after a very relaxing deload week, I have started a new lifting cycle. did not sleep much tonight. there were some thoughts I could not shake, so I decided to do some reading instead (currently, I’m reading this). eventually fell asleep. woke up with a good feeling.
had an interesting morning. a couple of good lectures, then I met up with a friend who will defend her ph.d. thesis in ten days time.
watched this video with george leeman where he talks about using PEDs. it feels odd that people who are not competing in anything, who are not aiming to build a career in a physical sport are using performance enhancing drugs. I totally understand there are a lot of users out there, the majority of which are just recreational lifters (possibly even beginners, like myself). I ask myself, what is the point of using something potentially harmful (at least when you are using great quantities over an extended period of time) if you are going to put the (potential) results to good use? it interests me, is all. perhaps I’ll work with such things (PEDs and people using them) in the future just to learn more.
main lift
military press, 3 / 3 / 3+. after warmup:
- 3x 52.5 kg
- 3x 60 kg
- 6x 67.5 kg (3+)
- 3x 67.5 kg (joker)
- 3x 68.5 kg (joker)
- 3x 68.5 kg (joker)
- 2x 70 kg (joker)
after an extensive warmup, trying to be pro-active with regards to pain development in shoulders, I dug in. it seems I may have messed up the weights somehow (maybe should have been 68.5 kg for 3+ set), but that does not bother me at all.
did a solid six reps without any grinding in the 3+ set. felt strong and without pain or discomfort (except the relative discomfort from lifting a somewhat heavy barbell over my head instead of staying in bed).
could continue with several joker sets, something that made me very happy. I am happy and thankful for these lifts.
assistance lifts
paused barbell bench press
- 10x 77.5 kg
- 10x 77.5 kg
- 10x 77.5 kg
- 10x 77.5 kg
- 10x 77.5 kg (grind)
felt strong at first. then progressively weaker as the sets went on. still got all the repetitions I set out to do and with nice (imho) pauses.
pullups: 5x 10
cable triceps pushdown: 10x 55 kg, 10x 55 kg, 10x 50 kg
dumbbell shoulder press: 8x 24 kg, 6x 22 kg, 7x 20 kg
dumbbell bicep curl: 7x 18 kg, 8x 16 kg, 7x 14 kg
that’s all, she wrote.
lyfta på jobbet 
I never understood why a non-competitive lifter would use steroids. But if one is to believe ”Bigger, Stronger, Faster”, the majority of gucers are actually recreational lifters. Most of them do not look impressive, and even fewer are decently strong. It’s pretty sad if you think about it.
Another thing that boggles my mind are people who start gucing without first maximizing their natural potential. Someone who barely presses 300 pounds and can’t squat four plates has no business messing with drugs. It’s beyond idiotic.
I have a buddy who used Dianabol for a while. Saw a huge improvement after a few months, especially with regard to muscle size (some strength). But after a while he went off and lost all his gainz. Now he neither guces nor lifts because he just ”can’t be bothered” with light weights. So his brief stint of drug use turned him off lifting for life.
I have a buddy who uses a lot of stuff. He’s big and strong but, he also has the temperament of an angry hornet. When he drank a lot, look out. He’s sober now so that isn’t a problem anymore.
He’s still my friend and he even asked me if I wanted to ”be in like Flynn.” He’s single, still cruises for women, etc…
I’d like to say, very condescending, that non-athletes who use PEDs have issues of various kinds. That is probably not always true, though, but this particular case seems to fit the stereotype.
Hasn’t he noticed that you are strong and in good shape while NOT using?
”non-athletes who use PEDs have issues of various kinds”
True. ”Roid rage” has nothing to do with steroids themselves, but rather with a small, weak, insecure asshole becoming a big, strong, insecure asshole.
But even issues aside, some people just get frustrated from working very hard at lifting weights and seeing little to zero gainz (relative to their unrealistic expectations of becoming Arnold in a year). It’s like the guy who complains he never gets dates while ignoring any chick who doesn’t look like a cross between a porn star and a supermodel, or some other imagined feminine ideal.
I don’t buy ”roid rage” at all, actually, and I agree with you. the problem lies more with the kind of person who is more likely to use PEDs (i.e. a non-athlete who lacks satisfaction in daily life).
lift more, become less. 🙂
My buddy has always struggled with his vanity and all of his life he struggled to ”get bigger.” Once he started pinning, he blew up, watched his diet and became fairly ripped. Strength wise, he could be stronger but, his focus is on BB.
His temperament is dependant on what kind of and where he is on his cycle. Most of the time he’s fairly laid back but, when he’s got a bunch of test and tren flowing, look out.
Mark Bell said that roids not only make you stronger physically, they also strengthen your personality. So, I guess if your an asshole before roids you’ll be a mega-asshole when on them.
I don’t use but, if I did, I wouldn’t screw around. All out baby! Look out Louie, here I come. ; )