The general rule is: if you think they're on, they most likely are.

I would guess hardly any of it going on at my gym. Not much body building going on. 

posted by Automatik

The general rule is: if you think they're on, they most likely are.

How many tv/movie actors do you think are juicing?  Not the bodybuilder extras they bring in when they need a background thug or meathead, but major roles.  Maybe not regular users, but I'd bet if a guy has a movie where he wants to be ripped he hits the PED's hard with a trainer for 6 months prior to shooting.

posted by gut

How many tv/movie actors do you think are juicing?  Not the bodybuilder extras they bring in when they need a background thug or meathead, but major roles.  Maybe not regular users, but I'd bet if a guy has a movie where he wants to be ripped he hits the PED's hard with a trainer for 6 months prior to shooting.

I agree.  The results are too tempting to not do it.  

posted by friendfromlowry

I would guess hardly any of it going on at my gym. Not much body building going on. 

You're probably right.  Man, there were a lot of guys at just this one LA Fitness who looked like that too.  Is there that many competitive bodybuilders or are these just guys who want to be ripped?  

posted by gut

How many tv/movie actors do you think are juicing?  Not the bodybuilder extras they bring in when they need a background thug or meathead, but major roles.  Maybe not regular users, but I'd bet if a guy has a movie where he wants to be ripped he hits the PED's hard with a trainer for 6 months prior to shooting.

I’d say a lot. 

But the constant trainer / perfect diet definitely helps. 

I wonder why Americans are so unhealthy

Water, Pea Protein, Refined Coconut Oil, Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil, Natural Flavors, Dried Yeast, Spices, Rice Protein, Methylcellulose, Chicory Root Fiber, Salt, Paprika, Yeast Extract [niacin (Vitamin B3), pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), thiamin hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), riboflavin (Vitamin B2), folic acid (Vitamin B9), cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)], Sugar, Garlic Powder, Vinegar, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Onion Powder, Sunflower Lecithin, Extracts of Rosemary.

https://www.pizzahut.com/c/content/beyond-meat-pizzas/index.html

Mmm Pizza Hut 

Don’t workout much but need to start regular 2 or 3 days a week.

Anyone have a good plan for general weight room training?

Don’t workout much but need to start regular 2 or 3 days a week.

Anyone have a good plan for general weight room training?

Don’t workout much but need to start regular 2 or 3 days a week.

Anyone have a good plan for general weight room training?

posted by Fletch

Don’t workout much but need to start regular 2 or 3 days a week.

Anyone have a good plan for general weight room training?

https://stronglifts.com/5x5/#Overview

So in the spirit of the new year....who's getting fit?

I'm close to 200lb. Oops. This is not good, normal weight is around 180-185. I haven't weighed that much since college over a decade ago. But I was also jacked af then and moving serious weight. Not the case now. Sedentary winter and eating like a machine. 

I'm back to working out in front of the TV. Just started the free trial of Apple Fitness+. I still don't love class formats, but it's effective. I've only done 3 workouts and they kicked my ass royally. 

I don't see myself going back to a gym anytime soon, so I have to make do with what I got. I can't wait for the weather to turn to get back on the bike. Or I just need to get sack up, get better gear and ride in the cold.

Haven't stopped lifting during Covid but tweaked my left shoulder so have had to kind of baby it on bench presses.

Was able to obtain a pull up tower, so no longer need to go to gym except to swim

Today is usually the worst day of the year to be at a gym, wondering with virus fear relavent, if it is still crowded with the New Years Resolution newcomers?  Remember it will die down each week, and by mid February, it will be just  regulars

Backed off of the heavy the last few months to focus on form

Curious how many of you lift barefoot?  Feel much more on the chain especially with squats and deadlifts

posted by Verbal Kint

Was able to obtain a pull up tower, so no longer need to go to gym except to swim

Today is usually the worst day of the year to be at a gym, wondering with virus fear relavent, if it is still crowded with the New Years Resolution newcomers?  Remember it will die down each week, and by mid February, it will be just  regulars

Backed off of the heavy the last few months to focus on form

Curious how many of you lift barefoot?  Feel much more on the chain especially with squats and deadlifts

I used to wear Vibrams (essentially barefoot) and loved it.

Started lifting for real 18 months ago.  Lost 40 lbs, and had hip replaced in February 2020 - had to lose the weight before the bone doc would do the procedure.  Good recovery, ready to go back to the gym - then Covid hit and the gym we went to has been closed since.  

Just started back a week ago at a new gym that operates sensibly.  Hello, DOMS, my old friend.  Should take a month or two before I can start going moderately hard again, I blame being 62.  By then my other hip should be just about ready to go  out, lol. 

