the hard times of ryanlemley1

[ryanlemley1]

so fellas this is my first post for my new log that i hope to update at least every two to three days. so today, i've begun carb cycling...no biggie...so i'm thinking. and guess what today was? everyone's favorite day....legs. actually, i've switched my workouts up somewhat. i'm hitting chest/bi's on monday, quads/tri's on tuesday, wednesday is just cardio, thursday is back/ and saturday is hams and shoulders. i was doing the normal split, chest-bi's, back-tri's, legs, shoulders. thought that maybe this would shock my system a bit. so all day, i'm looking forward to hitting quads hard today with front squats, squats, and leg extensions....then i get the mail. not a big deal, but i took my CSCS exam a few weeks ago..hadn't heard anything from them.....and you know what....I FAILED!! you know how bad it sucks to work so had for something and then you fail..you don't get that goal. it hurts...it really does. i kills you. we've all been there. so my wife was with me and she knows how hard i've worked...just depressing and heartbreaking!! i am still steaming over it. i get to my gym...my santuary away from church of course. i get there..hoping to just destroy the iron tonight because i'm so angry...and disturbed....but i get under the bar my front squats.....3 sets of 12 at 125...nothing....felt great...going rock bottom...butt to heels. i walk over to the bench for close grip tri's....3 sets of 10 at 115....feels great. then it is on to normal squats, my favorite of all the exercises for a bodybuildier. 245 for 3 sets of 8...i flop. barely squeezing out the reps..when last week i maxed for 405 for 1 rep. that just fueled me.....but upset me that i struggled with it that much. that weight is lightweight baby...lightweight. that is warm-up for probably most of you. onto inlcline skulls....3 sets 10 reps at 85...knocked these out that it was nothing. hit the power lift leg press..for those of you not familiar..it has 4 pegs...2 on top...2 on the bottom. so since it i quads day..i load the weight on the top two pegs as to try my best to keep the hams out of the movement as much as possible. 3 sets of 10 at 225. struggled somewhat. just burned me inside..i felt this fire inside me...a fire that i needed to get out...so i decided to post here for you all. for you all to know what i'm going through. a time that is hard..and time that is difficult and frustrating. i keep trusting that i will OVERCOME..i will get over this hump. maybe not that big of a deal for some, but for those who've been there..they know what this time is like. it is time to turn this into something positive. time to be the best that i can...to reach my goal. until next time.

[ryanlemley1]

today brothers...is back day. not my favorite day, but a day that i have to get through. for me it is one of the most difficult training days, next to shoulders. today has already got off to a bad start. i've been trying to hit the treadclimber at 5 am for 1 hr 10 min, but i overslept. didn't hear the alarm. got up at 725 am, had to be at work at 8 am. i had to scarf down my 1 serving of oats without warming them..just water, no splenda, no nothing....almost made me vomit. then in the car i had to eat my 15 eggs in the car. i'm sure you all have been there once or twice at one point. so i'll make it through..i have to. as i mentioned before..it has been a tough week for me. i failed my certification exam for the NSCA CSCS. this has got me down somewhat, but at least my diet has not suffered. i see a bigger picture when i look at things. this is just an obstacle that life has put in front of me, but with an ANIMAL mentality..i'll get over it. later brothers and sisters!!

[rcrott1]

obstacles need to be taken care of. climb that wall and smoke it. why do you have a harder time with back and shoulders??

[ryanlemley1]

they are just my weakest body parts. they have never grown very well. my rear delts have come along, but i've just never been very strong on them. had shoulder problems in the past, so you can imagine that it takes time for it to heal. a sprained labrum a few years back...my shoulder has never been the same. now it is becoming really difficult to even attempt pull-ups. it puts a ton of stress on it...when pulling up. it kills me. but i've incorporated deads, so hopefully it'll shock my system.

