Re: how to STICK to your program and not QUIT.

James, thanks for the advice. But i am doing ok with 3 hours a day workouts.
Just because its 3 hours doesnt mean im doing it nonstop. I definately take
breaks. sometimes aslong as 15 minutes.. and whenever my muscles and lungs
feel ready again, i start back. I really pace myself. i do not rush it.
Also, about 1 1/2 hours into my workout i drink 45 grams of protein (MetRx
protein drink) with 1.5 grams of L-Leucine. and then when im totally done
i drink another 50 grams of protein with extra Glutamine. I need the extra
protein because of the extended workout.. Some people may think i shouldnt
take the 45 grams of protein halfway through my workout, as it slows other
people down. doesnt do that to me though.

You are right about the Mental burnout though. that is the only problem i
have. EVEN when i pace myself and go slowly. It still takes alot of mental
energy to lift heavy stuff. I usually take saturday and sunday off. so its
just 5 days a week for me.

Quoted message said:

(which could be why you mention that you are not seeing good gains).

hmm, i dont remember saying that.

I also think that lifting for three straight hours is a bit strange.
How about switching it up a bit with shorter workouts with less rest in
between? I've always heard that it's better to go for short hour/hour
and a half workouts than those long, drawn out four hour Arnie sessions
(unless of course he was lying to psyche out the competition and he was
including the time he spent shooting roids in there).

You have equipment or a gym at home, I prefer that too myself. How
about finding someone you know to workout with for motivation? Or
hiring someone to help you design a more reasonable plan? Anyone's
who's played a sport or two can tell what a difference a good coach can
make. Same principle applies here except more likely than not you're
shelling out some hefty $$$.

Quoted message said:

we have to keep reminding ourselves that we ARE getting stronger >even though we dont notice immediate results. it takes a LONG >time. its a long term dedication.

Oh come on, just look at yourself in the mirror after a workout.
Everybody loves doing that! I find that that's motivation enough for a
lot of people.

Other than those usual, common sense recommendations... there's always
quit your job option. Some of my best gains were during lazy summers
between school and during my unemployed streaks. Most everything
besides "believing in yourself", which is a good motivator, comes at a
cost ie. moving back in with the folks. -_-

Mike,
I looked up psoriatic arthritis and it looks like a bad thing, I am
glad you were able to overcome it. The mention of the good gains part
was coming from your statement, "i dont see any results so i quit and
give up. we have to keep reminding ourselves that we ARE getting
stronger even though we dont notice immediate results. it takes a LONG
time."
My thoughts on the one hour workout were just my personal experience.
I like to work out very hard for an hour, then I feel the pump and
fatigue and to me that makes me want to rush home and feed myself.
Immediately when I get home I drink a protein smoothie, then I prepare
something like the steak dinner you speak of. I also like working out
only around three hours a week because there is no way that I can tell
myself that I don't have time to go to the gym that much. In any case
I am impressed that you can keep up the 3 hour marathon workouts five
times a week physically. Have you been adding a lot of muscle mass
with this routine? I would just say that when you start feeling burnt
out it might be good to conciously switch over to a more concentrated
routine for a while for your mind and body. You wouldn't have to feel
like you are wimping out because you are still on a plan, but you would
be getting more rest and free time. I am contemplating going in to do
one of your marathon workouts every now and then. I think that I will
wait for my torn groin muscle to heal better before hanging out in the
gym that long.

Good Luck,
James

James, i can totally understand not having enough time to fit it in. If i
had a normal 9-5 type job like most people , i most likely wouldnt be able
to do this for 3 hours either. Also, u gotta understand that i get no
excersize during the daytime. i work on the computer. You probably do alot
of walking and commuting for work and all and just that can cause alot of
fatigue.. Plus the daily stresses that your Boss probably puts on you. Im
lucky im my own boss too. I kind of just prepare myself mentally a few hours
before my workout. I cant go from straight computer work to a workout. I
have to prepare myself mentally and relax my mind before i can do the 3
hours straight. Most mainstream guys who work just dont have the time and
energy to do this.

Yea i can totally understand the "need to feed" after a workout. my appetite
seems monsterous and i just eat , eat , eat.. a ton of protein and other
goodies. I sometimes wont eat all day before my workout. I'll just drink
water. and this for some reason gives me a ton of energy. Most people would
probably disagree with my technique here. I gobble down like crazy
afterwards though.

I do see alot of muscle mass growth. This is the best shape i've ever been
in my whole life. I could never lift the stuff i can lift now. But if you
want to do this, dont burn yourself out. And dont lift stuff thats too
heavy. you'll burn yourself out much quicker. If i did my workout with only
the maximum stuff i could lift, then i would only last like an hour or 90
minutes at best. I only use a standing weight bar at 60 pounds.. all of my
weight training is standing only. except for the push-ups and situps. my
daily routine is :
120 pushups , 100 situps, 120 curls , 120 over the head , 120 over the head
(with hands facing the opposite direction) , 120 bent-over rowing with 2
hands.

i spread this out over 3 hours. like i said i take my time. and by the end
of the night i feel like a train hit me.

working with a 60 pound weight bar probably sounds like nothing to alot of
people here. But just 8 months ago the maximum i was able to work with was
only 35 pounds. so for me this is a huge increase.. Plus i had arthritis
pretty bad in my 20's so im practically starting over.

its saturday today... my day off and i think i gulped down about 200 grams
of protein today. I weight 200 pounds so thats the perfect amount to
consume they say. (the same amount you weigh) my height is 6 foot 2 inches
by the way.. and im already looking forward to monday.

James, yea definately wait for that groin muscle to heal. Those are a pain
in the asz. Kind of like the neck muscle pull i had 10 days ago.. It knocked
me out for 5 whole days.

good luck to you too,

Mike

"JamesG" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike,
I looked up psoriatic arthritis and it looks like a bad thing, I am
glad you were able to overcome it. The mention of the good gains part
was coming from your statement, "i dont see any results so i quit and
give up. we have to keep reminding ourselves that we ARE getting
stronger even though we dont notice immediate results. it takes a LONG
time."
My thoughts on the one hour workout were just my personal experience.
I like to work out very hard for an hour, then I feel the pump and
fatigue and to me that makes me want to rush home and feed myself.
Immediately when I get home I drink a protein smoothie, then I prepare
something like the steak dinner you speak of. I also like working out
only around three hours a week because there is no way that I can tell
myself that I don't have time to go to the gym that much. In any case
I am impressed that you can keep up the 3 hour marathon workouts five
times a week physically. Have you been adding a lot of muscle mass
with this routine? I would just say that when you start feeling burnt
out it might be good to conciously switch over to a more concentrated
routine for a while for your mind and body. You wouldn't have to feel
like you are wimping out because you are still on a plan, but you would
be getting more rest and free time. I am contemplating going in to do
one of your marathon workouts every now and then. I think that I will
wait for my torn groin muscle to heal better before hanging out in the
gym that long.

Good Luck,
James