[Damian Zhang]

Not a coach – but having elbow and knees sleeves were a game changer for me, never tried wraps.

[Damian Zhang]

Hey

I personally don’t like v squat machines, I’ve always used other squat variations instead.

You will find that you are a lot weaker doing a unilateral hamstring curl, but it’s a great exercise. I like doing them using a seated ham curl.

I always have compounds in my sessions, I start off with isolation work then move onto my compounds after. Having a mixture of dbs and machines is fine 🙂 Machines will always provide more stability but free weights have their place.

I’ve heard good things about BPC, never used it though. I would get your bloods done before looking at HRT 🙂

INSTA chloepickford_ifbbpro

Thanks Chloe!

[Damian Zhang]

Hiya Damian, great that you’ve found a gym that keeps you excited about training.
– nothing wrong with a V squat machine. It’s person dependant. Some get along great with it and some don’t.
– single leg ham curl is great. If people don’t have access to a machine version of this you can literally do any normal lying/seated curl with one leg than the other. Very normal to adjust load as you’re using one leg.
– I’ve heard good things about BPC157. I have no personal experience here but some of the team might.
– as for HRT, it totally depends on the person so I think saying 40+ is a very generalised statement

Thanks Maddy! Appreciate your thoughts, very much looking forward to getting stuck into the new gym 🙂 I am trying to negotiate out of the current gyms notice period which is 3 months!

[Damian Zhang]

78.5kg

The area of where the PRP injection was, slightly painful/uncomfortable again, I was really scaled back on weights but I’v been listening to my body more than anything, I am not a very good coachee, I do try, but I am terrible. I am hoping any uncomfortable feeling goes in a few days.

I was hoping to get into the 77kg range today..but it’s gone up, men’s bodyweight fluctuates 3kg (apparently), so to be fair it’s not awful.

Went to Ripped Gym Basildon last night, everything super, but people were not particularly friendly, but to be fair, I was there to work out and not make friends, so it’s to be expected.

Today I am off to Stackhouse Gym, Rayleigh. My BPD/mental health has been playing up alot over these few days, relationship has been tricky due to partner being away every 5 minutes, so I feel treating myself to a new gym experience is my own self care.

Today post gym is a few errands, shopping and watching Jurassic World with my partner.

[Damian Zhang]

78.2kg

Cut is coming on well, working hard in the gym, recovering well.

Work has got better and was rated mid year review as exceptional, which I am happy with.

Off to Türkiye on Thursday, cannot wait as it’s a resort but it does have a good gym, so shall be training.

[Damian Zhang]

78.9kg

Sun is shining, chest and tri session this morning, after lunch, abit of admin work in prep for tomorrow, looking at a mental health certificate with mental health first aid England, might do this today.

Also going to watch Squid Games 2.

Tomorrow working from home but literally tonnes to do.

[Damian Zhang]

79.3kg

So the bodyweight seems to be trending downwards, which is good, most of these two weeks I was in the 78-79kg, feel leaner, can see more veins in thigh, calf, below belly button and forearms.

I am still taking it cautiously with training but getting there positively.

Was going to the buy the TBJP tracksuit but I know I’d get a bollocking for it, so it’s a no go for now haha.

Work has been mental but alot of positive bits in work and mid year review on Wednesday.

Off to Turkey for a beach holiday mid July, so looking forward to showing off the physique but will still be training.

We can pay for massages, last full body massage was in China Oct 24, so I am very much looking forward to it.

[Damian Zhang]

The learner you get the more veins you will have, also the more muscle you build over the years, the more you may see “new veins” – i definitely have!

Re the expos, depends on which ones you go to I guess, who you want to see.. and yeah some expos are this way I guess! I guess it’s just personal preference- it sounds like you’re already answered your own question really – you’re not keen on them!?

Glad you have! Yeah I am really pleased, the thigh vein I was like yeahhh lol. small wins right?

Yep, I think I did answer my own query, I shall stick with Youtube I think lol!

[Damian Zhang]

Thanks 🙂 @Clare

[Damian Zhang]

Fighting fit 🙂

– strength is improving

– Took @Clare advice, have increased steps a day – 20 mins morning, 25 mins lunch, weights in evening, with the odd rest day when needed, watching my calories, looking at the nutrition etc, and I am really leaning down, very happy.

– Getting more confident

– Lifting straps are now my friends, love them! Game changer.

