Do you workout?

[leftace53]

It is also the forum of health, so I figured I'd ask if any comrades workout on a regular basis. What sort of workouts do you do (if any), like cardio/weights, and how often? Talk about yer excersize regime.

[Invincible Summer]

I used to hit the gym a lot, but now I'm trying to focus more on cardio.

I ride my bike maybe 3 times a week depending on how I feel. Distance-wise it depends, but usually ~20km because any longer than that and I tend to get bored. I also ride ~6km/day to campus during the school year. On the non-cycling days, I run ~5km for crosstraining.

On the days that I bike, I usually do some core and upper-body workouts after. If I'm too lazy to bike, I'll just do lunges and squats with dumbbells.

[Widerstand]

I used to ride my bike to School and pretty much all places I can reach within 30min of biking.

Other than that, I practice Parkour (well right now, I'm horribly slacking, but usually about 2 sessions a week). I do some Yoga exercises every day after I wake up, work out three times a week, consisting of a core of Squats, Crunches, Push Ups and Pull Ups (and other things depending on what day, what I feel is needed, etc). I also try to go jogging at least once a week.

[Tavarisch_Mike]

I dont sport so much nowdays, that i used to. But i try to keep myself in shape, i exercise 3-5 times a week, both cardio and weight and i try to variate as much as possible, here where i live we have 2 tracks in the forest thats good for running. One is hilly an d has ruff terrain and the other one is more flat and bette suited for long distances, i use to take a run on both tracks once a week. I think combining body weight exercisses (you know traditional situps, pushups) with lifting freeweights is the best, it will both help to build strength and endurance, i also trie to swim as often i can but now when summer is over im forced to go to the bathhouses wich arnt allways oppend (the local right-wingers made this). Outdoor activities is awsome i love hiking and paddling canoe, in winter skiing and ice skating is nice, i used to play ice hockey but then i realized that i sucked, i think i will re-start my old boxing career now when automn is here. Since i was a kid i have tried to preserve as much as possible of my handstand/handwalking-skills, but it gets harder wen you get heavier, dont know if that counts as a sport ore workout.

[Jazzratt]

I've never really been able to afford the gym (nor can I really commit to that). I do sit-ups, press-ups and the various other simple exercises when I remember and I spend appriximately 25 hours a week lifting and shifting heavy shit. I've never really been into sports, I was asked if I'd be up for trying to play football for one of my local pubs a year or so ago but that wasn't too serious.

[Buitraker]

All of days, when i wake up:
100 sit ups
50 push ups

And 30min running

I hope in October start with Kick Boxing

[Os Cangaceiros]

I sometimes do, but then I eventually get bored with my routine.

[9]

I run a couple miles (mostly) every day.

[Blackscare]

lolnope.

[The Red Next Door]

I am thinking of doing a judo class.

[Gabe87]

I used to do some running but now with this damn heat i can barely breath :blink:

[Sugar Hill Kevis]

If you catch the gym at the right time you can get some awesomely cheap membership deals, all the same though, it shouldn't cost you more than roughly £20pcm for off peak.

I used to be in a better routine, I was going about 6 times a week... I havn't been with any regularity for about a month now because I've been moving around the country a bit. Hopefully going to get that back on track by the time this month is through. It's just been weights/pull up bar recently...

[ComradeOm]

Gym three times a week. Mostly resistance training but nothing serious, just a good way to wake up in the morning. Also get outside for football training or walking/cycling at least once or twice a week

[Il Medico]

I run a mile a day. In fact, I am waiting for the rain to stop so I can go. (I just started this note, but it still counts I suppose.)

Edit: Was just chatting with Niccolo, he recommended doing some weight stuff too. I think I'll add that in. My work out now is only a half an hour.

[leftace53]

yay people actually replied to me :)
I enjoy my GTL as well. I workout 6 days a week, 40 mins cardio, 40 mins weights. Yoga 2 days a week, and I hit up the pool every now and then.
Comrades gotta keep that up for the revolution :thumbup1:

[Chambered Word]

Been going to the school's weights room for a couple of weeks now, just doing free weights. I'm benching 5x5 of 22kg, pretty bad I know, but I could probably go up to 32kg now. I guess I'm still not that strong though. :blushing:

[Reznov]

Every other day me and two of my friends will get together after school and/or work and work out as his apartment which has a gym that we use.

We jog on the running machines, and then do some crunchs, chest work outs and legs on the machine they have in there.

