Weight Training: Anything and Everything

[Docker Clint]

I've never used any supplements except creatine occasionally (usually when starting up again after a long time off training).I don't think they achieve much if anything.They can't change your genetics or mentality.

Recently completed first cycle,but @ 32 i think it's fair to say i have finished growing naturally.Absolutely slaying on bench and incline bench atm,so i'm happy given chest has always been a weak point for me not,not in terms of size but definitely in terms of shape and strength.

Anyone recommend all this whey type stuff for someone at my stage?

Are you varying your training program every few weeks?

Youre spot on about the genetics aspect.

 

[Schism]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

Are you varying your training program every few weeks?

Youre spot on about the genetics aspect.

Yep,alternate normal training with supersets/dropsets

 

[fairdinkum]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

Yep,alternate normal training with supersets/dropsets

Please elaborate.

 

[burto]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

Please elaborate.

Supersets - where you altenate exercises between sets. So say you are doing bi's and tri's on the same day, you'd do a set on bi's then immediately jump onto a set on tri's with no rest.

Dropset - say you're benching 90kg, you get 6 reps out on your last set and your stuffed, so you drop it to 60kg and pump out as many more as you can.

 

[fairdinkum]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

Supersets - where you altenate exercises between sets. So say you are doing bi's and tri's on the same day, you'd do a set on bi's then immediately jump onto a set on tri's with no rest.

Dropset - say you're benching 90kg, you get 6 reps out on your last set and your stuffed, so you drop it to 60kg and pump out as many more as you can.

Thanks for the info.

Turns out I've been sorta doing 'dropsets' ever since I started pumping iron.

On a chest day, for instance, I'll do a couple of sets at the heaviest weight I can push out for 6-8 reps, then do a couple set maybe 10 kg's lower, then another couple sets maybe 10 kg's lower, then a couple of sets of pushups until failure.

*Waits for some bodybuilding extraordinaire to tell me I've been doing it wrong for the last 6 years*

 

[Schism]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

Please elaborate.

Google is your friend!

 

[fairdinkum]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

Why don't you just use HGH with Sustanon 250 and/or Enanthate instead of some dodgy pill with 'bovine growth hormones'?

When I grow up, I'm going to Bovine University.

 

[Schism]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

If i'm not shattered after a gym session,i feel like it was a waste of time.This comes from heavy lifting,not protein shakes!

I think i'm one of the few who can genuinely say they have vomited and/or collapsed at the gym

 

[mcuzzy]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

If i'm not shattered after a gym session,i feel like it was a waste of time.This comes from heavy lifting,not protein shakes!

I think i'm one of the few who can genuinely say they have vomited and/or collapsed at the gym

When I first starting going to the gym I vomited several times in the first 3 months.

Only collapsed once doing bicep curls, my lack of fluids assisted the feinting though.

But I'm the same as you in a way, If I'm not completely sore and exhausted I feel like I wasted a whole session.

And I love the sore muscles for the day or 2 after

 

[Schism]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

This, and:
This.

In my early gym days I threw up a few times after a solid workout. However I've learned that my body needs a lot more water than most, and I barely ever have any such problems (including headaches/migraines) anymore.

Strange you mention headaches - for ages after i first started deadlifting,deads would give me a headache,every single time,no matter light or heavy.I think it must have been a CNS issue?I don't dead atm due to a knee/hammy problem but it will be interesting to see what happens when i start them again.

Another good one after an epic workout is getting into the car and not being able to grip the steering wheel,or hold your arms up to steer.Or just getting into the car and taking 5 or 10 minutes to build up the mental strength for the (for me) 20 min drive home,especially in traffic

 

[fairdinkum]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

And I love the sore muscles for the day or 2 after

Day or 2?

After a chest session, I'm generally sore for 3-4 days and can still feel a bit of restriction up to a week later. Back sessions aren't much different.

 

[mcuzzy]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

Day or 2?

After a chest session, I'm generally sore for 3-4 days and can still feel a bit of restriction up to a week later. Back sessions aren't much different.

