How come ever big dude in my gym

[the.gladiator1987]

is never doing deadlifts, squats or anything with a bb? its always machines, and never compound lifts except maybe bb shrugs in the squat rack or half deads.

Why do people do half deads?

Why do big guys use machines?

Why do they do "partial" reps to "maintain"?

How did they get big if they are doing bullshit exercises?

Do you think anyone could be too big and so they just do machines to maintain?



I dont really care im just curious. Its not like they are small and someone should tell them to do compound lifts, they are already big. What gives? i know they took steroids but still.

 

[rahl]

Maybe they all blew joints and ligaments getting big and now they're older (like me...LOL) so they are using machines because it's all they CAN do now? Just a thought. Ask them!

 

[susanspy]

Hello all,

Nice pick the.gladiator1987 i like your body a lot its perfect i mean not too much muscle all thats needed is there, you mentioned your 2 nd cycle please let me know about the 1 st one man & also your die, my brother will love to make you his idol.

Cheers!!!

 

[ExtraMile]

I couldnt answer, only 1 big guy at my gym who's a BB'er and he's huge, he deadlifts yeah but only 405. Never really watched him workout though. Other than him theres 1 person Iv seen deadlift more than me.

 

[SouthernLord]

I did half deads today. Rack pulls I anticipate a severely sore back tomorrow.

 

[the.gladiator1987]

I did half deads today. Rack pulls I anticipate a severely sore back tomorrow.

whats the point of doing that? And why does everyone do hammer strength machines?

 

[SouthernLord]

whats the point of doing that? And why does everyone do hammer strength machines?

It overloads the top range of motion. You can set the pins to the height of your sticking point and hammer your weakness. Helps if you have lock out problems. It's also probably the best back thickness exercise you can do.

Sometimes I need a break from DLing from the floor. I will alternate heavy pendlay rows, rack pulls, and conventional DLs in three week waves.

I don't use many HS machines or machines period, but HS machines are not bad.

 

[Big_BK]

I like the hammer strengths because they can really isolate the muscle you want to hit.

 

[mwm5]

two biggest guys i know that compete at super heavy weight division never dl

 

[wnaBfreaK]

this is the same thing i wonder evey big guy at the gym, is doing a regular "bb" split, and there still fucking massive. They tell me all the time, how they got big and none of them really focused on the big 3, like we do on this forum. This forum makes me think twice on the way i train. but then i see ppl doing w.e you guys say not to and there still bigger then me

 

[Wulfgar]

fuck that! Im a Superheavy and I deadlift/squat/ lift free weights on the reg...

 

[moya]

they probably have better genetics and are not truly reaching their full potential... i would bet if they were willing and capable of doing heavy deadlifting they could really take it to the next level...
like ronnie said... everyone wants to be big, but nobody wants to lift no heavy-ass weights...
it is a lot easier to work out light, eat right and stick a needle in your ass... and then you look big... that is why big doesn't always = strong...

 

[needmassnow]

whats the point of doing that? And why does everyone do hammer strength machines?

I find that the hammer strength machines give me a MUCH better pump than barbell and dumbell exercises. I don't know what it is, but I think they concentrate the muscle you are trying to grow better. I alternate my workouts for each body part between barbell/dumbell and hammer strength machines.

 

[bruce9241]

I've noticed this too at my gym. The biggest two guys at my gym don't really do any squats/deadlifts. I've seen one of them do partial bench press at 315 for easy sets though.

The only guy at my gym that does any type of weight in deadlift is some tall guy. He's not too big though, but you can tell her lifts. He does 315 for reps(which is my max). The only other guys I see squat/deadlift are usually normal looking guys that are a little bit bulkier than your average person.

Maybe the large dudes who do bullshit exercises are doing a lot of steroids or something.

 

[burnthiscorpse]

Hello all,

Nice pick the.gladiator1987 i like your body a lot its perfect i mean not too much muscle all thats needed is there, you mentioned your 2 nd cycle please let me know about the 1 st one man & also your die, my brother will love to make you his idol.

