ahh you are right, me math skilz not so gud

At any rate, unless you like being skinny-boy weak, adding a significant amount of muscle while gaining a few body fat %s will probably look better and be more empowering. Despite what's been said already in the thread.

Anecdotally, at the beerfest this weekend I was getting harassed by drunk cougars grabbing my arms, shoulders, and butt. This didn't happen 2-3 years ago.


[Edited on April 16, 2013 at 2:54 PM. Reason : ;]

4/16/2013 2:50:24 PM

10 miles to work - 10 miles back from work on the bike. Feels so good to be back on it.

Except for my ass. My ass really hurts

4/16/2013 8:33:03 PM

Quote :

"Anecdotally, at the beerfest this weekend I was getting harassed by drunk cougars grabbing my arms, shoulders, and butt. This didn't happen 2-3 years ago."

Funny that you bring this up. I was out with my brother over the weekend and his male friend introduced a female friend to him (just as a formality, not as a hook up), and she prejudged him off the bat. She said, " sorry but I don't think muscles are in anymore." " Just makes them look like they're way too into themselves."

My brother went off on her. "When did hard work and dedication become such a bad thing?" " You don't even know me, we just met and you sit here and judge me."

Of course this was at a hipster bar ( he was in the wrong environment to start with) and the girl looked like she's never even seen a gym, ever. I guess it goes back to what d357r0y3r was saying, that there is a big disconnect between "normal" people vs gym people. And my brother isn't even that big.

I was kind of like that when I started excercising at the gym. I had my walls up and held the impression for quite some time that they're all a bunch of meatheads in there.

4/16/2013 9:29:54 PM

Quote :

"I don't think muscles are in anymore."

Some truth to this, from a social perspective (not from a health / logic perspective, though).


Now, beards and glasses on the other hand...

4/16/2013 10:08:46 PM

When you're under the bar, the only thing that matters is what some hipster in a bar somewhere thinks of you.

[Edited on April 16, 2013 at 10:18 PM. Reason : ]

4/16/2013 10:18:02 PM

Quote :

"When you're under the bar, the only thing that matters is what some hipster in a bar somewhere thinks of you."

q4t

4/16/2013 10:22:50 PM

My two cents:

In an era where information and technology have begun to replace the necessity for strenuous labor and activity, there is less value placed on the physical capability of individuals.



The iPad is mightier than the barbell

4/16/2013 10:37:07 PM

^^^haha I get that. It doesn't help when girls see muscles, they think of the guys on Jersey Shore.

Whatever. Everyone gets stereotyped. It's a fact of life. Deal with it!!!!


Girls who are in competitive figure shows get it 10x worse than men when they walk into a room.

[Edited on April 16, 2013 at 10:38 PM. Reason : l]

[Edited on April 16, 2013 at 10:39 PM. Reason : .]

4/16/2013 10:37:52 PM

PictureOfPeopleInsultingFemaleFitnessModelsOnFacebook.jpg

4/16/2013 10:55:43 PM

^^^ makes all those fitness inspiration Pinterest boards seem a little conflicted

4/16/2013 11:11:17 PM

People love to associate themselves with ideas / activities without actively pursuing their interests.

"Just played some Mario Kart, I'm such a nerd"


Taking full advantage of "perception is reality".

4/16/2013 11:17:40 PM

http://fitmamatraining.com/what-i-really-look-like-a-perfectly-healthy-body-in-more-and-less-flattering-photos/

i dig

4/17/2013 10:49:12 AM

^love it. thanks for sharing!

4/17/2013 10:53:50 AM

LOL...those inspiration boards on Pintrest are HILARIOUS... I mean, it's great advice to start thinking healthy...but a 30 second plank a day, 5 push ups, and 10 sit ups isn't going to get you 15% body fat and a 6 pack...

4/17/2013 12:53:40 PM

^^

4/17/2013 1:15:22 PM

Good lord my appetite has doubled since I started doing squats 3x a week and dead lift every four days. I can see why they are so great for fat loss

4/18/2013 9:31:37 AM

My recent split has had me up in the gym for pretty much two months straight to help try and keep busy and take my mind off things. Plus, my diet has been easier to maintain and keep an eye on now that I live alone and am cooking for one. Pretty much been eating chicken, barley, broccoli and a spinach salad for lunch and dinner everyday. Whey shake and multivitamin for breakfast.

I might post some progress pics later tonight. This is the thread for that kind of thing, right? Progress pics? It's only really been two months, but I've seen some progress already. Not really building as much muscle as I'd like so far, but there is a little noticeable definition since I've lost 20lbs (I didn't really eat much for the first few weeks after the split, not healthy I know) and drop a pants size already. Went from 5'10 165lbs skinnyfat to current around 145lbs slim almost ottermode.



