First time bulk

13

Replies

  • jmule24
    jmule24 Posts: 1,382 Member
    Ok. Update time. No blog. For reasons explained above. 2 weeks ago I struggled a bit to hit my rep goal on bench, so I've lowered the weight and am trying to work my way back up again. I am progressing in all of my other exercises still, but I can see a plateau on the horizon as the weight amounts are getting heavier. I still feel as if I should milk the intermediate Madcow workout for all it's worth(hehe Madcow...milk) and move to the advanced periodized one when I can no longer make progress. As far as weight and measurements go, the last 2 weeks have been interesting as far as that's gone too. Last week, I gained nothing. Today, I've lost 2 pounds. Before that, I was consistently gaining slightly under 1 pound per week. I could try bumping my calories up by 100 this next week and see how things go. If I'm not gaining, I'm not eating at a surplus. It seems a little crazy to me though that I've been eating well over 3000 calories per day and I'm losing weight though. I am a special snowflake dammit! :# My current profile pic is from this morning. On the bright side, if my scale is to be trusted, I've still gained 4-5 pounds in 8 weeks, have gained a bunch of strength, and my thighs have increased in size by .5 inches. So what am I complaining about? Most of my other measurements(chest, neck, waist, hip) have stayed the same. Although, I didn't start out measuring my biceps, I feel those have increased in size. In my mind anyway. I'll update my measurements this weekend. Any additional comments/suggestions are welcome. Peace out, my gaining warriors.

    P.S. Damn, is bulking a mind *kitten*, or what?

    1180204466575117201.png

    Great update!!! Nice progress too!!!

  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    I'd say things are going well.

    You get these little peaks and valleys with the weight (at least, I do). But I find that things average out over the month and I gain what I was supposed to.

    But yeah, looks like things are going in the right direction for you. Maybe give it another week and see if the scale jumps upwards again before increasing cals?
  • FitForL1fe
    FitForL1fe Posts: 1,872 Member
    oh nuuuuuuuuuuuu I forgot to weigh myself this Monday nuuuuuuuuuu fml
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  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Just wanted to chime in and say the word I don't like is "moist"....grosses me out.
    Lol. Well played. I don't like the word "onesie" either for that matter.

    I call my singlet a onesie...got a problem with that???


    Just tagging really to watch the rollercoaster of a bulk - much of this resonates with when I bulked.
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  • FitForL1fe
    FitForL1fe Posts: 1,872 Member
    Sarauk2sf wrote: »
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Just wanted to chime in and say the word I don't like is "moist"....grosses me out.
    Lol. Well played. I don't like the word "onesie" either for that matter.

    I call my singlet a onesie...got a problem with that???


    Just tagging really to watch the rollercoaster of a bulk - much of this resonates with when I bulked.

    You can wear whatever you want. I just don't like the word. There's always words people don't like. I don't "armoire" either. It makes me irrationally angry.

    o wait this isn't the irrational anger thread :trollface:
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    edited June 2015
    Sarauk2sf wrote: »
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Just wanted to chime in and say the word I don't like is "moist"....grosses me out.
    Lol. Well played. I don't like the word "onesie" either for that matter.

    I call my singlet a onesie...got a problem with that???


    Just tagging really to watch the rollercoaster of a bulk - much of this resonates with when I bulked.

    You can wear whatever you want. I just don't like the word. There's always words people don't like. I don't "armoire" either. It makes me irrationally angry.

    Oh, I know I can and that you were not inferring that I could not :p

    I hate the word "Journey" unless its about, well, an actual journey..ala Jules Verne. Gets on my tIts for some reason.
  • eatgoodeat
    eatgoodeat Posts: 180 Member
    LiftCore wrote: »
    Absolutely lost my *kitten* at the first 4 replies LMAO
    that is all
    LOL I'm glad I wasn't the only one

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  • jmule24
    jmule24 Posts: 1,382 Member
    Looks good my friend....hip drive could use a little work in my opinion....that's all I notice.
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  • giantrobot_powerlifting
    giantrobot_powerlifting Posts: 2,598 Member
    It's a little difficult to tell, but I am not sure you're locking out and to reiterate Joe's comments, yes hip drive.
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  • jmule24
    jmule24 Posts: 1,382 Member
    It's a little difficult to tell, but I am not sure you're locking out and to reiterate Joe's comments, yes hip drive.

    I do feel as if I am standing straight up at the end of the lift. My knee flexibility is not the greatest. That's about as straight as my knees get, unfortunately.

