But I did. These guys have been a great help and encouragement through some tough times for me and they probably don't even realize it. - Pagangoddess
41 years old at the end of the month, since my birthday (the 29th) doesn't come this year.
Approx 6 feet/182cm tall.
8 weeks ago:
Weighed approx 170lbs/77kg. Before I had started doing military exercises and running i had been heavier, with belly and skinny arms and legs.
Squat: 5x5 w/ empty bar -- Never done squats before. I thought my form started off pretty good and I was pleased that I didn't seem to have any major flexibility issues.
Bench: 5x5 w/ empty bar -- Had definitely done benches before but started with empty bar.
Press: 5x5 w/ empty bar -- Had never really done these before either.
Deadlift: 1x5 Some retarded low weight because I misunderstood the deal initially -- Had never done these before.
Today:
I have enjoyed surprising strength and muscularity gains. I am amazed at the increased size of my legs, arms, shoulders and back. My wife is happy with those and my rear, chest, and lats.
Even though I'm doing GOMAD, my abs are reasonably well-defined under my slight strength trainee's bulk-up belly and my obliques are large and in charge. Look out! Gaining weight pretty well now. I dropped to 168lbs before I started gaining anything, but it has started coming up nicely. Of course these gains accompany gains in flexibility, speed, attitude, appetite... Approx 183lbs/83kg
Squat: 5x5 160lbs/72.5kg
Bench: 5x5 105lbs/48g
Press: 5x5 105lbs/48kg
Deadlift: 1x5 200lbs/90.7kg
I haven't missed a workout. Squats, Presses and Deadlifts are good and hard now - more effort than "fun". The fun comes when you've completed another workout with higher weight and feel better about everything than you felt before. I felt like I had hit a wall all of a sudden at 150lbs/68kg on squats. But I have powered through it and today's extra 10lbs felt better than those did and form has survived and still seems to be getting better. Have as of yet to face a good stall but I know it's coming.
Was this the right thing for me? Hell yes!
Another thanks to Mehdi and the many people here who are helping me directly and indirectly.
