Starting the "gearing" up lifestyle

[vostua]

I'm very interested in getting into the field of steroid use and my concern is having A. a person to go to who can assist me in with his wisdom to guide me in my usage, B. a doctor to go to for regular liver and blood work that wouldn't rat me out (don't know much about doing that so I'm not sure exactly how it works) and C. knowing what would be harmful for a young guy like myself to start taking. I'm basically needing some good advice and knowledge from you experienced guys out there cause I'm not going to be the kid who is going to run out and take something stupidly only to screw himself over because of his own lack of wisdom and experience. I hope to one day make something out of bodybuilding, and I want to do it the right way the first time as much as possible. I've done a lot of reading on the subject and the basics, and just need some input.

 

[mrsoul]

do a search in the beginners forum and you will find plenty of info to study concerning first cycles.

 

[Nikopapp]

If that's you in your avatar, I seriuosly doubt you are ready to go the enhanced route right now, nor do you need to.
It looks like you are barely 19-20, your body is producing the highest levels of test right now naturally anyway, take advantage of that and just eat like a horse and train hard and you will grow quickly.
Save the supplements until you really reach your limit naturally, or at least close to it.

 

[vostua]

do a search in the beginners forum and you will find plenty of info to study concerning first cycles.

Thanks for the input MrSoul, but i've been doing that for years now and no list is as good as getting a more "personalized" opinion on something especially in this field. I've got lists out my ass right now of "examples".

If that's you in your avatar, I seriuosly doubt you are ready to go the enhanced route right now, nor do you need to.
It looks like you are barely 19-20, your body is producing the highest levels of test right now naturally anyway, take advantage of that and just eat like a horse and train hard and you will grow quickly.
Save the supplements until you really reach your limit naturally, or at least close to it.

Also thanks nikopapp for your input. Yes i am young (21 to be exact) and i also realize that my test levels, GH, IGF, etc. are very high because of my youth. Just wondering what some people out there had to say knowledge wise. I dont plan on doing anything anytime soon, but if i could get away with it, i'd do it in a heartbeat

 

[BOOMSHAKER]

Vostua, have you posted some stats on this board before? If not post up some stats. Also post up on what your trainning regiment looks like and also how many calories, carbs and fats and protein mg's are you taking in everyday. You may find out you're way below your target range.


I agree with Nikopapp, 21 is still about 2 years too shy. Give your body every chance it can have at growing naturally before you move over to the dark side. As you said "if given the chance you would".. but seriously the juice ain't going no damn where! It will be here forever and a day, but your 21year old body and health won't! Be good to your body and it will treat you better in the long run brother! (just my .02)

 

[Dad]

Vostua, have you posted some stats on this board before? If not post up some stats. Also post up on what your trainning regiment looks like and also how many calories, carbs and fats and protein mg's are you taking in everyday. You may find out you're way below your target range.


I agree with Nikopapp, 21 is still about 2 years too shy. Give your body every chance it can have at growing naturally before you move over to the dark side. As you said "if given the chance you would".. but seriously the juice ain't going no damn where! It will be here forever and a day, but your 21year old body and health won't! Be good to your body and it will treat you better in the long run brother! (just my .02)

Agree completely.

AND, according to Board Rules (have yuo read these?) yuo can NOT ask for cycles to be designed for yuo by others.

 

[vostua]

Yessir Dad i sure have read the rules. I wasnt wanting a personally made cycle, i should have worded that differently sorry. What i wanted opinions and other input. Thanks for the 2 cents Boomshaker. lol. But back to business, if I'm below my target intake i would be highly shocked. I also dont intend to go to the darkside anytime too soon. Maybe around my 24th year of being alive. And i very well intend to be good to my body, thats exactly why i asked for some input from you guys because i wasnt finding what i wanted to hear by browsing, so the next best thing was to just simply ask. No i havent posted my stats on here before. I've mainly been just a browser for the last 2 years, and a member browser for 1 year. My training regiment and diet is as follows:

Training (i'm on a 6 day week training schedule so the days of my training vary):
1st day, back and bi's
2nd day, shoulders and calves
3rd day, rest (or arms if they feel "too healed")
4th day, quads and hams
5th day, chest tri's
6th day, rest (or cardio, but most of the time its an off day)
repeat. ( i have to keep my shoulders and chest apart due to my brain naturally wanting to do the work for my chest during presses)

Diet (my diet doesnt always have set times. the time of breakfast sets the rest for the day):
6 whole eggs, 1 heaping cup oatmeal, some simple form of sugar (i.e. 4 marshmallows, jam, honey, or other sugary substance)

2 hours later: 8ounce chicken breast, 1 heaping cup oatmeal, 1 tbsp. peanutbutter
1 hour later: 10g glutamine, animal pak
WORKOUT
400 cal shake 40g protein, 90g carbs, 2g fat

40-60 minutes later: 10 ounch chicken, 1 heaping cup oatmeal

2 hours 15mins. later: 8 ounce chicken, 1 heaping cup oatmeal, 2 ounces broccolli

2 hours 15mins. later: 8 ounce chicken, 1 heaping cup oatmeal

1 hour later: 25g whey, 16g casein (2% milk), 10g glutamine, 5g BCAA's, 1 tbspn. peanutbutter

sleep minimum 8 hours, maximum 9hours.

The totals (rough estimates): 290g protein (not including BCAA mixes or peanut butter protein), 500g carbs, 100g fat =4060cals. (not including what little thingies i may snack on during the day to add some more fat, protein, and carbs into the mix to get up to around 5000) I'm not saying that any of you are, but i hope you're not putting me into the "stupid teen that thinks he can juice and just get big" category because i'm far from that. lol. (a little history) I'm the gifted kid who graduated Highschool in '05 at 135lbs, and is now up to 192lbs steadily and not too fat . I've got killer genetics (what i've been told) and i intend to do this the smart way as said above. I just wish i had started off with more muscle from the start like the real freaks do :-/

 

[Nikopapp]

Your diet and training schedule look on point, post up your routines so we can give you advice on the training if need be.
I am just curious, though, why are you inquiring about cycle info if you are 3 years out?

 

[Dad]

Vost,

Yuo might consider doing a 4 day routine of Powerlifting-type training. This would work the big muscles in compound exercises (vs isolation such as dumbell concentration curls), using as much weight as possible.

For example, I see people doing cable cross-overs for pecs. This is virtually an identical movement to a wider-grip dip. Now, which do yuo think will work yuor pecs better - 50 lbs on each side of the cross-over, or yuor bodyweight with additional weight strapped around yuor waist?

Just some food for thought perhaps...

 

[vostua]

Vost,

Yuo might consider doing a 4 day routine of Powerlifting-type training. This would work the big muscles in compound exercises (vs isolation such as dumbell concentration curls), using as much weight as possible.

For example, I see people doing cable cross-overs for pecs. This is virtually an identical movement to a wider-grip dip. Now, which do yuo think will work yuor pecs better - 50 lbs on each side of the cross-over, or yuor bodyweight with additional weight strapped around yuor waist?

Just some food for thought perhaps...

Thats a good idea. I've never thought of going on a 4 day routine. The idea of only working out that many times a week always put me down because i'm a bit of a workout addict. . And i'm guilty of the cable cross-overs but its mainly because i HAVE to get blood flow into my pecs before i start working them. If i don't then i will most definitely fail during my chest workout because of my body wanting to involve my shoulders soo much during the pressing later on. My dad has the same problem so i know that its a genetic thing. Also, i've never really tried doing a lot of compound exercises. I've always been more of an isolationist, but that does sound like a good thing to try. I may add in a few more compound workouts into my routine.

