*** The 2016 Gym Rats Thread ***

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It's ok he's getting his bench in so at least when people ask "How much do you bench bro!?" he can give them an answer never mind how pathetic it is after poncing around on machines for 2 years.

No normal person will ever ask so how much do you squat/dead? Because we all know squats ruin knees, deads kill backs but bench which is actually probably the easiest one to do badly and mess up your shoulders is fine and a perfect benchmark to measure.
 
Ok thanks guys, I may have a week or so just on the machines to get into things and maybe watch a few people on what they do.

I guess I could be watching YouTube also.

For a beginner I guess by googling 5x5 I will get some good workout ideas?
 
Ayahuasca said:
Had a friend who's been going to the gym for 2 years now consistently and does the majority of his exercises on machines, only compound he does properly is bench and he has barely grown.

Another who started 5x5 and was stronger than him within a few months whilst starting off smaller.

First guy won't do squats or deads because it hurts his back, no matter how many times I've told him it's probably his form and guided him towards the right way to do it he just tells me he doesn't need those exercises to grow. Granted he might have a genuine issue with his back but I just think it's more likely form and weak/underdeveloped muscles due to primarily machine usage.
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Doing squats and deadlifts has fixed my back! :D

Getting older (35) meant that even though I'd slept the same way for the last 30 odd years, I had been waking up with back pain for a few months - I narrowed it down to sleeping on my front - sleeping on my side would mean I had no/little back pain the next day. Been doing 5x5 SL since February and I can now sleep in any position and have zero back pain the next day. Stronger core/back would be the reason for this!

The only issue is my legs are constantly aching due to squatting 3x a week :p :D
 
TallPaul_S said:
Doing squats and deadlifts has fixed my back! :D

Getting older (35) meant that even though I'd slept the same way for the last 30 odd years, I had been waking up with back pain for a few months - I narrowed it down to sleeping on my front - sleeping on my side would mean I had no/little back pain the next day. Been doing 5x5 SL since February and I can now sleep in any position and have zero back pain the next day. Stronger core/back would be the reason for this!

The only issue is my legs are constantly aching due to squatting 3x a week :p :D
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Same here, but my back was just weak and grinding my vertebra to dust... Squatting, deadlifting and power cleans fixed it. :cool:
 
I had been away for 10 days so hadn't been to the gym in that time and the stronglifts app had me de-load on Monday because of it. Came away from that session thinking it was pointless as it was too light and easy but just finished today's session and by god that was hard. I hadn't even recovered from Monday's easy session and still doing lower weights than i was before i was away. I dread to think how i'd feel now if i'd ignored the app's suggestion and just carried on where i'd left off :eek:
 
Just had my first back injury on Monday :(

My own fault, I got sloppy doing Pendlay rows, and after the 2nd set when I went to put down my water bottle I suddenly felt a twinge in my lower back and from then on it's been stiff and painful. Should have stopped Pendlay rows ages ago, it's difficult to know when to stop and prevent back rounding since you can't see yourself and it's an explosive movement.

Been doing some hamstring stretches after watching some Kelly Starrett videos. Hopefully it will heal fully by itself. Going to go back to gym tomorrow and do some high rep bar-only squats to see if that helps.

Feel like an idiot since I watch so many videos on correct form and now I've gone and hurt my back!
 
tom_nieto said:
Week 2 of reiyushin's DL programme. Took me a hell of a lot longer than the first week, but luckily had a bit of extra time before work to fit it in. I'm enjoying the structured nature of it. I honestly think my current PB is a mental issue as as much as anything else. It was a hard morning's work, but I did manage it OK... although my hands have a few more blisters than usual after back/DL day.
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Keep it up :D
 
Hi guys, new to this thread and indeed this lifting world.

I'm currently a member of a local gym/leisure pool. Now this gym has a maximum dumbell weight of 30kg, 3 benches which are always full of 16 year olds doing precisely nothing, and no squat rack, or even deadlifts. It's basically a cardio/fitness gym.

Now I've just done a quick google and I have found this where I live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nypETh6xvxw

It's ran buy a guy called Lindsay Bruce. From his pictures he certainly looks like he knows what he's doing, and the gym has every bit of equipment you can possibly imagine. Now What I'm here to ask is, I'm definitely becoming a member there, but he offers some PT which I think I need (as I have never squatted, deadlifted etc....) He charges £260 for 4 hour long sessions in a week. And if you want to continue with him, it's £250 a month for a further 3 months and he gives you diet and working out plans.

