#1 thing you have to think about is how does the training effect your goals in life and sport.
If you want to become a stronger Football player don’t worry about the Bench Press. You have to figure out what exercises act like your football moves.
Squats, Martial Arts moves, Speed Drills.
The book “The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Football (Paperback)” gets a lot of 5 star reviews from people @ Amazon. Check it out. Good luck
[quote]BIG G MAN wrote:
i got a question about my biceps im a lineman and really need to get them big so i can play im 14 and i reguarly bench 105lbs and i maxed out at 125lbs to thats sounds as though im week plz someone give me some imput[/quote]
Lift safe before trying to maximize an exercise’s efficiency.
Exemple: You feel confident in your high bar squat technique. You then try to learn the low-bar squat because you learned that you can use more weight (maximize the squat efficiency). You also widen your stance for the same reasons. However you keep using the same weight as with your high-bar, closer stance squat. Don’t do that.
[quote]jlesk68 wrote:
Deload every 4th week and don’t do any tricep extensions.[/quote]
i’m turning 30 this year and i just started lifting 3 months ago.
i’ve been using headcavers to build my triceps. if that is bad for my elbows what would you suggest for an alternitive tricep workout?
Squat and deadlift from day 1. They are great lifts. If you do them right you won’t have back problems later in life and if you take up golf you will hit the ball a mile. Many of my cohorts have back problems and should tee off from the ladies tee. They wouldn’t think of squatting or deadlifting. I never stopped. A weak back and legs will contribute to other injuries.
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Amen to this. I’m a competitive junior golfer, and decided to gain an edge on everyone else by beginning strength training at the end of last season. Six months later, when the season began, I was hitting my driver 50 yards farther. I can get it out there 320 reliably, and I’m not even close to strong.
Don’t emulate the big guys at the gym. Literally every time I go to the gym, I see some big, built-up guy who is using TERRIBLE form on his lift and lifting crazy weight. He’s going to hurt himself, only a matter of time.
Concentrate on everything. If you’re not focused during your set, you won’t be able to do as many reps. Try it, start daydreaming after rep 1 of a hard set and see if you can match the last set you did when you were concentrating on your breathing and technique the whole time.
Concentrate on what you’re doing, not others. That includes socializing. Don’t let discussion hinder your workout, it’s fine if you can control it, but if you’re only supposed to be taking a minute rest, don’t start up a long conversation with the guy doing curls next to you.
Lastly, realize that everyone is different, like several others have said. What works for them may not work for you or it may work even better. Learn to listen to your body and try new things regularly. Also, something may work at first, then stop working down the road. Your body adjusts to change.
On a side note, I’ve been doing tricep extension exercises since early 2001. I already had pretty bad elbows from growing up as a competitive swimmer (hyperextending elbows on entry portions of freestyle strokes, mostly).
My elbows used to ache a lot when I started lifting, but nowadays, it doesn’t happen anymore, I don’t know if it’ll have more long-term effects, but for me it seems to have gotten better. But other exercises you could try are dips and close-grip bench press.
I find the fish-oil increasingly important, and adding the PWD?s has probably been the most important adjustment to my training ever.
(shames me to admit it?s only been 1 yr)
Other than that 1 hour 3 times a week has been fine for me (time spent ogling cks is x-tra)
lift hard
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Well said Re: fish oil.
That may be one of the most important things you can do for yourself right now. In your 20s you want to build a solid foundation so that in your 50s ou may look more like Frank Zane than Tony Soprano.
I’d get a battery of medical tests done now so that your MDs will have something to use when you hit your 30s and 40s. It’s also true that your 30s do mark a change for most guys based on what I’ve been through and talking with friends.
I’ve learned to take a systemic approach to my body. Learn how to manage stress and blood pressure.
As for lifting, read and re-read what the best have to say about it. For me it comes from Westside, Poliquin and Waterbury. Try others as well and see what works for you.
[quote]TDub301 wrote:
Don’t emulate the big guys at the gym. [/quote]
That’s a huge statement…and one I couldn’t disagree with more. Obviously, you don’t want to lift in a way that would lead to an injury. However, if the way someone is training is producing results and they are not about to cause an injury, it doesn’t matter if their form isn’t absolutely “text book perfect”.
I don’t know too many people that anal about their form who ever get very big at all. I don’t know about you, but that would stand out to me as meaning something…like the weight you lift has much more to do with the gains you make than simply whether your form gets an award at all times.
There is a huge difference between “controlled cheating” or even loose form…and complete disregard for joints an muscles in terms of injury prevention.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
TDub301 wrote:
Don’t emulate the big guys at the gym.
That’s a huge statement…and one I couldn’t disagree with more. Obviously, you don’t want to lift in a way that would lead to an injury. However, if the way someone is training is producing results and they are not about to cause an injury, it doesn’t matter if their form isn’t absolutely “text book perfect”.
I don’t know too many people that anal about their form who ever get very big at all. I don’t know about you, but that would stand out to me as meaning something…like the weight you lift has much more to do with the gains you make than simply whether your form gets an award at all times.
There is a huge difference between “controlled cheating” or even loose form…and complete disregard for joints an muscles in terms of injury prevention.[/quote]
Well said.
Don’t emulate the stupid/ignorant big guys in the gym… the ones who waste time talking, doing 1/2 ass work, or doing movements that don’t force the CNS into overdrive, etc.
Take Arnold for example, in a recent interview he mentioned that one “secret” was using smart cheating to get the last 1-3 reps even after starting with 5-6 reps in proper form. Or what about some of the WSM competitors? Do they use strict form when in the farmer’s walk every time? Or when cleaning and pressing 2x my bodyweight like it was the head cheerleader?
