Week #5 - progress?

There's a question mark as I'm unsure. I had one workout last week - a week ago today. I've kept busy with chores around the house, working on the project Focus (lots of torque needed to free up rusted bolts) and working on the camp - but I've had zero time for the gym. This does not please me at all.

So, I'm back at it again tonight after work. All you can do after you fall is to pick yourself back up again. Perhaps everything I need to know in life I've been reminded of by the recent Batman movies. Hmm.

I'm going for no less than what I lifted last week at the gym. I'm fired up and I'm angry. I'm possibly even over 9000. I'm not settling and I'm not quitting. Quitting is for people who aren't me.

Have a great day folks!

Adam

Week #4 THT HIT Mass Day done!

I love playing mind games with myself.

I went into last night's workout with the determination that I COULD NOT FAIL. In truth, I didn't. I only banged out a half extra rep for overhead press, but it was still that 10th rep that I didn't do last week. How can I not be pleased with myself?

Actually, I have a confession to make. Last night, I sat down to bench 210lbx x 8 reps (or better) to make my progression on chest for the night. True, it adds triceps but we're splitting hairs here now! Focus! Anyway, I banged out 8 really nice reps. Then, I just laid there on the bench for a minute and thought to myself, "can I do at least one more?"

In reality, I could do two more. Hard, slow reps that I had to fight for, but I managed to hit out two more. I brought that same intensity to the rest of my night (as I was leading off with chest) and I have to say that some days I genuinely surprise myself still when in the gym.

Also, I'm adding a few pics I took last night. Watch for one element that I didn't notice until today, after I took my pics. Here's a hint, it's legit and it's south of my waist, but it shouldn't get me arrested for mentioning it in public.

Caught it yet? My quads, specifically my left in the one shot. What did you think I was referencing? :P

Have a great day and lift hard folks!

Adam

Week #4 THT HIT Mass Day #1

Well, life is nothing if not interesting. Case in point - I only got in one workout last week. While at home. Within range of my gym. FAIL. Add in a long weekend where I ate so-so and I'm really missing the gym right now. Guess where I'm going tonight after work?

Believe it or not, I'm going to be pushing for gains today. My own laziness is not an excuse. Plus, I did get some decent wood splitting exercise in this weekend, ran the dog some, so it's not a total wash. Positivity is key - without it, you're doomed to the same past you were stuck in before you decided to get off the couch and make something of yourself.

So, today is Day #1 of Week #4 of THT 3.1 HIT. Going to hit the gym, lift hard, sweat and swear and make my gains. Because I can. It's that simple.

Make everything you do "that" simple in execution and you'll never fail. You can plan all you want, analyze all you want and run your mouth all you want before you set foot in that gym / hockey rink / office. Once it's time to put up, just do it. Make it as simple as possible, with the least chance for complication or failure as possible and you're set.

Have a great week eveyone!

Adam

THT 3.1 HIT Week #3, Mass day done

In life, even with a certain plan for yourself, you need to think outside the box. Once in a while, opportunities will present themselves and it's up to you to discern whether they're worth following through or not.

Last night, I had an idea. I've been doing well leading off my HIT nights with Smith rack squats, but the last two or three nights I've been leading off with Smith rack bench press. Tonight, I'd not only do exactly that, but I would also shoot for no less than 210lbs x 6 to open - up from 200 x 10 last week.

Not only did I hit that, I short-rested and then banged out two more clean reps. I marked it down as "210 x 6" in my logs to promote even progression, however. :) It was a good night all around, and another stand-out surprise was my overhead press - 150lbs x 9, up two reps.

So, my conundrum is that I'll need to hit the gym early Friday afternoon because of the holiday long weekend here and we'll be heading out to the camp later on that day. Having said that, I'm looking forward to several days and nights right out by the water. We can't fish yet (for bass), but I enjoy sitting on the deck with a good book and a coffee just the same.

All the best for a great Thursday (Thorsday!) folks!

Adam

Note to self: predictions are bad

Well, today I may not make it to the gym and I definitely didn't make it yesterday. It seems as though my third week of craziness has arrived.

Hopefully I can make it to the gym tonight as planned. I really, really want to lift today!