Is it worth it to get the right form and the right routine? Seems stupidly expensive to me. Would it be worth me just walking up to the squat rack and asking someone about form instead of having PT sessions?

It's the routine I'm interested in, and he would taylor it to my specific goals.

Thanks guys.
 
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Is that £250 a month for 4 sessions a week? I can't comment on his abilities as a PT, but that is a damn good rate.

I paid £40 an hour.

There is a great thread here to help you with form, I'd give those videos a good watch, and then I'd watch them again. For me I decided to go with a PT to help with my lifts as I had a great deal of mobility issues and didn't know where to begin. Take an honest stock of your fitness situation, see if you feel that you can cope on your own / with a bit of help in the gym, or if you think you need 1 on 1 support to get you started. You can always post videos here of your form and the more knowledgeable guys here will always help.

Routines at this early stage don't matter a great deal, if you can get your form sorted then Stronglifts with some accessory work is probably the best place to start.
 
Rids said:
Is that £250 a month for 4 sessions a week? I can't comment on his abilities as a PT, but that is a damn good rate.

I paid £40 an hour.

There is a great thread here to help you with form, I'd give those videos a good watch, and then I'd watch them again. For me I decided to go with a PT to help with my lifts as I had a great deal of mobility issues and didn't know where to begin. Take an honest stock of your fitness situation, see if you feel that you can cope on your own / with a bit of help in the gym, or if you think you need 1 on 1 support to get you started. You can always post videos here of your form and the more knowledgeable guys here will always help.

Routines at this early stage don't matter a great deal, if you can get your form sorted then Stronglifts with some accessory work is probably the best place to start.
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No. The first £260 is 4 sessions in a week to get me started, then it's £250 a month for 1 session a week. So £65 an hour. He has other trainers there for £ 40 an hour though.

I guess I'm just nervous in going to a 'proper' gym with not really knowing how to use the equipment properly when all I've had to use is a bench and some dumbells. I suffer with anxiety also so I'm actually crapping myself.
 
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[TW]Sponge;29667329 said:
No. The first £260 is 4 sessions in a week to get me started, then it's £250 a month for 1 session a week. So £65 an hour. He has other trainers there for £ 40 an hour though.

I guess I'm just nervous in going to a 'proper' gym with not really knowing how to use the equipment properly when all I've had to use is a bench and some dumbells.
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£65 an hour is brutal. I don't know your financial situation but thats probably more than I personally would be willing to pay.

I completely feel you, that first time stepping into the big boy section of the gym, even after several weeks coaching, was a big step for me.

I'd give the form videos a good watch, a lot of it may be gibberish to you at the moment, hell a great deal of it is still way above my head, its an endless learning experience. See how you feel after watching that - if you still think you need some PT to get you started then in my opinion go for it - but see if its something you think you can manage on your own first, as you might be coughing up £250 for no reason.

Edit: Its worth noting £250 isn't the only option, many PT's have their own facility and will probably be cheaper, don't be shy to shop around (even if you sign up for that gym)
 
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Rids said:
£65 an hour is brutal. I don't know your financial situation but thats probably more than I personally would be willing to pay.

I completely feel you, that first time stepping into the big boy section of the gym, even after several weeks coaching, was a big step for me.

I'd give the form videos a good watch, a lot of it may be gibberish to you at the moment, hell a great deal of it is still way above my head, its an endless learning experience. See how you feel after watching that - if you still think you need some PT to get you started then in my opinion go for it - but see if its something you think you can manage on your own first, as you might be coughing up £250 for no reason.
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My financial situation is not great to be honest. I'm going tomorrow anyway for a free session before I sign up so I'll watch those videos and give them a try.
 
[TW]Sponge;29667407 said:
My financial situation is not great to be honest. I'm going tomorrow anyway for a free session before I sign up so I'll watch those videos and give them a try.
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Bro doing upright rows... Some letch helping a chick do chin-ups... And for £260? No. Way.

Ask nicely and one of us will do you a program for free. Diet is entirely subjective, however, but I am sure we can also help with that. ;)

Or just so Stronglifts, which is 98% of everything you will ever need.
 
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