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[FallingEdge]

17 cold? God damn. Mine is just over 16 flexed.

So many beasts in this thread. I'm glad gym day is today and I'm glad that I'm training for size now.

Another person to add to the list.

You are all going down.

 

[blackflag]

Thanks man. I will dig some up tomorrow. I don't have a proper before but yeah you'll get the point.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

Blackflag, that lower chest thing comes with the territory. Just get a bigger chest and it will be less of an issue. I'm assuming your chest is hard until you get around the nipple and lower and it becomes "soft" not necessarily the "fat" soft, but almost like loose skin and a little fat soft. That's what I have there right now and in my lower stomach. I think it just takes time.

 

[blackflag]

17 cold? God damn. Mine is just over 16 flexed.

So many beasts in this thread. I'm glad gym day is today and I'm glad that I'm training for size now.

Another person to add to the list.

You are all going down.

Sorry, I meant 17 cold flexed. By cold I just meant no pump or anything. I should take some pictures after I carb load and see if there's much difference. I'm pretty much glycogen depleted right now.

 

[blackflag]

Blackflag, that lower chest thing comes with the territory. Just get a bigger chest and it will be less of an issue. I'm assuming your chest is hard until you get around the nipple and lower and it becomes "soft" not necessarily the "fat" soft, but almost like loose skin and a little fat soft. That's what I have there right now and in my lower stomach. I think it just takes time.

Yeah that's exactly what I have. Right by the nipple it gets soft. Need to drop some more %. Probably 25lbs.

 

[FallingEdge]

Since we talking about feeling soft and all that, I've always wondered, for example, when grabbing my pecs or arms, the feel soft. But when flexing, they obviously are rock hard. Is there any way to have your body always be that hard or is it just a matter of getting bigger/stronger? Low bf% Or is it always "squishy" until you flex?

I really have no idea.

Sorry, I meant 17 cold flexed. By cold I just meant no pump or anything. I should take some pictures after I carb load and see if there's much difference. I'm pretty much glycogen depleted right now.

Gotcha.

You still are going on the list though.

 

[FallingEdge]

double post

 

[MjFrancis]

Low-bodyfat keeps you hard. You're fatter than you think you are.

I'm happy adding a few pounds of fat with a few pounds of muscle this winter though. So far I'm only up four in seven weeks, but I'll catch up to you monsters eventually. The beard demands it.

 

[blackflag]

I'll probably eat slightly over maintenance, like 300 cal, which would be 3,600 for a couple of months just to give my body a break and see what happens. Winter anyway, I'll just keep an eye on things closely because the ultimate goal before I really bulk is 10-12% but since I've been doing it for a year it should help. I feel like its getting much harder to lose even with the added cardio. I just gotta go hook up with an ex girlfriend from high school in November so maybe December and January then start cutting again.

 

[Kyaw]

I think I might have got a strain on the hip abductor or something.

There's a slightly sharp (not like a pinpoint) pain coming from inner upper thigh when I lift my leg up or get up off a chair with my left leg. Can't feel any pain while doing butterfly stretches.

I've got it when I did 90kg squats on Wednesday, I got it on the first set but didn't think much of it and finished the sets. I did 110kgx5 deadlifts after and didn't experience any pain with that.
Couldn't feel any pain this morning until I got to the gym and did light bar squats and the pain returned. No pain while doing power cleans either.

I'm thinking of not doing squats for about two weeks. Shall I skip the deadlifts too or do them at lighter weights? I could dedicate these two weeks to improve lagging upperbody.

What do you guys think?

 

[despire]

I think I might have got a strain on the hip abductor or something.

There's a slightly sharp (not like a pinpoint) pain coming from inner upper thigh when I lift my leg up or get up off a chair with my left leg. Can't feel any pain while doing butterfly stretches.

I've got it when I did 90kg squats on Wednesday, I got it on the first set but didn't think much of it and finished the sets. I did 110kgx5 deadlifts after and didn't experience any pain with that.
Couldn't feel any pain this morning until I got to the gym and did light bar squats and the pain returned. No pain while doing power cleans either.

I'm thinking of not doing squats for about two weeks. Shall I skip the deadlifts too or do them at lighter weights? I could dedicate these two weeks to improve lagging upperbody.

What do you guys think?

