nativetroutbum
Member
I work my tiny calves every workout and make no progress... genetics *sigh
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I work my tiny calves every workout and make no progress... genetics *sigh
Yes, genetics are a huge pain. For me, the curse is that my upper body is pathetically slow to grow compared to my lower body. Well, except for my back but it is pretty rare that people come up and compliment me on my trap development unless they are a fellow lifter. Most civilians just say something like "ew, why do you have double shoulders" or something equally ridiculous. The sad truth is that most people only look at arms and chest, which are my worst body parts. Well, I guess having the big squat butt is attractive to some people, but most people just assume that my ass is fat. Couldn't be further from the truth.
I only I could swap my growth genetics for legs with my arms, I'd be a happy guy. It's pretty bad when my calves have always been significantly larger than my upper arms, and only now are my arms finally catching up, thats probably only because I haven't even worked legs but incidentally in months. And despite that, my legs have not lost any size. I wish my arms and the front half of my upper body were the same way.
I only I could swap my growth genetics for legs with my arms, I'd be a happy guy. It's pretty bad when my calves have always been significantly larger than my upper arms, and only now are my arms finally catching up, thats probably only because I haven't even worked legs but incidentally in months. And despite that, my legs have not lost any size. I wish my arms and the front half of my upper body were the same way.
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Calves are meant to be larger than arms.
There's a few things at play here:
-Looking down the limb, a calf is a more rounded/circular shape, compared to the more elliptical bicep-tricep shape that is formed. Calves looks swollen but not big, upper arms looks thick/thin depending on the angle of view.
-Most people don't work out their calves at all. It's just laziness. So when you do put in the work, you get a response and your upper arms are struggling to catch up.
-Calves are moving you all day.
-Who can they say they ever really look at another dude's calves? Chicks in heels? Sure, why not, that's how the heel ended up being developed (men wanting to see legs in heels). But habitually we never weapons-check calves.
Anyone who rates chest before back has issues in my book. Furthermore, a developed back can hide an under-developed chest, but not the inverse.
There's a few things at play here:
-Looking down the limb, a calf is a more rounded/circular shape, compared to the more elliptical bicep-tricep shape that is formed. Calves looks swollen but not big, upper arms looks thick/thin depending on the angle of view.
-Most people don't work out their calves at all. It's just laziness. So when you do put in the work, you get a response and your upper arms are struggling to catch up.
-Calves are moving you all day.
-Who can they say they ever really look at another dude's calves? Chicks in heels? Sure, why not, that's how the heel ended up being developed (men wanting to see legs in heels). But habitually we never weapons-check calves.
Anyone who rates chest before back has issues in my book. Furthermore, a developed back can hide an under-developed chest, but not the inverse.
Sci
Well-Known Member
I think you have a decently massive pectoral structure. I mean we all want to have pecs like Arnold, but he was like 1 in a billion genetically for chest mass and bicep peak as well. So compared to him and other gifted Pros, of course, your chest and frontal mass will appear small relatively.
You are actually well developed, just I guess your back and huge legs makes your chest and arms feel smaller by comparison. At least you are gifted with legs, back and calves! I am most definitely not, as those are all weak areas for me.
Enjoy your unique gifts. You are way ahead of most bodybuilders in the leg department. I will never have legs that massive because of my unique genetic limits. Your squat and Deadlift are also off the charts practically!
You are actually well developed, just I guess your back and huge legs makes your chest and arms feel smaller by comparison. At least you are gifted with legs, back and calves! I am most definitely not, as those are all weak areas for me.
Enjoy your unique gifts. You are way ahead of most bodybuilders in the leg department. I will never have legs that massive because of my unique genetic limits. Your squat and Deadlift are also off the charts practically!
Ended my 9 day SD yesterday and started out a cycle... trying to do a bit of cutting, since I don't have time to eat a lot right now, also added legs back in. I didn't test maxes, just started with whatever, I think most of it was probably heavy enough to maintain mass while dropping weight. On legs, I started a lot lighter and increased reps instead of doing 10s. Keeping volume fairly minimal. Might try doing cardio a little if I have time, not sure though.
Incline Bench: 135 x 10, 215 x 10 x 2
Seated Rows: 100 x 10, 140 x 10 x 2
Wide grip Pulldowns: 100 x 10, 140 x 10 x 2
Close grip Bench: 125 x 10 x 2
Pushdown: 110 x 10
Curl: 120 x 10
Leg Press: 135 x 10, 300 x 20 x 2
Leg Curl: 135 x 10 x 2
Standing Calf Raises: 315 x 20 x 2
Incline Bench: 135 x 10, 215 x 10 x 2
Seated Rows: 100 x 10, 140 x 10 x 2
Wide grip Pulldowns: 100 x 10, 140 x 10 x 2
Close grip Bench: 125 x 10 x 2
Pushdown: 110 x 10
Curl: 120 x 10
Leg Press: 135 x 10, 300 x 20 x 2
Leg Curl: 135 x 10 x 2
Standing Calf Raises: 315 x 20 x 2
I found the discussion about specializing lagging body parts quite interesting. From what I have read, it is a grey area. Some just say keep training whole body and squat heavy and then some say specializing is ok to do.
