I decided to go back to the old way of training this month - heavy weight and low reps. The goal is to control the weight, get a great stretch and get the blood moving.

When I start training like this I up my protein levels to around 400 to 500 grams a day and I don’t count carbs.  For me my energy level should be more than enuff and have extra left over for a little cardio warm down (gotta keep the heart conditioned).

This type of workout is for SIZE AND STRENGTH ONLY!!

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I did some crazy loading starting Saturday and ended Monday (thank God).  I decided to go back to the old days when I depleted for a while (my normal intake of carbs is no more than 100 per day).

I went on a overload and ate any food Iwanted but still consumed my 3 shakes a day. My theory was to send my body into shock. Well I did. I also took those days off from the gym and ate pizza, a gallon of ice cream and way to many hamburgers and fries. By the end I felt fried and my body temp was thru the roof.  And to be honest I felt shtty and didn’t sleep well.

I made it back to the gym Tuesday and I was pumped. The veins were out but I was drenched in sweat.  It will be a very long time before I load again, so this week ZERO CARBS.

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My name is Richard Lujan. I’m 27 years old. I’ve been working out since the age of 22. After ending a 5 year relationship I decided it was time to get healthy & fit.

In the beginning I had really no idea what I was doing. I was going to the gym in the evening, partying at night & not eating right. After months of this & not seeing results I knew something was not right. I decided to subscribe to a couple different workout magazines for some direction. Its then that I realized there is so much more that I had to do.

Working out consist of weight lifting, cardio, dieting, supplements, & consistency. To see results this is what needs to be done. Not to mention having some kind of work out plan.

I started to take it seriously & followed all the steps mentioned. I started out at the weight of 185 lbs. I was soft, flabby, & had no muscle tone what so ever. What I thought was strange is that I noticed physical changes but my weight had not changed. I was happy with my results but wanted to gain muscle weight. I the had to go back to the drawing bored. I was able to get up to 194 lbs & got stuck. I hit a plateau & felt kind of lost.

I started to get to know some of that guys at the gym. I was asking questions to compare what they where doing to what I was doing. There was this one particular guy who I noticed was making quick gains in a short period of time so I had to ask what he was doing. He had told me about an over the counter supplement that had helped with his gains & suggested I try it. So I did.

In a matter of a month I went from 194 lbs to about 211 lbs. I was shocked. I got stronger & bigger. I got carried away & didn’t realize I was starting to abuse the supplement. I didn’t think the supplement would cause any health problems because it was over the counter. Little did I know that 5 years later I would have health issues from this supplement that made me look good.

When we take synthetic supplements they makes us feel like superman. I was lifting amounts of weight that I never thought I could do but in the process hurting myself & not knowing. I had always gone to get yearly physicals & every time the doctor said I was fine. About 4 or 5 years later I changed doctors. It was then I found out that I had 3 tears in my groin & gynecomastia, which is extra tissue in the chest area that could possibly cause cancer.

When I first starting taking the supplement is when I tore my groin doing squats. I  thought I had a minor muscle strain. So over time I made it worse causing two more big tears & never realized the damage. Over time the extra tissue started to develop as well. I eventually had to have surgery for all this and was out of work for a total of 3 months.

I’ve experimented with various supplements. I had to learn the hard way that when using supplements all I needed was protein, glutamine, & creatine. That’s it! And of course a proper diet & weight lifting program. I’ve used different protein powders & always found something I didn’t like about it.

I have now returned to the gym with very limited things that I can do. Its been a long 5 month layoff & I’m excited to be back. My weight is now 180 lbs. I have not weighed this little since the end of high school. I’ve started dieting & taking the basic supplements to helpachieve my goals. Remember that supplements aid our goals. They are not the magic powder or pill & should always follow the directions on the label.

I have just recently been introduced to PROTEINBLITZ protein. By far it has been the best I’ve tried. From the powders to the RTD’s. In addition to the taste they provide the right amount of protein & amino acids for the average weight lifter. I honestly don’t see myself changing to a different brand. Other protein powders are wasted during the digestion process so your not getting the full amount that’s stated on the label. With PROTEINBLITZ I feel that I’m getting the most protein out of it. Its only been a couple of weeks & I already feel a difference.

This is a picture from my starting point. I will continue to chart my progress & send updates.

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