Sounds like the same thing I had in August. Continued squatting with it for a few weeks but then decided to let if heal. I haven't been squatting since the end of august and it's gotten better. It doesn't hurt anymore but I'm not sure if it's totally healed yet. I don't want to jump in too soon and hurt it again. My massager said that nothing seriously broken since it didn't feel that bad and it's probably just irritated. I'm not sure if AlienShogun was talking about the same thing some time ago but he said it might take 6-8 weeks to heal.

I've been concentrating more on upper body stuff lately since it's lagging in size compared to my legs. But I have to start doing squats again sooner or later, at least before I start my cut.

 

[TheFightingFish]

Thanks!!!
Funny you mentioned a jogger, since a jogging stroller is like one of the first things we bought for him. Since I can't do this, I suppose:

Yeah, a nice jogging stroller is pretty much a must have for health conscious parents. You get exercise and the kids love it, double bonus if you live somewhere in a walkable town. With two kids I now have one of these monsters:

It's rugged enough that I can actually take it pretty deep into the wooded trails where I trail run. It ends up scaring the crap out of some other trail runners as I can get it up to a pretty good speed on levels / downhills and it sounds like an elephant in the bush with all the branches breaking, wheels spinning, rocks kicking up and whatnot.

 

[FallingEdge]

Are there any stores that sell weightlifting shoes? I really would like to try on a pair before buying them.

 

[JB1981]

Are there any stores that sell weightlifting shoes? I really would like to try on a pair before buying them.

None that I have found

 

[Noema]

Problem: dude is benching 155lb with 1/2 ROM. Gets pinned under the bar after 3 reps.

Solution: load up the bar with 185lb and do 1/8 ROM reps!

 

[reilo]

I got told not to drop the weights too hard while deadlifting today because "it made the building shake". It was the best eyeroll of my life.

 

[FallingEdge]

None that I have found

sucks. oh well. thanks anyway

I got told not to drop the weights too hard while deadlifting today because "it made the building shake". It was the best eyeroll of my life.

I'm pretty lucky in this sense. The 24 Hour I go to does not give a fuck. A lot of the trainers are all about power/oly lifts as well.

 

[Veezy]

I got told not to drop the weights too hard while deadlifting today because "it made the building shake". It was the best eyeroll of my life.

Not to sound dickish, but if you're using steel plates without a platform, you really shouldn't. Depending on how insulated the floor is, you could actually crack the foundation of the building. Although, they could have just said that and not say you're making the building shake.

Now, if you're using a platform and/or bumper plates, than fuck 'em.

 

[reilo]

They are bumper plates (LA Fitness). Not big bumper plates that you can drop willy-nilly but bumper plates nonetheless.

And I wasn't dropping it from a full ROM position. I was setting the bar down and lost my grip on the way down.

Plus, it was like a workup set of 225. A fat person falling down would have caused more damage.

 

[Cudder]

They are bumper plates (LA Fitness). Not big bumper plates that you can drop willy-nilly but bumper plates nonetheless.

And I wasn't dropping it from a full ROM position. I was setting the bar down and lost my grip on the way down.

Plus, it was like a workup set of 225. A fat person falling down would have caused more damage.

oh word? I go to LA Fitness too. where are you located?

 

[reilo]

oh word? I go to LA Fitness too. where are you located?

Portland.

 

[blackflag]

sucks. oh well. thanks anyway



I'm pretty lucky in this sense. The 24 Hour I go to does not give a fuck. A lot of the trainers are all about power/oly lifts as well.

24 hour is pretty good about it and Gold's is great about it. No fucks given at Gold's.

 

[JB1981]

They are bumper plates (LA Fitness). Not big bumper plates that you can drop willy-nilly but bumper plates nonetheless.

And I wasn't dropping it from a full ROM position. I was setting the bar down and lost my grip on the way down.

Plus, it was like a workup set of 225. A fat person falling down would have caused more damage.

Bumper plates at an LA Fitness? Hard to believe !

 

[blackflag]

Got my spud belt. Ordered the 3 ply one. It is really nice. Seems sturdy and is very comfortable. The problem is, I thought there was supposed to be a gap in the front. I ordered large (33-38) and the belt has to kind of overlap the other side a bit to get tight. Is it supposed to do that?

 

[reilo]

Bumper plates at an LA Fitness? Hard to believe !