In my experience, I think I need to specialize my arms. My shoulders and chest are massive on me (to the point where I am getting lots of comments and my wife is now saying I am too big) and if I keep training whole body with equal intensity, these already booming body parts will continue to boom. I am not sure backing right off on chest and shoulders is the key, but I think I need to step it down a bit. How I do this, I am not sure yet.
For me, I feel that I have reached the size I want with chest and shoulders. Bringing up arms to balance will be my next focus.
Cheers,
In my experience, I think I need to specialize my arms. My shoulders and chest are massive on me (to the point where I am getting lots of comments and my wife is now saying I am too big) and if I keep training whole body with equal intensity, these already booming body parts will continue to boom. I am not sure backing right off on chest and shoulders is the key, but I think I need to step it down a bit. How I do this, I am not sure yet.
For me, I feel that I have reached the size I want with chest and shoulders. Bringing up arms to balance will be my next focus.
Cheers,
_tim
Well-Known Member
Apologies for the hijack, Tot. Renky - I think you should decrease training that induces hypertrophy (specifically) in muscle groups that are at a target size in favor of strength-specific (heavier loads, fewer reps) training. You'll still enjoy some hypertrophy, but not to the degree that HST provides. Unless you're juicing or eating a massive caloric surplus over maintenance, you'll stay at a relatively static size while still making progress. That's been my experience anyway.
No biggie, my thread isn't just a training log, it gets used for a lot of purposes. I think it's great when certain observations or statements posted in this thread turn into actual conversations about something. It is much more entertaining than just reading "bench 225 x 5, squat 305 x 5" repeated over and over.
Yesterday was second day of the 10s. I think after that workout, I'm going to formally lodge a complaint with the owner of the gym about this ****ing personal trainers using six to eight pieces of equipment at a time when training clients. It is annoying as hell, especially since this gym is almost always busy.
Yesterday was second day of the 10s. I think after that workout, I'm going to formally lodge a complaint with the owner of the gym about this ****ing personal trainers using six to eight pieces of equipment at a time when training clients. It is annoying as hell, especially since this gym is almost always busy.
Dropped down to 240 so far, seems like a big drop but I know it is water weight, etc. Been lifting every other day rather than three days a week. I am carbing up hardcore today and part of yesterday, eating pretty much whatever for dinner tonight. My workout this afternoon was great, haven't lifted that late in the day in a while, felt very strong though admittedly the loads are all very light still. I think I prefer morning workouts if even just for the fact that it is so much cooler in the gym that I'm not sweating like crazy the whole time. Return back to lower carbs, higher protein tomorrow.
Incline: 135x10 240x10x2
Pulldown: 170x10x2
Seated Row: 170x10x2
CGBP: 140x10x2
Curls: 135x10x2
Pushdown: 130x10x2
Leg Press: 300x20x2
Leg Curl: 135x10x2
Standing Calf Raises: 315x20x2
Did some pinwheel curls for no reason after that 35x10x2
DB Shrugs: 100x10x2
Did a few DB rows but I'll have to practice more with them to get the form down, it didn't feel right.
Incline: 135x10 240x10x2
Pulldown: 170x10x2
Seated Row: 170x10x2
CGBP: 140x10x2
Curls: 135x10x2
Pushdown: 130x10x2
Leg Press: 300x20x2
Leg Curl: 135x10x2
Standing Calf Raises: 315x20x2
Did some pinwheel curls for no reason after that 35x10x2
DB Shrugs: 100x10x2
Did a few DB rows but I'll have to practice more with them to get the form down, it didn't feel right.
Here is a shot from just prior to my current cycle. I have other pics I took where I was just standing there but I wasn't happy with them. As you can see, at 250 here, I have quite a bit of fat to cut out. Calipers claimed I was 16.1% in this picture. I plan to start taking more comparison pictures since looking back at the last decade now, I'm really wishing I had been more meticulous about this.
Going to be on the last day of the 10s come this Saturday, so almost two weeks in to my cut. Feeling very strong in the gym still despite the reduced calories. I'm experimenting with keeping carbs a little higher and keeping protein at only 200 grams a day, no purposeful dietary fat, just whatever tagalongs from the meats I'm eating and etc, aside from the fish oils of course. Getting the majority of my protein from actual food, only 50 grams around training on workout days.
