my flexibility is going to complete shit

[die faster]

getting up to about 210 pounds at 5'8" and my flexibility is taking a huge hit. its getting hard to put on my seatbelt, wipe me ass, put on my socks etc..

im never going to do any static holds/ stretches pre workout, so please dont tell me to. not to be rude but ill just never do this, ever. it makes you more prone to injury, and kills your strength. and to me isnt an option.

if i stretch after my workouts, will it slow my progress in any way? btw im 22 and still training for size for the next 3 weeks till i switch over to strengh training

 

[CoBra666]

i didnt know any stretching raised the chance of injury, if u dont like static stretches y not do ballistic stretching. shit there is another kind too that i cant think of what its called thats really effective after a workout. using weights and shit.. oh well. ill post if i ever think of it

 

[C.K.]

I do full a full body stretching routine twice a day am before gym and pm before bed

Also stretch in between every 2 sets while working out it doesn't effect strength or make you more prone to injury infact I'd say it does the opposite if I didn't stretch between exercises I get so pumped I can't acheive full range of motion

 

[CoBra666]

yeh i think n matter what whether your an athlete, power lifter, bber whatever. stretching is about the best thing u could do

 

[die faster]

thanks bros, ceo posted a thread about this. why preworkout stretching is bad i think it was called. but ive also heard this before about raising your chances of injury. and i noticed first hand a definite strength decrease from static holds. i do alot of quick stretches before my workout like swinging my arms in and out before benching, or rotating my arms before shoulders, or twists before squats/deads etc..

CK, i dont want to lessen my pumps by stretching during my workouts, but anything after my workout im def. down to try. i noticed this about lessening your pumps when you stretch, thats why i never did it after because i figured losing my pump that i have going might somehow slow my overall progress.

 

[Sub-Zero]

preworkout stretching is bad because it supposedly can take the *spring* out of your tendons momentarily, and possibly causes EC uncoupling

that being said, MAKE TIME, to stretch before bed, or after workouts.

focus on your hips hamstrings, lats, pecs, and front delts.

iv neglected stretching for periods and it drastically affects your posture (leads to injury), your range of motion (preventing optimal stimulus from your lifts), and makes you look ALOT less jacked.

 

[moya]

agreed with those opposed to preworkout stretching... that is if you are lifting any decent ammount of weight...
post workout stretching is a must...

 

[CoBra666]

check out post workout fascial stretching

 

[die faster]

def agree moya, being a powerlift im sure youve noticed you can get a strength decrease from stretching pre workout.

sub zero im with you man, ive neglected stretching and since i started. just wondering how do you figure it makes you look less jacked?

im gonna start stretching, any ideas on what i should do? just normal stretching or is there some specific exercises i should do? i was thinking of doing trunk twists with a pole on my back i see some guys at the gym do. maybe bending over trying to touch my toes. maybe hold myself on the pull up bar. any other ideas?

 

[die faster]

thanks cobra ill check that out too

 

[CoBra666]

no worries, i actually was trying to figure out what it was called, i just heard of it myself. i thought i favourited the page a few weeks ago but apparently i didnt, anyways after a little searching i found the name and here is a good post

Bodybuilding.com - Unleash Monstrous Muscle Growth With Extreme Fascial Stretching!

 

[Sub-Zero]

i do this
Shoulder Flexibility Test - What Is the Shoulder Flexibility Test

variations of this type of stretching
http://www.divefitness.com/html/articles/article_pdfs/should_stretch.pdf

some of these (especially 1, 2, and 3)
The Only 6 Static Stretches You Should Really Do | StrongLifts.com

i try and do them every day, and then twice a week on cardio days i do a full range of standard lower body stretches like your hamstring stretches (sit and reach, toe touches), glute stretches, etc

i figure it makes you look less jacked because shitty posture is no way to show off masscles lol

and between sets i will stretch the body parts i am not working - for example, if i am doing legs, i will be stretching my entire upper body in the squat rack while waiting

 

[jiggagold]

foam roll

 

[Sub-Zero]

foam roll

im gonna try and get a handle on this over the summer lol

 

[the.gladiator1987]

I dont do shit, but if i were to stretch, I would wanna do a nice jog in the AM, stretch right after (static stretching), and then some dynamic stretching before workout, then a nice deep painful stretch after each muscle group is finished, then do a nice static stretch after workout. That would be the best imo but I for one dont have time for all that.

 

[stevesmi]

I know what you mean.. its hard for me to scratch my back, or even tie my shoes today. my shoulders and chest are too damn big for my body.

what i do is before the gym is do some twists and crack my back etc.

then after I stretch.. but all the stretching in the world isn't gonna help your situation, if you have a massive chest/shoulder then its just not gonna ever be easy to do the things you used to be able to do.