**(not beachbody-related, but health and welness related)**
In addition to a healthier lifestyle, I've decided to make some other personal changes now that my fiance left. I don't want to regress back to the person I was before. I look back on that time of my life and I seemed pathetic. (Not even just in real life. Even just going through and reading past posts on here.) I want to be a happier more confident person in all aspects of my life going forward, which I felt I lacked back then.

I've scheduled consultations for refractive eye surgery of whatever kind I turn out to be a candidate for. I feel like wearing glasses has always hampered my self-confidence and I viewed them as weak or nerdy. Plus, they hinder me in sports like soccer, baseball, basketball, and volley, in the rec leagues I play in.

I started fake tanning a bit. I know it is terrible for you, but I was told it can help with certain kinds of depression. And everyone looks a little better with a bit of a tan.

I've never been in a life situation like this so I am pretty clueless as to what I am supposed to do at this point. I just feel lost, directionless, and confused all the time. Like I don't even fit in to my own life anymore. I'd just pick up and move somewhere totally new, but I don't really have the type of personality that makes new friends easily and I don't think I'd make as much money in a different locale doing what I do. But happiness > money at this point. Or at least it is beginning to feel that way.

4/18/2013 10:25:16 AM

For some, the minutiae are very important. For you, you need to handle the big things first.

Learn to lift weights. Hire someone like MattJMM2 to teach you. That's the best advice I can give you. It will help you develop confidence, a strong stature, discipline, focus - nothing relieves stress and takes your mind off of life's bullshit like weight training.

4/18/2013 11:41:15 AM

Cardio v. Strength, lately


gotta find a balance

4/18/2013 11:45:37 AM

^^Thanks for the shout out!

Destroyer is right about weight lifting being a great way to refocus the mind and body. I first got in to lifting after a heart break in high school and it provided a great outlet for my teenage angst.

Lift heavy 2-4/days a week. Get about 1-2 days of running in. If you are feeling depressed, make sure you are getting 8 hours of sleep. Too much sleep can be a bad thing too. Getting sun is great, especially real sun light.

If you are in Raleigh and want to train in a great atmosphere and get coached up so you are doing it right, give me a shout and we can schedule a free consult and workout at my gym. My place may be a great solution for you because we lift seriously, but there's no bravado or intimidation... Most of my members are average people wanting to learn how to train correctly and become more athletic.

###

In other news, my cut is going a little slower than I'd like, but I am making good progress! Hit a new low of 168lbs, which puts me on track. About 5 weeks left till my vacation, and I think I'll be right where I want to be by then.

Next week I am going to add in 2 days of low intensity, steady state work for about an hour. Going to supplement with 200mg of Caffeine and about 15mg of Yohimbine HCL to help mobilize the stubborn fat left around my lower abs and back.

We did a photoshoot in my gym last week and I took a few pics. Once I get them back tonight, I'll post a couple.

[Edited on April 18, 2013 at 11:56 AM. Reason : ^]

4/18/2013 11:56:28 AM

Matt the last two weeks of the cut were the only time I lost strength.

Next time im gonna make sure I get 2x g protein per lb of lbm everyday. But how heavy do you plan on lifting?


Is 5 reps good enough or should I consider 3 reps?

4/18/2013 12:46:38 PM

Currently, I lift circamaximal for my first lift (squat, bench, DL, or Press), then I do h8-20reps on my accessory and ancillary lifts. Training 4/days a week then adding in an extra arm day for bro stuff.

Right now, I am finishing up my 3rd week of my first wave of 5/3/1. I've used this program before in the past with good results. Week 1 is 5 reps, week 2 is 3 reps, week 3 is 5/3/1 and then 4th week is a deload 3x5.

[Edited on April 18, 2013 at 1:29 PM. Reason : ;]

4/18/2013 1:29:17 PM

im about two months away from a full year of 5/3/1. been doing standard 5/3/1 programming 4 days/week with additional crossfit training 3 days/week.

70# increased deadlift (should pass 500# soon)
60# increased squat (should pass 400# soon)

not sure on the overhead press, started with seated dumbbell OHP and switched to standing strict barbell OHP when i passed the 100lb dumbbells. (im getting close to the 200# mark for strict press)

30lb increased bench press (never really been motivated to have giant bench press numbers, hovering around 265# at the moment)

i do recommend 5/3/1 to anyone thats been lifting for a while. the second edition book also addresses 5/3/1 and crossfit integration. if you are new to training, there might be other programs that could lead to faster gains initially.

