ItlnStln - I guess I have to start somewhere.......

[ItlnStln]

Alright,
I've never done this, so bear with me.

Over the last 8 Weeks, (this Monday), I have been kicking My ass, - forcing a recreation of Myself. As you may have known - I was extremely sick (bed ridden for days at a time) for all of 18 Months.
I never made a big deal about it, or brought it up - because that's who I am, err, was - as I ALWAYS deflect/ed concern, help, etc, AWAY from me - as I was always concerned with how everyone else around me was doing. <----Enough about that - I've beat myself up too many times over it.

So - long story -> short-er:

Once I was cleared to resume my workouts, - I decided to (with much purpose) change almost everything about Myself - (core beliefs, a decent heart, and decent guy aside) - and literally "re-learn" a shit-load of BAD HABITS.
Did I do everything wrong?
Was I a bad guy?
Was I unsuccessful?

**NOPE**

But - at almost 37 years old, had I ever dared to tap into my full potential - ever tried (I mean REALLY tried) something I was certain I WOULD probably fail?
I'm not talking "average" stuff - I mean the things that every-day people don't even know about. The stuff "outside-the-box".

So this was my opportunity (seeing as I was - as out of shape, bloated, unhealthy, 30-pack on a Friday night, 2 Large pizza in a sitting, unenthusiastic about work and life as I had EVER been)
To tell you the truth, before I was given the green light to workout - I really couldn't have cared less if I woke up in the morning or not - and I wasn't typically "sad" like you would imagine - it wasn't "depression in the normal sense - I just had left myself so "unchallenged" in my daily life, that even breathing was a chore.....
You see, friends or family can't help you if you are 6'6" and (although gaining pure fat) the more weight you put on - just looks like you are carrying around 30-50 extra pounds. And in shorts 24/7 - your lower legs are still vascular.
I'm not making excuses - those are for losers - I'm just giving you a peek into how "easy" it is to lose-yourself, thus unintentionally giving-in to circumstances "within" your control.........
It's not sad,.....it's Pathetic, really.

So, I will give out any details as they are asked of me, but, in short - I don't even REMEMBER who that person was (8+, whatever, weeks ago)
I DO, however, have "everything" documented (video of me before, and every-other Monday - showing as much as needs to be seen - to tell you the truth - I don't even spend more than a few seconds uploading it - and watching it stirs up no emotion, as I have never lied to myself, and just assumed I looked like that.) I may post some still down the road, but the footage is for a buddy of mine who is making a DVD out of the whole story, blah, blah, - again, just ask.

I can break down my diet for you - but it would bore you to death.
- I have (aside from 2X when I HAD to substitute egg whites for missing chick breast) been eating 6-8 times/day, depending on how long the day is.
- If I am awake - I am eating every 2-2.5 hours.(as my body continues to SCORCH through every small meal I toss into it)
- Typical meal is
- (1)Chix Breast grilled, plain (maybe a tad reg. mustard)
- (1)4-6 oz. Sweet Potato, nuked - wrapped in a moist paper towel for 5-7min. Eaten like a piece of fruit, plain.(These serve as my carbs, but I drop them from any meals after 4 or 5pm)
- Either 1/4 cup of Raw Almonds or 1Tbsp. of Flax Oil (don't give a shit about Omega 3,6,- ratio or fish oil, etc - I like the taste of straight flax - so it works)
- 1 Whey (60g) and Dextrose (30g) PWO, as I am walking away from my last station, etc. That's the only shake, RTD, Protein Bar, etc I ever have, and only on lifting days - whole food just works with me.
As far as "rules" go with the above, I have none - other than the fact that first thing in the morning is black coffee and at least 20min of "aggressive" Interval-Sprint cardio on a stationary bike - 7 days/week, and then I eat my first meal of the day - and continue on the 2-2.5hr meals throughout the day - no matter where I am. (YES, I am always eating)

I lift 2 days on, 1 off, 2 on, 2 off - (or as close as I can get, seeing as I NEVER have a set schedule anymore - so I just make time when I can)
I stick with the bare essentials. And I'm in and out in 50min.
It took "everything" to complete 6-reps, bar-only squats the first day back in the gym.
Dead-Lifts were OK, until I ran out of gas around 3 or 4-reps.
Bench - um, yeah - lucky you can get a lot out of a few heavy reps, because I was burning out my chest and tri's in a matter of 2 sets.
I was so out of shape that I wouldn't even break a sweat - (my head just looked like it was about to POP)

SO - this weight was gained over, I would say, (slow at first), maybe 3 years - the last 18 months was like a fire-sale, and I ate it all....

Oh, you want stats......
Let's see - assuming I am always around 270-310 (depending on what the hell I am doing that year)
So: 6'6" 417lbs - yes, I estimated at the time, about 375/380 - but no,.....WAY off.

8-Weeks this Monday - and I am currently 358lbs,(I hate that I had to weigh myself for this, as I only want to see a scale for a split second every other week - and I will do it again Monday lol)
- Measuring 1in under belly button, - I have lost just under 7inches. (never measured there before, but it's NOT the same as your hip-size!)

I wish I knew what else was needed, as I have stripped the whole ordeal down to where it's SO simple, I don't even think about really - REALLY.
BUT - I had a concise "vision", "goal/s", and fool-proof "plan"
I CANNOT STRESS how important the "planning" was to all this. And it WAS NOT easy. There are still days where I have to slow down and take my daily task/s 1 min, 1 sec, at a time, and make sure I re-learn/learn the tasks "correctly".
I'm currently studying for a PT Certification (ACE), and I had HORRIBLE study habits growing up - so I had to re-learn all those.

By the way - As far as cheat-days, cheat meals, etc - I haven't , even (1) time, had as much as a cheat-"bite".
It just doesn't logically fit into The Plan - so it's OUT.
Just like the alcohol - I haven't had a drink in over 2 months, and as far as I can see - there is no place in my life for that right now either.

YES - my Family thinks the transformation has been impressive, but they - OF COURSE - "feel-bad" for me, because I don't hang out with "The Boys" at the bars/clubs every other night - I sit in and rip-through flash cards, studying on a Fri or Sat night, and typically - they think I am O B S E S S E D - but we all know what that means......

**********AIFM. (Ses, Gluc, Cardio Breeze,) I'm sure I am leaving some out - and I will have to try the YohimB. down the road a bit - as I am going to take this ride "all the way".

****** Prami - I take 2-3mg/day (average) - but at least 1.5 at bedtime/ED.
.********



Before I forget - It just clicked 12:00AM and it's my 37th Birthday, - I am going out for a quick RUN around my 1/2 mile circle-neighborhood!!!!!!


(clothes optional!):clap:

:-)

[Aesirian]

"I guess I have to start somewhere.....". Well it looks like you have! Thats a mouth full of honesty you've written there. Seems to me you already hold the tools to dig yourself out of this hole. The very best to you, I'm following this one if your going to continue to share!!!

[amped26]

very impressive, looking forward to the next uptade! good luck and happy birthday bro.

[Blut Wump]

Happy Birthday, IS.

More than that, though, you're back to setting the stage for Many Happy Returns. Congrats on taking control of yourself. You're not as alone in this as you might think.

[Ivanko]

Good work IS!! keep going the hardest part is starting ........ you done that

[Ulter]

Thanks for taking the time to share that. We'll be following your log at this house.

[G21]

Damn nice work IS...You have done the hard work, the rest is all fun here on out. Im in for the ride! Get at it bro!

[Beverly McD.]

It's a brand new day. Tear the wrapper off of it and make it better than the one before. :)

[roadwarrior]

Good work IS... the first step of any journey is the hardest and you've already put that one behind you. Keep going brother. We live near enough so don't hesitate to ping me if you ever need anything.

[Biter]

You know I'm all over this bro.

