Armored Lifting Blog

[Armory]

So I've been putting this off for a while, but it's a huge part of my life and I finally said %!#$ it, I'd like to share the journey from where I've started, where I'm going and beyond.. I've been skinny for majority of my life, up until highschool where a combination of meds and horrible eating habits put me at 217lbs around 5'11ft.

Saw myself in a video and was like wow.. Is that really what I look like? I didn't realize just how heavy I had gotten, and so I decided to turn things around. It's been a slow process off and on, as I traveled through Japan I strayed from my workouts, and in China for 8months I completely derailed and stopped. It's been a little while since then though, gotten things back on track, and I keep a lifting blog that tracks some of my progress but mainly I use it for motivation, as I type it out it re-enforces my passion for lifting, and have taken more a philosophical approach rather than just record-keeping as when I started it.

So yeah, transfering over some of my entries from my blog to here. I've been apprehensive about it, just because there's a bit of a stigma that seems to come with lifting and those doing so being jarhead douchebags --- Annnnd I know I'm probably not the most pleasant person on the forum haha, but whatever, It's a passion, I share my passions with you guys.

Currently sitting at 161lbs today, 5'11ft. Dirty bulked for the last month and half, took about 3 weeks off lifting to recoop and just relax, getting back into the swing in big ways. Estimated bf% around 14%.

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Lifting Blog #4: Let me break this down for you..
Posted by: hiddindragon08
Tagged in: Untagged

Let me break this down for you Babo style..
Life is scary, get used to it.
There are no magical fixes, it's all up to you.

The separation of talent and skill is one of the, the greatest, misunderstood concepts for people who want to excel, who have dreams, who want to do things. Talent you have naturally; Skill is onlydeveloped by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.

"I'm livin my life too.. I'm doing exactly what I wanted to do.. I've found my passion, I've created my true calling in life. I'm living my life on my own terms. It's the first time in my life that I ever experienced a success that had nothing to do with my pedigree, you know.. Where I came from, it had more and all to do with my own ability to work really hard.. And if i work hard at it, you know, um, I could achieve something that was in my own hands to do." -Kai Greene


"Lift hard, eat well, live mighty."

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Lifting Blog #6: Beyond.. It's simply beyond..
Posted by: hiddindragon08
Tagged in: Untagged

It simply doesn't matter.. Limitations, obstacles, unknown variables.. You gotta leave all those concepts behind you, look directly ahead and simply spearhead exactly what you want to accomplish. Are there limits? Sure. Will there be problems? Of course. "In life man you're always going to have certain obstacles, you'll always have certain doubters and people always try to steer you in the direction that you're not accustom to and try to take you outta your gameplan.. Never let someone chase you away from your goals, if there's anything in life you put your mind to you can accomplish - I hear it all the time."

One major thing that stands in the way of you and the fulfillment of your dream is the willingness to start, the courage to move ahead and the faith to finish, leaving nothing behind us but fear.

Today is a day for Arms.

Arms everything. And chest for good measure LOL

Next up: Legs.

The work week is almost over, and soon the legs shall feel the pain! I'm excited. I hate doing legs, but as the weeks have come and gone, it's becoming more satisfying to destroy them.

Fragmented post is fragmented.

- Ryan

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Lifting Blog #7: Reminder that EVERY day, is a day to turn things around.
Posted by: hiddindragon08
Tagged in: Untagged

I've not hit the gym in way too long, I've been busy. It's no excuse, simply myself disappointing myself.

It's time to reignite. Motivation is the stuff that keeps you going, every single day. The mind is everything. It is the mind that envisions what the muscle will look like. It's the mind that keeps your diet in check and thinking that tomorrow is doomed if today I don't give it my all.

Each day is a new day. There is only today. The ability is within, if you work hard at it, you will achieve it, with your own hands.

It's time to get serious.

- Ryan

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Lifting Blog #8: I AM HUNGRY! INSATIABLE!
Posted by: hiddindragon08
Tagged in: Untagged

That which does not kill you, will make you stronger.
Hold your head up, you gotta be hungry. He said you gotta be hungry, I said what do you mean by that?? He said people that are hungry are willing to do the things today others won't do, in order to have the things tomorrow that others won't have.
People that are hungry are willing to invest in themselves.
People that are hungry are always searching, always seeking higher ground.
He said you don't get in life what you want- you get in life what you ARE.. You must program yourself for success, AND I dont ever want you to lose your hunger!!
I said what do you mean by that?
He said people that are hungry are UNSTOPPABLE!
People that are hungry are "No Matter What" people, they make it happen NO MATTER WHAT.

LETS FUCKING DO THIS!
Got my new shipment of Jack3d in, 3scoops for tonight + Off stimulants (besides diet coke) for around 3weeks, Can already feel this kicking into overdrive.

Chest/Tris/Abs tonight. Working around lower back strain from sleeping wrong, but no worries, will go a bit light (55lb dumbells for bench instead of 70lbs) and work on slow, perfect form.

I'm HUNGRY!!! !HOW BOUT YOU!?

--Epic workout. 55's felt good, 60's felt even better. Hit the Tris HARD, chest pumped, all around awesome. Tons of energy. 12weeks cut INC!

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Lifting Blog of May 6th.: [Zhasni, TheSharkySharky and What It All Means.]
Posted by: hiddindragon08
Tagged in: Untagged

I try to get into the gym at least 4 times a week. And whether I goto the gym or not I always find myself watching BodyBuilding motivation videos on youtube.. Or logging into BodyBuilding.com and checking out progress pics of random members. This keeps my motivation high, my goals in constant reminder and pretty much gets me pumped up for my workout - this day or the next.

