Any avid weight lifters here?

[bmwman91]

Just wondering who else is into it. It is a lot cheaper than the car as far as a hobby, and I definitely enjoy being in good shape. I work part time as a fitness trainer of the Olympic lifts at my college's gym, and as a front-desk bitch.

I do not/will never use Creatine/N02/and other performance 'enhancer.' Just a personal preference. My goals are to be as strong as possible while keeping size & weight to a minimum. I guess I do it from a purely functional standpoint, and I enjoy having strength, flexibility, and maneuverability (I like being able to scratch my head still lol) all at once. I DO take Whey Protein and some Amino Acid tabs, along with a multivitamin and glucosamine-chondroitin pills for my joints. They are just a meal supplement on top of my regular balanced diet.

Anyway, for those here who are into it, what all are your goals (do not think I am on a high horse about not taking Creatine/etc., everyone has their individual goals)? What sorts of diets are you on?

I guess just to add some details:
Weight: 162lbs
Height: 6' 1"
Heaviest 5-rep Romanian Deadlift: 130kg
Heaviest 5-rep Clean & Jerk: 80kg
Heaviest 5-rep REAL Squat (ALL the way down...as in sitting on my heels): 200lb
Heaviest 5-rep Flat Dumbell Press: 90lb Dumbells

There are the ones I guess most people would post up & compare. These numbers should be increasing fairly rapidly soon...I just recovered from an overstressing injury on my right bicep's tendon (dont try too many 1-arm pull-ups, it's bad for you :( ) How is everyone else here?

And if anyone reading this WANTS to get into it, but does not know where to start I can hook you up with some routines. Also, check out these sites. Reall ALL the way through them (it'll take about 2 hours). WELL WORTH IT. The Grad Assistant at the gym made them, and he is VERY knowledgable! Be SURE to read the Anatomy & Phys, and Biomechanics sections. They disspell a LOT of myths.

http://www.efitnessonline.com
http://www.myprotein.com

/end book :p

[1991318is]

I'm just now startin to get back into it.
I'm 18
5'8''
146lbs
Squat 1 rep: 255lb
Bench 1 rep: 175lb
Power Clean 3 rep: 175lb
Should go up quick, we'll see what happens.

[bmwman91]

Damn, you crazy 'small' people putting up big #'s. Lol, then again 165lb is pretty small too comapred to some of the 'big lifters' that come through there. Nice numbers though!

[Eurospec]

I've been going to the gym for a few months and have to come to realize I'm an ectomorph which makes it extremely hard to pack on wieght/mass.

My routines now consists of heavier weight and lower reps...but honestly I've been slacking off lately by not eating as well and not drinking my MR drinks.

Never tried one handed pull-ups but I do two handed which I think is one of the most important work-outs.

Funny how you bring up the Romanian deadlift... seems to be a common work-out. Do you know what the history behind it as I'm Romanian of origin?

[mkovarick]

My schedule is always changing and had been so f'ed up I never got a really good routine down.... i do need some diet info etc...

Im 6"1' 200lbs
I play hockey 3 nights a week, give or take 1. (i consider it descent cardio)
Im wanting to start lifting on the days i don't play hockey. Im not looking to get huge(already descent size) ... i just want to tone up, and get rid of my beer belly(guess i should stop drinking lol). I would prefer to do this WITHOUT the use of no2/creatine etc... I have an identical twin bro, and he just starting using that stuff and working out... I want to work out without it, and compare the differences with him.

So.. im thinking i lift 4 days a week, play hockey 3....Is that even enough?
What are good excerizes i can do with basic dumbells etc ?
I also need to know what to eat, and how much, and when.

Again, im not looking to get huge, or even to lose a lot of weight... just want to turn the existing fat into muscle :)

If anyone could shed some light on this, i would appreciate it.. Thanks.

oh, and my diet right now... is some of the "better" fast food, like subway etc... 2 main, sometimes something small in the morning, and sometimes something small, but usually unhealthy at night after hockey.

[1991318is]

Damn, you crazy 'small' people putting up big #'s. Lol, then again 165lb is pretty small too comapred to some of the 'big lifters' that come through there. Nice numbers though!
Thanks:D I used to be doin more than 175 lb and hopefully will get back up there now that I'm liftin every day, granted different muscles so I don't f up my muscles

[bmwman91]

mkovarick, 7 days a week is waaay intense. Honestly, you should take 1 day COMPLETELY off of activity per week, 2 is healthier. And fast food & soda are no-no's. I will have some free time tomorrow to type some more in-depth advice.

[e9nine]

Here's my excuse of a gym (ghetto fabulous and low budget)

http://s122290185.onlinehome.us/chingy/targetpreview.jpg

I don't have a VERY dedicated regimen but when I do exercise, it's all in my tiny little apartment with my music and at my own pace.
The bar sans it's own actual weight is maxed out at 90lbs.
The bar bells are 10lbs each minus the bar itself.

