Pumping the Fat Muscle!
Fat Muscles Gone Wild!
Four weeks ago, I went, I looked, I analyzed, I was honest!
Four weeks ago, I decided that my muscles were just plain fat!
Four weeks ago, I was a walking Fat Muscle, gone Wild!
So, to expedite the fat loss process and in order to meet my anticipated bodyfat (BF) goal of 6% by the beginning of April, I made a transition from Heavy Duty muscle-building iron-movements, to that of Blood Volume, muscle-refinement iron-movements. Folks, after roughly six months of Heavy Duty, one set per muscle workouts, I have discovered two things…and thanks to the modern marvel of the internet, I am here to share those two things, as well as some other useless bits of garbled rambling.
Two things I learned along the way to muscle refinement:
- While I can without a doubt state that Heavy Duty movements do build muscle, as I have definitely put on some size in all areas of the body…(yes all: imagination break…………………………………
…..), I can also state that each of my muscles have lost some shape. Gone are the striations, peaks and refinement: In their place, fullness and blunted muscle edges reminiscent of power-lifters, the likes of which graced the earth many generations gone by. - Heavy duty training is not the best way to stay in shape. Here are some stats from four weeks ago:
- Bodyweight – 220
- BF – 19%
- Resting heart-rate – 87
- Heavy breathing rating after walking up stairs – pathetic
- Pant fit rating – Sucking it in to snap
- Shirt sleeve rating – Awesomely tight!!
- Second chin rating – Droopy
- Strength rating – Improvements each workout!!
- Overall rating – Eh, Just okay. While I met most of my goals except for total weight (goal was 230), I put on more fat and became further out of shape than I was anticipating.
So, judging from these stats and most likely needless to say, I made the decision to not only tighten up the diet a bit more by moving my cheat day from every fifth day to every seventh day (or on Saturdays), I also ditched the Heavy Duty training and began the Blood Volume work. I had originally intended to work the Heavy Duty regimen well into my second month of training for the competition which is in April, but given my stats, I had no choice but to make some changes. The following is a comparison sampling of my previously accomplished Heavy Duty back-work versus my currently implemented Blood Volume back-work. Enjoy!
Heavy duty (HD) and Blood Volume (BV) comparison for one back workout session.
HD – Back every five days (10 minutes duration)
*One light set of each exercise to ensure muscle memory for range,
before heavy drop-set,
· Wide-grip pull-downs – One drop set to failure
· Deadlifts – One drop set to failure
BV – Back every five days (45 -60 minutes duration)
* One light set of floor-cable-pulleys at beginning of workout
· Floor cable pulleys – 4 X 10 – 20
· Barbell rows – 4 X 10 – 20
· Barbell shrugs – 4 X 10 – 20
· Wide-grip pull-downs – 4 X 10 – 20
· One arm barbell rows – 2 X 10 – 20 (each arm)
· Reverse close grip pull-downs – 1 X 50 – 60
This type of comparison would be similar for all bodyparts.
In conclusion and as a result of my switch back to the BV training, the BF is slowly subsiding, the pants are a little less snug and my breathing rate after climbing a set of stairs is no longer indicative of an old fella at the gym on a treadmill watching a nice looking woman from bodyspace, stair-milling directly in front of me.
Side-note: I must say, I have really missed the vascularity which is slowly coming back and the ab-package that is finally starting to peal off its winter coat.
I finish this blogisode off by saying, Arnold was right when he compared pumping-up to the feeling of another recreational activity….I’ll leave it at that.
Parting shot: Hey Congress, Can we just play ball please? – BodyAuditor
February 13, 2008 at 10:40 am
"..Heavy duty training is not the best way to stay in shape… " no not always, but if you do it faster, its actually hard to beat.
February 13, 2008 at 10:43 am
OKay being huge fan of the full and rounded muscle look…. I want to have the gerth of a Donkey! …..
okay and to bench 400 would be cool too….lol
Real Men Have Mass!
February 13, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I’m still stuck on imagination break……
February 13, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Definite agreement with the Arnold saying… at least what I’ve "read" about such recreations…
February 13, 2008 at 2:45 pm
"stair-milling directly in front of me."
Those are what I like to call my "There IS a GOD!" moments. On the other hand I’d love a bazooka each time someone (typically named Bob or Fred and looking not at all like Halle Berry or Kim Basinger, much less a BodySpace Beauty) steps into my line of sight during those moments.
"SON OF A… FOUR EMPTY TREADMILLS AND YOU’VE GOT TO PICK THE ONE THAT BLOCKS MY LINE OF SIGHT TO THE GODDESS!!!"
Ahem.
But I’m not a creepy starer guy. Honest!
I am NOT! What? Why don’t you people believe me???
That does it. I’m packing up my stuff and moving over to Facebook. Where’d I put my one-pound dumbbells?
February 13, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Uh, no offense to Bob or Fred. It’s just that, come on, if it’s between you and Halle Berry? You’re in my crosshairs, bro.
February 13, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Walking fat muscle gone wild???? I’ll have to use that one!!!! as always entertaining..imaginative…………………………….oh, my………………… and informative
February 13, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I agree with your last statement! Tom Hanks said there is no crying in baseball. There shouldn’t be any congress either. Aren’t they suppose to be looking after the country or something??
February 13, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Scott, can you post some progress pics regarding this?
February 16, 2008 at 7:28 am
Needless to say, Scott, u have (ahem) "stimulated" the minds of many with ur, as always, wonderful expressive narration. Made us go "hmmmmmm". Good points noted. Now, back to the break, of IMAGINATION. (lol) ~DawnMelanie
February 16, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I gotta say, I think it’s the ‘other useless bits of garbled rambling’ that i find most interesting!!
I do this work out! Generally after one standard set, I like to end the last with one HD. I have definitly read of this training. Glad to hear it is working for you, it’s always nice to find a niche!
Sooo…how was the other body space member at the gym ????
May 1, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Bodybuilding is much like any other sport. To be successful, you must dedicate yourself 100% to your training, diet and mental approach.