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Heart gone a bit funny? Anyone had this?
OK, so this is perhaps a serious post - I've noticed that, since moving to a more weight-training orientated schedule, I'm getting odd fluttery sensations from what could be my heart. Could also possibly be my left pec or some other muscle twitching. And that's what it's like - kinda like a twitch or an extra heartbeat or…
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Squat injury :(
Today I tried an early gym session (rather than going at the end of the day as per usual). Fourth set of squat, I thought I form was good but something twanged in my lower back and I was done. Now sitting at home, ibuprofen, hot water bottle compress, feeling a bit stupid. I wondered: is this a common thing, and what may I…
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The other barbell...??
Very quick question: the Olympic barbell weighs 20Kg, I understand. Any idea how heavy the smaller bar (shorter, and without a straight bar) is likely to be? It doesn't quite feel 20Kg. Just in case I have to use it sometime. No way to weigh it at the gym....
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Rate of progress (SL5x5)
Hi folks, I'm enjoying SL5x5, and making steady progress. I've not hit a limit yet, but my current weights are still relatively low (SQ 45Kg, OP 30Kg, BP 32.5Kg, BBR 42.5Kg, DL 60Kg). What I'd find interesting is to hear where others hit their limits, how long they were there, and how they eventually progressed. I'm…
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SL5x5: If you can't make a scheduled training day?
Hey folks, I do SL5x5 M/W/F, with some general top-up on Saturday or Sunday (depending on what's on). If something unavoidable comes along that forces me to miss one of the scheduled SL days, should I do the next available day, or wait until the next scheduled day? I'm thinking recovery, for if I missed Wed and went on…
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Early muscle gains - real or water-based?
I've been doing weight training now more seriously for around 6 weeks, going three or four times a week - SL5x5 these past four weeks, with additional 5x5 exercises on machines (laden to ~2-3x the corresponding SL5x5 weights I'm at at the time, e.g. mid row machine 5x5 @ 85Kg, bench press m/c 5x5 @ 50Kg, whereas I'm only…
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Weekend away, no equipment - ideas for bodyweight exercises?
I'm at my sister's place, minding the kids whilst she and her husband are away for a couple of days. I'm missing my Friday SL5x5, but managed to sneak in an 8k run earlier. However, I'd like to do something lifting-related, to keep up some momentum. Any suggestions? I'm thinking press-ups, maybe unladen squats (and lots of…
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SL5x5 - overhead press challenging...
Hi folks. I'm a few weeks into SL5x5, and enjoying it immensely (and also seeing the benefits already). My question is whether it is normal to struggle a bit with the overhead press - in my case, I've not yet broken 30Kg with it - whilst all the other exercises seem pretty easy so far (squat etc.). Does this just suggest I…
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Squats and discomfort in shoulder area?
Hi folks. Just started SL5x5 last week, taking it from empty bar and up. It's going well (even though I know I can manage quite a bit higher weight, but I'm forcing myself to be a 'by-the-book' student on this). One thing: when I do squats, I'm finding some discomfort where the bar rests across my shoulder/neck area. It's…
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Leg recovery - any tips?
Started 5X5 yesterday - and despite it being relatively light weights, I'm clearly using my muscles differently when doing the squat than when I run etc. Any tips for recovery? My legs just feel - fatigued, a little sore, you know the feeling. What I'm more worried about is that my next session is tomorrow evening, and I…
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Calorie burn during SL5x5?
I'm curious - is there a rough chart to show average calorie burn during SL5x5? I would have thought that as the weights are a known quantity, it would be possible to come up with a reasonable approximation for a given weight. I don't need this information, but it would be good for me to account for the extra energy…
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Some StrongLifts 5X5 questions (newbie)
OK, so I have met my initial 10Kg weight-loss goal and definitely improved my fitness levels. I have now started the switch to lifting (away from machines), and I selected StrongLifts 5X5 as my programme to follow. I did my initial session last night - the one with just the Olympic bar without weights for the squat and…
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Barbell bench press without arm lock?
Hey folks. Due to an injury from 4 years back, I cannot fully extend my left arm. I would like to start a 5X5 programme, but am a little concerned that any exercise - such as the barbell bench press - might be in some way compromised by the fact I can't straighten that arm*. Any tips (other than to get a PT as it's a…
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When to switch to maintenance/bulk?
Hi all. I'm wondering at what point it makes sense to switch from weight-loss to maintenance or even a bulking phase? I'm losing reasonably well - ~11Kg since the end of April - and am more-or-less keeping to a net 1500KCal/day (for a 1Kg/week loss, though in practice it's ending up more like a 0.5Kg loss). I've been doing…
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Bulking up on top...??
