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Bulking is Hard....Rant
This is my first bulk and I'm finding that mentally, it's draining. You eat, lift as heavy as possible, gain strength, but then are left with just a little too much fat. I know it's the process, I get it, but when you take a look at your peak pictures, it's kinda hard to stay motivated. You look back at progress photos and…
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Hamstring and Abductor Variations
Lately, with the weather getting colder (and switching up from hot to cold on a daily basis) the implant in my foot is killing me. I can do most of my program exercises, however the two that are extremely painful are the abductor machine and the hamstring curl (seated or lying...both press just the right spot on my foot to…
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Let Me See That...Puppy!
Today will be a long, busy day at work (that didn't start with my morning gym and coffee routine) followed by my S.O. being out of town for a good portion of the next week due to business travel. Needless to say...I'm in need of a pick-me up. And as a puppy lover, I figured what better way to get a smile (and maybe spread…
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Roman Chairs, Knee Sleeves and Random Fitness Inquiries...
Crushed heavy leg day yesterday, had a decent ab and back work-out today (wish I could have fit more sets in and gotten some cardio completed...damn Northern Jersey traffic left me with 45-minutes to get my work out in...maybe I'll walk the dogs later) but I am left inquiring about a few things. After 3+ years of fitness…
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I really shouldn't have, but....
I just bought several new protein bar flavors. Got a box of Quest Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Quest Blueberry Muffin, Oh Yeah ONE Lemon Cake and Oh Yeah ONE Chocolate Birthday Cake. My tummy will be happy when these arrive, but my wallet, not so much! What are your opinions on the new/improved flavors? Also, how do people get…
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Calorie Intake - Feeding the (Very Short) Body During Maintenance vs. Bulk
Hey guys, me again! As we enter into fall, I've been more curious about slowly upping my calories and potentially gaining a small amount of fat yet increasing lifts to also gain more muscle and strength before next summer. Up to this point, I've been eating 1,400 calories per day (around there) and as of late I've been…
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Starbuck's Fit Life PSA
I know a lot of us on here watch our macros, including keeping sugar to a limited amount. If you're anything like me and LOVE your Starbuck's coffee, the Sugar-Free Flavors were a serious must-have in your morning java fix. Well, in addition to upping the price of almost all of their beverages, they are now discontinuing…
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Are All BCAA's the Same? Opinions on BCAA's Welcome.
Currently I use Amino-X BCAA's, typically 1 scoop x day before or during a work out. I've seen a ton of different amino acids advertised and I'm wondering if they are all the same, or if the brand/quality really makes a difference like it does with protein. Also, I know the standard for dosage varies - a lot of people…
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Smith vs. Barbell Squats
Hello! After lifting for the past year, I clearly I realize the benefits of barbell squats vs. Smith machine squats. The core muscles are worked much more thanks to the amount of balance that it takes to stabilize the bar while squatting while the machine helps you out and you get to focus on pushing weight. Well, due to…
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Building A Booty and Booty Goals....Is It Possible?
I've been lifting since October of last year. Almost one solid year of heavy squats, accessory work and overall strength gained. My original goal was to be as thick as Ana Cheri, Katya, Sommer Ray and all of the other drool-worthy IG models with thick behinds. After a year, I've made progress. I am MUCH stronger, more…
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How Do You Practice Body Positivity?
This is a subject that I've struggled with for quite some time. For a while, the pure fact that I was getting stronger was encouragement and made me feel more proud of my body than I ever could have thought possible. As time has gone on and I've continued lifting, hitting plateuas and overcoming challenges all in the same,…
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Slap Nutrition Salted Caramel BCAA
I've wanted to try out these BCAA's for quite some time (I've been a loyal Fruit Punch Amino-X drinker since January) and I want to make the splurge purchase since it's my birthday this week...plus everyone says these BCAA's in a Starbuck's Cold Brew + SF Pumpkin Spice flavor is bomb and pumpkin season is right around the…
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Two Weeks Off - UGH! Dreading This
I work out for 1-1/2 to 2 hours daily, pretty much every day. I lift for at least an hour and do 20 to 30-minutes of cardio. Well, this week, we've been preparing to leave for a long getaway that's out of the country (staying on a small yacht, no access to a gym). I planned on going to the gym for two hours Monday through…
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Thursday Struggles - What Day of the Week Do You Dread?
