An exercise/program designed to increase your muscle mass/lifting capacity.
5
votes
2answers
44k views
Sore after work out - can't straighten arm
I'm in good aerobic shape but never did strength training. Yesterday, I did some basic strength work, using both dumbbells and machines. Nothing too crazy - I started light and built my way up. I ...
3
votes
1answer
104 views
Strength training: what to do when it becomes kind of easy, in order to keep improving
I've been training for several years, stopped for a while then started back but kept working out regularly (4-6 days a week) for the past 2 years.
I lift heavy weight, do bodyweight training, skip ...
5
votes
1answer
993 views
How to handle a break from StrongLifts?
I have to take a two week break from my Stronglifts program, and I won't have access to the gym or any weights. On the break I will be doing occasional body weight workouts, but for the most part I am ...
6
votes
3answers
330 views
What's good technique to load plates when deadlifting?
I find it hard to load and unload plates when the bar is on the ground for deadlift.
When the bar is on the rack, it's easy to put the 45 lbs on and off. But, when the bar is on the ground, it's ...
4
votes
4answers
455 views
What's a deadlift supposed to feel like?
I did my first "real" deadlift today, and, it's a very different feeling. Unlike a squat or a bench, where I clearly feel myself pushing against something, when I deadlifted (135 lbs, about what I'm ...
3
votes
2answers
573 views
Weighlifting shoes for a beginner
I'm getting into strength training, following the Starting Strength program, and they advise strongly to buy some weightlifting shoes. (Currently, I'm using some tough hiking sneakers, and don't feel ...
4
votes
2answers
335 views
My back goes horizontal (forward) when squatting
When squatting, my back is too horizontal (forward). The bar goes forward of my toes. What should I do to correct this? Is it due to not keeping my lumbar tight enough?
Also: I haven't checked ...
5
votes
1answer
299 views
What is the benefit of eating excess calories when strength training?
Is there a benefit to eating excess calories while strength training? Programs like Starting Strength suggest that a novice should be eating many calories in excess of what is needed, and that in the ...
3
votes
2answers
305 views
Basic anatomy for weight lifting and starting strength?
Reading the Starting Strength book, he throws around a lot of anatomical terms. Yet, surprisingly, there's no diagram or chart or glossary explaining what all these are.
What's the best way to learn ...
3
votes
1answer
237 views
My leg pinches in to my hip when squatting
I'm doing barbell squats as described in Starting Strength.
When I get to a certain depth, I feel my thigh bone (femur?) pinching up against the inside of my pelvis, and feel like I can't go any ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Should I lift weights fast or slow?
When lifting weights (squat, bench press, deadlift, whatever) is it better to do the motions as slowly as possible or fast and explosive? I've heard both opinions.
Please support your answer.
Note: ...
5
votes
1answer
848 views
Effects of aerobic exercise after weight lifting
What are the effects, positive and negative of:
Swimming for 30-60 min immed. after weight training
and/or
Walking briskly a few miles the day after weight training
I'm following Starting ...
1
vote
3answers
217 views
Is bouncing when lifting dangerous?
Some books recommend a gentle bounce when bench pressing or squatting. This feels wrong to me. It feels safer and more controlled to come to a complete stop, then start up again. What should I do?
4
votes
3answers
509 views
Should I really lock my elbows and knees when lifting?
When bench pressing, at max extension, should I lock my elbows or keep them loose?
What about my knees when squatting?
UPDATE: Here are some links from the Mayo Clinic warning against locking joints ...
5
votes
4answers
330 views
Should I follow the gym's program or just stick to Starting Strength?
I'm trying to follow the Starting Strength program, and need some help with the exercises. The trainers at the gym want you to do a fancy circuit, using some freeweights but mainly machines.
Should ...
3
votes
1answer
161 views
Is there an alternative way to warm up for lifts that is less tedious than gradually increasing the set weight?
I'm following a 3x5 weight lifting program based off of the Stronglifts and Starting Strength programs. I've been starting with warm-up sets of gradually increasing weight, as suggested by Stronglifts ...
2
votes
3answers
208 views
Revised strength building workout - Is this decent? Can it be improved?
Based on my answers to this question, I have made modifications to my workout and would like input if it is now good or if it can still be improved.
My revised routine is as follows:
10 pushups.
10 ...
1
vote
3answers
249 views
Is my current strength building workout good to start off with?
So I'm about 6 feet tall (183 cm) and weigh about 180lbs (75kgs). I'm looking to get a more toned stomach and gain more strength in my arms.
I don't want huge muscles, I just want to get to a more ...
4
votes
1answer
178 views
Strength Training for Running Books - Strength without Mass
I'm a middle-distance endurance runner (58kg BM) and I'm a fan of physiology books such as Lore Of Running by Tim Noakes and De Castella on Running. Can anybody suggest books related to building lean ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Should I “feel the burn” during a workout?
I am aware of the other question on feeling the burn, but that question seems to be about feeling the burn after a workout.
My question is, should I feel the burn during the workout.
At the moment ...
11
votes
2answers
910 views
Leg exercises that complement squats?
I believe in balancing the amount of exercise that I give to each muscle group, but recently it occurred to me that my leg muscles might be imbalanced. More than anything, squats are the number one ...
0
votes
2answers
234 views
Leg-press for women
Is it true that taking too much of weight on the leg-press machine can affect a woman's body.If so what could be an alternative to the same ?
1
vote
1answer
69 views
Does fat negate protein?
I'm mainly concerned about my diet as it relates to strength building.
I'm not concerned about other factors because I have a fast metabolism and don't seem to gain weight and am active enough that ...
1
vote
4answers
326 views
Strength training weightlifting workout routine
I'm looking for a workout routine between 4-6 days per week to get generally stronger. I've seen a bunch of questions here and webpages with routines, but the schedules seem all contrived. Is there ...
7
votes
2answers
853 views
How can you tell that you are eating enough to build your muscles?
So I'm doing a strength training program (Starting Strength) wherein each time I exercise, I increase the weight lifted by a small increment.
The other day, I was working out and I 'hit a wall', ...
6
votes
1answer
944 views
Is it possible to gain muscle with cardio/aerobics?
I believe the best way to gain muscle is heavy weightlifting. I've done that before using a routine based mainly off of the Stronglifts program and I saw good results. However, until recently I was ...
8
votes
2answers
779 views
Starting Strength: a practical program?
Based on this site's recommendation, I got a hold of Starting Strength. It's clearly a spectacular book. But, as a beginner, I find it hard to make practical. It has lots of deep knowledge about ...
2
votes
1answer
98 views
What are the outcomes of training unevenly on various body muscles?
While most of the trainers train all of their body muscles, it is possible to skip a few muscles and focus on the rest. The best example is all of the guys who don't care about the legs and can end ...
4
votes
2answers
906 views
Do ring dips and ring push-ups overlap?
I'm getting a set of gymnastics rings soon, and will be modifying my current strength workouts to use them. I'm not at the stage where I should be doing ring dips yet, but from looking at ring ...
6
votes
2answers
3k views
Push-ups - small range of motion vs full range of motion?
I'm curious about the affects of "range of motion" when doing push-ups.
What are the pros/cons to doing push-ups using high reps, small range of motion vs low reps, full range of motion?
Here is how ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
What's the minimum amount of strength training that will yield a measurable benefit?
I'm not an athlete – I just want to be healthy and fit with decent muscular strength.
What's the minimum amount of strength training that will yield a measurable benefit?
For instance, sitting ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Strength training after back injury
I recently injured my back and am anxious to get back to the gym, but I'm used to free-weight exercises and not exactly excited about having to use machines. Are there good options for lower body, ...
