James Llewellin's 'Arnold Classic' preparation thread

[supercell]

Cheers Martin, hope you are well and those legs are growing!!!!

Today is 27th November 2007

My weight this morning was unchanged.

I was going to train back back today but its still just a little sore from thursday!!!!

Trained a little shoulders with some pressing and rear delts with dbells.

Up again on the Dbell press today from last week. 50kg dumbells for 10 reps this week so 2 up from last week.
Pump was silly again today so much so that I had to rest my arms on the back of a bench to stop the pain from it.

I started using my MP supplements today.

Just going on taste a lot better than I was expecting. The 'Total Protein' is very similar to propeptide in consistency and mixes very well in shaker and in my porridge this morning.

I had the whey isolate PWO today too. I have some vitargo left so I am using that along with it at the moment and some peptide bonded glutamine too. Again mixing was good and taste was good even tho I am not a fan of isolate taste. I had this one unsweetened and LOADS better than the normal sweet taste associated with isolate.

All protein powders and WMS I had flavoured with the Chocolate Smooth.

Pre workout I had the 'Pulse' which is a N.O product and the taste of the berry blast is up there with NO Explode and the like. Great tingle too from the beta alanine in it.

Started the 'Total Performance' too today which is a multi vit/min formula split into AM and PM format like a very well known brand.

Used the ZMA last night too, first time I have used this type of product in 4 years. Had a good nights kip too except for getting up to eat!!!

I used the 'sida codifolia' (standardised to approximately 30mgs ephedra per capsule) and the 'caffeine pro' (200mgs). Although tired when I woke I soon perked up ready for my cardio.

So all in all impressed. Cant comment on the results yet (obviously) but taste was good and a lot better than I was expecting (didn't really know what to expect TBH)

Apart from the WMS, some vits/mins, ultra fine oats and amino acids I hadn't tried any of the other products that I am using now from MP. I know Tom uses the activated barley and rates that.

Tomorrow I will have another day off the weights and then hit back on thursday by which time it will be ready. Legs will be hit on sat this week instead of sunday.

Talking to Troy on sunday he has already started his diet for the Ironman which is 2 weeks prior to the Arnold. It really hit home how close it is and with time rushing by it will be no time before I am on stage again, hopefully showing a little improvement from the British.

I will then have a proper off season and altho eating clean and staying lean I will push for a little more mass and improvements before the British in Oct. It certainly is a nice feeling knowing that this year I dont have to worry about qualifying again.

I picked up another 3 clients today (all BBers looking to compete) so next spring will be a busy time for me, helping me keep motivated for later in the year. I have decided that next year I wont be prepping anyone in the lead up to the British, I just want to concentrate on ME; time to be a little selfish for once!!

Next year will be equally tough as this years LH class so I dont want any unnecessary distractions....I want to win and will be doing everything I can to realise that goal.

J

[TaintedSoul]

James, some nights you only have about 4 1/2 hours sleep?

I would normally ask how do you find this impacts your growth but clearly that is not an issue!! how about energy during the day and training?

Otherwise you looking excellent mate, keep it up.

[squat_this]

James, you really are a freak...in a good way of course! Congratulations on the MP sponsorship, hope this helps you reach all your goals.
Apologies if you have answered this else where, but how were you training your chest "wrong" and what is involved in your new method which you feel is working it better?

[supercell]

Originally Posted by TaintedSoul

James, some nights you only have about 4 1/2 hours sleep?

I would normally ask how do you find this impacts your growth but clearly that is not an issue!! how about energy during the day and training?

Otherwise you looking excellent mate, keep it up.

Hi,

No, EVERY night I have between 4-5 hours sleep. I have never needed much sleep, I find it gets in the way of eating.

Energy is good and feel great. Training is flat out.

Most people sleep too much and as a result feel tired and lethargic throughout the day.

J

[supercell]

Originally Posted by squat_this

James, you really are a freak...in a good way of course! Congratulations on the MP sponsorship, hope this helps you reach all your goals.
Apologies if you have answered this else where, but how were you training your chest "wrong" and what is involved in your new method which you feel is working it better?

Hi,

Thanks.

I was using my front delts and triceps to extreme.

With the new method I am using it goes against everything you teach to a beginner.
I now arch my back, press my shoulder blades together and keep my shoulders back and down as far as possible into the bench. This has the effect of making your chest do all the work whilst pressing.

The effect is quite dramatic and I have found the following day or 2 I am slightly sore in the centre of my trapezius, between the shoulder blades and my chest is battered for 4 days after.

it takes some getting used to and weights have been reduced slightly in order to get the mind/muscle connection that I found so hard to achieve in the past.

Over the last 2 weeks my chest has become fuller and i am looking forward to seeing the results 6 months down the line.

J

[Kezz]

i dont know if its an illusion but your legs seem to be a lot bigger in that picture, do you have one particular excercise for adding thickness to them, or is it a combination of stuff, as your look mighty impressive !!

