Strength is the ability of the body to exert force. Questions are about training methods for improving strength.
8
votes
2answers
497 views
Training exercises to increase speed and strength
I'm a handball trainer and coach for a couple of teams in our club. All the teams have two training's, each a hour long at minimum.
I am looking for simple exercise which can be done without using ...
1
vote
1answer
50 views
Ankle Injury From Soccer
Recently I went down in my soccer game and I was told by the ER that I strained my upper superior ligament, or something of the sort. It's been a week and two days, and today was my first day even ...
2
votes
2answers
113 views
Is my current diet good for strength building?
I'm looking to build strength. I'm not concerned with size or bigger muscles so much as strength.
At the moment I eat a lot of meat and carbs. For most meals I tend to eat things like donor kebabs, ...
3
votes
2answers
348 views
Dancing and the core
I do a lot of salsa dancing and like many other dances you need to have certain muscles subconsciously and almost perpetually tense so that the dancer isn't having to remember to 'flex' all the time ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
What are some good stretches to help with squatting?
It seems a lot of form problems with the squats are caused by inadequate flexibility - I think mainly in the hamstrings and also the shoulders.
What are some good stretches that can be used to ...
0
votes
2answers
174 views
How should I Lift and eat so I can Gain Weight?
I want to be good at football next year so I'm lifting anywhere from 4 to 6 times a week. I'm a defensive lineman so I want to gain weight (in muscle of course). How should I lift (weight, reps, ...
7
votes
1answer
336 views
What's the point of the weekly 2-day break in Starting Strength's programming? Can a novice just skip that?
Starting Strength prescribes two daily lifting schedules (A and B), to be performed alternately on 3 non-consecutive days per week.
That means something like this:
S M T W T F S
...
5
votes
1answer
381 views
How can I best modify starting strength to fit with a team practice schedule and cardiovascular conditioning?
I have two goals: improve speed and vertical, and improve at my sport (ultimate).
It seems from my relatively untrained state, the biggest gains in speed and vertical will come from strength ...
6
votes
4answers
389 views
Week without a gym, what instead?
I am doing Starting Strength program and I am going to my hometown for Christmas. I won't be able to access a gym there. What can I do instead? I don't like the idea of not doing anything for a week, ...
3
votes
1answer
140 views
How do you know what intensity you should go with?
I've started working out several month ago at home. I'm building my own training routines and using mostly Super-sets. (as for the equipment I use dumbbells, exercise bands and body weight).
Mostly I ...
7
votes
3answers
356 views
How can I best recover for a second strength workout on the same day?
I'd like to do two strength workouts in the same day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. With this goal in mind, what strategies can I employ throughout the day so that I'm as fresh as ...
3
votes
1answer
230 views
Four day training for strength
Could someone suggest me a strength training that I could do for four days a week?
I am 26 years old, I weight 77kg and have 176cm. I can do about 50 - 60 pushups in a row and I have done 5 weeks of ...
5
votes
2answers
314 views
How do you know your overall strength/lifting level?
How do you determine when you move from beginner to intermediate to advanced levels in strength training? What are some indicators? I'm assuming it's not how much weight is lifted, since that ...
2
votes
2answers
191 views
Calorie consumption dilemma: strength vs fat loss
I am a 77 kg guy. I used to be a scrawny 52 kg guy before I began 5x5 workout.
During the weight gain process, I didn't care much about the associated fat gain. I was getting stronger and looking ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
Are multiple lighter deadlifts better than single heavier maxes?
My max deadlift is 350 (still gaining), but I can deadlift 300 twice. Is it better to focus on my 2 lift max or my single lift max to build overall strength?
13
votes
4answers
2k views
How can I increase the number of push-ups I can do?
The number of push-ups I can do is dismal.
I have tried over the years to increase the number and have received to pieces of advice.
Start easy and try something like a raised bar or railing and ...
8
votes
2answers
525 views
How to get stronger (mostly upper body)?
I'm a college runner with a 14 month injury that doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon.
So I decided I may as well take up weight-training instead. I absolutely hate lifting weights, but, ...
0
votes
1answer
568 views
First week at gym, am I doing right?
I have just joined a local gym near my home. My body details are:
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 56 Kg
My target is to gain strength, shape, and muscle. I am 24 years old.
After joining a gym, I found that ...
5
votes
2answers
4k views
How can I increase shoulder flexibiity for squats & snatches?
I have noticed flexbility is a big issue for me in squatting as well as snatching (I cannot snatch at all currently).
For example, if I squat with no weight, I cannot complete a squat with my arms ...
4
votes
3answers
486 views
Which resources should I go to for programming ring training?
I just received a set of EXF gymnastics rings (thanks, Team Chaos!) and I have a smorgasbord of individual exercises that I'd like to try. However, I don't want to do just a collection of random ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
How is it possible to use a higher percentage of our theoretical strength?
I've read somewhere ( Why is muscle size not proportional to strength?) that under normal circumstances, even when we try our hardest, we can use only 20-30% of our strength.
Under what circumstances ...
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 ...
5
votes
3answers
336 views
Strengthening neck and shoulders to hold weight on my head
I practice lion dance as part of the tradition and culture of my martial arts system. It is a dance in which two performers mimic a lion's movements inside a costume. As part of some lion dance ...
9
votes
6answers
4k views
How to Get Bigger And Stronger with no gym or weights
How can one get bigger at home without weights such as bench press, dumbbells or anything else. I don't have any weight equiment at home but I workout everyday such as push-ups, sit-ups and dips but ...
9
votes
1answer
127 views
What's the time threshold for a drop in performance when taking a break from training?
