Year of Bulk Progress - Month 6/12 (Patreon)

This month was chaos, so here's a messy, creative project! That feels fitting for month 6. Halfway through, and I'm exhausted from protesting, partying, and canvassing.

That exhaustion has shown its face through having to drop my weights back. I hate that. Patience is what I need and I know it, but still, I'm hungry to see results. Results is what this project was about. Can I build muscle, be stronger? As I look over the collection of our first six months, I can't say it looks like it from the pictures. Most notably, I feel like I got to learn a lot about flexing and posing! I'm happy with that. The first ones are a reminder of one of goals I've been slowly chipping away at: my desire to learn the splits.

Stretching is a treat I entice myself to the gym with when I don't feel like lifting. Yoga is gym decadence. After a full meal of compound lifting to nourish my muscles, yoga feels like dessert. I've been focusing so much on my lifting and flexes, I lost the intention I had in the first shoots of sharing the joys of stretching as a celebration of that, too. Maybe I'll make the time for that soon.

Reminder to myself and you that it is okay to take things one at a time. This month I'm assessing my balance between wanting to lift and chase gains with my love for jogging, running, the feeling of flying in a sprint...and the joys of a deep stretch afterwards. There's only so much time in a day, and I want to say only so much energy in my reserve. Still, I allow for those moments of joy so I can start my slow climb there when I need a break in lifting. This year is still dedicated to muscle and strength building.

While my squat weight has suffered this month and I struggled with it, I am perfecting my form now. A dream goal I have now is to perfect my form and be able to squat a friend. This month felt scattered and disheartening for my sixth month of bulking until I sat down and processed it for this post. I may've had to drop my squat weights and I may struggle, but it's a part of the journey...and I hit new PRs again. If this upcoming month I can hit a stable 95lbs on my bench for 5 sets of five, that's a huge win. I can remember not even being able to budge one rep of 95 and having to gasp a little "help!" at my spotter. That is progress! Can I build muscle, strength?

And that wasn't my only new PR. I know eventually PRs will slow down, but for now, I can see in them my progress that doesn't feel so visible just from looking at my body. It's in that, and in how much easier carrying my groceries, laundry, and elderly pup has become.

Thank you all for the support here, the encouragement, and being a part of this space that has helped me remember to reflect, adjust, and celebrate<3

Maximum lifting numbers this month:

Barbell squat: 145lbs - 5 sets of 5
Barbell Bench Press: 95lbs - 5 sets of ~4 New PR
Bent-Over Barbell Rows : 95lbs - 5 sets of 5 New PR
Barbell Shoulder Press: 57.5lbs - 5 sets of 5
Barbell Deadlift: 160lb - 1 set of 5 New PR

Body weight ranging from: 126.8 - 130.5lbs


P.S.: If you want to look over the past six months, you can check out the collection I've made for it here on Patreon<3 (12 Months of Bulking 2024)