THT 4.0 HIT Experiment Week #7 and Week #8 Notes

Well, it seems the further along that I come during this THT 4.0 HIT experiment, the quicker the time seems to fly by! In truth, Week #8 is also done - but we'll get to that. In the meantime, my observations on Week #7:

Lifting was no harder for me than Week #6, but the mental "load" was greater. Not the first of these things was the fact that I managed to hit 300lbs for bench right at the very end of my week. This mental boost was enough to carry me right through the next week. Today is rest day #2 for me and I'm still amped from the gym.

Full details on Week #7 (and soon, Week #8) can be found on MuscleHacker.com.

Now, for the usual suspects - the pics.

First pics was right after training biceps. Peaked, but couldn't fully flex to show striations.

Second pic is obviously post-everything. One of my recent faves of me, and that's saying a lot because I'm still my own harshest critic.

Third pic is an "unusual" pose for me, which is why I took it.

In the second pic,which is also up on the MuscleHack FB page, an interesting question was posed: am I losing bodyfat? The unscientific answer is "No, or at least I'm not trying to right now". If anything, my carb intake is about the same lately. I'm eating more of all of my macros because I am adding what seems to be slabs of muscle during this experiment cycle and I want to keep it around. I'd wager my abs being more "evident" is because I'm finally training them right again and they're literally exploding in size. As always, this is completely without factual measurements or other evidence - just my own observations.

Week #8 observations: I finally ran into a wall training biceps. I've moved from standing single cabled curls with the pulley at the floor (day 1-2) to standing single cabled curls with the pulley at waist height. This allows me to not worry about getting the weight off of the floor and focus on the RoM and PCP of the exercise. Also, my back is moving nicely and no rocking needed with the weight - MUCH safer. Triceps are moving well on their second go-round with 2-handed pressdowns. Overall, everything is on a roll and I'm stoked for the last 2 weeks of the experiment!

Have a great day MuscleHackers! Lift hard and train smart!

Adam

THT 4.0 HIT Experiment vid - pec deck burnouts!

I think I honestly had one more rep "in" me, but my camera-phobia set in and I was left unable to do any more. See what the mental aspect of things can do to you???

I harassed my bud Oscar to take some more vid footage of me doing another burnout set. Eventually, over the next couple of weeks, I hope to video some of the actual components of the experiment. In truth the entire experiment, except for the burnouts, is completely based off of the MuscleHack THT 4.0 HIT cycle.

Also, a bit of news before the vid: I'll be doing up a FB page for the blog that Mark will likely tie into from the MuscleHack FB page. This will make it even easier to share my journey with everyone who has an interest in MuscleHacking - and my journey with it.

Now, the vid:

I make the funniest faces when I work out. :/

So, the usual disclaimers: I might not make it look that way, but that's a lot of weight. Please don't attempt that weight if you're not at that level in your training yet. Doubly so on the narrow-grip pec deck (I move 290 there). Work your way up in your weights and reps safely in your workout - continual gain in smaller steps is infinitely preferable to too much of a "jump" and an injury. If you're new to working out and you haven't been active for some time prior, consult your family doctor for an evaluation before starting a workout plan.

There'll be another MuscleHacker.com update this weekend as time permits. I'm in the middle of Week #8 of my THT 4.0 HIT Experiment. So far, it's awesome! My plans when I'm done are to go to the 3-day THT 4.0 Volume workout.

Have a great weekend, MuscleHackers! Train hard and lift smart!

Adam

THT 4.0 Experiment Week #7 follow-up

These are my "follow-up" notes to week #7 of my MuscleHack.com -inspired experiment. Basically, I went insane. I decided that not only was Mark's workout program amazing but that I could turbo-charge it. So far so good. This is what happens when you rework the THT 4.0 HIT program.

So, I've encountered an interesting scenario in my training. My overhead press is now to the point where I'm unable to actually get the entire weight up off of the pegs but once it's in the air I can do my reps. I don't yet know whether that just means I'm that far along in my training or whether I need to revisit it some more. I'm inclined to believe it's the former thus far, as I can lift 5lbs less than my current working weight right off of the pegs. An interesting situation, that's for sure.

What I've been able to do is press the full weight up on the inside grip, but not the outside grip. So, I performed my sets for a couple of days and then asked a friend to help me "pop up" the weight off of the pegs on the universal machine. Once in the air, I was "back down" a couple of reps but I still hit my 5 reps @  180lbs. So, the jury's still out so far. My next cycle might eschew the universal machine (which isn't a bad idea as it's almost maxed-out) and go directly to dumbells for the same exercise.

I've posted up the week #5 and week #6 notes over at MuscleHacker.com - you'll notice that the gains are still ridiculous. I figure by the end of the 10 weeks that I've decided to do this workout that I'll be progressing in smaller increments than what I've been managing thus far.

Happy item of note - yesterday, I benched 300lbs for 5 reps... and then I did 2 more reps after a short rest. Why more? I just had to do it again. It was SUCH a blast benching at 300lbs!

Oh, as is my custom of late - a pic from the end of Week #7.

So remember, your goals are obtainable. Mine are. Yours are. And remember that when you obtain them, set new ones!

Lift hard and train smart, Musclehackers!

Adam

THT 4.0 HIT Experiment - week 5 and 6 notes

I conned Oscar into taking a video of me doing weight-added underhanded pull-ups. I uploaded it to here yesterday, but the Blogger video rendering software is crap. So, I'm attaching directly from YouTube now. Let's see if this works.

New post will be up on the MuscleHacker site later with broken-down stats. In a nutshell, I keep gaining across the board but my shoulders are becoming a special case. I tend to start my new weight with inside grip overhead presses (Cabled) and then after a few days at the new weight, I move to outside grip overhead presses with the same weight and re-progress. Still, I'm progressing. I can't argue with success!

I'm off tonight but back at it tomorrow and Friday. Remember, Friday is Remembrance Day (in Canada) and is celebrated in most free nations around the world. Take the time to remember those who gave their lives so that you have the chance to make your own choices in this life.

Train hard and lift smart, folks! Have a great day!

Adam

THT 4.0 Experiment - week 5/6 notes

So, I'm 2 weeks behind on updating here - this is not intentional.

6 weeks of my MuscleHack THT 4.0 Experiment are done. 6 particularly gruelling weeks of "what the hell have I gotten myself into?" thoughts, 6 weeks of "holy shit that's heavy!" thoughts, 6 weeks of "I'm lifting how much now for reps?" thoughts.

The best part? I would NEVER go back. EVER. This is probably one of the coolest things I've done for myself. I'm beyond stoked at how well things have turned out so far.

I'll be putting up a more detail post on MuscleHacker.com later today, but here's a good picture that I think exemplifies how far I've come to-date:

This picture almost scares the crap out of me. I can't wait to see if I can actually get any "scarier".

Have a great week, MuscleHackers! Lift hard and train smart!

Adam

P.S. Mark has a wicked new exercise for triceps that he has added to the MuscleHack library. You can check it out right here.