Hulkmuscle's Training Log

[muscle_mastah]

Originally Posted by hulkmuscle

On the bodybuilding front, I took some photos today. My partner's also offered to take some for me. He's been so supportive of me through all this, especially since building's not the passion for him that it is for me, yet he backs me up 100% cause he sees how much it means to me. Jury's still out about posting these photos, but we'll see.

Smart man. <Evil Grin>

[hulkmuscle]

Had a wonderful time with my best friend from high school (check the blog if you wanna here more).

Today, we visited Mom (which wasn't great), hit the gym, and I don't know where the strength's coming from, but i hit 770 for 8 on the leg press without much effort at all. My previous best was 900 earlier this year for 6, and I plan on nailing that again within the next month. I'm about ready to max out the leg extension, sitting leg curl, and standing calf. I'll have to adapt these to 1-leg moves in order to keep progressing, go for reps in the 15-20 range, or try super-slow reps to max the muscle. Finishing off quads with sissy squats on the hack squat. Very light but I stretch the lower quads as tight as I can go, come up about 1/4 of the way, then back down and back up (1-1/4 reps). Fries the quads and stretches the hyperplasia to prime the muscle for its next workout. Stretched aggressively afterward too and hit some quad flexed. My legs don't shred easy but I've got the teardrop above the new pretty clearly, so I was excited.

Delts yesterday went up too.. I was able to jump 10% on the rear delt hammer press AND get more reps as well. I'm finding upright rows though to be the best move for medial delt growth too. For some reason, my medials explode after 2-3 sets of uprights, accompanied by some heavy heavy partials. I've made them the mainstay of my delt
workout.

Triceps have also seem some improvement since i changed my form on dips. Don't lock the elbows at the end and stretch maximally at the beginning. Tris have always been one of my weakest parts, but they've been coming up along with my delts and traps.
Finally, the change in my bicep routine has taught me how curls in the past were just not benefitting my bicep to the max; i was mainly getting brachialias work. But the past couple weeks, the baseballs are sore as hell afterward. I'm hoping within the next month or so, I can make those suckers dance as good as my pecs. We'll see...

Have a lovely rest of your weekend all.

[DonnieJvilleNC]

Wow Hulk, it sounds like here recently you've been "tearing it up" in the gym. Congrats on that!! Maybe all the hectic stuff from your "regular life" is fueling your improvements in the gym. I always feel like the gym is my favorite place to "work out" everything else going on in my life.

Hell, I might have to hire you as a consultant to come down here and work out with me a few times to "pass on your knowledge".

[hulkmuscle]

For years, I always said bodybuilding was the best therapy you could get. Now, I'll say that works 95% of the time.

But yeah, I still agree it's one of the best ways to get rid of stress and rail against the powers-that-be. In the gym, I always try to take no prisoners. ;-)

I can't say I know it all, but I'm always willing to share my ideas. Everyone's different, but sometimes you just need a different perspective. I have a talent for remembering loads and loads of (usually) useless information, but sometimes it comes in handy.

[hulkmuscle]

For those of you wondering what I looked like as a kid, this photo seems to say it best:

<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/nyhulkster/QE2.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

Likewise, here's a photo of my dad when he was bodybuilding himself (I think I also mentioned he was a champion amateur boxer).

<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/nyhulkster/DadPosingsmall.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

My psychologist says he can see why I probably was obsessed with muscle as a kid. Granted, Dad wasn't in this shape anymore when I was little, but he did still have his weight set in the basement and would occasionally buy weightlifting magazines. I can't tell you how many times he tried to get me to workout as a kid. He was fearful of me being picked on or beat up cause I was so skinny and unathletic (not too mention too artistic and too smart for my own good).

When I finally did start working out after college (basically I didn't wanna look like a 12 year old anymore) Dad looked at me, noticed my progress and exclaimed, "Why the hell didn't I use reverse psychology on you years ago?!?" I think it made him very happy that finally I was taking affirmative action. "Make sure you're deadlifting," he'd remind me.

Even after he had his stroke in 1995, he'd still grab my hand and try to armwrestle me. "Show this old bastard how strong you are now." I'd always let him win.

[hulkmuscle]

Shoot, lemme try that again

Greg at 15

And here's Dad, circa 1948-1950

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y21...osingsmall.jpg

[hulkmuscle]

For those of you with theatrical leanings, I also posted some old acting photos on my blog.

[Mdlftr]

I've been following your recent posts about your Mom, and then all the theatrical stuff on your blog and the lifting.

