General Q&A Thread
Replies
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I agree whole-heartedly with Dope.
Don't count on noob gains - not everyone gets them. If not, then you're still on the right track, if you start off on a long-term road. But, if you do, BONUS!0 -
Beginner lifters gain a lot of strength very rapidly in the first weeks and months, but the vast majority of that is from improved neuro-muscular coordination, or your brain talking to your muscles. In terms of actual muscle gain it can and does certainly happen -- I gained 35 pounds in the first two years of lifting.
Problem was at that time I didn't care what I ate, so long as I got tons of protein, so I just ate when hungry, more on days I hit the gym. When I discovered MFP and started tracking calories as well as protein, I lost 20 pounds, making my muscles really pop out more than ever before as a result. I'm sure I lost actually more than 20 pounds of fat as I gained a few more pounds of muscle, as my strength has continued to increase.
I guess you could say I inadvertently did a "bulk" cycle, followed by a "cut" cycle, though that wasn't my uneducated goal; I was just eating, then eating smarter. Were I to do things over I would track total calories from the get-go, save me the hunger of having to adjust from eating it all to eating enough.0 -
I tend to think of noob gains in terms of total amount of muscle or strength gained rather than a window of time. I have no idea whether this is conceptually accurate but as of now I think it's more accurate than defining it in terms of time.
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Thanks guys.
Im certainly not looking for any quick fixes, it just occurred to me if this was a one time situation it may be something to take advantage of.
I havent really decided where I want to end up right now. I know Im not keen on bulking up in a big way, but do like the idea of looking lean and strong. And actually being stronger.
I think its more a general fitness thing right now. I have booked into a Spartan sprint in September so am trying to prepare for that.
I just figured, knowing how my luck runs, Ill find out in a year or so if I had just upped my calories a bit at this time I would have been a lot further down the road...
I started Stronglifts in March, with only the bar and so far am at:
Squat 42.5kg
OHP 30kg
DL 60kg
Bench 30kg
Row 40kg
Its only just beginning to feel heavy, like Im really working, so Im starting to take longer breaks between sets.
I bet those numbers look quite funny to you lot!
Anyways, thanks again - Ill just stick around maintenance and see how it goes.0 -
The current world record in deadlift is well over a thousand pounds. When the guy first began lifting weights, he used the bar only. Everybody has to start somewhere, so there's nothing funny about lifting light or heavy.
Comparing against other people can be good for motivation to improve, but ultimately your sense of self should come from comparing against yourself, so if you're lifting heavier than you did before, it doesn't matter by how much, it's still an improvement over what YOU did before. And that's awesome!0 -
Oh Im with you there - its just knowing how long (and seriously) some of you have been doing it I imagine there is a smirk with "He thinks thats heavy!"
Honestly I know its all about me, and Im really comfortable with that. Its just sometimes I can get consious of the fact Im a noob.
Like when I was benchnig 27kg next to these guys benching 60+
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The other day I was pulling 315# (143kg) for singles on deadlift, next station over was a guy pulling 500#+ (227kg) for doubles. Felt rather puny for a moment before I laughed at myself! So even us "veterans" experience that feeling, trust me.0
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samhennings wrote: »Thanks guys.
Im certainly not looking for any quick fixes, it just occurred to me if this was a one time situation it may be something to take advantage of.
I havent really decided where I want to end up right now. I know Im not keen on bulking up in a big way, but do like the idea of looking lean and strong. And actually being stronger.
I think its more a general fitness thing right now. I have booked into a Spartan sprint in September so am trying to prepare for that.
I just figured, knowing how my luck runs, Ill find out in a year or so if I had just upped my calories a bit at this time I would have been a lot further down the road...
I started Stronglifts in March, with only the bar and so far am at:
Squat 42.5kg
OHP 30kg
DL 60kg
Bench 30kg
Row 40kg
Its only just beginning to feel heavy, like Im really working, so Im starting to take longer breaks between sets.
I bet those numbers look quite funny to you lot!
Anyways, thanks again - Ill just stick around maintenance and see how it goes.
Personally, I think its a good idea to sit at maintenance (or cut if you want to lose a bit more) until you get a bit more experienced with lifting. Taking the time to get the technique down, get your ligaments and tendons used to lifting, get past the worst of the DOMS you get when you start etc is best not done while eating at an excess imo.0 -
The other day I was pulling 315# (143kg) for singles on deadlift, next station over was a guy pulling 500#+ (227kg) for doubles. Felt rather puny for a moment before I laughed at myself! So even us "veterans" experience that feeling, trust me.
Nice to know I wont get past it then!
samhennings wrote: »Thanks guys.
Im certainly not looking for any quick fixes, it just occurred to me if this was a one time situation it may be something to take advantage of.
I havent really decided where I want to end up right now. I know Im not keen on bulking up in a big way, but do like the idea of looking lean and strong. And actually being stronger.
I think its more a general fitness thing right now. I have booked into a Spartan sprint in September so am trying to prepare for that.
I just figured, knowing how my luck runs, Ill find out in a year or so if I had just upped my calories a bit at this time I would have been a lot further down the road...
I started Stronglifts in March, with only the bar and so far am at:
Squat 42.5kg
OHP 30kg
DL 60kg
Bench 30kg
Row 40kg
Its only just beginning to feel heavy, like Im really working, so Im starting to take longer breaks between sets.
I bet those numbers look quite funny to you lot!
Anyways, thanks again - Ill just stick around maintenance and see how it goes.
Personally, I think its a good idea to sit at maintenance (or cut if you want to lose a bit more) until you get a bit more experienced with lifting. Taking the time to get the technique down, get your ligaments and tendons used to lifting, get past the worst of the DOMS you get when you start etc is best not done while eating at an excess imo.
Thanks Sara. That was my initial thinking, its just the more you read the more you begin to question things...0
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