January Q and A thread
Replies
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First time doing standing military ohp at a gym, the only bar under #45 was an ez curl bar. My question is, does using a curved bar for military press effect the exercise, or make it less effective as a shoulder workout?
Thanks, any input appreciated...
Shouldn't make it less effective necessarily.
What is the overall goal you're trying to achieve with the overhead press?
One option may be to just use dumbbells.
I'd be very mildly concerned for safety regarding grip on the curl bar for overhead pressing but if it's comfortable for you, have at it.
I was using dumbbells, but when I discovered the ez bar sitting in a corner, wanted to try it, and it actually it felt very comfortable. Tx Patrick!0 -
StephieWillcox wrote: »I apologise, and you've probably heard this question a million times, but I can't seem to find it (why can't we search just in this forum grrrrr).
Is there any reason why dropping to low calories for an extended period of time to lose weight would be bad?
For reference, I would be talking about 1000 - 1200 calories a day, most likely eaten in an 8 hour window. I weigh ~200lbs so this would be below BMR.
I know this would most likely not be the advised method, but for my mental health this method would be preferable to me. I can't remember if we're on the "starvation mode is a myth" or "starvation mode is valid" train of thought.
I would also be training at the end of the fast and then eating immediately (which I know is not your preference SideSteel from your response to Aigre) so could split up my end fast meal to eat pre and post training if needed.
Video coming soon.0 -
StephieWillcox wrote: »I apologise, and you've probably heard this question a million times, but I can't seem to find it (why can't we search just in this forum grrrrr).
Is there any reason why dropping to low calories for an extended period of time to lose weight would be bad?
For reference, I would be talking about 1000 - 1200 calories a day, most likely eaten in an 8 hour window. I weigh ~200lbs so this would be below BMR.
I know this would most likely not be the advised method, but for my mental health this method would be preferable to me. I can't remember if we're on the "starvation mode is a myth" or "starvation mode is valid" train of thought.
I would also be training at the end of the fast and then eating immediately (which I know is not your preference SideSteel from your response to Aigre) so could split up my end fast meal to eat pre and post training if needed.
Video coming soon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNwnbshpcfQ&feature=youtu.be 0 -
StephieWillcox wrote: »I apologise, and you've probably heard this question a million times, but I can't seem to find it (why can't we search just in this forum grrrrr).
Is there any reason why dropping to low calories for an extended period of time to lose weight would be bad?
For reference, I would be talking about 1000 - 1200 calories a day, most likely eaten in an 8 hour window. I weigh ~200lbs so this would be below BMR.
I know this would most likely not be the advised method, but for my mental health this method would be preferable to me. I can't remember if we're on the "starvation mode is a myth" or "starvation mode is valid" train of thought.
I would also be training at the end of the fast and then eating immediately (which I know is not your preference SideSteel from your response to Aigre) so could split up my end fast meal to eat pre and post training if needed.
Video coming soon.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNwnbshpcfQ&feature=youtu.be
Thanks! Super helpful video. I, in no way, think you are endorsing this practice
Need to consider what I should do really. The nutrients (or lack of) is an interesting point that I hadn't considered.
I have PCOS and have an eternal struggle with nutrition and weight loss. I may adapt a more moderate calorie intake and then do one maintenance day a week instead.
I have training performance to consider too.
Just so I understand, is the need for refeed days a physical need, or something you have found useful from an adherence point of view?
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StephieWillcox wrote: »StephieWillcox wrote: »I apologise, and you've probably heard this question a million times, but I can't seem to find it (why can't we search just in this forum grrrrr).
Is there any reason why dropping to low calories for an extended period of time to lose weight would be bad?
For reference, I would be talking about 1000 - 1200 calories a day, most likely eaten in an 8 hour window. I weigh ~200lbs so this would be below BMR.
I know this would most likely not be the advised method, but for my mental health this method would be preferable to me. I can't remember if we're on the "starvation mode is a myth" or "starvation mode is valid" train of thought.
I would also be training at the end of the fast and then eating immediately (which I know is not your preference SideSteel from your response to Aigre) so could split up my end fast meal to eat pre and post training if needed.