Your diet and training schedule look on point, post up your routines so we can give you advice on the training if need be.
I am just curious, though, why are you inquiring about cycle info if you are 3 years out?

Three years out? Do you mean 3 years out from my body getting out of the "youngin" growth stage? Well the reason is (if you're talking about me being young but asking about it) something that would be pretty off of what the thread is talking about and i know as soon as i post it the posts thereafter will probably go more towards that comment. But i would say that every bodybuilder out there can vouch that it is impossible to get a pro-card without taking anabolics, am i correct? And if i am correct, then (ignore the fact that they are genetic freaks) why are there bodybuilders out there getting the envied pro-card in their early to mid 20's?? I know they're freaks and all, but i find it extremely hard to believe that they are drug free and i see it as being impossible considering the older guys that are always going for the cards that arent as gifted as they are, who are obviously doing everything they can to achieve their lifelong goals. But thats why i'm asking/curious and trying to find loopholes for myself. I hope that me saying that wont spark anything and throw the thread off subject.

Anyways, here is my general workout routine. I, more often than not, train more by feel. But it will generally follow these exercises unless i start it and feel like i'm losing the pump. I tend to have a slight habit of finding something i love to do, and sticking with it for too long.

1st day (back, bi's):
warmup: cable lat pulldown 3 sets around 12-18 reps
bent over rows 3-4 sets 10-16 reps (first set or 2) then 10-12 reps
single armed DB rows (standing, or kneeling on a bench. it varies) 3 sets 8-10 reps
various hammer strength machine (rows mostly) 8-12 reps for 3 sets
seated cable row 2 sets straight bar then 2 sets using 2 D handles, 10-14 reps
reverse cable crossovers 4-5 sets 12-16 reps

Bi's:
isolation, single arm, cable curls. 12-20 reps 2-3 sets
seated or inclined DB curls 10-15 reps 3 sets
preacher (either single armed DB or cambered bar) curls 8-12 (cambered) 8-14 (single)
and depending on feel i may add in another bicep movement. usually a free weight movement because i dont quite like cables or machines for my arms. i have a problem with my brachioradialis, radialis, and other forearm muscles getting a much better pump than my biceps. something i have to fight off all the time when im trying to work my bi's. its difficult for me to get a good bicep pump/ soreness because of this. but i know as soon as i can grow a better mind/muscle connection, they will grow like weeds.

2nd day (shoulders, calves):
cable lateral raises 6 reps (in front) 6 reps (behind back) with very short breaks (20 seconds or so) 2-4 sets
military press (in front of face of course) 4 sets 8-12 reps
upright rows 3 sets 8-14 reps
leaning DB lateral raises (holding onto a bar or machine) 8-10 reps 3 sets
smith machine military press (moderately light weight, explosive reps. steady on the way down, and a controlled explosion back up) 3-5 sets 8-14 reps. no less than 8 reps, and if i cant get 8, its til failure

Calves:
donkey calf raises (seated machine) 2-3 sets 12-18 reps
single leg (using leg press machine) calf raises 3-4 sets 12-15 reps
seated calf raises 3 sets 10-14 reps

3rd day (rest or arms. if i do arms, then the excercises wont differ too much from the days i work them with the larger muscle groups)

4th day Quads and Hams: In general i work my legs pretty light because i have been blessed with awesome quads and calves and over the years they have outgrown my upper body. Mainly because i love to work them sooo much So i generally stick with machines to get some slight growth. I'm trying to stay away from any major quad growth right now until i get my proportioning up a bit. But dont worry, i cant stop these guys from growing. lol. my hams however are a different story, not definitely not satisfied with them. They're too flat.

warmup: bike for 5 minutes or elliptical for 2 or 3
leg extensions 2-3 sets 10-16 reps
single leg ham machine (in between sets of extensions for quads) 2-3 sets 12-18 reps
swinging squat machine (kinda hard to describe, but i love it!) 3-4 sets 12-16 reps
leg press, hack squats, or both (one then the other after i'm done with the previous 3 sets. not super sets) 3 sets 12-16 reps

