^^very nice

i would love to train for combine at one of those facilities

11/22/2011 9:44:03 AM

i think my OHP might be what is causing my wrist issues. thought it might be squat wrist/bar positioning, but after playing around i think it's the press.

i seem to have a hard time getting comfortable with the bar directly over the forearm, and might be letting the wrist handle too much flexing on the ascent when trying to press.

using thumbless makes me very nervous and haven't been doing it.

any one got a good article for setup/racking/positioning?

the left one before thanksgiving was really beat up. the day after lifting it'd be pretty damn painful just to do everyday things, but mostly with twisting motions. however, before and during lifting there'd be no sign of pain or discomfort. took about a week off to try and see if it felt better, then today a few hours after lifting it's already really sore again.

oops.

11/28/2011 9:14:10 PM

http://startingstrength.com/articles/learning_press_rippetoe.pdf

That has a decent section about proper set up and grip.

I've been playing with it a bit. I am not comfortable with the finger tips being pressed in to the bar. However, the action of pointing the thumbs to the floor and then setting the grip from there seems to help.

11/28/2011 9:17:08 PM

oh rippetoe. i should just immediately google one of your articles.

SS 3rd edition is on my christmas list haha

[Edited on November 28, 2011 at 10:18 PM. Reason : thanks matt]

11/28/2011 10:17:57 PM

I use thumbless for OHP, bench, and incline. I know it's a very polarizing subject, but I've never felt at all uncomfortable or like I don't have control. I'm also not pushing a huge amount of weight, so that might have something to do with it.

Actually, I guess it's not completely thumbless. I point my thumbs inward and rest them along the underside of the bar.

[Edited on November 29, 2011 at 4:05 AM. Reason : ]

11/29/2011 4:02:04 AM

Today I followed up by maxing out 225 to failure at 27 reps. I must say that it was the most exhausting and burning sensation I think I've ever experienced. It was much more intense than taking 315 and 365 to failure. I think I might have had the strength to do 2-3 more if I knew how to properly pace myself and took a couple of 1-2 second pauses toward the end, but the lactic acid buildup was insane.

I then proceeded to quit my workout and do an hour of cardio.

11/30/2011 9:50:17 PM

Nice work !

I'll be happy when I can rep 250 for 10.

11/30/2011 9:54:14 PM

damn dude that's a lot of reps.

225 is what NFL players do at the combine and 27 reps would beat quite a few guys out there. How much do you weigh?

12/1/2011 9:28:34 AM

right now I'm weighing about 260, and for the next two months my goal is to diet down to ~240. I'm switching to DC training and lots of cardio for at least the next month to get the diet jump started, and I'm contemplating going on a low-carb diet to keep me from overeating junk food through the holidays.

12/1/2011 3:50:23 PM

Yea, I'm targeting my workout meals with carbs but its almost an insult to go low carb over xmas

12/1/2011 3:59:42 PM

that's why I like DC training on a low-carb diet - you don't even need carbs around your workout because they aren't energy intensive. pick 1-2 exercises, warm up, then go one set to failure and you're done.

12/1/2011 4:55:59 PM

what's dc training?

12/1/2011 5:00:17 PM

Dog Crap

12/1/2011 5:09:26 PM

did a 20 minute "VTX Storm" workout at my GFs gym with their owner. Very intense WO, really enjoyed it and felt like I was going to pass out after, haven't done something that pushed me that hard in a long time at the gym

we basically alternated between doing:

10 reps me, 1 rep him, til the order reversed 1 rep me, 10 reps him on push/pull exercises...for 10 different exercises in the 20 minutes. Supposed to be the muscle building portion of the workout program. My gf is actually be filmed for their workout video tomorrow

12/3/2011 5:51:24 PM

im trying to tone up, and my biggest stumbling block has been healthy snacking throughout the day. can anyone recommend good, FILLING snacks for someone trying to cut? i have to eat at my desk throughout the day, so nothing too messy...

12/3/2011 6:31:39 PM

i make my own trail mix, more nut heavy than berry

12/3/2011 6:33:04 PM

gents,

how do i know if something is a groin strain or a hernia?

12/3/2011 8:15:13 PM

^^^ you're not going to want to eat snacks if you're trying to burn fat. You need to be fasting to lower your insulin and really burn fat.

Eating throughout the day just makes it harder to burn fat. It sounds like you aren't eating enough at meals.

If you're really going to snack though you need protein for satiety. If you're a carbaholic the best snacks are legumes, vegetables, and occasional fruits and nuts.