Well yeah, you know what I mean

Tricep workouts and leg workouts are always the ones that leave me the sorest

 

[Schism]

I've been weight training for 4 years but haven't ever considered AS. I haven't researched them or had a serious chat with anyone who has taken them either. So basically, I know zero about AS.

Just a few questions:
How long did your course go for, and were the increases in size and strength as much as you thought they would be?

How much did you change up your training routine? I know they help recovery, so did you do a really intense program while you were on them?

-The course went for about 9 weeks.Good gains in size,surprisingly because i was already pretty big.Actually,volume or mass would be a more accurate description.I probably didn't look too much bigger to the average joe,but i filled out even more,my shoulders especially went ballistic.Strength gains were good,especially for chest.Went from comfortable 120 bench to 160.Now off cycle and hovering around the 130-140 mark reasonably comfortably,so that's a good strength gain as far as i'm concerned.

-The first 3 weeks i did supersetting with chest and back,then for the next 6 weeks or so went back to a normal 4 day split,which i guess people call a bodybuilding routine,which it isn't.

 

[EasternTiger]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

-The course went for about 9 weeks.Good gains in size,surprisingly because i was already pretty big.Actually,volume or mass would be a more accurate description.I probably didn't look too much bigger to the average joe,but i filled out even more,my shoulders especially went ballistic.Strength gains were good,especially for chest.Went from comfortable 120 bench to 160.Now off cycle and hovering around the 130-140 mark reasonably comfortably,so that's a good strength gain as far as i'm concerned.

They are very good strength gains. For some reason 120 seems the upper limit for bench in my gym. There's only a couple of really big, powerful lifters. I've been stuck on a comfortable 110 for a year now. I even dropped back in weight recently because 110 seemed to just fry my tris and shoulders, and was counter-productive to actual chest development. I have done 120 for 6 reps. It was pointless though because my shoulders didn't enjoy it. I'd say 120 would probably be my natural bench limit unless I really, really lifted my game. The obvious next step would be AS, but that would probably be a 3 or 4 years down the track before I seriously considered it.

-The first 3 weeks i did supersetting with chest and back,then for the next 6 weeks or so went back to a normal 4 day split,which i guess people call a bodybuilding routine,which it isn't.

Yeah I've only ever done a 4 day split. Had a look at stuff like 5x5 and HST? a few years back but never tried them. I spoke to an experienced bodybuilder and he laughed when I asked him. His response was "stay off bodybuilding.com and just f***** train!"

Thanks for sharing Schism

 

[Schism]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

They are very good strength gains. For some reason 120 seems the upper limit for bench in my gym. There's only a couple of really big, powerful lifters. I've been stuck on a comfortable 110 for a year now. I even dropped back in weight recently because 110 seemed to just fry my tris and shoulders, and was counter-productive to actual chest development. I have done 120 for 6 reps. It was pointless though because my shoulders didn't enjoy it. I'd say 120 would probably be my natural bench limit unless I really, really lifted my game. The obvious next step would be AS, but that would probably be a 3 or 4 years down the track before I seriously considered it.



Yeah I've only ever done a 4 day split. Had a look at stuff like 5x5 and HST? a few years back but never tried them. I spoke to an experienced bodybuilder and he laughed when I asked him. His response was "stay off bodybuilding.com and just f***** train!"

Thanks for sharing Schism

Read the smith machine bench press thread i made,it has some good discussion on improving bench.I also have 2 problems with free bench a)my tri's fatigue after the 1st or 2nd set,and b)it's savage on my shoulders.I fixed these by switching to smith machine bench.Dumbells are an option,but at heavy weights you really need a training partner to help with them,i generally train alone, so i use the smith.

5x5 actually can/does work,as long as you have the patience and understand that it is primarily for increasing your strength so that when you go back to your regular routines you will lift heavier and therefore get bigger.

 

[mcuzzy]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

I hate the arrogant guys in gyms who walk around greasing people off and trying to death stare less experienced weight lifters.

oh yeah and ronnie colemans a freak!

 

[Schism]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

Ain't nuthin' but a peanut!