4/18/2013 2:04:02 PM

That sounds like solid progress! I'm enjoying being back on 531... It's an effective program that is easily customized for different goals.

Are you training 7 days a week?

[Edited on April 18, 2013 at 9:04 PM. Reason : words]

4/18/2013 9:03:31 PM

usually 5 or 6 days a week. a couple of the days i will do a 5/3/1 session in the morning and then go to the crossfit gym later in the evening to get everything in during the week.

i go pretty hard, but i work from home so i can eat and sleep as much as i need to. i also make sure to work in deload/active recovery weeks.

[Edited on April 18, 2013 at 11:15 PM. Reason : words]

4/18/2013 11:15:17 PM

I'm testing out lifting like a man instead of a pussy, fairy, faggot for a few weeks.

I gotta say so far I love it. I'm hungry as fuck during the day so i just start eating as many burritos as I can find sometimes. If there's a burrito truck outside i eat them if not i drive somewhere and order a burrito. I can eat a full burrito with ~1,000 calories in like 6 minutes.

Here's my lifts so far everything at 5 reps. I've never lifted legs before.

165 lbs bodyweight:

5x - 155 lb bench press

5x - 105 lb overhead press

5x - 135 lb squats

5x - 135 lb deadlift


My legs are pretty fucking weak because prior to this i've always just pumped with my penis instead of engaging my glutes i guess.



Anyway by end of May i plan to bench press 185, overhead press 135, squat 205, and deadlift 225.


The beach is fun so far. If i can cut back my drinking to 5-6 nights a week i think i can make some huge gains in the "gymnasium"



* If you think the above lifts are cool as fuck and want to obtain them all you have to do is lift chest first, then back, then shoulders, then leg press once, then do biceps, and triceps.


Then do some fucking sit ups.

Then go drink whey and beer. That's my routine. Worked for me so far most girls dont even notice your body. Money, funny, and dick.

[Edited on April 19, 2013 at 2:37 AM. Reason : a]

4/19/2013 2:26:09 AM

We did a little impromptu photo shoot during one of my workouts last week... I am still about 2-4% body fat higher than I plan on being by the end of my cut. I am about 3lbs down already from when we took these.

In about 3 weeks we'll do another shoot, and the man-fur will be trimmed





[Edited on April 19, 2013 at 7:45 AM. Reason : wrong link]

4/19/2013 7:44:32 AM

Hugh Jackman/Wolverine stunt double ITT.

4/19/2013 10:07:32 AM

Quote :

"In about 3 weeks we'll do another shoot, and the man-fur will be trimmed "

I'm probably in the minority here, but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I like the man-fur. It's so... manly.

4/19/2013 12:25:13 PM

Good update MattJMM2

Keep putting in the effort and you'll start to see results eventually.

4/19/2013 4:13:50 PM

I'm starting to get a little worried about my knees, but I'm still working towards building what will hopefully be a comically large backside.

Anybody do butt exercises that don't involve bending the knees?

[Edited on April 20, 2013 at 7:02 PM. Reason : ?]

4/20/2013 7:02:14 PM

Quote :

"Destroyer"

that's what it is????? holy shit, I just got it, now...

And Bridget. I took up running more this, month and in the last few weeks I had to cut it bak because they were bothering as well. Last week I did the Stairmaster (or stepmill some call it) and it has helped me with outer knee pains. Plus it will help firm that back side and build quads and hamstrings.

On Thursday, I hopped on the treadmill again and I was flying with no knee pain! I think the stairmaster strengthened my knees and well, the break from running on impact helped my knees, achilles, calves, and arches heal from regular aches and pains

I hate that fucking stairmaster though, but you def will sweat a lot.

4/20/2013 7:40:35 PM

so I joined a gym and went 5 days a week for 2 straight weeks.......and then i got sick. So pissed off. Almost impossible to go to the gym when everytime you move at more than a snails pace you are either blowing your nose or coughing your head off. Been going on for over a week now...

4/21/2013 4:14:30 AM

So what's the deal with stretching vs mobility drills? My back/hamstrings/quads/hips are tight as shit and it seems like no one advocates the old static stretching regime of old. I get the not doing static stretches before working out but should you still incorporate them post workout?

Basically I hate doing any mobility or stretching but I desperately need to if I don't want to feel like a 90 year old man so I want to do it as efficiently as possible.

4/21/2013 11:37:01 AM

Stretching is useful for improving mobility so you can achieve a new range of motion. However, a new range of motion is a weak range of motion. Hence why you don't want to heavily stretch before strength training.

Dynamic stretching, mobility, and stability drills help build stability (strength) in the ranges of motion.

