Huddle Workout Warriors

[Darth Biscuit]

I cycle on and off of creatine mono.  It will swell your muscles slightly due to water retention, but it's main effect for me is strength, esp on later reps when I'm lifting.

 

When I cycle off it, I notice that I don't get as many reps, particularly at a higher weight, than when I'm on it.

 

It definitely works.

[Ja Rhule]

I will never take Creatine mono again... fug that poo.

 

About 6 years ago I start taking it and I swell up pretty good.  Within 4-5 months I looked like a bouncer and got many compliments from people.  I increased my bench press from 220lbs to 285lbs in matter of few months but when I decided to quit creatine my muscles disappeared, I could not lift more than 250lbs and reps sucked.  I gained weight and got lazy.

[OneBadCat]

Has anyone had any issues with the cold effecting them?  Feels like lately my body has been going into winter mode. I feel slightly less energetic. Wanting to eat more etc. Recently Ive been able to run 3 miles a few times a week with no cramps or anything. But the last week or so I feel like I only have the energy to do a mile. Maybe I'm just getting lazy.

 

I've also had some issues with the ab wheel lately but I think I finally sorted it out last night. The past few weeks when I've tried to use it I wasn't feeling anything in my core. It was just hurting my back. I read online that sometimes when that happens it's a sign that your abs are too weak to handle it right now. So your body will compensate by using your back. I think it's partially that and bad form perhaps. Last night I tried it again with much better results. I realized when I use the ab wheel I (personally) need to arch my back to avoid pain and feel it in my core. I'm not sure if anyone else is like that but that is whats working for me again. I probably have underlying back issues. I've noticed that my ribs don't look even.

 

 

I also started doing leg raises and weighted incline sit ups. That poo is hard as fug.

[OneBadCat]

I've also got a question for you bench press experts.  Im trying to really build my chest. But I'm trying to do it without a lot of weight because I don't have a spotter. I can do 135 really well with good form. 

 

What I've been trying lately is this:

 

135 BP 3x8

 

Then in between those sets do incline bench press of 95 x 8

 

I don't exactly know what I'm doing. I'm just trying make sure I feel it in my titties the next day. I'm trying to build the muscle through reps not so much weight. But it's strange because sometimes I feel like I'll do this routine to where I won't be able to rep it anymore. But then when I finished a workout I can pull off a set of push ups and I'll think to myself what the hell?

 

 

 

[Ja Rhule]

I've also got a question for you bench press experts.  Im trying to really build my chest. But I'm trying to do it without a lot of weight because I don't have a spotter. I can do 135 really well with good form. 

 

What I've been trying lately is this:

 

135 BP 3x8

 

Then in between those sets do incline bench press of 95 x 8

 

I don't exactly know what I'm doing. I'm just trying make sure I feel it in my titties the next day. I'm trying to build the muscle through reps not so much weight. But it's strange because sometimes I feel like I'll do this routine to where I won't be able to rep it anymore. But then when I finished a workout I can pull off a set of push ups and I'll think to myself what the hell?

 

 

I do dumbells.  My first set is 65lbs dumbells and I do 20-25 reps.  Then 70lbs dumbells I do 15-18 reps.  Then 75lbs dumbells I do 12x4.  Then I switch to incline and do 60lbs dumbells 10 reps 4 times.

 

 

I usually feel the next day.

[Joscott]

I've also got a question for you bench press experts. Im trying to really build my chest. But I'm trying to do it without a lot of weight because I don't have a spotter. I can do 135 really well with good form.

What I've been trying lately is this:

135 BP 3x8

Then in between those sets do incline bench press of 95 x 8

I don't exactly know what I'm doing. I'm just trying make sure I feel it in my titties the next day. I'm trying to build the muscle through reps not so much weight. But it's strange because sometimes I feel like I'll do this routine to where I won't be able to rep it anymore. But then when I finished a workout I can pull off a set of push ups and I'll think to myself what the hell?

