I’m back to 2800 calories a day and almost 2 gallons of water!!!
Exactly what I did to my upper body yesterday and for today my lower!
BAHAHHAAHAHA LOL!
It’s been about 90 days. 3 months since I started this journey and I feel that I’ve done extremely well for myself. I started out at 147 lbs. 12% body fat with the intention of getting to 160 lbs. and under 10%. That was my goal. As of yesterday I’m currently at 155 lbs. 15% body fat. I’m not upset that I didn’t hit my goal. I know exactly why that didn’t happen. I know what areas I have to seriously work on and I’ve taken steps to ensure that I will hit that goal. 5 more pounds to gain isn’t going to be hard especially since I’ve recalculated my intake and I’m back up to 2800 calories a day. So the Beast continues…
Reaching these particular goals have been a learning process. I’ve learned that it’s extremely difficult for me to consume that many calories. Supplementing properly is vital to growth. I have to be better prepared nutritionally. I totally need at least one day for Yoga, stretching, and rolling out my sore muscles and not just resting. Getting enough sleep is extremely vital. I snore now LOL.
These are a few of the things that I’ve learned in this first block.
Have I set new goals? No, I’m still aiming for the 160 lbs. mark and also under 10% body fat. I have modified my goals though. Once I hit 160 lbs. I will direct my focus on seriously cutting and shredding. That will mean that I will lose some muscle mass but that’s the only way for me to achieve single digit body fat. I’m estimating a 5-7 lbs. loss maybe more and I’m completely OK with that. I don’t want to be hulking around and looking like a complete meat head. Aesthetically speaking my goals are to look like a Fitness Model and not a Body Builder. This is what I’ll be working on through the Winter and hopefully by Spring I’ll have achieved my perfect body. And you’ll see the Beast, the Monster made manifest from hard work and dedication.
Man, 3 pounds away from my goal weight. I’ve put on 10lbs of muscle in less than 2 months. Haven’t been able to check my body fat but I’m sure it’s above 14%. I look like those fat muscle guys in the hydroxycut ads in all the fitness magazines LOL. One more week in this phase and then its time to get shredded!!! Body Beast continues!!!
Beast Mode is ON!
Back in it after a week of being injured. I’m taking it light today and seeing how my back and hip hold up. Today’s workout is Chest so I’ll be concentrating and focusing solely on my form because I’m lifting at about 70% of my usual weight amount for this routine and all the routines for this week. I’ll be including more time for stretching pre and post workout and also incorporating a longer but not more intense warm-up.
Wish me luck folks!
Injured again. This time I’ve strained my right oblique all the way from the base of my spine towards and through to the front of my hip where my right leg attaches to my torso. The entire area of the small of my back on the right side is extremely tight and sore. I’ve gotten my back massaged, continuing to do hot and cold therapy and it’s all working. I’m doing a lot better now but I’m not pushing anything. I may be recovering quicker than expected but I’m definitely not testing anything as of yet.
It was extremely painful on Monday when I did it. I’m thinking the culprit was straight leg deadlifts which I was doing at around 80lbs with an EZ-Curl Bar. It was so painful that I couldn’t stand up straight or sit up straight without being in extreme pain. I didn’t know this but apparently your oblique muscles connect not only your hips and abdomen but also are connected to your spine and the muscles that help you stand upright. I’m just happy it wasn’t anything worse like hernia or something more severe like internal bleeding or a serious muscle tear.
This is going to set me back at least a week. But when I do come back it’s ON! In moderation and carefully of course. Injuries are the worst because depression may set in, anxiety, and for someone like me who hates being still tests my patience like no other. But hey, you gotta heal and you gotta heal properly. Time to readjust the nutrition so that I’m eating only what I need to eat to maintain my current weight and I have to be careful not to go above that and risk getting fat in this recovery period. I’m expecting a certain amount of lost muscle mass but it’s ok, I’ll get it all back. Wish me a speedy recovery and for those of you still in it, STAY IN IT AND BE SAFE!!!
FOOD FOOD FOOD!!! This is what I’ve been eating for the last 3 weeks for breakfast and lunch. For my oatmeal it’s usually just the oatmeal, a nut butter, some fruit like an apple or banana and I wash it down with SHAKEOLOGY!!!
I usually change my chicken around and also change the vegetables as well. This past week it was Chipotle marinated, the week before it was homemade lemon pepper chicken, none of that McCormick spice blend in a bottle crap. This coming week I’m not sure what I’m going to make, maybe just keep it really plain.
I’ve been doing ok with my calorie intake. I’m going to clean it up again with this week’s grocery shopping and go for as little marinating as possible. Still haven’t quite hit the elusive 2800 calories. It’s very difficult to do. Anyway, more posts later and the 30 Day pics I’ve been procrastinating on uploading. I hope there are some significant visible changes LOL.
BEAST UP!!!
I started Phase 2 of Body Beast yesterday. We’ve moved in to the actual BULK phase where we are concentrating on specific muscle groups and not combinations like Chest and Back or Back and Biceps like we did in the first phase. For example yesterday for me was BULK: Chest and it was more than CHESTASTIC…it was S-PECKS-TACULAR!!! 
