I am not that big but I stay pretty defined which makes me look bigger. I teach in high school and daily someone comments. Yesterday I walked into a class and a student in the back I never had before said “Whoa, our teacher bodybuilds!”.
Comments like that can go to your head - especially when you are middle aged like I am. However a little reading makes me just feel big and puffy. I was reading about how Jack LaLanne, when he was older then me did 100 continuous dips in 35 minutes. Or one time when he challenged Arnold and Franco Columbu to a dip contest, and he outdid them - by 40 continuous minutes.
Last week I dipped 10 reps with an additional 160 LBS strapped on. Then I erad a bout a guy who did a dip with almost 400 LBS harnessed on. Today I tried just doing as many plain ol’ dips as I could do - my max was 73.
So now I realize I am not that strong nor that conditioned. I look pretty good, which is important to me. But I also want to be functioning well when I am 70.
Every once in a while I go through phases of swinging kettle bells. I use a 45 LB kettle. Yesterday I saw pictures of John Saxon (he was an actor in the 1950s and 1960s - was a star in the movie ENTER THE DRAGON with Bruce Lee). He is now 71 and he was doing high reps with 70 LB kettles. I find 45 LB kettles a challenge.
I am not sure exactly what I am saying, but while looking strong and sleek are important to me - being strong and sleek is also as important to me.
I want to make sure I am not just doing hypertrophy training but also training my body to be strong, healthy, and supple.
Yep, as a fellow person-of-age (49 year old female) I know exactly what you mean.
Sure, it’s an ego trip to have people comment on my arms, but I’d much rather impress them with feats-of-strength, like picking up large-economy-size shit at Costco, which I hope to keep on doing without assistance until the day I die. (I plan on being 112 when I die.)
Good ol’ Jack. Some of my earliest memories are trying to imitate my mom while she exercised to the Jack LaLanne Show.
i’m always seeing guys in my gym, usually much younger than me using almost the same weight i am and they hardly look like they’ve been working out a month. point is i’m not that strong. i just don’t have the genetics for strength and power. but that’s ok because as i’m so fond of stating - i don’t care about how much i can bench…i only care about how much i LOOK like i can bench
Everything is relative. If you compare yourself to a world class athlete you’re probably going to fall short. Know what you are and be happy with it. I’m 27 and I’m pretty sure I can’t do 73 dips so I have something to work up to.
Pointless post. If you want to get better at dipping with no weight attached, then fucking do dips with no weight attached and increase the count. If you want to dip with as much weight you can attach to you body (400lbs or whatever) then train for that. You’ll build differently muscled physique either way and neither will have you putting on maximum size for that particular period. Fix your conditioning goals and train for them specifically. OR bundle in your strength goals and construct a routine that has you training these particular qualities for a year or so. And then take a look in the mirror and see the ohysique you create with this training. But don;'t expect MAXIMUM hypertrophy.
The guy who use 70 pounds kettles may not be able to lots of dips or lift max weight on dips etc. YOu canl;t look at specialists and think “Gee wouldn;t it be nice of I could do ALL that”. Why not add one finger chins and headspins to a beatbox for time while youre at it. Train for hypertrophy (periodized with strength cycles every once in a while) or workout balancing strength with form a few years if youw ant to get bigger and then evaluate yourself on various strength and endurance tests and then list a set of goals you want to accomplish. Expect your musculature to change when/if you achieve those goals, the set new goals and when you reach THESE you may not be able to you previous set of goals with the new conditioning and physique you now have.
Whatever…try crossfit and be happy, healthy and sleek!
[quote]1morerep wrote:
i’m always seeing guys in my gym, usually much younger than me using almost the same weight i am and they hardly look like they’ve been working out a month. point is i’m not that strong. i just don’t have the genetics for strength and power. but that’s ok because as i’m so fond of stating - i don’t care about how much i can bench…i only care about how much i LOOK like i can bench :)[/quote]
Yes but you are young, good looking and probably single. I am old and married. Looking good only gets me in trouble