Yea this one has it. Others don't.

 

[deadbeef]

Got my spud belt. Ordered the 3 ply one. It is really nice. Seems sturdy and is very comfortable. The problem is, I thought there was supposed to be a gap in the front. I ordered large (33-38) and the belt has to kind of overlap the other side a bit to get tight. Is it supposed to do that?

I'm confused by what you mean. Mine loops thru a metal ring and then back the other way - does yours not?

 

[Veezy]

They are bumper plates (LA Fitness). Not big bumper plates that you can drop willy-nilly but bumper plates nonetheless.

And I wasn't dropping it from a full ROM position. I was setting the bar down and lost my grip on the way down.

Plus, it was like a workup set of 225. A fat person falling down would have caused more damage.

Oh, word.

I've read a few times online about people dropping 405 or whatever from waist height being angry at the establishment for saying "quit doing that." No worries, mang.

 

[blackflag]

I'm confused by what you mean. Mine loops thru a metal ring and then back the other way - does yours not?

It does but for it to get tight, it has to pull all the way until the wide belt part is touching and it still doesn't feel that tight. It's ok now, but when I lose like 5 more lbs it will be a lot more loose and it is supposed to go down to 33 in. Dunno if it is labeled wrong or what. Going to measure it later.

My actual waist is like 37 maybe 36 so i thought it would last me awhile.

I'm just going to keep it. Whatever, if I have to buy another in a month or 2 so be it. It will be a trophy like my first FTS belt that is way too big.

 

[blackflag]

17 cold? God damn. Mine is just over 16 flexed.

So many beasts in this thread. I'm glad gym day is today and I'm glad that I'm training for size now.

Another person to add to the list.

You are all going down.

I guess it's time for me to "disregard aesthetics, Acquire mass" I don't wanna get beat lol.

 

[thomaser]

Took a photo of myself for the first time. Here goes:

I'm fairly pleased with how I look. Still, I'm skinny, and could become a lot stronger in my upper body. I want that V-shape My legs are pretty strong, but that's hard to see from the photo. I've been working my shoulders a lot the last couple of months, but struggle with developing my chest. Only 71 kg, and having a hard time putting on weight!

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

Need to bulk IMO. Also, less crotch.

 

[UrokeJoe]

Need to bulk IMO. Also, less crotch.

.

 

[kylej]

Only 71 kg, and having a hard time putting on weight!

in the words of dave tate

There was a time at the Old Westside gym where I couldn't gain weight to save my fucking life.

There was this dude who trained there who could just put on weight like fucking magic. He'd go from 198 to 308 and then to 275 and back down to 198. And he was never fat. It was amazing.

I finally asked him one day how he did it.

"You mean I never told you the secret to gaining weight? Come outside and I'll fill you in."

Now remember, we're at Westside Barbell. And this guy wants to go outside to talk so no one else can hear. Think about that for a minute. What the hell is he going to tell me? This must be some serious shit if we have to go outside, I thought.

So we get outside and he starts talking.

"For breakfast you need to eat four of those breakfast sandwiches from McDonalds. I don't care which ones you get, but make sure to get four. Order four hash browns, too. Now grab two packs of mayonnaise and put them on the hash browns and then slip them into the sandwiches. Squish that shit down and eat. That's your breakfast."

At this point I'm thinking this guy is nuts. But he's completely serious.

"For lunch you're gonna eat Chinese food. Now I don't want you eating that crappy stuff. You wanna get the stuff with MSG. None of that non-MSG bullshit. I don't care what you eat but you have to sit down and eat for at least 45 minutes straight. You can't let go of the fork. Eat until your eyes swell up and become slits and you start to look like the woman behind the counter."

"For dinner you're gonna order an extra-large pizza with everything on it. Literally everything. If you don't like sardines, don't put 'em on, but anything else that you like you have to load it on there. After you pay the delivery guy, I want you to take the pie to your coffee table, open that fucker up, and grab a bottle of oil. It can be olive oil, canola oil, whatever. Anything but motor oil. And I want you to pour that shit over the pie until half of the bottle is gone. Just soak the shit out of it."

"Now before you lay into it, I want you to sit on your couch and just stare at that fucker. I want you to understand that that pizza right there is keeping you from your goals."

This guy is in a zen-like state when he's talking about this.

