any of y'all into working out?

[Huntingwhale]

I've been doing squats since day 1, but only recently have I started going so low that my ass is at knee level. Holy crap, the soreness is like I'm a noob all over again. Highly recommend anyone who squats lowers the weight and gets down low. Every muscle from my hips to toes were sore the next day.

[AcGold]

I used to do them years ago. Put way too much weight on, used terrible form and surprise surprise I injured myself like a dumbass. My back felt so bad I just laid in bed for a few days not really doing anything. But now I feel fantastic after doing squats, it's like an espresso shot of energy.

[Righteous1]

I tend to rotate my squats; heavy box squats one day, next time around light weight ass too grass

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by mustache ride

Straps seem to be looked down on within the community as solving one problem by creating another. Might look at them for a short term solution but still hoping for someone who has tried liquid chalk for a review.

As someone who has lifted for almost 7 years I have tried anything and everything. Absolutely nothing replaces real chalk as a substitute for your deadlifts. Especially for me as my grip will always fail first with anything other than real chalk. From an injury perspective this is actually quite dangerous.

Liquid chalk would be a 2nd, but honestly you have to load that crap on to get anywhere near the grip of real chalk. Plus it's expensive doing it this way. And smells bad.

[Azure]

Real chalk works great. Straps work too.

Not sure why straps are looked down on. It is just a way to keep the bar in your hand. It changes nothing in terms of the actual lift.

Pretty tough to grip 500lbs, and that seems to be when people start using the straps.

[t0rrent98]

Just a question about weight gainers/protein shakes. Since the doctor has told me to lay off the gym for a few months (wrist problems) I'm going to take this time to see if I can gain some weight drinking the weight gainers and eating what is necessary to gain it.

Speaking of wrists injuries, anybody know how I can speed something like that up? I'd definitely would like to hit the gym as fast as possible. Doctor has told me to do wrist stretches but I'm not quite sure he understood what I was talking about when I had wrist pain. Maybe have to check out a sports therapist instead.

I'll also be incorporating wrist/forearm exercises once I feel my wrists are good to go.

[Azure]

What kind of wrist problems?

[t0rrent98]

Originally Posted by Azure

What kind of wrist problems?

It seems as though I'm stressing out the wrists too much by using the tendons. Since I work in a Box lifting X amount of heavy meat everyday I hit the gym to keep healthy and strong.

So over time with the physical labor, working out and playing hockey the last couple years it seems as through the wrists have started to get worse.

TBH, I haven't incorporated any wrists/forearm exercises into my routines in the last 3 years, think I should start up again.

[PIMking]

[Azure]

Originally Posted by t0rrent98

It seems as though I'm stressing out the wrists too much by using the tendons. Since I work in a Box lifting X amount of heavy meat everyday I hit the gym to keep healthy and strong.

So over time with the physical labor, working out and playing hockey the last couple years it seems as through the wrists have started to get worse.

TBH, I haven't incorporated any wrists/forearm exercises into my routines in the last 3 years, think I should start up again.

Probably some scar tissue in an area where there isn't much blood flow. I've had similar problems and they took over 6 months to heal.

Figure out a way to increase blood flow in that area. Heat therapy, shock treatment to break down the scar tissue, mobility stuff, etc, etc.

Light weight work to strength it. This will help most in the end.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by Azure

Real chalk works great. Straps work too.

Not sure why straps are looked down on. It is just a way to keep the bar in your hand. It changes nothing in terms of the actual lift.

Pretty tough to grip 500lbs, and that seems to be when people start using the straps.

The straps don't hold the bar tight to your hands - they hold the bar to your wrist. It's not helping really helping your grip at all, unless I suppose you used chalk AND straps.

The problem with this is that now you lose a bit of proximity to the bar if it's "hanging" from your wrists. That control is massive when you're talking perfect form and heavy weight. Further away from the bar = longer moment arm between bar and axis (your lower back) = more force & vulnerability.

[AcGold]

Straps aren't really needed, do pullups and reverse curls to improve grip strength.

[pylon]

This is a solid thread.

I just came off a 2.5 year layoff. Ballooned from 205 to 250 lbs. I looked like trash, felt like trash, and had barely enough energy to finish a work day. I am 2 weeks in on a body rebuilding program. I am basically 6 million dollar man'ing ,myself. Total rebuild right down to the organ/metabolic level. I am 40 now, and my joints cannot handle the heavy weights anymore. I was pushing a 315 bench press, 140 curls, 230 lb shoulder raises, 400 pound dead lifts and it is what destroyed my shoulders.

Cardio was non-existent, and meals were all high protein. I am retraining my body for diet and cardio now. I am sticking to a 15-1800 cal a day diet until I hit 195, and am going for a lean cut look this time. Not the bulky meathead look. Using the myfitnesspal app, I am down to 236 in 20 days doing 6 days a week of alternating cardio/weights.

