*** The 2016 Gym Rats Thread ***

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In regards to transitioning back to bulking, far too much stupid science behind it for people are aren't anywhere near a professional level. Just add a meal or a meals worth of calories back in to your diet, it's really not that hard or complicated. And continue to measure weight. If weight doesn't increase in one or two weeks, add more food.
 
I got the selectabells when on offer a few months back from PF, think i managed to get them for about £270/280. Took the interest free option on pay monthly.

http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-selectabell-dumbbell-pair-5kg-32-5kg-11lb-71lb.php

They're good, do exactly what I need, I doubt i'm ever going to be in a position where i'm lifting more than 32.5kg on each arm. Any lifts where I am i'd most likely be using a barbell instead.

A very light rattle on reps, nothing major, can't fault them tbh. I would have bought powerblocks but a little out of my price range.
 
SixTwoSix said:
Was at a friends house on Saturday, there was a guy there who's the partner of his girlfriends sister. After a bit of chat, turned out he's a trainer who helped start off "boxercise".

Had quite a long chat about various bits and a few things stayed with me through the day yesterday. The more I think about them, the more they're annoying me. I'm no expert but some of it is really frustrating me.

Told him I was doing Greyskull, he said how long, I said about 5/6 months, told me it was too long then, shouldn't do any routine more than 6/8 weeks. I quizzed him on this as I am getting progressively stronger. His reply was that i'm just training my body to do those lifts, nothing else. Bit my tongue and didn't say much else about that.

Came around to a stronglifts 5x5 discussion later on, can imagine how that went.

Apparently he's friends with Hugh Jackmans trainer and Jackman is on the roids.

He favours a 6/1 routine where you do 6 reps, then 1 rep just below 1 rep max, then back to 6 reps and 1 and so on.

All popular German Volume training is wrong, it shouldn't be straight 10x10.

At the time, i'd had a few drinks, had my "polite" head on as had only known him a few hours. Just wish I had the knowledge to quiz him more on some of his thoughts.

While i've no doubt he's right about a lot of things, he was very dismissive about anything I had to ask and immediately shot down anything I thought was right.
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I could break most of those down point by point (apart from Jackman - all celebs get 'help' to get ripped for film roles) but it's easier just to say he's

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tom_e said:
Powerblock seem to be one of the more recommended makes, pretty sure that's the set Syla5 has just picked up for his home gym.
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SixTwoSix said:
I got the selectabells when on offer a few months back from PF, think i managed to get them for about £270/280. Took the interest free option on pay monthly.

http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-selectabell-dumbbell-pair-5kg-32-5kg-11lb-71lb.php

They're good, do exactly what I need, I doubt i'm ever going to be in a position where i'm lifting more than 32.5kg on each arm. Any lifts where I am i'd most likely be using a barbell instead.

A very light rattle on reps, nothing major, can't fault them tbh. I would have bought powerblocks but a little out of my price range.
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Thanks and the look great apart from the price :eek: Might start scouring eBay :D
 
Somnambulist said:
I could break most of those down point by point (apart from Jackman - all celebs get 'help' to get ripped for film roles) but it's easier just to say he's

giphy.gif
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I just wish someone had been there who had more knowledge, he seemed to get off on putting us down about anything we thought we knew or what we did as a routine.

I normally shrug this stuff off but it's playing on my mind, lol!
 
Continuing to bulk slowly to minimise fat gain until after Easter. Then I'll cut again for summer.

Currently i'm 5'10 weigh about 12st 3lbs and when I last got my bodyfat % checked on those electronic things in December it said I was 11.5%! I would like to be 12st 7lbs with sub 10% bodyfat but that will take a while I think!
 
SixTwoSix said:
I just wish someone had been there who had more knowledge, he seemed to get off on putting us down about anything we thought we knew or what we did as a routine.

I normally shrug this stuff off but it's playing on my mind, lol!
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The fitness world is full of idiots, people shilling useless/wrong products and information and people with massive egos.
 
Bit of a background..Got seriously ill back in 2009 and put on weight. Lost a little bit of weight, running a few times a week. Cutting out snacks, sugary drinks. That was 2014.
Cut to 2015, started to use My Fitness Pal was shocked at how bad my diet was. High Carbs, High Fat/Sugar, Low Protein. And I felt it was okay because my portions were so small..
Slowly cut for all of 2015 and started strength training Aug 2015. Now like a lot of newbies that haven't lifted I wished I'd started years ago (I'm 44 now) as its really enjoyable.
So started Weight 95kgs I'm now down to 78kgs I'm 5'10 13% body fat. End cut goal just for fun is 73kgs 10% body fat. Then will continue eating the similar food but MOAR of it. Cals currently are 1,800.

