Dre23's HALO EXTREME Log

[dre23]

Day 4 - 05/13/12

Well muscleheads, Im up at 5AM doing 2 hours of LISS trying to distract my mind from this pain lol!

But it's all good...I'm just happy to be awkae, alive, and doing what I love to do which is pushing my body to new heights and challenges! If you're not growing and changing then you may be alive but you're living a life of death. And I choose to live life to the fullest!!

Anyways, today is an "off" day...just strictly cardio, no weights.

Some things I have noticed from the HALO so far...
-slightly increased aggression
-increased libido
-increased sense of well-being (alpha-male increase)

While none of these have been over the top, they are already noticable.



Nothing really new to report today. Did notice some new veins peaking through in my arms though which is unusual b/c today is no carbs and I would normally be very flat. That's a good sign.

Hit quads tomorow.

[dre23]

Regarding my diet, as of the first of this year I hired contest prep coach, Jason "Scoobysnacks" Theobald (he has a Q&A here on Rx in the contest prep section) to setup my entire diet and cardio regimen.

My diet looks exactly like this. I eat the exact same things everyday, at pretty much the exact same times(+-15minutes). My macros are 350P/60C/85C on training days and 360P/35C/90F on non training days.

Meal 1:
Chicken Breast
Almond Butter

Meal 2:
Tilapia
Almonds

Meal 3:
Tilapia
Almonds

Meal 4:
Egg Whites
Coconut Oil

Meal 5:
Whey Isolate Shake (postworkout)

Meal 6:
Chicken Breast
White Rice

Meal 7:
Tilapia
Almonds

On my non-training days (2), I drop the white rice.

Regarding the cardio negatively effecting my training I think my body has adapted by now since I've been doing this since September. And I get the cardio done by 8AM and don't weight train until 4:30PM so allow as much recovery time to take place. But honestly, in the end, when you are dieting hard for a long time, something is going to give. I am NOWHERE as strong as I used to be (I haven't bench pressed over 225lbs in the last 3months), but I don't care b/c I'm looking better everyday and feeling better to.

I can always get my strength back later on when I've dieted down to where I want to be. But I'm still a freaking beast though, lol

[pt]

Diet is looking great. Keep killing it in the gym!!

[dre23]

Thanks PT..Will do!

[dre23]

Day 5 - 05/14/12

Ok, things are starting to get interesting. I woke up and my forearms were pumped and tight and I haven't trained biceps since Thursday. When doing cardio on the bike, my calves became pumped as well. Not so bad that I couldn't do it, but just the light pedaling of LISS cardio had a nice little calf pump going. I've been doing cardio for the last 7+ months and this is the FIRST time that my calves got a pump doing cardio. We'll see if this continues...

It wasn't bad, but even getting mild lower back pumps as well. I will say that even though I normally consume 2+gallons of water/crystal light per day, I did feel myself getting a little bit more dehyrdated than ususual, so of coure I increased my consumption. Just a note to all those who are trying/may try any IML oral product.

Leg training came around and I honestly was dragging mentally a bit today. Joints were feeling a little rickety and tight, but once I got the ball rolling on leg extensions, things began to turn around nicely. Here's what went down for Quads...

Leg Extensions:
3 x110 x15, 15, 15
3 x130 x12, 12, 12
3 x150 x 12, 12, 15(failure)

Leg Press:
1 x6pps x12
1 x7pps x12
1 x8pps x12
1 x9pps x12
2 x10pps x12

Hack Squats:
1 x3pps x10
1 x4pps x10
1 x5pps x10
1 x6pps x10 --> x5pps x10 --> x4pps x10 --> x3pps x10 --> x2pps x10 --> x1pps x10

WHOO! Who says fat boys don't have endurance?! I think the HALO is kicking in

Cybex Leg Press:
5 x300 x20 reps all sets (non to failure, just pushing and squeezing)

LOTS of stretching!!

And, as promised, here is my video of my final set of Hack Squats From HELL!

[don_quijote]

Day 5 - 05/14/12

Ok, things are starting to get interesting. I woke up and my forearms were pumped and tight and I haven't trained biceps since Thursday. When doing cardio on the bike, my calves became pumped as well. Not so bad that I couldn't do it, but just the light pedaling of LISS cardio had a nice little calf pump going. I've been doing cardio for the last 7+ months and this is the FIRST time that my calves got a pump doing cardio. We'll see if this continues...

