esqinchi

I think you look great, but that's not the question you asked. Are you tracking your caloric intake? What about your salt intake? Hydration? Could be you are not eating enough, could be you are eating too much... Could also be genetic (I know that's frustrating - come over here and take a look at my belly). No matter what, even if I cut down to 1,600 calories per day, I cannot lose the last five pounds. Even if I could, would I want to maintain that level? Not sure. Either way, make little tweaks to your diet until you notice the desired result. Training sounds good, even a bit overambitious; 2x/day weights/hiit is pretty brutal. Continue (or start) being patient, and things will happen. Remember, your body, as a means of survival, is programmed to hold onto that last bit of body fat. The harder you try to lose it, the harder it holds on.

Glad to hear things are going well mate. By the way, I would give ANYTHING for some fresh blueberries right now! Haven't had much decent fruit here (especially berries) since late September. But to have my own garden, with a blueberry bush - that would be sublime! You've piqued my interest in the sports drink, especially since its not too sweet. I'll look it up, and maybe order some from ya!

Talk about DOMS... My quads are screamin'!

Don't know much about marathon training, but looks like you're putting in a lot of work! Are you still lifting? I had a friend who was training for 26.2, and also lifting (i.e. 2x per day training). He looked pretty beat all the time - I was a bit worried about him. How's the business going?

Sunday, January 12, 2014: No formal training today, but I did a ton of packing, which meant lifting and carrying boxes all over. Plus, I found these big blue Ikea bags that I've been stuffing full of things to toss out - then carrying them down two flights of stairs, and out to the dumpster. I'd call that one hell of a farmer's carry (each time I bet they were in the 70lb range for each hand). Once I got them to the can, I'd do a front raise to get them up to the bin. Gotta have some bit of ingenuity! Not sure I'll get to train tomorrow, as the LL has some potential tenants coming through. If I do though, it'll be all core!

Funny you're getting size large, and I'm here trying to stay in medium - for the first time in my life!

Thanks fellas, that means a lot, especially coming from two dudes that work hard everyday, and that I fully respect. Hope you guys have a killer weekend! Ross - I added you on IG just fyi.

Saturday, January 11, 2014: Saturday Pump Day 1. BB Bench - 3 x 12 @ 155lbs 2. Single Arm Row - 3 x 12* @ 60lbs 3. Chest Pullover - 3 x 12 @ 60lbs 4. Squat - 3 x 12 @ 285 (a bit of a fluke, as I noticed I had one 35lb plate on one side, and a 25lb on the other - only after the fact) 5. Squat Jumps - 3 x 15 6. Wide Leg Deadlift - 3 x 12 @ 100lbs 7. Seated Angled Close Grip Lat Pulldown - 3 x 12 @ 105lbs 8. Hi-Lo Woodchopper - 3 x 12* @ 50lbs 9. Elevated Pushup - 3 x 12 (did the first set as plyo's) Woke up super tired today, and have so much shit to do for our move that I probably shouldn't have gone to the gym - but here I am right? Maybe I'll take next Saturday off. Got in and out for today, and skipped my usual 10 - 12 exercises, as I knew I'd be getting more calories burned by packing/throwing stuff away. Honestly can't fucking wait to get out of this place, and have everything wrapped up - it's been kind of all consuming trying to buy this house. Anyhow, I'm off to start on the day (at noon, no less). One last thing... Saw this guy doing glute bridges adjacent to the squat rack, using the squat bar, and I mean RIGHT UP AGAINST the squat rack. What a fucking doucher! I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to drop the whole 285 on his face! Honestly, there is NO reason he would need a barbell to do glute bridges - use a fucking plate! Some people... Have a good weekend everyone!

Dude you are going to have massive shoulders in no time! Nice work today. Also, give me that beer dammit! (self imposed dry spell over here haha!)

Thanks guys - haha. I'd be lying if I said I didn't wink at their girlfriends when I walked by (I might have even muttered "pussies" at their boyfriends lol). Braised tofu and pastries? Making me hungry over here boy!

Sure mate - I go by Chris (despite my FB page). I think I'd pass directly out on the floor if I tried to put up 95kg (180lbs?).

Thanks man, I guess it's good to mix things up every now and then. Cornish pasties, eh? I'll pass that one along to the missus! Pasties.... lol

Nice work with those DBs on the chest press man! 95kg is pretty huge for a 1RM in my opinion. Way to go!