Hams:
single leg ham curl machine 3-4 sets 12-14 reps
seated ham machine 3 sets 10-14 reps
lying leg curl 3-4 sets 10-16 reps

5th day (chest and tri's):
warmup: cable cross overs (i change it up between the machine crossover, and the cable "towers", as i'll choose to call them, for a different stimulation) 3-5 sets 14-16 reps
incline bench 3-4 sets 8-14 reps
flatline (i put the bench half way flat, half way incline so its kinda inbetween. hence the "flatline" name) DB press 3 sets 8-12 reps
(sometimes) flat bench 3-4 sets 8-14 reps
seated press (like a reverse literal row. think boat paddles) machine 4 sets 8-14 reps
a chest pressing machine (varies depending on what i feel would be best at the time) 3-4 sets 8-14 reps
Tri's:
Rope pulldown 3-4 sets 12-16 reps
single arm (cross chest) cable pulldowns (i like to do these on the end "tower" and practice doing a side tri' in the mirror) 4 sets 12-14 reps
skull crushers 3-4 sets 8-12 reps
and i might add in DB behind the head presses (single arm) 3-4 sets 8-14 reps

6th day (rest)

Wow thats one multi subject, long ass post. lol

 

[Dad]

Vost,

I gotta' say, looking at yuor routine, that's a LOT of training, especially clean. I can't help but think yuo'd get better results with a bit less training and a bit more recovery.

Just something to consider, but a lot of guys who aren't happy with their progress wuold do a lot better with less.

 

[vostua]

So even if i feel like I'm healed up by the time i get to the next time to hit the same muscle group, I could be hindering my growth and not know it? I was always under the impression that if it feels healed then its ok to hit it again. I NEVER work a muscle group if its not healed, or workout longer than an hour and 30 minutes. And i hardly ever workout that long anymore, normally its a bit over an hour.

 

[Nikopapp]

To be honest bro, your workout sucks.
Now I see that the #1 reason you are not bigger than you could be is your avoidance of compound exercises, you say you don't like to do them?
They are pretty much mandatory for a complete, massive physique.
Also, you are overtraining as Dad said.
Also, I would lower the res, I think you are going too high for most exercises, stay in the 6-10 range for the majority of your sets.
You say you don't want your quads to grow anymore, but aren't happy with your hams. You need to do your hams
1st in the workout, if you really want to prioritize them.
As a rule of thumb, you should be doing 9-12 sets TOPS for your large bodyparts (Back, Chest, Quads, Shoulders) and
6-9 sets TOPS for smaller muscle groups ( Bi's, Tri's, Hams, Calves).
Definitely ditch the 2nd arm day, waaaay too much and your arms don't get enough chance to recover.
The fact that you still feel ready sometimes to train again is just the experience factor and the fact that you need to lower the reps and up the weights.
By the experience factor, I mean that I don't think you have enough of a mind-muscle connection yet to really know when you have taxed the muscles completely.
Trust me, you should not feel ready to do bi's again 2 days later if you did a balls out workout for them, a workout that stimulates the muscle enough to grow from.

 

[Nikopapp]

Thats a good idea. I've never thought of going on a 4 day routine. The idea of only working out that many times a week always put me down because i'm a bit of a workout addict. . And i'm guilty of the cable cross-overs but its mainly because i HAVE to get blood flow into my pecs before i start working them. If i don't then i will most definitely fail during my chest workout because of my body wanting to involve my shoulders soo much during the pressing later on. My dad has the same problem so i know that its a genetic thing. Also, i've never really tried doing a lot of compound exercises. I've always been more of an isolationist, but that does sound like a good thing to try. I may add in a few more compound workouts into my routine.