 

[Sub-Zero]

i cant find it right now but Mariusz Pudzianowski for example is one flexible son of a bitch and i find it hard to believe that any of you are bigger than him

there will be obvious limitations to your mobility as your size increases, but you shouldnt completely do away with stretching because of that...you just make the problem worse

im about to leave but i will keep looking for the video of him stretching when i get back and post it up, he can go past his toes and put his palms on the floor when doing the "touch your toes" stretch

 

[Sub-Zero]

this song has a cool video



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flor2pmSeX0&playnext=1&list=PL37FD36A36AAEBFDA

 

[Sub-Zero]

here we go! 4 minutes and 30 seconds in proof huge dudes can be flexible lol

 

[ramnares]

Mariusz isn't a good example for strongman flexibility though since he's a green belt kyokushin and BJJ practitioner. The 'average' bodybuilder, say Ronnie Coleman or Jay, has very limited flexibility.

 

[stevesmi]

i cant find it right now but Mariusz Pudzianowski for example is one flexible son of a bitch and i find it hard to believe that any of you are bigger than him

there will be obvious limitations to your mobility as your size increases, but you shouldnt completely do away with stretching because of that...you just make the problem worse

im about to leave but i will keep looking for the video of him stretching when i get back and post it up, he can go past his toes and put his palms on the floor when doing the "touch your toes" stretch

I can touch my toes and all that.. my issue is stuff like scratching my back. I have to get a fork or something to do it.. I used to do yoga once a week or more. so I gained excellent flexibility. however today doing something like the eagle pose I cannot do, my arms are too big and Mariusz cannot do that either i guarantee you. but something like splits or lunges yes i can definately do.

 

[Sub-Zero]

Mariusz isn't a good example for strongman flexibility though since he's a green belt kyokushin and BJJ practitioner. The 'average' bodybuilder, say Ronnie Coleman or Jay, has very limited flexibility.

your point? would you rather be the avarage bodybuilder with very limited flexability or work to be a functionally strong and healthy athlete like marius?

you can sit around using a scrub brush to clean your asshole, or try and get mobility and function as a human being while still looking good.

also that is a really shitty comparison considering ronnie is in the top .0001% size wise for human beings, and marius isnt necessarily even a size athlete. they train for different goals

and nobody on this board is as big/bigger than marius, or anywhere near ronnie's size so i'm not sure how your post ties back into the "you can never be too big to stretch and be flexible" arguement?

 

[Sub-Zero]

I can touch my toes and all that.. my issue is stuff like scratching my back. I have to get a fork or something to do it.. I used to do yoga once a week or more. so I gained excellent flexibility. however today doing something like the eagle pose I cannot do, my arms are too big and Mariusz cannot do that either i guarantee you. but something like splits or lunges yes i can definately do.

makes sense, of course as you grow your muscles will get in the way to an extent. i thought you were saying you threw in the towel completely and dont try and be as flexible as your body will allow.

if you are still flexible enough to perform exercises safely then great.

i cant scratch my back, (although i can scratch alot MORE of it than i could when i wasnt stretching ever) or touch my elbows together either hehe

 

[ramnares]

your point? would you rather be the avarage bodybuilder with very limited flexability or work to be a functionally strong and healthy athlete like marius?

you can sit around using a scrub brush to clean your asshole, or try and get mobility and function as a human being while still looking good.

also that is a really shitty comparison considering ronnie is in the top .0001% size wise for human beings, and marius isnt necessarily even a size athlete. they train for different goals

and nobody on this board is as big/bigger than marius, or anywhere near ronnie's size so i'm not sure how your post ties back into the "you can never be too big to stretch and be flexible" arguement?

You've completely missed my point. I'm not debating whether you should train to optimize flexibility, of course you should. My point was that Mariusz trains in other areas which enhances his flexibility so your video doesn't prove anything.

 

[C.K.]

stretching and massaging is a MUST a getta thai massage everyday that encorporates yoga like stretching

 

[stevesmi]

makes sense, of course as you grow your muscles will get in the way to an extent. i thought you were saying you threw in the towel completely and dont try and be as flexible as your body will allow.

if you are still flexible enough to perform exercises safely then great.

i cant scratch my back, (although i can scratch alot MORE of it than i could when i wasnt stretching ever) or touch my elbows together either hehe

my X used to take me to hot yoga and it was the best thing ever. the heat would make it easier to stretch. I will say that it really wipes me out though today if i do it. no joke my strength is down bigtime the next couple days from it.

i still stretch after my workouts and I get massages as well.

 

[die faster]

i do this
Shoulder Flexibility Test - What Is the Shoulder Flexibility Test

lol i tried this and my fingers are probably a good 7-8 inches apart. im gonna give alot of these a try, esp when i start cutting in 3 more weeks

 

[b fold the truth]

lol i tried this and my fingers are probably a good 7-8 inches apart. im gonna give alot of these a try, esp when i start cutting in 3 more weeks

I have monkey long arms and I can barely touch my lower back with my left hand and the back of my head with my right.

A lot of it is size as well as how beat up you are. Very common in strength athletes. Myself included...a lot of strength athletes have issues even shaving. I don't talk on the phone unless I use my blue tooth device or speaker phone...I can't hold the phone to my ear long, especially without pain.

Toilet, seat belt, shirts, shaving, putting on shoes, etc...is all part of living a BIG life.

I made my own "foam roller" from PVC pipe and I'm getting better, especially in my hips and upper back (which helps my shoulders amazingly). I spend 10 minutes on it every night in the floor with my son and my dog and again before I train and it helps.