[ItlnStln]

Alright - I mixed it up a bit early this week (starting last Friday actually) - or added some intensity to the equation - however you see it.
I "was" - up until then - doing 20min of stretching before my morning cardio, just so I wouldn't kill myself if the bike collapsed or something - (have to stay flexible:)

NOW - I dug out my old Strength Shoes (you've seen me mention them before - they are easily in my top 3 fav. Fitness Inventions of all time) and I do at least 30min - up to - and Hour of complete "Warm-up - To Failure" (I suck with proper terms, so I just use my own) BEFORE I even hop on the Stationary Bike for AM cardio.
I had to start out - a couple of weeks ago, at night - with just "standing" for 10min max in these Shoes, before my calves were TOAST and Screaming....(I used to Jog and Play basketball in them)
Now,... I spend the warm-up session doing 20-rep fast-squats, no weight, but all Body-weight is 100% on the calves with these shoes (I'll leave their description at the end of this).
I do single-leg squats, while holding on to a door frame
- calf raises every minute or so, and just keep blasting my quads and lower legs more-so until they are completely "rubber", and THEN I kick those off my feet, toss on regular sneaks and hit the Bike as hard as I can - with short intervals of less-intensity (I know, it's all been done before)
All I can say is this new method is AMAZING.
It makes the cardio session FLY BY - and it just makes the whole experience that much more intense - and that's what keeps me/you coming back for more.

I'll be back often.
Keep at it.

Here's a summary from Strength Systems (Shoes) website, just so I don't sound like I am talking out my a$$ any more than normal.

"""In regular shoes, 70% of the body's weight rests on the heel. Therefore, the calf muscles exert little effort in supporting the body. In Strength® Shoes, the heel is eliminated, causing the calves to support 100% of the body's weight. This overload works the calves and Achilles tendons with a force equal to 6 times the body's weight upon impact. The Strength® Shoe builds the calf and stretches the Achilles tendon making any athlete more explosive. The Strength® System can also increase your anaerobic capacity and your anaerobic power by 500%. """

[ItlnStln]

Should I just consider my stretch marks on my GUT as battle-scars? (Holy CRAP!)

This is the strangest part:
The leaner I get, and the smaller my frame gets (appears to be anyway) - the WORSE I look.
I mean, I KNOW I am shrinking at a pretty good clip, and I am actually still getting most of my strength back at the gym - and that has been a HUGE psychological benefit (feeling like I making gains - even though it's just muscle memory)
BUT - man, sometimes I think it looked better when the fat was STRETCHING all the skin out.

In all seriousness, - I could use a "Bro", or "Manziere"..................

[Lurch]

Just found your thread wow. Reading through I could empathize with u been down that depresive road before, the hollow empty uncaring for one self. Have just recently givin away drink and don't c a place for it in my life, but u have gone so much further with your training intensity. Honestly mate it inspired me and that does not happen often. I don't usualy post unless I think something is relivant or I have a well thought out question I couldn't answer through research but just had to say congrats. I'll b watching

[Aesirian]

Should I just consider my stretch marks on my GUT as battle-scars? (Holy CRAP!)

This is the strangest part:
The leaner I get, and the smaller my frame gets (appears to be anyway) - the WORSE I look.
I mean, I KNOW I am shrinking at a pretty good clip, and I am actually still getting most of my strength back at the gym - and that has been a HUGE psychological benefit (feeling like I making gains - even though it's just muscle memory)
BUT - man, sometimes I think it looked better when the fat was STRETCHING all the skin out.

In all seriousness, - I could use a "Bro", or "Manziere"..................

The stretch marks will improve over time. The deep redish-pink one's will still be there but they too will fade to some degree in time. Remember how I looked at contest time last year? It took that skin extra time to respond. I'll see how it looks after my next prep, if I'm not happy with it, I'll definately get it "tucked".

[roadwarrior]

Bro... now I have the Seinfeld episode stuck in my head!

[ItlnStln]

" "

[ItlnStln]

dup

[ItlnStln]

Just found your thread wow. Reading through I could empathize with u been down that depresive road before, the hollow empty uncaring for one self. Have just recently givin away drink and don't c a place for it in my life, but u have gone so much further with your training intensity. Honestly mate it inspired me and that does not happen often. I don't usualy post unless I think something is relivant or I have a well thought out question I couldn't answer through research but just had to say congrats. I'll b watching

Sorry it took a few days to catch up with you.
Thanks for the kind words.
That means a lot.
What made you quit drinking? (I just stopped while I was burning the new routine into my thick skull - and then one day I turned around and even the thought of a beer was just laughable to me at the time.

I doubt I've progressed any further than you - it's just tough to pat yourself on the back while you are "in" that intensity-zone.
I still have a real tough time taking any praise, seeing as I did this to myself - Ill or Not.

I hope you keep doing the best you can - and someday realize that doing your best gives you a seat in The Game.
Not many ever play.

PS - hit me up with any questions, advice, etc - "any time" and I'll help you the best I can.

Thanks again,
I.S.

[ItlnStln]

I've had somewhat similar experiences dieting, more than once. There'll be points along the way where formerly firm fat becomes very squishy, almost fluid-like. It firms back up after a week or two, but looks horrible in the interim.

That's good to know J - I appreciate that.
Now I have something to look forward to.

:drama:

[ItlnStln]

The stretch marks will improve over time. The deep redish-pink one's will still be there but they too will fade to some degree in time. Remember how I looked at contest time last year? It took that skin extra time to respond. I'll see how it looks after my next prep, if I'm not happy with it, I'll definately get it "tucked".

I'm not worried about it - when/if I get to that point - I'll see how important it is to me.
Thanks for the info Bro - and I'm looking forward to your next prep - I know it will be as good as it gets.

~IS

[ItlnStln]

Bro... now I have the Seinfeld episode stuck in my head!

That's a great episode.

Frank : "Bro's no good. Too ethnic."
Kramer : "You got something better?"
Frank : "How about the Mansiere?"
Kramer : "Mansiere.???"
Frank : "That's right. A brassiere for a man."

Later Estelle (Mrs. Costanza) after walking in on Frank in the Bro,with Kramer standing behind him. :
"I lived with him for forty years, I never saw him trying on my underwear. As soon as he leaves the house he turns into J. Edgar Hoover!"

[Lurch]

Had an alcohol problem since about 19id say. The realization of this has been with me for quite a long time. But have slowly been getting on top of it. It's cost me relationships, friendships, jobs, and houses. Nearly went bankrupt a few years back. Now durring all this I always figured I'm allowed a drink I'm an addult. All these other problems I had a had great excuses for.
Once I got into training and started seeing results I realy started to enjoy this game. I started to get a little self confidence, and was more comfortable with who I was and what I was becoming. I'd always though of myself as supremely confident as had most other people but it was realy a bluff. Just I couldn't see it.
Well I nearly lost my job over the alcohol and it was only due to admitting I had a problem in the meeting with management and the fact I was seeking help, the supers wife had the same problem so he didn't sack me if I promissed not to drink at all. I did this and got the best gains I'd ever had.
Six months that lasted before I drank again.
Now this time I kept control of it at work and less so at home. WAs single again after 12 years. Since then I've met a wonderful woman who I've married. She don't drink, smoke, or nag. In fact I've gotten so pissed I've pissed the bed, standing beside it that is! She just cleans up and ribbs me 4 it a while.
Well my wife deserves better than that and so do I, I cannot train properly when drinkng and the hangovers are part of my life. I cannot save for the future my wife and I want.
I'd read a book called the eas way to give up smoking which helped so I tried the easy way to control alcohol. That book realy clicked for me. It's only been 3 months but I realy just don't want it in my life now and I don't seam to have any problem with it. My training is getting back on track and I'm looking heaps better for it . Losing inches around the waist.

