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Fitness |OT9|...You looked better before

Granadier

Is currently on Stage 1: Denial regarding the service game future
Rest timer has been one of the most requested features. It's in beta right now :)
 

velociraptor

Junior Member
Can someone remind me the importance of rest days? :p

I'm currently running a PPL split which I do twice a week but I actually am doing it back to back without any rest days...at all. Simply because I don't want to rest. All I want to do is train. Is this bad? lol
 

Heysoos

Member
Man I'm having a terrible workout. No matter how much I stretched my legs just feel so damn tight and I am having so trouble hitting parallel on squat right now.
 

Faiz

Member
Shameless plug for Strong since I'm one of their developers

It should allow you to add any exercise, even if it isn't listed in the default exercises. There is a "custom exercise" option when creating a routine. The list can be missing a few, but I've been using it for a year and have found it covers almost everything.

If you have ideas for improvements feel free to post here or send me a PM. I can add them to the feature requests and talk with the team.



Woo! Glad it's working well for you :)

Any chance for making it a universal app? Looks like a nice app but having an iPhone app blown up to iPad size drives me insane lol.
 

entremet

Member
Any push pressers here?

I know Rip loves it now since the 3rd edition of SS. I might move to it from my OHP to get more explosiveness in my routine. I don't do cleans much.

Can someone remind me the importance of rest days? :p

I'm currently running a PPL split which I do twice a week but I actually am doing it back to back without any rest days...at all. Simply because I don't want to rest. All I want to do is train. Is this bad? lol

How old are you?

How much rest and stress do you experience?

Are you trying to build muscle or lose fat? All this matters.
 
Shameless plug for Strong since I'm one of their developers

It should allow you to add any exercise, even if it isn't listed in the default exercises. There is a "custom exercise" option when creating a routine. The list can be missing a few, but I've been using it for a year and have found it covers almost everything.

If you have ideas for improvements feel free to post here or send me a PM. I can add them to the feature requests and talk with the team.



Woo! Glad it's working well for you :)

i don't wanna bother, but there's no plan to port this app to android?
 

velociraptor

Junior Member
Any push pressers here?

I know Rip loves it now since the 3rd edition of SS. I might move to it from my OHP to get more explosiveness in my routine. I don't do cleans much.



How old are you?

How much rest and stress do you experience?

Are you trying to build muscle or lose fat? All this matters.
25
No stress. Sleep about 8 hours daily.
Trying to build muscle.
 

JoeNut

Member
It's a bank holiday in England today. I felt really smug getting up and going to the gym, nobody on the roads and it was empty.
Wish it was always like that
 

KillerBEA

Member
It's a bank holiday in England today. I felt really smug getting up and going to the gym, nobody on the roads and it was empty.
Wish it was always like that

Gym was dead today thanks to Memorial day. I was completely alone for 45 minutes. It was glorious!
 

poppabk

Cheeks Spread for Digital Only Future
185 but I've been higher before.



Not yet. I've still got too much hanging fat on me to bulk. I still feel like I look terrible, I'm a long way from skinny. Once I'm satisfied with my fat levels I'll bulk hard.

About my weight and how it seems like I want it to be too low for my body size - I've been down this road before on FitGAF. I bulked once, my muscles got bigger, I got stronger, but I'm just really unhappy about fat gains. I would much rather be skinny and frail first. I'm trying to reset my body to a lower fat starting point. My brother is taller than me, weaker than me, and weighs much more, yet he's got a perfectly flat stomach. One of my best friends is the same height as me, weighs more than me, and has never lifted or trained in his life, and he has a perfectly flat stomach. That's what I'm after. Not strength, not size. When I sit down all kinds of shit hangs off my belly and it makes me want to cry. Every other part of me is legitimately skinny, as you could guess. My shoulders, arms, upper back, and legs are all well-defined and flab free. I feel as if all the fat on my body is wrapped around my waist and I'd have to do ridiculous, drastic weight loss to get rid of it. If I could just take a knife and cut it off, I would, and then I'd bulk. It drives me absolutely insane. There's something wrong with my body.
I'm in the same boat. I'm down to 160 from 178, and I am looking pretty trim except for my belly and love handles. My upper abs are visible, but I still have a visibly protruding belly. I have been as low as 140 before with a lot of running, but I still had a belly then, although I was a lot younger then. I'm trying to not overdo the cardio as I don't want to go to low in weight, I am still steadily losing weight while maintaining muscle so I feel like I maybe on track. There is a big temptation to try and bulk just because it would be more fun, but I think if I hit 150 on my current regimen then I should finally see that belly fat go.
 

