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Stu's Struggle
- Thread starter here2help
- Start date
Well, as a semi newb lifter I'm really up for trying anything. Before when I used to lift I just kinda split my body up into halfs and switch between 2 different workouts. I'm ready to try something new and I think the more structure I have the easier it will be for me to stick with it.
Another question.....on the deadlift, should I start with the weight on the floor and set it down each rep or just go to the middle of the shin area?
Another question.....on the deadlift, should I start with the weight on the floor and set it down each rep or just go to the middle of the shin area?
SgtSlaughter
New member
It should be great new stimulus for your body and mind. Some benefits are: you'll get stronger... leaner, and better at the main lifts.here2help said:
I didn't truely understand the principals behind the 5x5 until I was about 1/2 way through it, lol... great people on here helped me tweak it along the way when I encountered questions and problems.
I couldn't emphasize this enough. I've had shoulder problems for years due to bad form, which the gents on here corrected for me.sgtslaughter said:that soreness doesn't = great for you
although, alot of people welcome that feeling of "I was worked real good" . It just means your legs aren't conditioned to handle a lot of work yet
Morning cardio would have been a great idea to speed up the recovery of your legs... LIGHT cardio, i mean a SLOW walk for 20 or 30 minutes.... get the blood moving and lactic acid out.
keep using the towel until you build up some trapezious meat (the diamond shaped muscle that is most of your visible your upper back).
bench, yeah definetly get back in there to use a regular bench. And keep your elbows in (your elbows will rub into your body/lats on the way down)... if you start benching like that it'll save your shoulders from alot of pain and possibly injury later on.
Row sounds good... that's a good and hefty rowI sense alot of pulling potential!
i'll find you links to proper form vids so you can review them... form = utmost importance
P.S. Great job getting in the Gym!!! That's a huge step!
Well, I'm not going to be able to do squats today. I can still barely walk and can't even perform a bodyweight squat. I definately went too hard on Monday. I almost fell twice while walking for 30mins on the treadmill this morning but was able to save myself with the hand rails.
Anyone have suggestions on how to speed up recovery? What lifts do you guys think I should do tonight? Incline/military and deadlift and something else that doesn't involve legs?
Anyone have suggestions on how to speed up recovery? What lifts do you guys think I should do tonight? Incline/military and deadlift and something else that doesn't involve legs?
Active recovery (light cardio)here2help said:
Stretching
Glutamine
Hot tub / Sauna (but those may increase soreness/inflamation, when 'cold' comes in)
Hot/Cold therapies worked too.. usually in shower where you can change from hot to cold for like 10 minutes ever 30 seconds (or whatever your choice it) on 'sore' part... some cant handle it
those did me good when I started. After my 1st leg day I had to use the Handi Rail in the bathroom b/c it hurt to sit lol... I looked hilarious but after 2-3 weeks things loosened up (from ALL 'sore' parts... )
Now, I rarely get sore, and when I do, I like it lol
SgtSlaughter
New member
morning noon and night no matter what... and during workouts. Deep tissue massages... are miracleshere2help said:
Sounds like you deff. over reached a bit... go easy for a couple weeks getting good at the form is number 1 adding weight comes later.
SgtSlaughter
New member
yeah man, take it easy then... once you get the feeling back in them try it again... end your squat work with -50% of what you did last time and build up from there so it doesn't happen againhere2help said:
If i remember you topped out at 200lbs... not sure how many reps.
example for next workout
bar (45lbs) for 8 reps
55 x 8
75 x 8
95 x 8
105 x 8
and see how you feel.
SgtSlaughter
New member
Push and Pullhere2help said:
Rows...
Bent over 90* Barbell Row
Start with the bar
and 5lbs at a time and see how it works out. But remember you want to be doing it again soon, so don't kill yourself, lol
throw in some bi and tri stuff at the end sure... I wont' reccomend you bench and shoulder (over head press {OHP}) in the same day yet.
Legs felt good enough this morning to use the eliptical although they're still sore enough that I'm not going to lift legs again tonight.
I've been a little dissapointed with my weightloss this week. I actually GAINED a pound. Granted, my scale's BF% has stayed the same, I was hoping for better results. Hopefully I'll start seeing some after next week.
I've been a little dissapointed with my weightloss this week. I actually GAINED a pound. Granted, my scale's BF% has stayed the same, I was hoping for better results. Hopefully I'll start seeing some after next week.
SgtSlaughter
New member
no.here2help said:
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvWeC2dXRsA&NR
I wouldn't use the "pop" just starting out yet...stay tight throughout the lift.