[MrCharizma]

I do muay thai which has a fair bit of ab work in it.
As well as football, basketball and field hockey.
I also do my own stuff at home with skipping and crunches/bridge + other ab work.
So all in all both for me.

[Tablo]

I voted neither.

Used to do a lot of sports(swimming, football, wrestling, baseball, etc..), but now I just sit on my ass. I'm going to start running again this week and probably start lifting weights again.

[Axle]

I bought a Bowflex a year ago and I had been using that three or four times a week, but there is no room for it in my new apartment, so I'm thinking of starting p90x when I can find the money for it.

[I.Drink.Your.Milkshake]

I run for between 35-60 minutes (between 4-7 miles), 5 or 6 days a week, and do about 20/30 minutes weights every day.

[Tablo]

Lol, I planned on running this morning, but I couldn't wake up. D:

[NecroCommie]

Bah! Fitness is a bourgeoisie decadence!

[I.Drink.Your.Milkshake]

Bah! Fitness is a bourgeoisie decadence!

Thats just how the bourgeoisie want you to think. Why do you think they make Sofa's so comfortable?

We're not going to win the war if we need to keep stopping because we're just too knackered to carry on!

"WORKERS OF THE WORLD - TEATIME!"

[Comrade Gwydion]

Yes, I work out, but just as often I work from home.
I also eat out on rare occasions, but the occasions eating at home far outnumber them.

[Tavarisch_Mike]

Bah! Fitness is a bourgeoisie decadence!


No.


http://www.vspa.com/images-posters/Vietnam/china-1960-Officers%20and%20soldiers,%20exercise%20tenaciousl y%20and%20strengthen%20your%20physiques.jpg


http://blog.cleveland.com/andone/2008/08/W11.jpg

[bcbm]

i goto the gym a couple times a week, bike and do situps/pushups at home most days.

[Rjevan]

If the weather was good I used to go to school by bike (18 kilometres/11 miles from where I live) and I still do cycling plus some pushups and a little weightlifting at home, no gym.

[bailey_187]

weights, run and play basketball every few days

[black magick hustla]

beer

[black magick hustla]

i dont have a car or bike so i just walk everywhere does that count.

i used to be in varsity swimming but now...............

[Tower of Bebel]

This year I started running, swimming and cycling. 2009-2010 was a very stressful period. I combine cardiovascular fitness (like running) with muscular endurance exercices (arms, legs and abdominals).

[revolution inaction]

i used to, but recently i just don't seem to get round to working out, i do cycle everywhere though.

[Comrade_Julian]

I walk 2 miles home from school every week day, and I run 2 miles/30 minutes on my treadmill every day.

[Niccolò Rossi]

Each week I spend 3hrs in the gym, 20hrs in the kitchen and 60hrs in bed. I don't 'workout' though, I train for strength. My lifts aren't at competition* level yet, but my training partner is getting pretty close now. Give us another year.

For the comrades who haven't seen me recently, I've put on 15kg in the 8 months since I started lifting.

Also, what's with all the long distance running and cycling, etc?

Nic.

*Powerlifting

[Niccolò Rossi]

Been going to the school's weights room for a couple of weeks now, just doing free weights. I'm benching 5x5 of 22kg, pretty bad I know, but I could probably go up to 32kg now. I guess I'm still not that strong though. :blushing:

All the more reason to keep training! You're very lucky that your school has a weight room. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't start training earlier. School is the perfect environment for lifting. At what kind of job do you start at 9, get a lunch break every 2hrs and finish at 3 in the afternoon!?

Both me and my training partner have a weak bench. What is your squat and deadlift like?

Nic.

[Invincible Summer]

Each week I spend 3hrs in the gym, 20hrs in the kitchen and 60hrs in bed. I don't 'workout' though, I train for strength. My lifts aren't at competition* level yet, but my training partner is getting pretty close now. Give us another year.

For the comrades who haven't seen me recently, I've put on 15kg in the 8 months since I started lifting.

Impressive!


Also, what's with all the long distance running and cycling, etc?

I can only speak for myself, but I stopped lifting weights (or "training for strength" as you prefer to call it :cool:) in exchange for cycling and some running because I found that weightlifting - while it made me stronger - didn't really help me relieve stress. When I run or bike, I can feel much more relaxed (mentally) and it's more peaceful for me.

It's sort of ironic though - I want to start track cycling and lots of track racers also happen to be gym rats. I have to start doing major squats and deadlifts if I want to compete. But it's not like I'll be the next Chris Hoy... unfortunately...

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/imageBank/c/Chris%20Hoy%20legs.jpg

[Niccolò Rossi]

When I run or bike, I can feel much more relaxed (mentally) and it's more peaceful for me.

