JGriff's Journal: Total Reformation

**jgriffith** · 14-Jan-05, 09:01 AM

Hey guys, I'm back and ready to make some new changes in my life both physically and in some other aspects. I thought I'd talk a little bit about what I've been doing. I'm transferring back from Elon University. I'm taking the semester off and then finishing up school here next fall. Things just weren't working out there and I wasnt being very productive mainly because I didnt' have a drive towards an actual goal, and there were too many disctractions.

All that said I'll talk about where I am physically. I'm about 255 right now, I feel like a fat slob, and all that I've worked for last winter and into the summer seems to be passed me. My bench has gone down to about 295 which isnt too bad, but my dead sucks and is probably only around 425. Either way, I'm not going to let that get me down, I've done it before and atleast now I have the know how to get it done again. On a positive note I've been running a little so my stamina there is getting better

My plan of attack will be basically the same as before, only I'm going to be running more with a little more cardio. Either way its time to get after it again. Its good to be back here with everyone, hopefully I can get the motivation I need to carry this out for the long run.

**Lewtz** · 14-Jan-05, 10:57 AM

Good luck man. You are way ahead of me. We weight about the same but mine is all fat, heh. I have seen some of your previous workouts and such posted so it shouldn't be hard for you to get back rolling.

The people here and my friends were my motivation to not be a fatass anymore.

Anyhow, get it rolling and keep up the good work. I only wish I was already where you are.

**jgriffith** · 21-Jan-05, 09:05 AM

Thanks for the support Lewtz, I appreciate it, I'm really looking forward to getting back into it, especially where I'm not only looking to lower my BF % but my overall weight considerably. This gives me more of a goal to obtain. I'd like to be down around 210 by this summer.

Thursday, January 20th

BB Bench Press:

135 x 8
185 x 4
225 x 6
245 x 5
275 x 1.5

DB Bench Press:

80 x 8
80 x 6

Cardio:

1.2 Miles

Wow, I really felt great today. I felt good on my way to the gym but wasnt expecting to have those kinds of results. I was very pleased with 225 x 6 and 245 x 5 especially with the layoff I've had. I think the fact that my diet has been perfect since Monday has a lot to do with this. Running was a little tough but I was glad that I didnt stop. I'm looking to increase the mileage A LOT by this summer. I'm going to be cycling distances to keep on my toes, should help with my ability to keep at it and not get discouraged. I didnt have a lot of volume today, mainly because of the fact thatd I'd be tremendously sore the following day if I had really pushed it.

My body weight has gone from 262.5 EEK, to 253.5 since Monday, I know a lot of that is water weight, but its a good sign.

pmcgough · 23-Jan-05, 03:59 PM

did you ever consider andro while cutting? i know its illegal now, but its still real easy to find, and you definitely save lots of muscle while cutting by using it, and gain more strength

gcs118 · 23-Jan-05, 04:25 PM

Wow griff strong pressing. I'm sure you'll have no problem dropping some weight by summer. Keep it up!

**Firehawk** · 23-Jan-05, 06:18 PM

You better get on it. I'm catching up

.

I got a 405 pull under my belt before i dropped back down to work on my form. In a competition it woulda counted, jsut wasn't a very good form deadlift lol.

.

I want under 250 by summer, but i dunno about that.

**jgriffith** · 23-Jan-05, 10:08 PM

I actually have considered andro, but I'm strapped for money right now so I may have to wait on it, still not totally sure if I'd do it or not. And thanks GCS I appreciate it, I know now that I just have to stick to my game plan.

And fire buddy, I know it man, you're on my ass, I'm getting back into my deadlifts this week, probably tuesday or wednesday, we shall see. I gotta get back up to form, I've definitely got some work ahead there, especially on my hamstrings.

Just gotta say Go PATS baby, my team is back again. Its going to be a grueling 2 weeks until the big game, I'll have heard every angle there is to be covered by wednesday and then I'll just go insane.

**.V.** · 24-Jan-05, 10:07 AM

The numbers you said you are "down to" aren't too bad themselves. Good to see you getting motivated to get back on it.

**jgriffith** · 25-Jan-05, 08:29 AM

Thanks a_welch, I realize they havent gone down ALL that much, but I just wish I couldve been improving all this time, but thats nothing to dwell on, 2 months and I think I'll be back if not further than I was before.