[ryanlemley1]

so tonight was back night. i thought that i'd try to get in there and get out as fast as i could...because i needed to get some stuff done here at the house...mainly post my pictures finally. tonight...was my first semi-heavy back night in six weeks since i just completed an hypertrophy phase. so i was ready to go. i started out with DB rows for 4 sets of 10 reps. i started with 60 as warm-ups, then 65 as my first working set and ending with 80's. i felt great. next it was onto deads. for the first time i've incorparated them into my training to bring up my back..and when you all see my post for the contest..you'll know why. tonight was 3 sets of 8 at 225. they felt awesome. quick rests between sets....while performing them..i couldn't help but think of you all. for the support that we ANIMALS give to one another. i realized that for the first time..maybe...that you know what? i'm not the only one in this world that is sweating to the bone and rubbing my shins raw with the olympic bar. there are others out there...going through this ditch...we do this for our goals...to make ourselves better. maybe some of us don't want to compete...we just do it for the sheer love of the iron..the smell, the feel, and the sounds. we've been bitten by the bug of iron. sometimes it's bite is so intense...that we never get away. for those of us that stay in it's grasp...we will reap the benefits of our labor 24/7/365. i love this game. i may be rambling a bit tonight, but as i sit and finish this..i remember what you've all said to me on here. you've given me so much encourgement...so much respect. this respect i believe must be earned...and for those of us that post on here...we have the common bond...that bond of iron. RESPECT.

[ryanlemley1]

this is my next instalment in my little blog here. so i mentioned before that i didn't pass my exam for the CSCS, very frustrating. to make matters worse..i've got to begin studying for it again..along with working a full day, training, eating, making time for the wife, and sleeping. for me that just doesn't work very well. i'm not a person that is really fast at getting things done. i have a little schedule that i am following now and it is working quite well. very annoying....i'm in the process of moving to Florida in May and that CSCS is someting that i need to have for my job position that i've accepted. it just seems that there are too many things pulling me in different directions. but that is the life we all live. this is a very critical time in my life...i'm at a cross-roads and the only choice that i have is to buckle down and get through this. i know that you all are behind me every step of the way. you are my brothers and i am extremely thankful that i have met you all. this road will lead me in places that i've never been to before. a place that is uncertain and scary. this opportunity is knocking at my door. i have but one choice.....open it up...and snatch it.

[hjayss]

Thnigs happen for a reason this time you will be way more prpared probably not as nervous. We are all pulling for you bro good luck.

[ryanlemley1]

thanks bro....i appreciate it...it is great to know that i have a family here that cares, you don't find that a lot of places in life. this common bond draws us together.

[ryanlemley1]

a cold, cold day here....woke up to see the 4 inches of snow that had fallen while this Animal rested. a great morning....to wake up and walk outside into the cold air as it hit my face. then realitity hit....this is LEG day....everything today focuses on that moment that i step under the bar and feel that iron on my shoulders. i'll scratch and bleed for every last rep tonight. i can't fail...this is too important to me. i'll take out my frustrations from the day there. i reach a new milestone...i'll conquer this day...put it behind me..and look forward to a new day. when i see that puddle of sweat and salt that has fallen from my chin as i'm training and when i sit down on the bench to take my NITRO and drink my water....i'll have OVERCAME this day. I'll have moved one step closer.

[Preston]

You got this dawg, just keep pressin' on. :]

[ryanlemley1]

that's right..i got this...thanks preston.

[ryanlemley1]

last night brothers...i was able to pass some of this ANIMAL on to another. had this guy asking me why i ate what i ate....why i trained like i trained....why i drank what i drank. he really didn't know this lifestyle...he didn't understand why we ANIMALS do this. he couldn't fathom why someone would want to look overgrown, shredded, and vascular. had no idea what came along with the lifestyle of an ANIMAL. he just thought that going to the gym....and eating 4 times a day....2 of those meals being shakes with 20 g or protein in them...would get you big and ripped. he was just never shown the way of the ANIMAL. i told him that i was in a cutting phase and that i was still eating up to 3400 cals per day and losing weight. he didn't understand carb cycling or anything really about nutriton. he is a lean guy, but he was asking...what do i need to do to increase my weights....to make gains? i explained to him...why i do this...why this fire to train consumes me...i think he left with a better understanding as to why i care about his sport so much. i left feeling that i just passed something valuable onto someone...who may one day...get bit by the ANIMAL.