Note: I also have the same problem with my shoulders becoming too involved in chest pressing movements, try experimenting with your hand spacing on the bar, I have to use a relatively close grip to use the least shoulder exertion possible. Took me a long time to figure this out.

Three years out? Do you mean 3 years out from my body getting out of the "youngin" growth stage? Well the reason is (if you're talking about me being young but asking about it) something that would be pretty off of what the thread is talking about and i know as soon as i post it the posts thereafter will probably go more towards that comment. But i would say that every bodybuilder out there can vouch that it is impossible to get a pro-card without taking anabolics, am i correct? And if i am correct, then (ignore the fact that they are genetic freaks) why are there bodybuilders out there getting the envied pro-card in their early to mid 20's?? I know they're freaks and all, but i find it extremely hard to believe that they are drug free and i see it as being impossible considering the older guys that are always going for the cards that arent as gifted as they are, who are obviously doing everything they can to achieve their lifelong goals. But thats why i'm asking/curious and trying to find loopholes for myself. I hope that me saying that wont spark anything and throw the thread off subject.

If this is your goal, then please post full body pics front and back. The young pros you speak of literally blew up naturally within a year or two, hence the elite genetics.
Not saying you don't have them, but why not get some hnest feedback from the vets here?

Anyways, here is my general workout routine. I, more often than not, train more by feel. But it will generally follow these exercises unless i start it and feel like i'm losing the pump. I tend to have a slight habit of finding something i love to do, and sticking with it for too long.

1st day (back, bi's):
warmup: cable lat pulldown 3 sets around 12-18 reps
bent over rows 3 sets 6-8 reps (first set or 2) then 8-10 reps
various hammer strength machine (rows mostly) 8-10 reps for 3 sets (Try doing Chins, can't beat 'em)
Deadlifts or T-Bar Rows 3 sets X 6-10 reps

Tri's:
Close-grip bench press 3 sets X 6-12 reps
skull crushers 3 sets 8-10 reps


2nd day (shoulders, calves):
Behind the neck press on Smith 4 sets 6-10 reps (you can do it to the front if you want, I prefer these)
leaning DB lateral raises (holding onto a bar or machine) 8-10 reps 3 sets
Bent over DB laterals (for rear delts) 2 X 8-10

Calves:
donkey calf raises (seated machine) 3 sets 12-20 reps
Standing Calf Raise 3 sets 12-20 reps
seated calf raises 3 sets 15-20 reps

3rd day Rest

4th day Quads and Hams:

warmup: bike for 5 minutes
Hams:
lying leg curl 3 sets 10-15 reps
seated ham machine 3 sets 10-15 reps

Squats 4 sets X 6-12 reps (these will make your whole body grow, not just your quads)
If your quads are really that good and so much bigger then the rest of your body, this will suffice for quad training and benefit your whole body

5th day (chest and tri's):
flat Barbell press 3 sets 6-10 reps (pick ither flat or incline, no in between)
Incline barbell or DB press 3 sets X 6-10 reps
DB Flyes Flat or Incline 3 sets X 8-10 reps

Bi's:
Barbell curls OR seated or inclined DB curls (these should be the 2nd choice) 8-10 reps 3 sets
preacher (either single armed DB or cambered bar) curls
8-12 (cambered) 8-12 (single)

6th day (rest)Wow thats one multi subject, long ass post. lol

Try this routine and tell me what you think and how you feel afterwards.
You most likely are not getting a good pump/feel in your arms because they are already fatigued after your back/chect training, and you are not able to tax them enough so you should switch the order up.
Try this routine for a couple of months and tell me if you don't grow like a weed.

