ForumsThe Tavern[REQUESTED] Health and fitness

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GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
15,620 posts
Herald

I've been contemplating making this thread for quite some time, because I'm not sure how many people here aside from myself actively go to the gym or workout.

Well, here's a topic where you can talk about a wide range of topics relating to health and fitness. What you do when you workout, your gym experiences, when you started working out, how much you can lift, what you did today while working out/at the gym, etc.

It's always good to be healthy and physically fit, so if you don't currently workout and are lazy, I'd recommend getting into a routine. It does wonders for your body and you'll feel amazing. If you're worried about time or money, don't be. A gym membership only costs around 20 dollars at a local gym and if you have time to be on the internet, you should have time to go to the gym.

As I talk about these topics, at the bottom of some of them I'll be posting some links to reading material on the subject.

Some starting topics:

What supplements are good to use?
I personally only use creatine monohydrate. Whey protein and some other types of protein supplements are good, but I only see those as necessary if you're not intaking enough protein from food.

What creatine monohydrate does is it improves performance and makes you heal more quickly by retaining water in the muscles. Creatine is naturally found in the body, this just enhances it. The only real con to using creatine is having problems with your kidneys, but that's only if you don't drink enough water. You're supposed to drink around a gallon of water a day while on it.

When using creatine, expect to gain 5-10 pounds in water weight and look more swole. Why? Because it retains water in your muscles.

There's been some discussion regarding if you should cycle creatine or not. What that means is if you take it for let's say three months, some people think you should stop taking it for a few weeks, around two weeks. It's not necessary. What you're basically doing is just taking all that creatine that improves performance and heals you more quickly out of your body.

No, creatine is not steroids. When I usually tell people who don't workout that I use creatine, they think it's steroids.

Creatine
Creatine monohydrate

What exercises are good to do at home/that don't involve weights?
Pushups, dips, pullups, squats, planks, crunches, and calve raises. Those are exercises that'll workout your whole body without weights.

Pushups for chest, shoulders, biceps, and triceps. Dips specifically target triceps. It depends on how you do pullups, certain ways will target muscles more than others, but they usually work the back and biceps. By certain ways, I mean underhand and overhand grip. The underhand grip (palms facing you) and having your hands close together will work the biceps more, while overhand and having your hands around shoulder width or wider will do more back action.

Those are good if you don't currently have a gym membership, but most of them are only good for so long. Pullups and dips are the best because they measure your true strength; pulling your entire body up and with dips lowering yourself and pushing up. If you can't already do a reasonable amount (I'd say 10 reps each) of pullups and dips, there's something wrong.

A good schedule for home exercises:
Sunday - Rest
Monday - Pushups and dips
Tuesday - Squats and calve raises
Wednesday - Pullups
Thursday - Dips and pushups
Friday - Squats and calve raises
Saturday - Pullups

You'll see a slight difference from Monday and Thursday. On Monday pushups is the primary, as in you do it first, and dips the secondary. And on Thursday it's the other way around. You also get a few rest days for those muscles alone with that schedule. Once you do a great pushup and dip workout, you don't want to do them again the next day. Your muscles require time to rest and grow.

Again, this will only get you so far. After about a month of doing this stuff it'll seem easy, which is why investing in a gym membership is excellent. It's around twenty dollars a month at most local gyms.

How many days of the week and how long should I workout?
Six days a week with one rest day is what I usually do and recommend. Gives you enough time to target specific muscles and you have a day where you don't do anything.

I also weight train for about an hour and a half then do twenty-thirty minutes of cardio. I don't think I'll increase either of those times, but if you're a beginner at the gym you may want to start lower. I'd say around forty-five minutes of weight training then fifteen minutes of cardio, then work your way up.

Believe me, the first week is very difficult. Halfway through the workout you'll probably feel very tired and sore, and the next day will be even worse. Once you wake up you'll wish that you hadn't worked out, but it pays off. Just stick with a solid schedule and you'll see.

What's good to do at the gym?
It depends on what you're doing there, as in what muscle(s) you're working out that day.