Whenever I go on vacation, the dilemma in my head is, should I try to work out there? Or just take a break from everything and resume when I get back.
The worry is that a break would cause some ...
3
votes
1answer
143 views
Is wearing weight adders on arms beneficial?
I am doing weight-lifting 3 times a week, 2-3 hours for each workout.
Now I got a gift of arm weight adders (basically, a sand bag wrapped around forearm, each bag weights 1kg). I'm considering ...
6
votes
1answer
3k views
Importance of short rest times between sets
What are the benefits of taking shorter rest times in between sets? If I am capable of doing an extra rep or two if I rest for 1 minutes instead of resting for 30 seconds, which is more beneficial?
9
votes
2answers
912 views
How to find your one repetition maximum?
Are these formulas close to every ones one rep max on varies exercises? and
I would like to know how accurate this is for everyone and if you have anything better?
Formulas to find your one rep max ...
17
votes
5answers
2k views
What exercises are good to build up to performing chin-ups?
I can't do a single decent chin-up, are there any easy alternatives that I could build up in quantity as a forerunner to being able to do chin-ups?
Alternatively are there are any weights exercises ...
1
vote
1answer
245 views
Full Muscle Mass Increase Work out [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is increasing resistance the only possibility to build more muscle mass?
So, I'm 23 male, running 3km 1-2 times a week, and lifting weights 2-3 times a week. I'm 175cm ...
15
votes
3answers
1k views
Do you need to “feel the burn” to become stronger?
If your goal is increasing strength, must you always train to the point where you feel the burn later?
12
votes
9answers
2k views
What are some short 30-minute body-weight lift routines for travel.
I travel a good bit for my job. As a result, the weeks that I travel often involve a lack of physical activity since I am primarily a weight lifter when it comes to exercise and most hotel gyms have ...
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
How to do 2 or 3 finger push-ups
Are two or three finger push-ups a matter of finger/hand or arm strength?
What techniques should I use to learn two or three finger push-ups (if it is finger strength how do I build this up etc.)
1
vote
2answers
105 views
More energy than normal - should I push myself?
Somedays (like today) I feel literally like I could move mountains! Is there any harm to pushing yourself harder on these good days? Just likes it's okay to slow down on the low energy days (I'm ...
5
votes
1answer
665 views
I can't do more than 10 - 15 repetitions for biceps
I have been going to the gym since last seven years.
My friends at the gym do more than 15 repetitions per set.
I am not comparing with them, but I don't understand why can't I do more that 15 ...
4
votes
1answer
347 views
Swimming routine for a person in very bad shape?
I've been trying to find an answer to this but I couldn't. If this is a duplicate please accept my apologies and please show me the original question.
A bit of background:
I'm a developer in quite ...
10
votes
1answer
487 views
Should one generally avoid machines in favor of free weights?
From what I have been told, machines are not recommended for strength training, because they isolate muscles and thereby exclude the smaller stabilizing muscles from developing together with the major ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Need to gain strength to gain muscle?
I've been strength training 4 days a week for about 8 months. My goal is to increase mass. The usual recommendation for this is to do three sets of 8-12 repetitions for most exercises, and that's what ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the best set of dumbbell exercises for a complete upper arm workout?
I'd like to find a good set of dumbbell exercises for a "complete" upper arm workout - working out the biceps, triceps, and brachialis* muscles fairly evenly. What combination of curls or other ...
4
votes
2answers
286 views
How can I improve my vertical?
I have been playing basketball a lot lately and I'd like to improve my vertical. Currently it's not terribly bad, but I'm guessing below the average competitive basketball player (somewhere around ...
3
votes
1answer
305 views
Going backwards in training, do I need a break?
I've been steadily progressing with the Starting Strength program for a couple of months now. But my last two trips to the gym have been a disaster.
When I started the program I could only ...
5
votes
3answers
138 views
To count or not to count?
I started training some months ago (mainly strength), but when I do sit-ups/ crunches I tend to forget counting repetitions and just continue until I can't do any more.
What are the pros and cons of ...
6
votes
1answer
210 views
Do the principles behind the shakeweight and related products work? (a lot of quick, short impulse muscle contractions)
I got a shakeweight as a gag gift for Christmas. I actually tried it and it does feel like you get a work out from the instructional DVD.
I'm curious if the principles behind the product are sound? ...
8
votes
3answers
363 views
Strength Training, Muscle Mass, and Weight Loss
I heard on a podcast that pounds of fat burn calories at a different rate than pounds of muscle. The thinking is that a pound of fat, sitting idly over the course of the day, requires X calories, ...
2
votes
1answer
133 views
What if any is the advantage of taking a bulking supplement over just having pure whey protein after a gym session?
I'm attempting to understand if I should be using something other than whey (isolate) protein shake after my gym workouts (weight lifting and core strengthening).
There are lots of specific products ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Smoking and its effects on muscle building
Does smoking effect the muscle building process? I understand it can effect your endurance.
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Upper and lower body proportion, gaining muscle losing fat
Let me start by saying that I am a Systems Engineer and have been working professionally for the past 10 years, in a very demanding and stress oriented environment. This has not allowed me to care ...
23
votes
2answers
758 views
How to get enough Protein as a vegetarian? [closed]
Is is possible to take on enough protein to build muscle whilst eating a vegetarian diet?
Many sources of proteins such as meat, poultry and fish are obviously ruled out.
Do you have experience of ...
2
votes
1answer
177 views
What are the traits of different types of workouts?
To my limited knowledge - you must train differently depending on what you want to achieve. E.g. to lose weight one should do small weight lifting with lots of repetitions (also - according to my ...