Light weight!!

 

[mcuzzy]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

I'm the kind of guy that prefers to train on his own, and not be interrupted for anything. If somebody asks if I'm using something, or says hey, that's fine, but people trying to start conversation usually get doughnuts from me.

I'm at the gym to train, not socialise. For this reason, I sit with my iPod in to prevent people talking to me, and usually just stare into space between sets.

I agree with you here, I'm fine with the 'Hi, how are you, how was the weekend?' thing though. I draw the line at that. Hate when guys I see at pubs yell across the gym asking 'did you stick it in her?' or something along the lines of that. Gets annoying.

I prefer to do as you said above, sit on the bench staring into space, thinking. Or if I have the iPod I'll flick through songs. Sometimes even pushups to kill time.

I don't mind a bit of chit-chat with people I know like a quick 1 minute talk or as I said above the 'hey how are you mate'. I feel like an arrogant ******** sometimes and people probably think I'm a downer who only speaks when spoken to. I just can't help it

When you combine this with me often shaking my head at guys who come in in groups thinking they're heroes, or loading up the EZbar to produce some terrible Bicep Curls, I probably come across as a w***er sometimes.

I don't shake my head or laugh or anything, I know they're just highly unexperienced or just trying to look tough infront of mates. Been tempted to approach them and give them advice while their mates watch but I'd feel like a toss and to be honest, I'm not perfect with technique sometimes either.

Although at the start of last year one guy did help me out when I walked in there and started doing the heaviest weight I could as quick as I could. He said a little less weight, get your technique right and you'll more than likely see better results.

 

[mcuzzy]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

Just noticed the Jay Cutler part of your post, Whomb. He's a freak too! I remember a few years ago I saw a photo of him and I thought it was fake. What a machine

 

[Schism]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

I give people the thousand yard stare at the gym all the time.But it is exactly that,a thousand yard stare,i'm looking straight through them.I'm way too absorbed in the ipod and my next set to give a **** what anyone else is doing.Very early on in a workout i'll survey the lay of the land so to speak,but once i'm in the zone that's it.There could be (and has been) a punch up 10 metres away and i simply won't acknowledge it.Took years of practice to be able to attain this semi-psychotic state though.

 

[mcuzzy]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

That's some strong focus you have there, good to hear.
Can anyone tell me how long I should rest inbetween sets?

Sometimes the ipod distracts me so I chuck it in my bag if I keep changing songs over and over.

 

[Brad Goodman]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

:

When you combine this with me often shaking my head at guys who come in in groups thinking they're heroes, or loading up the EZbar to produce some terrible Bicep Curls, I probably come across as a w***er sometimes.

This is why I don't go to Fitness First anymore. My new gym is smaller and has less equipment but there's far less ********s too.

 

[Schism]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

That's some strong focus you have there, good to hear.
Can anyone tell me how long I should rest inbetween sets?

Sometimes the ipod distracts me so I chuck it in my bag if I keep changing songs over and over.

Took a long time for me to be able to focus like that.By nature,usually i'm not very motivated.So it was a struggle.Basically i have to think about things that keep me on point,about things that make me emotional.That way i am able to forget about my surroundings or what i'm doing later or what i did yesterday.You know what i mean.

I usually wait about 2-4 minutes between sets,but it is an instinct thing.Do the next set whenever you feel you can give it 100%.

 

[Fire Storm]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

When you combine this with me often shaking my head at guys who come in in groups thinking they're heroes, or loading up the EZbar to produce some terrible Bicep Curls, I probably come across as a w***er sometimes.

I used to love this. Especially on my 'light' day. Because light day for me is Good Morning day.

After I worked my way up to 100kg for 10 horizontal performed reps, and grunting hard at every rep, I certainly had their attention.


Hell, I probably had more bulging muscle in my lumbers then they did in their biceps.

 

[Kong]

Re: Protein & Other Supplements

This is why I don't go to Fitness First anymore. My new gym is smaller and has less equipment but there's far less ********s too.

Am I the ****, or people I'm referring to?