[ItlnStln]

Had an alcohol problem since about 19id say. The realization of this has been with me for quite a long time. But have slowly been getting on top of it. It's cost me relationships, friendships, jobs, and houses. Nearly went bankrupt a few years back. Now durring all this I always figured I'm allowed a drink I'm an addult. All these other problems I had a had great excuses for.
Once I got into training and started seeing results I realy started to enjoy this game. I started to get a little self confidence, and was more comfortable with who I was and what I was becoming. I'd always though of myself as supremely confident as had most other people but it was realy a bluff. Just I couldn't see it.
Well I nearly lost my job over the alcohol and it was only due to admitting I had a problem in the meeting with management and the fact I was seeking help, the supers wife had the same problem so he didn't sack me if I promissed not to drink at all. I did this and got the best gains I'd ever had.
Six months that lasted before I drank again.
Now this time I kept control of it at work and less so at home. WAs single again after 12 years. Since then I've met a wonderful woman who I've married. She don't drink, smoke, or nag. In fact I've gotten so pissed I've pissed the bed, standing beside it that is! She just cleans up and ribbs me 4 it a while.
Well my wife deserves better than that and so do I, I cannot train properly when drinkng and the hangovers are part of my life. I cannot save for the future my wife and I want.
I'd read a book called the eas way to give up smoking which helped so I tried the easy way to control alcohol. That book realy clicked for me. It's only been 3 months but I realy just don't want it in my life now and I don't seam to have any problem with it. My training is getting back on track and I'm looking heaps better for it . Losing inches around the waist.

That an amazing turn-around Bro!
Don't EVER look back and wonder if you could have done better.
You are making great strides, and if you are having addiction problems, they need to be addressed before you should jump into a new workout schedule.
Just think of it as - if you were driving down a familiar street, and all of a sudden you bottomed-out a few times. You notice three or four pot holes, - You call the town, and they tell you they are taking care of it. - THEN you move on with your business.
Now - next time you are going to work/etc, and take that same street - won't you KNOW where those holes are, and know to avoid them??

Well, - this is why I write in a journal, daily, - during my Road-Back, I knew that I had to pay strict attention to those pit-falls and memorize where they were, so I wouldn't do the typically absurd thing where you hit 2 out of 4 holes anyway the next time you face that situation.
This how we improve ourselves every day - By recognizing where OUR pit-falls are, and by taking ONE step in the right direction each day - no more, no less.
Before you know it - it's a habit ,....and positive habits will eventually take the place of Your habits - and you will eventually "feel" the benefit of of these things - to the point where you can't go without them

Keep up the great work my Man!
~ I.S.

[Lurch]

Thanks mate but I got it handled. I look at things different now, put a plan down identify areas where I can stumble and have plans in place to side step them and ways to climb straight out should I fall. but mostly I plan to succeed. I'm just not leaving any place 4 failure.
This is your journal my friend and I know you said uve always placed a focus on others health and isues. I apreciate your thoughts on it.

[ItlnStln]

Thanks mate but I got it handled. I look at things different now, put a plan down identify areas where I can stumble and have plans in place to side step them and ways to climb straight out should I fall. but mostly I plan to succeed. I'm just not leaving any place 4 failure.
This is your journal my friend and I know you said uve always placed a focus on others health and isues. I apreciate your thoughts on it.
You're moire than welcome to post your trials here.
I don't even know what I am supposed to be writing in here.
I'll catch-on sooner or later.

Take care bro
~IS

[Tweak]

:cheer:

What a great start to a log... this will be a great read. It's really fun to watch people transform and hit their goals.

Your goals and expectations of yourself sound well thought-out and very achievable. I agree, the planning and implentation of a program is difficult to establish initially but you'll get into a rhythm and schedule in no time. :nod:

As for giving up "going out" and people not getting it... screw 'em. This is your life and your lifestyle, you're making positive choices for yourself-- mentally and physically.

Go get 'em, tiger! :boxing:

[Lurch]

I don't even know what I am supposed to be writing in here.
I'll catch-on sooner or later.

Anything that comes to mind. When your questioning , put it here
When you come up with answers , put it here
Good and bad workouts log them here.
When you just need to bounce some thoughts around well there be people here to bounce em with you mate.
One of the hardest thing men have to deal with not having someone to talk to about shit. We tend to just to shoulder this crap. just having somewhere to offload and not have to deal with people face to face means we dont feel like were loading our friends and family. You dont have to worry about whether we want to deal with your isues and goals. Were interested thats why we came to the thread and keep on comming.
Besides watching you progress and better yourself is just inspiring to everyone else along for the ride. That and if you know people are watching and suportive it just helps to drive you along.

[ItlnStln]

Alright - let me shed some light on some of my "aids" that helped me prepare for this experience.
I think I can safely leave out any personal Spiritual Convictions, or Faith, (I don't like the word "Religion") and deal with this in a way that doesn't alienate anyone based on just that.

I have always been HUGE on/into any type of Self-Motivation training and thinking.
I've read just about everything there is to read on the topic, and after seeing the same "CORE" topics rehashed year after year, circuit after circuit, I realized that it was in fact those Topics/Teachings/Words that were what mattered - and not the person delivering them.
Do I think Tony Robbins is a captivating speaker - sure. He has a knack for it. But (to me) he and others, were just rehashing ideas that Zig Ziglar had expressed decades before, and Ziglar was probably inspired by his predecessors. Enough about them.

In all the years I've been into this type of stuff - the single book that still TORCHES any other book, manual, self help, etc is the (out of print since about 1990) book called ("Peak Performance" - Mental Training Techniques of the World's Greatest Athletes) authored by (Charles A. Garfield, PH.D.) who you can't even Wiki - go ahead, try.....This book is soft cover, on the small side, 200 pages and takes about 2 night to read. You can pick up a copy on Amazon, used - as a mint condition one routinely pulls $100-$200 on there.
I had a copy when it came out in 1985 (yes I was into this stuff when I was just shy of a teenager) - of course I never knew how to apply any of it to myself, just others, until recently. This book isn't just a a bunch of "cheap talk" - it's a Manual - one that can be used as a step-by-step tool to streamline whatever your occupation or passion may be. It applies to an Accountant just as well as a Power Lifter.
I was reminded of this book as I was brain storming a few weeks before I started this - as I was going through old boxes of books I had collected, but stopped referencing once I was in the Business World - as I assumed THAT was the "goal" - I had arrived.
WRONG.
So I grab my books - and notice this one is missing, or tossed out, etc - and I go to Amazon and buy order a musty, old copy of it for $15 and as soon as it came in, I read it again - and this time followed it's basic outline and principals (which MANY of you follow right now).

The biggest thing I took from THIS session with the book was to fix my HEAD (Brain/Thinking Process, etc) and THEN the Body will Follow.
Most athletes or and professional who fails - does so Mentally LONG before the body has. You see it all the time in sports like boxing, MMA, even Golf - it's a look that appears on a person's face that says "I'm Done" - and what follows is always the same - complete breakdown of everything else - just like dominoes.
So I "Bulked-Up" Mentally - before ever hitting My Stage.
You'll know when your Mind and Body are working together for once, because once they are - you will have NO QUESTION as to which one failed first. You can see it on Tri-Athletes (just as an example) - when one of them literally "crumbles" and drops to the pavement like a pile of dust - THAT'S the body.

I could go on, and on..........


Good luck until my next rant.
~I.S.

[*Bunny*]

A little late, but here. ;) :rose:

Thank you for sharing your story with us. I look forward to your progress.

[ItlnStln]

As for giving up "going out" and people not getting it... screw 'em. This is your life and your lifestyle, you're making positive choices for yourself-- mentally and physically.


YES - I am "still" getting used to the fact that maybe (2) out of 10-12 Core-Friends that I've known since birth, find anything remotely interesting about what I am doing or who I have turned into.
I can admit it, I felt a little "hurt" at first.
I KNEW they wouldn't understand, or even be able to relate to any of it, but I WAS surprised at HOW MUCH they didn't care.
The feeling set-in, passed, and now I can "honestly" look back at that, and what they are now (and we are still in touch, as we are like Family) and I actually feel "Sorry" for THEM - because they will never experience any of what I have - even up to this point.

Nothing in the world could convince me to go back to any of that - even for a night.
I'm not that person anymore - ..........he's DEAD.......