Gintamen

Member
So I put to much on for a OHP and now my left ankle is down for the count for the next couple of weeks. ;-( Only a couple months after my right one healed up after hard fall while cycling. Sport is killing me. Better force myself to run some more. Hehe Better keep the attitude positiv.
 
Have completed one of my major cycling goals for the year. Went out with a friend of mine on Sunday and took part in the Dorset Gravel Dash 100... him on his skinny CX bike, me on Old Faithful (MTB).

Amazing day. Perfect weather, and aside from one silly crash, we had pretty much the perfect ride. Even my back injury didn't end up hurting too much. :)

https://www.strava.com/activities/593132814

I'm hoping in a week or so I can try lifting again, though obviously I'm going to have to start from no-where near what I was lifting a month or so ago.
 

Granadier

Is currently on Stage 1: Denial regarding the service game future
Any chance for making it a universal app? Looks like a nice app but having an iPhone app blown up to iPad size drives me insane lol.

Is an iPad your main device while at the gym? I'll pass this along, but I can't promise anything. I can totally understand the frustration with the stretched experience.

i don't wanna bother, but there's no plan to port this app to android?

They are definitely looking at this, but I can't give an accurate timeline on when it would be available.
 

HORRORSHØW

Member
Any bodyweight fitness guys here?


I did full-body workouts for a month, MWF, consisting of pullups/dips, squats/calf raises, pushups/rows as supersets, and burpees/mountain climbers Tabata style on rest days for cardio.

I was thinking of mixing it up and doing push and leg workouts on Mondays and Thursdays (handstand pushups, dips, pushups, squats), pull and ab workouts on Tuesdays and Fridays (pullups and rows) and resting on W/S/S.

There's more volume there but I'm wondering if it's too much. I usually do two rounds. One weighted with low reps, and another with no weights and high reps.
 

Faiz

Member
Is an iPad your main device while at the gym? I'll pass this along, but I can't promise anything. I can totally understand the frustration with the stretched experience.

They are definitely looking at this, but I can't give an accurate timeline on when it would be available.

My gym is my basement, but yeah, I favor my iPad over my iPhone for almost everything.
 
Any push pressers here?

I know Rip loves it now since the 3rd edition of SS. I might move to it from my OHP to get more explosiveness in my routine. I don't do cleans much.

Does he really? I haven't checked lately but last I remember he liked to put a bit of a hip thrust at the beginning to get the bar started upwards, rather than a full out push press.
 

sphinx

the piano man
have any of you guys went through a phase, in which you are trying to lose weight, you eat accordingly, including crazy-ass fasting periods for many hours, you notice clothes aren't as tight, you are getting a bit shredded, getting some definition lines, you can see abs in the morning, etc....

and then you step on the scale.... and weight the same as before...???

that's me now, I notice the change on my waist, it's very very noticeable, I went down a belt button already and my pants are beginning to feel weird (as in, not my real size) but today I stepped on the scale and see the casual 72 kg number, that really isn't a change at all, yet I feel like I am in another body.

is this a thing or is it some delusion?
 

frontieruk

Member
have any of you guys went through a phase, in which you are trying to lose weight, you eat accordingly, including crazy-ass fasting periods for many hours, you notice clothes aren't as tight, you are getting a bit shredded, getting some definition lines, you can see abs in the morning, etc....

and then you step on the scale.... and weight the same as before...???

that's me now, I notice the change on my waist, it's very very noticeable, I went down a belt button already and my pants are beginning to feel weird (as in, not my real size) but today I stepped on the scale and see the casual 72 kg number, that really isn't a change at all, yet I feel like I am in another body.

is this a thing or is it some delusion?

Muscle mass, it's denser than fat so body size shrinks weight stays the same, it's even possible to gain weight but get into smaller clothes...
 

