***The 2020 Gym Rats Thread*** ᕦ( ͠°◞ °)ᕥ

[LiE]

Yesterday I did 200kg for 3 which even at my "peak" 5+ years ago I wouldn't have been able to do.

Just means 5 years ago you were being a pussy with your lifting

You said it, not me

other than the fact I've been working harder in the gym than before

You could slow down your peak by going on TRT if you qualify for it

It's easy to get TRT tbh, there is an entire part of TRT that is "optimisation" instead of therapeutic treatment of very low T levels. The issue I have is that it's a) never going to be as healthy as being natty (unless your T levels are RIP) and b) it's a life long commitment. I may revisit it in another 5 years when I turn 40.

 

[Freefaller]

I think I was also spent less time learning technique, and I spent the last 5 years resetting back to 0 and really forcing myself to learn and lift by technique, which took a lot of an ego hit starting from scratch. Also doing a lot more soft tissue work and stretching etc... has really helped. As well as changing programmes to sort of 'shock' the system.

But yes I was a pussy , but also just didn't enjoy squats, and seem to have just 'clicked' with them recently!

Yeah I'm also not a fan of needles, despite giving blood regularly I cannot stand them, and as you say, it's a lifelong commitment which I'm not ready to do yet - my T levels seems stable, and for me that's good enough!

 

[Somnambulist]

What are people's thoughts on reaching your genetic limit? Lets say you've peaked, you cannot really gain anymore size or strength due to your age/limits of your hormones. In fact, you know you've reached your peak and it's a gradual decline over the next few decades. Does it affect your mind set when it comes to training? For example, if you knew that hitting the gym hard each session wouldn't result in any growth or strength size.

I think it's unlikely most will ever reach their limit: that requires getting close to both optimising the variables and also training like an animal for years. With the exception of Tom Martin, I can't think of many people who squeezed pretty much everything out of their natural abilities before trading in their natty card (and even in his case that was only the pursuit of SBD 1RM strength and not hypertrophy). That said, it's inevitable that size and strength gains slow down the more advanced you get, and you end up trying to squeeze out little improvements here and there via things like specialisation cycles or just chipping away Jeff Alberts style over decades.

This is where a lot of people get fed up because their sole enjoyment from training comes from making progress. I know quite a few people who got fairly advanced and now simply do the minimum in the gym to keep their physique where it's at, and then use that extra free time for things like family, other hobbies etc. They still enjoy the feeling of training it's just less of a focus. Some try out other forms of resistance training for variety because the need that stimulation, some are toying with the idea of drugs because even if they don't compete, they're obsessed with getting bigger/stronger.

It doesn't seem like ageing is a big deal until you get into your 50's so plenty of time for progress for all of us here.

 

[Somnambulist]

Btw if anyone is interested in the physiological effects of exogenous test and it's derivatives, even if you never plan on trading in the natty card, my internet friend Peter Bond wrote an amazing book on it (fairly readable, LOTS of citations, because science).

 

[Freefaller]

Is Tom natty?

Agree though we can all continue to make progress. I'm seeing the fruits of my labour now - and really enjoy seeing the change.

I'm never going to be bodybuilding lean, and never will I be a competitive PL person, but I'm just enjoying getting strong for me.

 

[Somnambulist]

Is Tom natty?

Agree though we can all continue to make progress. I'm seeing the fruits of my labour now - and really enjoy seeing the change.

I'm never going to be bodybuilding lean, and never will I be a competitive PL person, but I'm just enjoying getting strong for me.

No - he got as far as he thought he could in the IPF/tested powerlifting (I think he still has a couple of records that have remain unbroken), pulling 360kg whilst looking like a beanpole, then because he felt he had the potential to go for some of the all-time numbers he left and started competing untested and as well as pulling 420kg+ now looks like a viking superhero. He doesn't talk about his usage much but as he says it's somewhat self-evident given the shift in federations and change in physique + numbers.

 

[reiyushin]

Tom Martin & John Haack have my eternal respect for how they moved over to the dark side. Hard to think of many others who just moved because they kinda wanted to go a different direction and played by the rules until that day.