Video coming soon.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNwnbshpcfQ&feature=youtu.be
Thanks! Super helpful video. I, in no way, think you are endorsing this practice
Need to consider what I should do really. The nutrients (or lack of) is an interesting point that I hadn't considered.
I have PCOS and have an eternal struggle with nutrition and weight loss. I may adapt a more moderate calorie intake and then do one maintenance day a week instead.
I have training performance to consider too.
Just so I understand, is the need for refeed days a physical need, or something you have found useful from an adherence point of view?
I would say it's incredibly useful from an adherence point of view and theoretically useful from a physiological standpoint.3 -
StephieWillcox wrote: »StephieWillcox wrote: »I apologise, and you've probably heard this question a million times, but I can't seem to find it (why can't we search just in this forum grrrrr).
Is there any reason why dropping to low calories for an extended period of time to lose weight would be bad?
For reference, I would be talking about 1000 - 1200 calories a day, most likely eaten in an 8 hour window. I weigh ~200lbs so this would be below BMR.
I know this would most likely not be the advised method, but for my mental health this method would be preferable to me. I can't remember if we're on the "starvation mode is a myth" or "starvation mode is valid" train of thought.
I would also be training at the end of the fast and then eating immediately (which I know is not your preference SideSteel from your response to Aigre) so could split up my end fast meal to eat pre and post training if needed.
Video coming soon.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNwnbshpcfQ&feature=youtu.be
Thanks! Super helpful video. I, in no way, think you are endorsing this practice
Need to consider what I should do really. The nutrients (or lack of) is an interesting point that I hadn't considered.
I have PCOS and have an eternal struggle with nutrition and weight loss. I may adapt a more moderate calorie intake and then do one maintenance day a week instead.
I have training performance to consider too.
Just so I understand, is the need for refeed days a physical need, or something you have found useful from an adherence point of view?
I would say it's incredibly useful from an adherence point of view and theoretically useful from a physiological standpoint.
That's a great way of putting it. Without refeed days I used to struggle SO MUCH MORE. Whether it was just mental or not, who knows, and who cares? Success is success.3 -
I still have a habit on OHP of leaning back as I do them. Is it more a matter of strengthening my core, or throwing my hips back slightly? Or am I just overachieving and need to cut the weights back even further? (I'm already at only a fraction of the weight I can use during a seated OHP.)
I am also interested in the answer to this question 0 -
Regarding @nossmf 's question about OHP, it's likely that you body is just resorting to it's strongest position and leaning back allows you to incorporate more chest into the movement.
That would be my guess. Try focusing on not doing this with lower loads and you might find that as you add weight you either automatically start doing it or you just can't move the weight.
Total hunch on my part.0 -
Regarding @nossmf 's question about OHP, it's likely that you body is just resorting to it's strongest position and leaning back allows you to incorporate more chest into the movement.
That would be my guess. Try focusing on not doing this with lower loads and you might find that as you add weight you either automatically start doing it or you just can't move the weight.
Total hunch on my part.
I have found this to be very much true. When I am getting to the top of my OHP capacity, I really start to feel it in my back. I realized I was arching my back to bring my chest higher - trying to turn my OHP into a bench press, I guess.
When I notice this happening, I seriously consider a deload to get my form in order before I start progressing again. I try to focus on keeping my glutes and core engaged, and bending my knees just a bit seems to help as well.0 -
Nice avatar, @SideSteel. Where did you steal that pic from? lol0
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Nice avatar, @SideSteel. Where did you steal that pic from? lol
Funny thing is this is seriously a combination of really good lighting and me twisting my torso and posing like a douche LOL3 -
Nice avatar, @SideSteel. Where did you steal that pic from? lol
He stole it from one of my many Grinder accounts.4 -
Simple question...
I'm currently sitting on maintenance with necessary adjustments as the intensity and frequency of my exercise (lifting, mild interval training etc) increases. The question is what is the ideal rep range for compounds and accessories?
...as I am doing body recompostion.