[supercell]

Originally Posted by Kezz

i dont know if its an illusion but your legs seem to be a lot bigger in that picture, do you have one particular excercise for adding thickness to them, or is it a combination of stuff, as your look mighty impressive !!

It may suprise you but my legs only measure around 26 inches cold.

I think staying in condition whilst filling out has meant they look bigger at the moment.

I have now trained my legs 4 times since the British, twice being heavy (last 2 weeks) and its had a big impact on their size.

Last week I did hacks, lunges and ext then lying leg curls and standing leg curls. My legs were so pumped I couldn't bend them. By training them I am now storing more glycogen within them and this is compounded by the use of the peptides. The pumps in all muscle groups have been something I have never experienced before (almost painful but satisfying).

I am also taking my N.O product first thing in the mornings (after cardio and before meal 1) and this too is keeping me pumped all day long as my body is super receptive on an empty stomach after fasting for 5-6 hours (last meal 2am).

So there are many factors that are resulting in a fuller appearance and last but not least my training which has been heavier and more intense than anything I have done in the last 3-4 years!!!

J

[Kezz]

I would have said your legs were a lot bigger than 26, but then again bodybuilding is like an illusion as your body looks about 3 stone heavier than 14 stone, i also use pro gf after morning cardio and feel the pump for most of the day....... i have started doing a lot more hack squats now in an attemp to add nthickness to my legs, as i have a short body and super long legs, a bit like a stork lol,i cant do normal back squats at all with any weight as my knees are very sore, so i am hoping hacks and leg press combined with super intense training will help me somewhat ........

[gunit]

James lookin awesome mate,rebounded awesome from the brits aint ya mate!!!Anyway i heard a little rumour that u mite b hooking up wit an ex british middle weight champ/ifbb pro soon 4 a workout!!Well mate if its true i can assure u that u wil hit it off big time and cause carnage in the gym between u!!
Anyway hope it goes well my friend,love ur ideas and progress

Gary Farr

[thestudbeast]

If your getting the MP stuff for free, then the myprotein board members will no doubt have valuable info on the products available to you. Not to doubt your knowledge on supps. Just they've all been tried and tested

Wow I could not get by on that little sleep, less than 8 hours and I start to look rough. Still I know what your saying about getting in the way of eating......... just not enough hours in the day.

[supercell]

Originally Posted by gunit

James lookin awesome mate,rebounded awesome from the brits aint ya mate!!!Anyway i heard a little rumour that u mite b hooking up wit an ex british middle weight champ/ifbb pro soon 4 a workout!!Well mate if its true i can assure u that u wil hit it off big time and cause carnage in the gym between u!!
Anyway hope it goes well my friend,love ur ideas and progress

Gary Farr

Just really about 1.5-2 lbs per week, a nice steady increase. A rebound for me is gaining 20+ lbs in 5 days but got fed up with not seeing my ankles and relying on my wife to put my socks and shoes on!!

Rumours, rumours eh? :lift:

J

[supercell]

Originally Posted by Kezz

I would have said your legs were a lot bigger than 26, but then again bodybuilding is like an illusion as your body looks about 3 stone heavier than 14 stone, i also use pro gf after morning cardio and feel the pump for most of the day....... i have started doing a lot more hack squats now in an attemp to add nthickness to my legs, as i have a short body and super long legs, a bit like a stork lol,i cant do normal back squats at all with any weight as my knees are very sore, so i am hoping hacks and leg press combined with super intense training will help me somewhat ........

Hacks and lunges for me all day long as far as mass goes nowadays, one legged leg press isn't too shabby either. Used to squat then realised my ass was bigger than Anne Widdecombe's. Not a good look!

J

[maccer]

Nice work James - I use the MP pulse as a pre-workout stimulant and I really like it. GIves a good pump, when I first used it I thought the tingly feeling was wrong and I was having an allergic reaction lol!!

[supercell]

Originally Posted by thestudbeast

If your getting the MP stuff for free, then the myprotein board members will no doubt have valuable info on the products available to you. Not to doubt your knowledge on supps. Just they've all been tried and tested

Wow I could not get by on that little sleep, less than 8 hours and I start to look rough. Still I know what your saying about getting in the way of eating......... just not enough hours in the day.

Great idea. Gonna start a thread over on MP forum. I'm helping them with my q's and a's over there, now they can repay the favour!!!:beer1:

My brother needs at least 9 hours to be human any less and he's useless. Having a baby (not him, his wife)18 months ago put pay to the human bit tho, he's constantly knackered and ill poor basta*d.:(

J

[supercell]

Originally Posted by maccer

Nice work James - I use the MP pulse as a pre-workout stimulant and I really like it. GIves a good pump, when I first used it I thought the tingly feeling was wrong and I was having an allergic reaction lol!!

LOL.
Taste aint too shabby either eh?:beer1:

May have contributed to the 'pump from hell' today whilst doing a pathetically small number of sets for shoulders then!?

J