Neighbors Think You're Insane?

Off Topic
102

[quote]Professor X wrote:

Dude, if you consider it “fun”, more power to you. I get called on to help people move whenever someone I know needs to do so. I don’t consider carrying uneven shit up and down stairs “fun”. I call it WORK. Like someone else also pointed out, the people who I see who do move furniture for a living aren’t exactly in shape or very muscular. Most of them are either skinny or simpy fat as hell. Shouldn’t they be seeing some of the amazing FUN benefits?

I think some of you underestimate what you can do if you put your full focus in the gym. If you want to drag sleds, have at it. Enjoy yourself with the fun and the sled and the joy. However, let’s stop pretending that everyone is simply piling on the muscle because of it. Those heavy weights in the gym do just fine for that and always have.[/quote]

Dude, there you go again attributing things to me that I never actually said. That’s gotten to be quite a habit with you.

And if only “just lifting weights” made people look great, go into any gyn in the USA and see what percentage of “weightlifters” actually look good/strong/in shape. Tell me you don’t see “skinny or simply fat as hell” people at the gyms around the country. Terrible analogy, X.

I know you are smart enough to understand that furniture movers and guys that have heavy lifting jobs most likley eat crap food, smoke, drink and are otherwise couch potatoes like the majority of the population.

And this GPP stuff you call “work”. WTF? doing a max triple in a power clean or deadlift or squat is not “work” to you?

In case you didn’t realize it, there is a whole “lifestyle” thing that needs to be implemented to look/be/feel in great condition.

Lifting weights alone will work as well (or poorly) as weighted GPP would if that was the only exercise one did.

Comparing a person that uses GPP etc. to an average furniture mover is just plain ignorant. Not what I’ve come to expect from you but that is changing as of late.

103

[quote]cap’nsalty wrote:
DLboy wrote:

Doing strongman and grip training is a great confidence builder, because there is always going to be something you can do that a bodybuilder can’t. I’m not going to go into that “bodybuilder’s are weak” bullshit, but strength does not necessarily mean a 450 bench; it could be dumbbell snatching over 100, closing a Captain of Crush #2, deadlifting 405+ double overhand, flipping a 500 pound tire several times, the list goes on.

None of those “feats of strength” are even close to being in the same league as a 450 lb bench.

[/quote]

I agree that the 450 bench was exaggerated, heh.

I know many people strong in the bench that couldn’t properly snatch a 100 dumbbell to save their life. It requires full body integration, coordination, and explosiveness. Simply trying to front raise or upright row it isn’t going to fly.

I practice boxing, muay thai, and Japanese Jujitsu. I have tried to stay away from intense martial arts conditioning lately because it burns a LOT of calories, not exactly optimal for bulking.

Thanks to dumbbell snatches, power cleans, the big 3, plyometrics, and many strongman type exercises, my coordination and speed with punching has increased significantly despite the fact that I’ve gained over 40 pounds (with less fat overall) since I peaked with boxing practice. I also have better endurance, because I’ve improved every aspect of strength in the weight room and with GPP.

104

[quote]derek wrote:
Dumbbells, barbells. Great stuff we all use them.

Did you ever wonder how much fun it’d be lifting something that was not as balanced as a dumbbell or barbell?

Maybe trying to lift something whose sole purpose wasn’t to be lifted in the first place would give you a little kick?

Something awkward that makes you fight just to hold on? Maybe a keg that fights back?

Traditional weights were designed to fit in one’s hand nicely. Shit they even have convenient knurling on the handles so you don’t lose your grip.

If you’re satisfied with lifting traditinal barbells and dumbbels day-in, day-out, good for you. If you want to experience a full-body challenge, I have an entire series of sandbags that wont clean and press themselves.

And look up “finishers” on this site. You know, odd object lifting/pushing to be done after your traditional weights have been lifted. Great way to end your workout.

I believe Charles Poliquin had said he wished his athletes had the drive to push cars on thier off days.

Hmmm, Charles Poliquin, Dave Tate, Louie Simmons, Charlie Francis, Nate Dogg… and the list goes on.

Grey I’m dissapointed in you.[/quote]

OK Derek. I’m going to give you my view on this thing…
I have noticed that a large percentage of tire flippers and cow tippers are for some reason pretty unmuscular.
I am looking for muscle not hard labour.
If you could convince me that by flipping tires I will grow quicker than by doing deads then you can believe me i will be flipping the fuckers.
I also can agree with you that there is more than one way to skin a cat but I would assume that using a sharp knife as opposed to a spoon would be better.

