*** The 2013 Gym Rats Thread ***

LiE said:
Most brahs use them for 2 reasons.
1. They think they can instantly lift more.
2. They think it will prevent lower back injury.
3. They think everyone else will think they're a massive bro who can lift Massif
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Fixed for you :)

As a side point, anyone have some advice on improving grip strength? There's no way I'm getting straps at the weight I'm at.

Was thinking:
Get heavy bar, load up heavy bar, one deadlift, and hold until grip fails?

kd
 
wozza2k said:
So I am thinking of starting on the protein shakes as part of breakfast. So instead of milk with my cereal I'll be using a protein shake, anyone ever done this and can advise?
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Is it to save money or owing to lack of time? If so no worries, though I'd add oats too, if it's just because you think it'll be better than a proper brekkie than you're right in so far as cereals are rubbish - however I'd rather throw in some eggs, porridge / other sources of protein and/or nutritional profile.
 
wozza2k said:
So I am thinking of starting on the protein shakes as part of breakfast. So instead of milk with my cereal I'll be using a protein shake, anyone ever done this and can advise?
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As LiE has posted, I just have oats with some whey and water, then throw some extras in (blue berries, strawberries, banana or whatever)
 
King Damager said:
There's no way I'm getting straps at the weight I'm at.
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Personally I've never understood the the point in not using straps if its your grip/forearms that's causing you to fail.

I didn't use straps for well over a year when i started lifting, just chalk, and it was always my grip that would fail and not my strength or form.

On the advice of a friend, who saw my hands bleeding with just chalk whilst doing deads, i got straps. My back development and lift progression jumped due to my back being the fail point and not my forearms or finger strength.

By all means improve your grip strength but not at the expense of the muscle group your meant to be working on the exercise.

One option may be use chalk until your grip gives out then strap up for the remaining sets? That way your still improving your grip and working out the muscle group to fail...
 
I don't see the hate in straps either. I've ditched them for deads as its the one exercise I use for my grip strength, but everything else straps are used when I want.

Bent over rows are a prime example where they come into their own, the back activation you can get at higher weights when you're not having to think about your grip is so much better
 
This whole month is going to be a write-off for me, I've got exams until the 24th so no gym time (only been once this year). I can feel my muscles breaking down already :(
 
Steedie said:
I don't see the hate in straps either. I've ditched them for deads as its the one exercise I use for my grip strength, but everything else straps are used when I want.

Bent over rows are a prime example where they come into their own, the back activation you can get at higher weights when you're not having to think about your grip is so much better
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I don't hate straps, but have no need for them as my grip > strength - however, it also depends on what you're after. Someone like you who is after size, and getting those high weight reps in is more important than the functional development of grip you get through not using them.

Personally for me, I don't like there being a limiting factor in the weights I shift, and fortunately for me, grip isn't one of them. However, if/when I get to a stage where it is, I wouldn't hesitate to use them once my grip starts to fail. :)
 
FormNazi said:
Personally I've never understood the the point in not using straps if its your grip/forearms that's causing you to fail.

I didn't use straps for well over a year when i started lifting, just chalk, and it was always my grip that would fail and not my strength or form.

On the advice of a friend, who saw my hands bleeding with just chalk whilst doing deads, i got straps. My back development and lift progression jumped due to my back being the fail point and not my forearms or finger strength.

By all means improve your grip strength but not at the expense of the muscle group your meant to be working on the exercise.

One option may be use chalk until your grip gives out then strap up for the remaining sets? That way your still improving your grip and working out the muscle group to fail...
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You are not the form nazi I'd hoped you'd be ;)

I don't know how you can tear the skin on your hands deadlifting, unless you're moving crazy loads.

Have you ever tried to increase your grip strength?

I think it's a good idea to strap up for accessory pulling movements (BORs, Kroc rows...), but there is just no need for deadlifts. It shouldn't take long for a guy to work up to being able to hold 200+kg for sufficient time.



KD, 1 deadlift and then a hold for time is good, as is loading up more than you can deadlift and holding it after pulling from a rack/pins. You don't need many sets.
 
Looks like me and LiE are switching gyms, deadlifting with round plates, and some occasional support for delvis, OMG the gains are going to be massive.

Question: what is the powerlifting standard for plate diameter, and floor to centre of bar height for deadlifts.
The 25kg plates at pure gym at 17" across so 8.5" to centre, and the 20's are 16"/8" to centre. Just wondering if it will be ok to use the 25's on my first Deadlift session on friday :)
 
am i right or wrong here... my mate and my brother(we go to gym together to keep it fun) go 6/7 days a week and train the same muscle groups.. am i right in saying they will injure their muscles sooner or later and that rest is just as important? k i know i've been reading a lot - i like knowing whats what before i commit to something..

but their argument is that "everyone is different" - i really don't care what they do but its just a general question really.. which i know the answer too but i just want to get some confirmation lol.
 
grudas said:
am i right or wrong here... my mate and my brother(we go to gym together to keep it fun) go 6/7 days a week and train the same muscle groups.. am i right in saying they will injure their muscles sooner or later and that rest is just as important? k i know i've been reading a lot - i like knowing whats what before i commit to something..

but their argument is that "everyone is different" - i really don't care what they do but its just a general question really.. which i know the answer too but i just want to get some confirmation lol.
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They're right that everyone is different but as I understand it your body grows while resting i.e. you create the micro-tears and then by leaving it alone for a period you allow it to grow. They might or might not hurt themselves but if they never allow for a rest period (even if it's just switching to working different muscle groups) then they're highly unlikely to be making the optimal gains that they could.
 
grudas said:
am i right or wrong here... my mate and my brother(we go to gym together to keep it fun) go 6/7 days a week and train the same muscle groups.. am i right in saying they will injure their muscles sooner or later and that rest is just as important? k i know i've been reading a lot - i like knowing whats what before i commit to something..

but their argument is that "everyone is different" - i really don't care what they do but its just a general question really.. which i know the answer too but i just want to get some confirmation lol.
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And they train arms and chest as their 'same' muscle groups? xD

Edit: Scrap that, Biceps and chest?

kd
 
yup! biceps chest and back.. everyday same exercise over and over again - both pretty much spend all the time on machines :/ :) its their choice so we'll see what happens after a few months! :)
 
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