ForumsThe Tavern[REQUESTED] Health and fitness

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GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
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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.

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Microe
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Microe
842 posts
Nomad

I have had a strange disease in my knee a time ago (I believe 3 months). So now I have a kind of weak knee and haven't trained my lower body in a time. But now I have to do a full triathlon for gym class or else I won't be able to do my exams in May. I already said it but because it is inter scholar and I don't have the disease anymore so the doctor won't give a note I have to do it. But if I make it without to much pain I think I will start ?running? again.


Excuses, I have Tendonitis in both elbows/knees and Arthiritis in both Elbows/Knees and it hasn't stopped me from ANYTHING I always find a way around.
GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
15,620 posts
Herald

I'm not very knowledgeable on joint diseases, but I'd suggest dynamic stretching and slowly working your way up. Don't start running right away, first build some muscle in your lower body so it isn't as weak. And when you do run, take it slow. Start at a pace where you feel comfortable and stick with it until you're ready to increase the speed.

Well, I didn't workout Saturday or Sunday. I was kinda sore on Saturday, I think that was my body telling me to take a break. I don't want to overtrain, and Sunday is my mandatory rest day. I also don't think I'll be able to workout today; my sleep schedule is messed up and working out tired is no good. I'm sure I'll be able to fix it up today, so I'll start my routine tomorrow.

I'm thinking of changing up my exercises. Since I'm doing everything twice a week I think I should break down the exercises into parts. Such as when I do chest; instead of doing all the chest exercises I currently do, I'll do three of them, and increase the sets. That way I'll have more energy to do the second muscle on that day, which when I do chest it's shoulders. I'll also avoid overtraining, I think I've been overdoing it lately.

For example: 6 sets of bench press, 4 sets of [insert exercises], and 4 sets of [insert exercise] (then 8-10 sets of shoulders). Instead of how it currently is where I'm doing 5 sets of bench and 4 other exercises for 3 sets each, then shoulders.

I'm also considering making the first half of the week heavy days and second half rep days. Or fitting that formula into the exercises. Like on bench, since I'll be doing 6 sets I can make the first 3 heavy and last 3 reps.

Thoughts?

xNightwish
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xNightwish
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Nomad

Excuses, I have Tendonitis in both elbows/knees and Arthiritis in both Elbows/Knees and it hasn't stopped me from ANYTHING I always find a way around.


Wow, I'm sorry but I think it is different. I don't even know what I had, or have and I'm just walking again since 4 weeks.

And I know I now have to start strengthening my muscles again and raise my condition but my whole schedule I had is now messed up because im not able to do the workouts I'm used to and I can't do it as long (for now) as I used to.
rayoflight3
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rayoflight3
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Nomad

Yeah, um, don't push it. It's been proven that certain leg exercises (namely squats) are actually beneficial for the knees, but that being said, an awkward motion or too heavy of a weight will not bode well for you. I suggest doing body weight work with squats and running lightly first. Slowly work your way up.

GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
15,620 posts
Herald

I'm going to workout today, but I think I'll be weak since I have a cold.

Also, I have no idea how I got into this argument on YouTube, but it's about this video:

Saw it in my recommended list a night or two ago, so I decided to watch it, then I scrolled down to the comments and just about everyone is saying he's on steroids... how narrow minded can people be, thinking that just because someone has a good body means they're on steroids.

Here's the argument (excuse the curse words, apparently the person I'm talking with seems to be very angry):

Kitingnoobs: How the **** can people retarded like this get so good bodies? Look at those ****ing bicep curls that was the worst **** ive ever seen in my entire life >.

GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
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Herald

Nice job cutting off half the post, AG.

Anyway, here it is posted on pastebin.

GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
15,620 posts
Herald

Did incline bench press today, was alright considering I'm ill. The lady told me that I can bring a spotter in when I have to.

Incline bench press:
205 - 8
225 - 6
225 - 6
225 - 5
225 - 5
185 - 6

Dunno why I couldn't do 185 for more reps, guess I spent most of my resources with the other sets.

Also, it's very difficult bringing out the bar in an incline position. It took a good amount of strength just to bring it out, I'm so used to having a spotter.