4 day split, upper, lower, rest, upper, lower etc. Currently doing 5-8 rep range for most compounds, accessories 8-12reps. A mixture of strength and hypertrophy.0 -
Orphanogenesis wrote: »Simple question...
I'm currently sitting on maintenance with necessary adjustments as the intensity and frequency of my exercise (lifting, mild interval training etc) increases. The question is what is the ideal rep range for compounds and accessories?
...as I am doing body recompostion.
4 day split, upper, lower, rest, upper, lower etc. Currently doing 5-8 rep range for most compounds, accessories 8-12reps. A mixture of strength and hypertrophy.
I think optimal is going to vary from individual to individual and it's likely it would take a while of very objective observation to determine this.
The short answer though, is that what you're doing seems quite reasonable to me.1 -
Orphanogenesis wrote: »Simple question...
I'm currently sitting on maintenance with necessary adjustments as the intensity and frequency of my exercise (lifting, mild interval training etc) increases. The question is what is the ideal rep range for compounds and accessories?
...as I am doing body recompostion.
4 day split, upper, lower, rest, upper, lower etc. Currently doing 5-8 rep range for most compounds, accessories 8-12reps. A mixture of strength and hypertrophy.
I think optimal is going to vary from individual to individual and it's likely it would take a while of very objective observation to determine this.
The short answer though, is that what you're doing seems quite reasonable to me.
Thanks. Trying to keep things simple for the moment. The whole cut/bulk cycle was messing with my consistency. Still tracking but at maintenence. I'm still seeing strength gains amd ascetic improvements.
Definitely slower but a more relaxed approach.
ETA: several months so far and no stalls.0 -
My husband has decided he wants to start lifting. I was going to get him started on StrongLifts 5x5 because that's what I used and I'm familiar with it. We have run into one little problem with overhead press though. I have my barbell & rack set up in our basement... my husband is 6'7" tall... I think you can see where I'm going with this. Is a seated overhead press a viable alternative? If not, any other suggestions?0
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My husband has decided he wants to start lifting. I was going to get him started on StrongLifts 5x5 because that's what I used and I'm familiar with it. We have run into one little problem with overhead press though. I have my barbell & rack set up in our basement... my husband is 6'7" tall... I think you can see where I'm going with this. Is a seated overhead press a viable alternative? If not, any other suggestions?
Does your rack allow you to set the hooks outside of the rack so he can press outside of the rack?
Depending on what load he needs to use, he could power clean it up. I wouldn't recommend this with heavy loads but it might be fine in the beginning since he's likely using lower loads.
Finally, yes you could do seated OHP.0 -
My husband has decided he wants to start lifting. I was going to get him started on StrongLifts 5x5 because that's what I used and I'm familiar with it. We have run into one little problem with overhead press though. I have my barbell & rack set up in our basement... my husband is 6'7" tall... I think you can see where I'm going with this. Is a seated overhead press a viable alternative? If not, any other suggestions?
Does your rack allow you to set the hooks outside of the rack so he can press outside of the rack?
Depending on what load he needs to use, he could power clean it up. I wouldn't recommend this with heavy loads but it might be fine in the beginning since he's likely using lower loads.
Finally, yes you could do seated OHP.
Unfortunately, the rack isn't the problem. That's an easy fix. He's so tall the 8' ceiling is the problem. He hits the ceiling or the top of the press.0 -
My husband has decided he wants to start lifting. I was going to get him started on StrongLifts 5x5 because that's what I used and I'm familiar with it. We have run into one little problem with overhead press though. I have my barbell & rack set up in our basement... my husband is 6'7" tall... I think you can see where I'm going with this. Is a seated overhead press a viable alternative? If not, any other suggestions?
Does your rack allow you to set the hooks outside of the rack so he can press outside of the rack?
Depending on what load he needs to use, he could power clean it up. I wouldn't recommend this with heavy loads but it might be fine in the beginning since he's likely using lower loads.
Finally, yes you could do seated OHP.
Unfortunately, the rack isn't the problem. That's an easy fix. He's so tall the 8' ceiling is the problem. He hits the ceiling or the top of the press.