Walking up and down the road pulling a sled without a shirt on tends to be pretty tacky…especially when the person looks like they need to start working out.
I believe it’s a fad that will eventually dissapear just like disco.

We say each to his own and I will give you the benefit of the doubt and say that pulling a sled is better than sitting around on your ass. I just don’t believe it can compare with heavy duty lifting.

On the other hand if it’s something you enjoy then more power to you.
I guess I’m just a little to old to change my stripes. I do however respect your and everyone elses right to do whatever turns their crank.

105

Boxing… ding ding ding.

Tennis… game, set, match.

Politics… hear! hear!

McDonalds… I’m loving it.

106

Back to the whole “my neighbors look at me like I’m nutty” thing. I take my weights outside and lift in the grass on post, and people will actually drive laps up and down the road just to stare at me, like I’m some unusual exhibit at the zoo. For a while, I’d stare right back at them for being too tacky to knock that shit off, or at least ask about what I’m doing. When I get the sled or KB out, the staring picks up quite a bit. I think I’ve even seen some people drive by when I’m not outside just to see if they can get another glimpse at the “crazy dude”.

To fuel the GPP vs. gym vs. What’s worthless. We have a variety of different goals happening here on the 'Nation, to each his own. SOme are training out of need to be better at a given discipline. Some just want to be muscular. Some want to be stronger overall. SOme want to be strong and well conditioned. I’m the latter. The gym, sled and KB, and endurance training are all of equal importance to me. That draws a lot of the question “do you focus on anything particular? Can you make up your fucking mind?”. Nope. I need all of that. It’s a blast training outside too. There is a time where being in the gym is most appropriate for me. On the occasions where I use the KB, being outside is more fucking definitely the place to train. The debates over GPP, being outside vs. inside is pretty tired, and will never be ended in our lifetimes I’m sure. Dan John emphatically supports outside, and the gym rats are all about being inside. To each his own.

107

[quote]djoh615893 wrote:
Back to the whole “my neighbors look at me like I’m nutty” thing. I take my weights outside and lift in the grass on post, and people will actually drive laps up and down the road just to stare at me, like I’m some unusual exhibit at the zoo. For a while, I’d stare right back at them for being too tacky to knock that shit off, or at least ask about what I’m doing. When I get the sled or KB out, the staring picks up quite a bit. I think I’ve even seen some people drive by when I’m not outside just to see if they can get another glimpse at the “crazy dude”.

To fuel the GPP vs. gym vs. What’s worthless. We have a variety of different goals happening here on the 'Nation, to each his own. SOme are training out of need to be better at a given discipline. Some just want to be muscular. Some want to be stronger overall. SOme want to be strong and well conditioned. I’m the latter. The gym, sled and KB, and endurance training are all of equal importance to me. That draws a lot of the question “do you focus on anything particular? Can you make up your fucking mind?”. Nope. I need all of that.

It’s a blast training outside too. There is a time where being in the gym is most appropriate for me. On the occasions where I use the KB, being outside is more fucking definitely the place to train. The debates over GPP, being outside vs. inside is pretty tired, and will never be ended in our lifetimes I’m sure. Dan John emphatically supports outside, and the gym rats are all about being inside. To each his own.[/quote]

I doubt anyone here is saying you can’t do that. It is just that when I see a guy who isn’t that developed focusing on activities like this, I begin wonder why. It has also gotten old for people to try to act as if it is a “must add” to a routine. It isn’t. Perhaps I am missing all of the FUN. I’m not. I will forever hold the opinion that you get big in the gym. You can do all of these other activities to your heart’s desire, however, if your development is lacking, perhaps that is a huge indicator of where the majority of your focus should truly be going.

Good luck with your goals.

108

[quote]grey wrote:
If you could convince me that by flipping tires I will grow quicker than by doing deads then you can believe me i will be flipping the fuckers.[/quote]

No one said to give up deadlifting and only focus on tire flipping or sled drags, etc.

What makes you think that people can’t deadlift, squat, bench, row, chin, overhead press, and flip tires and drag sleds?

Who says you can’t do both? Is there a rule that says that flipping tires or dragging sleds won’t help your deadlift, squat or overall muscle and strength gains?

Again, no one said to eliminate the weight training and only flip tires or drag sleds. If flipping tires and dragging sleds helps increase your deadlift or squat, don’t you think they would be a useful exercise or assistance movement? Who says that you have to do the same old exercises if there are others that work and work just as well?