[Damian Zhang]

Hi Kuba,

Have you ever had injuries that means you have had to take time out of the gym/or very low weight etc for a small period of time?

If so, how did you keep motivation going and how did you overcome this?

I appreciate from your youtube vids you really laser focused, which I have picked up to some extent and I appreciate these videos as it’s helped me. But I have an operation on 3rd Nov and been told I cannot lift for 1 month, I am going to walk 10k steps a day, eat well but not lifting for a month does worry me.

I got stabbed I trained the day after

I sliced my entire left hand open at 15 trained with stitches day after

You can always train, can’t train legs … train upper can’t train upper … train lower

Most docs say you can’t train it’s just nonsense 95% of the time.

I got an abscess and trained with a hole inside me 2/3 days after

This isn’t advice this is just me mate, make your own decisions

Taking time off longer than needed for me just isn’t worth it I just find a way[/quote]

Thanks Kuba – alot of respect to you, thanks for your viewpoints as always – keep smashing everything.

[Damian Zhang]

Hi Kuba,

Have you ever had injuries that means you have had to take time out of the gym/or very low weight etc for a small period of time?

If so, how did you keep motivation going and how did you overcome this?

I appreciate from your youtube vids you really laser focused, which I have picked up to some extent and I appreciate these videos as it’s helped me. But I have an operation on 3rd Nov and been told I cannot lift for 1 month, I am going to walk 10k steps a day, eat well but not lifting for a month does worry me.

[Damian Zhang]

If he’s taking antipsychotics, the disorder will be serious, the reason I say this is because I was on them for 6 years as well as being in and out of hospital, they have a major amount of side effects to battle what he has, which include and not limited to:

– Massive weight gain

– Sleeping alot throughout the day

– numbness to emotions

– carb cravings constantly

You mention a SSRI – This an antidepressant not an antipsychotic, previous posts on here from coaches from what I read should not affect PED use. However, I don’t take PEDs. I would significantly caution taking any sort of PEDs with antipsychotics, these drugs given by psychs are extremely, and I can’t say this enough extremely volatile and its not like you feel an ache so we all take paracetamol and we are fine, the brain is whole different ball game, my friend was on the same as me and had seizures due to the antipsychotics, everyone’s brain/wiring etc is very individualised, this is from years of lived experience.

Personally from a non coach, PEDs are not a good idea, dependant on the antipsychotic used – different bloods markers are affected in different way such as cholesterol, pituitary gland etc. It would be helpful if you look at what disorder he has, do some research on MIND (They are useful to a point) and work with (if he consents) with psychs/therapists/NHS staff etc.

The main focus is ensure his mind is stablised with the hope once therapy works (if not something very very severe) the he can come off them and make a more balanced decision on PEDS.

I do really hopes this helps, as I have been through the mill, for reference, I had psychosis and still live with borderline personality disorder, one of the biggest reasons I will never touch PEDs.

Best of luck for you and him, take care! One day at a time!

[Damian Zhang]

Spoke to physio, all cool, can do light DBs and BBs, really pleased did my first proper session last night, shoulder day. Naturally everything was baby weight but it’s an improvement.

[Damian Zhang]

78.9kg

Done my 2 weekly measurements, nearly 2 weeks post PRP injection.

Chest has gone from 106cm to 104cm – Naturally I cant do any chest whatsoever for the last 2 weeks no shocker.

Quads have increased an inch, very happy standing now at 23″.

Waist is still reducing albeit very small amounts – Now standing at 82cm.

I have increased LISS/walking each day. I have been doing legs every 2nd or 3rd day, along with physio exercises, I am doing baby cable exercises, recovery has been the hardest for me.

I have been informed I need surgery (non gym related and due to a skin condition), due to location, dressing could range from 1 to 3 months daily, told 1 month no weights.

I will be looking for a rehab coach to keep me in shape. I can do alot my self, but I want to be as optimal as possible.

Overall positives of last week:

– Leg strength is going through the roof, I am really really happy with this, I love leg day (as bloke is this odd? lol).

– Though boditrax said I went from 9.1% bodyfat to 9.4% bodyfat, this was one of the hottest days and I think hydration may be a thing because I am now seeing visable thigh as well as calf veins, never ever seen this before. I must be doing something right?

– I have been watching my diet even more closely and being mindful with my lifting.