I can appreciate that. Each to their own.


I have to start doing major squats and deadlifts if I want to compete.This I agree with this. I think heavy compound lifts like squats and deadlifts are the backbone of any serious athletic training regime, unless of course you are a marathon runner or a shooter or a ping pong player...

Also, that's a seriously nice set of wheels.

Nic.

[ComradeOm]

For the comrades who haven't seen me recently, I've put on 15kg in the 8 months since I started liftingImpressive. What's your diet like?

[KC]

I do cardio 6 days a week in the morning before my first meal and lift Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I'm also on a low/no carb diet. I'll probably be on this for another 6-8 weeks then start bulking.

[Niccolò Rossi]

Impressive. What's your diet like?

For the record, I've been at my current weight for a while now. I was ~74kg in December '09 and was tipping 90 by about June. Since then I've more or less maintained the weight, but I have been steadily (albeit very slowly) loosing body fat.

Ideally I eat the same thing or a variation of it everyday:

Meal 1: 4 whole eggs, 1 beef/chicken sausage, 1 tomato, a few mushrooms, 0.25-0.5L Full-fat milk

Meal 2: 280g canned tuna in olive oil, 1 carrot, beans, chickpeas, corn, brown rice (depending if its a gym day or I feel I need it)

Meal 3: 200-300g chicken breast, steamed vegetables

Meal 4: 200g Beef mince, beans, corn, carrot, rice/quinoa

Post-training: 30g whey protein concentrate, 50g dextrose

Meal 5: 200-300g chicken breast, steamed vegetables (Non-training days)
Whole pasta with bolognese sauce or chicken + veg with sweet potato/rice/quinoa (training days)

Meal 6: 20g whey protein concentrate, 20g milk protein isolate (casein)

Add to that another 0.5-1L of full-fat milk distributed throughout the day, multi-vitamin in the morning and some fish oil tabs with each meal. And water, lots of water, minimum about 4L a day.

Not everyday is ideal of course, far from it, tonight becuase I had Italian class straight after uni I didnt have another chicken and veg, had another serve of tuna and extra milk, but you get the idea...

In the months when I first started I wasnt eating nearly this much, despite putting on so much weight. That was largely the result of drinking 3L of full-fat milk a day for about 2 months.


I do cardio 6 days a week in the morning before my first meal and lift Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. I'm also on a low/no carb diet. I'll probably be on this for another 6-8 weeks then start bulking.

Last time I checked you were doing Rippetoe's SS. Still lifting this way? What are your lifts like? How do you find the cardio/low-carb affects them?

Nic.

[KC]

Last time I checked you were doing Rippetoe's SS. Still lifting this way? What are your lifts like? How do you find the cardio/low-carb affects them?I was doing SS for a while but didn't really have any goals aside from being able to continue my progressive increases. I was able to get into contact with a friend who's a personal trainer and hashed out some of my goals and we got a program set up for me.

Back when we got it set up my goal was originally to cut down as much as possible in a five week time span for a spring break vacation, which I was able to do pretty significantly. Then I ate shitty and drank/smoked all day every day for a week for vacation - which ruled - and then after that I had two months of stress finishing up my second major which equaled no dieting/working out plus eating shitty and basically being a pile of shit. So I gained it all back haha.

So a month ago I finally started up another program. My goal currently is simply to cut down while still trying to progressively increase my lifts or at least to maintain some muscle.

My lifting schedule consists of alternating between four different lifting routines:

Routine A
Squat - 2x5, 1x15
Pull Through - 3x10
Barbell Row - 4x6
Barbell Curl - 3x10

Routine B
Decline Bench Press - 2x5
Incline Bench Press - 4x8
Lying Tricep Extension - 3x10
Lateral Raise - 3x10

Routine C
Deadlift - 2x5
Leg Press - 2x15
Wide Grip Chin Up - 4x8
Seated Preacher Curl - 3x10

Routine D
Incline Bench Press - 2x5
Flat Barbell Bench - 3x10
Dumbbell Military Press (seated) - 3x8
V-Bar Push Down - 3x10

My diet consists of five small meals a day. Each meal consists of 6.5 oz of chicken or one can of tuna in water, along with either 1 tablespoon of olive oil or 1 oz of peanut butter. Meal 5 also contains 3 fish oil tablets. I take a multi and a calcium every morning and every other meal (1, 3, 5) I take two green tea capsules.