It you really want mass, you should do less reps, more weight. Think 6-8 range. Now you'll need to increase calories and protein too if you really want more muscle.

Don't be afraid of not having a spot. Try using a smith machine both incline and decline. Biscuit and I also set up a flat bench in the power rack the other day. Helps to work on powering through the up motion without the fear of death.

[Darth Biscuit]

Joscott is right... size comes from weight not reps.

 

If you're concerned about no spotter on the bench, put as much weight on as you feel comfortable on for doing 4-5 reps and do that.

 

Then move to dumbbells and go a little heavier, at least with the dumbbells you can drop them if you fail.

 

 

The smith and a power rack are also good choices as are weighted (or un-weighted) dips.

[Jase]

More reps help you put more weight on the bar over time, though.

Solution: more sets. Volume seems kinda low to me.

[BuffaloBills62]

I hate my shoulders.  I am not sure why but I have gotten weaker in my shoulders.  I have increased strength everywhere in the last year significantly thru hard training but my shoulders cannot do 4 sets of 10 at 135 anymore.  I can do 3 sets of 8 and one more until I fail at around 5 or 6.  I can do 4x10 at 105.  I just have got weaker there.  All the exercises have not improved and lowered except the raises.  I have got stronger there up to about 40-45# dumbbells.

 

This makes me unhappy.

 

I just ordered BCAA supplement cause I'm always tired as hell the day after workouts... Anyone took BCAA before?  Any good?

The simplest thing I can tell you comes from my college strength training coach.  It's almost so old fashioned and stupid sounding you won't believe it would make a difference.

 

Eat a grapefruit before your workout, and eat one tablespoon of honey before your workout.  Then carry a water bottle with sugar in it if you absolutely need to.  After your workout if you're famished go for the honey and an orange.  Avoid the banana because he said it would slow you down to get your sugars.

 

The spartan beast is 12+ miles with 28+ obstacles. I think ours is close to 13 especially since there was a large gap between mile marker two and my marker three that was definitely further than a mile.

I was supposed to do a color race in Wilmington this past September but we decided to do a different race instead.

Great job.  I am very envious.  I hope to run a race sooner or later... just not making sooner before later.

 

I cycle on and off of creatine mono.  It will swell your muscles slightly due to water retention, but it's main effect for me is strength, esp on later reps when I'm lifting.

 

When I cycle off it, I notice that I don't get as many reps, particularly at a higher weight, than when I'm on it.

 

It definitely works.

Have you tried to cycle anything in between your workouts?  C4 is often thought of as garbage because people don't know how to get the benefits of supplements.  With C4 you drop your reps and increase your weight.  Eventually, you'll increase your sets.

 

I've also got a question for you bench press experts.  Im trying to really build my chest. But I'm trying to do it without a lot of weight because I don't have a spotter. I can do 135 really well with good form. 

 

What I've been trying lately is this:

 

135 BP 3x8

 

Then in between those sets do incline bench press of 95 x 8

 

I don't exactly know what I'm doing. I'm just trying make sure I feel it in my titties the next day. I'm trying to build the muscle through reps not so much weight. But it's strange because sometimes I feel like I'll do this routine to where I won't be able to rep it anymore. But then when I finished a workout I can pull off a set of push ups and I'll think to myself what the hell?

Bench press is very overrated IMO.  On the flat I usually do not use anything over 225# for my working sets.  I some times go to 275 or 300 a few sets just to show off, but I'd rather do 225 on the incline to begin with.  The chest/pectoral muscles are very simple, just the sheet of muscle that is seldom used for much else.  It is usually your triceps that let you down before your chest.

 

So, like others said, increase your weight.

 

When you lift, even if you just do 45# with the bar, go until you cannot go anymore on the last set.  Do not focus just on squeezing your pecs, you only need to do that at the top of your lift.  Focus on bringing your elbows together as you lift, this will drive your arms up and pull your chest together.