Wednesday, January 8, 2014: Plyo-HIIT Day (a/k/a New Trainer Day) So I worked tonight with the new trainer. It was a good session, but a little bit remedial as far as exercises go. We did a LOT of pushups, in various forms, some kettlebell work, the battle ropes, some squats, some squat jumps, tricep kickbacks, tricep dips, lunges, curls, etc. By the way, I HATE writing out my sessions like this, but the exercises were kind of random, so I didn't have a chance to commit them to memory. Anyhow, nearly everything was for time, instead of reps. I find this to be more difficult as far as pacing goes, but I definitely worked up a solid sweat. Since I'm only going to be working with this guy for a couple months, I suppose this will do. Came home and had a big salad for dinner. Feeling good! Need more rest. Taking tomorrow off to start packing up this place.

Tuesday, January 7, 2013: Leg Day (Two Rounds/Rest 90 Seconds Between) 1. Front Squat x 15 @ 70lbs 2. Squat Jump x 20 3. Angled Lunge x 12* @ 70lbs 4. Lunge Jumps x 20 5. Single Leg Deadlift x 12* @ 35lbs 6. Reverse Lunge to Front Kick x 12* 7. Bulgarian Split Squat x 12* @ 50lbs 8. Stability Ball Hamstring Curls x 25 Didn't have much time today, and I'm stressed as fuck so I did this as a circuit, and only two rounds. I planned on doing these as supersets, and for three rounds each. Stressed over the move, and it's messing up my appetite/eating schedule. I basically skipped lunch, and by 7pm, realized that I had only consumed about 1,200 calories today. Ate up some of these lentils I have in the fridge to bring me up to about 1,600. Still far too low, but stress really affects my appetite. Oh well, I was looking to lose a couple pounds anyhow! Bailed on work today since it is so damn cold here. Ended up sleeping til about 9:30 this morning, so I guess I needed the rest. Seriously cannot wait for February 9 (moving day!). Actually, strike that... I cannot wait for this winter to fuck off. I want to be on my new deck, in the summer heat, shirtless, mowing the lawn, drinking ice cold summer beers, and grilling vegan stuff. Oh yeah, something my wife and I talk about all the time.... The house we bought has all brand new appliances in it, which means that nary an animail based product will ever touch our stove or oven! That really excites me! I don't follow a halal diet or anything, but it's still pretty cool. Doing a complimentary session tomorrow with a new trainer. I've heard he likes to do a bunch of timed exercises, which I think are the hardest - I find it difficult to pace myself, so I usually spend the lot at the beginning, and leave nothing in the tank for what comes after. Frankly, I wish they would let me out of this contract, as I am too busy/stressed to devote the attention, and I feel like I can handle my fitness on my own now. I'm ready to get in the gym on Saturday and kill it. All I know right now is, I'm exhausted...

Ugh, construction projects stress me out man - fuck a bunch of that! Everywhere I've read kind of suggests taking supplements in the morning... Or is that vitamins? Are vitamins supplements???

I haven't been paying attention, but how many days per week do you train? I like to give myself a couple days rest during the weekend, and maybe one more day during the week. Also, dude, 200kg for a deadlift is freakin huge man! I might even fly over there to witness such a spectacle! haha Hope you're doing well mate. Sending you a facebook friend request if that's not too weird!

Monday, January 6, 2014: Full Body Circuit Day (Two Rounds/Rest 2 Minutes Between) 1. 3 For 3 x 8 @ 70lbs (3 pushups, burpee, 3 bent over row) 2. Waking Lunge x 12* @ 70lbs 3. Alternating Toe Touch x 20* 4. Lo-Hi Woodchopper x 12* @ 25lbs 5. Wide Leg Deadlift x 15 @ 70lbs 6. Bicycle Abs x 40* 7. Delt Raise x 12 @ 50lbs 8. Sumo Front Squat x 15 @ 70lbs 9. Jacknife x 15 @ 25lbs 10. Supinated Bicep Curls x 12 @ 50lbs Good set today. For some reason, floor exercises where I am looking up at the cieling, and holding my chin toward my chest, always make me feel nauseous afterward. Did I mention that it is -15*F outside here today? With a wind chill of -44*F? Yeah. Went to work this morning, which requires a short walk to public transit. Eyes teared up due to the wind, and immediately froze on my eye lashes. Came home early because my boss is cool (not the same boss that made us come in), and will likely take tomorrow off as well. Best part about coming home early on a Monday? My wife has Monday's off, and I walked in to her making these! (it was tough to train through the delicious aromas haha!) See you tomorrow for legs! Vegan Acorn Squash Empanadas with Roasted Pepper-Cilantro-Garlic Spread

