[Para bailar La Bomba]

I rarely drink caffeiene, but I am guilty of using it for nearly every workout. And now that I'm switching over to a 6 day cutting routine, I'll have to intelligently use it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, that stuff has creatine in it? If so, I would recommend ditching it altogether if cutting. You can substitute homemade iced green tea (with no sugar) instead.

The problem with these pre-workout formulas is that your body grows a tolerance to it very quickly. This is an indication that it places a hefty burden on your internal organs.

[snoopen]

what are some motivational videos you have used?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_VL5...eature=related - great Arnold interview.

[Timedog]

Yeahhhhh. PR in every lift tonight.

255 squats
230 bench
320 deadlift
170 rows

Squats and deads were easy as fuck. Got 10 reps instead of 5 on the 3rd set on both.

what are some motivational videos you have used? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_VL5...eature=related - great Arnold interview.

Very nice.

Correct me if I'm wrong, that stuff has creatine in it? If so, I would recommend ditching it altogether if cutting. You can substitute homemade iced green tea (with no sugar) instead. The problem with these pre-workout formulas is that your body grows a tolerance to it very quickly. This is an indication that it places a hefty burden on your internal organs.

What's wrong with creatine when cutting?

[J Tourettes]

The Pain and Gain thread made me laugh. Apparently it's easy to look like the Rock and Marky Mark, just take steroids.

[Carbonox_Ratchet]

The Pain and Gain thread made me laugh. Apparently it's easy to look like the Rock and Marky Mark, just take steroids.

Yah, too many people still have the idea that you just take steroids and the next morning, BOOM, you're a titan.

[Timedog]

The Pain and Gain thread made me laugh. Apparently it's easy to look like the Rock and Marky Mark, just take steroids.

Well Barry Bonds, Sosa, and McGuire certainly weren't huge guys when they were in their natural primes. But who knows, maybe they weren't working out back then. I don't personally think working out is very hard.

[Para bailar La Bomba]

What's wrong with creatine when cutting?

You should be taking creatine post workout when cutting.

When I'm on cutting cycle I tend to do large amounts of cardio and find it mostly detrimental for this purpose.

Also creatine should be cycled and the cutting phase is probably a better time to be off it.

[MrToughPants]

Exactly. Many, many powerlifters do iso, no clue how me doing a set or two of iso with my SS makes me a BB. Whether iso is good for a beginner depends on their goals. If you wanna jump higher, iso calf raises can help. If you wanna throw a shotput or discus farther, iso wrist curls can help. If you wanna run faster, iso leg curls and help. If you just want those areas bigger, iso can help.

And those with knowledge will tell you that for a beginner, everything you listed is a waste of time better put to other activities. A beginner doesn't have the strength base to make use of those isolation lifts in a worthwhile fashion. They may see results, but there are simply better ways to use that time and energy.

^ Pretty much.

http://www.youtube.com/user/dario2004/featured This guy medaled at the Pan Ams in discus and doesn't do wrist curls...

[Timedog]

^ Pretty much. http://www.youtube.com/user/dario2004/featured This guy medaled at the Pan Ams in discus and doesn't do wrist curls...

You have not presented an argument.

[calza]

You should be taking creatine post workout when cutting. When I'm on cutting cycle I tend to do large amounts of cardio and find it mostly detrimental for this purpose. Also creatine should be cycled and the cutting phase is probably a better time to be off it.

Wrong.

You can take it whenever you want once a day 5g.

No need to cycle it at all.

Educate yourself before you start educating others. http://examine.com/supplements/Creatine/

[J Tourettes]

Wrong. You can take it whenever you want once a day 5g. No need to cycle it at all. Educate yourself before you start educating others. http://examine.com/supplements/Creatine/

Welp, that's me off the ethyl ester.

[MrToughPants]

You have not presented an argument.

I really don't give a shit and am not looking for an argument.

Good luck with your weightlifting goals...

[Timedog]

I really don't give a shit and am not looking for an argument. Good luck with your weightlifting goals...

LOL, if you don't have anything, don't reply.

[calza]

Welp, that's me off the ethyl ester.

Yeah just stick to mono, I prefer to get a Creapure creatine, such as Optimum Nutrition mono creatine, as it is a quality product. But I am not sure how much difference there actually is but it was still pretty cheap.

[Alienshogun]

what are some motivational videos you have used? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_VL5...eature=related - great Arnold interview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz6-1XczIIE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDL205bUOlU

http://vimeo.com/27933991

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Clg...feature=relmfu

Yah, too many people still have the idea that you just take steroids and the next morning, BOOM, you're a titan.