******And my Friends that HAVE stayed by my side, had a hand in the planning, holding me accountable for the first couple of weeks - for EVERYTHING I set out to do, called from work if they thought I might not be living up to my "word", and still (even today, THIS MORNING) take time out of THEIR sport-specific training to keep me amped up around the weights every-single weekend - well:
They hold a place close to my heart that only a couple of people have "ever" come close to.

Have a GREAT day!
~I.S.

[ItlnStln]

P.S. - I used to think "Bodies Are Made in the Kitchen" was "cheap-talk" - but it's not.
It's 100% truth.

I "obviously" understand the role Supplements, and AAS play in helping to push the limits of your body, as well as recovery; And I've been on heavy doses and low (like now) - and NOTHING I have ever used, tried, bought, ordered on-line, shows the results - Day after Day like a "Dialed-In" diet that works specifically well with your body.

It's almost silly that I had "Diet" as the 2nd or 3rd thing on My List of "What Works" for me.

Chow!

[roadwarrior]

IS... sounds like you are growing in a lot of ways while your waistline is shrinking. To steal a line from Ulter... Atta boy!... Good job. Sometimes leaving the past behind us is the only way we can break old habits and forge a new and better life for ourselves.

[ItlnStln]

IS... sounds like you are growing in a lot of ways while your waistline is shrinking. To steal a line from Ulter... Atta boy!... Good job. Sometimes leaving the past behind us is the only way we can break old habits and forge a new and better life for ourselves.

I appreciate that, and EVERYTHING you have done for me, RW - Your no-expiration open hand is a comforting thing to have when it's toughest. And it WAS tough.
You have to give me, perhaps, one more night to catch up with yours - as I am still new to this "ongoing log thing".
I always assumed there were rules, guidelines, etc - and I knew you guys were all well versed in Self Improvement - so I was careful not to "cheapen" this specific board.
The warm welcome was "nice" to say the least.

Thanks again - It's never taken for granted, and "could never" be forgotten.
~I.S.

[ItlnStln]

Small Update****

I just got back for the gym - and for the first time in, well, at least a year (seeing as weighing myself was useless when there's nothing going on) I actually got the 350lb stand-up scale-needle (whatever that's called) to show a sub-350lb reading. Ended up around 348lbs.
As I've stated, I hate scales, and "my weight" - even when I am healthy - but this was something that popped into my head right after a set of military's - and I busted across the gym floor and into the locker room just to validate.

Monday will be 10 weeks, and I'm confident enough to say I'll be filming myself at 70lbs less than when I started.

Thanks to those of you who have followed any of this, as typing EXACTLY what pops into my head - without editing - makes for a lot of fluff sometimes :-)

Best of luck!!
~I.S.

[amped26]

That's some serious dedication dude! reading logs like this one gets me fired up and more motivated to chase my own goals, keep it coming bro :D

[Aesirian]

I appreciate that, and EVERYTHING you have done for me, RW - Your no-expiration open hand is a comforting thing to have when it's toughest. And it WAS tough.
You have to give me, perhaps, one more night to catch up with yours - as I am still new to this "ongoing log thing".
I always assumed there were rules, guidelines, etc - and I knew you guys were all well versed in Self Improvement - so I was careful not to "cheapen" this specific board.
The warm welcome was "nice" to say the least.

Thanks again - It's never taken for granted, and "could never" be forgotten.
~I.S.

We're all brothers and sisters in the pursuit of the, "hard thing". I am thankful that your here sharing. We are all at different places in our journey. No one's path or cause more important than the others. This is who we are. Thank you for reminding us!

[ItlnStln]

**10 weeks Today.
Starting Weight - 417lbs
Current Weight - 346lbs
-71lbs Total

I am about to make the next vid - but by now it's getting "old". However - that's about as much as I will complain about any of this.
I doubt I will be able to get down to anywhere near what I had projected in the beginning - seeing as my weight-gain actually added muscle to my legs - which is paying excellent dividends in the occasional 2 or 3 100Yard sprints I have been doing.

I feel faster than I did 10 years ago, but it's probably just because I haven't moved in a while - we'll see.
All I know is I've actually done a pretty good job of holding the muscle I had, while losing the lbs.
Obviously some is lost - who gives a s%&t.
It IS funny to see a couple of stats go up after 10 weeks of decent weight-loss.(thank God for any memory my muscles still have of existing).

Real quick - basic Isometric positions/postures/stances (I don't know what to call them, because I'm NOT moving) have paid amazing dividends to my lower back recovery, and over-all strength while dealing with the constant weight shift.
Now that I have added a decent Ab routine to my schedule - everything seems to be balancing itself out nicely.

Good luck - and go get 'em!
~I.S.

[roadwarrior]

I.S.... we're all in it together. I am proud to stand beside a good man like you any time, any place.

[ItlnStln]

Right Back at you RW.

[ItlnStln]

Well - About 6 weeks ago, I was approached at my gym - by a Semi-Pro Football League coach who wanted to know if I would like to join his team this summer.
I was still getting used to my routine, had never played Football. and should have told him NO, but I said "call me".
He did, and we went back and forth for about a week on the fact that I AM NOT playing at the weight I was at - or even now at this weight.
He was really impressed with my story - and asked if I would stay on as an assistant, as he has a few guys on the team who WANT to get in better shape - but don't know what to eat and how to work out.
I thought it would look good on the resume, so I agreed.
First practice is Sunday, and he just sent me a message telling me to bring cleats.


Sorry boss - you only go around once..........

[roadwarrior]

HAVE FUN Stallion!!! It may hurt a bit and push you hard but doing stuff like this keeps you young! But then I've always been a touch "off". Looking forward to a report.

[ItlnStln]

<-----------------Scared sh%tless............

[roadwarrior]

Everyone gets scared.... cowards run away and hide but real men and women run to the action.

[ItlnStln]

It's not the Sport - it's the fact that I have NO IDEA what will happen - and it's "out of my comfort zone".......

THAT'S the real challenge, and what I am looking forward to the most.

As I get older - less and less surprises me - so when I am asked to venture out of that Zone - I can't just talk-the-talk.

Once that's done - and I can sense that team-atmosphere and competition (after all this time away) - it's "ON"!.

After all - I AM a little "crazy"........

[ItlnStln]

A M A Z I N G.


Best experience of recent memory.

Can't WAIT till next week.

(I wonder if Ulter has any "Anafit" logo-patches I could put on the shirt-sleeve - seeing as the back is reserved for something else - but I doubt I will use my name.
Do I dare write "Stallion" on the back?

Oh the possibilities.

[ItlnStln]

(One more point)
I will NEVER give up my Black Iced Coffee before AM cardio - but the 2nd cup I have before lifting, etc - is a thing of the past.

I can handle the one in the morning - seeing as the jitters go away during my cardio session.
But the one later in the day, causes jitters and slight anxiety.

I took Cardio Breeze before practice today and (although I have tried it with some success in the past) it was like acquiring another LUNG when i took it today.

They DID NOT act like a stim. - they just WORKED.
GREAT PRODUCT guys

[roadwarrior]

Love the energy and enthusiasm Stallion. Sounds like this is going to be a great experience for you... a new chapter in the Stallion legend.

I want to see a pic of the back of your jersey with Stallion in big letters. Might have to call you Rocky.

[ItlnStln]

I think I could accommodate.
ItlnStln would just be confusing.............well not to a few people here.

"A new chapter in the Legend" - I like that RW - thank you. (although I can't remember any other chapters - I had just assumed this was the first)

Lets see if I can make it through another practice and we'll come up with something........ ;-)

[Aesirian]

<-----------------Scared sh%tless............

There are no heros where there is no fear...only fools.

With you and RW at my side, I would stand on any hill and dare anyone to take it!!!

[ItlnStln]

I'd be there Bro - no doubt.
And only after it was over would I go and change my underpants.........

[ItlnStln]

Before I dive first into my 3 day weekend "fury"
- I'm holding steady - for about a week now at somewhere around 345lbs. I know - why not get a good reading.....
Well - you know I hate scales - and I just hopped on for a second today to make sure it wasn't heading in the other direction (not that it would be a bad sign)
I'm STILL surprised at the "feeling" and "appearance" that I am actually adding size to my upper back, traps, - anything right up the back of my neck. (I have really been focusing on delts, upper back/neck, and quads) - and after getting the feeling for what muscles I used the most last practice - I am definitely benefiting from the focus placed on these.

