Posts by granitegardener14

I wasn't sculpted like those other guys; my season for bulk has been wide open for quite some time now...

Here are two low-quality shots. I don't have anyone to take photos for me, and my cheap phone won't stay upright long enough to set a timer.

In any case, I don't have grand ambitions. My only goal is to look just as good when I hit 50.

31 years old, 5'8", roughly 163 lbs. I don't track protein, nor do I count calories...

Hello.

Since I couldn't find an existing thread on this, I am starting a new one.

About two months ago, my right bicep began aching.

I hit the gym a few times a week for light training. Interestingly, the pain didn't surface during workouts; instead, it appeared during a summer vacation when I took a few days off from lifting entirely.

The pain occurs specifically when I flex the muscle. I can no longer achieve full contraction—it stays partially soft. Furthermore, my strength in the right arm has dropped by about 50%. Exercises that don't rely on the bicep, such as bench presses, triceps extensions, or shoulder work, remain unaffected.

Some have suggested a partial or complete muscle tear. Personally, I find that unlikely; I would have felt a distinct snap at the moment of injury, likely followed by significant bruising.

Is it possible this is merely a tendon strain? Will rest suffice, or should I schedule an appointment with a doctor?

Thanks for the input.👍

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The final photos of the year.

I suspect I’ve hit a plateau and might stay stuck here for a while, though frankly, I haven't exactly been making an effort to move...

When I look at the average thirty-year-old man on our local beaches, I suppose I can be satisfied.☕

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Good grief, guys. You’ve taken this thread down to a molecular level.🤣

I don't understand any of this, and frankly, neither does the other 95% of the people on this forum.

I’d bet that even you guys occasionally lose track of what you're actually saying if you bothered to read back through your own posts more closely.😉

All I know is that after a workout, I shake up some whey—one scoop in about a cup of water. Sometimes I toss in a little dextrose, but never more than the whey itself because it's already sweet enough for me. About thirty to sixty minutes later, I eat a massive meal and call it a day.

I don't spend my time overthinking what's happening in my stomach, my pancreas, or my small intestine, nor do I worry about the chemical bonds between amino acid atoms.

...because quite simply, I'm not prepping for Mr. Olympia, so it doesn't matter. 👍

I just mix mine with water; it doesn't bother me. I might toss in some fruit sweetener from Walgreens.

Occasionally, I'll just take it dry, no water involved. Just dump it straight into my mouth. 😬

Supposedly, that's the fastest way to get it working.

Haven't tried going intravenous yet.

redranger82 said:Hey there!

I've been using Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey for the last three months. It gets a lot of praise and people say it's top-tier, but now that summer is hitting, I need something in that same league but a bit easier on the wallet. I was picking up the previous stuff for $117, so I'm wondering what you guys would recommend as a substitute?

Thanks!

You can find MuscleTech whey for about $100 on eBay Whey.

I picked some up recently. Personally, I'm satisfied with the flavor, how well it mixes, and the fact that it doesn't cause any digestive issues.

It's slightly cheaper, and word is it isn't any worse than Optimum Nutrition.

It has been a full year since I last posted a photo of myself.

This one isn't great—taken on a phone with poor lighting—but it is the most recent.



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Has anyone actually used Twinlab 100% Whey?

I noticed it listed on eBay as one of the cheaper whey options. Seems like I could pick up a $100 5 lb tub...

Here is another update from my side...



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I gained two pounds today—though I have my doubts about the scale's accuracy. That puts me at 170 lbs...

Could you maybe spare thirty minutes to actually search this forum? There are dozens of threads covering the exact same thing.

Honestly, people are just lazy. Everything is documented online, and this forum is packed with similar discussions and genuinely helpful advice. But no, instead of doing the legwork, some folks would rather just drop a cliché question and expect an immediate solution.

Man, do some reading first. If you hit a wall, then ask...

That’s how I handled things when I started out...

It’s been two months, maybe longer, since I last touched a barbell.

Yesterday, I finally started my bulk. This is a shot from before. In a few months—after I've polished off my share of bacon, ham, sausage, cheese, cream, eggs, steak, and other easy-to-find high-protein staples—I'll post another photo to see if there's any actual progress.

This is 165 lbs.



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Here's another one.

I'm fully aware I'm risking judgment from the ladies for wearing an undershirt, but since the lighting is terrible and my phone doesn't have a flash, the undershirt helps catch what little light there is.



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After three weeks away from the gym and nothing but gallons of beer during vacation, I've never looked leaner...

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7...oddsc00981.jpg

Another one. Hopefully, this keeps you all occupied for a while...😁



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Here is a shot from the bathroom...😁



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http://yfrog.com/mrdsc00887j

29 years old, 5'8", 165 lbs.

Training since February. I haven't touched a single supplement, and frankly, my diet is non-existent because I can't be bothered to track it.

My goal for the next month is to focus on definition.

P.S.

The lighting is terrible and the angle is awkward, which makes my chest look much smaller than it actually is. I'll try to get some better shots in the coming days.

Here is another one:

http://yfrog.com/7hdsc00897bxj

My arms look ridiculous with this uneven tan. Spent an entire day out in the sun and was too chicken to take my shirt off for fear of burning.

And what about the local, fresh cheese when it comes to fat and protein content?

This isn't strictly about protein, but since it falls under nutrition, I'll keep it here rather than cluttering another thread:

- what’s the best way to use fructose, and when or how much should I be taking?

P.S. Don't lose it if this sounds like a rookie question. I'm just getting started with all of this, and I realize there are plenty of experts and smart people here, so please bear with me...

Jason Campbell70 said:It’s just whey powder, which means it's loaded with lactose.

If you're already at Walmart, you might as well grab some Whey Protein or something similar.

I haven't seen that Whey Protein before. Is it just regular whey?

I've never touched supplements before, so I have no idea what works for a beginner without breaking the bank...

Jonathan Miller7 said:I dug up some stats online regarding this 🙄
13g protein
74g lactose
1g fat

So, as far as protein goes, there's basically nothing...

What's the deal with the protein from Walmart for $9.00 750 g ???