drjoe

Kai Greene is one of the best posers around today. Check out a video of him from the bodybuilding.com thread. The guy is unbelievable! http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=5932981

Let me address the issue that seems to have someone really upset. Yes, I am the culprit in regards to the gelatin capsules. Here is the story for any of you interested. My best friend began his own product line of supplements recently. He wanted me to use them and then give my endorsement (if I liked them). One of the products was an herbal testosterone booster called Maximum Test. When I looked at the product I saw that they were gelatin capsules. I don't like gelatin capsules. He really wanted me to use and endorse his product so, as a friend, I agreed. Therefore, I simply just pour the contents out into my orange juice. Would I go out and purchase a product with gelatin capsules and then throw out the capsules? No. However, I was helping out a friend in this case. Does that make me a non-vegan? LOL...I guess it does to some (or should I say "one".). I don't understand why anyone would have so much anger and hostility over this issue. I am staying away from this and further discussions because I like to only direct my daily energy to positive matters and to helping others. I'm sorry to bring religion in, but I feel I must in this case. I would like to leave the individual, who appears to harbor so much anger, with a great prayer that my buddy gave me. It is the Prayer of St. Francis. It is a fabulous prayer and I try to live my life by it: Lord, make me a channel of thy peace That where there is hatred, I may bring love That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness That where there is discord, I may bring harmony That where there is error, I may bring truth That where there is doubt, I may bring faith That where there is despair, I may bring hope that where there are shadows, I may bring light That where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted to understand, than to be understood to love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is be forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life. Amen. I will remain on this board to hopefully help others. However, I will not engage in this debate any further. Peace.

How do you feel your workouts are going as the result of your current nutrition program? Do you feel that you are making good gains in the gym? Are you putting on body weight with this current plan?

I have deleted my response and would like to say "I'm sorry" to everyone who may have read it, including veganpotter. Peace.

I have deleted my reply and apologize to everyone (including veganpotter) who may have read it. It set a tone of bad karma for the day and I'm sorry.

Yes, in a sense. Money has already been invested, deals have been set-up, etc.

My partnerships were made prior to becoming a vegan. So, therefore, those relationships had already been established. And, yes it is difficult at times dealing with them. However, I feel that I am mature enough to deal with it.

Not exactly sure what that babble is exactly about however I will respond anyways. I am in the gym and supplement business. I also have partners in that business. They are not vegans. Therefore, I can't always have things exactly my way. If that makes me a "non vegan" in your eyes, so be it.

Agreed

Here's a great article explaining what is called Max-OT cardio. It's a great way to burn fat and get your cardio in (and it takes only 16 minutes!). Please note, that Max-OT is not for the faint of heart. It is 16 minutes of torture...LOL. Here's the link: http://www.ast-ss.com/articles/article.asp?AID=97

Flex had some of the best genetics EVER for bodybuilding. Unfortunately his body couldn't handle the drugs and he had to retire. However, I don't know if you are aware of this, but Flex is making a comeback as a natural bodybuilder. He still looks awesome, but a heck of a lot smaller.

Most I've met simply eat tons of meat, egg whites, etc. I can't think of any elite bodybuilders, that I know, that don't consume large quantities of meat/eggs.

LOL....have to take care of my non-vegan clients.

Hi Everyone, I don't have hard copies yet, but my book, The Accommodation Avoidance System, is available as an eBook. Go to my ebay store to check it out: http://stores.ebay.com/DeMarco-Health-and-Fitness-Store If you decide to purchase it, feel free to email me with any and all questions you may have about it. Peace

How does your body seem to be responding to your current nutrition program? What exactly is your goal, at this time, with your current plan?

I often observe habits that people have in the gym. For example, they complete 3 sets of a particular exercise and then decide to perform a different exercise for an additional 3 sets. Often times, when people do this, they perform their first set a little lighter than there 2nd and 3rd set. In fact, I often times observe people perform they're 3rd set using their heaviest weight. To me, if I can get 10 reps with 100 pounds on my first set and then 10 reps with a 120 pounds on my 2nd set, then the first set was to light and was a waste. I won't count it! This is were acclimation sets come in. An acclimation set is performed when changing exercises. It allows me to make that 1st set of a new exercise "really count". For example, the other day I was working legs. I performed 5 heavy sets of barbell good mornings. My next exercise was going to be deep barbell squats. I knew for my squats, I was going to need around 315 lbs on my first set of 10. I am not comfortable placing that much weight on the bar and going right into a set of deep squats. I also don't want to perform a first set with a weight that is to light. I won't get anything out of it and would just end up wasting energy. Therefore, I will first perform an acclimation set. The acclimation set will allow me to "adjust" from one exercise to another. When I perform the acclimation set I don't want to expend any real energy. Therefore, I placed 225 on the bar and performed a set of 5. This gave me the opportunity to "adjust" to the squatting motion, re-direct the blood flow into my legs and NOT waste any energy (therefore allowing me to direct all of my energy to my set with 315 lbs). Because of the acclimation set, I was able to give my 1st set of 10 with 315 lbs everything I had. I did the same for my 2nd set. By my 3rd set, there was NO way I was going to be going up in weight. In fact, I was lucky that I even got my 10th rep on my 3rd set. I find that acclimation sets also have played a big part in preventing injuries. Jumping into a first set with a heavy weight can increase your likelihood of injury. Give acclimation sets a try!!!