I would either replace the house or get a new husband.
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My husband has decided he wants to start lifting. I was going to get him started on StrongLifts 5x5 because that's what I used and I'm familiar with it. We have run into one little problem with overhead press though. I have my barbell & rack set up in our basement... my husband is 6'7" tall... I think you can see where I'm going with this. Is a seated overhead press a viable alternative? If not, any other suggestions?
Does your rack allow you to set the hooks outside of the rack so he can press outside of the rack?
Depending on what load he needs to use, he could power clean it up. I wouldn't recommend this with heavy loads but it might be fine in the beginning since he's likely using lower loads.
Finally, yes you could do seated OHP.
Unfortunately, the rack isn't the problem. That's an easy fix. He's so tall the 8' ceiling is the problem. He hits the ceiling or the top of the press.
I would either replace the house or get a new husband.
LOL I hear there's a lot of paperwork involved with either of those options, so seated it is!
If he gets serious about lifting I'll see about talking him into going to the rec center. Then I can have my little home gym all to myself again.1 -
Hey, that was awesome!! Hope a bunch of people watch it cause it was really useful!
Re: belts, yes I meant beginner = not lifting a ton of weight. Already have some Reebok crossfit shoes with a bit of a heel. Don't think my form is awful but need to get around to taking some videos.
Great article!
I do train fasted, on weekdays at least. Just a matter of timing - trying to get workout in before kids wake up at 6. Life is busy in the hours of 6-8:30 or 9, and I'm typically not super hungry, and would rather have calories at another time. I think my nutrition is overall pretty well managed - get 120-130g protein, maintaining around ~2000 cals total, but I do prefer to eat more for dinner and skimp the rest of the day. Cause I like dinner.
I'm not obese but not super lean either. BMI 22. Not an advanced athlete or one that has many goals beyond keeping this interesting for myself (see above - buying of toys keeps me interested!) but maybe can try to get more protein in sooner after workout. Don't love shakes cause of the taste, but maybe need to revisit. Any good recommendations of protein shakes without Splenda/sucralose? Not opposed to artificial sweetener, just think splenda tastes like kitten.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaRJTVsUGzs&feature=youtu.be
Thanks again!! A million!!
In regards to the protein powder thing, how important is 3rd party testing? I assume you are talking about an independent lab confirming that it actually has protein and not just random powder? There are some "organic" brands that use Stevia as a sweetener. (example - https://www.amazon.com/Orgain-Protein-Powder-Creamy-Chocolate/dp/B01AAFZYX2/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1483537197&sr=8-1&keywords=orgain+whey&th=1) but not sure how to see if they are tested.
Splenda is one of two foods I don't like. Had to stop drinking Diet Pepsi over it. Have one cousin with the same issue but everyone else seems to love it. Go figure.
Made overnight oats as per your suggestion last night. Just greek yogurt and plain oatmeal. Could only stomach 2 bites of that at 4:30. Ate another half of the bowl post workout between 6 and 6:30. Finishing it now (8:45). 37C/3F/28P. Will try this for a few weeks and see if I can notice a difference.
Does this apply to cardio as well? Some mornings I get up and run 3-5 miles, do I need to be as concerned about it on those days or not?
If you want to see some independent testing on proteins, I would highly recommend www.labdoor.com0 -
Someone used to make a low ceiling bar (basically a cambered bar with a bearing grip that leaves the weight load offset toward the floor by about 10-12 inches. I'll see if I can find a current vendor and post a link (I've made these for people in the past as well) -- If you find one, be sure that the grip area of the bar can spin to avoid 'leverage issues' from the centerline of your plates being below the bar.My husband has decided he wants to start lifting. I was going to get him started on StrongLifts 5x5 because that's what I used and I'm familiar with it. We have run into one little problem with overhead press though. I have my barbell & rack set up in our basement... my husband is 6'7" tall... I think you can see where I'm going with this. Is a seated overhead press a viable alternative? If not, any other suggestions?
Does your rack allow you to set the hooks outside of the rack so he can press outside of the rack?