All jokes aside, I’ve never done so many different types of sets targeting one particular muscle group. The way this program is laid out it is designed to bring you to failure in each exercise but you must complete each exercise, hit every target rep number, and always increase the amount of weight you are lifting (within reason and safely) in each set unless instructed otherwise like in a drop set.
Today was BULK: Legs. MY LEGS ARE BEYOND JELLO, NOODLES, MUSH, ETC. My legs are my weakest area in terms of strength. Endurance and stamina wise, I’m a BEAST in that area. I’ll go and go and go. But raw strength wise, I suck but I am getting stronger and stronger. I’m actually looking forward to the pain and soreness tomorrow. That’s how I know what I’m doing is working and I’m making progress. Tomorrow will be BULK: Back and I’m going to destroy that workout =)
As for the physical changes, I’ve bumped up in weight again slightly. I’m hovering around 152 pounds and my body fat % has increased slightly to somewhere around 11% which is to be expected since I’m eating so much. My original calorie intake was set at 2600 but I was advised to bump up to 2800. Since starting out 23 days ago, I’ve yet to hit either number but I’ve come extremely close. I’m even more prepared for this phase so I know I’ll be hitting at least 2600 very soon. I’ve also gained 2 inches in my chest and my thighs and an inch in my arms so I’m getting bigger! 8 more pounds to my goal and then when I hit 160 I’m gonna shred, shred, shred, down to 155 and hopefully will be at 6% when I finish the program!
I know I also owe food pics from what I’ve been eating and I will put those up but I’ve been so hungry, taking no time in devouring my food and forgetting to take pictures of what I’ve made. So tomorrow I’ll post up every meal for the day! And Day 30 pics are a week away!
I’m doing this. I’m doing whatever it takes. I’m pressing on, pushing harder, pulling myself up. I’m doing this for me, not for anyone else. I’m getting closer and closer to the best version of myself possible and I’m not stopping EVER!
I’m in my last week of Phase 1 in Body Beast and I’m loving my progress! I’m up 3 pounds from my starting weight and that brings me about 10 pounds closer to my goal weight. I’ve dropped 2% in body fat bringing me down to around 10.2-10.4% although this may not be as accurate a measure. I’ll have to get it measured again next week before I start Phase 2 just to be sure that I’m where I’m supposed to be.
This program is really pushing me to my limits. IT’S A MONSTER. Yesterday when I did the Shoulders routine, I almost completely gassed on the first Super Set/Drop Set. Maybe it was a mistake for me to go up in weight or maybe it was a bad idea that I had that Cliff Bar prior to working out but I had taken it more than an hour before my actual workout. Maybe my body was telling me that you’re getting near your breaking point and you really need to rest, which I definitely did today.
Anyway, I’m pushing through this week and pushing hard. I’ve gotten most of my groceries taken care of for the next week, planned out my meals and what exactly I’m going to cook, so next week I’m putting up food pics! I’m putting my Culinary Art degree and cooking skills to use! I also plan on getting a full hour upper body massage this weekend to get the kinks out and possibly a yoga session if I can fit it. I also have to be very careful and get as much rest in as possible since my next scheduled rest day won’t be till Aug. 3rd.
I haven’t been this dedicated to a program in awhile and I’m really loving every second of it! So to all of you pursuing the best version of yourself possible, keep pushing, trust in the process, don’t make excuses and get results. Stay true to your words and your actions. You have everything you need to succeed already built in you. Take yourself to the next level! Decide, commit, and succeed! And UNLEASH YOUR BEAST!
Hahaha LOL me finishing a drop set of seated supinated bicep curls. Shout outs to my Body Beast crew!
Man…my hair looks WACK…O_o Definitely going to the barbershop tomorrow.
Day 16 and still going strong. Next rest day is scheduled for this Wednesday where I plan to do some serious Yoga, stretching, and hopefully some time on the rumble roller to work the kinks out. This is the 2nd to the last rest day scheduled in this Phase and then it will be lifting for 7 days straight along with serious Cardio once a week.
Talk about a rough schedule. LOL. I plan on posting some of the meals I’ve been having lately. It’s not pretty but when you’re using food as fuel, who gives a shit if it looks good? LOL.
Beast Mode continues…
It’s a little under a week since I’ve started my journey. Here’s a video of me doing chin-ups. They are modified because this is my 3rd set in a Super Set of Chin-ups. The Super Set consisted of as many Chin-ups you could do in 30 seconds unassisted, 3 times through…;SAKFD;HASDF;K HSAFAS SO TOUGH!!! WHATEVER IT TAKES!!!
Before Pics for Body Beast and Measurements.
- Starting weight: 147.4 lbs
- Height: 5’ 7.5”
- Starting Body Fat %: 12.4 (Trust me, I measured 3 times at my gym with a scale and BMI calculator)
- Chest: 36 in.
- Left Arm (unflexed): 12 in.
- Right Arm (unflexed): 12 in.
- Waist: 32 in.
- Hips: 36.5
- Left Thigh: 20 in.
- Right Thigh: 20 in.
- Left Calf: 14 in.
- Right Calf: 14 in.