I need to keep it as simple as possible or I can't stand it. I could never stick to your diet simply because it would be way too much cooking/too many tupperware containers to carry around. I've tried a diet as varied as that before and it just didn't work. With this diet I can just make all of the chicken for the week on Sunday and I'm pretty much set; then the night before I can just throw tomorrow's meals into some containers to take to work. I've basically become so used to this that not only does it not bother me, but I think I'd be completely lost if I didn't do it haha.

Throughout the day I also drink a ton of water, as well as some coffee and diet soda (my only real pleasures haha). If I ever feel I need a carb up then I'll replace one or two of my meals with cheat meals and go grab a sub from Subway or something. This usually only happens once a week or once every other week (although I haven't actually been disciplined enough, so in reality this equates to me getting plastered and eating some pizza haha).

I'm still working on cutting alcohol completely out of my diet, which is really tough because I currently don't have much of a life because of my commitment to this plan hah. Anyways, you have to suffer to make gains so I figure all of this is temporary anyways.

I'll probably continue on this, with a few tweaks, until I'm at where I want to be and then bulk up a little. I don't want to get huge or anything, but I'll figure that out when I get there. I figure that's 6-12 weeks out (4-8 if I can manage to stay on track).


How do you find the cardio/low-carb affects them?Well I've been able to progressively increase all my lifts for the most part on 5-10 lb jumps since I started this a month ago, so it hasn't really affected them at all.

You know, when I first tried the low/zero carb diet back in March for the five week cutting phase prior to spring break I was sick for a day with a headache and almost threw up. Ever since then it hasn't affected my energy levels or my health really at all. I haven't really had a single problem with it. I know some people get really fucked up from it, but it hasn't bothered me one bit.

[Niccolò Rossi]

My diet consists of five small meals a day. Each meal consists of 6.5 oz of chicken or one can of tuna in water, along with either 1 tablespoon of olive oil or 1 oz of peanut butter. Meal 5 also contains 3 fish oil tablets. I take a multi and a calcium every morning and every other meal (1, 3, 5) I take two green tea capsules.

I need to keep it as simple as possible or I can't stand it. I could never stick to your diet simply because it would be way too much cooking/too many tupperware containers to carry around. I've tried a diet as varied as that before and it just didn't work. With this diet I can just make all of the chicken for the week on Sunday and I'm pretty much set; then the night before I can just throw tomorrow's meals into some containers to take to work. I've basically become so used to this that not only does it not bother me, but I think I'd be completely lost if I didn't do it haha.

To be honest, I agree with you that the cooking is alot of work. It's not too bad though. On Sunday I cook up a big batch of mince and rice/quinoa and freeze it in seperate containers. The chicken I just cook the night before. Also, becuase I go to uni later in the morning this semester I have time to cook and eat proper brekkie (which I've actually gotten pretty good at, it only take me 10mins and that includes poaching the sausages).

The containers are also pretty hard. It means my bag weight a ton in the morning if I got a long day at uni.

I've never tried just eating the same thing for every meal, I've always chosen to get as much variety as possible. I've got nothing against it really, maybe I'll give 4 chicken and veg a go one day...


Throughout the day I also drink a ton of water, as well as some coffee and diet soda (my only real pleasures haha).

The only time I generally feel the need to drink soda is if I'm having a some nasty fast-food cheat meal. Honestly, I find the idea of drinking it at any other time really repulsive. You see so many kids on uni who practically live off coke and energy drinks. It just gives me a fucking headache thinking about it.


I'm still working on cutting alcohol completely out of my diet, which is really tough because I currently don't have much of a life because of my commitment to this plan hah.

This is a big one for me actually. I've been dry for 4 months now. It's really tough with friends and parties and stuff. I find it really hard to go, not drink, leave early, etc. which means I've chosen to opt out of a couple as of late. Unfortunately you do have to make some sacrifice, so long as you are still allow yourself to enjoy these things in moderation (speaking of which I'm long overdue it seems!)

Nic.

[9]

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/imageBank/c/Chris%20Hoy%20legs.jpg

in terms of the level of physical attractiveness, this look ranks somewhere between goyders and obesity.

[Niccolò Rossi]

in terms of the level of physical attractiveness, this look ranks somewhere between goyders and obesity.

Serious!?

I have a real thing for legs. On men and women. I am constantly looking at peoples legs - on the street, on campus, on the platform at the station, in the gym... I don't like to think of myself as judgemental, but I definitely judge people by their legs. Legs tell you alot about a person. What they eat, whether they play sport, if so, what sport...

More women need to squat and deadlift! Shapely and (dare I say!) muscular legs are hot.

