The Magic Bus Trip

Cody · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 3:02 am Post subject: My muscles have grown noticably

I've been doing VLC for 10 days after taking a 6 week vacation from low carbing and lifting.

This last ten days I've lifted twice. I'm doing a new workout that consists of heavy compounds that emphasize the negative portion (1 second up and 3 seconds down). I was doing HST before (for two years). I do one set of 6 reps of the following:

Deadlifts
Dumbbell Shoulder Press
One armed Bent Over Dumbbell Rows
One Armed Dumbbell Bench Press
Squats
shrugs

I didn't even directly work my arms and they are seriously harder and bigger than ever. I'm a little surprised.

Must be a combo of the rest and a testosterone boost from all the saturated fat. Whatever it is, its awesome!

Anyone else notice anything similar?

EDIT: Wanted to add that I was doing this for fat burning, not to gain muscle, but I'll take it. I posted about this workout on my blog.

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Blah blah, woof woof - Jimi Hendrix

Cody · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:16 am Post subject:

My post motivated me to get off my butt and get my workout done. I'm definitely feeling my workout more than normal and I got a nice pump in my arms. I'm still a lil shocked by that because again, I did no curls or skull crushers or any other arm iso work.

While I'm here, are there any good VLC or ZC lifting sites/blogs out there?
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Blah blah, woof woof - Jimi Hendrix

Dean · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 11:55 am Post subject:

Dean · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:02 pm Post subject:

Cody,

It's good to have another lifter on the Bus. Yup

BTW, do you use dumbbells? I've got a PowerBlock set and need to get after it.

Perhaps you can help me with the workouts/form, etc.

We could even start a Challenge in Tribal Games. Cool

_________________
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
- Jimi Hendrix

Every day you'll see the dust
Never get off the Bus!

Cody · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:21 pm Post subject:

Honestly, all you really need are what I consider to be the 3 big combo moves:

Sqauts (I always do legs first, because they activate the most hormones)
Bent Over Rows
Bench Press.

I also have dumbells. I have the Bowflex Selectech Dumbells that go from 10 to 90 pounds.

Here is a great video on squat form with no weights and a nice looking young lady doing the deomonstration:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDdSZmWNYQI

I'm in a bit of a rush this morning, but I have a great dvd that shows proper form with dumbbells that came with my weights. Maybe I can track it down and rip it to Divx or something so you can download it.
_________________
Blah blah, woof woof - Jimi Hendrix

Miriam · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:53 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the link Cody. I'm going to take a look at the website as well.
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zero carb

Heather · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:02 am Post subject:

I definitely found my body is is more solid and I don't even lift weights.... I'm positive it has something to do with VLC changing my body composition. I am also about three sizes smaller than I was at the same weight with a full carb diet. Dunno

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Heather

Cody · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:28 am Post subject:

Yes, the body composition change isn't that big of a surprise to me, I guess, but what is surprising is how quickly it is happening. I'm noticing that all of my muscles feel harder. My shoulders are rock hard!

I was driving in the car flexing my quads, and it was very cool.

Anyone on zcarb or VLC and not lifting is wasting their potential, I think. Even lifting once a week would probably be more than enough to noticably increase muscle mass on this diet.
_________________
Blah blah, woof woof - Jimi Hendrix

Dean · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:39 am Post subject:

Cody · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:53 pm Post subject:

Oh, I want to be able to do dips and pull ups. I believe that these are excellent exercises for maximum muscle recruitment and really stimulating HGH. However, I'm a bit too heavy at the moment. Another thing I'd like to try is reverse push ups. Honestly, I think a bodyweight workout could be all most people need, at least when they are getting started. When the exercises get too easy, there's also the one handed or one legged version of each.

Bodybuilding.com has a huge exercise database. You can search by bodypart and even equipment. Many exercises have videos.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exercises.htm
_________________
Blah blah, woof woof - Jimi Hendrix

Dean · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:37 pm Post subject:

Cody,

You should get you one of these.

_________________
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
- Jimi Hendrix

Every day you'll see the dust
Never get off the Bus!

jeff · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:48 pm Post subject:

Dean, will that thing fit in the back of the Bus? I'm thinking me, you, and the two Heathers could have some fun with that thing. Devil

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Eat, Drink and Be Merry, For Tomorrow We'll Die

Dean · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:53 pm Post subject:

I'd have to clear it with the Metabolic Ward warden. She said they're using this in one of the "rehabilitation" wings. Devil

_________________
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
- Jimi Hendrix

Every day you'll see the dust
Never get off the Bus!

Heather L · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:23 pm Post subject:

Cody · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:02 am Post subject:

Sorry to interrupt the meat and dairy based innuendos ( Devil

), but I wanted to report back on my progress.

I think my muscles are still growing. I'm still doing twice per week workouts, but I've added in higher rep-lighter weight sets at the end to get a really nice pump.

My scale weight has only gone down a few pounds in the last week, but I can feel more hardness yet in my neck and shoulders, and my face is starting to look different. Good signs!

I don't even directly work my forums, and they are so full of blood, they feel ready to burst!
_________________
Blah blah, woof woof - Jimi Hendrix

Dean · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:36 am Post subject:

WTG, Cody! Thumbs Up

Keep up the good work! Cool

_________________
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
- Jimi Hendrix

Every day you'll see the dust
Never get off the Bus!

Heather L · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:48 pm Post subject:

Cody · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:42 am Post subject:

Depends on the muscle group. For my arms, its about 25 reps, for legs, back, and arms, 15 to 20.

The funny thing is that I don't get the burning feeling I used to. I've read that being on a VLC/ZC diet can cause your muscles to become more efficient at fat burning, thus preventing them from ever crossing the lactate threshold. It definitely seems to be true in my case.
_________________
Blah blah, woof woof - Jimi Hendrix

jeff · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:42 pm Post subject:

It's true about the lactate, Cody. ZC'ers just don't get "the burn".

_________________
Eat, Drink and Be Merry, For Tomorrow We'll Die