LOL.Sitting here watching a guy alternate between curls in the squat rack and situps on the incline bench.
What are my obligations here?
Cutie, you are so adorable and encouraging! ^_^![]()
You are so sweet, thank you!
I have heard it echoed here many times and it is worth repeating, it is a marathon not a sprint, so patience and mindfulness is helpful at all times. Enjoy each part of the journey, if nothing else because it will make it a lot more fond looking back on those times. It is hard! I am cheering for you! I can also recommend yoga all day! Well sometimes I wish I could just stand around and do it all day... or like three days a week... I feel I would be healthier the more I practice!
I always enjoy the tone of conversation in here as it seems inclusive enough without being washed out or overly aggressive. But then again I like the sound of loud weights dropping and grunting so my taste is questionable to some. Thanks for always being there when I am eating all alone and need something to read FitGAF, stay positive!
No offence but I am starting to think you are a bit too critical towards yourself. I see absolutely nothing wrong with your looks and my goal is to look around what you look like at the moment.Three weeks ago: http://imgur.com/iAlt3Zm
Right now: http://imgur.com/6W575IB
I don't know... Look like I've put on weight. Now I feel bad resting tonight. Lol. Should be working out. ~Lie to me, GAF~, make me feel better.
Hot pack on tummy, hot pack on lower back, want chocolate... Work out tomorrow. ;_;
I only have access to free bars basically once a week, so I use my apartment's smith machine. The smith machine's certainly not as beneficial as a free bar, I know this, but it gets the job done however you want to classify it.It's early so maybe I'm misunderstanding you.
If there are no free bars and only a smith at your apartment are you deadlifting in a smith?
Also I wouldn't count smith squats and smith bench as BB squat and bench
...yea. That's kinda the point.Also you keep going on about how this works. You've barely been in the gym. Everything works as a beginner, tbh.
I only have access to free bars basically once a week, so I use my apartment's smith machine. The smith machine's certainly not as beneficial as a free bar, I know this, but it gets the job done however you want to classify it.
...yea. That's kinda the point.
I'd say you're doing it right as of now. Focus completely on your compounds. Some people luckily get big arms and a firm core just from doing those compounds. You won't know if you're one of those people until you've been doing it awhile.I've never did any abs specific work since I started lifting a few months ago. I thought it would be better for me to save up those precious energy and go for it at compound lifts. Nevertheless I'm a newbie and would love to hear from more experienced fit gaffers about this.
I only have access to free bars basically once a week, so I use my apartment's smith machine. The smith machine's certainly not as beneficial as a free bar, I know this, but it gets the job done however you want to classify it.
...yea. That's kinda the point.
Just deadlifted 615lbs. Video on my FB page in a second and I'll upload it to YouTube and share it here tonight.
Hit my two year anniversary recently! When I started this journey, it had been at least a solid decade since I had stepped foot in a gym. I wanted to put together an inspirational progress pic but I had limited resources to work with. Really wish I would have taken more shots along the way. This is the best iteration I could produce based on the interim periods between shots where I utilized an identical pose:
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Two years prior to the event horizon, I was an overweight couchlocked 225lb+ wookie with a pack a day smoking habit and two herniated discs. I would be completely winded after climbing a single flight of stairs, I was constantly in pain and absolutely miserable physically and emotionally. Yes, that is also a pair of moobs hiding underneath there:
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If you conceive it, you can achieve it, that's why I believe in you!
According to my subscription folder I only started reading this community thread in OT4. I've never been a big poster, more of a lurker, and I just want to say that throughout these years this community has really brought it home for me. We are all here because our original interest in discussing video games and that astounds me. Not due to cognitive dissonance, but due to the fact that we can apply our love of manipulating systems and investing incremental changes while patiently awaiting the payoff to ourselves instead of chasing an external abstract goal like a level cap, or a rare item to buff your class, or whatever arbitrary thing that was motivating you before.
Change your mind, change your life. Chase your dreams and do what makes you happy!!! ^.^
I also want to make a shout-out to Matthew Gallant. I love to see new faces but I was surprised when he started posting here. Years ago I used to post on PC & QT3 under a different alias and he always contributed a lot of rationality and intelligence to the discussion. So, glad to see you along on the "other side" for the FitGAF ride!
Just deadlifted 615lbs. Video on my FB page in a second and I'll upload it to YouTube and share it here tonight.
Just deadlifted 615lbs. Video on my FB page in a second and I'll upload it to YouTube and share it here tonight.
Probably a lot like he looks! Absolutely mind blowing Brolic! Beyond impressed and inspired. Keep going!Crazy Brolic. I can't imagine how it must feel to be that beastly.
Feeling pretty good. 2 1/2 months ago, I started squating @ 225 pounds, now I'm up to 3 sets of 10 @ 315 pounds. My goal is 350 in the next month or so. I weigh 193 pounds. I squat to parallel.
If you are indeed deadlifting on a smith bar, you aren't doing deadlifts. Just the thought of doing it in there sounds absurd and no, it does not get the job done.
Got stopped by a guy at the gym. Hey man r u aware
#Aware
It's not the best, but it's possible to deadlift using one. It's just tough because you don't get a wide of a range of motion, and it can be slightly awkward. I'm not trying to argue that it's better than freeweights, I'm just saying that's it's possible given limited resources.
