jpierc Member

I agree with Cherimoose: Find a program and use it. The one I used to get started was Stronglifts, but there is also Starting Strength. Both of these use a standard 5 sets of 5 reps pattern and they increment the weight lifted every session. Simple, but it is amazing how many people never follow the basics. It ain't rocket…

Any exercise is better than nothing. I seem to remember a study a while back about how if you do lighter weights to exhaustion is similar (not exactly the same but similar) to lifting heavy. In my uneducated and completely inane opinion, yes, you will benefit from this. You may not ever become the next StrongWoman champ,…

I don't know what qualifies as a powerlifter. I'm just trying to get stronger. Diet is mostly meat and fat since I'm diabetic and have to watch the carb intake.

This. I have this car and I love it. Unfortunately, I need to sell it shortly because it is really showing it's age now. That will be a sad day.

Just go to www.crossfit.com. They post a 3-days-on/1-day-off schedule for free. You may not have all the equipment they require (rowing machine or a GHD or some other obscure piece of torture), but there are substitutes you can find if you search the website there. Good luck. It is hard, but it works (in my opinion).

You need to work back as much as chest. Otherwise, you risk a severe muscle imbalance that could cause some injury maybe, but it'll definitely leave you looking unbalanced. Why work chest so much? Is there a reason, or is it just a work-out you really enjoy? I'm not trying to create any hostility. I'm just curious why…

1. You can gain strength at a deficit. However, these strength gains will be limited and will happen only at the beginning. I have heard this referred to as "Newbie Gains". This is not meant to be insulting or degrading. It is only meant to reference the time where your body is adjusting to strength training. 2. Heavy…

Shhh... If Blue Bell finds out, they'll raise the price.

Initially, it seems too easy doing the 5x5 stuff, but wait until you get more weight on the bar. When you're squatting 300+ lbs 25 times, overhead pressing 185 lbs 25 times and deadlifting 400 lbs 5 times in a single day, that is more than enough. You won't want any more. Stick with it. It works. It just takes time.

Dumb question first: Why are squats not an option? They work, so I feel obligated to ask why you can't/won't do them.

I like weights. They are fun and challenging, and all in all, they give me what I want. I have never tried yoga. I understand it is great for flexibility (which sounds like something you could benefit from) and that it does provide innumerable benefits to the mental well-being of the person. As for arguing why you should…

If it ain't hot, it ain't good. My go-to sauce is Dave's Ultimate Insanity, but Dave's Bhut Jolokia sauce as the preferred sauce when I can find it. Both leave me with a nice healthy glow and a serious case of the hiccups. Jalapenos go in everything. I can't find fresh habeneros (sic) where I live, so I will have to start…

Here's where I'm at now. Squat: 290 lbs. Deadlift: 325 lbs. Bench press: 190 lbs Overhead Press: 135 lbs (This is my weakness.) I'm rebuilding after seeing how bad my form had gotten, so I expect to crack 300 lbs in the squat and 350 lbs on the DL next week if all goes well.

It takes me about an hour to do the weights, 3 times a week. I supplement this with a little cardio work on 3 other days just for fun (and the fact that even though I can squat over 2x my body weight, I get out of breath way too easy and that bothers me to no end.) I love the weights and hate the cardio, but I have to do…

I love whole milk. Best thing ever. However, I am diabetic (and somewhat lactose-intolerant). I had to get away from milk, so I switched over to unsweetened almond milk. It isn't milk, but it is the best of what is available. Good mouth texture and good taste according to me. Give it a shot. The worst is that you're out a…

There are a thousand programs out there. All of them work if you are determined enough to do them. There is no cure-all, this is perfect for everyone approach. Find what you like. Do it today. Do it again tomorrow. Do it again the next day. Take a rest every so often. As long as you keep moving and watch what you eat…

In my completely uneducated and knuckle-head way of thinking, squats should not hurt your knees if done properly unless you have some type of form issue or physical misalignment. What about your foot position? I find my stance was very wide and that caused some issues in my knees. Also, watch how wide/open you point your…

All of this is excellent advice. I will head home tonight and see if I can put this to use. I love the idea of the glute-ham raises, but I don't have a GHD. Bummer... I'll emphasize the single-leg dead-lifts and the other hamstring exercises and see where that gets me. Somehow, I think I'm gonna be a little sore…

I have attempted the deload idea a few times. Currently I'm back down to a 300lbs squat and I notice this is about where my form breaks. Each time, I ignore the form issues (yep, ego gets in the way and risks injury) and build back up to around 315-320 lbs and my issues limit my progress. I can get the 320 fully the first…

I have tried to follow the Stronglifts 5x5 routine to start with, but that began back in June of 2012. I have altered the program after plateauing (dropping to 3x5) and have held to that until now. I enjoy the heavy lifts and don't want to stop, but I fear for my knees. As for changing the speed, that would require…

My left eye is blue, my right eye is green.

Monday - Rest Tuesday - Bench Press, Overhead Press, Bent-over Row, Inverted Sit-ups, 20 minutes cardio Wednesday - Some random something, probably a run of some form, but not sure yet. Thursday - Squat, Deadlift, Weighted Dips, Weighted Pull-ups, 20 minutes cardio Friday - Rest Saturday - Same as Tuesday, but with more…

Shoulders. My shirts are a lot tighter across the shoulders now than ever before, to the point where it is slightly uncomfortable, but I really enjoy the fact I'm getting more muscles, so I won't stop over a little discomfort. :smile:

Finally attempted my CF total last night. This is what I got: Low-bar Back Squat - 345 lbs Shoulder Press - 150 lbs Deadlift - 365 lbs Total: 860 lbs This was done about 20 minutes after completing my normal lifting routine, so I think I can do better if I hadn't already done some heavy lifting.

I don't know if this counts but about a month ago I managed to get my first clean, honest-to-goodness bar muscle-up. Unfortunately, the holidays came and the clean bar muscle-up is a thing of the past. I can still get over the bar, but it is one elbow at a time and a lot of facial contortions. Back to the drawing board on…

Let's see... to make it easier, I'll list them out. 1. Different colored eyes. When I was younger, my right eye was bright green and my left was blue. They have almost come around to the same color, but there is still enough difference you can tell if you look closely. 2. Lazy eye. My left eye tends to drift to the…

Olympic barbell and plates.

This was about a month ago. I need to retest my numbers, but that'll happen the first of next month. The shoulders are the weak link... Squat - 350 lbs Press - 160 lbs Deadlift - 385 lbs Total - 895 lbs Male/39/6ft/175lbs

A lot of people on here are going to be negative and try to dissuade you from doing crossfit because of something they heard or because it goes against what they learned in junior high school. Ignore them. Go into it expecting to be challenged. It isn't easy. It isn't like much of anything you've ever done before. It is a…