Granadier

Is currently on Stage 1: Denial regarding the service game future
Went to a different gym than normal today since it was closer. Pretty sure their A/C was off or broken, and the plates and barbells got all rusty. Their power rack felt more like a "I'm about to topple over rack" too.
 
I'm struggling hitting 5 reps for 1x5 on deads when the weights increase this past month. Today was 355, and I could only get 4 reps. Same with the last couple weeks. Though last week I did 315 for 1x8.
 
Hope everyone had a great day today! Chest day went awesome. Dumbbell week so the extra ROM allowed me to reaaaally stretch deeper. Might just switch to DB for a while on BP.

Had my favorite console developer of all time reach out to me at random today :O Asked for a favor and I've been glowing all day.

Made some kickass relish and all in all had a good time lounging. Hope everyone ate well, threw on the swell and chillaxed!
 
I'm struggling hitting 5 reps for 1x5 on deads when the weights increase this past month. Today was 355, and I could only get 4 reps. Same with the last couple weeks. Though last week I did 315 for 1x8.

Add me to the list of people struggling like a bitch on deadlifts. Can't manage that 5th rep at 415.

How on earth does 415 feel so much different than 405 anyways? Although it could be my calorie deficit that's starting to hinder me.
 

SeanR1221

Member
Hope everyone had a great day today! Chest day went awesome. Dumbbell week so the extra ROM allowed me to reaaaally stretch deeper. Might just switch to DB for a while on BP.

Had my favorite console developer of all time reach out to me at random today :O Asked for a favor and I've been glowing all day.

Made some kickass relish and all in all had a good time lounging. Hope everyone ate well, threw on the swell and chillaxed!

That relish looked good af!

I relaxed pretty much the whole day. Overwatch and HBO. I tried squats but they didn't go so well. I'm not sure why I went for them anyway; my ass doms are out of control from dead stop deads and tire flips. Combine that with 4 hours (!) of driving yesterday and I felt so weak out of the hole. I might change front squat day to back squats again to have another crack at it.
 
That relish looked good af!

I relaxed pretty much the whole day. Overwatch and HBO. I tried squats but they didn't go so well. I'm not sure why I went for them anyway; my ass doms are out of control from dead stop deads and tire flips. Combine that with 4 hours (!) of driving yesterday and I felt so weak out of the hole. I might change front squat day to back squats again to have another crack at it.
Earn that rest day!

Relish:
Equal parts -
Half white onion, large, diced
Tomatoes, cored, jelly gutted (to keep the crunch), cubed
Pickles, cubed

2 tablespoons pickle juice
2 TBS red wine vinegar
1 TBS olive oil

Lightly dust with Italian seasoning, spike seasoning and celery salt - very light initial dusting

Put in Tupperware, shake vigorously, throw in fridge.

Come back every so often to shake to recoat and keep the bros at the bottom from drowning.

When ready to serve, scoop it out and give it another light dusting of Italian seasoning, spike seasoning and celery salt.

EXTRA good on sandwiches, dogs, etc. Hell I just eat the stuff as is sometimes.

I made this to mimic Peppo's "guts" relish - which are the BEST sammiches in Chicago, IMO. They give you a fork with them since they pile on so much relish. So good.

Give it a shot - feel free to post up changes. Working on a "hot" relish and garlic relish, to boot.
 

Estellex

Member
Is it not viable to eat dinner before a gym workout?

I usually eat dinner before and after workout I take a protein shake and go to sleep.

Is this viable or would it hinder my gains?
 

Granadier

Is currently on Stage 1: Denial regarding the service game future
Food goes in, gains come out.
I don't think the time is much of a hindrance, if at all.
 

Faiz

Member
Does he really? I haven't checked lately but last I remember he liked to put a bit of a hip thrust at the beginning to get the bar started upwards, rather than a full out push press.

I hadn't commented yet because I needed to check the book to refresh my memory, and this is correct. What he advocates in SS 3e is a press form utilizing a slight hip thrust and bounce back just before the actual press begins. This varies from a push press which utilizes a sharp and fast knee bounce, with the bar resting firmly on the delts, to begin the press.
 
So finally biting the bullet and joining a gym after a year or so of pondering

My question is, is there usually much upsell from personal trainers? I can see that being a big thing and it just seems like it would be awkward.
 