Tacky? Tacky for who? You? The neighbors? The person doing it?

I’m sure this comment refers to me since I posted pics of myself pulling the sled shirtless. I have no problem with it, and I could give a damn if someone else does have a problem with it. Just like many other people on this site, I’m constantly striving to get bigger, stronger and better. I don’t just post pics when I finish my 12-week cutting cycle after getting a deep tan and rubbing oil on my body.

I doubt it. It’ll stick around to help complement basic weight training. If it makes it fun for people to train and helps them learn correct movement patterns easier, than there is no reason why it wouldn’t stay.

Once again, no one said that they only used the sled or other similar exercise in their training. You can use them for a variety of things: assistance exercises, conditioning workouts, strength training, recovery workouts, etc.

[quote]On the other hand if it’s something you enjoy then more power to you.
I guess I’m just a little to old to change my stripes. I do however respect your and everyone elses right to do whatever turns their crank.
[/quote]

That’s good. What works for you and what works for someone else may be completely different. But there’s no reason to knock something just because you don’t do it or feel the need to try it.

109

Question to those who either think it’s silly, worthless, think they are missing nothing, believe the gym is all they need and/or think it’s tacky…

Have you ever done it? Or are you more like the child at the dinner table who refuses to eat a food item they have never even tried. (adults do that as well)

Please do not look at this next statement as bragging or trying to be a smartass but here goes… I own my own training facility. I train one-on-one for 9-10 hours per day, six days per week. Each and every one of my clients at least tried an event or two. Only a few can flip my lightest tire. Some can flip the heaviest. Farmers walk can be as light as 40 lbs each. Sled as light as the empty sled (my three y/o pulled this on grass). Sandbags go from 40 lbs to 200. Kegs weigh 32 lbs empty and 165 full of water. As you can see in pictures on this site I also have a squat rack, a rack for benching, my dumbbells can be made to go up to 200 lbs each (custom). There is a chance that I may have a pretty good idea of how this affects many different types of people. The fact is that I have seen more improvements in muscle gain and fat loss when this odd stuff is used than without.

To some it’s a replacement for a treadmill or stair-stepper. To others, it helps develop the sprinting musculature in ways that squats and deads cannot. In still others it is rehab for torn ACL.

For me, it’s gotten my grip, erectors and strength-endurance to improve beyond what it had been with more conventional equipment.

Your opinions would be worth a lot more if you were familiar (tried it) and didn’t like it than dismissing it having never “been there, done that”.

By the way, is anyone STILL comparing furniture movers to strongman equipment users or have you realized that analogy absolutely SUCKS?

110

[quote]derek wrote:
Question to those who either think it’s silly, worthless, think they are missing nothing, believe the gym is all they need and/or think it’s tacky…

Have you ever done it? [/quote]

Dude, keep doing it if you like it. However, the question you just asked is the same one people use to get newbies to try HIT training. I don’t have to use it and don’t want to. If I wasn’t seeing results doing what I am in the gym, I would probably be looking for something more. For everyone who has been training for longer than five years, most who are serious have begun to figure out what works and what doesn’t. While pinpointing the exact stimulus that helps you grow best may take several years of serious training, most intermediate and advanced bodybuilders aren’t looking for some revamp of their entire training approach…unless they are making no progress. To those not making progress, I would have them look at their training and definitely their food intake before embarking on a complete overhaul of their training focus.

If you like it, keep doing it. Just don’t try to convince everyone else that we are missing out. I know I’m not.

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[quote]Professor X wrote:
If you like it, keep doing it. Just don’t try to convince everyone else that we are missing out. I know I’m not.[/quote]

I don’t know how anyone is going to convince you that this thread isn’t all about your training methods.

I don’t think anyone is trying to convince you personally to try strongman training. I know I’m not. Your goals are clearly aesthetic not athletic, and it seems like you are happy with yourself being over 250lbs and looking like you might have played football once upon a time.

112

[quote]grey wrote:

We say each to his own and I will give you the benefit of the doubt and say that pulling a sled is better than sitting around on your ass. I just don’t believe it can compare with heavy duty lifting.
[/quote]

Read the thread before you respond.

No one who has spoken up in favor of sled dragging, tire flipping, or anything else has said that you should do it instead of heavy lifting.

113

[quote]RIT Jared wrote:
Your goals are clearly aesthetic not athletic, and it seems like you are happy with yourself being over 250lbs and looking like you might have played football once upon a time. [/quote]

My goals are not purely esthetic and I have never stated that this was the case. Do you think that without training with sleds that my only pursuit can be an esthetic one? I am happy being over 250lbs. I am also happy with being stronger than most people. Tell me, is there a problem looking large and muscular?