I'm still scrambling to come up with a clean long-lasting pre-practice/game meal I can have that can carry me 2-4 hours.
Maybe Whey, Oats, and a fruit or raisins. (You can see how utterly shaky I am around any sugars, aside from my PWO shake/glucose 3X/week)

PS - is it me - or does your head actually get fatter/bigger as the rest of your does? My hat size has gone down 3/4", and I have to HOLD each side of my scalp "taught" as I shave it every morning - or else it wrinkles ........Yeah - laugh along with me!! Was I REALLY holding FAT between my scalp and skull?

That's awesome.......

RW - as far as the "Bro" - It's called a "Compression Shirt" now.
And I think I could use one :-)

[roadwarrior]

IS... I chuckled reading that last post. You've got a great attitude and sense of humor.

Guess no one can call you "fathead" anymore. :rofl:

[ItlnStln]

Oh, yeah?

[dirty~d~]

IS... I chuckled reading that last post. You've got a great attitude and sense of humor.

Guess no one can call you "fathead" anymore. :rofl:

Some of us can. :redevil: :kiss:

[ItlnStln]

I'm still scrambling to come up with a clean long-lasting pre-practice/game meal I can have that can carry me 2-4 hours. (although a quick shake midway is easy for me to handle - I can eat next to a player puking - so it's all the same)
Maybe Whey, Oats, and a fruit or raisins. (You can see how utterly shaky I am around any sugars, aside from my PWO shake/glucose 3X/week)


About 35-40min before practice yesterday, I had about 50G of Whey along with about 3/4 cup of whole, plain Old Fashioned Oats.
Carried me "easily" for the duration (4 1/2 hours)
I also drank about a 1/2 gallon of H2O the first practice, and yesterday I downed a whole Gallon with an hour still left.
Felt like a $Mil the entire time.

I will be focusing on back and quads this week.
My sprints are improving, but it still feels like I am running with someone else's legs under me.
It's strange, - to not be able to plant each stride and push off like before, but it's slowly coming back.


I'll pop in and update tonight or tomorrow - after I take my bi-weekly video and weigh myself (I might hold off on the weight for another week or two.

Regards,
I.S.

[ItlnStln]

Screw waiting.
OK - here's an update.
***12 - Week Checkpoint.
- 340lbs (77lbs lost)
- 9.5" off my waist (1in below belly button).
- Dropped 4 waist sizes (Jeans, etc)

I don't know what else to write?
Everything is the "same" as far as diet, and workouts
No cheats
No alcohol
I do A.M cardio sprints every day - no exception.
I lift when I can, but always 3 days/per week, no less.(last week I lifted Wed., Thu, Fri.........(I know - it's an odd schedule - but I got it done)

And that's really it.

I hope you are all doing very well,
I.S.

[roadwarrior]

great work IS... 77 pounds and 9.5" is a real accomplishment.

RW

[Tweak]

Damn man, you're doing really well! Keep truckin' along-- what you're doing is obviously working well for you! :cheer:

Congrats on your progress!!!

[ItlnStln]

Thanks Guys.
I mentioned this to my Buddy earlier, and he just thinks I'm insane by now - but I feel like I lost TOO much weight the last 2 weeks.
And I know what that means......(IMHO) - that I lost a chunk of muscle by not adding some more clean cals to my day.

My strength is still going up - and as Ulter pointed out to me earlier - I am probably NOT losing muscle (and that makes sense)
But wouldn't adding a little to say, the first 4 meals of the day (the one's with oats or sweet potato - no carbs after the meal that follows PWO whey/dex, after lifting) like having a large (8oz) sweet potato instead of (6oz), and 1.5 chix breast over the usual 1, and maybe a 1/3 of almonds instead of 1/4 cup - or upping the flax help me at all?
I mean - I don't "really" count calories like you guys do (I assume).
I just stick to a couple of different plain, whole, foods - H2O, PWO Whey/Dex, and that's it.
So if I simply up a few of those meals with more of the same clean food - I should still be burning fat at a decent clip - and have a better chance of the muscle sparing.

Either that ORRRRR - I stop over analyzing everything - and stick with what got me here..........

I don't want to think about it.
I have myself trained now to where I don't even "look" at food the same way.
I'm so anally-dorky with it to where I would actually prefer it if I could just drink unflavored whey shakes all day.
I know that's not possible, so I eat (to ME) what I think are perfect foods.

OK - time to back AWAY from the computer and "attempt" to do something other than study, workout for the 3rd time today, or cook.



How come you guys aren't the least bit dysfunctional with this as I am?

[Aesirian]

You are doing great things. You've also put alot on your plate. Go with what you know, and what got you here. Just keep the "Pendulums swing"(sp) in check. You've gone from doing nothing and depression to an all out assault on your body and mind. Good stuff, but make sure your enjoying yourself as well...it's a long fall after coming so far.
Best to you...!

[roadwarrior]

Agree with A but :rofl: reading that last post IS.

Keep it going brother. You are doing awesome!

[ItlnStln]

Thanks Guys - that means THE WORLD.
I am keeping things as mentally light as possible - and I'm using football as a tool - and it helps me have something tangible in my cross-hairs - which is what got my into some other forms of workouts, exercises, breathing, etc.
So YES - I am a little intense with this - but I have stayed grounded throughout.
I'm my own biggest critic.
My Fam. is just worries that I have turned into someone who can't accept failure anymore.
So what???
Failure as a grading-tool is inevitable at some point - but failure to follow through with a PLAN is just downright WRONG.



I feel balanced - but I also am cautious to keep an eye out for that other shoe to drop........



It's really been fun and a HUGE change of pace.
I know this is going to sound sick - but I am actually "glad" that I still have a long way to go.
I enjoy hard work, and the great results that come with it.

Thanks again Guys,
I.S.

[roadwarrior]

IS... everyone fails... the difference between winners and losers is that winners get up and try again.

[wags8]

This thread is AWESOME big boy. Truly inspirational, and besides the great people on this board, I search for inspiration more than anything on here. I WILL dunk a basketball before I turn 60. Damnit.

[roadwarrior]

Wags... we want video!

[ItlnStln]

This thread is AWESOME big boy. Truly inspirational, and besides the great people on this board, I search for inspiration more than anything on here. I WILL dunk a basketball before I turn 60. Damnit.

I always took dunking a basketball for granted, and now as I rebuild my legs - I wonder if I should make it a goal to do it one more time at the age of 40 (give myself 3 years!)
I could dunk at 320 - but I doubt I could ever get that "spring" back.

Alright Wags - LETS DO IT.

[ItlnStln]

Yesterday - practice was called-off early in the day, so I had a whole day free to do whatever.
As I was taking my first sip of coffee in the morning - I had this "odd" feeling.
I was "achy" - not sore like every other morning - and, well - I pretty much felt like SHIT.
I shook it off - did the AM cardio - felt better for about an hour afterward, and then I-Hit-The-Wall.......

I'm sure it's a combination of no days off of everything - (even yesterday) - for all of 13 weeks.
I had been averaging a few hours of sleep a night and maybe an hour here and there.
Yesterday I slept from 9am - (waking up every few hours like a psycho to eat, pee, and go back to sleep) - until 7am this morning!
I can't even BEGIN to tell you how amazing I feel this morning.

I think it's pretty simple that I need to separate my days and nights again, and really focus on REST as part of my routine or I know sooner or later - I'll pay the price and be run-down for a week or more.
And I can't afford that.

As far as progress - my weight still hovers over 340lbs - and has been in that area for a couple of weeks now - but my progress vid-stills show continued firming and hardening - my lifts in the gym continue to improve, and now I've gone from looking for the lbs. to decrease - and instead I am actually impressed to see my measurements of waist, hips, etc decreasing, as my weight is steady and not dropping for now.

