jsteffen80

I would say that there are two different things here. 'Strength Training' is training to gain strength. Strength is simply the body applying power to a resistance. You can gain strength using the other methods, but they are limited by the resistance. There is a certain point where you can't get any stronger using your own…

It will work very well in running you into the ground and making you question yourself. What are your goals? Weight loss? Fat loss? Get Big'n'Strong? Get Lean'n'Strong?

Starting Strength. GO!

I prefer the standard deadlift with double overhand grip... Unfortunately I can vastly out-lift my grip, so I switch to mixed grip on my heavy sets/singles. I tried sumo a few weeks back on my warm-ups, and I'm convinced it messed up my knee.

The only problem I have with the low bar squat is getting my shoulders limbered up enough to get my hands properly on the bar. It usually takes some approach/release work and about 5 warmup sets to get it dialed in. My problem is due to excessively wide shoulders and not having enough bar between the rack... What I'm…

watch this video and all will be well http://startingstrength.com/index.php/site/platform_the_squat_bar_position

bumping to increase exposure

I agree. Squat and be merry.

If you're doing Rip's program, and preforming squats the way he prescribes, your best bet is to follow his form.

Not sure if it's helpful, or if it even measures up to what you're asking... My goals right now are increased strength and lean body mass without increasing my body fat percentage (it's high enough as it is). My three day split is strength training Monday/Wednesday/Friday with no cardio as it will disrupt my recovery.

Stop the nonsense that isn't giving you desired results and read 'Starting Strength' 3rd Edition by Mark Rippetoe. It's a no bullsxxt book that will demystify strength training and set you on a course for making significant gains in both size and strength.

Check out Starting Strength (it's a book) by Mark Rippetoe. Workout A: Squat - 3 sets of 5 Bench Press - 3 sets of 5 Deadlift - 1 set of 5 Workout B: Squat - 3 sets of 5 Press (the standing overhead kind) - 3 sets of 5 Power Clean - 5 sets of 3 Alternate these Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Start light and add 5-10 pounds each…

I have always hated running. From being a skinny teen struggling through a mile in gym class to being a fit twenty something struggling through a 5k, it has never gone well for me. I always thought that running was sort of the end goal, or at least MY end goal of fitness. I think my lack of ability to enjoy running, is…

I have a much more strained relationship with my sister since she cheated on her husband, which was something like 8 years ago... Same with my mother. I don't know that she cheated on my dad, or my stepdad, but I'm fairly sure she did, and that was 12+ years ago. It really bothers me still. I continue to love both of these…

This is sort of near and dear to me... Cheating has caused me to reevaluate two different friendships. I've decided to remain friends in neither case. It wasn't necessarily the adultery itself that caused the change, but in both cases I started picking up on cues that hinted at other less than desirable moral and ethical…

This thread is very meta.

NO... I don't care how strong you are, fist vs. cinder block wall, cinder block wall wins every time. Real talk: I don't have anything useful to add here... was just trying to be funny.

Try the Bisquick Heart Smart pancake mix. It's actually fairly low calorie if you don't eat 10 pancakes. And sugar free syrup is only 20 calories per 4 table spoons. I destroy mountains of this stuff on the weekends.

A lot of the girls around have have found success with the book 'New Rules of Lifting for Women'

It's a book. Follow it, and you should get the results you are looking for.

They're worried about pesticides from the stuff animals eat, but aren't worried about what pesticides end up on soy beans? That doesn't make any sense.

YES YES YES!

Our lives are much different than they were 50 years ago. We live in a time of cheap food. I believe this is the first time in history where this has been the case. Back 20-50 years ago people didn't know much about nutrition, but they didn't really need to. They couldn't just walk into a fast food joint and pig out for…

If you get rid of those crappy chips and that nasty soda, it looks like a solid meal to me. 800... 900 calories for that little thing, tops? Let's eat!

There are some kids at my gym that do just this. I was wondering what it was called. I would try, but I'm not sure I'm awesome enough for it.

If it were me, I would set myself up as 'Moderately Active' or 'Active' and leave it at that.

Is it possible that you are mildly dehydrated?

I agree... and mixing it up is a great way to keep motivated. You're less likely to give up on a machine if you have 10 minutes left, than you would be if you had 20 or 30 minutes left. I find it easier to push through the pain with a shorter goal, even if I know another machine is waiting for me.

Good for you for wanting to make some positive changes! How you exercise is based on your real goals. If you want to be a runner type, then it wouldn't make sense to focus on strength training, and never hit the treadmill. Likewise, if your goal is to be muscular, very strong, or lean and mean, then wasting several hours a…

Honestly, simply being aware of my calories in and calories out has been the deal breaker for me. I just try to avoid calorie dense foods and plan my meals out ahead of time. Even when eating out I figure out my calories before I eat (even if it is just an approximation, it holds me accountable).