Resistance training with barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells and other weights. Questions involving how to lift and maximizing lifting performance. Includes powerlifting, bodybuilding and Olympic lifting.
3
votes
1answer
631 views
What additional exercises do I add to the Madcow 5x5 program?
I just started the MadCow program and appreciate the approach to weekly improvements and regimentation - BUT, I'm used to doing 15-18 exercises per workout (3-4 times a week for about 1 1/2 hours) - ...
12
votes
4answers
5k views
What are the best ways to deal with headphone cords while exercising?
I'm looking to buy a new set of headphones; I don't care much about audio quality, so I use the same pair of headphones for running and normal use, and prefer the kind of earbuds that slip over the ...
7
votes
1answer
153 views
General advice for continuing my weight training effectively
I've been going to the gym 5 days per week rarely missing a day for the last 4 months now, with the aim to put on as much muscle mass as possible. Until about 3 weeks ago I have been able to increase ...
37
votes
5answers
6k views
How to lose manboobs?
Well this one is embarrassing as hell to ask, but its a real issue for me. I do dips often, as people say that's good, but different people say different things - that bench press will make them more ...
9
votes
3answers
527 views
I'm a casual runner & active human. Do I need to work out my legs + lower body?
I'm 27 and I'm in pretty good shape. I'm getting in even better shape, having signed up for a gym membership a couple months ago for the first time in my life. I've been hitting some free weights, pec ...
5
votes
2answers
157 views
Importance of flexibility
First, some context: I'm a 32 years old developer who spends most of the day sit, go to swimming classes once a week, and does weightlifting (at home) whenever it finds time, now moving from ...
6
votes
1answer
84 views
Straight arm tricep kickbacks. How straight should my arm be?
I just can't seem to get my arm dead straight with any weight. I can get it 95% straight with about 15lbs, but there comes a point where my shoulder starts lifting instead and my tricep is just not ...
3
votes
3answers
3k views
List of Beginner Dumbbell Exercises?
I have a set of dumbbells that I would like to use in the new year. Is there a handy list somewhere (preferably with pictures) of beginner exercises I can do with my dumbbells? I do not have a weight ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
What are some good alternative shoes for strength training?
According to this article, the principles for a good weight lifting shoe has the following properties:
Not slippery
Incompressible soles
Excellent support
Snug fit
Among the cheapest alternatives ...
4
votes
2answers
870 views
What is the correct form for seated shoulder press with dumbbells?
When doing seated shoulder presses, must the bench be set to 90 degrees? I seem to be seeing many videos where people are setting up the bench to about one notch before 90. Last night I tried this ...
1
vote
3answers
285 views
Mild Pain in Right Elbow When Flexing Starting After Increase Weight During Workout
I started working out with free weights a couple months ago and have been making good muscle and strength gains. In the past week and a half I increased a lot of the weight so I could stay within my ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
What is “overtraining” a.k.a. “CNS fatigue”?
After intense training sessions, I sometimes have the following symptoms:
My mind races. I can still be functional and productive, but getting it to hold still long enough to make a simple decision ...
6
votes
2answers
626 views
Are these Workout Routines right for Body Building
The weightlifting-101 blog post on the stackexchange blog and posts on fitness.SE has helped me learn more about strength training and body building. My goal is body building (to bulk up) in short ...
7
votes
3answers
3k views
Weight gained using GOMAD strategy
@DaveLiepmann recommended drinking one gallon of milk a day for gaining quick mass. It does look like a good idea as it is discussed on stronglifts as well.
But another article suggested it is not ...
8
votes
3answers
5k views
Troubleshooting “Body By Science” workout
I've been doing a workout inspired by Body By Science for the last 5 weeks. I can't do the whole book justice in a quick post, but in a nutshell it recommends doing a single set of 3-5 exercises ...
5
votes
3answers
185 views
Getting stronger without gaining muscle
I want to eventually start competing in BJJ competitions in the lightweight division (<70kg) and I'm about 67kg (10%bf) at the moment. I'm going to continue weight training until I reach 70kg and ...