114

[quote]Professor X wrote:

My goals are not purely esthetic and I have never stated that this was the case. Do you think that without training with sleds that my only pursuit can be an esthetic one?[/quote]

No, but I think unless your goals are almost completely aesthetic that you would be interested in and see the benefit to increased work capacity, which you do not.

No. Is there a problem with someone taking a different route to getting there than you did?

115

[quote]RIT Jared wrote:

No, but I think unless your goals are almost completely aesthetic that you would be interested in and see the benefit to increased work capacity, which you do not.[/quote]

I see a need for “increased work capacity” in terms of what I need to work for. Why would I be interested in increasing my “work capacity” beyond what I need it for? This makes no sense to me. I train for strength and size. You apparently train to drag sleds as well as strength. Your “work capacity” is now great for sled dragging. Why aren’t you interested in increasing your “work capacity” to climb a mountain? Using your own logic, your training is subpar and you only care about dragging sleds because you have not increased your “work capacity” to mountain climbing.

[quote]
No. Is there a problem with someone taking a different route to getting there than you did?[/quote]

Hey, if someone is “getting there” and they are now huge as a result of training like this, I congratulate them. I put much honor into someone who has worked their ass off to make progress to that degree. However, that is not what I usually see evidence of here. The majority of the people training like this on this site are over 250lbs?

116

[quote]Professor X wrote:

The majority of the people training like this on this site are over 250lbs?
[/quote]

I know I am. I cannot speak for anyone else. But who gives a crap about 250lbs? Is that a magic weight goal?

I doubt the majority of people who train in any other way are over 250 either. What’s your point?

I’m 6’-3" (with heels) and I don’t appear that big (to me) at 260. My friend is 5’-5". Should he be 250 as well? Cause he’d look like R2D2 if he were.

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[quote]derek wrote:
Professor X wrote:

The majority of the people training like this on this site are over 250lbs?

I know I am. I cannot speak for anyone else. But who gives a crap about 250lbs? Is that a magic weight goal?

I doubt the majority of people who train in any other way are over 250 either. What’s your point?

I’m 6’-3" (with heels) and I don’t appear that big (to me) at 260. My friend is 5’-5". Should he be 250 as well? Cause he’d look like R2D2 if he were.

[/quote]

You seem to not be following the discussion correctly. I didn’t even bring up weight in this. I weigh more than 250lbs. A poster on YOUR SIDE mentioned weight and I followed his line of discussion.

118

Wow, this thread blew up.

Let’s be clear.
The human body can’t tell the difference between a 80 lb DB or an 80 lb rock.

As long as we challenge the body and provide it with new stimuli then we will progress.

There’s nothing wrong with tires, or any other training equipment. It can all have a place within a sound exercise program.

119

My bad, I thought you wrote this:

[quote]Professor X wrote:

Hey, if someone is “getting there” and they are now huge as a result of training like this, I congratulate them. I put much honor into someone who has worked their ass off to make progress to that degree. However, that is not what I usually see evidence of here. The majority of the people training like this on this site are over 250lbs?
[/quote]

Oh, wait, you DID!

Follow?

120

[quote]jehovasfitness wrote:
Wow, this thread blew up.

Let’s be clear.
The human body can’t tell the difference between a 80 lb DB or an 80 lb rock.

As long as we challenge the body and provide it with new stimuli then we will progress.

There’s nothing wrong with tires, or any other training equipment. It can all have a place within a sound exercise program.
[/quote]

No argument there.

121

The Strongmen Speak
An Interview with Brad Cardoza and John Sullivan
By Eric Cressey

Walk into any gym and you’ll encounter some really big guys. Heck, you might even find a few who can move some reasonably impressive weight on the bench. Rarely, you’ll see people who actually perform deadlifts. And, once in a millennium, you might encounter someone who smokes a crisp 400-lb. butt-to-heels squat that brings a tear to your eye. I can guarantee you, however, that you’ve probably never encountered someone who can do what Brad Cardoza and John Sullivan do regularly in their training. That’s not to say, however, that you should simply discount what these guys have to offer; chances are that some Strongman training methods could take your performance and physique to all new levels. You’ll probably learn a few new ways to frighten the old ladies in your gym, too!

Brad Cardoza and John Sullivan. I’ll add them to MY SIDE!