* The 2018 Gym Rats Thread *

MikeTheNative · 9 Jul 2018 at 14:49

Starting Strength is only a two day split. So if you go 4 times a week, you can do 2 days of weights and 2 for cardio.

https://startingstrength.com/get-started/programs

DrToffnar · 9 Jul 2018 at 15:07

MikeTheNative said:
Starting Strength is only a two day split. So if you go 4 times a week, you can do 2 days of weights and 2 for cardio.

https://startingstrength.com/get-started/programs

Excellent, just bookmarked it

I take it I'll not need to increase my Protein intake for this sort of routine?

spluff · 9 Jul 2018 at 15:46

Thinking of getting some resistance bands to do straight arm shoulder scapular work (my shoulders are starting to ache again from bench) (hook them around my power cage?)

Anyone recommend where to get them from?

thanks

BRIGGBOY81 · 9 Jul 2018 at 20:21

nicktay2605 said:
I don't know how people can do weights and cardio in one session. I'm not knocking you, I'm impressed you can manage both (though I hope you did the cardio post-weights). I'm still knackered from legs days after doing my workout and getting in that HIIT session is sometimes a real pain, there's no way I could do it in the same workout.

yeah i lift first then do cardio

BRIGGBOY81 · 9 Jul 2018 at 20:25

CaptainRAVE said:
It’s quite counterproductive to do so too. Depends what your goals are, but the two should be split in almost every case.

so should i do weights one day then cardio the next and alternate like that

GiraffePencils · 10 Jul 2018 at 13:34

Anyone got suggestions for a first weight belt?
online suggestions seem 10cm all the way round, 10mm, single prong, leather.
I doubt I'll have the opportunity to try before I buy, so it'll have to be from online

Somnambulist · 10 Jul 2018 at 14:10

GiraffePencils said:
Anyone got suggestions for a first weight belt?
online suggestions seem 10cm all the way round, 10mm, single prong, leather.
I doubt I'll have the opportunity to try before I buy, so it'll have to be from online

Strength Shop ones are fine. I have a lever belt which is nice as it's quick to get on and off, but you can't adjust the tightness on the fly which isn't so good if your waistline fluctuates a lot.

MikeTheNative · 11 Jul 2018 at 14:56

This is the one I have, had it for a few years, regular use and still good.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/RDX-Lifting-Leather-Training-Bodybuilding/dp/B006LZNXZM/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1531317201&sr=8-7&keywords=rdx+weight+lifting+belt&th=1&psc=1

nicktay2605 · 11 Jul 2018 at 17:29

Yeah I've got an RDX belt too, but with a lever buckle. It's good, nice solid belt.

iamtheoneneo · 13 Jul 2018 at 10:25

spluff said:
Thinking of getting some resistance bands to do straight arm shoulder scapular work (my shoulders are starting to ache again from bench) (hook them around my power cage?)

Anyone recommend where to get them from?

thanks

I use these, https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00URGQGBE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and i abuse the heck out of them, never had any breaks.

kaptainmarc · 13 Jul 2018 at 11:58

I've had two RDX belts now, first one double prong belt was great but I would go single prong

now have the lever belt, great for speed/ease getting in and out, I have lost weight since I bought it and had to adjust which isn't a problem however its the excess material that is the problem as it goes on the inside rather than the outside like a normal prong belt, which pinches a lot and can make it a bit on comfortable in places.

but the belts on the whole have been great quality and would recommend.

GiraffePencils · 15 Jul 2018 at 11:42

So, when people are on holiday and can't access a gym, do you do a bodyweight routine? Just take a holiday?

CaptainRAVE · 15 Jul 2018 at 11:48

GiraffePencils said:
So, when people are on holiday and can't access a gym, do you do a bodyweight routine? Just take a holiday?

Just take a holiday since I can’t eat well enough and usually lack most of the required equipment.

