RodeoSchro
Well-Known Member
Alright, y'all - the calendar has turned, the resolutions are up and it's time. Time to GET IT DONE!
I hope 2023 was a good year fitness-wise. I know some of y'all KILLED IT on the road - I think Phil ran 12,873 miles and all for an incredibly good cause. There are others out there too who've reached impressive milestones. Tell us about them!
Here's how my year went. This summer, a buddy convinced me to add a protein supplement to my diet. Then Arnold convinced me to add creatine to the protein supplement. So I did. How did it work? (Tell me you did not say "Arnold who?" You know which Arnold I mean!)
First, let me set out my goals. They're usually the opposite of most New Year's resolutions, in that I looking to get a little bigger, not smaller. My overriding goal in all weight-lifting endeavors is to shape my body so that it looks good in a suit. Pretty stupid, I know! But I wear a suit/blazer once a week (gotta represent at church!) and this year is going to bring a whole lot more suit/blazer-wearing opportunities vis-a-vis the business world.
When I started the protein supplement, my weight had been varying between 183 and 188. I thought 200 pounds was a good target weight but even with banshee-type workouts, I wasn't putting on weight. Then I started the protein shake.
Wow! It wasn't long before I was consistently at 190 - 193. Then I added the creatine.
Double wow! I hit 201 pounds yesterday - and NONE of that gain is in my gut! Oh happy day! But how about your strength, RodeoSchro? Or is all that gain just popcorn muscles?
My final workout of last year was Friday, December 29th. I put 225 on the bar at the incline press bench and did a personal record of 3 unassisted reps. Again, oh happy day! But was it a fluke?
Yesterday - January 2nd - was my first workout of this year. I put 225 on the bar. How did it go?
FIVE UNASSISTED REPS. Another happy day!
Here's the secret, as far as I can figure out - protein and creatine absolutely help with lifting. But what they do the most is to my mind. Success builds upon success. Once I did that single rep at 225, I knew I could do it. So doing 3 reps last week was as much a mental victory as it was physical. I've got my sights set on 250 pounds and mentally, there's no doubt in my mind that I can get there. Oh, did I mention I'm 5 weeks from turning 65? I am!
I drink one shake a day, and use ISO100 Protein Powder. I add a tablespoon of creatine from an Arnold-recommended company called Momentous. HINT: Creatine powder has the consistency of sand. I have to run the blender for 30 seconds or so in order to get the creatine broken down into particles that don't taste like sand.
That's my story. I'd love to hear yours and even better - I'd love to help you get to what ever you want. I highly recommend Arnold's daily email. You can subscribe here: https://arnoldspumpclub.com/
I'll also post some of the best advice I read in it. Good luck, and let's kill it in 2024!
I hope 2023 was a good year fitness-wise. I know some of y'all KILLED IT on the road - I think Phil ran 12,873 miles and all for an incredibly good cause. There are others out there too who've reached impressive milestones. Tell us about them!
Here's how my year went. This summer, a buddy convinced me to add a protein supplement to my diet. Then Arnold convinced me to add creatine to the protein supplement. So I did. How did it work? (Tell me you did not say "Arnold who?" You know which Arnold I mean!)
First, let me set out my goals. They're usually the opposite of most New Year's resolutions, in that I looking to get a little bigger, not smaller. My overriding goal in all weight-lifting endeavors is to shape my body so that it looks good in a suit. Pretty stupid, I know! But I wear a suit/blazer once a week (gotta represent at church!) and this year is going to bring a whole lot more suit/blazer-wearing opportunities vis-a-vis the business world.
When I started the protein supplement, my weight had been varying between 183 and 188. I thought 200 pounds was a good target weight but even with banshee-type workouts, I wasn't putting on weight. Then I started the protein shake.
Wow! It wasn't long before I was consistently at 190 - 193. Then I added the creatine.
Double wow! I hit 201 pounds yesterday - and NONE of that gain is in my gut! Oh happy day! But how about your strength, RodeoSchro? Or is all that gain just popcorn muscles?
My final workout of last year was Friday, December 29th. I put 225 on the bar at the incline press bench and did a personal record of 3 unassisted reps. Again, oh happy day! But was it a fluke?
Yesterday - January 2nd - was my first workout of this year. I put 225 on the bar. How did it go?
FIVE UNASSISTED REPS. Another happy day!
Here's the secret, as far as I can figure out - protein and creatine absolutely help with lifting. But what they do the most is to my mind. Success builds upon success. Once I did that single rep at 225, I knew I could do it. So doing 3 reps last week was as much a mental victory as it was physical. I've got my sights set on 250 pounds and mentally, there's no doubt in my mind that I can get there. Oh, did I mention I'm 5 weeks from turning 65? I am!
I drink one shake a day, and use ISO100 Protein Powder. I add a tablespoon of creatine from an Arnold-recommended company called Momentous. HINT: Creatine powder has the consistency of sand. I have to run the blender for 30 seconds or so in order to get the creatine broken down into particles that don't taste like sand.
That's my story. I'd love to hear yours and even better - I'd love to help you get to what ever you want. I highly recommend Arnold's daily email. You can subscribe here: https://arnoldspumpclub.com/
I'll also post some of the best advice I read in it. Good luck, and let's kill it in 2024!
