Fitness/Workout thread

It's def. possible...personally I increased my squat 100lbs. in 2 weeks when I started (255-355 for 12 reps), but that was on a diff. routine...As long as you stimulate the muscle sufficiently and allow for enough rest to recover, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't reach your goals- even ahead of schedule.

I personally haven't tried it, but I've read up on it, and it's a pretty decent program. Are you going to be doing just those 2 exercises, or are there other compound movements that you'll be doing as well? Most on the 5x5 usually do 4-6 compound exercises, so I was wondering how you have your program set up. Good Luck!

 

Hard to say. Most people who casually workout or just start again after a long period of time and go right into a pretty hardcore program see really rapid results for the first few months so its possible. Its the guys who lift constantly that see slower results a lot of the time.

BTW why is your team named the NIAGARA FALLS angry beavers?

 

As long as you keep going. I dont think anyone really runs for style lol. I look like warm death when Im out there after I just finished lifting. Keep up the good work man

 

Like JCOW said, cut out the creatine at least partially or completely right now if necessary and worry more about your diet. You can buy all the supplements and **** in the world but if your workout plan, diet and sleep patterns are bad then your going to have a really tough time. Also, drink a hell of a lot of water everyday.

 

Yeah, I've been lifting with a 3-4 days a week routine (during college I do 4 day routines because I have more time) for over a year... And the team name is from ThePhins.com Poster draft, which is in the contest forum here...

Well it's a MWF routine so I get a days rest between each day and two days to recover for Monday. This is how mine works out.. I've done exactly what was the routine said to do, didn't modify it at all. Normally I would but I figured I better do the routine as it was intended:

Monday:
Bench: 5 X 5 racking
Squat: 5 X 5 racking
Barbell Row: 5 X 5 racking
Weighted Hyper-extensions: 2 X 12
Weighted Crunches: 4 X 25

Wednesday (this is the 'light day' according to Starr):
Squat: 4 X 5, first three sets same as Monday, forth set the same set as Monday's third set.
Military Press: 4 X 5 racking
Deadlift: 4 X 5 racking
Crunches: 4 X 25

Friday:
Bench: 4 X 5 (same as first four sets as Monday) 1 X 3 (minimum 2.5% increase from last set on Monday) 1 X 8 (third set on Monday)
Squat: 4 X 5 (same as first four sets as Monday) 1 X 3 (minimum 2.5% increase from last set on Monday) 1 X 8 (third set on Monday)
Barbell Row: 4 X 5 (same as first four sets as Monday) 1 X 3 (minimum 2.5% increase from last set on Monday) 1 X 8 (third set on Monday)
Dips: 3 X 6
Barbell Curls: 3 X 10
Tricep Extensions: 3 X 8

 

yea I think you have a decent shot at meeting those goals if you can keep at it consistantly. I know about the poster draft but my question is why did you choose Niagara Falls?

 

I dunno...

I liked the name Angry Beavers because it sounded cool... and it has a sexual innuendo.

I thought, what would piss off beavers and then it came to me... living near Niagara Falls. So they became the Angry Beavers.

 

Griddles is a virgin....the thought of beavers angers him....the name makes sense now huh?

 

just started running again today for the 1st time in 8 months. cranked out a whopping 2.5 miles in 25 mins.

 

strength training is usually up to one or two rep weight. that routine looks more powerlifting to me. I can't workout till my road rash heals. But I think I'm going to go sat and at least do some squats............ cant use my arms though till i heal.

 

haha that was a home run. I credit myself for the setup.

Actually I live in NF, NY so I saw NF beavers and was like wtf is someone trolling in my neighborhood?

 

Be careful with that Wed. routine...doing deadlifts and squats the same day could quickly lead to overtraining if you're not careful. Those are 2 MAJOR compound exercises that really use up the body's recuperative resources, even if it is a 'light' day....

Just curious, but how light is 'light' anyway? Are they all on the same type of thing as the squat? I've seen a lot of variations, and all have just been a cursory glance (enough to know it's not for me ), so I don't really know all the ins-n-outs of the program. Also, what are the % you're working with? I would assume that the last set on Mon. is somewhere around 80% of your 1RM, but I'm wondering how it all breaks down.

Keep us posted on your progress!

 

Yeah I was worried about that, but this is what light means... This is what I do for squats on Mondays...

First set is 135 lb
Second set is 165 lb
Third set is 195 lb
Forth set is 225 lb
Fifth set is 255 lb

And on Wednesday you do four sets of five, you're suppose to do the same thing as Monday with the first three sets, but the forth set is suppose to be the same set as Monday's third set.. So it looks like this:

First set is 135 lb
Second set is 165 lb
Third set is 195 lb
Forth set is 195 lb

I'm just doing what the program calls for, I'm not a beginner for lifting or anything so that's why I'm not too scared of it. I've heard that squats and deadlifts aren't too smart on the same day but I would assume that a strength trainer like Starr would know what he's talking about.

EDIT: And I reached my goals easier than I thought for Friday where I'm suppose to increase the last set by 2.5% or so.. So that was pretty satisfying. Thanks for the advice and uhhh... insults, guys..

 

I do that all the time .....

 

taking a crap is not the squatting we are talking about lucky.

 

Okay, so once upon a time in this thread, somebody posted a book targeting MASS and Bulking up. I have gone through the thread twice now and I am still not seeing it.....any insight?