A lot of GAF communities (hell people in general) have false preconceptions about nearly everything. They like to play like they know shit, but they know jack shit.

[Para bailar La Bomba]

Wrong. You can take it whenever you want once a day 5g. No need to cycle it at all. Educate yourself before you start educating others. http://examine.com/supplements/Creatine/

No need for hostile responses, Chico.

Let me clarify, that specific product should be cycled (MusclePharm Assault) because your body builds a tolerance to it very quickly.

Also, try doing a 10k run loaded with creatine and we'll see how far you get.

[calza]

No need for hostile responses, Chico. Let me clarify, that specific product should be cycled (MusclePharm Assault) because your body builds a tolerance to it very quickly. Also, try doing a 10k run loaded with creatine and we'll see how far you get.

You clearly said creatine should be cycled, it is a pre so yeah you can build a tolerance to it but not to the creatine.

And creatine should not have a negative effective on running, http://examine.com/topics/Anaerobic+Running+Capacity/

[Petrie]

No need for hostile responses, Chico. Let me clarify, that specific product should be cycled (MusclePharm Assault) because your body builds a tolerance to it very quickly. Also, try doing a 10k run loaded with creatine and we'll see how far you get.

Please stop with the shitty broscience.


Isn't the real reason to go off creatine when trying to get cut/ripped related to extra water retention?

[Cheeto]

Please stop with the shitty broscience. Isn't the real reason to go off creatine when trying to get cut/ripped related to extra water retention?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure being all water bloated is kinda counter productive to cutting.

[Poindexter]

Even that isn't necessarily a valid reason. Creatine can help maintain muscle mass on a cut. With most cutting cycles you're looking to be a certain size/weight at the end of the cycle so just cycle off a few weeks before your cut is set to end. It takes about 6 weeks for creatine saturation to completely deplete but most weight will be gone after 2 to 3. IMO you should be maintaining for at least a couple of weeks between bulks and cuts.

[Luscious LeftFoot]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure being all water bloated is kinda counter productive to cutting.

The water retention myth is overblown. Also I'd imagine if you're cutting the uptick in ATP production creatine provides would be worth the very minimal water weight gain.

[abuC]

Benched 375lbs x 1.......400lbs before 2012 will happen.


Weight down to 241lbs too.

[Drealmcc0y]

Why is leg day so much harder than the rest of your muscles?

Every single rep is hard, but yet my legs seem to just keep going.

With other muscles(e.g. chest) when every rep is killer, my muscles give up early where its literally impossible to go further, but with legs, there is just something inside them that just dont want to give up, telling me to keep going because they can.

Is it because they are just naturally much stronger than other muscles?

One thing is for sure.... im gonna be building allllll kinds of muscles after today's workout.

[insmileoutblood]

As a guy who has a 27 inch waist but still looks .. soft, major kudos to you all.

[CliqWriter]

It's fucking hilarious how you supposedly smart dedicated gym folks in this thread turn into pussified idiots that argue over stupid shit.

Creatine is possibly one of the best products out there in existence. It fucking works. Use it the way you want according to your workout/diet plan. Then fucking smile and stop arguing.

Anyway, All gains in the gym today !!
Squat - 265
Bench - 225
Deadlift - 230
All 3x8

[Poindexter]

Why is leg day so much harder than the rest of your muscles? Every single rep is hard, but yet my legs seem to just keep going. With other muscles(e.g. chest) when every rep is killer, my muscles give up early where its literally impossible to go further, but with legs, there is just something inside them that just dont want to give up, telling me to keep going because they can. Is it because they are just naturally much stronger than other muscles? One thing is for sure.... im gonna be building allllll kinds of muscles after today's workout.

I wonder this every time. For example on my warm up sets for squat I'll find myself thinking "what the hell, why is this hard?" and I'm sure that when I load up to my working set I won't even get one rep. And as lower my ass to the grass on my working load I always think "oh shit, getting back up is not goin... oh there I go" And I can push myself much harder on squat. The kind of fatigue I feel in my legs would cause me to fail my last rep on any other work out but I always seem to get it on squat. Maybe it's because I know if I fail I'm absolutely fucked (I squat at home from a free standing rack usually when no one else is home).

[jacobs34]

Found out last month that I have an allergic reaction to concentrated doses of creatine. Made my skin break out like crazy. My lifts have been steadily going up without it, so I don't mind.

My weight is down to 210 from 250lbs in January. I'm switching over to Wendlers 5-3-1 this week from the beginners routine I had been on for the last four months. I'm also training for a 5K in late June so it'll be interesting to see how that affects my lifts.