Today's blog is specifically about a channel(s) that I browse to find that motivation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7i2E...eature=related This video is pretty great. It has a great message behind it, and specifically today I stumbled across a poster named TheSharkySharky and his post.

The mindset this kid has is brilliant, and it is the truth and why a youngin (26) like myself can proudly feel part of something like Age Badly: Because It doesn't matter how old or young we are, it's the lifestyle of lifting that we, with our own two hands, are choosing to undertake.

"i shedded a tear watching this, its amazing, the motivation just inspires me to do what i want to do, im 15, alot of people laugh when i say i want to be a bodybuilder, alot of people laugh when i lift the heaviest i can do, and i pull a funny face, and i make a loud noise, but you make loud noises when you get shot, and when you work hard enough, in the last, 8th, 9th, 10th rep, it feels like that, but i dont care, i see more progression then ANYONE who sits and watches me in the gym
TheSharkySharky 2 months ago 140

Damn well said TSS.

-- Armory [My nerd name] (Ryan Smith - Hiddindragon08)

[Versoffen]

I've never met an actual jarhead douchebag who lifts, most guys who lift imo just want to look good in a masculine way in order to make themselves more appealing to ladies or just want to be healthy, or a combo of both. I wouldn't be surprised if stereotypes like those are perpetuated by people who themselves choose not to exercise in any way shape or form and look for some way to feel superior regardless.

[Armory]

I use to goto the gym that was plagued by them haha. Depends on the type of gym, location and time you go for the most part. I goto a SNAP Fitness center that's the bare minimum, Has full freeweight rack, all the typical machines except it's a super small gym compared to Lifetime or LA fitness. This location has a shower in the bathroom, which I didn't expect since it's usually bare bones type of gym.

There's a reason Planet Fitness exists, but god help anyone who steps foot in one who isn't female =P
Tried out a new Raspberry Lemonade flavor Jack3d supp., focus and energy like you wouldn't believe. Almost on par with Adderall haha

[Versoffen]

Ah, maybe it's more prevalent where you live.

I'm reading reviews for jack3d tho and they aren't good, tempted to try it, since I never have this "energy" and "focus" of which you speak.

[Armory]

I did a lot of research on it, spoke with a few people who use it and it's everywhere on the bb.com forum as being pretty popular and reliable. I absolutely love it, where as I've tried NOxplode and hated it, SuperPump and hated it.. J3d is a godsend to me. lol -- especially while cutting and low on carbs.

How long you've been lifting? -- look me up on the bodybuilding.com forums, hiddindragon08.

- Armory

[Armory]

Adding another page to the journal. Pretty simple post really, it's Nov. 15th now, the woman comes on holiday the 6th of Feb. Sooo I've got just under 12 weeks to cut, which is easy peazy.

Current weight is 161-164, 5'10ish. Might be 5'11, haven't measured myself in years, but it's always been different depending on the doc/gym/equipment they use.

Current estimate around 16% bodyfat, I think I carry it well though, might end up doing some cardio as I suspect there's a good bit of visceral fat - which is normal for everyone, although not a good thing. We'll see, won't start doing cardio for a few weeks till I get the subcutaneous fat down a few % and the abs showing through past the beginning stages of the 4pack. Soo 162 avg, 16% bodyfat, about 26lbs of fat. Looking to drop roughly 10-12lbs of fat to hit 8-10% bodyfat.

Once I get to the gym i'll take a couple pics if I can to document the beginning of the cut, and will take bi/tri weekly pics to keep progress records.

Just ordered a new shipment of protein, Dymatize Nutrition Elite Natural Protein, Strawberry, 5 Pound. Hope it tastes as good as the reviews, got a killer deal on it too.

Will post up nutrition plan for the next 12 weeks later tonight as I tweak it.

- Armory

[Armory]

11 week Nutrition Plan

Aiming at 1800 calories, will see how fast the fat loss is then tweak +- calories.

Breakfast: Strawberry Banana Protein Oatmeal 420calories 34g protein, 57g carbs
-1cup oatmeal 300cal, 10g protein, 54g carbs
-1scoop protein powder 120cal, 24g protein, 3g carbs

Meal 1: Ham, Hard Salami and Cheese Sandwhich 450calories, 30g protein, 25g carbs

Dirty Snack: Take 5 Candybar 200calories

Meal 2: Tuna with Mayo and veggies 200calories, 26g protein,

Meal 3: Chicken, veggies and bagel 400calories, 55g protein, 40g carbs

Post Workout Shake: 120calories, 24g protein, 3gcarbs.

Total: 1790calories, 169g protein, enough fats.

[val_b]

your such an inspiration..I used to be heavy before too. but I hate going to gym. So I just take a slimming tea that my sister recommend. It has terrible side effect that you'll always have to go the bathroom and made my stomach ache badly. So I stopped it and just rely on a very healthy diet. I cut on carbs and ate plenty of fruits and veggies. It worked for me.. Now I am 13 pound lighter and happy that I can maintain it..

[Guides Of Guild Wars]

I like this, like you did, i eat like theres no tomorrow (and i still do), but Football is my 1st love and ive always played so that kinda kept me in shape. Its good that you are helping yourself! You dont see that much nowadays with gamers. If it wasnt for football and having a girl;friend id probly be asking Dr Evil if i could ''eat his we baby'' (fat bastard in Austin Powers incase non of you got that joke lol)

[Armory]

haha yeah, Well I do have my cheat days, but starting Dec. 1 I'll be implementing a super awesome macro setup in my diet, and just got my shipment of protein in so I can start making more progress again.

- Armory