The Bodybuilder Bunker

Training Bodybuilding
341

[quote]SSC wrote:
Yeah, I was probably using enough weight. Because I use to be so fat I had fairly strong legs, naturally. Before I started squatting I did do leg presses a lot, I could get up to 630 lbs. for reps with good form. In hindsight it was nothing huge, but when I first started I felt like a badass. Maybe one some point I’ll take a week off from squats and work some heavy leg presses to see if they can sway my opinion on them.

On another note, I do like machine hack-squats, but I think that’s something that can be debated at a different time.[/quote]

Personally, I like to do leg press supersetted with extensions as a post-exhaust exercise (i.e. after squatting).

342

[quote]Professor X wrote:
SSC wrote:
Fulmen wrote:
SSC wrote:
Okay, I see what you guys are saying about the leg-press. I never really meant to bash it, it just hasn’t really provided optimal results for me. I’ve tried a fair share of variations of the leg-press, but I guess it’s just not for me. I will throw it in once in a while to shake things up, but I was just curious to see what you guys thought about them.

Were you using enough weight for leg press? If I’m not feeling exhausted when doing leg presses like I do when squatting, then I’m not doing enough weight+sets. Btw, machines are great.

Yeah, I was probably using enough weight. Because I use to be so fat I had fairly strong legs, naturally. Before I started squatting I did do leg presses a lot, I could get up to 630 lbs. for reps with good form. In hindsight it was nothing huge, but when I first started I felt like a badass. Maybe one some point I’ll take a week off from squats and work some heavy leg presses to see if they can sway my opinion on them.

.

That’s probabaly what the issue was. Heavy leg presses involves 800-1000 lbs and upwards in my honest opinion. 630lbs isn’t much at all on a leg press machine.
[/quote]

Agreed.

343

^ After I do that super-set your talking about, I look like a boxer who got hit with a hard-right. My knees get wobbly lol.

344

[quote]Fulmen wrote:

Also, on bodytypes and all that bullshit, I should’ve mentioned this is the first post. I don’t want any mention of ectomorphs, hardgainers, or any of that BULLSHIT in our ONLY HOME.

Keep that shit outta this thread.

[/quote]

dude i dont care what you call it, but the same shit that works for a tall guy isnt going to work for a short guy and vice versa. we all got our natural advantages and disadvantages. short guys build legs really easily, so if im a tall guy does that mean i should ask him how he built his legs? probaly not, or at least take it with a grain of salt. deadlifting is easier for taller guys so it wouldnt be a great idea for a short guy to ask a tall guy how to improve his deadlift.

bodybuilding isnt cookie cutter shit, you cant prescribe the same thing to every single person. if youd like it more if i said “tall thin guys” instead of ectos i dont care but its still the same shit. all im asking is what has been successful for tall guys with long limbs and fast metabolisms. i guess its hard to find out though since most of em dont gravitate towards body building since usually they say “oh i cant gain” and stop lifting but w.e.

345

[quote]Professor X wrote:
SSC wrote:
Fulmen wrote:
SSC wrote:
Okay, I see what you guys are saying about the leg-press. I never really meant to bash it, it just hasn’t really provided optimal results for me. I’ve tried a fair share of variations of the leg-press, but I guess it’s just not for me. I will throw it in once in a while to shake things up, but I was just curious to see what you guys thought about them.

Were you using enough weight for leg press? If I’m not feeling exhausted when doing leg presses like I do when squatting, then I’m not doing enough weight+sets. Btw, machines are great.

Yeah, I was probably using enough weight. Because I use to be so fat I had fairly strong legs, naturally. Before I started squatting I did do leg presses a lot, I could get up to 630 lbs. for reps with good form. In hindsight it was nothing huge, but when I first started I felt like a badass. Maybe one some point I’ll take a week off from squats and work some heavy leg presses to see if they can sway my opinion on them.

.

That’s probabaly what the issue was. Heavy leg presses involves 800-1000 lbs and upwards in my honest opinion. 630lbs isn’t much at all on a leg press machine.
[/quote]

Sounds right. Again, it’s been quite a while since I tried them. I guess I really got an unfavorable opinion them through a few different things,

1.) I’d see guys load up as much weight as they could on the machine and do partials, (which these days I’m all for if they’re actually trying to work the teardrop.) I’d just get hussy-fussy about how they weren’t using strict form and everything, so I don’t think I ever really pushed them hard enough.

