*.* 2014 General Fitness Thread *.*

[penguinz]

Welcome to 2014! Now get your ass in top physical condition!

No one else started it so here it is!

**From the 2013 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.

[Silock]

I don't care. I'm ****ing her. They're not.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by RunKC

You're gonna have to hook me up w a cool vegan site. Idk if I could get by with just tofu.

I've always wanted to try the vegan lifestyle for 1 week

You should give it a whirl.

I've got to tell you, I feel really clean...harmonious from an interior body perspective.

I'd give it a two or three week window minimum though so that you become adjusted to the change.

I'm not that big on tofu. I'm trying to keep the processed foods to a minimum. That's the one problem that people hit when thinking vegan - it's only salads and tofu. There's a lot of shit out there to eat.

Whole grains, legumes, tubers give you a ton of protein and amino acids.

Lentils, as an example, have 30% of their calories from protein. (Green is highest.)

Grains/seeds like hemp, amaranth, quinoa, etc. are all fabulous.

Use them as a base for stuffing squash, mushrooms, steamed bok choy, cabbage, char, etc. leaves, etc.

There's so much shit to play around with and the real opportunity to get really creative with your food.

Companies involved in producing better quality grains and the like, such as Bob's Red Mill has done a really good job putting some recipes up for their extensive product line: http://www.bobsredmill.com/recipes.php

Meat substitutes like tempeh and seitan are excellent substitutes for chicken and the like. (I do a seitan chicken enchilada that people couldn't tell the difference.)

There is a vegan sandwich shop here in town that makes a "pulled pork" vegan BBQ sandwich using Jackfruit. I went there recently with a co-worker who competes in BBQ competitions and he was totally blown away. He now wants to write a vegan BBQ book with me he was so impressed. http://www.urbanspoon.com/cities/54/..._photos/348048



I made a vegan Eggs Benedict the other morning with tofu and almond milk that was really freaking good.

So much stuff out there...you'll die of old age before you eat all the vegan/whole food/raw food options available to you.

It's the guys who just eat salads and tofu and end up looking like emaciated skeletons that give the whole vegan thing a bad name. It's actually pretty darn easy to eat really, really well as a vegan.

Oh, and these are vegan too:

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Silock

Between my heavy sets on the bench and deads, I'll often take up to 5 minutes. Have I ever sent off a few texts during the downtime? Yup. I've literally got nothing else to do but wait.

I do the same. I often spend a full 30 minutes doing squats and bench press alone. I usually don't spend more than 10 minutes on any other individual lift.

[Aspengc8]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Dude, that's some nice weight being crushed right there.

And you don't look overly thick right now either. (Curious as to what you currently weigh.)

That's impressive. Nice job.

6-1, been sitting between 235-237 for about 2 weeks now. I've been going up slowly, about a pound a week. Maybe a tad more depending on what type of ice cream my wife throws in the freezer lol.

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

How mad do you get when the rest of the guys at the gym are checking out your wife when she's spotting you on the bench?

You know that they are all looking at her ass as she bends over with that bar in her hands and know that you can't see them checking her out.

Not mad at all. This does not bother me.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Did some douche really say we'd take hummus over a good steak my lord vegans are psycho

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

I think it's just that some people have a predisposed negative bias towards certain exercise regimens and knee jerk the shit out of it when they are mentioned.

I'm not even going to mention Jazzercize or Birkram Yoga.

I can't imagine the outpouring of rage and malice that shit will trigger from some of you.

Says the dude that said kettlebells are just for girls...

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by Silock

No, not really. As long as they're not bothering me or the people around them, they're free to do as they wish between their sets. Beats the hell out of talking on the phone.

Now, if someone is waiting for the machine, they're being a bit self-absorbed to just sit there and occupy the equipment. But it's also on the person waiting to ask how many sets they have left and/or if they can work in.

Sometimes, people take a while between sets. Between my heavy sets on the bench and deads, I'll often take up to 5 minutes. Have I ever sent off a few texts during the downtime? Yup. I've literally got nothing else to do but wait.

I read and post on Chiefsplanet between sets all the time... also send emails and do financial shit with my wife's business. Take calls as well... I'm a busy dude, and I have to multitask.

[luv]

I can see where you guys are coming from. The people I see, though, are the ones on the weight machines that are in the cardio area, not in the free weight room. I can see getting on your phones between heavy sets. I still can't see talking on the phone, though. Especially while you're running on a treadmill. I guess it's just that I'm out of shape, but there's no way I could run and talk at the same time. There are times I can't even run and breathe at the same time! Although, that's vastly improving.

I actually like watching the few couples at my gym who serve as training partners. One couple in particular. You can tell that she knows when he's reached "that point" when she's spotting him. They work together like a well-oiled machine. I know you all must know the other type of couples I'm talking about. Or maybe you're just too involved in your set (or in the middle of texting or writing an email ) to notice.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by Silock

My wife spots me as well. I've never had to have her actually lift anything, but I know how much she can row, and it's more than enough to help me with anything I'd need a spot for.

And having tits in your face is extra motivation to push more weight than having some duds sack next to your head on bench.

[luv]

Originally Posted by penguinz

And having tits in your face is extra motivation to push more weight than having some duds sack next to your head on bench.

I actually find that to be quite motivating.

[jiveturkey]

I lost my bench buddy to a shoulder injury so my wife just spotted me for the first time this week. She was super nervous hanging out in bench town.

She did what I needed and helped me finish the last rep or two.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by Aspengc8

Well my old broken ass hit two PR's on sumo deads tonight. Lewdog threw some technique critique out on one of my older videos, so I figured why the **** not just max out since it was my 1+ rep week on 5/3/1.

My previous max was 500 conventional stance, I switched to sumo about 8 weeks ago to work more on my glute/hams and have more carryover to squat. Well I hit a squat PR monday of 435 and tonight smashed 530 & 550 on the sumo.

I know its not much compared to what some of you younger beasts are throwing around, but when your 35 you just want to make sure whatever your training style is, its injury free lol! My new goals before my second daughter gets here are 350 bench, 480 squat and 600 dead, so i have till end of august.

Anyway, here is a vid. Feel free to throw some form critique out. I normally dont yell but I was pretty ****ing pumped after this hah!

Lewdog thanks for the tips big man!

How tall are you?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Aspengc8]

Originally Posted by -King-

How tall are you?
Posted via Mobile Device

6-1

[Omaha]

Originally Posted by luv

I can see where you guys are coming from. The people I see, though, are the ones on the weight machines that are in the cardio area, not in the free weight room. I can see getting on your phones between heavy sets. I still can't see talking on the phone, though. Especially while you're running on a treadmill. I guess it's just that I'm out of shape, but there's no way I could run and talk at the same time. There are times I can't even run and breathe at the same time! Although, that's vastly improving.

I "still can't see" running on a treadmill. I can't imagine a more miserable, worthless thing to do. Look at the people who spend all of their time on the treadmills. They are not the people I want to be.

When I was working through a back injury, my physical therapist told me to stay away from them because the "pulling" takes the hammies out of the process and creates a muscle imbalance. He said they are awful for most sedentary people as they are usually very quad dominant from sitting all day. My gym has a track so I can do sprints on that or I can go outside. I won't run on a treadmill.