The Fitness Thread

[Reincarnate]

Re: The Fitness Thread

So today at the gym while practicing form for some stiff-legged deadlifts, a random dude stopped by and offered to help fix things up. Turns out he's the head trainer at the gym. He basically pointed out that due to the fact I've spent so much time at the computer, all my muscles suck (summarization) -- slouchy/forward-drooping shoulders, rounded back (I hunch a lot), elongated upper-back muscles, tight calves, weak lower back, shitty core, etc.

He helped me get the form right but then went on to tell me that the exercises I was doing (esp the squat, although he didn't see me do one -- just told me to raise my arms up and squat. I couldn't really do it since my quads burn with the fury of a thousand suns, but he said he saw all he needed to know from my attempt) might be too advanced for me and that I should start simpler and aim for 12-15 reps instead of the 8-12 range I am aiming for now, doing cable exercises, working with a weighted ball, practicing on machines (even though he dislikes them on principle), etc.

Thoughts on his advice?

Part of me wants to just say "**** that, I'll stick to lifting heavy shit and just work on perfecting the forms," but another part of me thinks, "He's right. All my muscles suck and I need to crawl before I can walk."

[Senip]

Re: The Fitness Thread

Weighted balls etc are pretty worthless.

You arent going to get anywhere until you suck it up and get the basics down. Most people recommend that you get a year or two of basics (bench, squats, deadlift, dips, pull ups, etc) before you even think of doing lots of isolation movements.

That's the latest hustle these days, medicine balls, kettlebells, jazzercise or whatever they call it now. If you find any giant dudes, wait until theyre done with their sets then walk over and talk to them. I saw people doing that stuff all the time, and if they didnt quit, they also never got anywhere. It's just another way for them to keep taking your money.

[kmay]

Re: The Fitness Thread

congrats on getting in there marcus!! =]

i'm getting my MRI on wednesday. fuuu please be an easy fix.

[Reincarnate]

Re: The Fitness Thread

Weighted balls etc are pretty worthless.

You arent going to get anywhere until you suck it up and get the basics down. Most people recommend that you get a year or two of basics (bench, squats, deadlift, dips, pull ups, etc) before you even think of doing lots of isolation movements.

That's the latest hustle these days, medicine balls, kettlebells, jazzercise or whatever they call it now. If you find any giant dudes, wait until theyre done with their sets then walk over and talk to them. I saw people doing that stuff all the time, and if they didnt quit, they also never got anywhere. It's just another way for them to keep taking your money.

Yeah, see this is exactly what I was thinking too... which is unfortunate because I dislike feeling so skeptical all the time and questioning people's motives and/or knowledge, primarily when I'm a neophyte to their 14+ years training experience. A lot of what the trainer said was undoubtedly true (my weaknesses) but I don't think this implies his conclusions were necessarily sound. Hard to tell when they are looking out for you or just trying to siphon more money. Doesn't matter either way since even when I get in shape, I'll still be going to the gym, regardless.

Other comments:

Bench Press: Had a hell of a time with this one. Even with the lateral notches and various grips, I couldn't tell if my elbows were correct. Also my palms kept trying to angle up instead of out. Will fix it eventually.

Military Press: How in the **** do you do this one?! No matter how many videos I watched, for some reason I felt like it was scorching my triceps instead of my shoulders.

SLDL: I now dub this one, unofficially, the "pelvic thrust to hump the barbell as you pull up" routine.

Watching more vids tonight

[SCWolf]

Re: The Fitness Thread

This picture genuinely makes me feel sad. I really respect this dude.

[Senip]

Re: The Fitness Thread

Yeah, see this is exactly what I was thinking too... which is unfortunate because I dislike feeling so skeptical all the time and questioning people's motives and/or knowledge, primarily when I'm a neophyte to their 14+ years training experience. A lot of what the trainer said was undoubtedly true (my weaknesses) but I don't think this implies his conclusions were necessarily sound. Hard to tell when they are looking out for you or just trying to siphon more money. Doesn't matter either way since even when I get in shape, I'll still be going to the gym, regardless.

Other comments:

Bench Press: Had a hell of a time with this one. Even with the lateral notches and various grips, I couldn't tell if my elbows were correct. Also my palms kept trying to angle up instead of out. Will fix it eventually.

Military Press: How in the **** do you do this one?! No matter how many videos I watched, for some reason I felt like it was scorching my triceps instead of my shoulders.

SLDL: I now dub this one, unofficially, the "pelvic thrust to hump the barbell as you pull up" routine.

Watching more vids tonight

Military Press: I like to put my hands a little wider than where I put em for biceps, that takes a lot of tris out of it. Bench, you want to keep your wrists straight and really grip the hell out of it, that'll help with keeping your hands straight. You want your elbows at like a 45 degree angle or so, that'll put the tris in without making them dominant.

[SCWolf]

Re: The Fitness Thread



Better view of my chest growth. This is cold as well, first thing in the morning. My delts are round as hell too.

[Reincarnate]

Re: The Fitness Thread

Quads finally easing up a bit. Yesterday I could barely walk. Today, the pain is still there but at least it isn't crippling.

[Senip]

Re: The Fitness Thread

Quads finally easing up a bit. Yesterday I could barely walk. Today, the pain is still there but at least it isn't crippling.

One of the best things you can do is invest in a foam roller. They're usually like 15 bucks or something and they're amazing for muscle soreness. They'll break up scar tissue and can help (maybe) with building muscle, because it helps stretch everything out. It hurts but its worth it.

[Wayward Vagabond]

Re: The Fitness Thread

i wish i was on the east coast so i could go to the gym with rubix. nothing more motivating than pushing someone thats pushing you

[kmay]

Re: The Fitness Thread

thats what i said, but he lives in the damn city.

[Reincarnate]

Re: The Fitness Thread

One of the best things you can do is invest in a foam roller. They're usually like 15 bucks or something and they're amazing for muscle soreness. They'll break up scar tissue and can help (maybe) with building muscle, because it helps stretch everything out. It hurts but its worth it.

Are all of them built equal, more or less, or are there any specific kind worth getting? I looked around at other forums where people had quad damage (LOL) after their first squat session and almost everyone mentioned that it'd be worth looking into rollers, too.

[kmay]

Re: The Fitness Thread

i dont remember my legs hurting that much after squats in volleyball. burpees i think we called them. i know they aren't weighted, but you still need to thrust your body in the air. several times.

[Reincarnate]

Re: The Fitness Thread

The bar by itself is 45 pounds or so

[Syhto]

Re: The Fitness Thread

if you start doing exercises after being otherwise inactive its going to hurt

i took a break from sports for a few years then went into track, I couldn't walk for almost two weeks, i almost considered going to the doc for muscle relaxers haha, but your body will adjust quickly . also it takes like 100 squats for me to get sore, unless they're weighted. there's a big diff there. but i literally had to get a doctors note cause i was late to EVERY class

since then though, no matter how much exercise I do I don't get to that point. it was a combination of not being limber enough for how much strain I was putting on my muscles and tendons and not giving myself time to recover, cause when i hurt really bad I just kept going. anyways all you can really do is grin and bear it, until you get to a point where the soreness isnt just plain bodily revolt lmao