Cheers!!!

 

[C.K.]

I noticed that too except using alot of weight and what we'd consider to be HORRBLE FORM it seems to be working for them?

 

[-SD-]

Hey guys i know this is the training board but there is this invention called "steroids" that are probably helping a lot of those guys get big without having to do bench or dl or squats.

 

[bruce9241]

On a slightly different not, the strongest guy at my gym isn't a big dude. He's pretty tall, about 6'2 and lean. He weighs maybe 175? 180? I don't know, but he doesn't look beefy at all. Anyways, this guy cleans 225 for sets. I've seen him front squat 185 for easy reps and back squat 275 for easy deep complete reps. I haven't seen him exert max effort yet. That would be cool to see because this guy does his sets easily. I've seen him do deadlifts too, although not very heavy. He does 185 for deadlift sets. He isn't straining at all.

This guy is the perfect example of strength vs size. He's not very heavy or big, but I bet he's the strongest motherfucker in the gym. I'm totally in awe of his strength.

 

[SaiBoT]

is never doing deadlifts, squats or anything with a bb? its always machines, and never compound lifts except maybe bb shrugs in the squat rack or half deads.

Why do people do half deads?

Why do big guys use machines?

Why do they do "partial" reps to "maintain"?

How did they get big if they are doing bullshit exercises?

Do you think anyone could be too big and so they just do machines to maintain?



I dont really care im just curious. Its not like they are small and someone should tell them to do compound lifts, they are already big. What gives? i know they took steroids but still.

It's a matter of personal goals, i know for a fact that i wouldn't need to do squats, deads to get "big", but the thing is i enjoy strength traning and couldn't imagine myself working out without squats and deads.

Rack pulls are very valuable either for strength or size for the same reasons that SouthernLord wrote above.

 

[the.gladiator1987]

It's a matter of personal goals, i know for a fact that i wouldn't need to do squats, deads to get "big", but the thing is i enjoy strength traning and couldn't imagine myself working out without squats and deads.

Rack pulls are very valuable either for strength or size for the same reasons that SouthernLord wrote above.

K i understand rack pulls now, but hammer strength? i guess most people are just pussies and dont want to take time to put weights on and off a bar. Fuck them i couldnt imagine doing hammer strength exercises in my life unless it was my last exercise and i wanted a pump.

 

[SaiBoT]

K i understand rack pulls now, but hammer strength? i guess most people are just pussies and dont want to take time to put weights on and off a bar. Fuck them i couldnt imagine doing hammer strength exercises in my life unless it was my last exercise and i wanted a pump.

Honestly hammer strength machines are very high quality stuff, try it for working out your back once you get back to a bodybuilding routine, they really are great to enhance mind-muscle connection, we talked about that before.

 

[the.gladiator1987]

Honestly hammer strength machines are very high quality stuff, try it for working out your back once you get back to a bodybuilding routine, they really are great to enhance mind-muscle connection, we talked about that before.

Ok so how about this. Should I start hammer strength when I can deadlift 500 and bb row 275 or should i just do it now? I can understand the isolation part of it. But why does this board preach free weights and thats it?

 

[cy23]

I have a few friends who are a lot bigger than me and they use machines but both of them played football and built a solid foundation and now stick to a lot of machines. My buddy could squat 500 in high school but now he just does a few sets of leg press and he maintains his size. I can not completely relate because I rarely see anyone as strong as me or as big with lower body fat like mine. You know how I train and most people don't train like us so they never get that big. Also some guys take tons of gear and eat good so even shity training allows them to get pretty big.

 

[cy23]

Dont drop the compound movements though. The biggest guys out there train with mostly free weights and do the heavy shit in the off season.

