*.* 2013 General Fitness Thread *.*

[penguinz]

Welcome to 2013! Now get your ass in top physical condition!

**From the 2012 Thread**

If you want to get back into lifting, or need a new lifting routine, START HERE:

http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wi...inner_Programs

If you have questions about the SS programs, look here:

http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ

Keep in mind that you're a novice lifter for a longer period of time than you think you are. Novice lifting can last anywhere from a few months to a year or two, depending on how hard you hit the weights and where you started.

Once you've reached the point where you don't make regular progress on the SS program, you are ready to move on to the intermediate stage, which can last you for a good number of years. Find it HERE:

http://madcow.hostzi.com/5x5_Program/Linear_5x5.htm

If you're a very advanced lifter (many, many years of CONSISTENT weight training), then there are lot of programs out there, and which one you pick is simply a matter of preference. If you're really that advanced, you should know what works for you and what doesn't by this point.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

You must have been really skinny back in the day.

Yea no wonder I look better and feel better now. Odd that I was stronger then though.

Yea I meant 200lbs.

[Aspengc8]

Originally Posted by tooge

I don't want to come across as being a dick or starting an argument, but I have a question about some of the workouts being mentioned. So, some guys want to do a program over several weeks to enable them to bench press 300+lbs, or squat 400+ lbs or whatever. My question is, what is coveted about the ability to do such feats unless you are either 1. competing, or 2. making a living as an athlete? Point is, I'm a very active guy. Used to do triathlons prior to a shoulder injury. I play sports with my kids and other adults, etc. I can't find a single reason that I'd need to be able to bench press 300 plus lbs, or squat 400+ lbs. Please enlighten me.

The whole 300/400/500 thing kind of came into acceptance as average strength markers for powerlifting/total body strength. Of course those numbers will skew depending on the trainee, but I think those are perfectly attainable goals for any average gym rat. I also have a family like you, and I train not only to look good nekkid & meet personal goals, but to protect them.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Aspengc8

The whole 300/400/500 thing kind of came into acceptance as average strength markers for powerlifting/total body strength. Of course those numbers will skew depending on the trainee, but I think those are perfectly attainable goals for any average gym rat. I also have a family like you, and I train not only to look good nekkid & meet personal goals, but to protect them.

Lifting is a pretty inefficient way to go about protecting your family unless you train to fight as well.

[Aspengc8]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Lifting is a pretty inefficient way to go about protecting your family unless you train to fight as well.

I wasn't talking about only protecting from some wild mugger that knows karate, but in general, the bigger stronger dude usually wins the fight.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by tooge

I don't want to come across as being a dick or starting an argument, but I have a question about some of the workouts being mentioned. So, some guys want to do a program over several weeks to enable them to bench press 300+lbs, or squat 400+ lbs or whatever. My question is, what is coveted about the ability to do such feats unless you are either 1. competing, or 2. making a living as an athlete? Point is, I'm a very active guy. Used to do triathlons prior to a shoulder injury. I play sports with my kids and other adults, etc. I can't find a single reason that I'd need to be able to bench press 300 plus lbs, or squat 400+ lbs. Please enlighten me.

Pretty simple, I love lifting and challenging to reach new numbers. Not to mention I am a big proponent of natural lifters pushing getting stronger to gain muscle, more so than even steroid lifters who benefit from higher rep ranges. I believe natural lifters looking to gain muscle should be lifting in the 3-8 rep ranges and pushing for 1 rep maxes every few months.

When you did Triathlons, didn't you want a better finish time? When I am lifting on lifts all the time (bench/squat/dead), I want better numbers. If you aren't wanting to progress, might as well not do any activity to get better.

[lewdog]

I am going Silock gay here!

I am not a 6-pack guy. I care more about strength numbers and muscle mass. Have cut about 10lbs lately just to lean up a bit. Current progress pic from a few weeks ago. Face blurred to curb the fappers around here!

[Silock]

Yeah, I'll never be that big. I just don't have those genes.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Silock

Yeah, I'll never be that big. I just don't have those genes.

Dude, my parents are 5'8" 140lbs (dad) and mom 5'1" 100lbs. They are and always have been thin as rails.

So I don't either. Just consistency working out and challenging to gain strength...but mostly just consistency in diet/lifting. Plus those few years of Olympic lifting gave me some really dense muscles. Easily the most challenging lifting I have ever done physically and mentally. Also, very little cardio!

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Dude, my parents are 5'8" 140lbs (dad) and mom 5'1" 100lbs. They are and always have been thin as rails.

So I don't either. Just consistency working out and challenging to gain strength...but mostly just consistency in diet/lifting. Plus those few years of Olympic lifting gave me some really dense muscles. Easily the most challenging lifting I have ever done physically and mentally. Also, very little cardio!

How old you? I am guessing mid to late 20's?

Edit- Never-mind found it on your profile 27. You aren't going to want to carry that around at 40.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

How old you? I am guessing mid to late 20's?

Almost 28.

Why?

[el borracho]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Personally the Russian Squat program did nothing for my squat. Really the workload is very hard to recover from.

The slow progression of 5/3/1 is much better but because people are usually in a hurry for strength gains, they don't see how awesome it would be to add 30 lbs to your bench in 6 months but think a 6-8 week program will get them there. It usually doesn't!

I benched 315 once when I was Olympic lifting. Coach then made me stop benching because my shoulders were getting too tight for the snatch. Closest I have come now...300.

The Russian program was my friend's selection. I had never heard of it, but agreed to try it. The program was only 10 weeks long and half of that was just reps at 80% max (which felt like a complete waste of time). Then there were 5 weeks were you are instructed to escalate the weight. The theory might be ok, but the challenging part is all supposed to happen in just a few weeks, which is nuts. Like I said, I'm moving on to something else and won't likely do that again.

[el borracho]

Originally Posted by lead_block

Well, I took no-xplode during a night workout a couple weeks ago and was up till 6 AM, but I didn't sleep in my usual bed that night, so I thought maybe that was the problem. Well, I had a night workout yesterday and same shit. I think no-xplode has more caffeine than most pre-workouts.

Tried a pre-workout product once... won't ever do that again! Felt like I was going to die, lol.

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I am going Silock gay here!

I am not a 6-pack guy. I care more about strength numbers and muscle mass. Have cut about 10lbs lately just to lean up a bit. Current progress pic from a few weeks ago. Face blurred to curb the fappers around here!

This is your Facebook profile picture, isn't it?

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Silock

Yeah, I'll never be that big. I just don't have those genes.

I don't want to be that big, but each to their own.

[el borracho]

Originally Posted by tooge

I don't want to come across as being a dick or starting an argument, but I have a question about some of the workouts being mentioned. So, some guys want to do a program over several weeks to enable them to bench press 300+lbs, or squat 400+ lbs or whatever. My question is, what is coveted about the ability to do such feats unless you are either 1. competing, or 2. making a living as an athlete? Point is, I'm a very active guy. Used to do triathlons prior to a shoulder injury. I play sports with my kids and other adults, etc. I can't find a single reason that I'd need to be able to bench press 300 plus lbs, or squat 400+ lbs. Please enlighten me.

There is a saying in Spanish, "cada loco con su tema". Roughly means that everybody has their thing.

I love my time at the gym. I love the challenge; I love the feeling of accomplishment when I meet goals; even love the soreness that accompanies lifting.