[Argos]

Just keep it up and there is no wall too high. Question for you when are you taking the CSCS again? Good luck on that...and where in Florida are you aiming for? God how I miss snow...

For the Pain...

[ryanlemley1]

not sure when i'm taking it again..probably within the next month and a half....and i'm aiming for ft. myers, florida. i'll be working at Velocity Sports Performance. thanks...i'll climb that wall.

[Preston]

Hell ya man, showing other people our intensity, our ...fire if you will, our drive to fucking press on through all the shit. We do this shit day in, day out dawg, every day we do nothing but give it our all, and we take nothing less than perfection.

[ryanlemley1]

today...a great day...looking outside my office window at work..i see all the sunshine and the blue sky...makes me think of training...the joy it gives me to have the ability to train hard and heavy...to make gains..and to eat..eat..and eat some more. as i think about that...i discover this burning fire that rages on inside me as each day passes...the fire to succeed and OVERCOME what may be put in front of me...one obstacle is the iron. another is the obstacle of my wife leaving town for 2 weeks..some may like that...when their partner leaves..but not me. i'd never say it to a lot of people..but i'm very dependant on her. she is one special woman. heck it is her that has to kick me in the morning to get up and do that God-awful cardio because i can't hear the alarm. she is leaving to fly to florida to take her dental board for the state. a scary time. but this obstacle i'll leap over. before i know it..she'll be home and then starts another day.

[ryanlemley1]

yo fellas..it has been a while since i've been back in here and posted on my little thread. i've been a bachelor for a week now...wife is out of town...and it has been killing me ever since she left. i don't know that i ever realized how much i depend on her in my daily scheme of things. there is a great fulfillment there when she is with me...whether it be at home or in the gym. i've had time to reflect upon this for the past week and have come to realize that with her being gone, i've gotten even hungrier with everything in my life...everything from my career path to being the ANIMAL that lies deep beneath me. i must do all that i can to awaken this beast...and when i see my wife this weekend again..i can guarantee you...that i will wake from this little slumber to something great..something even greater than i ever imagined.

[Preston]

Yeah, them ladies keep us "grounded." See, they're a good thing. :-P

[ryanlemley1]

thanks bro

[Preston]

anytime bro, IM or PM me, I'll keep in touch.

[ryanlemley1]

back in the game finally. been away for about a month from here. been a crazy time. been in florida house hunting with my wife, bought a house, signed the contract...so much BS and paperwork. my workouts and diet got off track, but i'm back and hungrier than ever. i have another 18-25 lbs to lose and i'll get there. aiming for 167-73. i have some mass that is covered by a lot of fat and i'm sick of it. i'll get down in weight, then bulk while keeping the fat off as best i can. haven't been too successful on them because i've always done it wrong. this time i got my head right and in the right place. moving time is coming and sunny florida is calling my name. when i get settled the world better be ready because i'm storming the gym with vengance i'll be training harder than ever before. world watch out. train hard!!

[Preston]

You got it man, no worries. Just uh, don't skip days like me. :-P

[ryanlemley1]

nah..haven't been skipping days...just got a little side tracked with my diet. been eating a lot of salads now for the past week. feel a lot better. at 5'9, 189 i still feel sluggish. i'd like to be down to a nice 170-167 or so..and really have a some mass with little BF. i got no choice with my profession....i have to look the part to motivate my clients that i will have in the future..

[Preston]

At 5'8 160lbs feels oh so good. I'm just stoked for when I stand at a flat 200 at 5'8. Imma be a tank for real! LOL

[ryanlemley1]

yo i hear that..but i wanna be a solid 200 if i ever get back there. don't wanna be a flabby slob who looks big..i want to be big. ya dig?

[Preston]

I dig dawg, and welcome back, it's been some time. :-P

[ryanlemley1]

yes it has..too long...glad to be back. Train hard!!