Plenty of people just get caught and go compete in another federation which is probably the aspect of powerlifting I find most infuriating (or maybe bench)

 

[CaptainRAVE]

I'm never going to be bodybuilding lean, and never will I be a competitive PL person, but I'm just enjoying getting strong for me.

Snap

 

[reiyushin]

Thanks a lot for the google sheet. I'm going to start in earnest with it tonight. Does the comment on adding 2-5kg per week apply accross the board where poss, or just to the squat?

Just to that squat set each week

 

[Freefaller]

No - he got as far as he thought he could in the IPF/tested powerlifting (I think he still has a couple of records that have remain unbroken), pulling 360kg whilst looking like a beanpole, then because he felt he had the potential to go for some of the all-time numbers he left and started competing untested and as well as pulling 420kg+ now looks like a viking superhero. He doesn't talk about his usage much but as he says it's somewhat self-evident given the shift in federations and change in physique + numbers.

Oh completely agree. He did it the right way, and just look at him now, he's a monster. And he bulked relatively quickly - but there's no doubt he was (is) phenomenal regardless of his status. He works hard, doesn't bitch and is absolutely committed. It's inspiring.

Tom Martin & John Haack have my eternal respect for how they moved over to the dark side. Hard to think of many others who just moved because they kinda wanted to go a different direction and played by the rules until that day.

Plenty of people just get caught and go compete in another federation which is probably the aspect of powerlifting I find most infuriating (or maybe bench)

100% agree - he's gone about it the right way. And holds against his own at significantly lighter weight than others.

 

[Skidder]

Just to that squat set each week

Thanks

Enjoying the programme so far.

 

[mrthingyx]

I found my priorities changed before I hit anywhere near my genetic potential, and as such am working towards new goals. I used to life weights to be a better weightlifter... Now I lift weights to keep my strength balanced as a cyclist.

Not particularly good at either, but there we go.

It is tempting to jack all the spinney stuff in and just lift and eat, but I have goals to hit before that. 4W/kg is one...

 

[B&W]

I started at home during lockdown with dumbbells and a bar just to keep fit, ended up buying a few more plates and worked out 3 times a week. Since August been going gym regularly. Actually enjoying it now, goal is to get strong and loose belly. And since going gym ive lost almost a stone so its going good.

 

[SideWinder]

I started at home during lockdown with dumbbells and a bar just to keep fit, ended up buying a few more plates and worked out 3 times a week. Since August been going gym regularly. Actually enjoying it now, goal is to get strong and loose belly. And since going gym ive lost almost a stone so its going good.

Nice one! Summer bodies made in winter as the saying goes.

Going to remind myself of this as it starts to get dark and cold...

 

[DanTheMan]

I'm really enjoying lifting again for the first time since having major surgery in January. I've now got an ileostomy and a bag of **** attached to me which obviously poses some issues. The main one being having part of my intestine pulled through my stomach so a weak point that's massively more prone to getting a hernia!

I never thought I'd lift again after surgery so anything is a bonus. I was down to 57kg (6ft) just after surgery in January with huge muscle wastage but managed to get back up to 75kg now which was my usual weight pre surgery.

I've currently being doing the Ice Cream Fitness routine as it's similar to stronglifts but with a bit more variation.

I started with the bar as I was worried about... everything. Some level of muscle memory must have kicked in as after 3 weeks I managed:

60kg squat 5*5
60kg deadlift 2*5
40kg bench press 5*5
40kg BOR 5*5
25kg OHP 5*5

Legs are definitely nowhere near where they used to be with squats but I definitely could have gone higher on DLs and bench. I'm just taking everything much more cautiously than before as the last thing I want is a massive hernia.

 

[mrthingyx]

I'm really enjoying lifting again for the first time since having major surgery in January. I've now got an ileostomy and a bag of **** attached to me which obviously poses some issues. The main one being having part of my intestine pulled through my stomach so a weak point that's massively more prone to getting a hernia!

I never thought I'd lift again after surgery so anything is a bonus. I was down to 57kg (6ft) just after surgery in January with huge muscle wastage but managed to get back up to 75kg now which was my usual weight pre surgery.