 

[cryptasm]

[My training regiment and diet is as follows:

Training (i'm on a 6 day week training schedule so the days of my training vary): TOO MUCH DO YOU GROW WHEN YOU TRAIN ORWHEN YOU REST??1st day, back and bi's
2nd day, shoulders and calves
3rd day, rest (or arms if they feel "too healed")
4th day, quads and hams
5th day, chest tri's
6th day, rest (or cardio, but most of the time its an off day) YOU TRYIN TO GET BIGGER?? FUK THE CARDIO, UNLESS ITS SOMETYPE THATS AN ENJOYABLE ACTIVITY.. LIKE TONS OF SEX WITH A SLEW OF 18 TO 21 YEAR OLD HOT LITTLE BABES, THAT ARE NYMPOMANIACS !! LOL repeat. ( i have to keep my shoulders and chest apart due to my brain naturally wanting to do the work for my chest during presses) MAN , I WAS LIKE YOU 29 YEARS AGO, KNEW ALL KINDS OF USLESS SHIT BECAUSE I READ EVERYTHING I COULD GETY MY HANDS ON REGARDING TRAINING.
Diet (my diet doesnt always have set times. the time of breakfast sets the rest for the day): NEVER SAY THE D WERD...YOU ARE TOO LEAN TO DIET...LOOK AT THAT MAN.. HOW YA GONNA GET BIGGER EATING LIKE THAT?? EAT MAN , YOUR NOT DIETING , I ASSUME YOU WANNA GET BIGGER..DO YOU WANNA BE A CALVIN KLIEN MODEL OR A BODYBUILDER ???
LIGHTEN UP, I WAS )AND ALOT OF US ARE LIKE THIS WHEN WE FIRST START TRAINING, AND AFTER 5 YEARS DOING WHAT YOU R , WE RELILIZE WE OVERANALIZED IT...
K.I.S.S KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID (NO NOT YOU, ITS JUST A SAYING)
ADD SOME LOW FAT CHEDDAR..SOME VEGGIES, IN OMLETE6 whole eggs, 1 heaping cup oatmeal, some simple form of sugar (i.e. 4 marshmallows, jam, honey, or other sugary substance)

2 hours later: 8ounce chicken breast, 1 heaping cup oatmeal, 1 tbsp. peanutbutter
1 hour later: 10g glutamine, animal pak
WORKOUT
400 cal shake 40g protein, 90g carbs, 2g fat

40-60 minutes later: 10 ounch chicken, 1 heaping cup oatmeal

2 hours 15mins. later: 8 ounce chicken, 1 heaping cup oatmeal, 2 ounces broccolli

2 hours 15mins. later: 8 ounce chicken, 1 heaping cup oatmeal

1 hour later: 25g whey, 16g casein (2% milk), 10g glutamine, 5g BCAA's, 1 tbspn. peanutbutter

sleep minimum 8 hours, maximum 9hours.

YOU CAN EAT LIKE THIS EVERY DAY.....WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU WANNA DO A SHOW AND ITS DIET TIME???
WHERE'STHE BEEF???

AS FAR AS CYCLES GO, I WAS SO WORRIED WHEN I DID MY FIRST, WANTED THE SAFEST WAY TO GO, ECT ECT ... I STUDIED EVERYTHING THERE WAS BACK THEN FOR A YEAR BEFORE I DID MY FIRST..BACK WHEN IT WAS LEGAL, AND THERE WAS NO INTERNET, NO RELIABLE INFO, EXCEPT 2 THINGS...
DAN DUCHAINE'S UG HANDBOOK'S AND MUSCLE MEDIA 2000, OR WHAT EVER IT WAS CALLED.. THATS IT MAN.. OH YEAH DOGGCRAPPS HARDCORE MUSCLE MONYHLY .. MAN DOGG BROUGHT IDEAS INTO THIS SPORT THAT CHANGED IT FOREVER..
The totals (rough estimates): 290g protein (not including BCAA mixes or peanut butter protein), 500g carbs, 100g fat =4060cals. (not including what little thingies i may snack on during the day to add some more fat, protein, and carbs into the mix to get up to around 5000) I'm not saying that any of you are, but i hope you're not putting me into the "stupid teen that thinks he can juice and just get big" category because i'm far from that. lol. (a little history) I'm the gifted kid who graduated Highschool in '05 at 135lbs, and is now up to 192lbs steadily and not too fat . I've got killer genetics (what i've been told) and i intend to do this the smart way as said above. I just wish i had started off with more muscle from the start like the real freaks do :-/[/QUOTE]