12/5/2011 1:50:15 AM

^^Can you feel your intestines poking through?

12/5/2011 9:06:52 AM

snacking is pointless on a calorie restricted diet. you don't need several meals spaced throughout the day when you're trying to lose weight - only when bulking. just be sure to eat plenty of slow digesting proteins so that your stomach/intestines have protein stores to pull from throughout the day. eating carbs throughout the day is a surefire way to keep your insulin levels up and prevent you body from emptying energy stores.

12/5/2011 10:52:58 AM

[Edited on December 5, 2011 at 11:18 AM. Reason : nm]

12/5/2011 11:10:24 AM

looks like a reddit IAmA with Mark Rippetoe was just started

http://www.reddit.com/r/Fitness/comments/n13d8/i_am_mark_rippetoe_author_of_starting_strength/

12/5/2011 11:46:48 AM

Quote :

"^^Can you feel your intestines poking through?"

not really. where should i be looking?

12/5/2011 12:09:46 PM

go to a doctor. that's the best option, by far.

feel around in your sack for material that shouldn't be there, that you don't remember being there in the past.

follow the "ball cord" up to the inguinal ring, and feel around for protrusions.

usually pretty pronounced from what i understand.

12/6/2011 8:33:33 AM

thanks - my primary doc is unavailable, but a physician's assistant felt around and found nothing. i've got a follow up with a urologist coming up just to be safe. seems like a groin strain so far, but this is the wierdest/most most oddly situated pain i've ever felt.. and the pain/soreness has lingered longer than anything ive ever had outside of an ankle sprain.

12/6/2011 10:45:34 AM

will continuing to drink a morning coffee (or liter) negatively effect the benefits of creatine usage?

5g/day or so.

searches on the internet seem to point to studies of caffeine usage with creatine that are all over the place. looking to see if someone has had experience.

[Edited on December 8, 2011 at 10:54 AM. Reason : ]

12/8/2011 10:54:15 AM

^ Just did some Googling...Well dang.

Makes you wonder about those pre-workout supplements that have both Creatine and high levels of Caffeine.

12/8/2011 12:13:57 PM

I'm not a big supporter in creatine, as I never saw it do anything more than make me retain water. Considering that caffeine is a diuretic, it would make sense that the two might cencel each other out.

12/8/2011 3:43:36 PM

Creatine is one of the only supplements to be backed with research.

Some people are better responders than others.

Creatine does cause you to retain some water, by allowing your body to store more creatine phopshate, which binds to some water. However, from what I've read, the major cases of water retention are caused by impurities in low quality creatine.

I don't see how creatine + caffeine would matter much.

Creatine supplementation tops off your bodys ability to store creatine phosphate. This energy source provides muscles with short term, high intensity energy. It does a lot of work, but doesn't last long. More creatine stores = longer duration of high intensity muscle contraction.

Think of it allowing you to sprint at max speed for 9seconds, as opposed 7. Or being able to rep out 250lbs for 4reps instead of 2-3.

[Edited on December 8, 2011 at 9:18 PM. Reason : ;]

12/8/2011 9:05:52 PM

the only thing creatine ever made stronger on me were my bowel movements. Caffeine is a much more effective performance enhancer IMHO.

12/8/2011 11:35:55 PM

creatine makes my tummy hurt if I take over the suggested amount.

If you have problems stomaching it, look up the suggested grams per body weight. If I take that much I don't have a problem with it. Some sports people who sell the stuff will push people to take 20 g to load up or something. I'm sure that's just wasting your money and upsetting your stomach.

12/9/2011 12:27:09 AM

Quote :

"Some sports people who sell the stuff will push people to take 20 g to load up or something. I'm sure that's just wasting your money and upsetting your stomach"

okay, lifting n00b, you have to have a certain level in your body for it to be effective. while you do not have to load 20g per day for a week, it certainly will top off your stores (i prefer 2 servings every day until the last half of your cycle when it's 2 on workout days and 1 on off days). you're not going to use it for 2 weeks and stop. just because a bottle of creatine contains 3 weeks supply does not mean you only use it for three weeks. you have one weeks worth of food at your house, do you stop eating after that week? no, you use creatine as a cycle. Eight weeks, 10 weeks, 12 weeks, etc. Then you go off. Then you go back on.

12/9/2011 7:50:45 AM

I fucking hate crossfit.

Now it's in the right thread.