[Iron_Spirit]

I'll tear up some extra reps in your name. I wish you strength to accomplish all of your goals.

[ryanlemley1]

much appreciated brother.

[Preston]

Great, well now that you've re-accquainted yourself with some old friends.

How about you fucking logg off and go lift, ANIMAL

:D

-Preston[ANIMAL]

[ryanlemley1]

i would bro...but i'm at work.

[ryanlemley1]

now why don't you do the same :)

[Preston]

I already did broseph, this morning. Did you lift yesterday? LOL

-Preston[ANIMAL]

[ryanlemley1]

nah man...took my dogs to the trainer's then by to the inlaws for dinner and had to help the wife on a project for Dental school. she had to put together this slide show of all four years of school. it is like an hr long so that has been taking up a lot of time lately, but she is almost done...and the inlaws live like 40 min away. been getting home around 1 am the past 4-5 nights. just exhausting when you gotta do that then get up at 6 am for work. not fun at all bro. but we'll get back there. no worries. however the challenge didn't go as i had planned. did well for the first six weeks then struggled over the past 2-3 weeks getting everything ready for my move to florida and all. just a crazy month.

[ryanlemley1]

what's up all? haven't been around these parts for a while. as some or many of you know...my wife and myself fell upon some hard times in the month of august and it kept me from following all the way through on my testing of the X product. just wanted to let everyone know that i really do sincerely appreciate all of the prayers, support, and PM's that were sent my way. you all are truly brothers and sisters and i am so very thankful for that. just wanted to let everyone know..that i am back in the game..things are looking up now..and i know that there is a plan for me...i'm seeing it more and more each and everyday. my goal and focus is no longer to walk around with the mentallity that i have to be 210 lbs and ripped..my goal is to train like i've never trained before and to have a deeper mental and physical approach to my life and training. thanks again to everyone...and thanks to animalpak and everyone at universal for all they do for each of us, not just myself. TRAIN HARD! the hard times continue...but i will stay true to animal!

[Lowdown5]

Glad that things are looking better Ryan. Just remember, tough times make tough people. Stay strong, stay focused and make the best of every day. I have 100% faith that no matter what happens that you can overcome it.

[ryanlemley1]

thanks, brother. for everything

[Lowdown5]

thanks, brother. for everything

You are welcome Ryan, always here if you need.

[ryanlemley1]

same to you!

[ryanlemley1]

hey fellas...it has been entirely too long between my last post. work has been killing me as it has finally picked up. thanks to all those who were thinking of me and my wife during our struggles. like i said before..i am not worried about walking around ripped and huge all the time. i've actually taken up running a little and am really enjoying it. i may get back to the bodybuilding aspect in the near future, but am content as to where i am now. i currently weigh about 176..down from 200 about four months ago. big decrease in portion size. i've lost some girth around my muscle bellies and am not as full as i was..but for now i feel good. keep thinking of me..and i'll get back in the game of bodybuilding soon enough. i love it and can't get enough of it..but until then...i will run and lift hard. TRAIN HARD!

[ryanlemley1]

well brothers..i'm back. it's been way too long..and do i mean way too long. i've been away for quite a while now. but i kept thinking back to what lowdown5 had told me so long ago it seems. he told me to keep with it and that all you ANIMALS would be and are behind me, as i am everyone of you. you all continue to be an inspiration to me each and every day, although i may not post as often as i'd like. the dedication and determination it takes to be an ANIMAL is extrodinary and amazing. sometimes i think that i don't have what it takes and don't even deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as the rest of you..whether you are a watchman or a newbie.

i am considering getting back into this full go...but the only way i can do this is by your words of encouragement and prayers. my job has been extremely stressful and is beginning to take a large toll on my mind, and body. and it is evident when i look in the mirror. i don't know how many of you believe in a higher being...but at this point in my life..i've never believed more. i feel led more than ever now to hit this hard and keep on track.

i pray that you all would keep me in your prayers and remember me as you do for each and every ANIMAL that is here. today has been exhausting but my nutrition has been pretty good for the most part. i'm trying hard to get back on track with my diet and supplementation. i need to purchase some more universal protein and also some ANIMAL SNAKS. i love those bars. i've never felt better than when i had them in my lunch bag. i hope that you all would follow me and encourage me whenever i may need it. god bless..and let's get to it!