 

I would take a look at The New HIT or The New Bodybuilding for Old School Results, both by Ellington Darden, PhD. I personally have the first one, and it has been the clearest, most scientific, concise and understandable book on the subject of strength training and BB that I have read so far. Both have some good routines for mass/bulking, and the HIT one even has specific routines for lagging body parts.

You can find HIT at any bookstore or online for under $20 I believe...the second I think you can only get online at his website (http://drdarden.com), and it's also moreso a history of Arthur Jones, HIT and the Iron Game (as both contain such things; I think Mr. Darden got a little sentimental when his good friend Jones started to die-hence all the stories). If that interests you cool, but otherwise I would stick to The New HIT, as it is a cheaper book and also contains a fairly recent tear down/build up case study done here at GHFC in Gainesville, FL, complete with meal plan, routines and before-and-after pics. Don't know if this is what you're looking for, but IMO it's worth a look regardless.

 

Finally got back into my routine after being a slacker for alittle while. Feels so good to be back into it.

I'll have to check out that book.

 

Hmmm.......

That book has some very mixed reviews on Amazon. Would you recommend that over Mentzer's HIT book?

 

Not for the amount of info (as the Darden book is about 1/3 HIT history), but for the specific routines and the case study. As you can get it for $10-15 bucks, I think it's worth having in one's strength training library. It's also somewhat easier to read and reference than Mentzer's last two books (Hit and Wisdom w/ J. Little). I read the neg. reviews on Amazon; some are warranted, others just seem to be the ramblings of someone reticent to give up long held beliefs.

I respect Dr. Darden and his methods, as he is one of the few people out there willing to put his philosophies on the line, whether through published detailed case studies or regular open challenges on T-nation.com. I've known far too many trainers, etc. that get defensive and beat around the bush when it comes to their training systems and the rational and science behind them. Darden is one of the few that don't....


Actually, come to think of it, I am going to change my mind. I would personally wait for a guy named Drew Baye to publish his book. He's been one of the most knowledgeable, logical and scientific posters over at Dr. Darden's website. He's also a personal trainer down here in FL, so his book is supposed to cover a lot of nutritional and supplemental info as well. He says it should be out in the next couple of months, so I would wait for that one instead. It will most undoubtedly be more expensive than The New HIT, but I think it will be worth it. (Less history, more scientific studies.)


Well, that's a long reply to a short question, but meh, what can ya do??

 

Interesting.........That guy actually left a review of Mentzer's book on Amazon.

 

I will check into those two (Thanks) but not the ones I was referring to...

 

VERY surprised no one has mentioned this... why? Because every e-bodybuilder preaches this as the best book since the Bible.

 

does anyone know if carpal tunnel hampers lifting?

 

Do you have it? If so does it bother you when you lift? lol I duno how else youd be able to tell.

 

It bothers me at night...I dont know if thats what it is. I need to go get it looked at.

 

I thought at first maybe I pulled something in my wrist, but I have laid off lifting for a while and it doesnt seem to get better. It seems to come and go.

 

my wrist use to bother me alot after benching and curls etc. i started using gloves that have the built in wrap on them for extra support. since then i've had no problems. i really recommend gloves for anyone with those kinda probs or if your hands sweat a lot. for me thats both.

 

Hey guys, looking for some help.

I want to become a quicker runner. I say quicker because I'm already one of the fastest, if not the fastest player in my league. However, I have a thin build, and all my speed is top end.

Ideally, I want to increase my acceleration while not affecting my top end. I was thinking squats and other exercises to increase the muscle mass on my thighs.

Any insight is appreciated.

 

got my mile down to 8:45. not bad for 2 and a half weeks, and bein an old man!

 

id be thinking, less weight lifting and more explosive plyometric type stuff...like jumping on top of a 1-2 foot box and back down, repeatedly. running suicides and short sprints. jump squats with no weight...stuff like that.

 

Squats.. heavy weights low reps every four days..a weight that causes you to not finish the rep around 7-8...warmup then 4 sets or so of high weight low rep work.

 

I actually DO have this book. I find very good information in it, but it is antiquated. Always looking for new things and techniques

 

Thanks guys. I will def try the squats. I am familiar with the plyometric stuff as well, but heard it can be a detriment to you if not done properly. So Im kind of timid to do that stuff on my own. The suicide sprints are doable though.

Thanks again.

 

I would def. agree with everything previously said- plyo w/ heavy squats every 4-5 days, with a total rest day the day after you do squats. And yeah, def. get a session or two with a cert. trainer if you're going to get heavy into the plyo stuff. Some of that can be done on your own relatively safe and easy though.

Also, bungee/parachute/sled drag sprints can help w/ acceleration and quicks as well. Working on developing quick feet is essential. Rope ladders/tires are good, easy stuff to find to train with. Just some ideas.

 

Im not of Fan of Arnolds "volume" training rarely if ever do you see great gains without drugs...again for those that want str/mass (ONLY) Mentzers system is far superior for an athlete training with or without drugs.

 

tubs of bengay.

 

IceyHot.

 

Does doing one extreme super-set per body part a week actually work?

dont his workouts go something like:

leg extensions, 8-15 reps to failure.
then right to squats, 6-10 reps to failure.

take a break.

then calves, 8-15 reps to failure...


and thats an entire workout?