 

Avoid the bar if you can, the bar is poison when developing a chest - especially for physical appearance.  It sounds like you want to add some titties to your frame.  In order to do this the decline bench is going to be your friend.  The dumbbell press and dumbbell fly on the decline will help you build overall definition and help create that shelf appearance.

 

When you finish your normal sets, though, go until you fail.  This is the best advice I could ever give someone on lifting.  Especially for their legs and quads.  If you think you're a man do your normal leg workout then go do 75 leg extensions at, oh, say 50#.

 

edit  I do not mean to be a prick saying this and only reiterating it because someone else said it above and I want to stress it.  Ask for a spot.  Ask any dude in there for a spot when you think you need one.  It will make you work harder and it is a good chance to learn from someone else on a few things.  I am generally the big dude in the gym who gets attention and people stay out of my way or ask me 1,000,000 questions.  The questions get old, but I will always spot anyone who asks - and so will anyone else by my experience.  Even if you do not know them.  Just ask, "hey man, can you spot me quick."

[Darth Biscuit]

 

 

Have you tried to cycle anything in between your workouts?  C4 is often thought of as garbage because people don't know how to get the benefits of supplements.  With C4 you drop your reps and increase your weight.  Eventually, you'll increase your sets.

 

 

 

I'm not really sure what you're getting at here?

 

When I've taken C4, which is not that much, or any pre without creatine, it's because I'm on the higher rep portion of my cycle.  So basically the exact opposite of what you're saying.  

 

When I'm on creatine, I go heavy... when I'm off it, I go lighter higher rep and cut.

 

This works well for me.

 

C4 is a fine pre, it's just one for me tho that I build up a tolerance to pretty quickly.  As in, I have to take more after about 10 days to get the same effect.

[BuffaloBills62]

I'm not really sure what you're getting at here?

 

When I've taken C4, which is not that much, or any pre without creatine, it's because I'm on the higher rep portion of my cycle.  So basically the exact opposite of what you're saying.  

 

When I'm on creatine, I go heavy... when I'm off it, I go lighter higher rep and cut.

 

This works well for me.

 

C4 is a fine pre, it's just one for me tho that I build up a tolerance to pretty quickly.  As in, I have to take more after about 10 days to get the same effect.

 

I think I read what you said backwards and what I said was backwards  Confused myself there.

 

With C4 I increase the repetitions because I do not feel as strong as I do when doing creatine or other supps.

 

A good supplement to use as a preworkout is Endothil.  I also like one that is coming back out Gakic.  It increases torque.  I know that is not an easy term to use in lifting and that's how they tag themselves, but I notice all around strength throughout my entire lift when I am on that stuff.

 

Post workout I swear by Afterglow.  It has the BCAA's needed, supercissis and proteins that make for a great postworkout.  I take 1/2 what they recommend and do just fine.

[Darth Biscuit]

I think I read what you said backwards and what I said was backwards  Confused myself there.

 

With C4 I increase the repetitions because I do not feel as strong as I do when doing creatine or other supps.

 

A good supplement to use as a preworkout is Endothil.  I also like one that is coming back out Gakic.  It increases torque.  I know that is not an easy term to use in lifting and that's how they tag themselves, but I notice all around strength throughout my entire lift when I am on that stuff.

 

Post workout I swear by Afterglow.  It has the BCAA's needed, supercissis and proteins that make for a great postworkout.  I take 1/2 what they recommend and do just fine.

 

OK yeah...

 

I have taken Endothil and it's pretty good.  I get a pretty good kick with that.

[Cat]

I'm working out again!

 

 

 

[PandaPancake]

The other night this worm who has been in the field for about a month starts talking about how big his arms have gotten. And he was about 150 when he got here and he's probably packed on 40 pounds of muscle. Then he asks my opinion. I say nothing but reach up with one arm grabbing a pipe and slowly do a one arm pull up. Then slowly let myself back down.

Moral of the story? A one arm pull up is stupid and it hurts a lot trying to show up someone ten years younger than you