[ryanlemley1]

as i wrote about the life...i was planning on hitting it hard and getting back into it full go on monday..but lo' and behold..i've come down with a nasty cough, chest cold, and sinus infection. it has been going around our business from clients to trainers. it sucks..and takes the life right out of you. i hope this passes soon..i feel i'm getting fatter by the day. i just can't take it anymore.

[ryanlemley1]

back again...ladies and gentlemen. back on the train over the last couple of weeks. trying to nail the diet down and get in the gym and hit it hard. had a great workout tonight....got into a zone...and it felt awesome. i hit chest/shoulders/and triceps. 3 sets of all the exercises for 8-10 reps. great pump. finally....feeling it in my chest each and every workout and not the front delts. i've always had the problem of letting the front delts get involved. diet is going to be 4 low carb days...2 moderate carb days...and a high carb day. which will be sundays..a day i'll look forward to. until next time...train hard!

[ryanlemley1]

just got my Animal Pump in the mail on wednesday....took it last night for the first time. great workout. in this journey..i am hitting it 6 times a week. training everything twice per week. the workouts vary from 8 reps for sets of three to 20 reps for sets of three with minimal rest periods. we'll see how this works. Train Hard!

[ryanlemley1]

hey ladies and gents...i haven't been here in a while..and i know people don't really seem to look at my posts much anymore either..but that is okay. i just wanted to mention that my hard work seems to be paying off here in ft. myers, florida. i've been here for almost 11 months and i was working for a small 4,000 sq ft facility called "the training ground," a small personal training health club. well...as of last monday a week ago, i am part owner of this facility and we purchased a 12,000 sq ft facility that was known as spada health and fitness, and before that was asylum fitness. it is an honor to be working with my two business partners. it means the world that they thought enough of me to ask me to be a part of their team. i prayed for a blessing and sign to keep my wife and i here...and i got it..literally the next day. Train hard!!!

[Pizzalamp]

hey ladies and gents...i haven't been here in a while..and i know people don't really seem to look at my posts much anymore either..but that is okay. i just wanted to mention that my hard work seems to be paying off here in ft. myers, florida. i've been here for almost 11 months and i was working for a small 4,000 sq ft facility called "the training ground," a small personal training health club. well...as of last monday a week ago, i am part owner of this facility and we purchased a 12,000 sq ft facility that was known as spada health and fitness, and before that was asylum fitness. it is an honor to be working with my two business partners. it means the world that they thought enough of me to ask me to be a part of their team. i prayed for a blessing and sign to keep my wife and i here...and i got it..literally the next day. Train hard!!!

congrats bro!!!!! good luck!!

[ryanlemley1]

thanks bro!

[ryanlemley1]

Yo Fellas, I'm back. I've been away for way too long. I've missed this place more than I know how to say. Since I've been in Florida, my life hasn't been easy to say the least. I bought into a gym and became a third party owner. It has put an unbelievable amount of stress on my personal life and professional lift as well. I've haven't picked up a weight in over 2 months and I've wasted away from 192 lbs beginning in June to a puney 166 lbs this morning. It's pathetic and sad. I've got no choice but to get back into it and hit the iron hard. It is my only refuge at this point. I've got so many emotions and demons that run through my mind each day. The stress of the business and business partners is unbelievable.
My food intake hasn't been good lately at all. I'm eating fried foods and drinking way too much alcohol. Also, over the last three weeks, I haven't even eaten on a regular basis. I've went from eating 6 meals a day to eating maybe once. Fellas and fellow ANIMALS, I need you all behind me as I begin my journey back into the iron game. I've always wanted to step onstage and I hope that a year from now, I hope it comes true. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to reach that goal. If any of you have advice for me, I'd appreciate it and welcome it. TRAIN HARD!!!