I'll stop before I get carried away.

Nic.

[Niccolò Rossi]

http://www.bandastrength.com/andy/img/legs1.jpg

A work of art

[Niccolò Rossi]

No one can resist Stoitsov

http://nodiets.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/ivan-stoitsov.jpg

[Die Rote Fahne]

I only recently started going to the gym.

Apart from that I go for the occasional jog.

[Invincible Summer]

in terms of the level of physical attractiveness, this look ranks somewhere between goyders and obesity.

I realize the picture I posted of Chris Hoy's legs are a bit extreme, but I'm pretty sure that was taken just after a race so it's much more vascular than usual.





A work of art


Is that you? :lol:


But I totally agree on the leg front. There's nothing more attractive and telling about a person than how fit their legs look. I laugh when I see guys who obviously lift a lot for upper body and have stilts for legs.

I'm a judgmental bastard.

[Niccolò Rossi]

Is that you? :lol:

Oh crap, we have a policy against posting pictures don't we? Haha, I wish. The guys name is Andy Ruse.

Regarding people commenting on athletes physiques - Even if for the sake of argument we agree that highly developed quads are unattractive, it really erks me that people always feel the need to comment on it.

News flash - when you're an elite athlete your priority isn't looking attractive, it's performing at the highest level you can.

Nic.

[Reznov]

I've been running and doing push ups for the past couple of weeks.

Mainly because I am fodn of the idea of just using "natural" ways of working out.

Anybody know any other good exercises that dont require you to spend any money on weights or anything like that? (Like push-ups, sit ups?)

[KC]

What's the point? You won't get stronger unless you increase the weight.

[Niccolò Rossi]

What's the point? You won't get stronger unless you increase the weight.

You know I agree with you, but I think you are off the mark on this one. Reznov didn't mention anything about getting stronger. Unfortunately, you can't decide someones goals for them.


I've been running and doing push ups for the past couple of weeks.

Mainly because I am fodn of the idea of just using "natural" ways of working out.

Anybody know any other good exercises that dont require you to spend any money on weights or anything like that? (Like push-ups, sit ups?)

What are your goals, Reznov? Are you just looking to get more fit? To get strong? To improve your physique? To get better at a particular sport?
Any advice is dependant on this.

Also for the record, there's not anything 'unnatural' about weight training. Un-economical, maybe. Either way, humans have been lifting heavy shit since the dawn of time. Matter of fact, I'm pretty sure our ancestors didn't spend their days doing push ups, chins and dips...

[ComradeOm]

Oh crap, we have a policy against posting pictures don't we? Haha, I wish. The guys name is Andy RuseThat's good in that it averts all sorts of questions as to why you were taking pictures of your legs and, more importantly, who was holding the camera ;)

I do admire you guys who can stick to a punishing programme like that. Personally I've always lacked the time, money, and, most importantly, discipline to really go about building mass or strength in that fashion. Its not the gym (a few hours a week is easy) but what comes after that defeats me

To be honest, I'm not sure I want to pay the price. I know a few guys on these sorts of schedules (eating specific food every two hours, etc) and it does cut into their social lives

[bricolage]

I went running today, no more than I usually do and not really that far, but anyway, and this has happened before, I got a sharp pain (not that painful mind) in my lower teeth by the gum, sort of like it might be an acidic build up or something but I'm probably just talking out of my arse here. It's not really an issue, I'm just a bit curious as to what its about, anyone got any ideas?

[Niccolò Rossi]

I do admire you guys who can stick to a punishing programme like that. Personally I've always lacked the time, money, and, most importantly, discipline to really go about building mass or strength in that fashion. Its not the gym (a few hours a week is easy) but what comes after that defeats me

To be honest, I'm not sure I want to pay the price. I know a few guys on these sorts of schedules (eating specific food every two hours, etc) and it does cut into their social lives

You are completely right. I respect peoples decision whether or not they dedicate themselves to their training or whether they train casually. What I hate is the vast majority of commercial gym goers who just fuck around, vacilitating between illusions of being a bodybuilder, wasting hours in the gym doing rediculous isolation and machine routines, putting out tons of money on expensive supplements and then decide not to go for 3 weeks, sleep 4 hrs a night and get pissed 3 days a week. There's a big difference and there's nothing wrong with what you are doing!

Regarding sacrfices, the money side is definately real. I will say, its often not as bad as it is made out to be. Buying processed junk and eating out often costs alot of money! Likewise, the money you save on things like booze and cigarettes can also be counted. With the social side of things, this is also true. What I think is really important and what most lifters find out pretty quickly is the importance of a community of lifters. You end up spending alot of time with training partners and other lifters and for obvious reasons, its convenient and not only that but to get strong/big you need to be around strong/big guys.