JoeNut

Member
So finally biting the bullet and joining a gym after a year or so of pondering

My question is, is there usually much upsell from personal trainers? I can see that being a big thing and it just seems like it would be awkward.

The PT in my gym seems to be all about teaching people to use machines...what a way to make a living huh?

he's never approached me about a session though, i don't know if that's really a thing?
 
So finally biting the bullet and joining a gym after a year or so of pondering

My question is, is there usually much upsell from personal trainers? I can see that being a big thing and it just seems like it would be awkward.

Usually there is a fitness consultation, where they will help you assess your level of fitness and a plan to achieve your goals.

At the end of the session they will try to get you to purchase some sort of personal training session or package.

If you choose to do personal training, your trainer will try to persuade you to purchase more sessions once your initial batch is close to ending.

Once you get away from a personal trainer and on your own however, it's not likely that you'll get approached/pressured to do more sessions. Maybe they'll offer you specials through your email occasionally but nothing too intrusive.
 
So finally biting the bullet and joining a gym after a year or so of pondering

My question is, is there usually much upsell from personal trainers? I can see that being a big thing and it just seems like it would be awkward.

You came! If I were you I'd do a couple of sessions tops and let it be known early that you just want to get the lay of the land at your new gym and to learn some exercises that will help you get started on your journey. Most trainers aren't too pushy, they are used to this. Have a trainer teach you proper form for the major lifts that should make up the bulk of your early programming (squat, deadlift, bench press, overhead press, bent-over rows). If the trainer seems more interested in showing you how to wiggle a heavy rope or do push ups on a BOSU ball, don't do more than one session.

Don't be intimidated by lifting free weights. A very common rookie mistake is to think that the machines are for you, and the free-weights are for pros. The machines are for no one. Read the op about 5 times and pick a starter program, it really is all you need.
 

MjFrancis

Member
Any push pressers here?

I know Rip loves it now since the 3rd edition of SS. I might move to it from my OHP to get more explosiveness in my routine. I don't do cleans much.
I push press weekly. I didn't perform cleans for years given that my beard was chest length I couldn't avoid pinching it at the top with the bar (lol), but now that my beard is short I still don't clean. Jim Wendler spoke of doing more with less i.e. "training economy" and even if he didn't coin the term I adopted it's practice through him - and I've found that the push press works as a full body movement moreso than the strict press could. Training time is valuable and for me the push press makes the cut.
 

Szu

Member
I push press weekly. I didn't perform cleans for years given that my beard was chest length I couldn't avoid pinching it at the top with the bar (lol), but now that my beard is short I still don't clean. Jim Wendler spoke of doing more with less i.e. "training economy" and even if he didn't coin the term I adopted it's practice through him - and I've found that the push press works as a full body movement moreso than the strict press could. Training time is valuable and for me the push press makes the cut.

That's probably the best reason to against power cleans.

Potentially, this could have happened to you. Except the front version.

tumblr_n698gjdGOh1tawmaoo1_400.gif
 

Fox318

Member
That's probably the best reason to against power cleans.

Potentially, this could have happened to you. Except the front version.

tumblr_n698gjdGOh1tawmaoo1_400.gif

shit like this makes me angry

people just standing around watching and somebody like that not squatting in a cage.

ugh.
 
Can someone remind me the importance of rest days? :p

I'm currently running a PPL split which I do twice a week but I actually am doing it back to back without any rest days...at all. Simply because I don't want to rest. All I want to do is train. Is this bad? lol

You can probably get away without any rest days for a little while if your body is seasoned to training.

But if your body does just need a day to catch up on some extra sleep or you don't quite feel ready to go hard, just take a day off and get pumped to go hard the next!

I remember about a year ago on like day 15 in a row of working out I showed up to the gym and just said screw it. I did some balancing exercises and stretched a bit and went home. I basically told myself there's no point.
 

Irobot82

Member
shit like this makes me angry

people just standing around watching and somebody like that not squatting in a cage.

ugh.

Also why is she squatting with her head arched back so far? She should be looking forward or slightly down to create a neutral spine.
 