I obviously want to drop down below 300lbs before July just for the "comfort" of the lighter weight on my joints while doing sprints and playing ball - but for now - I don't care - and will ALWAYS welcome the "new" added size to my upper back, neck, shoulders and quads. Those are all functional muscles for what I do.

On a side note - my waist measurement (1in below belly button) is down to only an Inch more than just above my hips (pants waist measurement) So this KEG of beer I have been carrying around only has a few more months to say it's good-bye's.

I'll be back.....
Thank You,
I.S.

[ItlnStln]

(No idea what keeps happening to my posts - but this is the second time with this - thankfully it's brief)
** Update -
14 Weeks.
Current Weight) 328lbs - (-89lbs overall)

[Tweak]

Dude you need to rest. Resting is equally as important as diet and training. I'm 11 days from a show... I missed my workout last night (not my fault) and didn't do my AM workout this morning. Why? I woke up this morning with burning, achey eyes and my left calf was screaming the moment I put my foot down on the floor and stood up. my body needs the recovery time. All this over-training and not sleeping enough is running me down and almost certainly is overloading my muscles and making my cortisol levels go up.

Rest, rest, rest! :sleep: You won't fall off the wagon taking a night off! :)

Great progress-- keep it up!!!

[ItlnStln]

WTF keeps happening to my responses?

OK - I'll try again.
Tweak,
I KNOW I need a rest - even for a day or two. My God, I've been doing am cardio every single DAY.
As I've said - (for the last 14 weeks) - I haven't even given myself a cheat day, meal, bite, or ANYTHING that I didn't plan to eat.
And after eating chicken/sweet potato/flax/raw almonds just about every single meal this entire time - I still think it all tastes GREAT, plain of course.
I would love to be able to take a day off, but I don't know what else I really enjoy these days aside from training, dieting, and practices.

In reality (and I don't lie to myself) I am definitely terrified to take a day off, in fear that I won't be able to come back to "this" afterward.

Honestly, this has been the best ride of my life - and I'm only approx. 60% there.

I tried to tell you guys earlier - I am just not as "good" at this as you are.

Thanks again for the suggestions Tweakers....

[roadwarrior]

"good as you guys" ?!? I'm calling BS on this. We're all in this together. Sure, some folks here have more experience and better genetics but you ( and me) are doing are best and that makes us as "good" as anyone. We may not come home with the tropies but we are out there and that's great in my book IS.

Keep at it brother. Support and respect for you and your journey!

[ItlnStln]

"good as you guys" ?!? I'm calling BS on this. We're all in this together. Sure, some folks here have more experience and better genetics but you ( and me) are doing are best and that makes us as "good" as anyone. We may not come home with the tropies but we are out there and that's great in my book IS.

Keep at it brother. Support and respect for you and your journey!

Thanks Bro - I'm really speaking of being as "well rounded" as others here. Like being able to go-out and leave it all behind for even a night, or a few hours. It's not that I would "break" - it's just the way things are now - I am either asleep for a couple of hours, studying (while doing some form of exercise), at the gym, or NOW up at the field at 11pm, for an hour, doing sprints and footwork stuff with my helmet and backpack full of weights.

I keep getting "results", so I just can't see the logic behind slowing down after all this time - when that may mean lesser results.

I KNOW it's a bit insane - but it's the most satisfying addiction I've ever had.
And I can do it in public and not get arrested.........

[roadwarrior]

oops... guess I misread your post as self flagellation. I do see your point now that you explained it in simple terms that I can understand :D. I am somewhat the same way... i need to live healthy 24/7. I don't trust myself due to many things in my past. I might fall off the wagon and roll under the wheels as it crushes me. I have a glass of good wine when dining out and will take a bong hit a few times a week but I never "party". I'm not comfortable in that environment anymore.

[ItlnStln]

*exactly* - I mean - I still watch the occasional C's game with my close friends, but they know not to call me when they are headed "out".

I NEVER look down on any of them, or any of the actions that they do (that I used to do), and I know to NEVER preach (not that I "could") - but I sit back and watch them now and all I want to do is go somewhere to see if I am a little "faster" than I was last-week, or something like that.

The rest is just "fluff" to me now......

I kicked my cable wire out of a connector box 2 months ago while I was running out the door, and I never even plugged it back in.
I can't think of a reason to put the thing on anymore.

I sound bored and most people will tell me "that's sad" when they hear about my day/week - they tell me I need to be more "balanced" - "come out, have a few drinks, you can get back to your thing tomorrow"

Little do they know I have STILL never been more satisfied in my life.
If that makes them "uneasy" - I don't really have the time to give a shit anymore.

Off to the gym.
;-)

[ItlnStln]

****Additional Goal:
-100lbs by first game.

[ItlnStln]

I have to insert a special thanks here to Tweakster for recommending the most mind blowing pre-workout supplement (AF products aside Ult!) I've EVER tried.
Redline.
As we speak I am ordering a 24bottle case for $44 on Amazon.
I just got back from the store where I bought (4) 4-packs of the stuff.
Forget the jitters or anything like that - this stuff is a whole other Animal - the mental focus on it is worth taking it in itself.


I know most of you have seen this out for a while now - but I've never even given it a second look.

Simply amazing stuff.

Thanks again Tweakies.........

[Biter]

Oh man, you got hold of some Redline? That stuff sends me through the roof, haha. Keep on it IS :)

[ItlnStln]

Oh man, you got hold of some Redline? That stuff sends me through the roof, haha. Keep on it IS :)

Thanks Bro.
Yes, hahaha, - I am hooked on it now. It's replaced by morning (pre-am cardio) coffee and I also use it for some of my late night workouts.
Strange thing is - I can still fall right to sleep afterward.

PS - on a side note - Tweak warned me, and it says it right on the bottle.
Don't take it in an empty stomach - and if you are new to it - stick with the single, 1/2 bottle dose.

[Ivanko]

you have done so well big guy!! makes me happy to read this journal! good for you

[ItlnStln]

you have done so well big guy!! makes me happy to read this journal! good for you

Thank you!
That means more than you know. :-)

[ItlnStln]

OK - 16 weeks down - still on the high end of 320's. (327lbs)
Hovering around 90lbs lost.
I've pretty much weighed the same for the last couple of weeks - but again - my face and body is still getting leaner.
My squats and deadlifts have gone WAY UP.
If I was to complain about any of that, I'd be a fool.

And I'm not ashamed to say that I just did my first hanging pull up in about 12 years.

I think I'll write out some new goals this morning.

Thanks, as always, for following along and for all the support.

~IS

[ItlnStln]

dup

[ItlnStln]

My last weight on the scale at the gym was around 320.
I may go up and then down again - I don't know. But once I hit that solid 317lbs - it may actually take a while for it to sink in that I just dropped 100lbs.

Thanks everyone for your help and even for simply following along.
Next goal is -300lbs by June 25th.
And then I will gather myself and make that last push to the last bit of fat.

[ItlnStln]

UPDATE.

I think it's time for me to admit that my already odd format here with my Log is not really anything of a focused-goal testament of any kind - but instead a running journal of my growth since earlier this year - and one that has provided me a platform to really see for myself, just what type of person I really am, minus all the hype, sh$t-talking, and other typical BS that goes along with being "Human".
I'll admit "proudly", and somewhat soberly, (no pun), that I am not only tougher than I ever imagined - but the magnitude of my Strength hasn't even been cracked yet.
That's the type of "real-sh$t" I was talking about when I started.
That Outside the Box, atypical, introverted, gut wrenching STRANGLEHOLD you can have on life.
I don't wait to see what Life throws at me - I do the tossing, and when something unexpected comes up - I pause, chew it up - and spit it out.
And that's putting it nicely.
I never realized how much I was gypping MYSELF by not "Letting Myself Be Great" - (think about that for a second.)
We were ALL meant to shine (as it's been so eloquently put) - We have to actually hold ourselves DOWN to NOT flourish and blossom into the amazing Human Being that we were meant to be.
I think that would be one of the most heart-felt gifts I could give to any person in a growing stage of life (whatever that may be) - "Whatever You do - Let Yourself Be Great" - "It's OK - you won't make anyone else self-conscious who isn't already under that influence - in fact - you may actually lift them up to a higher place, simply by being YOU - GREAT!"