It wasn't bad, but even getting mild lower back pumps as well. I will say that even though I normally consume 2+gallons of water/crystal light per day, I did feel myself getting a little bit more dehyrdated than ususual, so of coure I increased my consumption. Just a note to all those who are trying/may try any IML oral product.

Leg training came around and I honestly was dragging mentally a bit today. Joints were feeling a little rickety and tight, but once I got the ball rolling on leg extensions, things began to turn around nicely. Here's what went down for Quads...

Leg Extensions:
3 x110 x15, 15, 15
3 x130 x12, 12, 12
3 x150 x 12, 12, 15(failure)

Leg Press:
1 x6pps x12
1 x7pps x12
1 x8pps x12
1 x9pps x12
2 x10pps x12

Hack Squats:
1 x3pps x10
1 x4pps x10
1 x5pps x10
1 x6pps x10 --> x5pps x10 --> x4pps x10 --> x3pps x10 --> x2pps x10 --> x1pps x10

WHOO! Who says fat boys don't have endurance?! I think the HALO is kicking in

Cybex Leg Press:
5 x300 x20 reps all sets (non to failure, just pushing and squeezing)

LOTS of stretching!!

And, as promised, here is my video of my final set of Hack Squats From HELL!

---

dre23! You are a Fast Twitch BEAST UNLEASHED with a bit of genetic superior mixed in there!

Man you are intense! Thanks for posting the videos and the detailed routines, I am already psyched for my next workout just by watching you!

Now, pardon my ignorance but what does the pps in your sets mean; is it push-push-squeeze? How does this technique work?

[dre23]

---

dre23! You are a Fast Twitch BEAST UNLEASHED with a bit of genetic superior mixed in there!

Man you are intense! Thanks for posting the videos and the detailed routines, I am already psyched for my next workout just by watching you!

Now, pardon my ignorance but what does the pps in your sets mean; is it push-push-squeeze? How does this technique work?

My main man Don! Thank you very much for the kind words. While I do believe that I have good genetics (seemingly all for fast and slow twitch fiber training, as well as muscle growth) I believe that my main key to success is my mental toughness and ability to 'flip a switch' so to speak.

Regarding what "PPS" stands for...it is just my lazy way of writing Plates Per Side where a "plate" is a 45lb plate.

So when I wrote, 6pps, that means that I had six 45lbs plates on EACH side of the machine. Hope that helps, and stay tuned cuz they'll be more vids to come as I progress thru my HALO cycle!

[chrisotpherm]

Dre you are an inspiration and a freak. It is an honor to work along side you!

[lastson]

How did I miss this... Will be following over here to Big Dre

last

[dre23]

Had a very good back workout tonight. I have been kind of dragging during the day, feeling a little drained with some mental fog, but when I hit the gym I stil seem to be able to flip that switch and go into battle mode. I'm actually hesitant to say that it is the HALO b/c it almost seems too good to be true, and too soon! But it is the only variable that I've added.

Now despite my size I'm in good shape and only take up to 60 second rest between sets. Tonight, I'd finish a set and almost be ready to go again in 15-20seconds! And I had to FORCE myself to wait atleast 30seconds just b/c I couldn't mentally wrap my mind around the fact that I was recovered. I will note that most of my sets are challenging, but I only take the last one to failure. I do usually leave like 2-3reps in the tank except for the last set.

Hit back tonight and it was my "easy" week for back...mostly machines, so get to sit down and take it easy from the torture of free weight rows. At one time I would have said machines were for pussies, but I am growing and learning that in hypertrophy training that they def have their place. You all know the types of weight I use, so I'll spare you the details (and honestly, lately I just stick the pin in and go. If it's too light then I don't count it as a set. If it's too heavy then I'll do the set and proceed to do a drop set)

Wide Grip Pulldowns
4 sets of 15-9 (drop set last set)

Reverse Grip Pulldowns
4 sets 10-15reps

Machine Wide Rows
5 sets 10-12

Dumbbell Pullovers
4 sets 12


Hanging Leg Raises
4 sets of 15

Machine Crunches
4 sets of 25

Here's a pic I took during a quick breather in between sets. Things are starting to tighten up I must say. Sorry about the lighting.