Today was chest and abs. I started my workout with some torso movements on my Keiser functional trainer. Great way to hit the serratus and obliques. I followed this by 3 sets of cable crunch downs with 180lbs for 20 reps. This was the second chest workout with Incline DB presses as my primary exercises. Strength improved from last chest workout. Workout was as follows: Incline DB: 90X5, 90X5, 90X5, 90X4, 85X6 Flat DB: 80X10, 80X10, 80X10 Flat Bench: 225 X 8, 225 X 8, 225 X 8 Smith Incline: 145 X 10, 145 X 10, 145 X 10 Keiser Standing Flyes: 30 (air loaded resistance) X 10, 30 X 10, 30 X 10 Question & Answer: Q: I´m contacting you because there's almost no information about being vegan and steroid use on the internet. I just in use of testosterone enantate for the first time. Some meat eating bodybuilders told me, they would never use steroids and eat soy at the same time. What do you think about it? A: Sorry, but you’re asking the wrong vegan bodybuilder. I don’t use drugs and therefore know very little about them. In regards to soy, my body responds well to it with no problems what so ever. If I were you, I would stay clear of steroids and continue to build muscle naturally with hard work and a good clean diet. Peace.

Just curious, why wouldn't one want to train like that all the time if more muscle fibers were recruited? Thanks for all the other replies, btw I wouldn't want to train, using the same method (i.e. 45-60 second rest intervals), all the time because my body would eventually accommodate. I am constantly setting up my training in a quest to avoid accommodation. Once you accommodate to your training program (which can occur in as little as 3 weeks) you no longer make progress. Therefore training with slightly lighter weight at short rest intervals is great, training with heavy weight with longer rest intervals is great, etc. It all works. The key is keeping your body confused. When your body has the answers, it's time to change the questions.

Using shorter rest intervals (i.e. 45-60 seconds) will definitely effect the amount of weight you are going to lift during your workout. However, the quicker pace will keep the muscles slightly fatigued throughout your workout. When you perform each set in a slightly fatigued state, the body part you are working will recruit more muscle fibers into action. This is a good thing! Would I train like that all the time? No. Once in a while? Sure, why not.

To bad you have been so busy. Maybe we can hook up next time you're in town. You're always welcomed to catch a workout at my gym when you're in the Boston area. Peace.

Here is the food intake for 10/23/07: Meal #1: 4 oz oats with banana, 1/2 pack of tempeh Meal #2: same as #1 Meal #3: Cup corn, cup beans, 1/2 yam Meal #4: same as #3 Meal #5: 8 oz. broccoli, cup corn, 1/2 block tofu Macro breakdown (per fitday.com) Cals: 2442 Protein: 146g Carbs: 413g Fat: 42 g Supplements over course of the day: Maximum Muscle Pump - one scoop (pre-workout) Xtend (2 scoops) - during workout CLA 1000 (conjugated linoleic acid) - 3 capsules Flaxseed oil - 1 TBSP Maximum Test (herbal test booster) - 3 capsules Of course, this is just one day. For example, I don't usually eat so much corn. I just happened to have it available yesterday. However, as you can see, I keep everything pretty basic. Remember, I am still 10 months out from competition so I am pretty flexible as to what I eat.

Today was back and calves. Started back with bent over rows (using a reverse grip). This is workout #2 with bent over rows as my primary exercise. Weights were increased from last back workout: 285 X 6, 290 X 6, 290 X 6, 290 X 6 and 285 X 6 This was followed by 4 secondary exercises: T-bar rows: 4 45lbs plates X 10 (3 sets) Wide pulldowns: 165 X 10 (3 sets) Close grip pulldowns: 180 X 8 (3 sets) Pulls behind head: 150 X 10 (3 sets) Calves: Single calf raise holding DB 85lb X 15, 100 X 12 (X5 sets), 85 X 15, 85 X 15 Good pump today while training. Questions & Answers: (will use the blog to answer some questions I receive each day) Q: How many weeks is your contest prep? A: When I was younger, I use to have an answer for this question. Mostly because I would eat whatever I wanted most of the year and then go into "contest mode" about 16 weeks out from a show. However, these days there is no set number of weeks that I use to prepare for a show. That is because I pretty much prepare 52 weeks a year. I eat "clean" year round and just make minor adjustments along the way as I get closer and closer to competition. Hope that helps. God bless and Peace.

I stick to whole foods at the present time. I do take Xtend, which is a branched chain amino drink, during my workouts. Peace.

I keep protein intake to about 1 gram per pound of lean body mass. For me, at my current weight of 165 lbs, I take in about 150 grams of protein per day. I know this is low by bodybuilding standards, but it works for me. I maintain the same protein intake pretty much year round. However, with that being said, I will make adjustments to any aspect of my nutrition plan if I feel something is not going right.

DAY 1: I am currently preparing for the NPC Team Universe competition held in NYC this coming September. For those of you not familiar with Team Universe, it is the most prestigious drug tested competition in the country each year. The winner of each weight class gets the honor of representing the USA at the World Amateur Championships. In 2007, I just missed making the USA team by placing third (I was defeated by both the 2006 and 2005 winners). I am determined to win my weight class (lightweight) in 2008. I have posted a couple of progress pics I just took 3-4 days ago. I am 165 lbs in these two pictures. This is the "fattest" that I allow myself to get in the "off season". I am at 165 lbs currently. I compete at about 150 lbs. Not to bad for a skinny malnourished vegan........LOL. It's funny that I'm starting my training blog on a day off from training. Today was a straight cardio day. I rode the upright bike for one hour this morning. I will be training back and calves tomorrow. I will be using my blog to answer any questions that you may have. Therefore, feel free to fire away with questions. Thank you for your support in my quest to win Team U. God Bless & Peace. http://blog.bodybuilding.com/wp-content/blogs/85322/uploads//Joeprogresspic1.jpg http://blog.bodybuilding.com/wp-content/blogs/85322/uploads//Joeprogresspic2.jpg