piperdown44 Member

Have you actually read any of the programs that have been discussed? You do realize you start with just a barbell or, in case that is too much weight, that it will have you use any bar less than the standard 45lbs. If you can only use a 20lb bar, then that's what you use. The weights are incrementally increased. Plenty of…

Congrats! Sounds like good progress. Yes, you can work up to sets on pushups.

The only time I breathe out during a lift is if I've got the sticking point like's been mentioned above. Other than that I hold until the rep is complete. Few quick breaths then repeat. I learned diaphragm control during my bagpiping days. Most singers learn it too and some wind instruments. It's pulling the air down deep…

I'd say you're lucky. I look at gym and start to sweat lol Lifting buddies say they can track where I've been in the weight room and what I've been doing based on where the sweat drops are on the floor.

Can't speak for everyone but I know when I start a cut cycle and carbs are brought down I end up losing about 4-5lbs within 3-5 days. During that time, if I go overboard on a weekend my weight is up about the same amount and, back on a cut again, it's back down in 3-4 days. When I go on a bulk, same increase happens within…

11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Only a rare evening or Saturday since I workout at our company's gym over my lunchtime. If it's morning I don't feel all the way awake. An evenings I'm usually wiped out from the day and getting kids around to practices and hobbies.

The food you eat today fuels tomorrows workout. Without knowing height, weight and goals it's difficult to provide advice on calorie intake. I will say, from my own experience, is I need some carbs about an hour prior to lifting. I usually have a greek yogurt about an hour before hand with a small amount of granola mixed…

Actually, I do agree with this thought. You have to work with what you have. If all you have access to is that multi-machine and don't have access to other equipment, then by all means, work with what you have. Gyms can be expensive or they are too far a away to make that kind of time commitment. Just understand there may…

That's because SL5x5, SS5x5 and numerous other beginning lifting programs start you out with compound exercises. Squat, deads, OHP, bench and rows are NOT advanced compound moves. Those moves are the basics. If you "tone up" you ARE gaining strength.

BTW. There's also a reason that most of the beginner programs have you start with just the barbell. They also mention if you can't lift the barbell to find a lighter one to use like a standard lifting bar (about 5-8lbs) plus 5's or 10's on it.

How can one get more basic for a movement? If you sit down in a chair, that's a squat. If you pick something up off the floor that's a deadlift.

Compound lifts ARE the basic lifts. Yes, form is critical which is why most of us tell people to find a good trainer or watch vids, limit the weights and then video your lifts and look for issues. Isolation lifts are there as finishing moves after basic compound lifts. If you look at any basic beginner lifting program they…

Serious props for knowing who Cthulhu is! I too would be curious if you had access to a barbell or 2 plus some free weights (i.e., fully equipped gym)

^^^ sounds like a good plan. I'm currently squatting 3x week just to bring squats up. Only issue is cumulative fatigue in the joints. I'll back down in a couple more weeks to 2x week.

Yep, just work back and forth. Not a big deal swapping weights and that way you can give feedback to each other on form.

Hmmm, I just squat and deadlift in my socks. Feels natural. Maybe one day I'll invest in a pair of Pendlay Do Win squat shoes and a cheap pair of wrestling shoes for deadz.

I haven't done anything worthy lately, just some simple 5x5 stuff.

I like the taste and texture of steel cut over rolled. Shoot, I just make up a whole bunch on Sunday's and then eat it throughout the week. Heats back up in the microwave just fine.

Pushups and pullups. If you can't do a pull-up look up pull-up negatives for examples. Basically you start at the top of the pull-up position and slowly lower yourself.

oooooo, that's downright cruel showing these. I throw them in every once in a while....and after huffing and puffing myself through the sets.....they get added again months later once I've forgotten how tough they are.

Anymore it usually an upper respiratory infection that triggers mine. Takes a couple days after getting over it for my lungs to feel okay. My asthma is considered very well controlled now. Growing up was another story. Spent a year in a specialized hospital in Denver when I was 5. I remember moving for a job and bringing…

Not a whole lot to add but if you pop over to bodybuilding.com and look up Induced_Drag, Highiso, and cmoore they all have had to do years and years of controlled bulking and cutting to get everything tightened up (like 5-6 years). Induced_Drag, or ID was we call him, has some great insights into what changes he has…

Hmmm, I'd like to know that too…quite puzzling…. Not sure how muscles "learn", they do get more efficient, which is why you either add weight or reps on a progressive routine. I guess the 9 cycles of 531 I just ran was useless after the first cycle (that's 4 weeks per cycle). Guess my muscles must be slow learners and…

Asthma and asthma meds my whole life. Haven't had any issues with my regular asthma meds (i.e., non-impact that I can tell). Don't get many flare-ups either but when I do it's not the asthma meds IMO but the fact my lungs aren't functioning properly and my O2 is low. Add on aerobic stuff needing high O2….well muscles…

I'd second SL5x5 for a beginner. 5 main lifts to get you used to free weight compound exercises and only 3 days a week.

Titled it "Ladies" and yep, not a lady but……are you on a surplus? All the exercises above are great but without a surplus in calories (even a little) you won't grow that area. @arditarose mentioned growing 3" on a surplus.

[/quote] 1) No, just calorie deficit 2) Stayed the same, possibly went a bit harder because of increased energy 3) 500 4) All at once 5) Yes. a) about 8 pounds b) can't tell because I went into a bulk soon after.[/quote] About the same here. Only difference is on #5 and I gained 6lbs and then went on a bulk.

It's calories. Adding in exercise only increases the deficit (assuming you're already in one). Fork putdowns and table pushaways work the best.

One, weightlifting, regardless or whether free weights or machines, doesn't burn all that much in the way of calories. I enter my lifting sessions under "cardio" "weightlifting" and the calorie burn of "1". Two, a HRM is set up and calibrated for steady state cardio, not weight lifting. You'll not get an accurate calorie…

What everyone is saying is you don't know how many calories you're are getting unless you are weighing everything and finding the appropriate entry. You could be eating 1200 cals or you could be eating 2500 cals. You don't know unless you are accurately weighing each portion and accounting for it in your diary.