Psychotext
Member
My home gym is currently missing any kind of cable apparatus. Pullups aside, can you think of any replacement for lat pull-downs?
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Fitness |OT8| Dad Bods, Bulge Swelfies, and Wait...Do you even lift bro?
- Thread starter Chocobro
- Start date
- Status
I am in a similar situation. I use bands over a ceiling support. It's not perfect but it works.
Psychotext
Member
I tried doing that but I found myself lifting up off the floor as I don't have anything to hold myself down with. Maybe I should put some plates on my lap.
D
Deleted member 17706
Unconfirmed Member
I honestly don't know why you'd want anything more than pull ups. If they get too easy for you, you can always just add weight.
Psychotext
Member
Because I'm starting to go in the wrong direction on them, and I couldn't do many in the first place. I'd like to target similar muscles in a way I can do more volume with.
mdsfx
Member
Even when I couldn't do that many to begin with, adding weight and doing even fewer reps, like 1-3, helped me a lot.
I've never tried doing negatives, but I wonder if that might help too. Just assisting yourself above the bar and trying to descend slowly. Not sure if that helps or not.
Psychotext
Member
Right now those "fewer reps" are about all I can manage (well, slightly above that, but only slightly). I badly injured my shoulder about a year ago and most of my upper body stuff isn't close to recovering yet.
I could probably manage one with added weight, but it wouldn't be pretty, and if I'm honest, I'd be a bit worried about injuring my shoulder again (I tweaked it recently when trying to force a rep, and I really can't afford for it to get screwed again).
I could probably manage one with added weight, but it wouldn't be pretty, and if I'm honest, I'd be a bit worried about injuring my shoulder again (I tweaked it recently when trying to force a rep, and I really can't afford for it to get screwed again).
mdsfx
Member
What about using bands to assist you?
Psychotext
Member
That one's a strange one. My bar isn't really high enough, so I end up having to put my knee through, and I've not had great results with it. Even with pretty serious bands I don't really get many more reps than unassisted. I suspect because I'm having to put myself into a strange position to use them.
Is there really nothing good other than pulldowns and pullups?
Edit, oh, I'm doing Australian pullups, but oddly I seem to feel them more in my chest / shoulders.
Is there really nothing good other than pulldowns and pullups?
Edit, oh, I'm doing Australian pullups, but oddly I seem to feel them more in my chest / shoulders.
mdsfx
Member
Oh, isn't that just a row basically? Wouldn't that be a good substitute?
Brolic Gaoler
formerly Alienshogun
That's out. Not competing again until next year. With severe tendinitis in my forearm, schedule readjustments and traveling back and forth from Texas, northern Illinois and South Carolina the next 3 months it's just not gonna happen.
I really didn't want to go to the gym today, but last time I went was last Friday and I didn't want to have so many days off. Hit the gym and once I stretched, I noticed I felt pretty damn strong. I knocked out 5x160, 3x180 then 1x200 on overhead press. Felt amazing and I didn't miss a single rep. Weighed in at exactly 235 so not at my lowest, but last time I did 200 on ohp I was a lot heavier.
Really feel a lot more confident right now but also very bloated from the dairy. Damn you dairy bloat.
Really feel a lot more confident right now but also very bloated from the dairy. Damn you dairy bloat.
If you have a bar and a rack you can do rack chins. Its not the same as a pullup but it hits the lats hard.
Psychotext
Member
They look very similar to Australian pullups. I wasn't doing them with elevated legs though.
I assume no particular reason for the actual number? You going for a certain look, or just playing around at this point to see what sticks?
mdsfx
Member
Awesome! Who cares right now, time to celebrate
mdsfx
Member
Very big of you to make the smart decision there. Most people make the mistake of pushing through and not listening to their body. Myself included.
I wouldn't get down about it. That last competition must have been one hell if an experience and you busted your ass!
180 was a goal assuming I put on 5lbs of muscle. If I did I would be at the same bf% as last year at 175. I think it's about the same.
To answer your question, yeah, I'm just playing around at this point.
I take it you mean eat until I'm back up to 185? Ha nah, I'm staying here for a few days at least.Awesome! Who cares right now, time to celebrate
I think it's smart. Originally you wanted to do that anyway. Let us know how progress is coming.
Next week I am unable to go to a gym. I will do my normal core work outs and some body weight squats but other than that it will be only walking around. I am sure it isn't that big of a difference since I am mainly anyways doing light upper body work at the gym. When I come home I will sign to a new gym and continue from there.
FitGaf is my endless source of motivation and support as well. I am sure I wouldn't be this far without it (even if there is still tons to do).