It sounds like you have a pretty well rounded life. Like you, I have an older parent, who I'm in the process of helping to transition to his next stage of residence (last week I went to my father's and helped clean out some 5 closets of clothes, packed up 16 boxes of stuff and sent it to my siblings, and got rid of tons of other stuff), and my father was into working out (I have his old iron weight set in my home gym) and I like theater, also!

Very funny reading your musical interlude moments---here I thought I was the only one who has them. The other night I just couldn't get the tunes from "Carousel" out of my head, and went around the house singing them ["If I Loved You" "You'll Never Walk Alone" and (VERY appropriate for THIS forum) "Blow High, Blow Low (A Whaling We Will Go)] My wife, who usually just kind of rolls her eyes, got into it too, hamming it up with me. Our kids were looking at us like we were cracked! It was a lot of fun in what has been a grim summer at times.

It was great when you made a comment that hitting the high notes in a song is better than hitting a high lift--doing the extended Coda from "You'll Never Walk Alone" is tougher than 3 sets of leg lifts anyday!

Anyone ever think to measure how much force your diaphram muscles are putting out when you're singing, as opposed to leg lifts and crunches? I'll bet it's up there!

I'd put Pavarotti's (in his prime) core strength against Ron Coleman's any time!
Or Jose Cura! (current Argentinian tenor and former bodybuilding instructor--total epitome of masculine operatic tenor! O sole Mio!)

Mdlftr

[Marco_ukmus]

I've said it once to you before, and i'll say it again, the difference between that early pic of you, and size you are now is nothing short of amazing! simply inspirational! You were so thin then! Now just look at you!

I too in many ways, as you know, really appreciate what your going through with your mother. But, like me, you are aiming that pent up stress and anxiety at something... your workouts... and it really shows.

I too love the threatre, particually musicals. At high school i was one of a few guys that did all the theatre light rigging and controlled the main lighting board for the many schools productions and concerts. It ment that my crew and i had to endure many many hours of listening to the same songs from well known classics like oclahoma, Oliver, Dracular Spectacular (possibly less well known) to mention but a few. After only a few rehearsals I often found myself with one of the songs stuck in my head and singing them as i washed the dishes when i came home... oh they were the days!

Anyway, Keep up the most excellent work with your body building!

Take Care!

Marc

[hulkmuscle]

Mdlfter, you shoulda heard Mitch and I this weekend driving to the hospital...we got the Tonight quintet from West Side Story going. Mitch sang the Jets, I did the Sharks, he did Tony and Maria, I did Anita and Riff. We only ran into problems on the final chorus because of all the cacophony. Talk about a workout! Plus again, it kills a lot of the stress.

Luckily, Mom was in good spirits this weekend. I'm thinking of offering to sing to the patients there; maybe do a half-hour of standards since most of the patients are in their 70's-80's (on my blog, i talked about this woman who came in and was singing 70's and 80's tunes---the patients had no friggin clue). I think they'd enjoy that. I could become the Tom Jones of the institutional circuit.

Marco, it doesn't come as a surprise to me that you were involved in the performing arts. You have a wonderfully outsize persona that seems to go hand-in-hand with both building and theatre. Unfortunately, unless you want to play L'il Abner or Gaston in Beauty & The Beast, there aren't too many roles for bodybuilders out there.

On the workout front, stiff leg- and regular deadlifts went very well tonight. My body is adapting well to them; hopefully I'll be able to best my previous best of 315 soon.

[Mdlftr]

Hulkmuscle,

You guys did all the parts in "Tonight"? Impressive! I can't keep all the different verses straight--I start singing part of one and segue into part of another. No matter--it's all fun!


You're definitely onto something when you offer to sing for the residents at your Mom's facility. There is a type of therapy, called Music Therapy, which is used, among other things, to help older people retain memory. Studies using brain imaging have shown that when a person hears songs or music from their youth, it stimulates certain areas in the brain that contain long-term memory.

So, for a group of people in their 70s and 80s (born c. 1920s- 1930s) I would think anything from Cole Porter ("Anything Goes") to Hoagy Carmichael ("Stardust") to Glen Miller ("Chattanooga Choo Choo") to Rogers and Hammerstein (Sound of Music, Carousel, Oklahoma, Flower Drum Song, etc. etc. etc.!) would be welcome!

You could sell tickets---combine a posing flexing routine with the music: to "Anything Goes":

"In olden days/ a glimpse of stocking [point to your clothed leg] was looked upon as somewhat shocking/ Now, goodness knows....[pause here, pull up your pants leg and do a thigh and calf flex] ANYTHING GOES!"

[At this point, you kiss Mitch and....CURTAIN!]

Just call me an impressario....