There are big guys who got that way from proper diet, proper supplementation and proper training. What is big by the way? White Castle big with guts the size of Rosie? A “big” 15" arm? Big like Frank Zane or Jay Cutler?
In my gym there’s a few guys I see who I know have their game on and train for real. Whether they’re in their 20s or 50s my size, small, or XX-large I can learn from them all.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
<<< There is a huge difference between “controlled cheating” or even loose form…and complete disregard for joints an muscles in terms of injury prevention.[/quote]
INDEED. There is also a huge difference between cheating just to move the weight around and having it stimulate growth in the target muscles.
Very New… Man this place is kind of hard on the Newbie’s…Well I am a Newbie, and just wanted to say hello…
I guess I will have to make some post before anyone takes me serious…
Got a few questions?
Being new and been doing alot of reaserch its so hard to believe anything we hear… You hear post saying certain places dont order from, but then another post says the place is okay to order from…Very confusing…
I am going to be around and will work my way up to one day not getting ripped off for hundereds of dollars…
It sucks being new, but hey everyone was new at one time or another…
30 Years old and should not be getting ripped off still, but its the life of a new guy…
I see people saying do your Research , well I have ADD…LOL I have been doing all the reasearch I know to do, and still having a hard time…
[quote]WhiteCastle wrote:
I’d get a battery of medical tests done now so that your MDs will have something to use when you hit your 30s and 40s.[/quote]
I’m 20 now and am starting to think more long term about training. Specifically what kind of medical tests and at what type of facility?
[quote]Deinabolic wrote:
Only 32 here as well but lifting on/off for 16 years. 100% agreement with post above about taking care of your shoulders. As a general rule, do just one hard compound pressing movement per workout and any remaining shoulder work should be prehab-type stuff (external rotations, overhead squat-type movements, etc…).
Your delts will grow just fine without hammering them.
Also, dedicate one workout a week to yoga, pilates or Davies’ Seasoned Warrior-type stuff. You’ll not only recover better in the short term but you WILL stay healthier long term as well.
Funny how as I age, the makeup of my lifting volume has slowly shifted away from pure heavy stuff to about 50% heavy/fast lifts and 50% prehab/addressing strength imbalances.[/quote]
What is Davies’ Seasoned Warrior-type stuff? Could not find anything on the web.
Alright, I’ve been lifting for about two years, finally getting the hang of things and into a solid groove. Heres the thing - the more mass I gain, the more I pack on to my fat levels.
I don’t want to risk losing the lean mass by doing excess cardio so would somebody please explain this whole carb-calorie-fat ratio thing? It’s seriously confusing me here. Which one should I be watching out for? Can’t somebody make this a little less complicated?
Alright, the best place Ive found so far to get supps from, sorry T-Nation, is discoutanabolics.com. I had some problems getting my package delivered and T-Nation sent it to the wrong address and wouldn’t help fix the problem.
Anyway, some of the supps I use, I have to get from T-Nation store. Biotest only uses this site. Flameout & Beta7 are the two supps I cant do without. I do cycles of everything. If you want a newbie (2yrs) approach to supps and where to go, let me know.
Another newbie here and I certainly appreciate all the info in this thread. I’ll be 30 this month and have been pretend training off and on for about 12 years, my diet has always sucked and last year I hit 430lbs.
I figured it was now or never to do something about my body if I wanted to make it to 35. So I hit the bricks, started eating better and have since lost 85lbs. I’m aiming for 260 and <15%BF, I’m 6’3" and large framed so I think that will be a good weight but I’ve hit a plateau, I’ve been stuck at 345 for the last three months, any ideas guys?
All pointers are greatly appreciated. BTW, great site, I just registered but I’ve been lurking for a couple weeks now, really good stuff.
Hi
Im new to this and I am a bit over weight and I have been working out and eating better for about a month but I need help. Im just wondering I would like to build muscle and what would the right meals be for the job. And what supplements should I be taking and what kind of powder should I be taking. If any body could push me in the right direction that would be great thanks.
[quote]danstrongman wrote: #1 thing you have to think about is how does the training effect your goals in life and sport.
If you want to become a stronger Football player don’t worry about the Bench Press. You have to figure out what exercises act like your football moves.
Squats, Martial Arts moves, Speed Drills.
The book “The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Football (Paperback)” gets a lot of 5 star reviews from people @ Amazon. Check it out. Good luck
BIG G MAN wrote:
i got a question about my biceps im a lineman and really need to get them big so i can play im 14 and i reguarly bench 105lbs and i maxed out at 125lbs to thats sounds as though im week plz someone give me some imput
[/quote]
He’s a lineman. Bench press is important and his lower back as well, especially if he’s an offensive lineman. Speed drills and Marial Arts moves = not so important.
[quote]static02 wrote:
Hi
Im new to this and I am a bit over weight and I have been working out and eating better for about a month but I need help. Im just wondering I would like to build muscle and what would the right meals be for the job. And what supplements should I be taking and what kind of powder should I be taking. If any body could push me in the right direction that would be great thanks.
[/quote]
to build muscle, just eat 6 times a day. get Metabolic Drive for meal replacements if u cant eat so much, Surge is another great pre and post workout protein, Also get some BCAA and take them religiously. Maybe some fish oil like Flameout or what ever u can get and after your lifting for some months have no strength gains, i suggest you try Alpha Male for a 8week cycle, and see how that goes.
I hope this is helpful at all, and for fat loss i have found this to work very well with me. For 5mins jogg as usual, then for 1min sprint then jogg for 5mins again, and then just walk for 5mins to cool down, and repeat 3 times. Do that about 3times a week and you should see results, i hope