I've currently being doing the Ice Cream Fitness routine as it's similar to stronglifts but with a bit more variation.

I started with the bar as I was worried about... everything. Some level of muscle memory must have kicked in as after 3 weeks I managed:

60kg squat 5*5
60kg deadlift 2*5
40kg bench press 5*5
40kg BOR 5*5
25kg OHP 5*5

Legs are definitely nowhere near where they used to be with squats but I definitely could have gone higher on DLs and bench. I'm just taking everything much more cautiously than before as the last thing I want is a massive hernia.

Congratulations and well done for working through that.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

I'm really enjoying lifting again for the first time since having major surgery in January. I've now got an ileostomy and a bag of **** attached to me which obviously poses some issues. The main one being having part of my intestine pulled through my stomach so a weak point that's massively more prone to getting a hernia!

I never thought I'd lift again after surgery so anything is a bonus. I was down to 57kg (6ft) just after surgery in January with huge muscle wastage but managed to get back up to 75kg now which was my usual weight pre surgery.

I've currently being doing the Ice Cream Fitness routine as it's similar to stronglifts but with a bit more variation.

I started with the bar as I was worried about... everything. Some level of muscle memory must have kicked in as after 3 weeks I managed:

60kg squat 5*5
60kg deadlift 2*5
40kg bench press 5*5
40kg BOR 5*5
25kg OHP 5*5

Legs are definitely nowhere near where they used to be with squats but I definitely could have gone higher on DLs and bench. I'm just taking everything much more cautiously than before as the last thing I want is a massive hernia.

Great job getting back into it, no idea how your doing that in all honesty, hats off to you. Must be difficult getting in the right mindset, but take it slow and build gradually. Your gaining more than if you weren’t lifting at all

I assume you’ve had some kind of instruction on what you can/can’t do and how to do these exercises in the safest way?

 

[ShortWarning]

I'm really enjoying lifting again for the first time since having major surgery in January. I've now got an ileostomy and a bag of **** attached to me which obviously poses some issues. The main one being having part of my intestine pulled through my stomach so a weak point that's massively more prone to getting a hernia!

I never thought I'd lift again after surgery so anything is a bonus. I was down to 57kg (6ft) just after surgery in January with huge muscle wastage but managed to get back up to 75kg now which was my usual weight pre surgery.

I've currently being doing the Ice Cream Fitness routine as it's similar to stronglifts but with a bit more variation.

I started with the bar as I was worried about... everything. Some level of muscle memory must have kicked in as after 3 weeks I managed:

60kg squat 5*5
60kg deadlift 2*5
40kg bench press 5*5
40kg BOR 5*5
25kg OHP 5*5

Legs are definitely nowhere near where they used to be with squats but I definitely could have gone higher on DLs and bench. I'm just taking everything much more cautiously than before as the last thing I want is a massive hernia.

Massive respect. Keep it up!

 

[DanTheMan]

Cheers folks. The reality isn't as bad as I described it! I had / have ulcerative colitis prior to surgery and looking back, that was probably more limiting.

The amount of times I'd get to some decent numbers lifting and then have a massive flare up and be back at square one was frustrating. At least now that shouldn't happen.

Great job getting back into it, no idea how your doing that in all honesty, hats off to you. Must be difficult getting in the right mindset, but take it slow and build gradually. Your gaining more than if you weren’t lifting at all

I assume you’ve had some kind of instruction on what you can/can’t do and how to do these exercises in the safest way?

I didn't even consider lifting again and then lockdown happened, I felt better than imagined and I came across the 'stoma weightlifting' community on social media and it got me intrigued. Especially a girl called Zoey Wright who got hench after her surgery.

I wear a hernia belt when lifting but the science is mixed on whether or not they help or hinder. Other than that, I just listen to my body. I do tend to exhale when lifting rather than bracing to release some abdominal pressure but that is about it.

 

[B&W]

It just goes to show that when you really want to do something you can do it, people who say stuff like "I don't have time" "I'm genetically weak/fat" are just full of excuses. The one I hear most often is "my knees hurt so I don't squat now"....

Mind over matter, Iron will is more important then how much Iron you can pump.