Official: Gym/Workout Thread
- Thread starter t4r4life
- Start date
Sheesh, if a bottle of Coke makes my heart race & gives me the shakes, I wonder what those would do to me. Pre workouts are not good for me. I just have to hope I've got the energy to lift when I need to.
Speaking of lifting, I'm out again. Didn't take long for my hip to start aching bad enough that I could hardly get out of a chair. More PT on Friday. I've been to a hip specialist who told me that its all muscular and that there is nothing wrong with my hip or back. Just extreme muscle tightness that no amount of stretching or foam rolling can remedy. Damned 35 year old body....
I have discovered the joy of Epsom Salts, though. Works wonders for the back. I've also read that the medication I take for asthma & allergies can cause joint pain and muscle spasm/cramps. Going to try not taking it for a while and see if the pain & tightness go away.
Man I miss lifting.
out: The only lifting I can do right now is bench press related and I don't really care how much I bench anymore. I want a bigger deadlift and squat.
Speaking of lifting, I'm out again. Didn't take long for my hip to start aching bad enough that I could hardly get out of a chair. More PT on Friday. I've been to a hip specialist who told me that its all muscular and that there is nothing wrong with my hip or back. Just extreme muscle tightness that no amount of stretching or foam rolling can remedy. Damned 35 year old body....
I have discovered the joy of Epsom Salts, though. Works wonders for the back. I've also read that the medication I take for asthma & allergies can cause joint pain and muscle spasm/cramps. Going to try not taking it for a while and see if the pain & tightness go away.
Man I miss lifting.
out: The only lifting I can do right now is bench press related and I don't really care how much I bench anymore. I want a bigger deadlift and squat.What is this MM you speak of?
I'll be fine. Just need to get things loosened up again, which is what my physical terrorist does. I haven't been able to see him for almost 2 months. He specializes in sports injuries (former powerlifter) and does manual therapy. Which means lots of deep tissue massage & pain. It's worth it, though. He can usually get me loosened up in 2 or 3 visits. I just need to figure out how to stay loose afterward.
I'll be fine. Just need to get things loosened up again, which is what my physical terrorist does. I haven't been able to see him for almost 2 months. He specializes in sports injuries (former powerlifter) and does manual therapy. Which means lots of deep tissue massage & pain. It's worth it, though. He can usually get me loosened up in 2 or 3 visits. I just need to figure out how to stay loose afterward.
Bandit Runner
Senior Member
Bandit Runner's views on weightlifting
Oh, to be young again! I started lifting weights when I was 18 years old. That was 25 years ago, as I’m now 43 years old. I still lift 2 or 3 times a week, and run treadmill a few times a week too. I like doing big basic movements with free weights – squats, deadlifts, presses, etc. I built my own squat rack, and have about 500 lbs of weight plates in my basement. I always work out at home, never in a gym. The only supplements I ever took were a multivitamin and whey protein powder.
I never did get big and huge, or break world record lifts (just don’t have the genetics for it I guess). It certainly wasn’t from lack of dedication or effort. However, I did gain some muscle. I went from a skinny 120 lb teenager to about 190 lb man today. Some of my best lifts were 250 lb bench press, 300 lb squat, and 400 lb deadlift. Although most of those were about 10 years ago, and I certainly couldn’t do them now. I really noticed my lifting ability starting to decline, the closer I got to 40.
Now that I’m older, I’ve found that fewer sets of higher reps with slightly lighter weights are better for me, and help prevent injury. I just can’t recover like I used to. I work my entire body each workout. I always squat and/or deadlift in every workout, as I feel those are the most productive lifts. Then I add a few sets of pushes (dips or military presses) and pulls (pull-ups or rows). Throw in some abs, calves or grip work, and call it good. I don’t do bench presses anymore, because they bother my shoulders. These workouts only take about 30 minutes, as I try to move quickly from one exercise to the next. I also do significant warmups and stretching before lifting. I typically alternate 2 different workouts with a day of cardio and rest in between. I’ll do this for 12 to 16 weeks, then mix it up a little to keep from getting bored, but same basic formula. The workouts:
WORKOUT A:
Weighted crunches = 1 set of 50 reps with 50 lbs on chest
Squats = 1 set of 30 reps with 170 lbs
Stiff leg deadlift = 1 set of 15 with 210 lbs
Military Dumbell Press = 3 sets of 10 with 40 lb dumbbells
Bent over barbell rows = 3 sets of 10 with 140 lbs
Calf raises = 1 set of 40 reps
WORKOUT B:
Ab roller = 50 reps
Deadlift = 3 sets of 12 with 250 lbs
Dips = 3 sets of 15
Chin-ups = 3 sets of 15
Forearm/grip work = 1 set of max reps
Even though I never got huge or won the Mr. Olympia, I still workout every week. After all these years I still enjoy it, even though the gains have almost dried up. I don’t do it to get big anymore, but for longevity and quality of life as I get older.
Just an older guy’s perspective on weightlifting. Thanks for reading.
Oh, to be young again! I started lifting weights when I was 18 years old. That was 25 years ago, as I’m now 43 years old. I still lift 2 or 3 times a week, and run treadmill a few times a week too. I like doing big basic movements with free weights – squats, deadlifts, presses, etc. I built my own squat rack, and have about 500 lbs of weight plates in my basement. I always work out at home, never in a gym. The only supplements I ever took were a multivitamin and whey protein powder.
I never did get big and huge, or break world record lifts (just don’t have the genetics for it I guess). It certainly wasn’t from lack of dedication or effort. However, I did gain some muscle. I went from a skinny 120 lb teenager to about 190 lb man today. Some of my best lifts were 250 lb bench press, 300 lb squat, and 400 lb deadlift. Although most of those were about 10 years ago, and I certainly couldn’t do them now. I really noticed my lifting ability starting to decline, the closer I got to 40.