Nic.

[Reznov]

You know I agree with you, but I think you are off the mark on this one. Reznov didn't mention anything about getting stronger. Unfortunately, you can't decide someones goals for them.



What are your goals, Reznov? Are you just looking to get more fit? To get strong? To improve your physique? To get better at a particular sport?
Any advice is dependant on this.

Also for the record, there's not anything 'unnatural' about weight training. Un-economical, maybe. Either way, humans have been lifting heavy shit since the dawn of time. Matter of fact, I'm pretty sure our ancestors didn't spend their days doing push ups, chins and dips...

Well, I guess im just trying to get more fit, strong, improving physique and getting better at a particular sport.

Serouisly though, I would like to get more energy and not getting so tired all the time, also, i would like to have a more "defined" muscles in my arms and chest/stomach area.

Are push ups not good to do? Doing these dont do anything? I like doing them because I dont have to spend money on weights. I didnt mean natrual in that kind of sense, but that I just used my body and not spending money on weight machines or things like that.

And, what do you suggest comrade?

[Niccolò Rossi]

Serouisly though, I would like to get more energy and not getting so tired all the time

Excercise uses energy and makes you tired. If you want to be less tired, get more sleep and eat good food (not high GI carbs/sugars, caffeine and other stimulants).


i would like to have a more "defined" muscles in my arms and chest/stomach area.

Definition corresponds to body-fat levels. The lower your body fat the more 'defined' your muscle appear. Loosing weight is a pretty simple equation: eat less calories than your burn. Eating small meals often, ensuring lean protein intake and aerobic excericise will ensure that your weight loss will primarily come from loosing fat and not muscle!


And, what do you suggest comrade?

If you are limited to body weight excerices, their are literally hundreds you can do (let alone the variations on each of these excerices!): push ups, chin ups, pull ups, dips, inverted rows, crunches, reverse crunches, hanging pikes, L-sits, planks, lunges, squats, burpees...

Nic.

[KC]

To be honest, I'm not sure I want to pay the price. I know a few guys on these sorts of schedules (eating specific food every two hours, etc) and it does cut into their social lives

The success in your program is designing it so that it fits around your life. Generally the level of intensity of your program will determine how much it disrupts your life, so you can choose a relatively simple program that will simply take longer to reach your goals. Most people are fine with that as it is easy to get used to and once you do so it's easy to stick to.

I don't know anyone that is intense enough where they have to eat every two hours, although I do know that some probably can get that nuts into it. I'm not really a "bodybuilder" so I wouldn't know. But I've managed to schedule everything right into my day: Meal 1 is breakfast, meals 2 and 3 are eaten on my lunch break and break, meal 4 after I get home from work and meal 5 in the evening before bed. It actually works great.

That's the challenge in setting up a program - getting it so that it works for you, and where it's intense enough that you'll see results but not too intense where it disrupts your life to the point where you won't be able to tolerate sticking to it.


You are completely right. I respect peoples decision whether or not they dedicate themselves to their training or whether they train casually. What I hate is the vast majority of commercial gym goers who just fuck around, vacilitating between illusions of being a bodybuilder, wasting hours in the gym doing rediculous isolation and machine routines, putting out tons of money on expensive supplements and then decide not to go for 3 weeks, sleep 4 hrs a night and get pissed 3 days a week. There's a big difference and there's nothing wrong with what you are doing!I know quite a few people that claim to work out regularly but really only work out when they get that burst of inspiration (i.e. once a week, if that), bust their ass hardcore and then the next day go right back to eating shit and being lazy. It's sad because they're just spinning wheels and getting nowhere.

I hate when morons take a half hour on the rack. That shit is straight annoying, especially because my gym only has one. I mean it's acceptable if you're doing multiple workouts, but when you're doing like 3 warm up sets, 3-5 work sets and then a few drop sets while taking a few minutes in between each to rest and check yourself out in the mirror that's about when I feel like stabbing you in the face.




Regarding sacrfices, the money side is definately real. I will say, its often not as bad as it is made out to be. Buying processed junk and eating out often costs alot of money! Likewise, the money you save on things like booze and cigarettes can also be counted.

I buy boneless skinless chicken breast when it is on sale. I'll buy enough to fill my freezer so I can last until the next sale. I buy the cheapest canned tuna. Peanut butter and olive oil are whatever, and I'll buy wing sauce and spice packets when they're on sale as well. That, coupled with not paying to eat out and not buying drinks and I save a ton of money when I stick to my diet.