    The camera angle makes it hard to tell if you're locking out. One to ensure you're locking out is with that hip drive :wink:

  • giantrobot_powerlifting
    giantrobot_powerlifting Posts: 2,598 Member
    It's a little difficult to tell, but I am not sure you're locking out and to reiterate Joe's comments, yes hip drive.

    I do feel as if I am standing straight up at the end of the lift. My knee flexibility is not the greatest. That's about as straight as my knees get, unfortunately.

    On the positive side, knee (along with hip and wrist) mobility can be increased.
  • jmule24
    jmule24 Posts: 1,382 Member
    It's a little difficult to tell, but I am not sure you're locking out and to reiterate Joe's comments, yes hip drive.

    I do feel as if I am standing straight up at the end of the lift. My knee flexibility is not the greatest. That's about as straight as my knees get, unfortunately.

    On the positive side, knee (along with hip and wrist) mobility can be increased.

    Matt would know.....he's "old..."

  • giantrobot_powerlifting
    giantrobot_powerlifting Posts: 2,598 Member
    jmule24 wrote: »
    It's a little difficult to tell, but I am not sure you're locking out and to reiterate Joe's comments, yes hip drive.

    I do feel as if I am standing straight up at the end of the lift. My knee flexibility is not the greatest. That's about as straight as my knees get, unfortunately.

    On the positive side, knee (along with hip and wrist) mobility can be increased.

    Matt would know.....he's "old..."
    Hey! I'm old enough to kick your...

    I need a nap.
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  • jmule24
    jmule24 Posts: 1,382 Member
    I hear you on the deadlifts. I just started doing them a year ago. My form isn't horrible but I keep switching back and forth between Sumo and Convential. I need to video myself doing Sumo at a heavier weight to see how my form is. When I pull conventional, my hips like to shoot up because my starting position is poor.
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  • nerdygymrat9
    nerdygymrat9 Posts: 163 Member
    Independence Day update.

    Got through my 9th week pretty well. Scale went up by about 1 pound from last week, I gained something in my biceps and neck. All other measurements stayed the same. About 3 weeks ago I stalled on bench. Was supposed to get 280lbs for 3 and struggled to get 2. Dropped the weight a bit and worked my way back up. I easily did 280lbs for 3 yesterday. Felt like I could do about 6. One of those rare surges of strength I guess. Felt really good. Happy 4th to all the bulking freaks out there! And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

    That is fantastic man! A 280 bench is awesome and the one pound gain is great! Definitely on a good path man!
  • FitForL1fe
    FitForL1fe Posts: 1,872 Member
    Independence Day update.

    Got through my 9th week pretty well. Scale went up by about 1 pound from last week, I gained something in my biceps and neck. All other measurements stayed the same. About 3 weeks ago I stalled on bench. Was supposed to get 280lbs for 3 and struggled to get 2. Dropped the weight a bit and worked my way back up. I easily did 280lbs for 3 yesterday. Felt like I could do about 6. One of those rare surges of strength I guess. Felt really good. Happy 4th to all the bulking freaks out there! And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

    dat bench doe

    how u so strang

    props tho man haha
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  • se015
    se015 Posts: 583 Member
    just started the same style of exercise and diet about a week ago. I am doing Ice Cream Fitness 5x5 with accessories (started a about 1.5 month ago gained a lot of strength but wasn't getting the calories to gain the mass i wanted , went from 80-180lbs squat for example but have only put on 1 pound in a month which is a little slow i am aiming for 3 to 4)

    As I've said in the past, I'm no expert, but I can tell you from experience that the 5x5 isn't always the best. I used do that and I also used to heavy weight lifting with low rep ranges as low as 2 and as high as 8, but then I started doing lighter weight and rep range from 8-12 with 3 or 4 sets, depending honestly on how I feel that day. This seems to be working, my muscles are getting bigger! It all depends on what you want more, strength or muscle thickness. Yes they both come when you lift weights, but I noticed when I did those programs my strength would improve dramatically, but no changes in size, then I started doing the Hypertrophy mode workouts, less weight, higher reps and size came on! Everyone is different, but just something to consider.
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  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    Definitely not an expert on form so hopefully someone else will chime in. I think they look pretty good. Although I have no clue how you manage to lift to commercials; it would drive me insane...
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  • _benjammin
    _benjammin Posts: 1,224 Member
    edited July 2015
    Ideally you want your head/spine neutral throughout, so you would be looking down to start.
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