Screw the scale and the "BF%" ... scale can not be accurate. You may gain muscle and muscle weighs more than fat... don't worry about that unless you've been gorgeing yourself with candy
How do you feel? Does the mirror say you look better? How do clothes fit (muy importante and a great one to gauge progress)?
Maffiosa
New member
Dont get discouraged bro, trust me i know how you feel. Keep up the hard work, it will pay off. Scale is a total mind phuck, try and limit yerself to once a week on the same day at the same time. Stick with it, like sarge says muscle weights more than fat! I felt the same way, in the past my body would dump the weight then build the mass. But this time around its doing both at the same time! I can see myself getting bigger and feel myself getting stronger in my lifts. Find some postives and focus on those, the negitive will only defeat you and get you down! Gotta crawl b4 you walk bro, but in the end the payoff is great and wortht the wait!!! 
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I'm feeling good so far this week. I did 30mins cardio yesterday morning and lifted for 40 mins (squat, flat bench, barbell row) last night. I didn't overdo my legs this time. While they do have some soreness, I was able to do my normal 30mins/350cal on the eliptical this morning before work. I definately think I'll see some results from this week.
My diet has still be good except I had a cheat day on Sunday.
My diet has still be good except I had a cheat day on Sunday.
^^^^^sgtslaughter said:no.
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvWeC2dXRsA&NR
I wouldn't use the "pop" just starting out yet...stay tight throughout the lift.
Screw the scale and the "BF%" ... scale can not be accurate. You may gain muscle and muscle weighs more than fat... don't worry about that unless you've been gorgeing yourself with candy
How do you feel? Does the mirror say you look better? How do clothes fit (muy importante and a great one to gauge progress)?
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
SgtSlaughter
New member
??here2help said:
a whole day? Careful... but if it helps you keep your diet 100% clean and tight for the week until you get used to it, I'm sure it's better than nothing
But if you can, stick to a cheat meal... like a whole pizza and some beer, whatever you've been craving all week.
*Bunny* said:^^^^^
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
hey hey, you know what those whips do to me!!
Feeling great today! The Evil Scale of Death says I've lost 2lbs since last Friday, which I'm happy about. Total for 3 weeks of diet is -6lbs and +motivation and mental health. I noticed a difference in the mirror this morning and today was the first day that my co-workers said something about my looks. I had about 4 people come up to me and ask what I was doing and for advice for themselves. I can do this!!!
SgtSlaughter
New member
That's awesome man! Really goes to show you ARE making great progress... I've found when other people notice progress... it's usual much "larger" progress than you think because we miss the small things... when it adds up... people go "whoa!"
Congratz
however I noticed more difference in the mirror and my shorts are feeling a LOT looser. My scale says I lost 1% BF this week though.Nah, I actually never threw out my old clothes because I've been trying to lose weight for 6 years....but mostly it's because I'm a tightwad, lol.
Training is going well. I've been sticking with my morning cardio and feel great after doing it. I've only been making it to the gym to lift weights twice a week, so I think I'm going to go back to my 1/2 body split that I used to do. I haven't done anything to cause me to be extremely sore like the first week, but each day after lifting the muscles I worked are a little sore when stretching.
Training is going well. I've been sticking with my morning cardio and feel great after doing it. I've only been making it to the gym to lift weights twice a week, so I think I'm going to go back to my 1/2 body split that I used to do. I haven't done anything to cause me to be extremely sore like the first week, but each day after lifting the muscles I worked are a little sore when stretching.
I said nothing about tossing clothes! Just getting some new ones & storing those away for a future bulker.here2help said:
I was going to edit my post & say 'dont throw them away though you'll need em down the road'. BEEN THEREYou WILL be sore the first few weeks. Your body needs to adjust to the training it's not use to. It will pass after while. Just take it slow but don't be afraid of being sore.. pain is a different story.
Just a little update...I have lost another 2.5lbs, but I have slipped up a little lately on my diet and exercise due to a recent medical issue. I went to my doctor yesterday and he believes that I'm having seizures as well as something called "steal syndrom" during the seizure. We don't know the cause yet, but he sent my blood off to the lab to see if it shows anything. If it doesn't, then we'll probably get some head xrays or a CT scan.
Sorry I haven't updated in a while...haven't had much progress. I have only managed to lose 1lb since I stopped exercising. I believe that exercising made the condition worse. The blood test checked out normal, I'm 100% healthy as far as it is concerned, however I'm still having seizures every 10 days or so. I have an appointment on Monday with a Neurologist. Hopefully he will be able to find a cause and clear me to start exercising again.