 

[the.gladiator1987]

I have a few friends who are a lot bigger than me and they use machines but both of them played football and built a solid foundation and now stick to a lot of machines. My buddy could squat 500 in high school but now he just does a few sets of leg press and he maintains his size. I can not completely relate because I rarely see anyone as strong as me or as big with lower body fat like mine. You know how I train and most people don't train like us so they never get that big. Also some guys take tons of gear and eat good so even shity training allows them to get pretty big.

i guess its just the roids, I dont know when ill be at a size that I want to just "maintain". So I should stick to my basic compounds and not hammer strength right?

 

[LucSulla]

Well, in all honesty, the stuff like the Bill Starr 5 x 5 and so on put on mass and strength, but I think they do a lot more on the strength side. And that isn't down playing how much mass such programs do put on. However, most BBers I know aren't looking to be strong as much as they are interested in being big. I think it is pretty clear that people can do some insane hypertrophy programs using supplements and steroids to keep your muscles from turning to goo, and a lot of guys will get huge this way. They won't necessarily have the strength to back up all that mass though. Bill Starr wrote a pretty funny essay on this issue, and the story above about the little guy being the strongest guy in the gym is another good example. Just look at Oly lifters. There are guys in that sport that don't even crack 200 lbs. that are throwing more than 300 pounds above their head.

Stressing the big three, at least in my observation, will make most of us bigger than most but not all. However, when it comes to just being flat out strong, there is no substitute I don't think. So, I would say some of this depends on your goal. Personally, I never cared about being the biggest or one of the biggest guys in my gym. Developing my strength has always been my goal. If strength is a secondary goal to physique, I see nothing wrong with observing how others got the body you may want.

 

[the.gladiator1987]

Well, in all honesty, the stuff like the Bill Starr 5 x 5 and so on put on mass and strength, but I think they do a lot more on the strength side. And that isn't down playing how much mass such programs do put on. However, most BBers I know aren't looking to be strong as much as they are interested in being big. I think it is pretty clear that people can do some insane hypertrophy programs using supplements and steroids to keep your muscles from turning to goo, and a lot of guys will get huge this way. They won't necessarily have the strength to back up all that mass though. Bill Starr wrote a pretty funny essay on this issue, and the story above about the little guy being the strongest guy in the gym is another good example. Just look at Oly lifters. There are guys in that sport that don't even crack 200 lbs. that are throwing more than 300 pounds above their head.

Stressing the big three, at least in my observation, will make most of us bigger than most but not all. However, when it comes to just being flat out strong, there is no substitute I don't think. So, I would say some of this depends on your goal. Personally, I never cared about being the biggest or one of the biggest guys in my gym. Developing my strength has always been my goal. If strength is a secondary goal to physique, I see nothing wrong with observing how others got the body you may want.

Strength is def the goal. I al ready have a good physique but I want to get bigger as well. So for strength the big 3, and for mass maybe add some isolation?

 

[SaiBoT]

Ok so how about this. Should I start hammer strength when I can deadlift 500 and bb row 275 or should i just do it now? I can understand the isolation part of it. But why does this board preach free weights and thats it?

This board preaches what's right, free weights over machines always. But you have to see that most of us use machines as assistance exercises... i don't wanna just look big and strong i wanna be functional too...

It's matter of goals for you choose whatever you want, but guess what this big and bodybuilders have in common regarding weightlifting: Arnold, Ronnie Coleman, John Jackson, Vic Martinez, Franco Columbu etc

POWERLIFTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[LucSulla]

Strength is def the goal. I al ready have a good physique but I want to get bigger as well. So for strength the big 3, and for mass maybe add some isolation?

I don't think there is anything wrong with smart iso work after your main lifts as long as you keep in mind that they or more the potatos and less the meat so to speak. In other words, don't pursue them so hard you hurt your big lifts. And like I said before, all those insane hypertrophy routines rely on a good dose of chemicals to make them work properly. An all natty lifter doing that many reps with that many lifts that are isolating the same muscle in such a short space of time is just going to turn his or her muscles to jello and begin regressing pretty quickly.