[mooooose]

Man I don't understand the dudes who deadlift as much as I do but are jacked to shit and can lift so much more on bench.

[despire]

I'd like to get some critique on my squat form if it's not too much to ask :)

http://youtu.be/-rU7eE-vZbE - Squat 88lbs
http://youtu.be/tmjxlXfXyis - Squat 187lbs

Mainly interested if my lower back is ok. I'm not sure if there's some buttwink or if that's acceptable. Of course if there's any other problems you see I'd like to hear about them too. Thanks in advance!


Also managed to deadlift 260lbs today. Not much compared to other guys here but a PR for me :)

[Carbonox_Ratchet]

Man I don't understand the dudes who deadlift as much as I do but are jacked to shit and can lift so much more on bench.

It's not uncommon to see guys with big upper bodies and scrawny legs. Tiny the Tiger syndrome. They want big arms and chests and completely ignore their legs.

[bro1]

I'd like to get some critique on my squat form if it's not too much to ask :) http://youtu.be/-rU7eE-vZbE - Squat 88lbs http://youtu.be/tmjxlXfXyis - Squat 187lbs Mainly interested if my lower back is ok. I'm not sure if there's some buttwink or if that's acceptable. Of course if there's any other problems you see I'd like to hear about them too. Thanks in advance! Also managed to deadlift 260lbs today. Not much compared to other guys here but a PR for me :)

It looks good. You are going deep enough but you want to work on your hip drive. Really come out of the bottom, lifting your ass straight up. I have a previous post with a video if you do a search.

[Bearded Dudebro]

Hey, i'm going through inspecting my form, comparing it to the description on the 5x5 report and the description for the OHP has me confused a bit.

http://stronglifts.com/how-to-overhe...ect-technique/

Specifically the Elbows Forward section. it says "Elbows in front of the barbell when looking from the side. Not upper-arms parallel with the floor, it's not a Front Squat.

I'm confused cause if I'm gripping the bar at around 18" and starting with it on my clavicles, it puts my elbows at my sides, directly beneath the bar. If I push them out in front of the bar (away from my body), they do go out, but they also go towards each other in front of me. Watching youtube videos and others in the gym, no one seems to do them this way, not even other 5x5 followers.

Could someone clarify that for me?

Edit: The BB.com video is how I do it as well as see others do it.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercise...military-press

[bro1]

It's fucking hilarious how you supposedly smart dedicated gym folks in this thread turn into pussified idiots that argue over stupid shit. Creatine is possibly one of the best products out there in existence. It fucking works. Use it the way you want according to your workout/diet plan. Then fucking smile and stop arguing. Anyway, All gains in the gym today !! Squat - 265 Bench - 225 Deadlift - 230 All 3x8

Are you doing SS? Also, I'm surprised your DL is so low compared to your other lifts. I would expect that to be at least 315

[Cheeto]

It's fucking hilarious how you supposedly smart dedicated gym folks in this thread turn into pussified idiots that argue over stupid shit. Creatine is possibly one of the best products out there in existence. It fucking works. Use it the way you want according to your workout/diet plan. Then fucking smile and stop arguing. Anyway, All gains in the gym today !! Squat - 265 Bench - 225 Deadlift - 230 All 3x8

Funny, I have used it... quite a few cycles. Every time it has caused me to gain weight and made my body look "pudgier" than normal. I never cared about this weight gain, because I've never really cared about that anyways. However, the gains were nice...I'm never going to doubt that, but those gains were on the bar not in the mirror. In a hobby where progress is almost always 100% of the motivation, it seems counter to progress of a cut to use something that can potentially have the opposite effect. Anyways, differing opinions on topics is not "pussified idiots arguing over stupid shit"... its a discussion...on a forum meant for discussion.

[DarthWufei]

It's not uncommon to see guys with big upper bodies and scrawny legs. Tiny the Tiger syndrome. They want big arms and chests and completely ignore their legs.

I've been seeing fewer and fewer people even workout their backs at all at my gym over the past few years. People not working legs was a given, people rarely deadlifted a couple of years ago and I can go weeks without seeing anyone do them these days. Now I rarely see people do any sort of row, shrug, or fly. Just a set of pulldowns or pullups and that's "back". Boggles me.

More people have been squatting though, so maybe it's just some odd cycle.

[Petrie]

I've been seeing fewer and fewer people even workout their backs at all at my gym over the past few years. People not working legs was a given, people rarely deadlifted a couple of years ago and I can go weeks without seeing anyone do them these days. Now I rarely see people do any sort of row, shrug, or fly. Just a set of pulldowns or pullups and that's "back". Boggles me. More people have been squatting though, so maybe it's just some odd cycle.