Saturday, January 3, 2014: Saturday Pump Day 1. DB Bench - 4 x 8 @ 140lbs (I actually did 2 sets of 12 @ 130lbs since the 70lb DB's were being used, but 4x8 was my intention) 2. KB Snatch/Clean/Press - 4 x 12* @ 25lbs 3. DB Pullover - 4 x 10 @ 65lbs 4. Squat - 3 x 12 @ 275lbs 5. Box Jumps - 3 x 12 @ 24" box 6. Deadlift - 3 x 12 @ 155lbs 7. 3 Way Assisted Pullup - 3 x 12 @ 20lbs assist 8. Decline Bench - 3 x 10 @ 155lbs 9. Farmer Carry - 3 x 200' @ 90lbs 10. Bosu Oblique Crunch - 3 x 15* 11. Battle Rope Waves - 3 x 30seconds 12. Medicine Ball Slams - 3 x 15 @ 15lbs Felt good to get in and lift some heavier shit after a few days away from heavy weight training. Missing my sessions with the trainer, but still managed to get four days in this week. I'm thinking of dusting off the ol' Insanity DVD's, and doing one of those per week to add a fifth training day in. It certainly would make the most out of my apparently endless hunger as of late. Speaking of hunger, here's what I had for lunch today: Homemade Punjab Chole, with one of these quinoa patties we found at the market. Also added some mango chutney, and a little curry sauce in for fun. Busting out the Indian cookbook we have here tonight to make something similar. The running joke in this house is that every recipe I make involves a grain, and a bean, combined. I like to add squash or zucchini, but the main elements that comprise my diet: beans, grains. Pretty much... Also, sriracha. Have any of you dudes across the pond tried this curry sauce? It's ok in my opinion. I found it at a local German market. Preparing for a deep freeze over the next couple days. Monday is a high off -10*F. Really not looking forward to the commute, especially since it's supposed to snow another 6" on Sunday. I fuckin hate winter.

Thanks, fellas. I love being outside, especially for some snow training! I managed to take a pic of their car after I finished cleaning up. I tried to make the lines surrounding it as sharp as possible, so they knew it was deliberate! Fuckers!

Sweet bench man! I'd be amazed if I ever reached that level... You must be on permanent beast mode! haha!

Still nice work man. I know exactly what you mean about leg days. I always remind myself that legs are my largest muscle group, so if I want to make gains, I gotta hit legs. The interesting thing I've found is that I feel like I get better training in doing more functional work on legs, than standard squats/deadlifts. I've been adding a lot of different lunges in, even at lower weights, and wake up the next day sore as hell. Something to consider... Hope you have a solid weekend buddy!

Thursday, January 2, 2014: Functional Chores Day 1. Shovel 1,000+ square feet of snow, at minimum 6" depth. 2. Shoulder carry two 50lb bags of rock salt approximately 500 feet. 3. Dispense one 50lb bag of rock salt onto pavement. 4. Laugh at my expression of derision in burying my neighbor's friend's car, which is parked illegally on our side of the parking lot.* First training of the new year, and not one foot set in the gym! Felt great to get outside in the cold and shovel up a shitload of snow. Hopefully this really worked the back, shoulders, legs, and core. I think I was out there shoveling for at least 90 minutes. Favorite part of today's training was carrying those bags of rock salt all over Home Depot, on my shoulders, while all the other dudes, with their girlfriends, were using carts to push around one bag straight to the register! HAHAHA! I felt like screaming out "no meat in two years, and all this raw ultimate power!!" lol Back to the gym on Saturday for an all over training, definitely hitting up some solid deadlifting. *Note: This person is indirectly responsible for my wife taking my car to work on NYE day, which, as noted above, broke down and had to be towed. They deserve to be towed, but will be buried in snow instead.

Nice work on those presses man, I need to catch up! Squats tomorrow? I expect to see a vid similar to this....

Nice work on the circus press mate, I should get in on that. Sometimes I like to do single arm DB chest press on the stability ball - keeps it interesting. Get that vid up man, I need to see how the beast trains! haha!