Help from all the fitness dudes of the OC

• I Wear Pants

  sleeper;1195548 wrote:Squats are the best exercise but they don't target the vanity muscles as much as people would like.

  And vanity muscles are only the concern of the bros. Functional strength is where it's at.
• Raw Dawgin' it

  

  I Wear Pants;1195557 wrote:And vanity muscles are only the concern of the bros. Functional strength is where it's at.

  Doing squats has helped with all other exercises for me. Legs and core feel much more stable when i do overhead presses, rows, and deadlifts.
• I Wear Pants

  For anyone wondering, yes, squats are a miracle exercise.
• BR1986FB

  If you squat heavy you're going to get bigger muscles all around. Now they may not have that "beach guido" definition but they will help add overall mass.
• Automatik

  

  +1 squats being the shit. I neglected doing "big exercises" for legs...squats, deads, etc for a while and I'm glad to be back at it. They've helped me in several areas.
  
  Squats have definitely helped me in the ab/core area, but if you want definition....that starts in the kitchen.
• Glory Days

  

  Automatik;1195568 wrote: but if you want definition....that starts in the kitchen.

  False, the woman starts it in the kitchen, you finish it at the dining table!
• Automatik

  

  Glory Days;1195571 wrote:False, the woman starts it in the kitchen, you finish it at the dining table!

  lol.....zing!!
• sleeper

  

  BR1986FB;1195554 wrote:But they will boost natural testosterone helping those vanity muscles grow.

  I Wear Pants;1195557 wrote:And vanity muscles are only the concern of the bros. Functional strength is where it's at.

  I don't disagree with any of these statements. Most people work out to get big muscles to impress women. I work out to gain strength.
  
  I let my wallet and stunning good looks impress the women. If that doesn't work, I got my OSU degree.
• Azubuike24

  

  Very involved thread. While I could probably fill the pages with discussion, if there are three things to say, here's what I'll add:
  
  1. High-quality diet. Nutrients are nutrients. Eat the most natural food with the highest nutrient "bang for your buck" content. People can research this stuff, while opinions will differ, most of the time, the numbers don't lie. High quality protein (from the right sources), fats and a variety of vegetables. Many other things like sprouted grains, dairy, nuts/seeds, bean, etc...are largely based on how each person handles them.
  
  2. Fuel your activity with food. There is no perfect way to exercise. Some is better than none. Too much can be just as bad than none, and if you end up in the same unhealthy state, it doesn't matter. Much of this is based on how you feel and perform. If you need to tweak the diet for this, go for it.
  
  3. Be aware that 1 and 2 may conflict. Get to know yourself. Do what makes you happy. Realize there are trade-offs. React accordingly. Don't preach or talk down to others. There isn't a single-best answer or way or approach. Let the way you live your life, your performance, your health markers, everything, speak for itself. It will pay off.
• sleeper

  

  Sorry Azu, but I disagree with point 3. We need to get people to understand that their methods are BS and cut the shit with the "do what makes you happy BS". Talking down to others is a liberal yuppy mentality, its time to give people the truth rather than some fairy tale to make them feel better about themselves.
  
  This country is fucked.
• birddog23

  I deadlift 365, Back Sqaut 325, and bench 195...oh wait, its not wanna of those types of threads? Darn it!
• Azubuike24

  

  sleeper;1195663 wrote:Sorry Azu, but I disagree with point 3. We need to get people to understand that their methods are BS and cut the **** with the "do what makes you happy BS". Talking down to others is a liberal yuppy mentality, its time to give people the truth rather than some fairy tale to make them feel better about themselves.
  
  This country is ****ed.

  I agree bro. When I say "do what makes you happy", I say it with a caveat. If you're NOT happy, the only one to blame is yourself. If it's not working, fix it. There is no magic bullet. There is no secret formula. In the end, we're all responsible for ourselves.
• sleeper

  

  Azubuike24;1195683 wrote:I agree bro. When I say "do what makes you happy", I say it with a caveat. If you're NOT happy, the only one to blame is yourself. If it's not working, fix it. There is no magic bullet. There is no secret formula. In the end, we're all responsible for ourselves.

  Couldn't agree more.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  BR1986FB;1195486 wrote:I'll pm ya.

  Reps when I can.
• killer_ewok

  

  justincredible;1195210 wrote:Just wanted to drop in and leave a reminder to keep the disagreement on walking/running civil.

  
  Filed under "Shit you never dreamt you would say. Ever."
• justincredible

  

  killer_ewok;1195788 wrote:Filed under "Shit you never dreamt you would say. Ever."

  Lol, indeed.
• Mr. 300

  

  BR, PM me that info too. This has been very educational.
  
  My overall approach has been good with the diet as well as my exercise. The inches are coming off, but it's time to step it up a bit to tone and define. Will take all of this to heart, except what CC says....
• 2kool4skool

  

  You're a gym teacher bro. When someone needs advice on being the target of adolescent ridicule, I'm sure they'll come to you.
• Automatik

  

  ccrunner609;1196014 wrote:but what you dont know is everything i have done.

  I bet you received several Cs in English. :laugh:
• DeadliestWarrior34

  

  Mr. 300;1195893 wrote:BR, PM me that info too. This has been very educational.
  
  My overall approach has been good with the diet as well as my exercise. The inches are coming off, but it's time to step it up a bit to tone and define. Will take all of this to heart, except what CC says....

  Toning and defining is what women try to do. Just lift like a normal person.
• I Wear Pants

  DeadliestWarrior34;1196146 wrote:Toning and defining is what women try to do. Just lift like a normal person.

  If women would actually "lift like a normal person" they would get toned and defined.
  
  Lifting more than a 3lb weight isn't all of a sudden going to turn you into a roid monster but you hear shit like that from girls all the time. Silly really.
  
  But if you seriously care about your program or have questions about it find someone with the letters ACSM, CSCS, or CSCCA behind thier name because they'll know what they're talking about.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  DeadliestWarrior34;1196146 wrote:Toning and defining is what women try to do.

  No it's not.
• rmolin73

  

  2kool4skool;1195977 wrote:You're a gym teacher bro. When someone needs advice on being the target of adolescent ridicule, I'm sure they'll come to you.

  Automatik;1196047 wrote:I bet you received several Cs in English. :laugh:

  Reps to both of ya!