I am judging muscle loss solely on strength levels and measurements of biceps. Since I never carry much fat on my arms, any size change in biceps is a pretty good indicator for me as to whether they are wasting away or not.
Going to be on the last day of the 10s come this Saturday, so almost two weeks in to my cut. Feeling very strong in the gym still despite the reduced calories. I'm experimenting with keeping carbs a little higher and keeping protein at only 200 grams a day, no purposeful dietary fat, just whatever tagalongs from the meats I'm eating and etc, aside from the fish oils of course. Getting the majority of my protein from actual food, only 50 grams around training on workout days.
I am judging muscle loss solely on strength levels and measurements of biceps. Since I never carry much fat on my arms, any size change in biceps is a pretty good indicator for me as to whether they are wasting away or not.
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They look bigger than they actually are. Barely 17 still. It's because my triceps are pathetically small. But yes, they did grow a bit. This is actually my picture to compare how the arms fare through my diet.
Pictures are important, I was actually mildly surprised looking at this compared to what I think I see in the mirror. And wow, I really suck at posing. Good thing I never plan to compete as a bodybuilder.
Pictures are important, I was actually mildly surprised looking at this compared to what I think I see in the mirror. And wow, I really suck at posing. Good thing I never plan to compete as a bodybuilder.
_tim
Well-Known Member
I completely agree - I'm kicking myself for not taking a pic before I restarted training in April.
Regardless Tot - you're a strong dude and so often "strong" does not fit with "cut" unless you have a ton of chemical assistance OR you train specifically for fat loss some set number of days per week. The strongest dudes in my gym who do not juice, save one or two, are far from cut. Comes with the caloric excess that us natties rely on to recover. No matter what - you look great.
Regardless Tot - you're a strong dude and so often "strong" does not fit with "cut" unless you have a ton of chemical assistance OR you train specifically for fat loss some set number of days per week. The strongest dudes in my gym who do not juice, save one or two, are far from cut. Comes with the caloric excess that us natties rely on to recover. No matter what - you look great.
Thanks for the comment. I agree that strong and cut don't seem to go hand in hand that often. I haven't cut below 10% in a long time and am curious if I will be able to maintain my maxes or not. We will see. Assuming I don't quit the diet before I get that lean.
nativetroutbum
Member
Looking good Totz! Good V-taper and serious mass on those shoulders and pecs!
I admire you guys for posting pictures... one day I'll have the guts to do the same!
I admire you guys for posting pictures... one day I'll have the guts to do the same!
I don't train flat bench because I suck at it. I will return to it eventually though, not until after I am finished leaning out. Not sure of the carry over in strength from incline to flat. For what it is worth, my close grip bench IS flat, so it's possible I won't lose a lot of neural coordination on regular flat bench. I'm assuming that with some rededication to flat bench, I could get it up pretty high considering that my incline 5 RM is 315ish.
My ultimate plan right now is to get down as lean as I can so I know what my lower weight is, then work on rebuilding whatever strength I lost, if any, and refocus on the big three lifts. If I am really 16% at 250 starting out and I diet down without losing any muscle, which is unlikely, I would be like 225-230 when I get under 10% bodyfat. I'm guessing in reality I will end up around 210 @ 8% when I manage to get down that low. Perhaps 215 after a good refeed and a week or two at normal calories to stabilize. But even if I end up at 210, if I can still have the same maxes on deads, squats and bench that I have right now, that would be awesome.
My ultimate plan right now is to get down as lean as I can so I know what my lower weight is, then work on rebuilding whatever strength I lost, if any, and refocus on the big three lifts. If I am really 16% at 250 starting out and I diet down without losing any muscle, which is unlikely, I would be like 225-230 when I get under 10% bodyfat. I'm guessing in reality I will end up around 210 @ 8% when I manage to get down that low. Perhaps 215 after a good refeed and a week or two at normal calories to stabilize. But even if I end up at 210, if I can still have the same maxes on deads, squats and bench that I have right now, that would be awesome.
Did some cardio over the weekend. I went to my parents house on Saturday for a cook out and ended up going running with their dogs in the woods. My parents are too old for that kind of thing so the dogs (german shephards) get bored, it was very exciting for them. Then I did some more cardio yesterday at the gym and now I remember why I hate cardio. Boring as hell. At least running in the woods was fun.
Tweaked something in my neck when I decided to do shrugs while waiting for the leg press today. Hopefully it goes away after a couple days. Calipers claim I'm at 13.1% bodyfat.
Tweaked something in my neck when I decided to do shrugs while waiting for the leg press today. Hopefully it goes away after a couple days. Calipers claim I'm at 13.1% bodyfat.