Halfway house

So that's two weeks down. I've got to say I'm glad - I've had a sneak peak at next week's schedule and it's as if the last two weeks have been the warm up - training the body to learn the patterns before going hell for leather. For example, nearly every exercise I've got a solid idea of what weight I should be shifting, adjusted for the number of reps. My lactic acid threshold has increased, to the stage where the only exercises I struggle with are cable curls for biceps and press-ups for chest.

It's a great feeling when you get the weight/rep combo spot on though. For example, super-setting Dead-lifts with squats with only one Olympic bar meant I was using the same weight for both. I ended up settling on 37.5Kg (a little more than half I'd normally use for both). But for the large number of reps and sets, with a 4:0:2:0 timing, it was perfect - the final couple of reps of both exercises took me to failure, which for muscle building is ideal.

Remember exercise is like sex - if you look as good at the end as at the beginning you're doing it wrong!

I really enjoyed today - had to lower my weights for the holistic arms sets (think RBT without the option to rest!) - and had to drop down to doing negative dips after the first set.

That timing is a beast - if you ever get bored with any weights exercise your doing, try making the down movement last for four seconds and the up movement 2 seconds. Actually, try it now without weights. Arms by your sides, raise out to the side over 2 seconds, lower over 4 seconds. How many can you do right now? Stick it in the comments box - could be interesting reading! I won't do it, as I've just done an arms session!

I can't comment for the ladies at the gym, but as a bloke I always feel a bit of pressure to increase my weights. One thing this programme has definitely taught me is be honest with yourself - I can probably bench/squat/dead-lift all the weight Cat's got at the gym for a couple of reps. But would my form be right? What use is that if my program calls for 10 sets of 10 reps? Would I be able to lower it over 4 seconds? Nope - so for this program that's no use.

Actually, while on the subject, why don't more of the ladies use the free weights? On there own they won't make you muscular at all, and they are great for fat burning. Changing up routines also helps - for one it keeps you interested!

So yeah, week two over and out. 2 more to go. Measurements and BCA tomorrow, and probably an annoying topless photo so I can compare. I'm nervous about this - if I haven't put muscle on have I been wasting my time the last two weeks?