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3x5 or 5x5, which is "best?"
This is something I’ve been thinking about lately and would like opinions on. My default recommendation for someone new to lifting is to follow a 5x5 sets across program with linear progression, built around squat, some type of press, barbell row, and deadlift: #JustDoStrongLifts. I don’t always recommend that, but often I…
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Summary of my first powerlifting meet
Finding a meet and signing up I had been thinking about doing a powerlifting meet for several months. At first I assumed there would be something very close to me, because I live in a decent sized city. I go to a hardcore gym and asked a few powerlifters I know, and they assured me that Rockford is a powerlifting…
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How fast is too fast for a cut?
I've been bulking for months. After my powerlifting meet in 1 week, I will start a cut. I'm 195 lbs and 20-21% BF according to two different impedance method BF estimators, and my mirror, LOL. I will lose 15-20 lbs. When it comes to retaining lean mass, how fast is too fast for a cut? During my last cut, I experienced a…
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Training with a belt
So I signed up for an upcoming meet. I'm in way over my head, but I'm excited to test the waters. I'm allowed a belt, knee sleeves, and wrist wraps, even though I'm competing in the raw division. I have never lifted in a belt; in fact, I don't even own one. But I realize a meet is about demonstrating strength, and I'll be…
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Best Stretches for Hamstrings?
A combination of heavy lifting, bicycling, running, office work, and age is making my hamstrings tighter than a banjo string. I'm doing a hamstring program prescribed by my physical therapist every day. It helps, but still they get incredibly tight. The most effective exercise I've found so far is the multidirectional…
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Why You Aren’t Gaining Muscle
--00 Train Instead of Exercising 00-- Don’t walk into the gym and do whatever you feel like that day. Aimless weight lifting workouts are really a poor form of exercise. To build muscle, you need to get on a program. Major factors in muscle gains are recovery and progressive overload. Are you adding weight on a consistent…
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New to running, but not to cardio
I'm new to running but have been doing a decent amount of cardio since January of this year. I've worked up to doing 2+ hour bike rides, using an elliptical 60+ minutes, etc. I did a 40 minute run today, and 30 minutes on Friday. There was still gas left in the tank. However, these two runs were my first in years! Stories…