Looking extremely good already sweetie! Awesome work. Keep at it! <3Guess single digit bf% isn't that far anymore, i can smell it.
It's not even a DL you're performing. Again, I'll offer some advice and it will probably be my last time because you seem pretty set in your ways but I wouldn't bother DLing in the smith machine. It's unnatural and a great way to develop bad habits and possibly injure yourself. If this workout thing is something you are serious about I would check out your local gyms and rearrange your finances to make it work. Go out to dinner one less time a month. Cut back on Starbucks. Ect.... There's probably some facet of your life that you can scale down to make it work.
It's not even a DL you're performing. Again, I'll offer some advice and it will probably be my last time because you seem pretty set in your ways but I wouldn't bother DLing in the smith machine. It's unnatural and a great way to develop bad habits and possibly injure yourself. If this workout thing is something you are serious about I would check out your local gyms and rearrange your finances to make it work. Go out to dinner one less time a month. Cut back on Starbucks. Ect.... There's probably some facet of your life that you can scale down to make it work.
So I plan to start lifting at our small apartment gym 3x a week next week. I'm going to use this program as a base (thanks Vince). Is there anything I should add to it? It's only a few lifts each day (remember, I have limited equipment, but I do have dumbbells, free weights, bench, and a circuit machine with a bunch of stuff on it).
The machine has stuff like leg curls, leg press, triceps, lat press (?), shoulder press, rows, etc. I need to add those in.
Should I go with the below? If so where should I add in some of the extra stuff? I'm just not great at mapping a routine.
I also plan to do cardio every day.
Maybe this?
Monday
DB Squat - 3 sets of 5
Bench Press - 3 sets of 5
DB Deadlifts - 1 set of 5
Pull-Ups/Lat Pulldown - 3 sets of 8-15
Lat press - 3 sets of 8
Leg Press - 3 sets of 8
Wednesday
DB Squat - 3 sets of 5
DB Military Press - 3 sets of 5
DB Rows - 3 sets of 8
Leg Curls - 3 sets of 8
Inclined Bench - 3 sets of 5
Abdominal work
Friday
DB Squat - 3 sets of 5
Bench Press - 3 sets of 5
DB Deadlift - 1 set of 5
Curls - 3 sets of 8
Calf press - 3 sets of 10
I have the patience of gods
I feel you there. Awesome to hear that you have been doing great though! Experiences like this give me hope.A bit late to the new OT, but goddam FE, Sphinx, Pete Rock and others posting pics, incredible.
Also love reading through the pages on one go seeing Ashodin going from eagerly slamming random machines with a plan unlikely to result to much to taking a deep breathe and considering barbell training and reading the OP.
I am now starting another cycle of Starting Strength. I am 1.5 years or so in and consider myself still a beginner. When I started I didn't realise how much office work had wrecked my physique. I had no control of my hip flexors, my back would curve like a motherfucker, my hamstrings were so tight I couldn't do a clean squat to parallel even without a bar. I would buttwink like crazy and lean forwards, not able to place the weights on my heels. After all this time I can now do proper squats at 2/3BW on the bar, deep enough to the parallel (which nine out of ten men in our gym don't seem to do). It's a long road to squatting BW on the bar, but at least now I can do it.
I still can'd deadlift right. From years on the computer I have a very round upper back and forwards shoulders. I have bought Salli saddle chairs to our design studio and am starting to reverse the damage.
The point of typing all this? It's that Ashodin, there's no shame on starting from the bottom. I did, and I am not still very far. But I'm so much better than I was a year or two ago. I read the OP, went by it. Hope you have the patience mate.
Hahah. I think that modesty is one of your best features.I have the patience of gods
Saw someone "hang clean" on a smith once.The shit I see at the gym I go to...boggles the mind.
One arm smith machine rows...
Static lunges in the smith machine...
Keeps the squat rack free for me to useCould someone please tell me what's the use of a smith machine?
How To Use The Smith Machine: http://youtu.be/IHBLxCPmnVcCould someone please tell me what's the use of a smith machine?
Could someone please tell me what's the use of a smith machine?
Any help here?
The routine looks like more than enough for a starting routine. Hell, it might have more smaller movements than even necessary. Anyway, start with that routine and stick to it for a while. If you've never done some of those lifts before, don't hesitate to record yourself and upload the videos here for advice on improving your form.
Could someone please tell me what's the use of a smith machine?
Any help here?
Fitness gods, I will only use the smith machine to kill time until the squat rack opens.
No offence but I am starting to think you are a bit too critical towards yourself. I see absolutely nothing wrong with your looks and my goal is to look around what you look like at the moment.
Also if you want photos that are easier to compare, use the same clothes and same poses (weight on the same leg and so forth). Even with those photos you look way more fit and you have definitely lost some fat.
When I was in US I weighted way more than I do nowadays - that doesn't mean I still wouldn't love the photos and the memories they bring. It is good that you have the motivation to work out, but could you think something that would motivate you work out even after the trip? In that way you perhaps wouldn't stress that much about the trip itself and you could relax a bit. Stressing and spanking yourself to the edge doesn't work in a long run (at least not for me). You need to enjoy it to continue doing it.