Scrutiny's Training Log

[Scrutiny]

Thanks LtL!

[Carl1174]

Hey Scrute solid session mate... I love Push/Pull/Legs splits (although i would tend to do them Pull/Push/Legs so I have at least 2 days between pulling and legs in case there is any carry over)

Expecting to see big things in here buddy

Carl.

[Scrutiny]

Thanks Carl.

I like the idea of 3 days in the gym - I've always been a believer that less is more and that the quality of a session is more important than the quantity ( Since trying low volume / low frequency a while back I have pretty much converted to it! )

IF there is 1 thing I want to achieve more than anything in this routine/log, it will be to boost my bench.
I know I've had an injury which has put me out of whack a bit with training a little while back, but that is no excuse - I have never really busted that 30-35kg weight range for DB bench pressing.

My triceps are strong, my shoulders are pretty strong, but I've always had a hard time with benching decent numbers and getting a decent feel in the muscle.


Plan of attack is simple, nothing fancy - just focus on the 3 big moves ( incline, flat bench and wide grip dips ), eat plenty of foods with a good emphasis on carbs ( 50% total calories ) while trying my heart out with progressing each week.

Recent times I have tried 'shock' routines, higher volumed workouts for chest, and nothing really beat my low volume approach - that allowed the greatest progression - and hopefully that can happen again.

Big things will happen! Just hoping that benching will be one of those big things!

[Scrutiny]

Tuesday 19th April

OK, I went for a blood test last week to just get a general idea on my blood count and organ functions so I will be able to use accutane.

Results came back today, everything was fine except apparently....

I have high liver function , which the doctor was concerned about.
Overweight? Drink Alcohol? Drugs? Medications? NONE of them! It's interesting.

I've been recommended to ditch supplements, such as whey and creatine by my Doctor.

I had a good chat with my local pharmacist/chemist, he was telling me that there is a good chance my protein intake is too high, and that all the protein I'm taking in from supplements is most likely a factor, ESPECIALLY my 3 big hits of it.

Look for yourselves:

Pre Workout Meal - 1 Scoop Scivation Whey + Carb Source ( 22-25g protein )
Intra Workout - 4 Scoops XTEND ( This is 14-17g protein )
Post Workout - 1.5 Scoops Scivation Whey + Carb Source + Creatine ( Approx 35g protein )


While supplements may not have caused this result, they are still pretty adamant that they had a role in it since I'm not exactly sick and I'm not taking any kind of medication to do this to the liver.

I don't plan on going " cold turkey " on supplements, I reasoned with the pharmacist about taking the whey perhaps PWO only and he agreed that should be OK.

I was always under the impression that protein had a greater effect on the kidneys and not so much if anything on the liver at all.

Everything still isn't 100% clear here for me, I just started my creatine loading phase - Day 2 - and it probably may be a good idea to halt this loading phase since the liver isn't 100% apparently.

What the pharmacist did say about protein/amino acids with the liver was interesting, I must be taking in a mountain of amino acids with my pre workout/intra workout/post workout shakes. Not to mention a total high amount from all protein sources combined.

I eat well, drink well, and live well - Didn't expect anything to be wrong here.

[LtL]

Google has studies showing trained athletes eating 300+grams of protein per day with no ill effects. Also you're correct in thinking that kidneys do more protein filtering than liver.

Sounds to me like they're clutching at straws mate. I had an uber fat doctor tell me I needed to lose some weight when I was 75kg's

LtL

[Scrutiny]

Yeah, I've read several things on google, a lot of pages suggesting what you said, and other pages with people who have had to reduce their protein intake due to the issue.

It's slightly elevated, it's not exactly like my liver is in over-drive just yet, LOL

But yeah, could be nothing.
Doug from M&S sent me a link suggesting that weight-training can cause high liver function, at least 7 days from a workout.
Weightlifting can cause high liver function tests in healthy men!

[LtL]

I'd honestly push the doctor to explain how excess protein can cause excess liver function. If the doc' really is clueless, he won't be able to explain. At which point I would give him lip service and just carry on eating steaks.

LtL

[Scrutiny]

LOL, yeah.

His guess was my supplements, since they are a form of 'extra' ontop of my diet.

But honestly, 1 scoop of whey pre workout, Xtend intra and 1.5scoops of whey post workout- I CANNOT really imagine that impacting the liver.

I read on another bodybuilding site, a person had the same reading as me ( elevated ), the doctors/specialists came to the conclusion that it was his protein/supp intake ( He was taking in great excess of 300g protein per day, a lot of NO2 usage and I think test boosters ).

[Scrutiny]

Wednesday 20th April

Pull Day - Back/Biceps

Warm up - 5 mins Row Machine

Seated Rows - 70kg x 10, 75kg x 8, 80kg x 6
One Arm DB Rows - 29kg x 8, 30kg x 8, 32kg x 7
Pullups - BW x 8, BW x 7, BW x 6
BB Shrugs - 70kg x 12, 75kg x 10, 75kg x 10

Standing DB Curls - 16kg x 8, 18kg x 7
DB Hammer Curls - 16kg x 8, 17kg x 8

Workout Length: 49mins

Workout Notes:

Pre Workout Supplement - Black Powder Sample

Warmed up today on the row machine, warmed up my back quite well.
Was a pretty good workout today in the gym, came into the workout with some mild lower back pain, although this didn't restrict any of my exercises today.

Seated rows were strong, worked up to a set of 80kg for 6 quality reps.
DB rows were a great challenge, my biceps and back copped a fair beating from seated rows therefore the sets were challenging.

Pullups were OK today, always seems that first few reps I have awesome form and the remainder of the set my body keeps 'swinging back and forth' which makes it difficult to get good form.
Shrugs went pretty well, my grip kept letting me down though, my traps probably could have kept going.

Body wasn't feeling 100% in today's workout.
Been feeling a bit spaced out today, bit tired.
All my Black Powder samples are out now - the supplement didn't provide much of an effect today like it did on Monday and in recent times.

My creatine loading ends in 1-2 days time, will then tame it down to a maintanance dose of 5g daily.

[Spartigus]

Looking strong!!!

With the grip, you could try hook grip. I use it on my last set of deadlifts and for the Oly pulls. It looks like this: -