Days 1 and 3 I am doing 45 minutes HARD elliptical, I practically have to crawl out of there. But the pain is fatigue which is good, and the joints are pain free.

Then days 2 and 4 half body weights using German Volume training (Try it, it is INTENSE) (Chest/tris/biceps on day 2) (Back/legs/shoulders day 4).

Then on the last 2 I am doing HIIT on the elliptical day 5 and a full body circuit day 6. It is bloody amazing the results you can bang out in just over 2 weeks.

Basically I am going for the Hugh Jackman'ish/Wolversine style of physique. Somewhere between cut and bulky. My frame will never give me the Bruce Lee look, I am too wide in the shoulders and back for it. In the past I just went for straight bulk. I will put up some before and after's soon.

But myfitnesspal is the most amazing app I have ever used. The thing is like having a personal trainer and a professional nutritionist in your pocket.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Myehn. Thor's not the only one that gets to be on TV. :-D

http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=453553

Don, you deserve enormous credit for not only pulling off what you did, but for going out and inspiring others to do the same. Even though I only have to lose 40-50 pounds, I still get inspired by stories like yours. If you can do what you did, I am a total failure if I cannot lose 1/3 of what you did.

Massive respect.

[Righteous1]

^^honestly man, ater a while the gym just become a habit. Part of your normal routine, same with eating clean. Just stay with it!

[SHOGUN]

Originally Posted by Righteous1

^^honestly man, ater a while the gym just become a habit. Part of your normal routine, same with eating clean. Just stay with it!

Easier said than done for people who have a food addiction/eating disorder. It's like trying to tell a 20 year pack-a-day smoker to "just stop smoking and stick with it!". It takes immense willpower for a person to change their lifestyle in a complete 180 after years and years of terrible habits.

[Caged Great]

I have found that if you start small (really small if necessary), and do it each day for 40 days without interruption, it forms a good habit. I just recently (june) started trying to work out and started by just walking at a good pace for 30 minutes and did that for the 40 days to build the habit of exercising and now I'm not finding it a struggle to do a lot heavier work out and have dropped from 225 to 208 now (goal of 195-200). It's just a part of the day now, and I've always had difficulty being consistent with working out.

If you start small and make it a habit, then it's easier to add afterwards.

[savemedrzaius]

I'm still trying to find a good out work out routine and I found this online.

Monday: Chest & Triceps
• 3 sets Triceps pushdowns with rope (view image)
• 4 sets Bench press (view image)
• 3 sets Seated triceps over head single dumbbell raises (view image)
• 3 sets Incline dumbbell press (view image)
• 3 sets Dumbbell flyes (view image)
• 3 sets Triceps skullcrushers (view image)[ad#ad-2]
Tuesday: Cardio + Core
• 5 minute warm up
• 10 minute Interval training on treadmill
• 5 minute Cool down
• 3 sets Crunches on stability ball (view image)
• 3 sets Plank (view image)
• 3 sets Bent knee hip raises (view image)
Wednesday: Back & Biceps
• 4 sets Lat pulldowns (view image)
• 3 sets Dumbbell bicep curls (view image)
• 3 sets cable rows (view image)
• 3 sets Barbell curls (view image)
• 3 sets Pull-ups or assisted pull-ups (view image)
Thursday: Off
Friday: Legs
• 4 sets Smith machine squats (view image)
• 3 sets Stiff legged deadlifts (view image)
• 3 sets Seated leg extensions (view image)
• 3 sets Stationary dumbbell lunges (view image)
• 3 sets Calf raises (view image)


Saturday: Shoulders
• 3 sets Dumbbell press (view image)
• 3 sets Seated bent over rear deltoid raise (view image)
• 3 sets Dumbbell shrugs (view image)
• 3 sets Dumbbell front raises (view image)
Sunday: Off

The thing with this is, it seems like some days I would be done in 30 mins.

Think it would be okay to combine two days into one? Usually when I work out it takes me anywhere from an hour to 1.5 hours.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

I'm still trying to find a good out work out routine and I found this online.

The thing with this is, it seems like some days I would be done in 30 mins.

Think it would be okay to combine two days into one? Usually when I work out it takes me anywhere from an hour to 1.5 hours.

When I was my biggest and strongest, I never exceeded a 45 minute weight training session. It was more about intensity.

[Slava]

I am doing a program now where I have to measure myself every week, in terms of chest, arms, waist, etc. One thing was confusing me though. I wear size 34-35 pants and yet my waist measures at 38. How could this be? I know how to use a measuring tape, so it's kind of foolproof, right?

This is when I found out about 'vanity sizing'. I have heard women complain about this kind of thing, but I guess I always assumed that if the pants said 36, then my waist was roughly 36". Apparently the clothing industry wants us to feel better about ourselves though and a size 36 is somewhat meaningless.

I just thought I'd mention it here, mostly for interest sake. Maybe others are under the same impression.

http://www.artofmanliness.com/trunk/...-lying-to-you/