Shiroko's Growth Diary Week 4

Hopefully the very slow start/progress of the story isn't too boring for you lol. I promise will get a bit faster soon.

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Realization hit last week: training alone isn't cutting it for the results I crave. If I want to close the gap—really build mass like Sumire—I need to overhaul the basics.
Diet's the key; I've been maintaining, not fueling growth.
Started by bumping overall calorie intake, aiming for surplus without junk. Cut out the processed snacks and sugary drinks that sneak in during downtime—replaced them with clean sources: lean proteins, complex carbs, veggies. No more skimping; body's a machine, needs premium input.

Routine shifted early: Kicked off days with a 5km jog at dawn, lungs burning in the crisp air, then a substantial breakfast—oatmeal loaded with nuts, eggs, and fruit for sustained energy. Main meals got denser: lunch with grilled chicken or a steak, rice, and greens; dinner similar but with added fish or tofu. Slipped in small meals between—protein shakes with banana mid-morning, yogurt and almonds afternoon—to keep the metabolism humming.

On intense training days, when sessions ran long into evening, I'd cap with a midnight snack: cottage cheese or a peanut butter sandwich, nothing heavy but enough to repair overnight. Hydration upped too—gallons of water, electrolyte mixes post-sweat.

Training stayed progressive: Squats at 100kg for 8, bench 65kg for 10, pull-ups sets of 10, deadlifts 110kg. Muscles adapted further, less fatigue, more reps before failure. Gains mirrored last week's at first—abs sharpening to a six-pack hint, arms gaining subtle thickness, thighs denser still. Slow, steady, but by mid-week, something clicked; energy levels spiked, pumps lasted longer.

Near week's end, I hit Millennium's bio-scanner—a sleek machine in the lab wing, measures muscle mass, body comp precisely. Daily checks showed it: early days hovered around +0.5kg muscle, but Thursday onward, jumps to +0.8kg, then +1kg. Proof the diet's integrating; body's finally in build mode, not just maintain. Veins starting to show faintly on arms during curls—subtle, but there.

This week's just the foundation, tweaking the inputs. Next one's the acid test—push harder, see if it accelerates or plateaus. No backing down.