2.) I’d see those same guys come in a week later doing 1/2 squats with 155 lbs.

Maybe I should just stop worrying about what other people do in the weight room and get my own shit taken care of.

346

[quote]rainjack wrote:
LiveFromThe781 wrote:
rainjack wrote:
LiveFromThe781 wrote:
i have a question about cortisol and its affects on catabolism.

i read something from CT about in the Physique Clinic about how ectomorphs shouldnt do heavy sets with low reps because that body type produces more cortisol from it and will do more harm than good.

have any ectos on here from experience found this to be either true or false? ive never really seen any ectos doing heavy work, usually just shorter/stockier guys. and as you guys are stressing the importance building a certain level of strength with heavy sets first it makes me wonder more about it.

Personally, I think the ecto/endo/meso stuff should never be mentioned to young trainees (training age). All I have ever seen happen from the introduction of those terms is excuse making, and confusion.

If you are a young trainee - you have no idea what you are, and just about anything in the resistance training universe is going to work for you. Hell - I had my daughter un-rack and re-rack the weight tree. 800 pound off, 800 pounds on. I have no idea what kind of morph she is at 13, but she got stronger and faster at it after about 4 weeks.

I see no need to confuse the young guys, or give them something to micro analyze. Sure it has its place, but honestly, does it really make a measurable difference in a noob? I think not.

ive never used the fact that i have a higher metabolism and longer limbs as an excuse. i know i have to eat all the time because of it, and i know that its going to be slower for me to put on mass than other people. so what that means is if i want to look good i have to train harder and cant slack with it. im not even saying im huge but most ectos dont even get to where im at.

im just curious to see whats worked for people with a similar body type to mine especially if it was using a heavy weight/ low rep scheme versus 6-8 or 8-12 reps to failure. and if people can tell me “hey it sucks dont waste your time” id rather just have that than spending a couple weeks treading water.

Then I misunderstood your question.

[/quote]

I agree that the use of such terms shouldn’t be used among young trainees and beginners. People will make excuses like rainjack said.

Speaking of excuses I also believe the term hardgainer does exist in that some gain weight at a more difficult pace than others. Some require more cals, etc. But I don’t believe in somebody using hardgainer as an excuse. I think people like this have an advantage. I consider myself a “hardgainer” but that just motivates me to eat boatloads of food and lift heavy stuff to build muscle. My advantage is what I put on is mostly muscle. I can bulk and keep all 6 abs.

I used to be an ecto and I went hard and heavy to get where I’m at. I’d personally call b.s. on that thread if that’s the case because it has worked for me.

Gerdy

347

[quote]LiveFromThe781 wrote:
Fulmen wrote:

Also, on bodytypes and all that bullshit, I should’ve mentioned this is the first post. I don’t want any mention of ectomorphs, hardgainers, or any of that BULLSHIT in our ONLY HOME.

Keep that shit outta this thread.

dude i dont care what you call it, but the same shit that works for a tall guy isnt going to work for a short guy and vice versa. we all got our natural advantages and disadvantages. short guys build legs really easily, so if im a tall guy does that mean i should ask him how he built his legs? probaly not, or at least take it with a grain of salt. deadlifting is easier for taller guys so it wouldnt be a great idea for a short guy to ask a tall guy how to improve his deadlift.

bodybuilding isnt cookie cutter shit, you cant prescribe the same thing to every single person. if youd like it more if i said “tall thin guys” instead of ectos i dont care but its still the same shit. all im asking is what has been successful for tall guys with long limbs and fast metabolisms. i guess its hard to find out though since most of em dont gravitate towards body building since usually they say “oh i cant gain” and stop lifting but w.e.[/quote]

The same basics work for everyone. I am not sure why you believe a tall guy should train completely different than a shorter guy. Whether something works AS WELL for you is based more on genetics than limb length or some poor concept of body type. Short guys build legs really easy? The same things they would do to build their legs are generally the same things anyone else should be doing.

The belief that they can’t gain is the same bullshit you are expelling about training differently simply because you are tall.

348

I don’t know what to say…besides this thread is golden. and humbling

349

[quote]Fulmen wrote:
Speaking of supps, I’ve never tried BCAA’s. Should I? Why? Why not? [/quote]

Yes. You take protein right? The protein is taken for the amino acids. Aminos is what our body uses to do it’s thing (to keep this post simple. lol)

I personally like to take them upon wakening and before/towards the end and after workouts.