12/12/2011 6:52:54 PM

lol, I hate the crossfit mentality and I am jealous of their successful marketing.

The gym I am planning to open will incorporate a few similar concepts from crossfit, but with my own style of programming and training philosophy.

12/12/2011 8:51:30 PM

bodybuilding is gay



just thought I'd come into this thread and spread some hate
































in all seriousness, to each their own

12/12/2011 10:17:13 PM

do you guys train with partners or by yourselves?

those that have done both, which do your prefer?

12/14/2011 4:17:16 PM

I train by myself. Sometimes it would be nice to have a form checker but I don't want to be tethered to someone else's schedule.

12/14/2011 4:38:54 PM

i would rather train with a fellow lifter who is on the same routine as me BUT

1) is on a different day/body part
2) is way stronger than me
3) is way weaker than me
4) is on a different routine but is familiar with mine or has done mine
5) knows what to look for in my lifts and isn't there paying lip service to squat depth, lockouts, bar speed, or, if in a bodybuidling cycle knows to look for intensity, timing, doesn't let me go too heavy or let my ego get in the way of hypertrophy, knows what weights are right for HIT training ala dorian yates if in the workout

so, yes, i have a very hard time finding a workout partner.

12/14/2011 4:44:24 PM

When I used to just lift I absolutely preferred a partner. I used to workout with Mike (Packman) and it was great because I was better than him at things and he beat me at others so we were constantly pushing each other. Also is nice to have a spotter, I always hate asking someone for a spot but wasn't a big fan of benching without one if I was pushing it.

12/14/2011 5:01:24 PM

I don't like having a lifting partner for many reasons. My gym time is my time to unwind from work, and I'm more likely to drag the workout out too long conversating instead of lifting. I also like to listen to my body and adjust my workouts accordingly. If I get halfway into a workout and something doesn't feel right, I don't want to feel obligated to finish that exercise because someone else is doing it with me.

12/14/2011 7:50:27 PM

awww, eleusis, i'll be the franco columbo to your arnold.



[Edited on December 15, 2011 at 9:29 AM. Reason : except way taller, not as strong, and without sardinian strongman records. ]

12/15/2011 9:28:49 AM

any of you guys have any input on smolov jr for bench press?

i am out of the westside cycle (although i'm due to start again) but want to try something different for the next 12 weeks.

there is absolutely no way i could do smolov for legs and for chest (even if it's only jr for legs). short of going to the chiropracter and having his buddy prescribe me "hormone regulation" medication, got any advice on what type of leg program would be doable while working with smolov for my upper body?

[Edited on December 15, 2011 at 10:57 AM. Reason : too many quotation marks]

12/15/2011 10:56:58 AM

i appreciate the responses regarding a training partner. really the only reason i was wondering is that i feel like i'm not able to push to where i want on bench due to the fact that im a little timid without a spotter. i don't like talking to people at the gym either. just need to ask someone if i feel the need i guess.

or learn the roll of shame.

i actually had my gf on the same schedule/program as i am doing for a while, but it just took so long to change out the weights between every set and shit.

side story: last friday i was going for a DL PR attempt. on the second pull, mid-way up, a clenched up, warm, massive fart ripped though. I've never squeezed my ass cheeks so hard at lockout before. took a finger check and realized i had not, in fact, shit myself.

12/15/2011 11:42:20 AM

Officially squating more than my weight. Weighed in at 164.6 (this sucks because despite eating like mad this is only 0.2 more than I weighed last week) but squated the full 3x5 @ 165.

12/16/2011 12:57:53 PM

nice. PRs are awesome

12/16/2011 1:21:37 PM

It isn't exactly moving a monster truck tire, but it's progress. Plus, you saw how scrawny I used to be just a handful of years ago.

12/16/2011 1:36:14 PM

no doubt. i have much respect for people that lift properly and reach goals no matter what they're pressing

massive weight with 25% ROM makes people look stupid.

[Edited on December 16, 2011 at 2:04 PM. Reason : .]

12/16/2011 2:03:40 PM

I do partial board presses with two or three 2x4's with way more that i can bench. Does that make me look silly?

Or do I look I know exactly what I'm doing?

12/16/2011 2:08:46 PM

Depends if the person watching you is familiar with powerlifting and the westside method.

12/16/2011 2:23:59 PM

Quote :

"I do partial board presses with two or three 2x4's with way more that i can bench. Does that make me look silly? Or do I look I know exactly what I'm doing?"

come on, you know what i meant by my comment.

12/16/2011 2:31:04 PM