"Now you're on the clock," he continues. "After 20 minutes your brain is going to tell you you're full. Don't listen to that shit. You have to try and eat as much of the pizza as you can before that 20-minute mark. Double up pieces if you have to. I'm telling you now, you're going to get three or four pieces in and you're gonna want to quit. You fucking can't quit. You have to sit on that couch until every piece is done.

And if you can't finish it, don't you ever come back to me and tell me you can't gain weight. 'Cause I'm gonna tell you that you don't give a fuck about getting bigger and you don't care how much you lift!"

Did I do it? Hell yeah. Started the next day and did it for two months. Went from 260 pounds to 297 pounds. And I didn't get much fatter. One of the hardest things I've ever done in my life, though.

 

[Noema]

I love that story. Specially the part about the oil-drenched pizza.

"Eat until your eyes swell up and become slits and you start to look like the woman behind the counter."

 

[Etrian Oddity]

I think today is a rest day, haha. My knee is back up to about 85%, so I've gotten back to walking brisk miles on it. Gonna give my legs a rest, then hit squats tomorrow!

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

Palate cleanser since the crotch shot. Gettin' my mexican chow on. Eat big to get big (well, bigger)!

Well, the food came out after this, bleh. Posting this mostly because all I've posted are mirror DBag pics. My wife decided to snap that one.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

So guys that front squat, belt or no belt? I've heard no belt before, but no compelling reason why.

 

[blackflag]

Palate cleanser since the crotch shot. Gettin' my mexican chow on. Eat big to get big (well, bigger)!

Well, the food came out after this, bleh. Posting this mostly because all I've posted are mirror DBag pics. My wife decided to snap that one.

Weird I felt like a dbag for posting my mirror pics too lol.

Looking swole.

 

[Spiritreaver]

Need to bulk IMO. Also, less crotch.

So, my gym is closed today for fall break, so I decided to see if Gold's had a trial membership and check out the place there. Damn, so much better than my school gym. I don't like the overall layout of most "mainstream" gyms these days, but the equipment was in way better condition and it was far less crowded. Not to mention the convenience of going whenever I want.

I might sign up, things is I've already technically paid for my school gym. There was also one MAJOR problem. I could not find a traditional squat rack anywhere. How the fuck do I do BB anything for back/hammies? Maybe I just didn't see it.

I mean fuck, I got to do cardio while watching fucking Avengers. I got so swamped in the film that I didn't even realize I had been doing cardio for 20 minutes. I have never had such an amazing feeling before.

ALSO CONGRATS MJFRANCIS!!!!!!!!

 

[blackflag]

So, my gym is closed today for fall break, so I decided to see if Gold's had a trial membership and check out the place there. Damn, so much better than my school gym. I don't like the overall layout of most "mainstream" gyms these days, but the equipment was in way better condition and it was far less crowded. Not to mention the convenience of going whenever I want.

I might sign up, things is I've already technically paid for my school gym. There was also one MAJOR problem. I could not find a traditional squat rack anywhere. How the fuck do I do BB anything for back/hammies? Maybe I just didn't see it.

I mean fuck, I got to do cardio while watching fucking Avengers. I got so swamped in the film that I didn't even realize I had been doing cardio for 20 minutes. I have never had such an amazing feeling before.

ALSO CONGRATS MJFRANCIS!!!!!!!!

My Gold's is god tier. It seems like about 60% competitors, not to many young d-bag kids, and lots of girls doing squats.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

Weird I felt like a dbag for posting my mirror pics too lol.

Looking swole.

Eh, that's not a "swole" pic, my shoulders are pulled forward and I've got shit posture. I just wanted a "different" view of how I look for ya'll. I appreciate it though.

So, my gym is closed today for fall break, so I decided to see if Gold's had a trial membership and check out the place there. Damn, so much better than my school gym. I don't like the overall layout of most "mainstream" gyms these days, but the equipment was in way better condition and it was far less crowded. Not to mention the convenience of going whenever I want.

I might sign up, things is I've already technically paid for my school gym. There was also one MAJOR problem. I could not find a traditional squat rack anywhere. How the fuck do I do BB anything for back/hammies? Maybe I just didn't see it.

I mean fuck, I got to do cardio while watching fucking Avengers. I got so swamped in the film that I didn't even realize I had been doing cardio for 20 minutes. I have never had such an amazing feeling before.