Well, for a beginner you don't really need and rows, shrugs, or flies. Pullups and the other big lifts will hit your back all you need for awhile.

If these are the guys who have been there for years though, then that is a bit silly.

[kylej]

Why is leg day so much harder than the rest of your muscles?

When doing (most) leg exercises, your legs have to lift your bodyweight and whatever weight you're lifting. So, if you're squatting 300lbs and weigh 150, your legs are dealing with (roughly) 450lbs, whereas if you're benching 300lbs your arms don't have to support the rest of your body.

[Drealmcc0y]

When doing (most) leg exercises, your legs have to lift your bodyweight and whatever weight you're lifting. So, if you're squatting 300lbs and weigh 150, your legs are dealing with (roughly) 450lbs, whereas if you're benching 300lbs your arms don't have to support the rest of your body.

Well considering I only did leg press and leg curls today im gonna have to disagree that it had anything to do with my own weight.

It only took 4 sets of each and my legs were d.e.a.d. As I was walking to the changing room my legs gave way and I almost fell over LOL :D

[DarthWufei]

Well, for a beginner you don't really need and rows, shrugs, or flies. Pullups and the other big lifts will hit your back all you need for awhile. If these are the guys who have been there for years though, then that is a bit silly.

Oh I couldn't agree more when it comes to beginners. I'm just saying this is all I see anyone do at my gym. It just seems like overall there's a lot less back work. Maybe it's just a good portion of the vets I'm used to seeing are gone so I'm noticing the new guys more.

That or I just have bad luck finding a spot to do pullups. I'm totally gonna turn out to be that grumpy old dude at the gym.

[JB1981]

Gonna do power cleans tonight. Hope the back holds up. Today is conditioning day. Cleans, dips for reps and then HIIT on the treadmill.

[entrement]

Oh I couldn't agree more when it comes to beginners. I'm just saying this is all I see anyone do at my gym. It just seems like overall there's a lot less back work. Maybe it's just a good portion of the vets I'm used to seeing are gone so I'm noticing the new guys more. That or I just have bad luck finding a spot to do pullups. I'm totally gonna turn out to be that grumpy old dude at the gym.

I see a lot of dudes who just do tons of pull ups and that's all and lot of them have the V Taper. At least that's what they claim, just pull ups as the main back exercise.

[Alienshogun]

Benched 375lbs x 1.......400lbs before 2012 will happen. Weight down to 241lbs too.

Fuck yeah! Good shit man!

[balddemon]

I see a lot of dudes who just do tons of pull ups and that's all and lot of them have the V Taper. At least that's what they claim, just pull ups as the main back exercise.

well when i do chins/pullups, i notice they tend to hit my lats harder than anything (especially chins). that probably has something to do with the taper that i so badly want

it also comes as a result of eating well and having little fat on your body in my experience

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Check out a guy called shortkid422 on Fitocracy, some impressive shit.

[J Tourettes]

Check out a guy called shortkid422 on Fitocracy, some impressive shit.

Extremely impressive for someone so small. Link to his profile here.

Edit: A link to one of his vids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od6JY73zGIs

[DarthWufei]

Made my own PB today.

Worst idea ever..... I ate too much. :(

[diamondstar]

Man I don't understand the dudes who deadlift as much as I do but are jacked to shit and can lift so much more on bench.

I feel the same. I squat about the same or more than a few here but they kill me in deadlifts. Hopefully I just have to get used to it since I am still working on getting the right form.

I was able to squat 285 3x5 today and it felt good but I think I fucked up something on the lower left side of my back. Could not even do 135 on deadlifts. I hope it doesn't put me out too long because I have been gaining and feeling great lately. Shouldn't have went running last weekend. Fuck.

[Poindexter]

I had a terrible fucking chest day today. Lost one rep on flat bench from last week and on incline bench I only got one rep on weight that I got 4 reps on last week. I was looking to smash that weight and move on but I guess I hit a wall on bench this week. I've been moving up every week during this bulk (just moved to maintenance after a 6 week bulk but I've still been making gains) and now it seems like I've stalled. I really hate days like this.

[FallingEdge]

1x20 @ 170 squats. It is ridiculous to see how strenuous this is.

I know I can get 1x20 @ 225 by the end of the year. YEAH BUDDY.

Slight setback in the other lifts today due to me not feeling as well and pretty much burning all my energy on the squats but it still feels good. Diet on point. No problem!

[Poindexter]

oh and even worse was completely failing on incline and having the weight sit on my chest and I had to yell for my wife to come and start removing plates. Talk about a confidence killer