NONE OF THIS IS MEANT TO BE NEGATIVE OR A PUT DOWN..PLEASE DONT TAKE OFFENSE.. I WAS EXACT;LY THE SAME AS YOU 20 YRS AGO
WANNA KNOW HOW TO DO IT FAST?? LESS SETS MORE WEIGHT LOWER REPS , COMPOUND EXERSISES, SHORT HARD TRAINING, START EATING BEEF, AND OTHER MEAT..YOU CANT GROW MUCH IF YOU ARE DIETING
AND FOR GODS SAKE GO EAT A PIZZA !!!!

BIGA (THE BOARD OWNER AND PROF. BDYBLDR LAYS IT ALL OUT IN "GROWTH PRINCIPALS FOR BEGINNERS" ITS A STICKY YOU WONT HAVE TO LOOK TOO HARD FOR IT.. DO IT, JUST LIKE HE SAYS, GEAR?? BE SMART AND EDUCATED , BUT NOT AFRAID... HERE: http://www.professionalmuscle.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1158

GOOD LUCK, LET US KNOW HOW MANY LBS YOU GAIN IN 7DAYS AND TEN....

 

[vostua]

Awesome feedback fellas. And i dont care how blunt you are!! I'm not a hard head kid and i'll take into consideration everything that is posted. But just to clear up something i DO use compound exercises very often, i highly believe in them. I thought you were referring to hang cleans and such. I dont like those at all because i dont like using my whole body when i'm trying to focus on one muscle group. I also do believe in squats indefinitely!! I love them to death, i just havent been using them for the past half a year because i added about 3 inches around my thighs in about a year and i got a lot of comments from local bodybuilders about my legs making me look like a carrot (big roots, small leaves) lol. But I have a few issues/questions about it.

First off Nikopapp, i tried your workout schedule today and i just dont feel jack from it. I've never liked going to the low rep lifestyle, i've always been an quick, high intensity, "squeeze as much blood in" kind of person. I simply never feel sore off only doing 3 exercises and such a small amount of reps. Thats the ONLY reason i have such high reps as i posted above. Shouldnt you always feel sore the next 3-5 days? I just got back from doing shoulders and calves, and i dont feel squat from it. And since i wasnt feeling it when i got down to the last workout, i added in a small exercise, machine military press. (dont know if you guys have seen it, its a machine that has bars under the seat so you can lean forward and work your rear delts also) I also took out a calve exercise cause in my quads and my calves always get a serious pump in them in the first set of the first or two of the first exercise and my calves were super tight on the 6th set (i'm still fighting off cramps now) Ya i got the blood into my shoulders, it just doesnt feel as if i worked out tho. And i did do correct form, i dont do sloppy unless its the last few reps i'm trying to squeeze out. (i've always been a form over weight kind of person because when i started working out, the bar benched me)

And cryptasm, i love beef! its just with what i'm eating now it seems to digest super fast and i feel as if the cleaner chicken is getting to my muscles quicker. I used to eat beef almost every meal, and i slowly started weening myself to chicken since i dont lose weight, despite the leaner source of protein. And i'm the type of person that doesnt care what the hell he eats or how it tastes. When i first started in high school i was barely taking in enough calories to go above the DV so i ate nasty "diet" type stuff all the time. But thats far behind me thank god And as a matter of fact, i ate a slice of pizza last night, and n between my two meals this morning.... Mmmmm stuffed crust! ^^ Also, yes i read that article for beginners quite a while back. I have that saved on my computer as a matter of fact.

also, you can see some moderately recent pics of me here at my site on bodybuilding.com (my favorite site and what got me interested in the sport when i was in 8th grade) http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/H50J/

i hate not having a recent pic of my legs. that pic that is on there is over a year old and they're a bit larger than that now.