Was just about to post on this! It is killing me at the moment. Away this week, then a mini break in a week and then off abroad for a week again. August is free, but I hate this disruption. It really disrupts my squat and deadlift progression and it is always tough getting back into a gym/eating routine. It basically makes me grumpy on holiday and the wife is obsessed with them.

kaptainmarc said:
I've had two RDX belts now, first one double prong belt was great but I would go single prong

now have the lever belt, great for speed/ease getting in and out, I have lost weight since I bought it and had to adjust which isn't a problem however its the excess material that is the problem as it goes on the inside rather than the outside like a normal prong belt, which pinches a lot and can make it a bit on comfortable in places.

but the belts on the whole have been great quality and would recommend.

I love my lever belt. It can occasionally pinch, only for deadlifts I find. Also a pain to adjust, but super easy to use in the gym.

BRIGGBOY81 said:
so should i do weights one day then cardio the next and alternate like that

Same day is fine, just not in the same session (do an am and pm session). I wouldnt do cardio on the same day as leg day though if it is a leg based cardio session. If you can do both in one session the you aren’t fully committing to either in the session. The most successful in my gym in terms of their goals split their sessions. I can’t comment much though, I don’t do cardio. Squats and deadlifts raise my heart rate plenty.

Somnambulist said:
Strength Shop ones are fine. I have a lever belt which is nice as it's quick to get on and off, but you can't adjust the tightness on the fly which isn't so good if your waistline fluctuates a lot.

Based on advice here I bought up a 10mm strengthshop prong belt. Have had to adjust it down a notch once and it takes a long time to get used to, but my back feels better for it on big lifts (percentage terms, 80% plus of 1 rep max).

nicktay2605 · 15 Jul 2018 at 20:56

Apologies if this has been asked before, do you guys have any tips for breaking through plateaus? I've hit a bit of a road block with my squats where I'm finding the current weight too easy but as soon as I add 10kg I struggle to get more than about one or two reps in. Maybe I'm just trying to add too much weight and should try adding 5kg instead, but eventually I want to push further and continue to add more weight.

GiraffePencils · 15 Jul 2018 at 21:12

nicktay2605 said:
Apologies if this has been asked before, do you guys have any tips for breaking through plateaus? I've hit a bit of a road block with my squats where I'm finding the current weight too easy but as soon as I add 10kg I struggle to get more than about one or two reps in. Maybe I'm just trying to add too much weight and should try adding 5kg instead, but eventually I want to push further and continue to add more weight.

I usually add 2.5kg increments, following the stronglifts plan

CaptainRAVE · 15 Jul 2018 at 22:20

nicktay2605 said:
Apologies if this has been asked before, do you guys have any tips for breaking through plateaus? I've hit a bit of a road block with my squats where I'm finding the current weight too easy but as soon as I add 10kg I struggle to get more than about one or two reps in. Maybe I'm just trying to add too much weight and should try adding 5kg instead, but eventually I want to push further and continue to add more weight.

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/the-2016-gym-rats-thread.18710906/page-58#post-29878006

This works for me. Or I shift to 531, 5x5 or usually 8x3 and gradually build up working well below my max lifts.

You also need to eat more.

MikeTheNative · 16 Jul 2018 at 08:00

10KG is quite big of a jump. Does your gym not have 2.5KG plates? My gym has 1.25 which come in handy but look ridiculous.

nicktay2605 · 16 Jul 2018 at 09:26

Yeah they've got 2.5kg plates and I believe they might have 1.25kg plates as well, I was probably being ambitious trying to chuck another 10kg on. Thanks for the tips and assistance guys.

CaptainRAVE · 16 Jul 2018 at 12:46

MikeTheNative said:
10KG is quite big of a jump. Does your gym not have 2.5KG plates? My gym has 1.25 which come in handy but look ridiculous.

1.25 are essential, even if they do look a bit silly sometimes.

CaptainRAVE · 16 Jul 2018 at 15:53

Well, 2 hours off the flight and back in the gym. For once haven’t lost squat strength. Muscle pain though having not squatted for 2 weeks. Going to ache tomorrow. Feels good though, glad I went back a few months in my program.

*** The 2018 Gym Rats Thread ***

* The 2018 Gym Rats Thread *