Lift Goals.. Current doing Fierce 5 on Bodybuilding.com
Squat 5 x 60 --> End 2016 goal 5 x 100
FSquat 5 x 50 --> End 2016 goal 5 x 80
Bench 5 x 50 --> End 2016 goal 5 x 80
DL 5 x 90 --> End 2016 goal 5 x 120
Row 8 x 40 --> End 2016 goal 8 x 60
OHP 5 x 30 --> End 2016 goal 5 x 50

Just joined a new gym were I can get in and do my training and out in my lunch hour - which is helping my work/gym/life balance much better. Also, strength seems much better mid day then late at night...

Will try and check in each month to update on progress..
 
maccapacca said:
Looking for those funky dumbbells one for all type. Any recommendations?
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tom_e said:
Powerblock seem to be one of the more recommended makes, pretty sure that's the set Syla5 has just picked up for his home gym.
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I just invested, I haven't really used them but I can already see the benefits of the investment.

The main issue is size of the dumbbells at all weights comparing loadable Olympic handles with the powerblocks. Secondary but almost as important was the ease of changing the weights over.

A comparison, for my fully loaded dumbbells at 41kg per DB the overall length when compared to my Olympic handle dumbbells they are 6" shorter. They also have a flat face meaning they are easier to rest on your leg for the transition in to different lifts.

They are so quick to change the weights on, I mean switching from 5kg to 41kg for 2 dumbbells takes 10seconds. Doing this on loadable handles takes a good minute at least.

The handles look weird but actually are no different to normal DB's. Unless you have super fat hands I cant see any issues here.

Comparing to other snazzy adjustable dumbbell sets they are the most compact at all sizes, and the to have the most robust locking system.

I went for just the metal powerblock 9.0, some people moan about the plates clanking together but honestly with music on you cant notice it, and there is hardly any rattle/clanking at all.

The only other adjustable set to consider is the Ironmasters. Pricewise they are almost as much if not the same as the powerblocks, They are marginally larger but like the powerblocks the less weight your using the shorter the length so they are better then other options. Unlike the powerblocks though the ironmasters suffer when it comes to changing the weights, so quick shifts to do dropsets etc is not really an option.

Finally on the cost. Yeap they are expensive, but when compared to the alternative of a full rack of dumbbells they are considerably cheaper.

I spent a few weeks looking around, reading reviews, scouring ebay, gumtree etc, in the end the cost saving of second hand was negligible, and the options for second hand were few and far between.

I picked mine up from fitness superstore:

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/powerblock-sport-9-0-set-pair-1-22-5kg.html

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk...t-pair-25-41kg.html?nosto=nosto-page-product2

With their current January sale (code is "New16") they come out at £430 including free postage for a pair of 41kg dumbbells. You wont buy another set of dumbbells again.
 
First day back training yesterday probably in about 7months.. i know.. bad right?


I'm currently lifting less than half as i previously was which is very demoralizing :(
Kept it short just easing myself back into it.

Flat dumbbell bench 3x[12/10/8]
Inclined dumbbel bench 3x[12/10/8]
Inclinced flys 3x[12/10/8]
Landmine pressed 3xfailure
seated incline press 3xfailure
tricep pull downs 3xfailure

As you can tell it was a chest and tris day although i didn't hit tris enough, i'll be chucking in dips and probably seated weighted tips also.

I'll probably be doing the below to ease in until i'm back to how i was previously.

monday: chest tris
tuesday: cardio
wednesday: back bis
thursday: cardio
friday: legs shoulders
weekend: rest

Although i might switch it up, go back to 5x5 on mon,wed,fri aiming for power again sticking focusing on compound lifts.. we'll see
 
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Hey fellas, wonder if I can pick your brains.

I know Stronglifts is the recommended beginner program of choice here, and I have read up on it quite extensively. I was wondering what you guys think of DUP as an alternative? Deadlifting, Benching and Squating at various weights reps 3 times a week with an accessory day thrown in.

Secondly - footwear. I'm getting to the point that my trainers are about to fall apart on me, I'm thinking that now might be the time to invest in some specific footwear. I was looking at the Crossfit Nanos but thats only because somebody once recommended them to me, and I haven't really got a clue what I'm buying. Are they worth the money at this point or would I be better served with a pair of Converse?

Any input appreciated.
 
No idea what DUP is, but I wonder what makes you question doing Stronglifts anyway? For me, it's THE beginners routine.

As for shoes, beginner? Get some converse.
 
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