After that I did some incline dumbbell press and the flies machine, 4 sets each. On the next chest day I'll stick with incline bench and db, but replace the flies machine with chest press. Next week will be heavy week. I intended on doing 8-12 reps today for bench, but I'm sick so I doubt I would've gotten decent weight in that range.

I think it's a good routine to isolate muscles: 4-6 sets of 3 exercises for a single muscle. I think I'll be changing this every two weeks. For example two weeks from now on chest day: 3 sets of incline bench press, 3 sets flat, 3 sets incline db press, 3 sets flat db press, 3 sets of a chest machine.

GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
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Herald

Nothing special about today, was just biceps and traps. I changed my typical bicep workout today though; made it just free weights. I did 6 sets of ez-bar curls, 4 sitting dumbbell curls, and 4 hammer curls. For shrugs I increased the weight 25 pounds from last time; 340 x 3, 300 x 3, 250 x 2. I stayed within the 6-12 rep range on those.

For back tomorrow I'll probably be using free weights again. I think I'll make my routine like that from now on: first half of the week mostly free weights and second half cable machines. So bent over rows, t-bar rows, and dumbbell rows. Starting with deadlifts of course, I'll try to get a PR tomorrow on it, which'll most likely be 340-360.

Microe
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Microe
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Nomad

And I know I now have to start strengthening my muscles again and raise my condition but my whole schedule I had is now messed up because im not able to do the workouts I'm used to and I can't do it as long (for now) as I used to.


Try to find therapy style workouts with bands and medicine balls, I had to do therapy for my knees after wrestling season(Destroyed my knees).
GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
15,620 posts
Herald

Try to find therapy style workouts with bands and medicine balls, I had to do therapy for my knees after wrestling season(Destroyed my knees).

When I got into a car accident two years ago I ****ed up my shoulder and had to see one for a few months. The start of it I'd get a massage then worked with bands for a while.

Overall it made me feel better. If I had the means I'd go back to it once a week, who knows how much tension I have in my muscles.
GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
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Herald

Today was pathetic. I only got 315 on deadlifts and doing those made me tired for the rest of the workout.

Deadlifts:
315 - 1
315 - 1
275 - 5
275 - 4
225 - 8
225 - 7

I don't know, I'm thinking of moving deadlifts to the end of the workout. It's interfering with my main back and leg exercises.

GhostOfMatrix
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GhostOfMatrix
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Herald

Surprised my chest and triceps today:

Incline close grip bench press x 3
Flat close grip bench press x 3
Incline dumbbell press x 3
Flat dumbbell press x 3
Incline skull crushers x 3
Seated chest press x 3
Tricep pulldowns x 3
Other seated chest press machine x 3
Flies x 3
Seated skull crushers x 3

A total of 30 sets for chest and triceps. See that I mixed in the exercises? I think that's good so you don't lose stimulation in the muscles. Instead of doing all chest exercises first THEN triceps, I mixed them together.

I started creatine again today. Figured if I want results and to recover quickly I'll need it. I'm also considering getting some protein powder so I don't have to eat so much.

Also changing my workout schedule, nothing dramatic, just moving some muscles around. I'll post it later when I'm done.

Microe
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Microe
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Nomad

I started creatine again today. Figured if I want results and to recover quickly I'll need it. I'm also considering getting some protein powder so I don't have to eat so much.


Kre Alkalyne EFX works best for me man I saw great progress on it, and Protein would help alot, I've been using it since I go to school and cant fit in all the meals..


On Another note! I hit 280 for 5 reps on my 5th set of squats, I was using a belt and knee wraps. Felt great but I won't be satisfied until I can hit 340 squat for 1 rep.
PurpleSquishy
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PurpleSquishy
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Shepherd

I make health and fitness part of my entire day not just an hour at the gym.

rayoflight3
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rayoflight3
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Nomad

On Another note! I hit 280 for 5 reps on my 5th set of squats, I was using a belt and knee wraps. Felt great but I won't be satisfied until I can hit 340 squat for 1 rep.


Do weight belts and knee wraps actually help with your lifts? Like do you lift significantly more when you use them? Or are they more for stability?
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