Time to resurrect this thread.

I finally made one of my powerlifting goals today by Squatting 375 lbs. Add that to my 240 lbs. Bench and 385 lbs. Deadlift and I’ve got a 1,000 lbs. total. I know it really doesn’t count since I didn’t do all the lifts the same day as in a competition but I’m getting closer to being able to do that. I had set a goal for myself that I would enter my first competition once I felt I could get a 1000 lbs. total so I’m going to start looking for a local competition I can enter a few months after I get back from my upcoming deployment.

On a hypertrophy note I’m up to 180 lbs. and must be getting noticeably bigger. In the last three weeks I’ve gotten more comments than I can count. One supervisor started calling me “muscle man.” Another commented I should get bigger pants since my “A$$” is too big for the current ones (Squatters Butt), and these are my “FAT” pants. Another coworker commented on how “jacked” I looked.

Add to that I had to wear my dress uniform (fitted when I weighed 165 about 9 years ago before I dropped down to 140 lbs. ultra-running) and it was a chore. I couldn’t button the collar and had to hide that with my tie since I didn’t have one of those button extenders. My thighs barely fit in the pants and were so tight that you couldn’t see the crease where they were ironed. Luckily there was a table between me and the board members so that wasn’t obvious. On the plus side I forced me to sit up very straight since the coat was pretty tight. Also work related I just had to buy a new utility blouse since I almost couldn’t button the ones I have.

However, the most motivating thing that happened was when I stopped at Wallyworld (Wal Mart) on the way home from work last Wednesday after switching back into my workout shorts and tank top. Within 2 minutes of walking in the door I already lost count of how many women/girls did double takes or just outright eyef****d me. That’s sure as hell never happened before. Kind of disturbing though was a few of the girls were IMO a little too young to be showing that sort of interest. Changing times. . . .

Off to do some Hill Sprints.

What kind of lifting program are you working on and how often are you lifting?

I've been dabbling in lifting for a few years, but haven't been able to put on much muscle due to all the other extracurricular stuff going on in my life. I do Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 3/4 times and play soccer once a week . . . so really only have time/strength to do lifting two days most weeks.

I'm currently doing a 5x5 routine of either:
Squats, Bench, Rows or
Cleans, Military Press, Deadlifts

Makes me want to have my TV recalibrated!

Okay, grunt...I'd like some pictures please!

When I stopped ultra-running about 2 years ago I started with a bulking program called HST:

Their website:
http://thinkmuscle.com/

The Principles:
http://www.hypertrophy-specific.com/hst_index.html

A better explanation of some of them:
http://thinkmuscle.com/forum/showthread.php?19280-HST-Summed-Up-By-Lyle

About 6 months ago I decided to switch to a Powerlifting specific program which is what I do now:

Their website:
http://www.westside-barbell.com/

Their basic template:
http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/weight...ate-469668.html

I like a couple of things about both these programs. They both seem to work the best of anything I’ve found at what they aim for HST = max muscle size gains, and Westside = max powerlifting gains. Also both programs are very based on simple principles which are easy to tweak to individual needs. Westside is so flexible that 7 months in I’m still trying to figure it out, but it’s exactly that individual customization that makes it work so well.

5x5 routines are great for starting out and up to the intermediate level if your goal is to gain both size and strength (the do go hand in hand but there are ways to prioritize one over the other). Another good routine once you get to the intermediate level is Wendler’s 5/3/1 something you might consider if you’ve stalled out on 5x5. Westside is generally considered an advanced program not that you can’t start right out with it and equally good success with other strength programs like 5x5 or 5/3/1 but because in its basic form it’s Powerlifting specific and you really do have to pay attention to what you’re doing so you can figure out what works best for you. Because of the high level of customization the implementation can become very complicated. I’ve read that 6 months is about the minimum time it takes to get it down so it’s probably best left to use after stalling out on less complicated programs.

You’ve got a nice simple program going there with compound lifts that hit all the body parts that matter for building bulk. That coupled with your Jiu-Jitsu and even soccer you might want to consider giving Westside a try since it’s easily customized to any sport that emphasizes both strength and speed because of the Dynamic Effort and General Physical Preparedness work done each week. So let me know if you’re interested in it and I can post some other links that help explain it in greater detail.

Being only 5’6” I fancy myself taking after Franco Columbu rather than Lou, besides “it isn’t easy being green.”

http://www.strongandfit.net/2009/04/franco-columbu.html

I’ll see what my witness protection case officer says . . . oops!

This reminds me that I haven't gotten my routine from my trainer yet this week.

I've been going to the gym for a few months now and working with a trainer.

My nascent spare tire is no more and I actually have a little bit of muscle. It's novel.

Yeah thanks, if you can post some links I'd be interested in checking something else out. I seem to have stalled on my current routine.