I try different programs for working out.  Over quarantine, I started doing a program called Stronglifts, which was basic 5x5 barbell lifts and no cardio.  I did it for abouit 3 months, and it wasn't for me.  Mostly because I'm 50 and my joints can't take heavy lifting like they used to.  Also, I'm more concerned about keeping a healthy heart as I age, so I wanted more work on that front.

I came across a book called Ready, Set, Go Synergy Fitness by Phil Campbell.  He is not a very good writer - that's for sure.  But if you can look past that, there's a lot of great stuff therein.  He talks a lot about training fast-twitch muscle along with slow-twitch, about natural HGH production, about a strong heart, and about bone strength.  He cites a lot of research and bases his recommendations on that.  I have been doing his program for about two months now, and I really like it.  It consists of three lifts per week, three sprint workouts per week and one steady state cardio per week.  Sounds like a lot, but it can be done over five days easily.  The sprint workouts are really tough, but I like the overall program and it is good for guys who are in my age group and may want to lesson the heavy lifting and get some good heart work in.  

Here's a link if you want it. 

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

It consists of three lifts per week, three sprint workouts per week and one steady state cardio per week.  Sounds like a lot, but it can be done over five days easily.  The sprint workouts are really tough, but I like the overall program and it is good for guys who are in my age group and may want to lesson the heavy lifting and get some good heart work in.  

Here's a link if you want it. 

No link.  Stating because I'd actually be interested in reviewing his theory/philosophy

Sounds 82% similar to what I do, curious if performing 7 workouts into 5 days, when you double up, how does that look for the day?  i.e. lift before or after cardio?, time frame between the different workloads?

posted by Verbal Kint

No link.  Stating because I'd actually be interested in reviewing his theory/philosophy

Sounds 82% similar to what I do, curious if performing 7 workouts into 5 days, when you double up, how does that look for the day?  i.e. lift before or after cardio?, time frame between the different workloads?

https://www.readysetgofitness.com/

First of all, how many workouts your do per week will depend upon how you assess your fitness state when you begin.  There are 5 categories.  Category 5 is for someone in elite shape; 1 is for someone who hasn't worked out in forever.  I'm on level 4 not because I'm in tip top shape, but because I've consistently worked out for years and my body is used to it.  As I said earlier, I am 50 years old.  I don't have any injuries, but I suffer greatly when I do a "heavy" lift program.  

The backbone of this program is the sprint interval cardio.  On day s where lifting and cardio are both on the schedule, you do the cardio first.    

Here is another link to the actual workout plans from the book:

https://www.readysetgofitness.com/plans.shtml

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

https://www.readysetgofitness.com/

The backbone of this program is the sprint interval cardio.  On day s where lifting and cardio are both on the schedule, you do the cardio first.    

Here is another link to the actual workout plans from the book:

https://www.readysetgofitness.com/plans.shtml

That makes sense that the endurance cardio day stands alone  

Not sure about the sprints before the lifts, I don't think it wise to go zone 2 distance training prior to lifting, a 20 minute HIIT or sprint is not as bad IMHO.  Either way, one will suffer a bit from natural fatigue 

I assume that the stretch is dynamic and not static since it is before sprints?

posted by Verbal Kint

That makes sense that the endurance cardio day stands alone  

Not sure about the sprints before the lifts, I don't think it wise to go zone 2 distance training prior to lifting, a 20 minute HIIT or sprint is not as bad IMHO.  Either way, one will suffer a bit from natural fatigue 

I assume that the stretch is dynamic and not static since it is before sprints?

Yes, dynamic stretching.  Static stretching can be added at the end.  For me, the sprints before lifting is okay because of my goals.  But I don't think it's that strict - in tha you couldn't switch the order around to suit your personal goals.  

Doing the sprint part the way its outlined, is a monster though.  

Can you go into more detail what the sprint/cardio workout entails? 

posted by friendfromlowry

Can you go into more detail what the sprint/cardio workout entails? 

3 days per week you do what the author calls a Sprint 8. It can be done outside sprinting or on any piece of cardio equipment. It's a three minute warmup as prescribed ( although I do a 10 minute warmup because 3 is too short for me) followed by 8 sets of 30 second all out sprint followed by 90 seconds of active recovery. The 30 seconds have to be of such an effort that doing 31 seconds is simply not possible. I do mine on the elliptical.  By the 4th or 5th sprint, you've gotten your heart rate up close to it's maximum. There is then a 3 minute cool down after the last sprint. If you do all 8 as hard as you can - well that's a man's workout. 

On top of these three, you do one day of 30 minutes steady state cardio just to work on endurance.