Teggy

Member
Also why is she squatting with her head arched back so far? She should be looking forward or slightly down to create a neutral spine.

There is definitely a school of thought on the squat that tells you to look at the ceiling. It's not one that I follow, but it's a form that even very strong guys use. I can't speak to the reasoning, though.
 
My guess is balance - where you are looking the body is most likely to go.

Like on a motorcycle - look at the turn before you enter it, don't look through the turn in front of you. Messes with your equilibrium.
 

fwpx

Member
Hello, FitnessGAF. I am a...let's say intermediate? fitness guy. I am tired of the yo-yo of my weight and am looking to be in the best shape of my life before I turn 30.

Age: 28
Height: 5'10
Weight: 190
Goal: 175?
Current Training Schedule: M/W/F - Cardio T/TH/SAT - Lift
Current Training Equipment Available: Dumbbells (5-55lbs), Bench, Treadmill, Stationary Bike, Heavy Bag/Gloves
Comments: I will be getting an Olympic bar and 255lbs of plates in the next month, as well as a squat rack with a chin up bar. I am looking to finally see some toning. I am currently on the following diet:

1620 Calories
122g Carbs
63g Fat
142g Protein
50g Sugar
2300mg Sodium


I have dropped 20lbs since March 1st, and am starting to plateau with what I am doing. Honestly, I am just looking for a little illumination on what I should be doing when I lift. My cardio has been working through Couch to 5k, (I am currently on 10 minute straight runs, brutal lol)

Any tips/help/regimen advice would be greatly appreciated!
 

frontovik

Banned
So I've gained some fat (primarily around the waist) due to an unhealthy diet in the past (too much sugary drinks) and haven't maintained a consistent active lifestyle due to school & work.

I have gone to the gym and tried to maintain a healthy eating habit, but I just haven't been consistent. My goals are to slim down (get rid of the waist,cheek, and thigh fat), improve my cardio, and build more strength in my hands/wrist/forearms.

With regards to getting rid of the fat, I understand a healthy eating habit is important: I've abstained from drinking sugary drinks of any kind and focusing on water only, but there are still times when I get cravings for snacks (chocolates bars/chips) or fast food (burgers). I've tried to reduce the cravings by eating more healthy such as fruits, veggies, and salads, but it can be so tasteless at times.

With regards to exercising, I focused on doing runs in a local trail near my neighbourhood (it's not a daily run though, perhaps once or twice a week) I also do burpees, push-ups, squats, and dumbbell curls as well.

Am I on the right track for my fitness plan? Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated.

edit: For the record, I'd rather not go to the gym currently, and would rather focus on cardio (running around in local trails neighbourhoods/or focus on strength training that I can do at home. I have some dumbbells that I have been practising with.
 
Hello, FitnessGAF. I am a...let's say intermediate? fitness guy. I am tired of the yo-yo of my weight and am looking to be in the best shape of my life before I turn 30.

Age: 28
Height: 5'10
Weight: 190
Goal: 175?
Current Training Schedule: M/W/F - Cardio T/TH/SAT - Lift
Current Training Equipment Available: Dumbbells (5-55lbs), Bench, Treadmill, Stationary Bike, Heavy Bag/Gloves
Comments: I will be getting an Olympic bar and 255lbs of plates in the next month, as well as a squat rack with a chin up bar. I am looking to finally see some toning. I am currently on the following diet:

1620 Calories
122g Carbs
63g Fat
142g Protein
50g Sugar
2300mg Sodium


I have dropped 20lbs since March 1st, and am starting to plateau with what I am doing. Honestly, I am just looking for a little illumination on what I should be doing when I lift. My cardio has been working through Couch to 5k, (I am currently on 10 minute straight runs, brutal lol)

Any tips/help/regimen advice would be greatly appreciated!

For your weight training, I would recommend checking out Stronglifts 5x5 in the OP. It's a good program to teach you the basics of barbell work and programming.

You say that you're starting to hit a plateau. Have you modified your calorie intake at all since starting in March?

Only other suggestions I have is:

i. Your fat intake. If you're not already, you should be treating it as a minimum threshold, rather than a max. (i.e. you should be eating more than 63g each day)

ii. I would recommend against tracking your carb or sugar intake.

iii. have fun
 
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