Gwyn1969 Member

Don't worry about how much you are lifting right now. Just add weight to each lift every time you train. Eventually you won't be able to add weight every single time you train, but if you are a total newbie, this strategy should get you through at least the first couple of months, and probably longer. You may need to…

That sounds like you are using a Smith machine. Is there any way you can dump the Smith machine and use a barbell and a squat stand to squat instead?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-rippetoe/exercising-training_b_4597039.html

To be clear, I would do this over anything else. Get Mark Rippetoe's books on strength training.

If you are interested in barbell training, here's the website of a competitive powerlifter who suffers from gastroparesis. http://birthofathena.com/

If I'm training sick, I think it's common courtesy to wipe the barbell after I use it. Otherwise, no.

You are confusing something that is difficult to do with something that actually makes you stronger. 10 lb weighted pistols won't get your squat up to 250. Adding 5 pounds to your squat each time you do it, will.

I'm 5'9" and hit a low of 138 but decided I couldn't continue to get stronger at that weight (I was around 17% bodyfat), and now I'm gaining weight, aiming for around 155. I eat 2700 calories on low days and 3100 calories on high days (two high days a week). I strength train 4 days a week - barbell training - squat,…

Second endorsement for Rip's Starting Strength. Buy the book. Read the book. Dominate. That is all.

Best. Post. Ever. :D

Sometimes abs are not built in the kitchen, but in the squat rack.

Apparently novices often have very different capabilities when it comes to the deadlift. However, where ever you start, everyone is capable of adding weight to the bar over time. Don't worry about your DL to bodyweight ratio, just keep adding weight to the bar! The best way to build strength is to be committed over the…

Well, I forgot I should just let Sara or SideSteel comment. Sorry about that.

Track your intake and your weight and see what happens over a month's time, and you will know where to go from there. If I were you, I'd start with around 2200 a day, with around 195 g protein and the rest carbs and fats, and see what my weight does. If you were to add two sessions of HIIT per week for about 30 minutes…

Mine seems to want whiskey an awful lot - the really really expensive kind.

No. You don't have to do any cardio at all. However, the strength training you like to do is very good for muscle retention on a cut.

You should adjust the generic MFP settings anyway. Macro balance is not a one-size-fits-all proposition, and for many people, MFP has you eating very little protein compared to carbs and fats. Regarding sugar, there is nothing wrong with it and no reason to track it unless you have a medical condition that requires this.…

[/quote] Well my trainer just emailed me back and we are going to do a few things different with my training but leave my calories alone. He thinks I might indeed be a hard gainer, but also reminded me building takes a lot longer than tearing down, and he also told me to stop weighing myself and just focus on getting…

I realized my love for dessert and now I eat fewer fatty meats so that I can have whipped cream and pie and still hit my macros. I also added carbs when I realized I wasn't getting enough to fuel my training, and took away a little protein and fat. I also added grains and legumes back into my diet. I guess I didn't stop…

Good for you! Regarding the interaction with your boss, that was really inappropriate behavior. It's good you wrote down the details of the interaction.

I heard dumping olive oil all over your pizza is the way to go, if you can stomach it.

This forum is for those who are attempting to gain weight, just so you know.

Those look just fine to me :-)

Whereas the people that stop eating are probably not able to confirm what that does...

Well, you could stop eating food first and see what that does.

None of them, they all look great but they are all competitive dieters. I have better things to do with my incredible physique than make it weak through repeated bouts of intensive fat loss.

Just make sure that whatever you pick you milk your novice potential by adding weight to the bar every workout. When you can no longer do that, and you have to add weight every week instead, at that time you can add complexity to your programming.

1. do the TDEE - 20% thing and make sure you set your MFP macros to include a bit more protein than they suggest on "custom." 2. get a food scale 3. weigh and measure everything. Even if you can't control what is in the kitchen, you can still stick to your calories and macros and lose weight. It does not have to be…

Crossfit is not standardized and the programming and culture from gym to gym varies quite a bit. The best ones focus on building a good strength base first, and teach the basic barbell lifts the way Rip (Mark Rippetoe) teaches them. Also be aware that it can be a little like a cult, which means that peer pressure can…

I always wonder how many of the people so concerned with chemicals have given up alcohol consumption as well. (I have not, myself, but then again I'm not afraid of "chemicals" in my food.)