Stretching, hurts or not...do what you feel you need to do to be warm and ready to train.

 

[die faster]

damn dude you cant reach the back of your head?? i cant imagine getting that bad but then again i didnt think it would ever be hard to touch my thumb to my shoulder cold, without even a bicep pump going. i also noticed even holding the phone up to my head was getting pretty hard to do. and im not really that big.. i googled the foam roller, looks interesting may give that a try if the basic stuff doesnt help all that much

 

[die faster]

my X used to take me to hot yoga and it was the best thing ever. the heat would make it easier to stretch. I will say that it really wipes me out though today if i do it. no joke my strength is down bigtime the next couple days from it.

i still stretch after my workouts and I get massages as well.

so yoga is no good?? im not gonna do anything that hurts my strength. my friend has the P90X tapes, i tried the yoga one with him, which i absolutely fucking hated lol but i was thinking of trying it once a week or so for my flexibility. i might give it a try but if it messes with my strength it will be the last time i do it

 

[Sub-Zero]

You've completely missed my point. I'm not debating whether you should train to optimize flexibility, of course you should. My point was that Mariusz trains in other areas which enhances his flexibility so your video doesn't prove anything.

your point was that because he is a martial artist that he is magically more flexible.

your point was crap. he trains his flexibility to be a more effective athlete. being a more effective athlete doesnt magically make him flexible

 

[Sub-Zero]

I have monkey long arms and I can barely touch my lower back with my left hand and the back of my head with my right.

A lot of it is size as well as how beat up you are. Very common in strength athletes. Myself included...a lot of strength athletes have issues even shaving. I don't talk on the phone unless I use my blue tooth device or speaker phone...I can't hold the phone to my ear long, especially without pain.

Toilet, seat belt, shirts, shaving, putting on shoes, etc...is all part of living a BIG life.

I made my own "foam roller" from PVC pipe and I'm getting better, especially in my hips and upper back (which helps my shoulders amazingly). I spend 10 minutes on it every night in the floor with my son and my dog and again before I train and it helps.

Stretching, hurts or not...do what you feel you need to do to be warm and ready to train.

do you have any good links/resources for foam rolling you could link up? i am going to start learning how to now that i have more free time (summer)

 

[oso0960]

Dynamic stretches before, static after. Dynamic stretches can make you temporarily stronger and less prone to injury, and static stretches..Don't you just love how relaxed you feel after them?

 

[machine23]

Yea I've heard numerous times that it's bad to stretch before hand.

 

[stevesmi]

so yoga is no good?? im not gonna do anything that hurts my strength. my friend has the P90X tapes, i tried the yoga one with him, which i absolutely fucking hated lol but i was thinking of trying it once a week or so for my flexibility. i might give it a try but if it messes with my strength it will be the last time i do it

hot yoga will wipe you out. just imagine sitting in a hot sauna and doing yoga for an hour, most guys on here won't even survive the session. its tough and takes a lot of stamina if you actually do the poses and don't half ass it.

regular yoga is totally different, you can do it on an off day.

 

[b fold the truth]

damn dude you cant reach the back of your head?? i cant imagine getting that bad but then again i didnt think it would ever be hard to touch my thumb to my shoulder cold, without even a bicep pump going. i also noticed even holding the phone up to my head was getting pretty hard to do. and im not really that big.. i googled the foam roller, looks interesting may give that a try if the basic stuff doesnt help all that much

I can reach my neck/hair line if I tuck my chin to my chest as far down as I can. Thumb to shoulder I'm about 5 inches away...maybe more.

I'd foam/PVC roll no matter what.

 

[b fold the truth]

do you have any good links/resources for foam rolling you could link up? i am going to start learning how to now that i have more free time (summer)

Lay the foam or PVC pipe on the floor and roll around on it in every which way you can...spend extra time on any part that hurts. Hit every muscle group you can possible think of. Try to get every single muscle fiber in your body on that roller and roll around on it.

It takes a real man to hit his lats, IT Band (side quads), and hips on a PVC roller.

 

[J Nicholas]

Seems like the peeps here have you convinced to stretch. I just wanted to chime in and say that if ya let it go, the lack of movement in your shoulders WILL jack you the hell up. You don't need to stretch before you lift, but you do need to stretch. See if your gym has a group fitness stretch class. A once a week thing like that can go a long way.

 

[Sub-Zero]

Lay the foam or PVC pipe on the floor and roll around on it in every which way you can...spend extra time on any part that hurts. Hit every muscle group you can possible think of. Try to get every single muscle fiber in your body on that roller and roll around on it.

It takes a real man to hit his lats, IT Band (side quads), and hips on a PVC roller.

i am going to start with foam lol

 

[die faster]

Seems like the peeps here have you convinced to stretch. I just wanted to chime in and say that if ya let it go, the lack of movement in your shoulders WILL jack you the hell up. You don't need to stretch before you lift, but you do need to stretch. See if your gym has a group fitness stretch class. A once a week thing like that can go a long way.

thats a great point, i think they might actually have this class