So where does this leave me?
I don't really know from one moment to the next.
Right now I am pretty much either studying, working out, getting my a$$ kicked by a bunch of Kids, or reading.
As I stated - I may go to a friends house and catch a C's Playoff game once or twice a week, but I haven't turned on my television since sometime during the Jersey Shore Finale. Maybe that was actually the Pinnacle of my television career.

I just took another video of myself - and as usual, I feel more and more disconnected with the person who started this whole documentry. I mean, I still talk about it with my Buddy in The Business - (or whatever they call it) and he LOVES every turn I take. Normally I would stop the whole thing, but it takes Character to follow through on a plan once the initial novelty of that idea has worn off. (that's pretty close to a favorite quote of mine)
And if that is my definition of "Character" - then I am truly BLESSED to be among Your company - all of YOU.
Because that "follow through", LONG after that initial "high" has passed is what seperates You from literally "everyone else".
It's awe inspiring to say the least.
And (I think) 18-weeks in, I too have just as much FIRE as I had in the beginning - actually it's burning much brighter now, seeing as I didn't know what to expect when I first started - now I KNOW the secret.

What's the Secret?
I've mentioned it before.
Work Hard - You get Results
What do those results get you?
Better.
You Work Harder because of your Improvement.
You get better results.
What do THOSE results get you?
Better.
*repeat*
(If any of the above sounds depressing - you don't "get it". Sorry)



And to Anafit - and you few people who are still following along - You will never know how much everything you do, or say, or gesture has meant to me.
To You, I promise to continue past my -100lbs currently - and keep on going............that's it - no ending goal.
When will I be DONE?

Never

YOU have my word on it..........

~I.S.

[dirty~d~]

:kiss:

[roadwarrior]

RESPECT brother.

Getting caught up today. You are doing good work on your body and on you. Love reading your log.

[ItlnStln]

305lbs.

Bought a lb. jar of unsalted peanuts earlier.

They're gone............

[roadwarrior]

Hey there bud... good to see you back around. I assume you've been busy training hard.

[ItlnStln]

Thanks (as always RW)
I have been busy with the start of the football season.
practice + the game
And I am constantly changing up my training to compensate for always being a bit banged-up.
It's all-good, but it was a lot all at once.

I'm a bit more settled now.
It's good to be back.

[ItlnStln]

I have to remove this.
It's done and life goes on.
That's how it works.

I.S.

[roadwarrior]

Good to see/hear you touching base big guy. Sounds like a helluva year and helluva ride overall for you. Stay in touch even if you can't come by often.

RW/S

[ItlnStln]

I won't wander far again.
Don't you worry :-)

[ItlnStln]

BTW - I don't need to see any more evidence of the GH effect of Prami.
I've been on 3mg/day script form my doc - for months now.
And the composition changes on just 500mg/test c/'week are easily as good or BETTER than a moderate GH daily regamine .
It's literally the same thing with me.
I can't believe the effects of it.

[Ivanko]

well done stallion!! nice work, on body and crack head

[ItlnStln]

I'll be picking all this up right after my game Sunday Night.
Once the playoffs are over - I am going to continue on down from the 295-is weight I have held for a month now just for my position.
I have plenty of updates and at some point - I'm sure I'll get up the nerve to post up some shots instead of just harassing Ulter with them.

Stay Strong.
-I.S.

PS - RW - I better see you Sunday Night! lol

[ItlnStln]

Alright HOLD IT!!!!
I am now at 305lbs.
292lbs was about the lowest - but at 305lbs I am still leaner - and the little added muscle in my abs and lower back may cause my waist size to increase - but it has also tightened my loose skin from the rapid wight loss.

I am stuck.
I really DO want to continue down to 275lbs by the opening of training camp in late Feb.
I'm counting on the increased speed that comes with that type of loss.

But in the end I may have to sacrifice a little muscle.

In the morning I will be resuming a planned out diet of:
Meats
H2O
Greens
Olive/Flax (I take 3000 mg of fish oil every day - so I'm all set with the Omega ratio.


I hope everyone around here is kicking MUCH ass.
I'll be back before you know it.

IS

[roadwarrior]

Damn ItlStln... wish I was paying better attention, I would have come to the game.

Keep up the good work big man. Love seeing your energy around here.

[ItlnStln]

You would have been able to hang out with me - guys quit - threw their jerseys back at the owner, 26-0 loss.
We could have talked about something else.
hahahahahah.

we'll get together sometime - I'm sure of it now.
And I need some real good advice.
I just got a call from the Marketing Director for BodyFortress (whey I buy when I am at Walmart)
I filled out their online form, sent no before and after pics and this guy wants me to call him "when I have a few minutes"
Now I'm not naive - so I know it's just a CSR with a catchy title.
But what's the first "move" for me.
(besides hitting "send" on my cell)
????????
Thanks in advance.

[roadwarrior]

My first move would be to ask questions. You did not apply for a defined position or program so listen more than your talk in the first meeting. Have him explain everthing to you. He's gotta sell you at this point. Maybe Makivelli or one of th eother guys who have done professional fitness work have some specific ideas.

[ItlnStln]

Thanks for always being he3re to "bump" my sh#t.
Seriously - I appreciate it.

RW - you're all Heart.
-IS

[ItlnStln]

.

[roadwarrior]

Wow man.... you look AWESOME!!! That before and after should let every person know that it can be done and they will be the better for doing it. GREAT JOB!!!!

[ItlnStln]

Wow man.... you look AWESOME!!! That before and after should let every person know that it can be done and they will be the better for doing it. GREAT JOB!!!!

THAT'S the mission statement.
No one can say that I had great genetics
No one can say that it's "easy" to drop lbs. when you are that heavy.(oh, you can drop weight fast - but to drop that much, you have to have WANT IT.
In the end - for me - it was simply giving 100% of myself, 100% of the time.

[wags8]

Wow man.... you look AWESOME!!! That before and after should let every person know that it can be done and they will be the better for doing it. GREAT JOB!!!!

WOW. You look great I S. You know I love this board and have made some great e- friends here, but when I'm not working out regularly I don't stop in. Guilt I guess. But softball's over and I'm starting to look and feel old again. So thanks for the INSPIRATION.

[ItlnStln]

WOW. You look great I S. You know I love this board and have made some great e- friends here, but when I'm not working out regularly I don't stop in. Guilt I guess. But softball's over and I'm starting to look and feel old again. So thanks for the INSPIRATION.

GET IT DONE..........

[ItlnStln]

Tomorrow......errr - today.
No AM cardio this time.
6am gym - I'll get my cardio in while supersetting 3-5 different exercises, no rest.
4pm gym - Heavy Deads
10pm - HIIT cardio

Dropping calories - same food, just smaller portions.

[trivial]

So freakin proud of you!!! You look awesome! So great! Major, major kudos!!!

[ItlnStln]

So freakin proud of you!!! You look awesome! So great! Major, major kudos!!!

Thanks Triv - you were instrumental in ways you may or may not ever know.
I'll never forget it.
and I hope YOU are enjoying MUCH success.

[trivial]

I am. I'm certainly not stage ready, but I've been working on getting back to that point and am the leanest I've been in a couple years. I'm also stronger in every lift (except one) than I've ever been. And that one lift (deadlift) is getting darn close!

Not sure that I could take any credit for motivation for you, but if anything I ever did or said helped, good. I'm glad. So proud of you for getting "you" back.

[ItlnStln]

H

[roadwarrior]

That's really good definition on the wheels. Nice work.

[ItlnStln]

That's really good definition on the wheels. Nice work.

Thanks RW
Funny thing is - I owe it all to the fact that my legs HAD to grow or they would have snapped like tree branches under all that weight....lol

[roadwarrior]

Not a workout routine to recommend to the average joe. :D I have seen that before though in folks who lose a lot of weight. The lower body is strong from carrying it around.

