mikejholmes Member

I think you slightly misunderstood lifting "heavy" -- Heavy means heavy for you, for your chosen reps. Heavy means lifting until you likely wouldn't be able to complete 3 or 4 more reps. Primary benefit of lifting heavy in the 1-5 rep range: Strength Primary benefit of lifting heavy in the 6-12 rep range: Size Primary…

Try a front squat!!

The StrongLifts iPhone app suggests 3 mins between sets, and 5 mins if you've failed a rep. Mark Rippetoe says take as long as you need to ensure that fatigue from the previous set is gone. I can't imagine doing only 30 seconds rest after a set -- I'm still gasping and heaving 30 seconds after a set. If you're not gasping…

Well, yes, diet matters, along with total energy expenditure. If you eat more calories than you burn, you'll put on weight. That said, it's not likely that one weekend will totally sink you. It's the average over time, so if you eat 1000 calories over on the weekend, try to eat 200 calories under on the weekdays, and you…

QFT

I use Six Star Whey protein. http://www.sixstarpro.ca/ I tried it with water once, and it wasn't nearly as good as with milk. Haven't tried almond milk though.

I'll say this is probably a bad idea. The reason you need an interval in between sets is that your body needs time to recover. It's fairly tough for your body to recover if you're working yourself until you're out of breath. At least, it's a bad idea if you want your lifts to progress. Again - it all comes down to goals.

I suppose it depends on what your goals are. For most things, my answer would be "lift heavy weights - skip the cardio". Give me more info on your goals, and I might be able to help you more. Your profile says things like, you want more energy, you want to look better, and you worry about the history of heart disease in…

Being a computer nerd can be terrible for weight loss. *Side effects include bad skin, icky teeth, poor hygiene, lack of social skills (can't lose what you never had)....

In for the awesome -- Firefly wins!

There absolutely IS a point to lifting while on a caloric deficit -- it'll help preserve lean body mass. 1200 calories wouldn't be enough for most people -- ESPECIALLY if that is what they eat, as opposed to what they net. (IE: they eat 1200 calories, and then burn 400 on various machines). That does, of course, depend on…

You missed the point. Again. Come talk to us in 20 or 30 years, and tell us that your bone density is fine. But at that point, it'll be too late to fix it. What you do NOW will affect your bone density when you're in your 80's, and REALLY want it. But you don't seem to be listening to anyone.....

Ok, THIS I can start to get behind. Except for the arbitrary 147 number, and resulting 114 number. If you want to lower your BF%age, I'd recommend a cut -- similar to what newme1313 suggested. That is -- lift, eat at a slight deficit, and see how things go. The reason people say to lift while you're cutting is to TRY to…

Totally disagree. There is no way in hell I'd ever consider any woman with a 24% bf as being overweight. Even less so one in her 50's.

Not sure this is a good idea, but the best way I can think of to achieve your states goals is to run. Running will encourage catabolism, so you will lose some muscle mass, especially if you're eating at a deficit. The high impact nature should also help with bone density. (I know you say you don't have a problem with it,…

Definitely start now. You can't start soon enough. StrongLifts is OK, but I found I didn't get enough (or the right!) information about technique. Starting Strength is a great book that has a solid foundation for your technique. Almost all the same exercises as StrongLifts. I have no firsthand knowledge of NROL4W, but I…

Yup. Starting Strength has oodles of information on technique, if you're a technique geek like me, or are worried about hurting yourself. Basically the same exercises as StrongLifts. I have no firsthand knowledge of NROLFW, but I've heard from many sources that people find it complicated.

Dumbbells will limit you rather quickly. You may as well get used to using a barbell sooner rather than later. (Unless you can't do a squat with 45 lbs, in which case, I'd start with leg presses) Being a guy, I've never looked at NROLFW, but I've heard from many people that it's complicated. I started with Stronglifts 5x5,…

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From the same movie: "If there's any fighting, drop to the floor or run away. It's OK to leave them to die."

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Thank you Google) This landing is gonna get pretty interesting. Define "interesting". Oh god, oh god, we're all going to die?

I'm so bored... Ok: 1. Scarlett Johansson 2. Neve Campbell 3. Jillian Michaels

Where?!?

My first thought is that your feet may not be wide enough, and your toes may not be pointed out. So try this -- squat without the bar, with a slightly wider stance than you normally do. When you get to the bottom, put your elbows on the insides of your knees, put your palms together, and press your knees out. THAT is how…

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This inspired me to learn how to ignore a user....

Sounds like you're getting good advice so far. You might also find more help here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/804485-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

In for the awesome!

Oh, and one of the things that you'll get from both Starting Strength and Stronglifts is a huge bias towards barbell training. Machines isolate individual muscles in ways that you'd never use in real life. That can lead to all sorts of problems (muscle imbalance, extra stress on joints, etc.). You are MUCH better off doing…