Invictus

[Paul Stagg]

Welcome.

I've been training since my mid 20s. I have not been as consistent as I would like, and I have the results to show for it. Further, instead of building a base, I put on a roof; I spent the first several years of my training using routines out of the muscle rags.

Got bigger, got leaner, sure. I'm a hell of a lot better off than I was when I started, but I'm not where I should be.

The last 18 months have been hell. Work, house shit, family shit, you name it. About 6 weeks ago, I got back in the gym, and refocused on the basics. I'm using a very basic routine I ripped off from someone.

I am essentially a beginner, but I kinda know what I'm doing. Hopefully that will be a good thing.

Anyway.

This morning I'm 226 pounds, and my waist is 38 inches at the navel. That's about as complex as my body composition measurements will get. We all know if weight goes up and waist goes down, that's good.

[Paul Stagg]

8.27.07

Workout A.

Warmup:
5 mins elliptical

Squat2x5 @ 45
95x5
135x5
185x3
3x5 @ 225

OH press
2x5 @ 45
95x5
135x5,4,4

Bent Row
45x5
95x5
135x5
3x5 @ 195

Pull down abs
2x20 @ 120

[Dave76]

Your basic ripped off routine looks vaguely familiar to me. I believe I've seen it somewhere before. Hmmm... 3X5 work sets, compound exercises, squats first. Yeah, I've seen that somewhere, just can't quite put my finger on it.

I understand all the shit that goes on to keep you out of the gym. I was out for most of a year. I went from a lean (yet underweight) 180 lbs to a flabby and fat 250 lbs.

I look forward to watching your progress!!

[Andrew Smith]

Are you going to keep up with this journal better than the one you've got on the other forum haha? Nice session btw.

[Isaac Wilkins]

I heard people were lifting weights in here?

[Paul Stagg]

Workout B
8.29.07

Warmup:
5 mins elliptical

Squat
2x5 @ 45
95x5
135x5
185x2
3x5 @ 230

Bench Press
2x5 @ 45
95x5
135x5
3x5 @ 185

Deadlift
135x5
185x5
225x1
275x5

Decided that was enough for the day. I need to add in some cardio. Sandbags should get loaded on Saturday.

[HomeYield]

Do you think that once you get back in shape you'll compete again?

[Paul Stagg]

Absolutley. My short term goals are to show some believers in bodybuilding mythology you can indeeed get jacked without a split routine, especially if you are a novice or beginner, and to blow away previous bests in a meet in the 1st half of next year.

(I'm also showing some true believers in bodybuilding mythology that how long you've been training doesn't define how advanced you are. If you are 200+ pounds and can't squat 500, you ain't advanced, and you are better served getting your squat to 500 than having a 'quads day.')

Long term goals revolve around health and getting an Elite total. If those two at some point conflict, health comes first.

[Andrew Smith]

What are your all time personal bests Paul?

[Paul Stagg]

In a (the only) meet in 2002:
330
285
385

Or something. 1015 total.

In the gym:
435
315
445

or something.