Tuesday, January 25th, 2005: 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

BB Rows:

45 x 15
95 x 12
115 x 12
135 x 10
185 x 6

Lat Pull Down:

80 x 12
100 x 12
120 x 12
140 x 12

Once again very low volume today, this is my first back workout in quite some time, really got a good pump though and I was pleased with the BB rows. I never do BB rows mainly because I never got the form down to where I was putting the concentration on my back, but I read something the other day that fixed me right up. I'm going to be doing those every back day now.

I decided to hold off on deadlifts for now, I'm going to start them up again after 2 or 3 leg days, I need to get my hamstrings and quads involved in something else less strainful first because last dead day I was sore as hell for like 3 days.

As far as diet goes I really need to lay off the sodium and starch, I feel so bloated when I eat anything with high sodium. I did read something that about 1 in 4 people are "salt sensitive" which means they retain much more water than other people after having salt. I know this applies to me as my body weight has fluctuated more than 10 pounds in a single day and then gone back down the next morning. The remainder of the week I'm going to cut down on the carbs, up the water and try to stay as lean as possible, I have a much cleaner feeling in my body when I do this.

I'm going to be going back to the gym tonight to do biceps and cardio, I'm going to try these 2-a-days for a bit and see how it works out for me. Also just got an iPOD for christmas and absolutely love it, 20 GB too. I never listen to music in the gym and I can say that its really added to my focus and drive.

I've got a new theory as far as my running approach goes, I'll talk a little bit about that tonight after my cardio session.

**Firehawk** · 25-Jan-05, 10:04 AM

Just if you would like to check this out Jgriff, for BOR's here's an excellent video.

http://www.joeskopec.com/assist.html

Scroll down to the Bent Rows video and right click, save target as, then watch it. It wont work properly if you just streamline it from the site.

Anyway, when I get to my heavy sets on BOR's i have a hard time keeping my form tight too, but I definitely dont' get too out of form that I am not using my back. It's definitely tough to do at your max weight for 4-6 reps or whatever.

**jgriffith** · 27-Jan-05, 09:25 AM

Thanks for the link Fire.

Thursday, January 27th, 2005: 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

Preacher Curls:

40 x 12
60 x 10
80 x 8
90 x 8

Concentration Curls:

20 x 10
35 x 8
35 x 6

Hammer Curls:

25 x 10
40 x 10

Got in a good workout today, I'm going to be going back tonight for some cardio. I was feelin sick again yesterday, I've been under the weather more often this winter then I normally have been in the past, not sure what thats about.

It came to me today that on my other lifts besides bench, deads and squats that I've been going a little half ass. I need to be doing atleast 2 WORK sets on each of those lifts instead of just getting my 10 reps out. Today I felt like I did that, I really faught it on the preacher, concentrations and a hammer curls.

On a side note, a few weeks ago I went in for an ADD test along with an intelligence test. I'm 20 years old and had never really thought that this could be an issue. However, the results came back positive for ADD and I'm going to be getting a prescription for something tomorrow. As far as the intelligence test, I scored in the top 1.5% of all adults, there was a test with blocks and the tester said that I was the only 20 year old shes ever seen who could finish the last 2 problems, so thats encouraging. The more I've thought about it the more I can see how my thinking and processing of everyday things and with school type things is actually different then how other people do it. I've always just thought that this was the way to think. School has always been very easy for me, I just thought it was a character flaw of mine to not be able to get motivated, apparently that was not the case. So I'm optimistic about that, and how the medicine will help me focus and really achieve what I'm capable of.

**.V.** · 27-Jan-05, 12:14 PM

Top 1.5% - pretty cool. That makes you almost as smart as Geena Davis, or Madonna. And qualifies you for mensa - if you are interested. The bad news, at only the top 1.5%, you aren't quite Steven Hawking.

**jgriffith** · 27-Jan-05, 02:02 PM

Too bad really, I was hoping to engage ol' Steve's mind over a cup of tea, I guess its not in the cards haha.

**.V.** · 27-Jan-05, 02:19 PM

Yeah, but don't let this go to your head. The top 2% is considered genius. Now you have an excuse to do eccentric things - you can get by with it now. But don't misspell anything in your posts - no excuse for that now.

**jgriffith** · 27-Jan-05, 02:48 PM

haha seriously, all this pressure to perform now, or is it preform...haha j/k But ya, i've always acted like a nut around my friends, and atleast now I have an excuse to. I've gotta find some kind of weird article of clothing t wear, a calling of sorts. Maybe a pink acountants visor w/ a plaid sash.