Now that I’m older, I’ve found that fewer sets of higher reps with slightly lighter weights are better for me, and help prevent injury. I just can’t recover like I used to. I work my entire body each workout. I always squat and/or deadlift in every workout, as I feel those are the most productive lifts. Then I add a few sets of pushes (dips or military presses) and pulls (pull-ups or rows). Throw in some abs, calves or grip work, and call it good. I don’t do bench presses anymore, because they bother my shoulders. These workouts only take about 30 minutes, as I try to move quickly from one exercise to the next. I also do significant warmups and stretching before lifting. I typically alternate 2 different workouts with a day of cardio and rest in between. I’ll do this for 12 to 16 weeks, then mix it up a little to keep from getting bored, but same basic formula. The workouts:
WORKOUT A:
Weighted crunches = 1 set of 50 reps with 50 lbs on chest
Squats = 1 set of 30 reps with 170 lbs
Stiff leg deadlift = 1 set of 15 with 210 lbs
Military Dumbell Press = 3 sets of 10 with 40 lb dumbbells
Bent over barbell rows = 3 sets of 10 with 140 lbs
Calf raises = 1 set of 40 reps
WORKOUT B:
Ab roller = 50 reps
Deadlift = 3 sets of 12 with 250 lbs
Dips = 3 sets of 15
Chin-ups = 3 sets of 15
Forearm/grip work = 1 set of max reps
Even though I never got huge or won the Mr. Olympia, I still workout every week. After all these years I still enjoy it, even though the gains have almost dried up. I don’t do it to get big anymore, but for longevity and quality of life as I get older.
Just an older guy’s perspective on weightlifting. Thanks for reading.
t4r4life
Elite Member
medical marijuana, but it only fix the symptom not the problem. anyway here are some things i think might help
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaXffkNOQvQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO3-lLCpLus
also red wine may help to loosen you up, in moderation of course, and the alcohol thins your blood so your joints get warmer faster. and when you do workout i find it when i wear sweats and a heavy sweat shirt my joints feel way better than just a t shirt and shorts.
t4r4life
Elite Member
That's awesome i hope i can be that fit when im in my 40s
Medical Marijuana is not legal in Iowa as far as I know. I probably wouldn't do it anyway. Never did like the smell of that stuff.
I actually do the self rehab with a softball & foam roller & I have a whole band warmup/stretch routine that my physical terrorist recommended. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Thanks for that info, though. I'll look into that stretch you posted. I'm going to start supplementing Magnesium Citrate as it is supposed to help relax your muscles. I'm also going to ditch the asthma meds for a while because I've read that some of the less common side effects are joint pain & muscle aches.
It's not the end of the world for me. I lift on my own in my basement for fun. I want to do a powerlifting meet sometime in the near future (was planning for one in April). I might still be able to make it. If the pain gets more tolerable, it won't take long to get back to where I was.
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TCMach
New member
x2 on this. Way to go [MENTION=55891]Bandit Runner[/MENTION].
My first contribution to this thread. I'm currently on a cellucor run. Creatine and Protein. I work out 3-4 times a week with various techniques: drop sets, pyramids, you name it. I use rock climbing as my cardio 2-3 times a week.
So far I'm making good gains but this dining hall food is negating my cardio and ab workouts :cry2:
Here is the question for everyone. Anybody got a good preworkout? I've ran NO-xplode and jack3d. Jack3d worked pretty well but eventually I just got fed up with the taste haha!
I've always found food to be a good PWO. Good old fashioned meat and potatoes. There's nothing quite like a 500 pound squat after healthy dose of beef. :hungry:
No lie, I went to the local barbecue shop and got a pound of smoked brisket and ate it in between sets while I was working out one time.
No lie, I went to the local barbecue shop and got a pound of smoked brisket and ate it in between sets while I was working out one time.
TCMach
New member
amen to that! It's amazing what quality food can do.
t4r4life
Elite Member
jesus dude, i can't work out with food in my stomach i'll puke.
t4r4life
Elite Member
Thats never been an issue for me. Maybe its because I'm a fat fokker.
haha you are funny im 5'11 280lbs 26% bodyfat
t4r4life
Elite Member
It's hard for us endomorph to lose bodyfat%, i have to watch my macros to a T and eat 1000 belone maintance calories to even lose .5% per week
snowbrdr033
New member
I'm certainly a gym rat/meathead/whatever you call it in your neck of the woods.
I'm there 6 days/week lifting and occasional cardio session to warmup or cool down. Really depends on how busy my school schedule happens to be.
my "pre-workout" is a caffeine pill (no joke), that's it. I hate all the garbage they put in the stuff that's out there. I eat 5-6x/day and am always on the go. I'm always switching up my routines to prevent adaptation.
202#, 5'11", 19" arms, 26" quads, 48" chest, & even wider shoulders....or cannonballs, as I like to refer to them. Always trying to improve myself in all aspects!
I'm there 6 days/week lifting and occasional cardio session to warmup or cool down. Really depends on how busy my school schedule happens to be.
my "pre-workout" is a caffeine pill (no joke), that's it. I hate all the garbage they put in the stuff that's out there. I eat 5-6x/day and am always on the go. I'm always switching up my routines to prevent adaptation.
202#, 5'11", 19" arms, 26" quads, 48" chest, & even wider shoulders....or cannonballs, as I like to refer to them. Always trying to improve myself in all aspects!
t4r4life
Elite Member
i do a 3 day split so im there usually 5 days a week , i eat twice a day 2 hours away in a 6 hour eating window. i dont have routines, i do whatever muscle is most rested.
Cold no pump
19" arms
27" legs
50" chest
24" shoulder
and a 46" waist
as long as my chest is bigger than my waist im happy
