kwtilbury Member

And there's your answer.

Just leave it. It sounds like you need a deload cycle, which is effectively what you've done.

There are a ton of build-your-own pizza chains now - Blaze, Pie Five, Pieology, etc. My guess is that they don't want to publish calorie information because they anticipate customers will order less food if they know what they're getting.

Presumably your muscles have enough glycogen stores from the night before. I lifted for 45 minutes this morning and then another 50 minutes of cardio on an empty stomach and was fine.

Ten extra calories per serving. Totally worth it.

I usually have some protein powder mixed in with instant coffee and amino energy. Lately, when training early (5 AM or earlier), I've been going with just coffee.

Yep. This thread would have had much more potential if it was a rant about porn or "male enhancement" drugs.

"Meal replacement" is a subjective term. Does it capture a subset of all your daily macro/micro nutrient needs? Probably not, but as long as it fits into a more comprehensive diet that allows you to hit your daily calorie and macro targets, go for it.

This. Trade out the extra calories from the sugar/fruit on the bottom for fat in the full/2%. You can always add fresh fruit.

It's supposedly available in a four pack of vanilla only, but I haven't seen it in my local Costco yet. I'm going this week and will check.

I work from home, so an omelette with eggs/whites, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms and leftover fajita chicken/steak. The quality of my diet has improved significantly since I started working form home.

I drink a ton of caffeine - coffee, supplements (amino energy, etc.), Monster/Rockstar, diet soda. Probably more than I should.

I use protein powder for convenience and because it costs less than other forms of protein. For pre-workout I take only a handful of researched ingredients that I buy in bulk and make myself. Generally speaking, brand name/boutique protein powder and proprietary pre-workout blends are a huge waste of money. I would get…

Mix some whey protein and instant coffee with water (or milk) in a shaker cup and let it sit overnight in the fridge. Add some ice. It's legit.

Generally speaking, cardio is more effective at burning calories (and therefore losing weight) than lifting weights. However, your first priority should be to find what you enjoy doing. If it's lifting, you'll just need to consume fewer calories. Ideally, it will be a balance of the two (lifting and cardio).

The OP has inspired me to focus my training exclusively on functional, everyday movements. I'm going to lobby my gym to install a couch and refrigerator. My new training routine will be laying on the couch watching TV supersetted with walking to the fridge.

Create increases ATP production, which is a celluar function that produces rapid energy during time of stress (or something to that effect). It will help you squeeze out a few more reps. It also draws more water into cells which explains why some experience cramping and a little weight gain.

Your form isn't bad at all. Nice depth. As others have said, you have a slight lean forward on the upward movement. Also, I wouldn't lock my knees at the top of the movement. Ideally, your upper arms would be close to parallel to the floor in the rack position, but some of us simply don't have that much flexibility.

Of course it is, as long as you take the overall volume and intensity of training into consideration. I typically lift prior to cardio, but do what works for you.

Many pre-workouts, Six Star included, contain ingredients that varying levels of research suggest varying levels of effectiveness. That said, they are super-expensive (> $1.00/serving) when taken at effective doses. Do your research (examine.com is good source for meta analysis), find out which specific supplements are…

I usually train six days per week. I mostly use a bodybuilding style bro split which includes one heavier compound lift per day.

This thread has inspired me to challenge my wife to a powerlifting competition. I'll let you know how it goes.

I usually keep mine the same every day. If I do extra (long run, yard work), I might reward myself with a little extra.

I live about 1.5 miles from my gym. When I visit my parents, I have to drive 30+ minutes to get to a gym. Not sure if I would do that on a regular basis.

Yes.

Not all calories are equal. They vary in macronutrients, micronutrients, satiety, taste, etc.

I think it's part humblebrag and part people trying to project their beliefs/ideologies on others. The most common one is when people ask for suggestions on protein powder/supplements. Inevitably, there will be several responses to the effect of "I don't need supplements because I eat REAL food."

Strictly speaking, for calorie burn, which leads to a caloric deficit, cardiovascular exercise is better. That said, you should experiment with different types of training and discover what you enjoy most.

That's what I was thinking. It's not necessarily abnormal to have lower back pain, even with proper form, if it's your first time. If anything, it may be a symptom of going too heavy.