If I had to give the best reason as to why you should take them, I would say that it makes it easier for you to keep your body in an anabolic state instead of a catabolic one.

Gerdy

350

Trap bar squats, SQUATS, from a platform. Back straight, handles down to the ankles and quads parallel pushing back up with the heels. Scoff if you must, but they will make a whimpering baby out of any iron hardened veteran.

351

[quote]Dirty Gerdy wrote:
Fulmen wrote:
Speaking of supps, I’ve never tried BCAA’s. Should I? Why? Why not?

Yes. You take protein right? The protein is taken for the amino acids. Aminos is what our body uses to do it’s thing (to keep this post simple. lol)

I personally like to take them upon wakening and before/towards the end and after workouts.

If I had to give the best reason as to why you should take them, I would say that it makes it easier for you to keep your body in an anabolic state instead of a catabolic one.

Gerdy[/quote]

Of course, I was just wondering whether I should take BCAA’s as their own supplement. They look enticing after lifting, to say the least.

352

[quote]Professor X wrote:
That’s probabaly what the issue was. Heavy leg presses involves 800-1000 lbs and upwards in my honest opinion. 630lbs isn’t much at all on a leg press machine.
[/quote]

My sled must be broke, then. Either that, or I have a bad bearing causing a shitload of drag.

I just got back from lifting, and I was actually proud of the fact that I got 410 up for 8 reps, followed by a 20 rep set of 230.

I can squat over 400 for reps - not super heavy, but better than most.

I never claimed to be Tom Platz - but damn - I can’t imagine pressing 800 on this machine.

353

[quote]Tiribulus wrote:
Trap bar squats, SQUATS, from a platform. Back straight, handles down to the ankles and quads parallel pushing back up with the heels. Scoff if you must, but they will make a whimpering baby out of any iron hardened veteran. [/quote]

Wouldn’t that be like a modified hack squat? What’s it focus? The vastus medialis?

354

[quote]Fulmen wrote:
Dirty Gerdy wrote:
Fulmen wrote:
Speaking of supps, I’ve never tried BCAA’s. Should I? Why? Why not?

Yes. You take protein right? The protein is taken for the amino acids. Aminos is what our body uses to do it’s thing (to keep this post simple. lol)

I personally like to take them upon wakening and before/towards the end and after workouts.

If I had to give the best reason as to why you should take them, I would say that it makes it easier for you to keep your body in an anabolic state instead of a catabolic one.

Gerdy

Of course, I was just wondering whether I should take BCAA’s as their own supplement. They look enticing after lifting, to say the least.[/quote]

I take 10 when I get up, and 10 PWO with a scoop of Surge.

I also pop glucosomine like they’re candy, and Cranberry caps for my kidney’s.

If I’m honest, my pill box is the size of a fucking tackle box.

355

[quote]rainjack wrote:
Professor X wrote:
That’s probabaly what the issue was. Heavy leg presses involves 800-1000 lbs and upwards in my honest opinion. 630lbs isn’t much at all on a leg press machine.

My sled must be broke, then. Either that, or I have a bad bearing causing a shitload of drag.

I just got back from lifting, and I was actually proud of the fact that I got 410 up for 8 reps, followed by a 20 rep set of 230.

I can squat over 400 for reps - not super heavy, but better than most.

I never claimed to be Tom Platz - but damn - I can’t imagine pressing 800 on this machine. [/quote]

Edit: didn’t even let the thought of inclination come into my head.

356

[quote]rainjack wrote:
Professor X wrote:
That’s probabaly what the issue was. Heavy leg presses involves 800-1000 lbs and upwards in my honest opinion. 630lbs isn’t much at all on a leg press machine.

My sled must be broke, then. Either that, or I have a bad bearing causing a shitload of drag.

I just got back from lifting, and I was actually proud of the fact that I got 410 up for 8 reps, followed by a 20 rep set of 230.

I can squat over 400 for reps - not super heavy, but better than most.

I never claimed to be Tom Platz - but damn - I can’t imagine pressing 800 on this machine. [/quote]

It depends on the incline of the sled. The greater the incline, the more of the actual weight on the machine you are truly lifting. Most sleds are about 45 degrees. Obviously, if you have a steeper incline (like I’ve seen with some home gyms to save space), you are forced to use less weight.