My schedule:
Sunday - Rest
Monday - Chest and shoulders
Tuesday - Biceps and legs
Wednesday - Back and traps
Thursday - Triceps and shoulders
Friday - Legs and biceps
Saturday - Back and traps

I do around 30 sets in total by the time I'm done, depends on the day. It's usually more sets on the days I do legs and biceps. I usually try to do three-four sets on most of the machines that will target those muslces and other things.

Chest and shoulders - 7 sets of flat or incline bench press, 3 sets of flies, 3 sets of seated chest press, 3 sets of seated chest press on another machine, and 3 sets of dumbbell press.
4 sets of shoulder press, 4 sets of seated incline shoulder press, and 4 sets of lateral raises.
Do as many pushups as you can do when you're done.

Biceps and legs - 3 sets of seated preacher curls, 3 sets of standing wide grip curls, 3 sets of standing close grip curls, 3 sets of regular dumbbell curls, 3 sets of hammer curls, and 3 sets of concentration curls.
5 sets of leg press, 5 sets of squats, 5 sets of quad curls, 10 sets of hamstring curls, and 5 sets of calve raises.

Back and traps - 3 sets of regular cable rows, 3 sets of wide cable rows, 3 sets of wide lat pulldowns, 3 sets of regular lat pulldowns, 3 sets of lat rows on machine, 3 sets of dumbbell rows, and 5 sets of deadlifts.
5-10 sets of shrugs and 5 sets of upright rows.
Do as many pullups as you can do when you're done.

Triceps and shoulders - 6 sets of close grip flat bench press, 4 sets of skullcrushers, 4 sets of tricep extensions, and 4 sets of tricep pulldowns.
4 sets of shoulder press, 4 sets of seated incline shoulder press, and 4 sets of lateral raises.
Do as many dips as you can do when you're done.

Legs and biceps - Legs is first and biceps is second, same exercises, but in a different order.

Back and traps - Same exercises, but in a different order.

I may have to do deadlifts on leg day though. I tried to do them earlier and was very tired. It was probably because I did legs yesterday and when doing deadlifts they require leg muscles.
Also, sometimes on back day I'll do extensions. Some people consider it an exercise, but I just use it loosen up my lower back. More of a stretch for me.
Image of back extensions

I'd also like to talk about the subject of traps. They don't help you that much with lifting, it's more of an aesthetic thing. Most people probably don't want to be walking around with a box body. Doing trap exercises makes a big difference in how your body will look.
Just take a look at these two photos:

No traps.
Big traps.

Does the 1 rep max matter?
Well, only on these three exercises: Bench press, deadlift, and squat. Otherwise, no, it doesn't matter. And on those exercises, don't go for your 1 rep max often. It tears a lot of muscle fibers and if you do that weekly you're bound to get injured. I personally only do it once or twice a month.

Anyway, mine are:
Bench press - 290 pounds
Deadlift - 315 pounds
Squat - 250 pounds

Those were the numbers last time I did went for my 1 rep max, which was a week or two ago. I just got back into squats, which is the reason why it's so low. Your squat should be somewhere around your deadlift, never lower than your bench, because your legs are supposed to be stronger than your upper body. But I'll probably get it there in a few weeks.

They say you're not truly strong with weights unless you can lift your body weight on those three exercises. I somewhat agree with that. You should be able to lift up your body weight on those exercises. You're using many muscles with them. I'd also consider being able to do a good amount of pullups and dips a good measure of strength.

What is good form?
It's not using your other muscles when you are trying to work a certain one. For instance, bicep curls. For the love of Talos don't jerk them around; don't use your back, legs, and keep your elbows in the starting position. The only thing that should be moving up is your arm.

Another is bench press. You want to go down and up nice and slow. Control the weight. Don't bounce if off of your chest, don't have a huge arch in your back, don't use your legs, and don't lift your butt off the bench. You're not even working chest anymore if you do those, and the only thing that'll happen over time is that you'll injure yourself. It's okay to have a small arch and pin your shoulders back slightly, but that's it.

It doesn't matter how much people can lift unless they do it with good form. You're not getting proper gains unless it's with good form.