Mdlftr

[hulkmuscle]

LMAO...you gotta hear us tackle "A Weekend in the Country" from Sondheim's A Little Night Music or "One Day More" from Les Miz (Mitch can sing the hell out of Jean Valjean; when he sings at home I have to remind him to hold back, he doesn't need to fill Radio City Music Hall in our living room...lol).

My traps and back are nice and sore from deadlifting yesterday. We were thinking about going for massages; Mitch has a big knot under his right shoulder blade that's been bothering him for a while.

As a side question, has anyone here ever tried acupuncture? Our friend Susan swears by it.

[Mdlftr]

I LOVE "Les Miz"! A million years ago, BEFORE it hit Broadway, I saw the road show company production in Washington, DC.

Besides "One Day More," the real showstopper/tearjerker male solo is
"Bring Him Home."

Oh...Gawd! Pure mawkish, emotional, eye-watering, lip-quivering pandering of the worst sort--but does it ever deliver!

I DARE you to sing that without choking up! [And if you do, you're just a heartless cad!]

Originally Posted by hulkmuscle

LMAO...you gotta hear us tackle .......... "One Day More" from Les Miz (Mitch can sing the hell out of Jean Valjean; when he sings at home I have to remind him to hold back, he doesn't need to fill Radio City Music Hall in our living room...lol).

.

Mdlftr

[muscle_mastah]

You're going to zoom past that 315 dead, nothing less than 4 plates for you this bulk.

[glammaman2000]

...it's excellent,but you have to find a good practitioner.Any 16yr.old Chinese girl with a set of needles can call herself an acupuncture expert;so be careful.My personal criteria:A)It does help if they're Chinese.B)Experience counts.They can do amazing things with pulse diagnosis,but it helps if they're old.My physician was a Dr.Fan.He was president of the American Assoc.of Drs.of Oriental Medicine.I don't know if he's still practicing in N.Y.Acupuncture seems to work best as a general tonic(better circulation;better sleep)

[hulkmuscle]

Well, growth need not just be about muscle growth. Had a major breakthrough in therapy today. Wrote about it in my livejournal if you're interested.

Last night, the AC was on the fritz again in the gym, but fuck it. I was in no mood to let the heat get to me. My tank was dripping wet by the second set of delts but that just made me more determined to take no prisoners (I had on my camouflage tank so I felt like Rambo...all I was missing was the headband and a weapon).

Delts and arms. Triceps are definitely making some much-needed progress. Delts and especially traps too. Mitch thinks I should post photos.

[DonnieJvilleNC]

Greg,

We agree wholeheartedly with Mitch. We're looking forward to you posting new pics.

[hulkmuscle]

Ok... there are a few recent shots here.

[hulkmuscle]

Maybe next time I'll remember to INCLUDE a link (again)... grrrr...

profiles.yahoo.com/nyhulkster

Follow the photos link...there are a few new ones there.

[Corwin]

Originally Posted by hulkmuscle

Maybe next time I'll remember to INCLUDE a link (again)... grrrr...

now remain calm... we all know that The Hulk is not smart. Hulk Smash, yes. Hulk smart, no.

[muscle_mastah]

w00f! w00f! firenze 1995!

[hulkmuscle]

I've always said if I make a CD, that would be my cover shot. Of course, I'm like 40 lbs heavier and my hair's 1/10 the length it used to be (got it cut VERY short today), but what the hey...

[Buffling]

Hey mister -- how 'bout some lower body pics? The top half is positively drooly.

[hulkmuscle]

Drooly? Hmmm... you're sure that's not symptomatic of a thyroid condition?

I've only taken a handful of leg shots, mainly because of the close quarters around the webcam. I'll ask Mitch to take some.

[CanadianGordon]

As always you look great. Keep it up man!

[DonnieJvilleNC]

Great pics Greg. I can't wait to see your "VERY short" haircut. Love reading through your blog and chatting with you. And yes, I agree that now we need to see your "wheels".

[Mdlftr]

Greg,

The Firenze pix looks like Josh Groban. You could put it next to the same pose, taken today, with the short hair and a tanktop and call it,
"hulkmuscle - evolutions"


OR just the pec shots are nice, too.

Enjoyed the chat!

Mdlftr/Tim

[hulkmuscle]

Thanks guys for all the positive vibes and feedback. Now that the weather's cooled off, my appetite's back and I'm back to 205 without much effort. We'll see what happens over the next few months.

Would that I had Josh Groban's voice... (Mitch is the vocal giant in the family), but I can put over a song when I have to (I tell my IT classes if I catch people falling asleep on me, I'll punish them with a medley from "Cats").

[omelissokomos]

Originally Posted by hulkmuscle

(I tell my IT classes if I catch people falling asleep on me, I'll punish them with a medley from "Cats").

I never realized how evil you truly were, Greg.