 

[cy23]

This board preaches what's right, free weights over machines always. But you have to see that most of us use machines as assistance exercises... i don't wanna just look big and strong i wanna be functional too...

It's matter of goals for you choose whatever you want, but guess what this big and bodybuilders have in common regarding weightlifting: Arnold, Ronnie Coleman, John Jackson, Vic Martinez, Franco Columbu etc

POWERLIFTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EXACTLY. The biggest mother fuckers put up serious weight. Or did early in there career for a solid foundation. I built almost all my size with sets of five or six reps. As far as olympic lifters are concerned we are talking about speed, power and technique... Big difference between a well trained olympic lifters and a guy who push presses 300 over his head without any training. I can push press 275 but I'm sure with training I could clean and jerk much more without getting any stronger. Thats why small guys can sometimes move so much weight. If you want to be big you need to focus on strength for a while. Of course there are exceptions but its the fast twitch fibers that really grow and what rep range stimulates em?? It aint sets of 12 thats for sure. Don't over analyze this shit. Eat and lift heavy and with intensity with planned progression and you can't go wrong. Arnold, Ronnie Coleman, John Jackson, Vic Martinez, Franco Columbu all started with powerlifting. I have seen pics of arnold and franco both pulling 700 pound plus deads early on. Even though they didnt do that shit in pumping iron they had a great foundation. You here pro bodybuilders all the time say "I used to go really heavy on these" ect ect. Simple shit.

 

[SaiBoT]

EXACTLY. The biggest mother fuckers put up serious weight. Or did early in there career for a solid foundation. I built almost all my size with sets of five or six. As far as olympic lifters are concerned we are talking about speed, power and technique... Big difference between a well trained olympic lifters and a guy who push presses 300 over his head without any training. I can push press 275 but I'm sure with training I could clean and jerk much more without getting any stronger. Thats why small guys can sometimes move so much weight. If you want to be big you need to focus on strength for a while. Of course there are exceptions but its the fast twitch fibers that really grow and what rep range stimulates em?? It aint sets of 12 thats for sure. Don't over analyze this shit. Eat and lift heavy and with intensity with planned progression and you can't go wrong. Arnold, Ronnie Coleman, John Jackson, Vic Martinez, Franco Columbu all started with powerlifting. I have seen pics of arnold and franco both pulling 700 pound plus deads early on. Even though they didnt do that shit in pumping iron they had a great foundation. You here pro bodybuilders all the time say "I used to go really heavy on these" ect ect. Simple shit.

Precisely and the muscle earned though heavy lifting doesn't easily go away and looks a whole lot harder

 

[cy23]

Precisely and the muscle earned though heavy lifting doesn't easily go away and looks a whole lot harder

Totally agree. The muscle has a dense rugged look to it. I also get a lot of striations from the heavy stuff. I feel like light weight makes me look big but soft and goes away really fast almost like a bloat.. The heavy shit just builds raw muscle. At least for me it does.

 

[artificialaspirations]

Its the difference between training for size and strength. The last workout I did using hammer strengths didn't even feel like a workout. It was easy, sure it gave me a pump, but nothing exhausting and taxing like squats and deads.

And it was boring. I'll use those when I'm old. Until then I'll take that barbell for sets of 5 please.

I'll never be a BB, but I can move more weight than 99% of the peeps in my gym. That feels good and assures me that I'm on the right track.

On a side note, I did yardwork the other day and pulled out some dead trees with my bare hands. I got down in conv DL and pulled out the roots and everything. Felt like 365+ resistance and I thought was a pretty good example of functional strength.

 

[b fold the truth]

Define "big".

 

[the.gladiator1987]

I want more functional strength so I will keep doing what Im doing, i believe its the best way to workout. And i understand hammer strength has a purpose, i just dont see why thats all people use. Ive always read that you will get big doing deads squats and bench but then no one does them (except bench)

bfold - big as in 18"+ arms. My arms are my weak point (16.75")