Demonstration video for bicep curls
After that video, look at the featured videos list with her in them and watch.

Demonstration video for bench press

Breathing:
It's important to breathe when working out. I know you guys already breathe, but I mean properly breathing. Such as with bench press. Before you take the weight off the rack, take a deep breath, as you go down keep it in, then release as you go up, repeat. Exhale on the hard parts and inhale on the easy parts. The bench press video above shows how to breathe properly.

How often should I run?
Not that often. Running often will cause muscle atrophy. If you have some excess fat and want to get rid of it, I'd say run for around fifteen minutes a day or every other day. Otherwise you should only walk at a good speed at an angle to keep the blood flowing after weight training or jogging. I personally set the treadmill at an angle so it's like I'm walking up stairs, and I do it for twenty minutes. I tried running last week, and it takes too much out of me. I'm also worried that it'll mess up my gains, because prolonged running will damage your muscles over time.

Marathon runner and sprinter

The importance of stretching, core training, and resting:
I've found that stretching once you wake up and before you sleep helps loosens up your muscles, and when you do this you'll be able to lift weights without pain. I also think that it'll reduce the chances of you injuring yourself. I just do some basic stretches when I wake up and before I sleep for around ten-fifteen minutes.

Core training. This doesn't mean that you need to work for washboard abs. Just stregnthening your core. A strong core will allow you to lift weights easier and reduce the chances of getting a hernia. I do some core training every other day when it's night. I like to do a few sets of crunches and planks. I aim for 100-200 crunches and a few sets of 1-3 minute planks.

It's imperative to have at least one rest day, where you don't work out any of your muscles. It'll repair them and such. It's also good to get at least 8 hours of sleep. That's mostly when they'll repair.
Some people like to have a deload week, and those are good, but I wouldn't do them often. It's a week where you don't workout or do less than what you currently are. It's a solid week of resting and letting your muscle fibers repair themselves. I usually do it after a month of working out, the beginning of next month I'll have a deload week.

The deload week and why you should use it

Bodybuilding or powerlifting?
Well, I like to do both. I mix them in a month together. Such as one week I'll do bodybuilding and one week powerlifting, or sometimes I'll even do a few sets for reps only and a few for power, etc. Bodybuilding is when you go for reps and try to build more muscle.

While with powerlifting you're simply aiming for power. It'll get you stronger, but you won't see as much muscle growth as with bodybuilding. However I like both, mixing in high reps for muscle growth and low reps for power works wonders. Though if you just do one you'll see more results with them. Such as if you just bodybuild you'll build more muscle, and if you'll just build strength.

Bodybuilding
Powerlifting

Intermittent fasting:
Intermittent fasting is when you tell your body when to eat. Such as you eat 2-8 and fast/only drink water for the rest of the time. It's good for getting rid of stubborn fat. I did it for around three weeks before stopping, because I started going to the gym and I workout around noon, so if I were to do what I am now on an empty stomach, I'd probably puke.

How it works:
When you workout on an empty stomach, your body isn't going to use the food as resources, instead it'll use the fat. Then on your fasting period and you drink water, your body will retain it and you won't feel as hungry.

For the first few days you'll probably feel a little sick in your stomach, but that's natural. Your body has to adjust. My first week it felt like I was gonna puke after I ate my first meal, but I didn't and my body soon adjusted.

Note:
Intermittent fasting isn't a diet. You're just telling your body when to eat. It's imperative that you intake all your calories and protein in that eating window.

Intermittent fasting

What should I eat?
I keep my diet high protein and low fat. I'd suggest the same for everyone.

What I normally eat:
Breakfast: Oatmeal or cereal with tuna sandwich, cashews, and orange juice
Lunch: Turkey burger or lean ham/turkey sandwich, tuna, beans, rice, and fruit shake/smoothie
Dinner: Rice, chicken or steak, beans, vegetables, and tea

What I put in the shake/smoothie:
A cup or two of skim milk, 1 frozen banana, 2 strawberries, 2-4 blackberries, and 2 spoons of chocolate nesquik

Excellent health and fitness YouTube channels:
TwinMuscleWorkout
FastingTwins
Scooby1961

There are some others if you look, but those are the only ones I keep track of.

