JP Fitness Forums - View Single Post - Damien K

DamienK · 01-27-2009, 09:32 PM

Hi there -

So I came across this website and found some great discussion about a lot of the things I was interested in. I lurked around for a while reading different threads and then came across the training log section and realized what a great idea this is. I've always been one to plan and track my workouts but this brings a whole new dimension to it! After reading through some logs, I saw how much more we can learn by interacting with each other as well as provide some motivation and accountability.

My "recent" workout history involves me being a regular gym member for a little over 2 years. I, like many others, saw a picture of myself in late 2006 and realized that I had become (for lack of a better description) a "larger" guy. I had gotten a treadmill for the house and it helped a bit at first but then I just leveled off. I told myself it was time to get in shape and headed over to the new Gold's Gym "preview center" that just came to town. I signed up right away and got some sessions with a trainer. I followed the trainer's plans and did alright for a while (I was sore at least) but never really made any true progress. Did all the bodybuilder routines they prescribed and then after going through about 4 or 5 different trainer's (because they would all quit after about 6 weeks), I decided to do my own workouts which were basically just different variations of what I learned from the trainers. I muddled around for about a year and made some gains but nothing spectacular.

At the beginning of 2008 I dusted off the old 'Body for Life' book to get some inspiration and really start pushing myself to look and perform like somebody who actually went to a gym instead of just some guy in average shape. I followed that routine for a while and did okay but more importantly I started looking around and learning more and more about training and fitness. I ended up doing great during the 12-weeks I devoted to the program - lost about 25 lbs, got a bit stronger and was actually able to do some jogging and running without wishing I was dead. I also learned what overtraining was all about!

Wanting to go to the next level - I somehow found 'New Rules of Lifting' and that really changed everything for me! It was exactly what I was looking for over the last, well forever actually. I learned so much reading that book and following several of the programs and then pursuing the fundamentals behind the book.

During my time with the "New Rules" I found out that I really like picking up heavy things and then sought out training to help me pick up heavier things.

To summarize, I'm now doing Eric Cressey's Maximum Strength and am in Phase 4. This has been an awesome program and I've really enjoyed it! I just started phase 4 last week so I figured I could start my log there.

Yeah, this post turned out a bit longer than I expected!

01-27-2009, 09:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
DamienK Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 228	Damien K - Far Beyond Driven Hi there - So I came across this website and found some great discussion about a lot of the things I was interested in. I lurked around for a while reading different threads and then came across the training log section and realized what a great idea this is. I've always been one to plan and track my workouts but this brings a whole new dimension to it! After reading through some logs, I saw how much more we can learn by interacting with each other as well as provide some motivation and accountability. My "recent" workout history involves me being a regular gym member for a little over 2 years. I, like many others, saw a picture of myself in late 2006 and realized that I had become (for lack of a better description) a "larger" guy. I had gotten a treadmill for the house and it helped a bit at first but then I just leveled off. I told myself it was time to get in shape and headed over to the new Gold's Gym "preview center" that just came to town. I signed up right away and got some sessions with a trainer. I followed the trainer's plans and did alright for a while (I was sore at least) but never really made any true progress. Did all the bodybuilder routines they prescribed and then after going through about 4 or 5 different trainer's (because they would all quit after about 6 weeks), I decided to do my own workouts which were basically just different variations of what I learned from the trainers. I muddled around for about a year and made some gains but nothing spectacular. At the beginning of 2008 I dusted off the old 'Body for Life' book to get some inspiration and really start pushing myself to look and perform like somebody who actually went to a gym instead of just some guy in average shape. I followed that routine for a while and did okay but more importantly I started looking around and learning more and more about training and fitness. I ended up doing great during the 12-weeks I devoted to the program - lost about 25 lbs, got a bit stronger and was actually able to do some jogging and running without wishing I was dead. I also learned what overtraining was all about! Wanting to go to the next level - I somehow found 'New Rules of Lifting' and that really changed everything for me! It was exactly what I was looking for over the last, well forever actually. I learned so much reading that book and following several of the programs and then pursuing the fundamentals behind the book. During my time with the "New Rules" I found out that I really like picking up heavy things and then sought out training to help me pick up heavier things. To summarize, I'm now doing Eric Cressey's Maximum Strength and am in Phase 4. This has been an awesome program and I've really enjoyed it! I just started phase 4 last week so I figured I could start my log there. Yeah, this post turned out a bit longer than I expected!