I am doing constantly better though! I am so happy to be able to squat again (even with just a body weight) and the fact that I can lower my medication is also awesome. I have lost 4 pounds in the last couple days and I am sure it is mostly due to lowering the meds dosage. Ah, can't wait to get rid of it entirely.
I also talked myself a deal to the gym if I will start to go there. Normally it is up to 59 euros / 66 dollars per month. Good to know that it is around average. I might very well end up going there. We will see. Next week I am visiting my family so I will decide after that.
I am now usually eating within 4-6 hours window and it generally works with me very well. I might need to change that next week though when I am heading to visit the family for the week. I will try to maintain it as much as possible though.
I noticed it said one shouldn't be eating industrial seed oils. I use cold pressed organic hemp oil and extra virgin organic olive oil every single day. Hemp oil is fine?
If I were you I would mix things up a bit and do some walking, some water based activity and some weight training.
Also thank you for your kind words! I might be pushing it a little though. I have recently been rounding my back and even doin very slight stretches with rounded spine. I also did quite many squats, but it seems it has been more or less ok. Even though I admit that I am more aware of my leg where the back reflects all the feelings and when I do so it is acting up but when I don't pay attention it is perfectly fine now.
What do you by the way mean by paying huge amounts of money? What are you exactly paying for?
And don't go to extremes with your food cuts! What you have been doing have worked great this far so no reason to change it.
Seriously though, chicks like jeans paired with white t-shirts.
And you can as well. Just have some faith... and time.
Lol for the IHOP.
(Sounds like a plan though!)
FitGaf is my endless source of motivation and support as well. I am sure I wouldn't be this far without it (even if there is still tons to do).
Awww, thanks dear!Sadetar
I am doing constantly better though! I am so happy to be able to squat again (even with just a body weight) and the fact that I can lower my medication is also awesome.
I have lost 4 pounds in the last couple days and I am sure it is mostly due to lowering the meds dosage. Ah, can't wait to get rid of it entirely.Thank you for the kind words! ^_^$40/month is pretty average for a fully equipped gym, leaning towards the less expensive side in my experience. I hope your recovery continues. And I'm sure you look adorable, as you always do.
I also talked myself a deal to the gym if I will start to go there. Normally it is up to 59 euros / 66 dollars per month. Good to know that it is around average. I might very well end up going there. We will see. Next week I am visiting my family so I will decide after that.
That was very interesting article and I read the whole thing. Thank you! That explains quite a lot. He didn't have any sources though which is a shame.
I am now usually eating within 4-6 hours window and it generally works with me very well. I might need to change that next week though when I am heading to visit the family for the week. I will try to maintain it as much as possible though.
I noticed it said one shouldn't be eating industrial seed oils. I use cold pressed organic hemp oil and extra virgin organic olive oil every single day. Hemp oil is fine?
Swimming and water running are most likely best cardio you can do if you want to be gentle to your joints and take it easy on the lower body.
If I were you I would mix things up a bit and do some walking, some water based activity and some weight training.
Well done!18 pull-ups today! A new PR
Hahahah, looks about right.Except this is probably the only type of cardio that I can imagine Brolic doing on a bike.
Also, I'm glad you're healing up. It's a slow process. Better safe than sorry.
Also thank you for your kind words! I might be pushing it a little though. I have recently been rounding my back and even doin very slight stretches with rounded spine. I also did quite many squats, but it seems it has been more or less ok. Even though I admit that I am more aware of my leg where the back reflects all the feelings and when I do so it is acting up but when I don't pay attention it is perfectly fine now.
I read the whole discussion about the topic. Don't stress about it. Seriously. Your weight varies a lot naturally, hormones, peeing, pooping, drinking and all that will alter it. You have nothing to worry. Stress is more harmful that couple pounds here or there. You will get to your goal, just focus on where you want to be and how to get there instead of panicing. You have already lost a significant amount of weight within a short period of time. Just take it easy and be proud of yourself.
What do you by the way mean by paying huge amounts of money? What are you exactly paying for?
And don't go to extremes with your food cuts! What you have been doing have worked great this far so no reason to change it.
This! Expect don't have too loose white shirt, a bit more fitting one will be the best.
Seriously though, chicks like jeans paired with white t-shirts.
Yay! Now I am really starting to wait that thread of yours.
The thing is that they believe they can do it - and they can.
And you can as well. Just have some faith... and time.
Brolic Gaoler
formerly Alienshogun
Oh, I'm not down about it at all. I know it's what's needed and also know I'll compete in better shape next year.
