colors_fade Member

Same. I've done both styles in the same lifting session. I've come to the opinion that variance is a key to progression. A straight 5x5 workout is a great beginner workout, but after a couple years, it seems like variance is the key to progression. Variance in sets/reps from session to session seems to do a lot for my…

That's the thing... I think personal trainers are way more valuable for people who are not self-starters/self-motivated. I can see them being useful from that perspective. And if it fits your budget, then by all means, do it. I, personally, would never pay that kind of money for someone else to motivate me... But I'm wired…

It's just a matter of fat loss. I remind myself, daily: the pecs are already there, hidden underneath the fat. I can get stronger, and make the pecs bigger, but they're going to still look like boobs until the fat covering them is gone, And unfortunately, that part is entirely diet (calorie deficit). I wish rockin' a…

I can't +1 this enough. I, too, am 6'0", and at the start of March I weighed 248. The man-boobs are the thing that annoys me the most, and keeps me motivated to work out, count calories, and walk. The walking is crucial. And easy. When I don't make time to walk, the weight loss stalls. I'd recommend you get a FitBit Zip or…

I just joined a couple weeks ago. Bench: 220 Squat: 340 Dead: 440

They make an Artisan Chicken Sandwich now that comes in at 360 calories. I get that with a diet coke when I get fast food.

I hate running. But I like walking. Great for clearing your head, and just overall pleasant. There's probably something out there that you would enjoy. Just have to find it :)

She's right. 90%, if not more, of weight loss is about diet. Consuming fewer calories than you burn. That said, I found something that really helps me in this regard: walking. Every morning, for 45-60 minutes, before I have breakfast. When I do this every day, when I am consistent with it, the fat burns off.

I see this same thing with the trainers at my gym. When I watch some of them train people, I cannot tell, from their exercise choices, what their objective is. It's like the exercise choices are just willy-nilly. (But it's not true for every trainer and client. I've seen one client, a guy, who, based on his exercise…

If you can find a local butcher, try there. They usually have chicken and pork much cheaper than a standard grocery store/supermarket. I buy from a local butcher, and it saves me a ton of money. I spend $30-$45 each trip, buying pork chops, chicken thighs and breasts, and have enough meat for 2 people for 7-10 days. On the…

I have never enjoyed running. My wife got me started a few years back, and for almost two years I ran a couple times per week. I hated almost every minute of it. I learned, at least for myself, that walking was just as effective at helping CICO, and it was far more pleasant. Now I usually walk for 45-60 minutes every…

Well, here's the other thing to consider: at some point in time you're going to reach a limit. This is just a fact of basic biology, science and physics. No human can lift an infinite amount of weight, and the people who can lift the most are usually bigger/stronger. So at some point in time, you're going to max out. And…

I started with StrongLifts 5x5. Flat sets. Fine for beginner; got a lot out of it. Now I do something that is more of a ladder/ramp (not a pyramid; there is no back side like the old Nebraska squat routine, which like others above pointed out, I don't like feeling over-tired after the big lifts). Example deadlift session:…

Yes, it's logged under the cardio section. I log all my strength training workouts. It takes the minutes and does some basic math. You don't burn much lifting; I find the number it calculates pretty accurate, when I factor it into everything else.

Lift heavy. Adequate protein intake (it doesn't take much). Proper sleep.

My wife was lamenting the lack of my gray hairs the other day (at 43), and I thought to myself, "It's because I don't do things that stress me out, or think in a way that stresses me out." Guilt is stress. You should eat in a way that fuels your body and goals, and leaves you guilt-free. If there is no other rule to guide…

Deadlines are not something that should be done with weight loss, It's a difficult enough journey day-to-day, and there are going to be fluctuations. Just stick to a plan, be consistent, and take it as it comes. Be patient. You can't put a deadline on weight loss.

I was just thinking about this subject this morning, in the context of what I want my kids to know: don't get out of shape in the first place, because losing body fat and getting healthy after a long period of being fat and unhealthy is much harder. I was never overweight until I got out of active duty military and got…

I go to the gym 3x per week, and I weigh myself on that scale every time. It's the same time very day, so I feel it's pretty consistent. But I only record that weight (check-in on MFP) after I've had several consecutive readings at the same weight, due to fluctuations. If I get 4-5 weigh-ins at the same weight, then, and…

Yep. My wife owns a restaurant; lots of sandwiches and wraps. They use the Don Pancho Extra Large, 12" Flour Tortilla, which comes in at 320 calories . We've sat down and tallied up calories for most sandwhiches and wraps, and it's all between 750 and 1,000 calories. As to eating out: My wife and I eat out a lot. We like…

I try and keep my calorie deficit the same every day, but lifting days I simply try and get a few more carbs in before/after workouts. They are the fuel...

Agreed. More science please.

Precisely. This is, in fact, what I have posted on my profile. I don't care about the number on the scale; I have no idea what it will read when I reach my fat loss goals. I care only about body fat %. The thing is, the scale is a metric that can be utilized more frequently to measure progress. Body fat measurements…

This is exactly what I was soliciting. Thanks for posting. Very detailed breakdown. I'm guessing this is same thing happening to me. Appreciate it!

Well, yeah. That's kind of the point, no? To bloat your muscle fibers with water; increase size of the muscle, thus increasing strength, allowing you to lift more, thus hopefully preserving more lean muscle mass while on a cut. Pretty sure I understand the concept of creatine. Just curious if the water-weight gain that…

The product I'm currently taking is a mix of mono and others. I let it fully dissolve in about 20 oz. of water before consuming. I only noticed gastric disturbance on the first day taking it. As for other progress methods: I have never tape measured, so no starting point there, and I don't often take pictures of myself. I…

I think the key to any of these BF measurement devices, given how inaccurate they can be, is not to use them to get an absolute number, but to use it over time as a gauge for progress. I just had my BF done using calipers a couple weeks ago. I'm not so concerned with the number as I am seeing my BF go down after 12 weeks.…

Been said in this thread, but it's the best advice here: chalk. Mixed grip with chalk is the bomb.

Agreed. Split routines are for pros. I cannot recommend StrongLifts 5x5 enough. I've heard great things about Starting Strength as well. Great thing about StrongLifts is that it's easy (only two workouts to do), only five lifts total between the two workouts, and Mehdi puts both complete workouts on YouTube. He also has…

It's not a myth. It's science. There are 3500 calories in a pound of fat. Actually, it's more like 3,555, but most people remember round numbers better, and it makes for a better sales pitch. Weight loss is more complex, as others have stated; you lose more than fat when eating at a calorie deficit. You will lose muscle…