 

[Nikopapp]

There's no other advice to give you, it sounds like you have everything taken care of.
Your major weak points are your arms, you are killing them with too much volume and they are way behind the rest of your physique.
You have a really good base right now, but you still have a "skinny" look to you, and my belief is that you will only get a "heavy" look to your muscles with 2 things- age and compund movements with heavy weight.
If you don't go for lower reps, fine.
Here's the problem, htough- you need to try everything to find out what works and what doesn't.
After 1 workout, you say that you "don't feel it enough"?
Get back in there and try it again, if you don't feel it after 3 stes of Behind the Neck presses with 225lbs on the bar for 8 reps, then you have a serious problem connecting with your muscles.
Also, like the last guy said, forget about lean bulking right now, especially if you want to get huge quick.
You can't do both.
To be blunt, you appear as if you have everything figured out at the ripe old age of 20.
The constructive thoughts everyone is giving you are from many, many years of experience, which you don't posess at this point.
You would be wise to listen to the advices (lol) that we are giving.
Ask anyone of those young pro's you referenced if they got huge quickly using machines and high reps....
Ditch the isolation movements for now, you should not be using any of those until you have built up the foundation.
Post up some poundages for your lifts as well, such as bench, squat, military press (not the machine kind) and deadlifts.

 

[Nikopapp]

i got a lot of comments from local bodybuilders about my legs making me look like a carrot (big roots, small leaves) lol.
These guys are just jealous, do they have huge quads? Get 'em as big as you can, worry about the symmetry later, you will hit a plateau.

And cryptasm, i love beef! its just with what i'm eating now it seems to digest super fast and i feel as if the cleaner chicken is getting to my muscles quicker.

Ok, now to be blunt, this is a stupid comment.
I don't think anyone can feel chicken getting to their uscles faster because it's "cleaner".
You should be eating beef, maybe you can't "feel it" but it is way better for you at this stage than chicken breasts.

I had to respond to this.

 

[vostua]

Oh no nikopapp! i dont think i have everything figured out at all! Thats why i started this thread. I was just giving you some feedback of how the workout went. Also, i couldnt ever do 225 in military press! (at least not anytime soon) lol, that weight wouldnt go nowhere but down (on me). I'm going to stick with your plan for a while and see how it goes. And i agree about me having the skinny look to me. I hate it! Thats the EXACT reason i got into weights, not bodybuilding. I've made great improvements since then, but i'm always looking for a way to improve. When it comes down to bulking, (taking into consideration of my current diet) what would you suggest? More "junk" added into the mix like the pizza comment? Add in beef in the place of the chicken in a couple of meals? Also, i thought that doing the presses behind the head was bad for your shoulders, thats why i do them in front. But since i havent done them that way in years, i'm going to try it out again and see.

I had to respond to this.

I didnt mean i could literally "feel" it. I was just always thinking that the fat in the beef made the meal digest slower, hence it got into the blood stream slower also, or does it really make that large of a difference?

 

[Dad]

Vost,

Niko is giving yuo sound advice, and maybe I can add just a quick comment about diet:

Forget adding "junk," all this will do is get yuo fat. Eat lots of complex carbs - sweet potatoes, rice, oatmeal, LOTS of veggies - and keep the sugars way down.

Figure out what maintenance calories are, then go for 1.5 gms protein per pound of bodyweight, about 25% of total calories from fat - fish oils, Flaxseed oil, sugar-free peanut butter. THen the rest comes from the complex carbs.

Avoid all this "bulking" nonsense, and add maybe 5% to this maintenance level every two weeks or so, and if yuo start to smooth out noticably, then hold at the current calorie level for awhile.

Simple advice, but in over 25 years of doing this and competing, I've not found better.