ALSO CONGRATS MJFRANCIS!!!!!!!!

I like my Golds, but my Uni actually has a platform. So they are about tied for me. Both have good shit, and are missing shit. I can' wait to have the money to do my own gym. What's with the frowny face?

 

[rando14]

So guys that front squat, belt or no belt? I've heard no belt before, but no compelling reason why.

No belt, but I never use a belt haha.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

No belt, but I never use a belt haha.

If you ever do you will wonder why you never did.

Love muh belt bruh.

 

[Spiritreaver]

My Gold's is god tier. It seems like about 60% competitors, not to many young d-bag kids, and lots of girls doing squats.

Yeah, I like the atmosphere so much more. Everyone's a lot less rude about things. Hell, I even stole a guy's leg press machine, not realizing he was still on it. He came up to me and politely asked if he could work in. I was actually kinda shocked.

Everyone was pretty good about racking weights too, was relatively clean.

I like my Golds, but my Uni actually has a platform. So they are about tied for me. Both have good shit, and are missing shit. I can' wait to have the money to do my own gym. What's with the frowny face?

Yeah I think I may have to do any back stuff at my Uni, and everything else at Golds if I stay there. I'll join your gym day one, I don't care if it's on Mars.

Spoiler

Well, at least it was a nice crotch.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

Yeah, I like the atmosphere so much more. Everyone a lot less rude about things. Hell, I even stole a guy's leg press machine, not realizing he was still on it. He came up to me and politely asked if he could work in. I was actually kinda shocked.

Everyone was pretty good about racking weights too, was relatively clean.

Yeah I think I may have to do any back stuff at my Uni, and everything else at Golds if I stay there. I'll join your gym day one, I don't care if it's on Mars.

Spoiler

Well, at least it was a nice crotch.

Lol, you're silly.

It would be really cool if/when I opened it (which is obviously years away), people I knew from the places I discuss lifting would come and see it. But that's so far down the road I can't even fathom it at this point. This area (southern illinois) is RIPE for a strength gym (or hell even "hardcore BB gyms") though. The closest ones to me that are worth a damn are over an hour away.

 

[Quadrophenic]

Heyo fitness Gaf...tonight I ended up ripping off a callus on my left hand while doing a deadlift. It pulled off quite a bit of skin and is pretty raw. What are some suggested treatments for this? Is this a sign that I need to buy gloves for doing these lifts? Should I lay off working out for a while to let it heal ?

I ended up doing my last set after it ripped anyways lol. prolly wasnt the best idea I had tonight, but its only 9:30pm.

 

[MrToughPants]

So guys that front squat, belt or no belt? I've heard no belt before, but no compelling reason why.

I don't think it matters.

 

[Brolic Gaoler]

I don't think it matters.

Yeah, that's where I was leaning.

Heyo fitness Gaf...tonight I ended up ripping off a callus on my left hand while doing a deadlift. It pulled off quite a bit of skin and is pretty raw. What are some suggested treatments for this? Is this a sign that I need to buy gloves for doing these lifts? Should I lay off working out for a while to let it heal ?

I ended up doing my last set after it ripped anyways lol. prolly wasnt the best idea I had tonight, but its only 9:30pm.

Scrape/peel your calluses off all the time and it won't be an issue.

As for "treating it" you're probably just going to have to suck it up and let it heal, might want to use straps for a bit.

 

[Noema]

Heyo fitness Gaf...tonight I ended up ripping off a callus on my left hand while doing a deadlift. It pulled off quite a bit of skin and is pretty raw. What are some suggested treatments for this? Is this a sign that I need to buy gloves for doing these lifts? Should I lay off working out for a while to let it heal ?
.

Like Rippetoe says: If you are going to wear gloves, make sure they match your purse.

Seriously, don't wear gloves. Ever.

Use chalk. Also: grip the bar so that your hand is where it's going to end up during the lift, instead of gripping it one way and then have the bar roll during the lift thus hurting your skin. Ever since I learned that my calluses have been spared.

 

[Veezy]

Alien, my view is always "if I'm touching a barbell and we're over a plate, wear a belt." There's no reason not to and wearing one will only help.

On gloves, they suck. However, I would love to have a pair for pull ups just to help with my hands, as they fucking hurt when I'm done. But whatever, chalk works.