5
votes
3answers
515 views
Absolute Beginner in Weight Training
History:
I am an absolute beginner to the world of fitness and nutrition. I'm a classical geek that spends most of the time in front of the computer writing code, fixing stuff.
I've purchased a set ...
1
vote
1answer
299 views
Deadlifting yesterday gave me pain in my lats. What is the proper posture for deadlifting to avoid this?
Yesterday I did deadlifts in my workout, then I got pain in my lat muscles and also in the thigh.
I think this was caused by wrong posture which also can lead to back problems. But I don't know the ...
3
votes
1answer
533 views
Combining HIIT and weight training
Im 22 years old, 170cm, ~90kh weight, starting some efforts to get in shape. Im going to the gym 3 times a week, I changed my diet to low-carb. My main objective is to lower my BF%, but i wouldnt mind ...
1
vote
2answers
812 views
How can I structure going to the gym twice per day?
I have been going to the gym for almost 3 months now, focusing on gaining size. I have been going 5 nights per week (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) and have noticed good gains, ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
What is a good progression to using a dip/pull up belt
I do 5 sets of 10-15 reps of pull ups using a 20lb weight vest. I'm looking to focus on strength and just ordered a dip/pull up belt to add plates. What's a good progression to add strength? Should I ...
3
votes
1answer
165 views
When does one choose the 33lb bar vs 45lb bar?
Other than the fact that it's 12 lbs lighter, is there any reason to choose the 33lb bar to lift rather than the 45 lb bar?
4
votes
4answers
293 views
Burn fat and gain muscles at same time
I am doing weights for a few months now, but I find it hard to gain muscles and burn fat at the same time. It seems like one goes at the expense of the other. I think I have a balanced diet, with more ...
2
votes
2answers
70 views
How to get out of a Work Out Funk?
Currently I've been working out about 4-5 days a week trying to get in about 6-7 different lifts in per day. Focusing on a major muscle group each day for example Legs day 1, Arms day 2, chest day 3 ...
3
votes
1answer
139 views
Mid-Tension Hand Grip Good For beginners?
My personal trainer has suggested I work on my grip strength as he thinks that it is restricting me from reducing heavier(ie I have to lift lower weight as I do have trouble getting a good grip ...
2
votes
2answers
594 views
Going to gym twice a day
I was thinking about going to gym in morning for cardio type exercises and then in evening do some weight training, my main goal is to get 6 pack and get ripped. Do you think going to the gym twice a ...
9
votes
2answers
1k views
Joint impact of ATG Squats
Various weightlifting and exercise resources either claim that ATG squats (a**-to-ground, i.e. as low as you can) are perfectly fine or claim they will destroy your knees in two sessions.
I was ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Supplemental exercises for breaking an overhead press plateau
Background:
I've just recently completed the first 12 week period of StrongLifts. My finishing stats are below:
Age: 24
Gender: male
Height: 170cm (67in)
Body weight: 68kg (150#) (I've been eating ...
11
votes
3answers
512 views
Dumbbell weight training for distance running
What weight training exercises can I do with dumbbells that will benefit me most for running 5-10ks? Are stomach crunches/sit ups worth doing too?
4
votes
1answer
634 views
How much protein and how often should I consume if my LBM is very low?
I've been googling for hours and I'm still not sure how to resolve this situation.
Defining the problem
many articles on the web are written for heavy people with relatively high body fat ...
1
vote
1answer
156 views
Abs are built in the kitchen, but what about obliques and lower abs?
I've made some major changes as to what I cook within the kitchen, such as using Coconut Oil, substituting in sweet potatoes, etc.
But I've, as of so far, haven't seen much improvement/visibility in ...
7
votes
2answers
832 views
Feeling squats in my right leg more
A recent development has occurred in my squats. I seem to be feeling the squats work out my right leg significantly more than my left leg. As far as I can tell my stance is square and I should be ...
6
votes
2answers
445 views
How to establish a beginning weight program?
Background
After a long time being sedentary and amassing about 299 lbs peak, I decided to get serious about getting healthy. I first attacked my weight by diet and got down to about 210 lbs. Next ...
3
votes
4answers
418 views
How many sets per muscle?
My current program consists of a 5 day workout. Each muscle group (say chest for example) has 3 different exercises divided in 4 sets of 12 repetitions. Tempo is 2 seconds down and 1 up.