Hi folks, As I'm getting more into my fitness regime - running, walking, some gym work - I'm becoming painfully aware that my upper body just looks a bit skinny. My shoulders and chest could do with some bulk, shall we say. Nothing drastic, but I have strong, muscled legs which look a bit out-of-place on me! So I want to…
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Nutrition for running
Hi folks, I'm starting to get back into running, which I'm using as one of the 'building blocks' of my new healthy lifestyle (along with walking, attention to diet and weight training). I'm currently averaging around 25 miles per week (though this will probably reduce as we head into darker months). I also walk around…
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Anyone celibate?
Carrying on the subject of sex, is anyone celibate through choice? I've thought about it. Don't know why, as I enjoy the horizontal tango, but I sometimes wonder whether it would make life easier.... perhaps, after a while, you stop thinking about it and can devote mental energies to other stuff. Maybe I'm leaning towards…
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Determining whether exercise calories are accurate (Fitbit)
Good morning folks, I'm trying to get a handle on just how accurate my logging and measuring is, so that I can better understand my progress (or lack of it, should that transpire). Anyway, I've established that (for me) my Charge HR seems bang on accurate for HRM. Good, that's a big plus. However, I'm not so sure about the…
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Question about breakdown of fats and proteins
Hi all, I read with interest about the risk of losing muscle mass whilst losing weight, and wondered whether muscle is consumed more or less readily than excess fat during a calorie deficit. I've been doing a lot of running and walking and the weight is coming off, but now I am also starting to do a bit more weight-based…
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Question about timescale for fat burn
Hi, it's me again :) Does anyone know broadly how long it takes for fat to be burned for energy when the body experiences a calorific deficit?
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Going well but feeling drowsy/sleepy a lot - anyone else get this?
Hi folks - quick one. Is it normal to experience real drowsiness during the day when working toward a calorie deficit? These past few days or so, I'm really struggling to stay awake. Could it be a kind of energy-induced fatigue or something? (I'm on a net 1500 goal, on average burning ~3000/day but largely eating all the…
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Manflu and MFP....
Yesterday I was ill. Still am today (though somewhat better). Let's call it manflu. Not proper flu, for sure, but very sore head, aching muscles, shivers, hot sweats, extreme exhaustion, etc. But I seek no sympathy - *kitten* happens! Apart from knocking my exercise plans into the weeds (though I did still make 10k steps…
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Runner's Knee :(
I'm 7 weeks into my new exercise regime and did my first competitive race last week. However, pushing a wee bit too hard resulted in runner's knee. I've been doing 5Ks most days, first thing in the morning. They're fine but going up and down stairs is painful for my right knee. I had this a while ago and I went to a physio…
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Want your opinion re: this...
Disclaimer: I didn't write this but I did read it and wanted to see if there's any truth to it: "Blood sugar causes insulin. Insulin is a fat storing hormone. If you are eating too much refined carbohydrates insulin prevents fat from being released into the blood stream. If you reduce carbohydrates fat can flow out of the…
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Advice sought: Want to start lifting, but can't straighten one arm....
Hi folks, I asked something along these lines a couple of weeks ago but I think it got swept away in the tide of other posts. However, it's something I'm keen to get an opinion upon. Due to an accident nearly 4 years ago, I cannot straighten my left arm. Reconstructive surgery left me with a limited range in the elbow, and…
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How accurate is the calorie burn figure from a Fitbit Charge HR into MFP?
Hi - I wondered perhaps if some of you might have done some investigation into this type of thing....??? Since buying my Charge HR I've been working closely with MFP, and regularly see 1000+ KCal 'adjustment' coming from the FitBit app*. I think it's getting the running figure correct - for me, ~450KCal for a 30m 5K jog,…
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Wherefore art thou, potassium?
As I'm watching the diet, I'm also using the MFP app to see what vitamins and nutrients I'm getting. Most are fine, but one I consistently seem to lack is potassium. I know I can get it from bananas, but only a small amount (I'd have to eat a whole bunch, and though I don't mind one, I couldn't face that many), spinach…
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Lifting with a minor arm disability?
Hi there. I'm considering starting to lift in combination with an exercise programme of regular 5K runs and lots of walking. However, I have a mechanical problem with my left arm, which cannot extend fully (due to being broken in 7 places above the elbow just under 4 years ago, with a load of metalwork (now removed) etc. -…
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About deficits...
(I posted this on another thread but it kinda got lost and felt it might be of use to others.) On the subject of energy deficits, can I check I'm doing this right then. Let's take yesterday as an example: My 'maintenance' MFP target (to stay at current weight) was 2280 KCal per day My MFP target to lose 1Kg/wk was 1500…
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Newbie looking for guidance on losing fat and gaining muscle - possible at the same time?
Hi folks, I'm new here. A few weeks ago, I did a 5-day trek, and felt great afterwards. This spurred me into continuing the walking, and adding regular 5K-or-so jogs, in combination with starting to watch the diet. Last week, I added a Fitbit Charge HR which has, in turn, galvanised my resolve to achieve great things. I'm…