Any way you got the wheels, you got good ones.

[ItlnStln]

*****Update.
Seeing as next Monday (25th) will mark 9 months of dieting, working out, changing, etc.
I am going to take it up another notch.
I am going to take 12 weeks - starting Monday and tweak what is already a clean as HELL diet and simply try to get as low BF% as possible without "tossing" all the muscle.
I would say that it was going to be hell - but this whole thing already was and I still haven't so much as had a piece of pizza, burger, fries, ice cream, candy, etc in 9 months.
NO CHEAT MEALS.
So I might as well push myself a little bit more.


I will log everything.
Thanks again for paying attention.
- I.S.

[ItlnStln]

Wow man.... you look AWESOME!!! That before and after should let every person know that it can be done and they will be the better for doing it. GREAT JOB!!!!

Oh, and just so you know I haven't gone soft.
Those are before and before pics.
In about 12 weeks - I'll show you an "after"........
:poser:

[ItlnStln]

9 Months to the day.
Holding at a pretty solid 305lbs.
Holding off on anything drastic until this Wednesday.
Then it's all-out, down to however low BF% I can get to.

I'll post exact stats later....

[ItlnStln]

Dup

[ItlnStln]

OK - Wednesday October 27, 2010.
310lbs.
About as strong as ever and time to "finally" make good on this whole ONE-YEAR turnaround and time to buckle down.
I will NOW start my 12-week-er, taking me into January.
Cutting out Dairy, Nuts,ANPB, ALL Fruit. (I have no problem with nuts or PB - it's just too much. I have an easier time with a Tbsp. of Flax than trying to stick to a 1/4 cup of raw almonds - I'll add the almonds back after the first 2 weeks.
I'll be sticking with almost any meat - "untouched".
And plenty of greens. (Spinach mostly with some broccoli added in)
2 Gallons H2O+/day
AM cardio HIIT
AM and PM Gym 6 days/week.

At the end - gather everything up and see what we have.
Be back in a FLASH.
Thanks again for everything Guys/Gals.
-I.S.

[itsallgenetics]

this is a very inspiring thread right here....hard work isn't even the right words

[Nick]

Ur looking great man. As a former fatty myself... The trick around this time was always
Not to get satisfied or comfortable. U've come a long way... Don't let
Ur foot off the gas.

Not that u are, just a friendly reminder of a common problem. Satisfaction is the enemy. Keep it up man what u are doing is remarkable!

[ColdStone]

damn bud...just checking your log now. Some SERIOUS progress.!!

Congrats. Wanna trade calves?

[MR. BMJ]

WOW! Phenomenal job Itln!!! Man, this is such a great log, I appreciate you sharing this with all of us.

Keep up the hard work buddy, it is paying off GREATLY! You are a new person man, I am at a loss for words to be honost, just really glad you are doing better and are happy as well.

Thanks!

BMJ

[ItlnStln]

Ur looking great man. As a former fatty myself... The trick around this time was always
Not to get satisfied or comfortable. U've come a long way... Don't let
Ur foot off the gas.

Not that u are, just a friendly reminder of a common problem. Satisfaction is the enemy. Keep it up man what u are doing is remarkable!

I always worry about that - it's why I do "something" if I have idle time.
Crunches, pushups, etc.
Anything to keep my body running efficiently.

Thanks for the Congrats Bro - It means a lot.

[ItlnStln]

WOW! Phenomenal job Itln!!! Man, this is such a great log, I appreciate you sharing this with all of us.

Keep up the hard work buddy, it is paying off GREATLY! You are a new person man, I am at a loss for words to be honost, just really glad you are doing better and are happy as well.

Thanks!

BMJ

Thank YOU BMJ - you contribut so much and ask for so little from everyone.
I appreciate the kind words and I won't let up.
I slipped-up (letting myself get to 400+lbs
It won't happen again....

Thanks,
IS

[ItlnStln]

damn bud...just checking your log now. Some SERIOUS progress.!!

Congrats. Wanna trade calves?

Wanna trade upper bodies?

[ItlnStln]

You deserve that MOTM Bro.
You spend a lot of time on here helping everyone - Myself included.
Thanks for that.

And thanks for everything,
IS

[ColdStone]

Wanna trade upper bodies?

LOL.. ...i love the idea of being able to trade muscles. We can walk on the moon, but we cant trade muscles??.....cmon scientist, get on it

[ItlnStln]

LOL.. ...i love the idea of being able to trade muscles. We can walk on the moon, but we cant trade muscles??.....cmon scientist, get on it

I've offered friends on mine 3 or 4in off my height for their inability to store fat.
Everyone always agrees to the terms, but we just don't know where to start.......hahahah

[ColdStone]

We can start with a bottle of jack and a sharp knife....kids, don't try this at home
....on second thought, this might not end welll

[ColdStone]

We can start with a bottle of jack and a sharp knife....kids, don't try this at home
....on second thought, this might not end welll

[ItlnStln]

We can start with a bottle of jack and a sharp knife....kids, don't try this at home
....on second thought, this might not end welll

I'm IN.....

[roadwarrior]

LOL on the Franken-bodybuilder. Good for halloween.

[ItlnStln]

Alright - I have to pop back in with updates, right? lol

I am about 305lbs right now, and I have no real complaints.
Still getting leaner - but every so often, I will creep up to 315 again - even though my waist and stomach lean up even more.
I mean - I did NOT want to be walking around with 300lbs or even 290lbs when I started this, but as long as I am still dropping BF - wouldn't it be wise to just keep on going?

I think I will do just that and see if I can "hold" 305-310lbs while getting rid of the rest of this fat.

Hmmm

[ItlnStln]

I took pics out of here and I am going to start a new log.
I will post the pics that were here and newer one's once I start the new log.
I will be doing all new training and dieting starting this week.
The before and after phase is OVER.
There really IS no "after" - and if there is - it's simply called "the rest of my life".

But it WILL make for a decent New Log.

I can't thank you guys enough for following along this year.
It was honestly the TOUGHEST thing I have ever attempted.
I made a simple promise to a friend - and I kept it.
From the end of January through the end of the Summer - I dropped over 120lbs.
I put back 20 and have simply held it here (310-ish) for long enough to "know" that I have total control over my LBS.
I continue to lean out at this weight - but I still want to finish with the original plan of getting down to a weight I think my Heart will actually "enjoy".
I can't predict what it will be - but I am still looking at 275lbs as a "soft-goal".
There won't be anything drastic as long as I keep leaning out.
But things WILL change and will be logged here.

Thank you Ulter, BMJ, and the rest of the amazing members of AF - as I KNOW I wouldn't be where I am RIGHT NOW if you all weren't "with me".
I'll never forget it.

I'm calling this one a "WIN".
period.

[ItlnStln]

OH, well - call me a liar.
I'm continuing with THIS log and not starting a new one.
These pics chronicle about 11 months since the day I was cleared by Dr.s to start working out again.
18 months of not being able to do much of anything and being sick all the time really can take a toll on your body and mind.
These are shots on my way DOWN from 417lbs down to 305lbs and then- 285lbs (<------one look at this pic let me know I was losing muscle and I put a stop to it - and have been on my way back up ever since)
Then it was back up to a more solid 305lbs, and right now I am about 315ish lbs.
I have been eating nothing but (any) meat, greens, nuts, and fruit about once or twice a week.
I still haven't anything with flour in it the entire time - and I no longer crave pizza or pasta.
I never thought I would be able to say that..........

Thanks again...


http://www.afboard.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=4393&d=1294660895

[roadwarrior]

Happy New Year Big Man. Good to see you around.

RW

[ItlnStln]

Thanks RW.
You're one of a kind Bro.

[ItlnStln]

Alright - just started a routine of:
The Basics (Heavy Deads, M-Presses and Squats) + Agility/Endurance/Balance type workouts to help with speed and quickness.
Training Camp just started and I am moving over to DE.
I'd like to stay around 295-300lbs (315 right now).
We'll see how it goes..........

I.S.