357

[quote]rainjack wrote:
Fulmen wrote:
New discussion for people to learn from:

How important is sleep? How long should you sleep? Should you take daytime naps? Discuss.

I’ll throw in my part after work.

Sleep is as important as nutrition and training, IMO.

7 hours a night minimum, and a nap. [/quote]

I’m gonna have to agree and disagree with ya here buddy. Sleep is definitely as important and lack of it is highly detrimental. However I do believe that how much is as individual as anything else within reason. Nobody claiming to do well on 35 minutes a night can be taken seriously, but some people just sleep less than other people.

In other words I do go along with all the bad stuff that happens to people who don’t sleep enough, but “enough” can be quite a bit less for some people than others. 7 hours is a long night for me and I’d have to drug myself to sleep that much every night. Don’t know why, it’s just how I’ve always been. Too much under 4 hours and I’m yawning all day, but 4 - 6 is and always has been plenty. I almost never sleep straight through either. Not because I’m busy or anything, but that’s just how much I sleep.

358

[quote]rainjack wrote:
Professor X wrote:
That’s probabaly what the issue was. Heavy leg presses involves 800-1000 lbs and upwards in my honest opinion. 630lbs isn’t much at all on a leg press machine.

My sled must be broke, then. Either that, or I have a bad bearing causing a shitload of drag.

I just got back from lifting, and I was actually proud of the fact that I got 410 up for 8 reps, followed by a 20 rep set of 230.

I can squat over 400 for reps - not super heavy, but better than most.

I never claimed to be Tom Platz - but damn - I can’t imagine pressing 800 on this machine. [/quote]

Not sure if it’s been said already but the angle of the sled makes a huuuuge difference. you guys remember seeing the pics of arnold and the gang doing leg presses on a pretty much vertical press? they would like flat on their backs and press straight up.

Well I thought I was the shit in high school. The gym I trained at had just your regular leg press and we can load a bunch of weight on to try and show off (yes dumb and immature). My high school gym, however, had one of those old presses and I tried showing off there only to get trapped and needed some assistance to help get it back up. lol

So the angle on your machine can definitely change the amount of weight you push.

sorry if this has already been said or if its over generalized. lol

Gerdy

359

[quote]Professor X wrote:
rainjack wrote:
Professor X wrote:
That’s probabaly what the issue was. Heavy leg presses involves 800-1000 lbs and upwards in my honest opinion. 630lbs isn’t much at all on a leg press machine.

My sled must be broke, then. Either that, or I have a bad bearing causing a shitload of drag.

I just got back from lifting, and I was actually proud of the fact that I got 410 up for 8 reps, followed by a 20 rep set of 230.

I can squat over 400 for reps - not super heavy, but better than most.

I never claimed to be Tom Platz - but damn - I can’t imagine pressing 800 on this machine.

It depends on the incline of the sled. The greater the incline, the more of the actual weight on the machine you are truly lifting. Most sleds are about 45 degrees. Obviously, if you have a steeper incline (like I’ve seen with some home gyms to save space), you are forced to use less weight.[/quote]

Never mind what I said before right here…

A question to everyone who’s using BCAAs: Did you guys purchase them from Biotest, or if not, what are your most economical recommendations?

360

[quote]Tiribulus wrote:
rainjack wrote:
Fulmen wrote:
New discussion for people to learn from:

How important is sleep? How long should you sleep? Should you take daytime naps? Discuss.

I’ll throw in my part after work.

Sleep is as important as nutrition and training, IMO.

7 hours a night minimum, and a nap.

I’m gonna have to agree and disagree with ya here buddy. Sleep is definitely as important and lack of it is highly detrimental. However I do believe that how much is as individual as anything else within reason. Nobody claiming to do well on 35 minutes a night can be taken seriously, but some people just sleep less than other people.

In other words I do go along with all the bad stuff that happens to people who don’t sleep enough, but “enough” can be quite a bit less for some people than others. 7 hours is a long night for me and I’d have to drug myself to sleep that much every night. Don’t know why, it’s just how I’ve always been. Too much under 4 hours and I’m yawning all day, but 4 - 6 is and always has been plenty. I almost never sleep straight through either. Not because I’m busy or anything, but that’s just how much I sleep.[/quote]

My post was confusing - I was saying that sleep/recovery is as important as training and nutrition. The 7 hours minimum and a nap is what I need.

And after reading how fucking weak I am at the damn leg press, I’m probably going to start taking 3 or 4 naps.