So, today at the gym my dad (workout partner) accidentally broke the cable row machine. He usually does the whole stack on the machines, but it seems like this one couldn't handle it and/or the wire was worn out. It was hilarious, because as it broke he fell backwards. It was around the start of our workout.

  • 429 Replies
vilano
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vilano
20 posts
Nomad

Why do you take creatine? It seems like if you really are concerned about "health and fitness" as the thread suggests than taking performance enhancers completely destroys the purpose.

Unlike protein, creatine is naturally created in the body and taking supplements to enhance its production is like taking steroids to enhance testosterone levels. ( I am not saying you should take protein shakes/powders, just making a comparison).

Also taking creatine to get muscle gains is literally cheating, you are fooling yourself. The creatine just distorts your figure by retaining water in your muscles, and providing you with a boost to lift heavier. You are literally degrading the quality of your body in the long run. It's like taking anti-biotics if you aren't sick...eventually your body will limit its anti-body production and if you stop taking those antibiotics you will get sick.

vilano
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vilano
20 posts
Nomad

Sorry for the double post but my browser appeared to have a bug and didn't display the original post...sigh...I just rewrote this for no reason lol.

Ernie15
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Ernie15
13,351 posts
Bard

my browser appeared to have a bug and didn't display the original post


Your browser isn't the issue. You often have to hard refresh (Ctrl+F5) the page for recent posts to show up. It's a site error rather than a browser error.
GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
15,620 posts
Herald

If you truly want to focus on "health and fitness" as this thread suggests, then taking performance enhancers completely destroys the purpose due to *possible* harmful side effects...plus it really is "cheating" for muscle gains.

The only harmful side effect creatine has is if you don't drink enough water you'll destroy your kidneys, otherwise it's the safest and best supplement to use. Cheating? No, not at all. For more information on creatine read this.

Poor analogy, I've been taking creatine for years whenever I train and I've only seen positive results, nothing negative. If you don't want an extra boost while training, then by all means don't take creatine. But don't state that creatine is bad and that I'm hurting myself by taking it when none of the sort is true.
rayoflight3
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rayoflight3
437 posts
Nomad

The only harmful side effect creatine has is if you don't drink enough water you'll destroy your kidneys, otherwise it's the safest and best supplement to use. Cheating? No, not at all. For more information on creatine read this.


Let's not jump to conclusions. I take creatine as well, as it has been proven to be performance-enhancing for anaerobic exercise. But while short term creatine use has so far shown to be safe (as long the recommended dosage is not exceeded daily), the same cannot be said for long-term implications. Since our body produces creatine at low levels, it is difficult to say whether increasing the level of creatine substantially in our bodies is dangerous in the long run.

plus it really is "cheating" for muscle gains.


Won't make this a long-winded semantic argument, but how is it "cheating?" It's just a tool to help build muscle, but nothing is being cheated. It's as if you're saying taking creatine is morally unethical, but that's just ridiculous. I wouldn't even consider the use of anabolic steroids as "cheating." A person can do whatever he wants as long as it remains within normative moral boundaries.

Also taking creatine to get muscle gains is literally cheating, you are fooling yourself. The creatine just distorts your figure by retaining water in your muscles, and providing you with a boost to lift heavier.


Probably an individual thing, but creatine usage has not distorted my figure. I don't appear to retain more water, resulting in a bloated appearance, when I'm on creatine. And assuming your figure is "distorted," just get off the creatine and you'll eventually lose the bloated look.

You are literally degrading the quality of your body in the long run.

Going to be impartial here. As you said, the negative side effects are possible. But that is not a guarantee, so you cannot say this absolutely.
Graham
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Graham
8,052 posts
Nomad

Instead of going into long-winded arguments about purely experiential (not reliable) evidence, do a simple google search.

http://examine.com/supplements/Creatine/

Enjoy never knowing your natty potential.

Strop
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Strop
10,817 posts
Bard

A person can do whatever he wants as long as it remains within normative moral boundaries.