What is your most anxious day of the week? The day that you really lack motivation and have to push yourself to get through. For me, it's Thursday. I have a three-hour commute M-Th, plus I hit the gym for 30-minutes cardio and 40-60 minutes of lifting every day except Sunday. Thursday evening after I get home, I like to…
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Lacking Energy...Tips?
Lately, I've been incorporating more cardio into my routine (in addition to my typical lifting sessions). Necessary for summer. I'm not restricting my calories as much as before, minimal fat gain, moderate muscle gain (probably just finally getting the muscles to "pop" due to the additional cardio - losing excess fat layer…
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Constantly Feel Like I'm Not Doing Enough...Am I?
I typically have an hour and a half for my morning work out - more on weekends. I aim high and always end up having to cut my work outs a little bit short from what I had planned and this makes me feel like a failure when I don't/can't get it all done no matter how excellent the work out was. It makes me question if I'm…
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Eating Enough? Lifter. Open Diary.
I work out 6 x week for the most part - recently upped cardio to 30-minutes on upper body day and 15-minutes on lower body days (with an "optional" feat on heavy lower days..usually 1 x week). My lift sessions are typically 30-minutes on upper body (with a 25-minute ab circuit in addition to that) and 40 to 60-minutes on…
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Everything PROTEIN!
My daily protein goal is 110 grams. I've had a lot of success with this (ignore my diary for the past week... I've been sick and haven't been strictly watching macros), but it is hard to get that much protein in depending only on natural sources. I typically eat two protein bars a day in addition to a meat-focused lunch…
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I HATE REST DAYS...anyone else?
Typically, my goal is to get a work out in every day of the week. My routine consists of 15 minutes of stretching, 15-20 minutes of cardio (running at 6 mph) and about 45-60 minutes of heavy lifting. I alternate upper/lower body days and have a lot of variation in my work out routine. Everyone keeps telling me that my body…
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Core - 100 Days to Abs
I've been lifting and strictly watching macros since October. I've seen significant changes in my body - more toned arms and shoulders; firmer legs and larger glutes; abs peeking through at the top and a solid line down my stomach. I have a very regimented upper body work out, as well as a lower body work out that I stick…
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Coping with Fat During Bulk
Eating about 1,600 on gym days (5' and weigh 114 lbs.) and have been steadily building muscle all-around. Also have noticed my stomach is bloated 80% of the time. I know this is normal, but how do you deal? Should I be incorporating more cardio, lifting heavier, more often, etc.? I go to the gym for a 40-minute lift sesh…
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Fitness Wear
I need athletic attire store suggestions that aren't gonna run me broke. I'm not doing too well financially, but I know that I need to prioritize and add some new leggings, tanks and sports bras (maybe even a pair of sneaks?!) to my wardrobe while still saving for new Spring/Summer clothes and bikinis since nothing from…
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Support on a Rest Day
I haven't had a rest day in about two weeks. Lifting every day, and this week I changed up my methods and increased my weight a lot, so to put it lightly - I am sore. Lower body day was two days ago and I'm still feeling it. Upper body from yesterday has me aching too. Needless to say, today I am taking a day off.…
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Booty Building (+ All-Around Strength Training)
Would love to have a few more variations to incorporate into my leg/glute routine. I get stuck in a rut and feel like I'm no longer making progress even though my lift weight is increasing. Any tips? Here is my current routine: Work Out - Sets x Reps x Weight Leg press - 2 x 20 x 210 Leg press - 2 x 15 x 230 Side leg press…