Used together it is very effective for correcting posture and mobility impairments in the long term.

4/21/2013 12:20:47 PM

I dunno what you're trying to stretch, but for leg stuff, I go into a stretch/position that causes significant pain (tears in my eyes/can barely breathe) and hold it for a minute (the pain goes away). The next few days, I'll be very, very sore (like "injured," I guess), but within a week, the soreness is gone, and I'm way more flexible.

[Edited on April 21, 2013 at 2:16 PM. Reason : It is pretty efficient.]

4/21/2013 2:15:58 PM

^ good lord, sounds like you're intentionally giving yourself a minor strain



[Edited on April 21, 2013 at 2:54 PM. Reason : ]

4/21/2013 2:54:02 PM

I think that's exactly what I'm doing. The first time it was an accident.

But it works, and it's efficient, and it wouldn't surprise me if it's not an acceptable practice among people who value flexibility. I dunno though.

[Edited on April 21, 2013 at 3:03 PM. Reason : ]

4/21/2013 3:01:20 PM

I have no idea if it's a good idea or not, but it sounds like it takes balls

4/21/2013 3:04:56 PM

I think the absence of balls might help actually.

4/21/2013 4:06:23 PM

I don't think that is an optimal long term mobility solution.

The goal should be to achieve, then maintain, optimal movement patterns. Not intermittently over stretching your muscles.

I'd bet doing that frequently, and then allowing it to re-tighten up will cause a nasty build up of scar tissue.

[Edited on April 21, 2013 at 5:58 PM. Reason : ;]

4/21/2013 5:57:11 PM

I agree. It is uncomfortable enough that it's not something you'd even want to do over and over.

And you'd obviously want to continue stretching to maintain the flexibility!

What's the point of getting flexible if you're not gonna do stretches every day and be really impressed with yourself?!?!

[Edited on April 21, 2013 at 7:15 PM. Reason : ]

4/21/2013 7:14:58 PM

Quote :

"I hate that fucking stairmaster though, but you def will sweat a lot."

This has been my experience as well. Nothing gets my heart rate up like the stair climber or whatever it's called. I've been training for a climb since January and have been using the stairclimber in addition to improving core strength and endurance. My goal was simply to get in shape for the climb so I could enjoy it instead of struggle up the mountain. I had no delusions of any total body transformation or anything but I really wish I had taken a before pic because looking so much better has been a nice bonus to training for the climb.

4/21/2013 7:18:25 PM

Quote :

" Nothing gets my heart rate up like the stair climber or whatever it's called."

Try pushing a prowler.

4/22/2013 9:08:28 AM

yeah, that would do it, but I don't have access to one of those. but in my gym at work, pushing it to the max on the stair climber is pretty much maxing my heart rate out

4/22/2013 9:22:27 AM

I once dated a guy that had like the greatest ass of all time. He attributed it to his coach making him run up and down the stadium steps like a million times.

4/22/2013 12:37:46 PM

heading to an endocrinologist next wednesday. this will be the 4th doctor in about 2 months. getting frustrated - i go from one specialist to another and just keep getting a shrug and then passed around. things are just continuing to get worse.

i'm doubling up on my work outs (weights in the morning, different kinds of cardio in the evenings) and i'm keeping a close eye on my diet (haven't had alcohol in about a month, watching sugar, eating whole healthy foods). the night sweats and arm numbness are getting worse.

hoping i can start to get some answers and get back to normal.

4/22/2013 9:16:32 PM

have you checked for Graves' Disease?

4/22/2013 9:51:15 PM

i've glanced at it online but it's usually associated with a hyperthyroid and i'm having weight gain and feeling sluggish again

4/22/2013 9:52:09 PM

Cass, doubling your workout now may not be the best for your body when it's in chaos right now. How much are you gaining a month(I really don't wanna know, kind of rhetorical)? If it's rapid weight gain, then there's def. something wrong with you. Maybe it's trial and error with your diet. I would look into a certified dietition/nutritionist if you haven't already. Maybe someone at the Endo office can refer you to someone reputable.

I called to set up and appointment to see an Endo as well but the office said he only saw patients with pre exisiting conditions. They said to call primary doc for bloodwork. My curiosity is if the 3 courses of oral prednisome during my back injury screwed up anything. I also had another low, tapering doses for an upper resp infection in Jan.

I was able to lose 7 lbs in a month at one point last year ( before injury/before prednisone), and now, I can't even lose a lb on almost identical eating behaviors. I'm gaining and not losing as well. But the jump from month to month isn't big.

I'm not panicking yet. I'm playing with my diet for a month, and if that doesn't work, I'll get some blood work.

4/22/2013 10:06:35 PM