I think I understand what you're saying here, but I would not recommend using "normative moral boundaries" as a yardstick for anything, because then if somebody tried to examine those values you'd fall into a recursive loop: it's normal because it's normal.

"Cheating" is a term that can only be applied if there's specific parameters as to how one acceptably achieves an outcome. In this case the prior poster asserted that there would be higher water content (assumedly hypertrophy, as opposed to hyperplasia), and so the gains would be size but not strength. I can't comment on this claim.

Enjoy never knowing your natty potential.


What a nifty site that is. So this stuff has fairly substantial level A evidence huh? I should take a look at the actual papers themselves and check their peer-review process, as well as their confidence intervals and p values.

Oooooooorrrr I could not bother doing that because I already have another topic with which I have to do the same thing for a presentation on Friday, and instead resort to the old way of medical experimentation, and try it for myself.
GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
15,620 posts
Herald

Enjoy never knowing your natty potential.

Natty potential off creatine for me: 10-15 pounds lost on big lifts and less energy, I could regain that strength back, but it would probably take longer to increase while off creatine. It's not a huge difference. Doesn't matter to me though, I'd rather be on a safe supplement and speed up the progress than delay it.
rayoflight3
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rayoflight3
437 posts
Nomad

This whole thing about natty potential with/without creatine... Since when does creatine increase the limits to your natty potential? It may help you reach that physique faster, but you're going to be the same size fifteen years later with or without creatine ceteris paribus.

GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
15,620 posts
Herald

Four hours of sleep (Black Ops 2 is fun, but I'll have to change my play times...), don't expect my regular performance later on. However I didn't feel that tired when I woke up, not sure, but I feel bad whenever I miss workouts. Just makes me feel lazy.

GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
15,620 posts
Herald

Incline dumbbell press:
70 - 12
70 x 3 - 10

Flat dumbbell press:
70 - 8
70 - 6
60 - 10
60 - 8

Flat dumbbell flyes:
40 x 4 - 8

Incline dumbbell flyes:
40 - 8
30 - 12
30 x 2 - 10

Bodyweight dips (250):
6
5
3

Skullcrushers (seated):
85 - 10
95 x 2 - 8

Cable pushdowns:
120 x 3 - 10

Without a spotter the dumbbells are much safer, and I feel like they're more effective currently. I think I'll start doing more sets of dips, maybe 5/6 sets. Take out pushdowns and keep the skullcrushers or something.

pangtongshu
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pangtongshu
9,815 posts
Jester

So I've started doing Crossfit recently...and was wondering what your general thoughts were on it Ghost? (bein as you are the fitness expert around here)

rayoflight3
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rayoflight3
437 posts
Nomad

So I've started doing Crossfit recently...


Just wanted to say something...

I think Crossfit, despite the sometimes cult-like support that it has, is, for the most part, a solid program. It does, however, depend on your goals. If your goal is to become as big and muscular as genetically possible, Crossfit is not optimal. It may get you there, but a bodybuilding program will give you gains faster. If your goal is general athleticism, Crossfit will help with its Olympic weightlifting components. But certain exercises are plain ridiculous, like kipping pullups. If you want explosiveness, speed, power, etc., I'd just do a little bit of research and compose my own program instead of following the Crossfit protocol (though I'm not sure how flexible it is). It is nice though to have so many fitness enthusiasts in the Crossfit community to support and advise you.
GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
15,620 posts
Herald

Bent over rows:
185 x 4 - 6

Dumbbell rows:
90 x 4 - 8

Lat rows (cable):
160 - 10
160 x 3 - 8

Lat pulldowns (cable, underhand):
130 - 10
130 x 3 - 8

Face pulls:
100 x 4 - 10

Shrugs:
250 x 5 - 10

GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
15,620 posts
Herald

Back squats:
280 x 5 - 3

Leg press (quads):
500 x 5 - 15

Leg extensions:
140 x 5 - 10

Hamstring curls:
85 x 5 - 8

Calves (standing)
240 x 3 - 10
200 x 2 - 10

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