You could add in the multi's, calcium, green tea capsules and fish oil capsules and I'd still be way under budget. Even if I buy supps I'm still under. People think that eating healthy is more expensive because the healthier processed foods generally are more expensive, but if you cook yourself then it's way cheaper. Also buying on sales and in bulk helps.


Are push ups not good to do? Doing these dont do anything? I like doing them because I dont have to spend money on weights. I didnt mean natrual in that kind of sense, but that I just used my body and not spending money on weight machines or things like that.

Push ups won't do anything in terms of lowering body fat or increasing muscle mass. If you're interested in getting "more defined" then you'll need to cut down. Do cardio every morning before the first meal of your day, decrease your carb intake and up your protein/healthy fat intake and devise some kind of lifting plan to help you maintain muscle mass. In this situation there are plenty of body weight exercises you can do, but don't expect to get stronger by doing push ups.

[9]

http://www.morningtoast.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads//2010/01/hulk-hogan-image.jpg

[Reznov]

Excercise uses energy and makes you tired. If you want to be less tired, get more sleep and eat good food (not high GI carbs/sugars, caffeine and other stimulants).



Definition corresponds to body-fat levels. The lower your body fat the more 'defined' your muscle appear. Loosing weight is a pretty simple equation: eat less calories than your burn. Eating small meals often, ensuring lean protein intake and aerobic excericise will ensure that your weight loss will primarily come from loosing fat and not muscle!



If you are limited to body weight excerices, their are literally hundreds you can do (let alone the variations on each of these excerices!): push ups, chin ups, pull ups, dips, inverted rows, crunches, reverse crunches, hanging pikes, L-sits, planks, lunges, squats, burpees...

Nic.

Alright, so jogging reguraly to lose weight. Cutting down on junk food intake. (Is it a good idea to run everyday?)

And doing a lot of body weight exercises.

So far so good?

[9]

I went running today, no more than I usually do and not really that far, but anyway, and this has happened before, I got a sharp pain (not that painful mind) in my lower teeth by the gum, sort of like it might be an acidic build up or something but I'm probably just talking out of my arse here. It's not really an issue, I'm just a bit curious as to what its about, anyone got any ideas?

I actually had a cavity not that long ago, and when I'd go running in the morning*, breathing in and out the cold air was mildly painful because of it. I don't know if maybe that could be the problem?

*I live near Seattle, and even in the summer, the mornings are pretty cold

[Niccolò Rossi]

Alright, so jogging reguraly to lose weight. Cutting down on junk food intake. (Is it a good idea to run everyday?)

And doing a lot of body weight exercises.

So far so good?

Listen to KC.

Nic.

[Niccolò Rossi]

I hate when morons take a half hour on the rack. That shit is straight annoying, especially because my gym only has one. I mean it's acceptable if you're doing multiple workouts, but when you're doing like 3 warm up sets, 3-5 work sets and then a few drop sets while taking a few minutes in between each to rest and check yourself out in the mirror that's about when I feel like stabbing you in the face.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E58g-3K_wtY&feature=player_embedded

0:30

Nic.

[FreeFocus]

Not much that I can add, KC and Nic are pretty well-versed in this.

To answer the OP though, I do workout. I do boxing, BJJ and MMA (Muay Thai as well, up until recently). I also lift, swim and do some cardio. I am looking to incorporate Oly lifts soon too, to improve my explosiveness and power.

[jaffe]

I already work ou,t 2/3 times thaiboxing in the week but now I also joined a fitnessgym. Do people have any advice how to combinate those things?

I was thinking about something like this

monday: thaiboxing
tuesday: fitness
wednesday: thaiboxing
thrusday: fitness
friday: thaiboxing
saturday: rest
sunday fitness

And follow this (or something similar to this programme)

http://www.defrancostraining.com/articles/38-articles/60-westside-for-skinny-bastards-part1.html

[Niccolò Rossi]

And follow this (or something similar to this programme)

http://www.defrancostraining.com/articles/38-articles/60-westside-for-skinny-bastards-part1.html

DeFranco's stuff is pretty on the money as I understand it. Personally stuff like 'Westside for skinny bastards' always seemed overly complex to me (I mean, grip training... really?) but it is certainly the type of training programme that will compliment your sporting pursuits. Saying that, so long as you focus on heavy compound lifts and you're not going to the gym 5 days a week and wearing down your body doing a dumb wanna-be bodybuilder isolation routine, your performance as a fighter will improve.

