bigDman

So one year ago in April I started lifting weights. I wanted to get big for sports. I Have decided to make this thread after seeing DJSTARER’s thread.



Timeline:
April of 2005- Age: 14
Height: 6'
Weight 150
Biceps: 12.5 inches
Forearms: 11 inches
Neck: 15 inches
Waist: 30 inches
Calves: 15 inches
Thighs: 21.5
Picture: http://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=before6fs.jpg
Notes: these measurements are proably off(high) because I just started and I could see my self measuring wrong to make me look bigger :p

June- 164 lbs
Pictures: http://ironmass.com/forums/showthread.php?t=860

August- 177 lbs
Pictures: http://ironmass.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1980

October- 183 lbs
Pictures: http://ironmass.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3018

January- 183 lbs
Pictures: http://ironmass.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4650

March- 188 lbs


Currently (April 1, 2006)- Height: 6'
Weight 184
Biceps: 14.25 inches
Forearms: 12.5 inches
Neck: 17 inches
Waist: 31.5 inches
Calves: 16 inches
Thighs: 25
Chest 40 inches
Shoulders 46 inches
Hips: 38
Picture:http://ironmass.com/forums/showthrea...355#post132355

Part 1: Lacrosse season
It was about half way through lacrosse season when I decided to start lifting weights. My progress was good, but only because I just started. My diet was horrible. I was a vegetarian and my training sucked. It was inconsistent. I went through the rest of lacrosse season making pretty good gains. I was on a crappy program same sets and reps(3x6) for every exercise everywhere I worked out. I really got sucked into the sport of lifting. I searched everywhere read everything I could.

Part 2: Summer
I got my diet in check. Started counting cals and eating right. I started to eat meat(once I did so I got great gains). I ate everything in site. I realized id need to eat like crazy to gain weight. I really cut down on cardio and upped the cal. I was eating between 4000 and 5000 cals(toward the end 5000-6000). My training was still inconsistent. I couldn’t make up my mind on a new program. With all the knowledge that I was obtaining I couldn’t put together a program and stick with it. I kept changing. Yet prs kept coming

Part 3: School starts
My diet stayed about the same(5000-6000 cals). I was on a quest to get to 189(which I did). I kept on my quest of knowledge and read a lot about power lifting and the Westside method. I fell in love. I finally had a consistent program and was making the best gains I have ever made. Consistency is key. I lifted hard and often. I ate big. I finally hit my first plateau at around 180 lbs. I continued to eat big, but added milk into my diet. It worked wonders I eventually got up to 189. I also learned about grip and forearm training. I fell in love with this too. I made great gains closing grippers left and right. The grip training really helped my other lifts. I worried less about grip and more about the movement it self.

Part 4: Wrestling Season
Wrestling season is a hectic and crazy time for me. Long intense practice. More cardio then you could ever imagine. Intensity. I ate right and I ate a lot but I still lost weight.
Here are some of my struggles with weight gain
I ate 3500 calories and lost 5 pounds in a week
I ate 4500 calories and lost 3 pounds in a week
I ate 5300 calories and gained 1 pound in 4 weeks
I ate 6000 calories and gained 1 pound in 2 weeks
After this I got mad and searched help. I found it and ended up going on a 7000 + cal diet. I kept the carbs and fats high because I was burning them at practice. I cut out the dairy and upped the veggies with an attempt to slow down my metabolism and it worked I gained about 7 lbs in a month.
I didn’t train with weights too much. Maybe once every 2 weeks or so. I just couldn’t handle it. The practice was too intense. I had a successful season in the 189-weight class (weighing 183-185 most the season). I went 22-1 and I am sure I can beat the guy I lost too. I continued learning about power lifting and was very excited to start lifting again


Part 5: Lacrosse season
Wrestling was finally over and it was time for my favorite part of the year. Lacrosse season. I stopped counting calories because it was too much of a hassle. I ate when I wanted. I tried to keep things semi clean. I continued with a Westside type of routine. I switched to sumo deadlifting and realized I had a really strong Deadlift, and I could break the world record


Part 6: Contest Preparation
I am about half way through this part. I am training for my first power lifting contest were I look to open with a 480 lbs Deadlift to break the world record at my age and weight. My diet is probably around 4000-5000 cals. I haven’t been counting I am not losing or gaining weight. I practice hard at practice, and I lift hard in the gym. I continue to learn more and more and I apply it to my training. My progress has been coming along greatly. I continue to hit pr’s and continue to have a blast while lifting. I hope to stay in this sport for many years.

Main Points: These points will summarize the biggest improvements and mistakes I have made on my way to this point (stole some from DJ):
- Squating and deadlifting increased my growth
- The more you learn the more you grow
- Don’t over analyze things. A lot of times simpler are better
- Milk is great for adding extra kcals
- Eating Carbs was just as essential for growth as Protein.
- Training partners help a great deal
- Use chalk not straps and gloves
- Grip training helps you grow.
- Sleep is important.
- Drink water when I started drinking more I made more gains
- Don’t get ahead of yourself or
- I stuck with it. Set ambitious, yet realistic, goals.
- What I put into it, I received back.
- When I hit a wall, stepping back and thinking about the situation worked best.

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COME CHECK OUT MY JOURNAL

DJSTARER

copy cat!

I'm glad we agree on these. These are some of the most commonn newb mistakes.

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My philosophies on training:

"Extreme training yields extreme results"

"Just because you can, does not mean you should"

"The best program is the one you are not doing"





Penn State Powerlifting-181 lb weightclass

PGA Professional of America


Current Stats:
474 Squat
601 Deadlift
320 Bench


Goals for next training cycle:

500lbs squat and a total over 1400 in competition

bigDman

hehe i was reading yours and relized i started lifting about a year ago and i looked back and april 2nd is the day i started so i thought id write one too

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COME CHECK OUT MY JOURNAL

Vegeto

Congrats, you have accomplished alot bigD! Now I have to find your thread DJ, I haven't seen it yet.

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......Busy Training......
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