Depending on what load he needs to use, he could power clean it up. I wouldn't recommend this with heavy loads but it might be fine in the beginning since he's likely using lower loads.
Finally, yes you could do seated OHP.
Unfortunately, the rack isn't the problem. That's an easy fix. He's so tall the 8' ceiling is the problem. He hits the ceiling or the top of the press.
I have similar clearance issues, but to a lesser extent; I hit with 10-lb plates. Initially, I loaded a butt-load of 5s as a work-around, but at 6'8", I'm thinking that maybe just chipping-out the floor and digging your huubby a 1-foot deep "lifting hole" might work
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^ LOL dig a trench. That's brilliant
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That's a great idea. I just put my gym in the basement and then removed part of the ceiling. Then I oriented the power rack so that the plates go between the ceiling joists when doing OHP. It works great! I can safely load 4x 45lb bumper plates before I start having issues.1
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My final solution is fat-egg-weights... (thicker plates with off-center holes). I've not seen these commercially, but I've cast a few other sets for others with finished basements, and they work well.1
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Feedback - just started week 5 of the bench press program. January seems to have flown by....
End of week one feedback......Happy New Year.
I have a goal of bench pressing BW x 1.5 but have been stuck shy of that for all of 2016 - advice/guidance on how to break my plateau would be appreciated as I'm very goal driven and it frustrates the hell out of me!
Me: Age 56, maintaining weight at c. 77kg, bench goal 115.5kg, stuck at 3RM 100kg.
My technique is based on the Jennifer Thompson bench tutorial these days (used to bench flat backed) highest lifetime bench (decades ago) was 130kg.
My strength training is x3 a week and typically bench press twice a week with a barbell and once a week on a machine at my work gym which allegedly goes to 100kg but feels more like 90kg with a slight decline (but at least I can fail without pinning myself to the bench, my lift tends to fail at the bottom of the movement...).
I also have access to a plate loaded incline bench machine (TechnoGym) but rarely use it.
I train in a pyramid style and don't go lower than 3RM as that seems to help prevent injury. I know that's not ideal for hitting maximums but have an old supraspinatus tendon injury I need to avoid aggravating.
"Typical" barbell session would be:
50kg x 12 (warmup)
60kg x 10
70kg x 8
80kg x 6
90kg x 4
100kg x 3 very shaky reps
Any help appreciated.
Great post.
I have a lot of thoughts on this and I'm just leaving for the gym now but I'll reply a few times here as I chew on this, so to speak.
One criticism I have of pyramid training is that often times there's too much fatigue accumulation in the lower intensity sets and it negatively effect performance in the top set or sets.
I can't say for certain whether that's going on here, but I'd like to know the following from you:
a) Can you approximate the RPE or the number of reps in reserve (either language is fine) starting with the 60kg set and going all the way to the end?
b) Do you always do that set and rep scheme and then do you evaluate your progress based on the number of reps of the 100kg set?
What you've basically got here when we look at this in %rm is:
1x8@65%
1x6@75%
1x4@85%
1x3@92.5 to 95%
Anyway, I have some initial ideas here but I'd like to first hear your answers to my two questions about before suggesting how to modify the layout.
One criticism I have of pyramid training is that often times there's too much fatigue accumulation in the lower intensity sets and it negatively effect performance in the top set or sets.
Agree.
I seem to tolerate high volume quite well and my recovery between sets is good (high level cardio fitness probably helps). I increase the recovery time between sets as the weight progresses from virtually none to 3 mins before last set.
a ) Can you approximate the RPE or the number of reps in reserve (either language is fine) starting with the 60kg set and going all the way to the end?
Reps in reserve on a good day, I stop early on a bad gym day if I feel I've hit that day's max:
60kg x 10 - still warming up, 10 left?
70kg x 8 - 6 or 7
80kg x 6 - 4 or 5
90kg x 4 - 2 maybe 3.
100kg - nothing, safety bars in danger of being used (OK - I admit I have done the "wiggle of shame" a couple of times...)
b) Do you always do that set and rep scheme and then do you evaluate your progress based on the number of reps of the 100kg set?
