Functional movement, definately not functional weight. Fighting and weight lifting are the only two daily functional things I can think of for 1.5xyour weight for reps (wow, come to think of it I'm almost there, COOL, never thought of it that way, HEHEHE) Sorry, that just clicked and made me all giddy.
By "doing what they were meant too do" Isn't training supposed to increase performance of the body to do consistantly try and do more than before and pushing the bodies limits to expand thresholds?
Okay, I'm arguing to a point here. I do understand the use of equipment ie belt. Personally, I did lift with it when I was younger. I found it restrictive, hindering and on some lifts like squats a little awkward. Its not something I wish to spend money one again to find one that fits properly. I use a small thin towel to wrap 2-3 x around the bar for squatting because I wear tank-tops to the gym and barbell by itself breaks the blood vessels under the skin where it rests. Currently I am looking for a dip belt and trying to find chalk as well for the hands.
By the way, is rock climbing chalk the same as weight lifting chalk? Anyone know?
Cheers, and Diana, hope I'm not frustrating you?!
Currently I am at the top end of rep range for squats, bench and deads. In the new year I plan on deloading alot and work at higher rep ranges to give the body a stress break.
Things you've learned through experience
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mzaruba423
- ESTABLISHED MEMBER
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2008 6:32 pm
Rock climbing chalk works fine for me.
Vamp, if you want to get into power lifting someday, I'll tell you this: lifting maximal weight is not a comfortable or natural thing to be doing. It can be quite painful.
A belt might feel awkward, but if you want to lift as absolutely as much as you humanly can for your third attempt in a meet, you will gladly put up with a bit of awkwardness to make your numbers. Wrapping a towel around the bar and making it look like a giant tampon is not going to help your squat. Your shoulders will toughen up in time and you will have more control over the bar by feeling the weight on your back. Knee wraps cut the circulation off to your calves. They hurt and leave bite marks. squat suit has 16" leg holes, thighs are 22", but I pull it on, millimetre by millimetre, basically howling from the pain and bruises, but I know it will add 20-30lbs on squat, and that's the GOAL. And that is only a beginners suit, single ply.
What I'm saying is that there is a reason to use gear, if you have the goal of lifting the absolute most you can, then use it. If you are a recreational lifter, trying to stay fit and healthy, then it's not needed. Some one who lifts in those circumstances has months or years to make incremental gains, and who even cares, as long as they are healthy, safe and having a good time.
In competition, you have 8-12 weeks between meets to bring up your game.
Vamp, if you want to get into power lifting someday, I'll tell you this: lifting maximal weight is not a comfortable or natural thing to be doing. It can be quite painful.
A belt might feel awkward, but if you want to lift as absolutely as much as you humanly can for your third attempt in a meet, you will gladly put up with a bit of awkwardness to make your numbers. Wrapping a towel around the bar and making it look like a giant tampon is not going to help your squat. Your shoulders will toughen up in time and you will have more control over the bar by feeling the weight on your back. Knee wraps cut the circulation off to your calves. They hurt and leave bite marks. squat suit has 16" leg holes, thighs are 22", but I pull it on, millimetre by millimetre, basically howling from the pain and bruises, but I know it will add 20-30lbs on squat, and that's the GOAL. And that is only a beginners suit, single ply.
What I'm saying is that there is a reason to use gear, if you have the goal of lifting the absolute most you can, then use it. If you are a recreational lifter, trying to stay fit and healthy, then it's not needed. Some one who lifts in those circumstances has months or years to make incremental gains, and who even cares, as long as they are healthy, safe and having a good time.
In competition, you have 8-12 weeks between meets to bring up your game.
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angelbaby111
- STARTING OUT
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:33 pm
Consistency Is Key...
Gotta keep on going and going......eventually, you'll see results. And, eat well, work hard.
simple words of wisdom.
simple words of wisdom.
Belts can help with axial-compressive loading of the lower back but only if you cinch it so tight that you can hardly breath. If you can leave it at the same belt hole for the entire workout it is absolutely worthless (except to give you heat boils).thekid24 wrote:what's up with belts?
It will not help with bent over lifts like rows.
This is a thing I learned with a magnifying glass (not from experience):
The next time you see a photo in a body building magazine where the subject is covered in "sweat", whip out the magnifying glass.
The "sweat" is simply water that has been sprayed on the well-oiled body. It is there to mask the steroid induced boils. If you study the image carefully with the magnifying glass you will be able to spot which are the boils and which are the drops of water.
So if you ever feel diminished by comparison to the photos, remember you are training without the chemicals and notwithstanding all their claims to the contrary, they are using those chemicals.
The next time you see a photo in a body building magazine where the subject is covered in "sweat", whip out the magnifying glass.
The "sweat" is simply water that has been sprayed on the well-oiled body. It is there to mask the steroid induced boils. If you study the image carefully with the magnifying glass you will be able to spot which are the boils and which are the drops of water.
So if you ever feel diminished by comparison to the photos, remember you are training without the chemicals and notwithstanding all their claims to the contrary, they are using those chemicals.
Re: Things you've learned through experience
Well, not at the gym but on running and jogging:
1. Don't run 6 miles when you haven't ran/jog in a long while (do a walk/run combination for a 1-2 mile at first and then built up). I learned this the hard way and was so sore and tender for a whole week.
2. Stretching is important before and after every run/jog (this I learned in high school, when I forgot to stretch first and did pull hamstring muscle at track practice. I had to sit out for a week).
3. Don't sign up for a competitve run unless you are fully ready (I sure wasn't and didn't participate).
4. Drink lots of water (in high school, I didn't drink as much water as I do now and I would end up dehydrated and "cottonmouthed" after every run).
1. Don't run 6 miles when you haven't ran/jog in a long while (do a walk/run combination for a 1-2 mile at first and then built up). I learned this the hard way and was so sore and tender for a whole week.
2. Stretching is important before and after every run/jog (this I learned in high school, when I forgot to stretch first and did pull hamstring muscle at track practice. I had to sit out for a week).
3. Don't sign up for a competitve run unless you are fully ready (I sure wasn't and didn't participate).
4. Drink lots of water (in high school, I didn't drink as much water as I do now and I would end up dehydrated and "cottonmouthed" after every run).
Re: Things you've learned through experience
Stuff the women who look at you weirdly for using weights and not spend hours on cardio machines
And stuff the men who get annoyed at you using the free weights
You are there for you, no one else
I used to go to the gym when I was attending university and I loved free weights. The stick thin girls would give me looks of disgust from their cardio machines for lifting weights and the guys would bitch and moan for me being "in the way" of the weights rack.
I took me until this year to feel comfortable doing what I want to do after taking a few years off weight training. I realised that it doesn't matter what others think, it's what you think and that's all there is to it. I'm there to improve fitness and weight training agrees greatly with body.
And stuff the men who get annoyed at you using the free weights
You are there for you, no one else
I used to go to the gym when I was attending university and I loved free weights. The stick thin girls would give me looks of disgust from their cardio machines for lifting weights and the guys would bitch and moan for me being "in the way" of the weights rack.
I took me until this year to feel comfortable doing what I want to do after taking a few years off weight training. I realised that it doesn't matter what others think, it's what you think and that's all there is to it. I'm there to improve fitness and weight training agrees greatly with body.
Re: Things you've learned through experience
Exactly. What's the point of not doing something beneficial for yourself in that scenario, for fear of what others think. Let them think it. It's their problem, their weakness, their issue, not yours.
Re: Things you've learned through experience
I see so many people finish weights & then leave..STRETCH, it does have a purpose.