Starting over My journey from 150lbs to 250lbs back down to 190 and now up to 255-260

[vin1080]

Yeah,I guess you could say I do. lol. The nutrition part if from going to so many nutrition specialists over the years.
Hopefully theres enough gas left in my tank to give it another shot. I wont lie. I do have some physical problems from diabetic complications but I feel like if I don't atleast try I'm just a worthless bag of meat.

 

[vin1080]

Just to give you a idea of how much my weight has fluctuated up and down over the years....
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Here I'm just about 200-205. I think....lol Everytime I go see my Dr. he says I'm always 10-15lbs lighter or heavier than the last visit.

 

[vin1080]

 

[vin1080]

The leg and the bottom pics are from my motorcycle accident and from when I was stabbed working security at a Mob Deep concert. Week in the hospital took 20+ pounds from me. The leg put me out for a lot longer. Several months actually.

 

[vin1080]

Right now I'm 178lbs @ 9-10% BF / 27.5" waist with 18" arms. Thats 5-10 minutes after waking up.

 

[vin1080]

I took sat and sunday off from the gym. Focused on keeping my blood glucose levels in check and ate properly. I put on a solid 8lbs. It feels like it settled all around my arms and delts.

 

[vin1080]

my arms/delts always start to overshadow the rest of my upper body when I get up around 180lbs. I guess that's just the way my genetics are.

 

[Heavyazzweight]

Way to go man! Seems like ur puttin in the work. Look forward to hearing bout your progress.

 

[vin1080]

Thanks Heavyazzweight! I'm tryin'. Sorry about the crappy pictures.

 

[vin1080]

I had a huge increase in strength yesterday. I put 275lbs on the flat bench. The second I grabbed it I knew I had busted through my first wall. Last week I struggled with 315lbs. Yesterday I picked up the 275, did 3 reps and I mean I tossed it up like I had 135 on the bar. So I racked that and said to my brother put 3 plates on. Did 3 reps w/that pretty easily as well. My brother started putting on 25's and I said hang on lemme' try just another dime on each side (335) so I took a few extra seconds of rest and made the same lift of 3 reps. I normally won't do less than 5 reps but I did'nt want to go crazy and hurt myself. I just wanted to see what the weight felt like. My max flat bench that I've ever done was something like 455lbs. But I was also only 23-24 yrs old. My joints did'nt have the issues that they have now. I actually have to place my hands on the bar shoulder width apart. People think I'm doing close grip but thats where I feel the strongest and if I try to go wider it kills my shoulder.
Is this a bad thing? My brother always breaks my balls about that. He wonders how my grip could possibly be using enough chest and not triceps. But shoulder width apart grip is where I feel comfortable. Plus I do have pretty strong tri's so I guess sub-consciously my mind knows that and makes me grab the bar where I do. I don't know. Maybe I'm completely wrong and I should be working on grabbing it a little wider out. I can do flyes just fine but incline flyes bother my shoulder a little. Anyone have this problem? Wide grip bench just kills my shoulder.

 

[vin1080]

Let me ask you guys this. Do I need a belt? I've read the thread on Belts yet I'm still unclear on who does and who does not need the aid of a belt.
My brother and I get together a few times a week to train. Those are the days we do heavy core routines. Dead lifts, bench, squat, rows, etc... I use to do very very heavy lifts. Especially deadlifting. But the thing is I never used a belt. Just straps when needed. I never wanted to rely on equipment to help me through my lift. I've heard from some friends that belts actually increase your load capacity to the point that if you know what your doing with it you can use it to your advantage . However once you start training with one don't plan on going back to training belt-less. The chances for injury increase quite a bit. Your body starts to rely on that belt.
I'm starting to get a little heavier in my lifts. I did deadlifts on this Smith machine that my gym has that I like. I did 405 for 10 reps / 415 for 8 reps / 425 for 6 reps. I want to keep training back hard. But I just want to make sure I'm doin' it safely. Thanks,Everyone.

 

[vin1080]

Let me ask you guys this. Do I need a belt? I've read the thread on Belts yet I'm still unclear on who does and who does not need the aid of a belt.
My brother and I get together a few times a week to train. Those are the days we do heavy core routines. Dead lifts, bench, squat, rows, etc... I use to do very very heavy lifts. Especially deadlifting. But the thing is I never used a belt. Just straps when needed. I never wanted to rely on equipment to help me through my lift. I've heard from some friends that belts actually increase your load capacity to the point that if you know what your doing with it you can use it to your advantage . However once you start training with one don't plan on going back to training belt-less. The chances for injury increase quite a bit. Your body starts to rely on that belt. Atleast thats what I've heard.