I usually do 4 reps of chest, arms and back routines on my bench and with my free weights.
I then do some exercise for stomach muscles aka six pack and that's it.

With my rather high metabolism, this is sufficient for me as I am not trying to be like Mr. Universe. I don't like going to public gyms like the one in my apartment complex because it's just like a misguided testoserone convention. People packing on waaay too many weights and screaming like a t-rex only to leave sweaty residue all over the place
The only reason I am considering going back is so I can do leg presses so my body is proportional.

I try to work out every other day in the morning before work and around 6pm after work. When the weather is right after my pm workout I go jogging for about 2.5miles or so in the park. The most period of lapses is usually 2-3 days because I tell myself my muscles are healing :rolleyes: or I don't have enough time/energy to work out.

I know I should invest sometime in speaking to a pro to make sure I am doing the right thing but it's just not something that I am willing to commit to yet. Not until I can work out for 2 months straight without straying approx. 15% from my regimen while maintaining a healthy diet will I consider myself ready to consult with someone.

As for the amount of weights I lift, I do not look at numbers and compare to what others do. I look at what I can handle and build up from there, it's not a competition :)


I am 5ft 10 or 11 or so and weighing in at about 168-170lbs per my cheap scale. I build muscle rather easily in comparison to others.

My main reason for working out: stress reliever and I enjoy doing it :D

[mkovarick]

mkovarick, 7 days a week is waaay intense. Honestly, you should take 1 day COMPLETELY off of activity per week, 2 is healthier. And fast food & soda are no-no's. I will have some free time tomorrow to type some more in-depth advice.


Appreciate it. I also need to know how much to push myself. For example, i don't want to work out on a Mon and push my muscles to the point of failure, then go play hockey on Tues, and end up having no energy or injuring myself. And yes, i know fast food and soda is a no no.

Im just always exhausted , even at this moment. I never get any sleep(have trouble), and im working as a mechanic/shop bitch and sometimes im already tired/soar just from work... let alone working out.

Setting a basic regimen for me, or something to atleast get started and see what I can handle would be best. I would also be starting this from my home... i have basic dumbell/barbell wieght set. Thanks man

[Dmitry]

I'm about to go to the gym right now to do some biceps, 50lbs for the preacher curls, yeah!

[shellback]

Hi everyone,

Well after years of neglect, I have to get back into shape.
I've started modifying my food intake, especially cutting out the reall junk (soda, chips, candy, and zero fast food, except for sub shops).

Here's a quick bio:
1) 36 y/o male
2) 72", 230 #'s
3) Main reason to change is to stay healthy and be around for along time to be with my wife and kids. Don't really care or give looks much importance, although its a great bi-product, but health is the most important driving factor.
4) Just made schedules in my work in order to attend a gym 3 afternoons a week. Started running around the neighborhood about 3-4 times a week, 1-2 miles. I know it's not much but I need to shed some weight first - the impact of dragging all this weight is hurting my legs and feet.

I could use some tips on supplements. I currently take multi-vitamins w/ b'fast in the AM.

Thanks in advance,
Chris

[kowalski]

I do 12oz curles on a regular basis, i try to keep it to 9 or 10 sets as i'm in training for the canadian team:)


Now seriously...
i lift weights about 4 times a week or so. i generaly stick to the upperbody, but i do squats every now and then just so i don't get out of preportion... i'm 5'7 175lbs. i can bench 240 last time i checked, i could do 2 or 3 reps of that. i can hammer curl 40lbs 10 times on each arm, i havn't tried a max thats just what i do sets of. saquats, i never did my max, but i was doing 2 plates each side so 225lbs was what i squat.

[jfdublyu]

i haven't been in the gym for about 6 months b/c i've been away from home, but i'll be back in a month. I usually hit the gym 2 - 3 days a week w/ at least a day in between.

BMWMAN91, i'm the same way, "I do not/will never use Creatine/N02/and other performance 'enhancer.' Just a personal preference. My goals are to be as strong as possible while keeping size & weight to a minimum." The only thing I take, which i don't really do consistently, is whey protein shakes; other than that it's just plain H2O.

I'm 19, 5'8," and 132lbs (give or take a couple lbs. depending on whether or not I just ate, thank you high metabolism!). I haven't really "maxed out" b/c i hate going to the gym and burning all my energy in 5 mins. Last summer I did bench 165lbs 3 times after doing some other reps.

The reason i lift is for overall tonality. i live on the beach, so I think that explains the motivation. I love it though, I can go in the gym by myself and work out for 3 hours easy ( AHHH, FEEL THE BURN!!!!)