the way you feel (keeps you striving for better). I used to get VERY frustrated when I wouldn't be at my all-time strongest. It was very discouraging. However, I came to realize that I do not need to be at my all-time strongest to have good productive workouts AND being weaker today doesn't mean I'm a worse BB today (development) than I was when I was at my strongest. I have learned to appreciate the value in backing off a bit when I have to.

It is all part of the process. You go up, up, down, up, down, up, up, up, down, up, down, down, up, down, up, up............ But you'll notice that in the long run, the sum of all those ups is greater than the sum of the downs.

[jrod]

J- I just saw that your new job is with Cintas. That's who supplies the uniforms/supplies for my company (Powder Craft).
Sounds like Cintas needs to send us on a customer appreciation workout/lunch
What's your sales region?
Todd

Hahahaha, thats a good one. I haven't been assigned a territory yet. Once I complete training (job!) I will be assigned one. I'll bring up your idea with them and let you know what they say .

[Spncbarrett]

You had the most sickeningly striated and dense quads and glutes I've ever seen at the Team U.

[Toddbz]

Hahahaha, thats a good one. I haven't been assigned a territory yet. Once I complete training (job!) I will be assigned one. I'll bring up your idea with them and let you know what they say .

I noticed also that they have a division that handles document disposal for companies. That's not a bad gig right there for the Bay. Best of luck in your new endeavor.

I bet your HR person would get a kick out of that idea.

[Toddbz]

No kidding the Cintas truck just pulled up. lol