Evolution

It took me a while to figure out what to say. I sat looking at a blank page trying to equate my last year since I've made a post on here.

Life changed. I evolved....I got strong I got weak I got fat I got fit and fat-ish again.

Around this time last year I was coming to the end of a three month stint of diet and training. This year I've actually started around this time. Although I've already started out injured since I joined the gym and then had a minor surgery which placed 12 stitches in my back and apparently my shoulder has decided to give up on me already so no upper body training for a few weeks. But I've been trying to eat a lot better even though I have access to all the pizza you'd ever want.

Instead, I've decided to get back to being a bit fitter and concentrating on just my legs. It's only taken me ten years but I can finally fully squat without my hips screaming for me to stop.

I start each session with getting my legs warmed up and stretched before I jump into either a heavy session, sprints or both. Oh dear good god does it hurt! It's like when I first started out at the gym and was on that constant chest and tris, back and bi's rota. Except 1000 times more painful. But for once my legs are actually staying fit since I've retired from competitive sports.

So I think I'm going to carry this trend on for a while as in my heart I desperately want to get back on the field. But I'll settle for a ripped version of myself to be honest. I've set a goal and my shoulder is definitely stopping me from reaching it at the moment but I'm hoping to have it fixed by the new year with any luck.

As for my posts, I shall try and keep it a bit more consistent as opposed to year long absences. 

Plagued and injuries!

So now it's week 11 of my training since I started and I've been riddled with flu/infections and now another cold but on top of that I decided to go play some flag American football which has pretty much put week 11 out of action.

Nevertheless my gains in strength have been quite substantial. The highest percentage gains have been in my legs and my squat. Taking my 1 rep max to a total of 10 unassisted although yes it's not alot of weight but since I have no training partner it's one of the hardest body parts for me to train alone. 

My bench is through the roof in regards to my strength. 10 x 100kg is again no longer a problem for me. So far I've only attempted as much as 130kg 1rm but I've pushed three reps after 100 and 120 so I think I can push more with a spotter just for my safety. 

Even my biceps although injured have had some serious strength gains but i still have elbow issues in my right arm which tell me when it's time to rest and stop.

So this is my week 11 update picture im pretty happy with my lean gains although people may not see a huge difference. It's my image of a progressing perfect me and that's what matters.

The flu

So I had the most absolute worst illness to date. Right in the middle of my training and it knocked me for six.

I lost some gains but involuntarily leaned out a bit. Not quite what I planned while in the middle of bulking but im back in the gym almost back to full health and hopefully I shouldn't have anymore setbacks of this kind. 

In my weeks rest I actually learnt something about  regrets and grudges. It ties in with training I promise. 

People will see quotes and clichés about how the people in your life are in it for a reason and those who left never deserved to be in it....Lots of variations of this sort of motivational stuff but generally it leads me to grudges when I read into it for my own circumstances. 

I was racially bullied all throughout my school years until I left for college and uni. And to this date I will disagree with all my peers who tell me I should forgive these type of people, when still at this age they can't admit their wrong doings and simply say "he was just someone who had to be bullied" FUCK EM! 

These are the exact people who motivated me through my first year of training solidly. And it worked absolutely perfectly. But, what some people carry is a grudge against people who didn't really do anything to you but are or were someone close and important to you in your life. 

People will say yeah but you can just forget about them, it has no effect on my training. But I do refuse to believe that. When you have people in your life who want to be there, who actually to make you happy and deserve your company, your wellbeing is lifted and no one will argue with me that a better life psychologically won't benefit you physically. 

But when you flip it and bring out the clichés I've learnt that for those who you do want in your life truly, they will be there. But don't wait for it too long, you forget that you are looking out for yourself and living your one chance at life. Don't forget that everyone else is too. 

Lift others as you wish to be lifted yourself and you will always be content. 

Week 4 update....a week late :-/

So I just completed week 5 but i completely forgot to post my week 4 update! 

I'm definitely feeling thicker thighs but just not much definition still. I've gained a stone and i think its mostly come on my legs.  Otherwise I will feel like definition has been created in my shoulders much more and my chest is certainly bigger now that I'm up to benching 130. My diet wavered of this weekend as I had an IT issue where I ended up not actually eating  so I lost a little weight but im back on it this week! 

The struggle is real!

It's been four weeks since I started my journey into a new me. I have to say this is not easy in the slightest! 

Trying to keep up with 4000 calories a day and trying to keep working out every day without hurting myself or having to train around my injuries is exhausting! 

Last week I took a trip to the physio, i was violated but it was actually pretty good so im going back as I've had some long standing back problems that are getting worse. 

I've decided to stop dead lifting and instead concentrate on strengthening my lower back in isolation and also in simple core exercises which I think is much more beneficial for me and much more pain free. 

My elbow pain has actually subsided a bit so ive been  able to put up some big numbers 50kg bicep curls and 110kg bench as a standard routine not a one rep max, a simple pyramid of heavy weights and low reps. 

My legs are still not so used to being blasted like the rest of me so DOMS sets in pretty bad when I got them on my Thursday sessions but it gives me the whole weekend to rest up. I shall update soon with a new set of pictures and as always. Any questions email soheil_maleki@hotmail.co.uk PEACE! 

Update: 2 weeks...be betterer...

I think I need to be better but it's only week two! Unfortunately my back is giving me a lot of problems when it comes to dead lifting so I'm still working out the kinks to get back to peak performance throughout my training sessions.

So here are my updated photos for week 2 of my progress!

Little Hiccup

I had one minor hiccup this week. My leg decided to give up on me with a trapped nerve preventing me from training legs. Its okay though it's almost fully recovered and will be taken care of tomorrow.

I'm definitely seeing improvements but my pains and aches are also getting a bit worse. I've switched up my training to much lower reps with heavy weights and I'm pretty certain it's working as my Max weights are ramping up at a steady pace.

Generally I look a little "harder" all around and will do some new pictures for the beginning of next week.

Dieting is not as easy as I thought it would be. My mental state isn't quite as strong as it used to be when I knew I could train with only DOMS to worry about and not my football injuries.  But my injuries are haunting me with each session which is why i'm having to change things up on the fly in order to still keep working out without damaging myself (dead leg aside)

For example, my right elbow affects my ability to curl and pull up/down. So instead of heavy, palms up, bicep curls. I can isolate with dumbells and twist my grip so that it doesn't hurt. EVEN BETTER, I'm actually not too bothered about my biceps and can concentrate a bit more on my triceps as my biceps peak pretty well (have a few steps along them) so my triceps would really complete my arms all around.

Lets just hope in time (with lovely ibuprofen) I can try and overcome any/all of my injuries as the NHS sure as hell won't be doing anything for me any time soon.

PEACE!

soheil_maleki@hotmail.co.uk