All the best for a great Tuesday, folks!

Adam

End of THT HIT 3.1 Week #2

Apologies for the late post. Blogger / Google was having serious technical issues last week so I was literally unable to post updates on my THT 3.1 HIT progress.

Final progress on the week was great. I missed my Consolidation workout due to scheduling issues, so I'm just going to do Week #3's Mass days and then hit my Consolidation on Friday.

This week should be epic. I should be benching 210lbs on Wednesday. I should also be going up on bicep curls as well. Also getting close to going up on Smith machine squats.

This week is more of the same - my previous couple of weeks of insanity have gone down, so now I can hunker down and really get into the big progress, big pushes that I want to do.

Have a great week folks! Lift safely and train hard!

Adam

Week #2 THT HIT Mass day done

So, yesterday was going to be the "real" test. Week #2, THT HIT Mass day #1, on a new cycle after a 2 week "break". Would I gain or would I be stuck in a rut?

Well...

Happily for me, I gained everywhere! (in reps, that is) Benching was particularly awesome (up 2 reps @ 200lbs), so was tricep extensions (205lbs x 12). Also, bicep curls rocked, and I slaughtered myself with two sets of abs. A breakout surprise was my weight-added pullups - 8 x bodyweight + 60lbs, a new personal best!

My new abs regimen is two sets on "on" days, and 1 set of abs on off days. Literally, I'll hit the gym for abs and some deadlifts to keep my lower back tuned-up.

So, with today off for recovery I'm shooting to do a little grocery shopping after work, take a few things out to the new camp and just recover in general.

Tomorrow is moar weight for some exercises, moar reps and just moar badassery all around! Yes, I made that last part up. You can't be too badass in Canada, or "they" will throw you in jail. No thanks, I'd rather stay in the gym I have now.

Have a great day, folks!

P.S. - today is the 10th anniversary of the passing of one of the best Fiction writers of all time, Douglas Adams. Remember that Towel Day is May 25th. ALWAYS know where your towel is.

Adam

THT 3.1 HIT Week #1 Mass Workouts Done

This is where things can tend to get a tad confusing for some folks, and that's understandable. I've decided to go with at least a half-cycle (5 weeks) of Mark's THT 3.1 HIT cycle. This will tide me over until Mark's new free training book, Targeted Hypertrophy Training 4.0 (previously known as Total Anabolism) is released.

After taking the better part of two weeks off, I've been working good and hard at getting back into my proper MuscleHack routines - decent food (except for weekend carb-up days), proper MuscleHack-quality workouts and lots of water. I've also decided to resume my GNC Mega Men's Sport vitapaks while cycling off of creatine for a while. This isn't due to any negative reactions or results. I just like to do shakeups once in a while to keep my body guessing.

I've also decided that this week deserves a little "publicity", so I'm attaching two photos from last night after my second HIT Mass workout of the week. My consolidation workout will be on Saturday (or Sunday). Without further ado...

So, it is entirely possible to eat like crap briefly, lift for maintenance for a week after a week's break and still not lose mass or strength. I was pec deck'ing the equivalent of 250lbs last night, shrugging 305lbs, cable curling 180lbs with two hands, tricep pushdowns were 205lbs, Smith squats should have been 240lbs (did 230), overhead universal press 150lbs, delt lat raises with 55s, rowing 270lbs (dropping that to 250 next week and raising my grip some), wrist rolling 55s, etc etc.

The bottom lne is... and you've heard it before... just keep lifting. The rest will take care of itself.

Have a great weekend folks!

Adam

THT HIT mini-cycle starts NOW!

So, I've decided to do a 4-5 week mini-THT HIT cycle while I wait for Mark's Targeted Hypertrophy Training 4.0 to drop. My first night back was tonight, and it was EPIC. Also, the new MuscleHack tank tops are actually getting people talking and making it easy to get people pointed in the right direction to learn about Mark's work! Outstanding!

Also, it seems that I did enough of everything right while I was away that I didn't lose much mass or strength. I was able to bench 200lbs for reps tonight, as well as shrugging 300lbs and rowing 270lbs.

So, onwards and upwards. More lifting, more reps, more weights, more MuscleHacking.

Have a great week all!

Adam