...
5
votes
2answers
361 views
Are multiple sets with decreasing weight and no rest between them a good idea?
I saw someone else doing this and I tried it and have liked the results. I start by doing a half dozen reps on the heaviest weight I can handle, then without resting more that the time it takes to ...
2
votes
2answers
375 views
I hurt my back from a deadlift attempt. When can I go back to weight lifting?
I hurt my lower back doing a failed deadlift attempt. Nothing terrible, but I feel a mild pain there.
When can I go back to weight lifting?
Similarly, my hand is sore (from a poorly done impact...) ...
3
votes
2answers
168 views
What are the ball bearings in dumbbells and barbells for?
Well the question title pretty much says it.
While browsing the web for dumbbells I stumbled over the supposedly cheaper 30mm bars and the 50mm bars that all seem to be ball beared.
What is the ...
4
votes
1answer
90 views
To increase strength why wouldn't anaerobic reps be done as quickly as possible to fatigue the fast twitch muscle fibers?
There are lots of recommendations to do the reps slowly - like with 2 seconds + 2 seconds, also some machines have rep timers of 2 seconds + 4 seconds. But if you are targeting fast twitch muscle for ...
4
votes
1answer
47 views
Trying low bar position is difficult, what can I do to get there?
I'm trying to get to where I can squat with the bar in the low bar position as in Mark's video.
I'm having difficulties getting into this position and I think it's a mix of things, one being ...
5
votes
4answers
776 views
High Heel in weightlifting shoes
After much urging, I bought some Wei-Rui weight lifting shoes. But I found my deadlift in them became much worse, not better. A friend told me that the high heel in them ruins the deadlift. He told ...
9
votes
3answers
433 views
Weight keeps shifting to balls of my feet during squat
During squats, on my way back up my weight keeps shifting to the balls of my feet. From my understanding my weight should be roughly distributed throught he foot, with maybe a little bit more on the ...
4
votes
1answer
224 views
Proper way to find out your one rep max?
As part of an online competition I want to perfom 1RM on all of my lifts (squat, bench press, over head press, bent over rows, dead lift). I do not know what my current 1RM is and would like to find ...
2
votes
1answer
115 views
Completing all sets in a weightlifting routine
I am 22 years old, and it has been 4 days since I started to train in a gym. My weight is 60-61 kg.
Currently, I am training on different gym equipment, but most important for me is weightlifting. ...
5
votes
2answers
75 views
Is it good to box 6 rounds before heavy squats?
My physical therapist wants me to box six 3-minute rounds before I do weight training. After boxing I feel pretty tired and of course not 100% energized, and I can't perform 100% in weight training ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Chest exercises make my triceps burn
I know that with most chest exercises, the triceps are greatly involved. My concern is that by the time my triceps burns, I barely feel anything in my chest. My coach has suggested I put more ...
3
votes
1answer
216 views
Should my wrists have the pressure on them when I benchpress?
Whenever I bench press I notice that the weight is transferring back onto my wrists. I feel I could go to a higher weight but slight pain when doing this is holding me back. Is this because of bad ...
6
votes
3answers
807 views
What is the advantage of using Olympic plates over standard ones?
I'm lucky enough to have been gifted a half squat rack and 160kg of "standard" weights. I'm happy with this and not looking to upgrade in the near future but I was wondering what the advantages are of ...
2
votes
1answer
262 views
Is physical exercise bad for myopic patients?
I have myopia and my glasses are -6.50(spherical),-0.75 (Cyl) [Right eye] and -6.00(sph), -1.50(cyl) [left eye].
I am a 23 years old man. I do physical exercises like push ups, sit ups, crunching, ...
3
votes
3answers
218 views
Where can I find instructions for doing back squats correctly?
I've looked around but there seems to be a lot of variety out there. Is there a widely accepted "best" set of instructions or video for doing squats correctly?
4
votes
1answer
207 views
Rounding of the lower back while doing squats
I've been working with Starting Strength for a while now and although I've been taking lots of notes on form and watching videos wherever I can I can't stop rounding my back. I find that when I'm ...
