I was talking the other day to a friend that is aged around 50-55. He was over for dinner. How it came up in conversation I don't know, but he asked me what I thought fitness meant, and I answered functional strength. Although that's not the entirety of my answer, it sparked a further debate where I pointed out how someone could quite easily deadlift 500lbs without taking drugs, without experiencing heart troubles, without overheating and all whilst living a happy, healthy life. He couldn't seem to believe it.
I remember Vid telling me that it was not easy to get to 227 kg - 500# or so. I had originally thought I could achieve it by the year mark but I think my training lacked that kind of focus and only in the past 3-4 months has it become so hyperfocused to allow for certain kind of growth. Even tho I do not deadlift conventionally more than say 1 time a month, I am doing so much pulling off the floor in general (clean/snatch, pulls, clean/snatch deadlift) that you can build up that strength indirectly, also lots of squatting.
Yeah, "easy" was not the word I used when talking to my friend, but I have seen many people do it, and they're not the typical 'strong man' guys who weigh 150KG and will probably experience debilitating back injuries and heart strains later in their life.
So, I'm a n00b, both to this forum and strength training in general, but this workout got me inspired to start, so here I am.
The only "gym" I can afford right now is Planet Fatties so pretty much dumbbell everything. No real way to deadlift but I've been doing seated leg presses and seated leg curls to at least get some hamstring work. Other than that I'm sticking to the Doom Workout exercises.
Turns out I'm not only a fatty but a weakling as well so adding weight is going slowly! At 327#, doing bodyweight squats for 4x15 nearly killed me. I stuck with the 4x15 for a couple weeks, but for the past couple weeks I went down to 5x5s. Really focusing on trying to perfect my form.
I've been reading Rippetoe's books, starting with "Practical Programming" and some of it seems useful but his views on diet, supplements, "crossfit sucks because I don't work there anymore" etc. I'm ignoring. Guy likes to really emphasize "for the beginner phase, anything you do will yield massive improvements" which kind of undercuts any advice he or anyone may give a beginner. Put a penny in your pocket (and eat 500 fewer calories) and you'll lose weight. Pennies are magic!
Anyway. My numbers are weak: pulldowns 105#, standing shoulder press 50#, seated leg press 85#, seated leg curl 85#, squat BW+30#, bench press 60#, rows 90#. All at 5x5, though if I feel I can get in another set without overexertion I'll sneak one in. PF's dumbbells jump every 5#, so at some point jumping 10# total is going to be an issue.
Eventually I'm going to have to start working on a Smith machine, and while the Starting Strength / Strong Lift / Nerd Fitness people out there cringe, I can't afford a better (real) gym for the forseeable future. The folks at EXRX seem to think it's okay, though it does require significant adjustments to form. That day is still a ways off, but I tried squatting in one with just the bar and it was super awkward.
I've been foam rolling and stretching - that shoulder dislocation thing only took about a week for me to get.
Potatofarmer - welcome. Kick ass with what you've got and good for you. Anything is better than nothing. But yeah, be wary of the Smith Machines, they force an unnatural squat movement IMO.
Nick - you're a fucking BEAST with that 500# DL. You're progress is inspiring.
Harry_Manback wrote:Potatofarmer - welcome. Kick ass with what you've got and good for you. Anything is better than nothing. But yeah, be wary of the Smith Machines, they force an unnatural squat movement IMO.
Nick - you're a fucking BEAST with that 500# DL. You're progress is inspiring.
Yep!
Back around 4 years ago when I first started flirting with the idea of hitting the gym regularly I tried squatting on a smith machine. I went for 2 weeks and I think I was at 80#. I hurt my right knee on that fucking thing and stopped going to the gym for about 2 years.
PVKVLT-ups. A form of amplifier worship, but using an inversion of genuflection. PV doesn't want you to bow to it. By sitting up and back down, PV symbolically blows you to the floor until you're exhausted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Louy7zH9guw
sonidero wrote:Roll a plus 13 for fire and with my immunity to wack I dodge the cough and pass a turn to chill and look at these rocks...
kbithecrowing wrote:Making out with my girl friday night, I couldn't stop thinking about flangers.