Indeed, the trend is important. Same with measuring actual body weight; same scales, same time of day etc.

Thanks for your kind words. Many people can have the years (even a lifetime) of consistency in the weight room, but combining that with nutrition is the trickier part. But if you do achieve it then, from my own experience, magic results occur.

Here's one mirror/visual thing I've noticed over the past two weeks to show I'm leaner: for maybe 2-3 years I've been able to view a couple of striations of muscle at the outside bottom corner of my pecs when I contract the pecs. I can now see 4-5 sections of striations. Also, the striations you can get when pec are tensed in say a most-muscular pose at the upper pec in the middle are way more clear now.

As I say I'm not trying to lean up cos I think I need to be (no way in fact) but I've done so by almost stopping eating fruit, instead opting for more veg. And I wasn't even eating much fruit. And what I was eating was blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, a few grapes, an apple occasionally (have an apple tree in the garden that had a huge crop last year). So that wee bit of less sugar has helped.

why not just keep eating the fruit and just have a little more veg too? Just seems as if there isnt a need to not have the tasty fruit for the sake of being a touch leaner when thats not your intention and not necessary.

Just catching up on this all. COngratulations on the 2nd coming. must be an exciting time if not a little hard to manage. All the best

I find that enjoyment of diet is so important to me, so I really can't see myself dropping all fruit. That said, although not in Scott's low bodyfat league, have always been fairly happy with my body comp for my own personal goals, and feel healthy enough hovering around the 10-12% mark... am happy to carry the fat that I do, even if it I could drop it by reducing sugar further. I probably could do with a little extra veg in my diet at the moment though, but I'm not scared of veg and do like it, so no hardship in increasing it. probably gonna add a morning greens smoothy, or at least experiment for a while with them.

I'm cutting out sugary fruit (not 100% mind you) as a kind of experiment for health based reasons (a la more alkaline diet). I doubt I'll stay at it for long. It was just an observation that happened fairly quickly. Guess it's a useful point to know if, such as Rab, you were wanting to get leaner more quickly for an event.

Like you said mate its incredible how much tiny changes make when it's ballhairs u have to lose

I'll defo have all the fruit out later in my diet but still having it now. Take out a bit at a time sugary and complex csrbs and replace with more green veg

Felt good yesterday and decided I would try a max squat. Worked my way sensibly with not too much volume (good warmup and foam rolling was done before), and got to 130kg (wearing belt and 2-ply knee sleeves). Just wanted 1 rep (did three 2 weeks ago). As I came up from the bottom of the lift my right knee (the good one!) went crunch. Got the weight up but stopped straight away.

No visible swelling but felt tight inside. Been hobbling ever since and taking it easy. Soooo gutting after things started to get better with the left knee (knowing that I have a small synovial cyst in it). Don't know what I've done to the right one or how bad it is; need to leave it a few days to see what happens I guess. It hurts to go up & down stairs. Trying to squat onto a sofa is not nice.

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A couple of highlights from a previous session:
- 1-arm DB snatches 40kgx2 reps each arm.
- Kroc Rows 55kgx21 (straps used)

We had our second son on 12th Feb so things have been busy to say the least. Both are well and my oldest son is very sweet with his younger brother.

Training has been scaled back somewhat as recovery is hampered with lack of quality sleep. Helps the wife is breast-feeding again though

great news! you'll have a footie team in no time...

Congrats! You'll be catching me up at this rate!!

Training has been just twice a week with weights since health4ni no.2 was born. But slow and steady wins the race.

A long time ago now I hit 100kg for 10 reps. After I did that I wanted to get 100kg for 20 reps. A medium-term goal, but one that only since this year had I thought I could do well, with good form and safely. So, after getting 90kgx20 & 100kgx15 about 4 weeks ago I decided to have a go at 100kgx20.

Here's the result



I lost count half way through so decided that I better do one extra on to whatever was in my head when I hit 20. Turns out I did 22 in then end so well chuffed. Happy with form & depth too. Only a couple were slightly less deep than my preferred depth.

Damaged the long head of my biceps on my left arm so have been having physio on it. No pressing or OH work for about 4 weeks now. But thems the breaks.

Hope everyone is well.