Saying that, my knowledge of sports specific training programmes is pretty limited. With the extent of my knowledge, as a fighter I would encourage you to include as many explosive strength movements such as power cleans, push presses, kettlebell snatches, etc. in preference to corresponding slow lifts within the limits of your programme.

Nic.

[Magón]

I usually do an hours jog around my neighborhood and then do some pushups, and sit-ups when I get home every morning before classes start. I also do some Capoeira for the hell of it, but not as much as I used to when I was a teenager. Back then I was obsessed with Capoeira, and used to have a neighbor from Brazil train me in it. That was fun.

[Invader Zim]

I go running, and use a cross trainer at the gym. Currently doing around 30/40 miles a week, one way or the other. Usually 3/4 trips of 10 or so miles each. I should really try to get it to at least a regular 13 to get m,yself upto half-marathon standard... but those last three miles are a real pain (literally).

[∞]

I'm pretty sure masturbation should count, I sweat alot.

[F9]

Not much that I can add, KC and Nic are pretty well-versed in this.

To answer the OP though, I do workout. I do boxing, BJJ and MMA (Muay Thai as well, up until recently). I also lift, swim and do some cardio. I am looking to incorporate Oly lifts soon too, to improve my explosiveness and power.

Cool, all those MA?I always wanted to join one, but they all want some ridiculous money to allow you to their gym:rolleyes:, frankly my uni gives free kick boxing lessons, and i think i my get to them(time issues is the thing "stoping" me), kick boxing wouldnt be my first choice, Muay Thai seems more interesting(despite the non so many differences) and MMA does seem very interesting, but yeah thats a bit high "goal" for now;)I want to also combine it with basketball, due to an injury and some "conflicts" didnt manage it last year to compete, i hope to manage it this year though, and do both :)

[FreeFocus]

Cool, all those MA?I always wanted to join one, but they all want some ridiculous money to allow you to their gym:rolleyes:, frankly my uni gives free kick boxing lessons, and i think i my get to them(time issues is the thing "stoping" me), kick boxing wouldnt be my first choice, Muay Thai seems more interesting(despite the non so many differences) and MMA does seem very interesting, but yeah thats a bit high "goal" for now;)I want to also combine it with basketball, due to an injury and some "conflicts" didnt manage it last year to compete, i hope to manage it this year though, and do both :)

Yeah, that's sweet man. It's definitely a sacrifice training MMA, a lot of gyms charge a decent amount, but it's important enough to me that I cut back on other things. Take advantage of those free kickboxing classes, if you ever do MT you'll have at least some understanding of the mechanics of some of the kicks and angles. Plus, you're still learning how to defend yourself.

I play basketball casually, but I'm a pretty big NBA fan lol.

[Invader Zim]

I'm pretty sure masturbation should count, I sweat alot.

Does that mean sex counts too?

[ComradeOm]

And follow this (or something similar to this programme)

http://www.defrancostraining.com/articles/38-articles/60-westside-for-skinny-bastards-part1.htmlOne thing that caught my eye was this "max effort" lark. Can anyone elaborate?

[Niccolò Rossi]

One thing that caught my eye was this "max effort" lark. Can anyone elaborate?

What is a lark?

Nic.

[ComradeOm]

My mistake, lapsed into vernacular there. To rephrase, the article in question mentions 'max effort' training in passing. I have a rough idea as to what this is but can anyone elaborate on the concept?

[Niccolò Rossi]

My mistake, lapsed into vernacular there. To rephrase, the article in question mentions 'max effort' training in passing. I have a rough idea as to what this is but can anyone elaborate on the concept?

Right, well firstly it should be kept in mind that the westside method of training was first developed by Louie Simmons of Westside Barbell. This style of training is designed to cater specificly to elite level powerlifters who are competing equipped. In this capacity it has been enormously successful.

Joe DeFranco's 'West Side for Skinny Bastards' is a modification of the Westside method to suit high school and college level athletes. As such there are some pretty noticable differences (the replacement of 'dynamic' days with 'repition' days, only a single lower body day, etc.)

By max effort what is meant is maximal strength, in other words, lifting the heaviest weight possible for a given number of reps (always low - 1,3 or 5).

Unless you are an athlete, if you are a novice or casual lifter, westside templates, be they modified or not, are unnecessarily complex and ineffective.

Squat three times a week, bench, deadlift, press overhead - rinse and repeat.

Nic.

[JosefStalinator]

No time to workout anymore.... ugh