Will do, it's a slow burn right now, not pushing anything hard and getting in volume and conditioning work. Also finishing the garage gym
SilentSoldier
Member
Achievement unlocked: Was noticed in the gym today on my physique. I know it sounds super fucking prideful but, it felt really good to have my progress noticed by others. I also work a tank top for the first time ever. I used to be super self conscious about my body so I never wore anything like that, but now that I'm changing how I look, I can start wearing clothes that show things off a bit more. Feels good
Dusk Soldier
Member
The weirdest encounter I've ever had at the gym was when I was working out in a tank top; some guy walked up to me an offered me a sweater so I could cover up my muscles.
It was one of those "is this real life?" moments.
It was one of those "is this real life?" moments.
It does feel good man. That's awesome! Not that we workout for others but it doesn't hurt motivation when people say nice things.
Dead Prince
Banned
Was it said in a joking manner or was he serious? You lucky your gym doesn't have a link alarm!
I want to because of the pressure on my wrists as I'm progressing in weight (getting up into the ~250x5 range now), but I can't. It feels super unnatural to me and super dangerous (ie bar is going to slip out of my grasp) once the weight gets above 185 lbs or so.
Wonder if wrist wraps would help alleviate some of that pressure.
My right bicep/elbow has this aching pain rn at 255 5x5 after I finish a set, and it feels even worse when I bench. I am planning to try a thumbless grip next workout to remove all that stress from my arms.
I use thumb less grip on squat, I have to have my wrists in an exact way or it hurts badly. That grip was part of the process to finally not hurting my wrists during squats.
Sadetar, never used hemp oil before, I use butter, coconut oil, peanut oil, sesame oil and will use lard later. Virgin olive oil for salads.
Sadetar, never used hemp oil before, I use butter, coconut oil, peanut oil, sesame oil and will use lard later. Virgin olive oil for salads.
231. One more lb to lose and I'm calling this party off.
You dont have to do them with elevated legs, like a pushup you have a few ways to moderate the difficulty like adding weight, changing foot elevation, or hand spacing.
You dont have to do them with elevated legs, like a pushup you have a few ways to moderate the difficulty like adding weight, changing foot elevation, or hand spacing.
I know the feeling. I was out for two months twice. Slow and steady.
Now that I'm healed up, I'm just slow.
It isn't dangerous. The weight should be able to rest perfectly on your rear delts with your hands on top solely to balance the bar. If you can't do that, your bar positioning is off, and you will hurt your arm. It happened to me.
I have a related issue with wrists also:
When I'm doing upright barbell rows, at about 80/90 lbs, my left wrist seems to give. It doesn't hurt or pop or anything, it just sort of goes limp when I reach max height and I'm wondering if it has to do with grip strength. Should I be strengthening my forearms/grip at all and is there a point where that becomes necessary when you're beginning to lift heavier weights?
Keep doing pulling exercises and your grip will get better. If you feel like you aren't completing all of your sets because of this then you can get straps and use them after your grip fails.
I try to do everything without straps except shrugs because the rep range is pretty high and the weight is more than I pickup with any other exercise, for now
Ohhh, so that's what the strap is for. I see other people using it occasionally when they do extremely heavy sets. Yeah, the upright barbell row is the only exercise where this happens so far so I started thinking, "What if this happens on a potentially dangerous routine?" The barbell will fall slightly where I'm just barely holding on with my fingertips so I'm definitely not getting a complete set.
I think this might also have to do with the kind of barbell I'm using: There's a section of smaller barbells that go from 20-110 lbs that have this undulating bar and all the examples videos I see, they use a straight bar. I primarily use this because there are fewer straight-bar barbells, so they're in limited in availability. Is there any specific purpose for these wavy-barred barbells?
The Cambered or EZ Bar is easier on your wrist as it lets you take a more natural grip angle. Normal to use it for upright rows.
You can try it with a regular barbell and see if the feeling is different. Usual recommendation of stop if it hurts.
Thanks for the advice and explaining what the bar is. I'll try again after work and see if my form is off or it is in fact my grip strength. I was actually using the flat section in the center of the EZ bar, so maybe my grip was too close together. I'll try the textured section since I assumed incorrectly that it wasn't the correct grip for that exercise.
There are a lot of intricacies that I'm learning from this thread so I appreciate the help.
I decided to step on the scale this morning and it read 181.8. I think I'll be joining you in sub-180 zone soon.
However, after my mini-vacation next week, I predict I'll be super-190.
Psychotext
Member
First leg day in 3 months... which is going to be bad enough, but it's also the hottest day of the year here, and I don't even have a fan. Going to die. =/
Dad bods FTW!I decided to step on the scale this morning and it read 181.8. I think I'll be joining you in sub-180 zone soon.
However, after my mini-vacation next week, I predict I'll be super-190.
So I've become the IF guru at my gym. There are at least 10 people giving it a try now. It started as a joke to most of them. Something I did that was weird and unhealthy. Now with this cut they see my results and have started listening. Funny stuff.
- Status