Hardgainer2345’s BodyBlog

As anyone ventures into a new program, the hardest part (in my opinion) is to take the necessary time to rest.  If the new program yields any results, the next visit to the gym can consumes the brain.  It’s logical to assume that the more time spent in the gym, the more results one will attain.  Not so fast Captain Overtrainer!!!  That’s a good way to plateau. 

As I embark on my first voyage on the high intensity training (HIT) ship, I love the brief workouts, but I’m getting cabin fever.  I find myself chomping at the bit to get back to the gym…I want to make the results come faster.  I’ve already seen signs of fatigue because I’ve been sneaking in extra cardio sessions.  Well, I’ve backed off(a little), and I feel better already.  My progress is steady, and all is well!

The average gym rat spends hours a week in the gym toiling for hours, yet he achieves very little.  Lack of direction or lack knowledge plague the everyman.  For all his work, he sees next to know results.  Despite this he continues to labor endless with the belief that somehow this will be the time he gets results with this workout.  Does he know why?  No.  But the hard one works, the more results will come.  Right?  Maybe not.

I’ve been that guy for far too long, but no longer will I be caught in this trap.  No longer will I grind out endless set after endless set.  I’m tired of endless sets.  I’m tired of not getting results.  I will challenge the conventional wisdom of more is better.  I have made the change to HIT training.  So that’s where my results have been all this time! 

Testing week has come and gone, and the results where amazing!!!  Coming off the first six weeks of my new program, all the lifts tested went up.  My deadlift went up dramatically.  Since I’m sitting at 392 lbs for my max, my next goal will be 400 lbs… a good milestone to pass for a small guy like myself.  I’ve started monitering what I’m eating, so I’ll have to see what comes off that and report back.  My diet isn’t too serious, but I know what I’m eating everyday which keeps the junk food out.  I will relay the progress on my second six-week session soon.

It’s finally here…1rm week.  This is what all the time working out the previous six weeks boil down to.  I feel stronger, and I’m almost certain that I’ll be posting some big jumps poundages. 

I’ve been on my program for about 4-5 weeks now, and I already feel stronger!!! I’m chomping at the bit to test my 1rm and see the progress that I’ve made, but I have to finish my cycle.  Since I’ve never been able to stay with a program, I must force myself to follow this one to the letter.  I’ll work my tail off for the next two weeks, then I test.  I know I’ve made progress, but the question is how much progress.  That’s what’s exciting, and that’s why I love lifting!!!

I’ve worked out before…for five or six years to be exact, but I never had the motivation to actually follow a program.  It’s not that I can’t write a program.  Afterall, I’m a personal trainer, but up until now, I’ve only written programs for other people.  After reading Serious Strength Training (Bompa), I decided that I need to dive in head first and see how I come out on the other side.  The "show up to the gym and do some lifts" routine has kept me in shape, but it has failed to yield any serious results.  So for the past three weeks, my partner and I follow a full-body lifting routine three times a week based off the percentages taken from our 1RM.  I already feel stronger, and I’m realizing the need to start monitering my diet to maximize results.  I’m excited to see what kind of results I get over the course of this cycle and the next few cycles.