Do they get the choreography too? Now that would be really shock the stupor out of them. Which Jellicle Cat are you anyway?

Congrats on breaking the 200lbs. barrier!

[hulkmuscle]

As a matter of fact, I have actually tap-danced if I REALLY feel I've lost their attention. Once, an IT manager got back to me, asking incredulously, "did you actually tap dance for the class?"

I thought, "oh shit, I've crossed some boundary again...now what?"

She replied,"Ok, Tommy Tune, let's see whatcha got..."

I gave her a couple time-steps with a big Maxie Ford finish.

"Do that whenever you feel the need, Greg."

[CanadianGordon]

I sing showtunes all the time at work.

Today I sang "Free" from A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, and a mismash of songs from Cats and Sweeney Todd...

As always Sondheim is formost in my repetoire.

[hulkmuscle]

You have good taste. As an adrenaline-pumper before classes I'll often listen to stuff like "Don't Rain On My Parade" or "Before the Parade Passes By" (any one of those Barbra parade movie songs that ends with a long panorama shot onscreen)...Piece of Sky...On a Clear Day... I think any of the fans out there will know exactly what I mean.

Her new album's due pretty soon (my friend Seth got an advance copy, the bitch). She and Barry Gibb...reunited (cause it feels so good).

P.S. Got the blue underarmour shirt yesterday. If I get every color, do I get a prize?

[CanadianGordon]

Hey we can talk musical theatre man... I'm currently enjoying Big River, Parade, Show Boat, and Floyd Collins. Musicals with a Southern theme, that focus in and around the Mississippi... Just reminding me how wonderful the area is, and how gorgeous it is, and how it always bounces back...


And thanks!

I'm trying to make my way through the Sondheim canon...


And I don't know about what prize you might get...

You just gotta take pics in each one.. Where does one get those shirts?

[hulkmuscle]

Where does one get those shirts?

You can find them at any sporting goods store I would assume. I've had good luck getting them on ebay as well; at least they're cheaper than regular retail.

Check out their site: http://www.underarmour.com/

Originally Posted by CanadianGordon

Hey we can talk musical theatre man... I'm currently enjoying Big River, Parade, Show Boat, and Floyd Collins. Musicals with a Southern theme, that focus in and around the Mississippi... Just reminding me how wonderful the area is, and how gorgeous it is, and how it always bounces back...

I'm a big fan of Parade's score even though the show was a mess when it was produced at Lincoln Center. It's amazing how such a turbulent, gut-wrenching story and score can be mangled by an indifferent, ugly production. But I still enjoy the recording very much, especially the opening, "You Don't Know This Man" and that ravishing duet "All The Wasted Time." I get shivers thinking about it.

FYI: the show is based on the real-life murder of Mary Phagan, a young Atlanta girl and the resulting trial of an unfairly-accused Jewish man, Leo Frank. Basically a story of clashing cultures. Potent stuff.

[CelticMuscle]

I've often thought the following showtunes are quite handy for a gym

"Sixteen Tons"
"I am a Pirate King"
and "I am the captain of the Pinafore"

[ethernet_jock]

damn great pictures hulk... sorry for being slow on the uptake.

As for music while working out - damn again - and I thought I was acting like a homo by listening to old school Prodigy while working out... never again will I be ashamed of "Diesel Power".

[hulkmuscle]

There IS a great song from that shitty Andrew Lloyd Webber show Starlight Express called "Pumping Iron." It's actually kinda Elvis-y. In the show, basically a companion piece to Cats, the performers were "trains" competing in a race (they were all on roller skates), and the character who sang this song, by the name of Greaseball, wore a muscle-suit with big pecs and arms. It was a huge success in London and Germany, and a notable flop in New York.

[hulkmuscle]

Originally Posted by ethernet_jock

damn great pictures hulk... sorry for being slow on the uptake.

No apologies necessary, EJ. You more than have your hands full at the moment.

New program going in this week. I'm going to de-emphasize pec training for a while to try and get some proportion. (Someone on one of the bb forums said I need a bra...lol).

I've gotten some good, sane advice from some of the pro builders at my gym and online, so we'll see how the next few weeks go. I always like changing my routines anyway. I try to do so every 6-8 weeks at the least. Keeps the muscles guessing.

Let's see what happens.

The adventure begins...

[glammaman2000]

...there is no great beauty that is not built around some great flaw.You don't need a bra Hulkm!Those things look self-supporting to me!

[Marco_ukmus]

Originally Posted by glammaman2000

...Those things look self-supporting to me!

They sure do! All muscle!

so, hulk, whats you doing for your new routine?

Marc
P.S. So what cup size you going for? (j/k)