*** The 2016 Gym Rats Thread ***

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Warbie said:
I stopped taking creatine and protein shakes about a month back and haven't noticed a decrease in performance, but have lost around 3kg in weight. It's got me a touch concerned as naturally i'm skinny as a twiglet and each kg is hard earned! Is this likely to be just water retention? Calories and protein wise I'm getting the same as before.
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What's your total BW?

That said, creatine does cause a fair bit of water retention.
 
Warbie said:
I stopped taking creatine and protein shakes about a month back and haven't noticed a decrease in performance, but have lost around 3kg in weight. It's got me a touch concerned as naturally i'm skinny as a twiglet and each kg is hard earned! Is this likely to be just water retention? Calories and protein wise I'm getting the same as before.
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Both times I've stopped taking creatine I lost 2kg in about a week, so probably just water I reckon.
 
Can anyone recommend me an Olympic bar? I have just bought a second squat/bench rack and need another bar. I don't want to spend a fortune, just want something a little better than the one that came with my bodymax power rack. At the moment I'm doing stronglifts 5x5, biggest lift is only 135kg so far.
Swaying towards this one https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/weights-bars/bars/olympic-bars/olympic-bar.html
Thanks
 
MartynB85 said:
Can anyone recommend me an Olympic bar? I have just bought a second squat/bench rack and need another bar. I don't want to spend a fortune, just want something a little better than the one that came with my bodymax power rack. At the moment I'm doing stronglifts 5x5, biggest lift is only 135kg so far.
Swaying towards this one https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/weights-bars/bars/olympic-bars/olympic-bar.html
Thanks
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What sort of lifting do you do?

If just powerlifting, get something cheap. Particularly as a second bar... If you can afford it, go nuts, but there is no need. :)
 
mrthingyx said:
What sort of lifting do you do?

If just powerlifting, get something cheap. Particularly as a second bar... If you can afford it, go nuts, but there is no need. :)
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I wouldn't really say powerlifting, I just lift heavy (well for me) with proper form. I don't do any of the olympic lifts, yet...

See the bar I have is a cheap one, I intended on getting something a little better.

Well it appears that strength shop don't have stock of that bar so i'm thinking of the ******* bar - *[/COLOR]******-bar-with-centre-knurling.html"]https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/weights-bars/bars/olympic-bars/strengthshop-*******-bar-with-centre-knurling.html

Or a simliar from another supplier - https://www.gymratz.co.uk/cross-fit-7ft-olympic-bar

Any input?
 
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Proud of today, normally sit at 100KG on the rear delt machine (one that you pull from arms outwards, to back behind you, straight) up to 150KG with 2 reps of that.

Had a bit of a pump so it was easy. 4 weights from the max of 200KG.. Well chuffed.

I'm 81KG but im skinny fat. Skinny all over arms etc, legs are big as I used to cycle every day and skinny arms. But dat belly.. its not huge but looks weird with being skinny. Sort of like a straightened 6 shape lol.

Also my current protein tub is nearly empty, I was looking at Grenade Hydra 6 as it looks good. Mutant Mass is preferred but it's far too expensive per serving.
 
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If you're skinny fat then I don't imagine you have any need for mass gainer shakes to be honest, which you are aware Mutant mass is? and is therefore a totally different product to Grenade Hydra 6 which is whey isolate.
 
I've been doing Stonglifts 5x5 since August last year. Can you experienced lifters give me some advice as to when to change to something different, and what should I change to. Thanks
 
MartynB85 said:
I've been doing Stonglifts 5x5 since August last year. Can you experienced lifters give me some advice as to when to change to something different, and what should I change to. Thanks
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Is your progress halting? Have you had to drop your weights and ramp back up?

If not, then keep going - it is quite possibly the best generic routine out there. :)

What weights are you shifting at the moment?
 
mrthingyx said:
Is your progress halting? Have you had to drop your weights and ramp back up?

If not, then keep going - it is quite possibly the best generic routine out there. :)

What weights are you shifting at the moment?
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It is beginning to, especially bench and overhead press. I have had to deload on my squats once or twice, but I think that was just because of working at a desk all day for the last 10 years and it took a while for my legs to adjust (I had quite bad adductor pain while squatting).

I spent the first few months cutting, and got down to around 10%. Been on a steady bulk since christmas, I'm currently 64kg. My current lifts are low bar squat 102.5kg, bench 72.5kg, ohp 56kg, row 80kg and deadlift 135kg. I do 3x5 squats because I find 5x5 3 times a week a little too much.

Do I soldier on until they halt?
 
If you are on 3*5 instead of the full whack (given you are squatting big weight for a manlet), then it is probably time to think about what you want out of lifting...

Swole?
Strength?
Athleticism?

Each will require a different focus in terms of your routine so it really is up to you. :)
 
I do quite a bit of walking unfortunately so I dropped down to 3x5 on my squats. I could probably go back to 5x5 but I see so many routines squat only once a week I thought I'd drop down to 3x5, bit less volume to allow to me do other things and be able to recover for my next session.

My priority is my strength, but I've never going to compete or anything. I don't want a pump that'll last a few days, I want to build the most muscle possible without juice. To be a strong and strong looking 'manlet'.
 
MartynB85 said:
I do quite a bit of walking unfortunately so I dropped down to 3x5 on my squats. I could probably go back to 5x5 but I see so many routines squat only once a week I thought I'd drop down to 3x5, bit less volume to allow to me do other things and be able to recover for my next session.

My priority is my strength, but I've never going to compete or anything. I don't want a pump that'll last a few days, I want to build the most muscle possible without juice. To be a strong and strong looking 'manlet'.
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Ah. Cardio. You might want to stop that. ;)

HYpertrophy Specific Training (HST, IIRC) is a good one; I know BennyC tried something that involved heavy stretching, too, but can't remember the name...
 
mrthingyx said:
Ah. Cardio. You might want to stop that. ;)

HYpertrophy Specific Training (HST, IIRC) is a good one; I know BennyC tried something that involved heavy stretching, too, but can't remember the name...
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It's not out of choice unfortunately, I have a dog that needs walking :(

I think I'll carry on with SL until I hit a plateu then have a look into HST. Cheers
 
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