It's not unusual to add a second 100kg set if I feel there's something left in the tank.
That's my most frequent style of strength work (workout typically is heavy compounds 2 push/2 pull upper body as the foundation then add either core work or accessory work or leg work).
I train in a circuit training style sometimes (still mostly compounds but alternating push/pull/upper/lower) and the bench component may be 10 x 10 but still ascending weight.
I am really looking for ultimate strength as my progress metric for bench and other upper body compounds.
Core work is all about strength endurance for me (I'm a long distance cyclist.)
Leg strength work is injury limited for weight and also limited to allow recovery from cycle training.
So here's one way you could attempt to set this up. Consider this as somewhat of napkin programming but I think this is likely to work well for you.
I'm going to list this in lbs instead of kg, hopefully that''s not too annoying. I'll assume 3 training days per week, I'll assume you're benching first as your main press movement (meaning, if you squat before that, fine, but I'm assuming you're not doing things like a tricep extension before benching which I doubt you would because you know better)
I'm going to outline this such that the TOP LINE is week 1 and each line below that is the next WEEK.
Day 1
4 x 8 @ 165
4 x 7 @ 170
4 x 6 @ 175
5 x 5 @ 180
5 x 4 @ 185
6 x 3 @ 195
Day 3
4 x 5 @ 180
5 x 4 @ 190
6 x 3 @ 200
6 x 2 @ 210
8 x 1 @ 220
Test AMRAP at 220 week 6
Skip all pressing movements on day 2 week 6 -- so basically whatever you do at your non benching gym in that middle session, skip pressing entirely for recovery and maybe take it easy on other stuff as well.
I would expect the first few weeks to be pretty easy although it's possible that even at the lower intensities you may still feel like this is a good amount of volume since you're doing straight sets across
For warmups I'll just list 1 example of how you could do this, lets assume it's Day 3 @ 180lbs
Empty bar 1 to 2 sets of 10+
95 x 8 (optional if you can go straight to 135)
135 x 6 - 8
155 x 4
170 x 1 to 2
180 working sets
Example for 220
Empty Bar 1 to 2 sets of 10+
95 x 8 (optional if you can go straight to 135)
135 x 6 - 8
155 x 4
175 x 1 to 2
190 x 1
205 x 1
220 working sets
The other thing I'd add to the above is that I'd expect the following things, or I'd recommend them:
1) On the middle day where you're at your non benching gym I'd keep rep ranges in the 6 to 15 range depending on the exercise and I'd make sure you're limiting it to about RPE 8 on most sets. Don't take pressing movements to failure and don't do an assload of volume.
2) On the main benching days I would expect your RPE on working sets to range between about 6 and 8 for most sets with the final sets being slightly more challenging, but I wouldn't expect you to be flirting with failure at all.
Let me know if you have questions, you're not obligated to run this just because I took the time to lay it out. I found this question interesting and I've been doing a lot of thinking about programming in the past few weeks so I felt compelled to crank this out -- no guarantees to others in this thread that I'll always do this to this level of detail but you're of course always welcome to ask.
Your estimated loading ranges for the working sets were excellent!
Week one Day 1
4 x 8 @ 165lbs suggested - actual was 4 x 7 @ 165
Week one Day 3
4 x 5 @ 180lbs suggested - actual was 4 x 5 @ 176
Knocked it back slightly as shoulder grumbling a bit and also realised I had been a bit lazy on form recently on my lighter lifts (just pumping them out because I could....). Concentrating on a plan rather than doing things by feel sharpened me up a bit.
Kept the RPE down this first week by lifting without safety bars to ensure I kept a couple of reps in the bank.
Excellent. Yeah you're definitely going to be better off keeping RPE a tad conservative in the beginning.
I would expect strength to go up and ALSO RPE to go up slightly as it gets heavier.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Still sticking to the program although last week was a challenge as I was away on holiday and the hotel gym equipment was a little cranky and peculiar.
Weight progression is working fine with the day 1 higher volume / lower weight workout feeling easier than the day 3 low volume / higher weight workout.
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This discussion has been closed.