Please learn from me

[BryanS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BryanS]

Great post DNICE. I agree with all that. Especially the internet/book bullshit. I train people and am a powerlifter. Sooner or later you just realize that the dudes squatting 600 lbs know what they're talking about when it comes to diet and exercise, and not some douche with a degree or some archair teenager on a forum. When I started listening to these guys, I got strong and big, and my diet radically changed which helped both my health and my stats in the gym and how I looked.

And definitely agree on the overtraining part. I lift weights for about 45 minutes twice a week (all powerlift/olympic compound style movements), then I do cardio (heavy sled pulling) twice a week for 20 minutes. I always chuckle at these highschoolers/college level kids that come in the gym doing professional bodybuiler type workouts that are all filled up with isolated lifts that last 2-3 hours, and they do this every single day. Not that I can say much, I did the same thing in highschool, but I was also 135 lbs and thought I knew it all, haha.

Anyway, great post!

[SuperDude Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SuperDude]

listen to dnice , he's a man of wisdom I know some guys in their early 20's who have screwed up their heart because they weren't cautious enough.

How would you screw up your heart if u didnt take any unnatural supplements etc..

This thread is pretty silly imo. Being fatigued is not a big deal, its typically what happens after a hard workout. Of course everyone should be safe and make sure to work their way up in workouts, just as you would do with PE. And just as in PE, in regular exercise you should make sure you know what you are doing, and you will avoid injury. Knowledge and experience goes a long way.

[pimpek Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pimpek]

I see that the advice you're giving is meant to minimise the chances for any injuries to occur, and I understand that you're working out to be stronger and more able, so injuring yourself while working out is a really really useless and stupid thing to do. I would just like to say I disagree on two of the points you made: I believe you should push yourself beyond your limits, because that way you'll adapt faster. Any challenge in any human endeavour is always beyond one's current skill, otherwise it isn't a challenge. I suppose that, if you view bodybuilding as a recreation, you shouldn't push yourself to the max, bur if you view it more as a sport, you should. And yeah, I think exercise is meant to tear up muscle fibers and deplete glicogen supplies. But I'm always extremely careful not to injure myself, and that I'm properly warmed up. But that's just me, and your body (and mindset) is probably a lot different than mine. I just have a need to push the envelope, but I'm not saying you should too! Just enjoy what you do! You only live once!

[WantMore Member Find all posts View Profile Close WantMore]

How would you screw up your heart if u didnt take any unnatural supplements etc..

This thread is pretty silly imo. Being fatigued is not a big deal, its typically what happens after a hard workout. Of course everyone should be safe and make sure to work their way up in workouts, just as you would do with PE. And just as in PE, in regular exercise you should make sure you know what you are doing, and you will avoid injury. Knowledge and experience goes a long way.

Not silly. Sound advice, for the most part.
The danger is in extremes, what he's trying to warn everybody of is going to the limit and staying there all the time, which is the land of injuries, excessive cortisol, and CNS exhaustion.
Of course that could harm your heart. Harm you.

On the other hand, you're right too. Fatigue is a great way to know you've actually worked out and not just gone through the motions. I personally believe in balls-to-the walls workouts that leave you gasping for air but proud of yourself for having gotten through. But you better be fully recovered before the next workout, or guess what, your gains will slow, then stop, and then you'll start going backwards.

Bottom line would be this quote from the Barbarian brothers - steroids be damned, it's true for everyone... There is no overtraining, only undereating and undersleeping.

[mr.growmymeat Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mr.growmymeat]

You have to be smart.. but training to failure isn't bad if you do it every once in a while.. the better shape you're in the more intensity you can work out with. Sleep and nutrition is very important. I try to keep my lifting sessions to 45 min or less not including warm up and cool down. Hydration is vital and if you're really sore or feeling tired just do a shorter lighter workout. And if you're dieting(calorie deficit) be sure to have 1 or 2 days a week where you over-eat a little bit so your body can recover and repair.

[jdavid1990 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close jdavid1990]

I agree with you in certain ways. Injury and not enough rest inbetween. However at advanced levels if you don't push passed the pain barrier and fatigue levels you wont get any further. (Neither will you if you don't know how to rest properly) Deadlifts and squats a good week apart ect... dont hit the bag in the next few days after a chest session...ect.. Diet an REM sleep..

[david321 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close david321]

well no pain no gain

[JuliusS Member Find all posts View Profile Close JuliusS]

dnice, that's nice, but I think your advice is meant for the older folk. If you want the body of Zyzz you will have to exercise like hell and push your self to the limit. But that's the most rewarding body when it comes to aesthetics.

well no pain no gain

Also agree with this, but sometimes a little bit of pain is good.

[vulcan Retired ModeratorPE Gym EditorPEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close vulcan]

I am 38 now & i have trained hard with weights my whole life - naturally. The only exercise i regret is running on the roads when not built for it. You need to be mindfull of whether you are endo/meso/ecto in as far as rest re weights. Cycling rep ranges is a very good idea too imo.

[cockadoodledoo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cockadoodledoo]

and make sure to use proper back support when doing shoulder press/tris extension, i did my back like that when I was 19.. still fucked 4 years on

[XLEdwards Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close XLEdwards]

I have a question, what's the difference(pros and cons) between a healthy body and a muscular body? I've done research and seen many videos via Youtube, and infomercials about, "Have that lean toned body," or, "Gain muscle and get that ripped body you always wanted," headline. From what I've seen it seems making muscle would be considered healthy, right? However, there's the negative feedback from your body, like you mentioned on how you hurt your back, and joints, etc. If I had a healthy body, wouldn't also be quite muscular, lean and toned? I understand the importance of a diet, a nutritional diet at that, but I'm still just kind of confused on it all.

I want to gain more muscle than what I have now, since I'm just not satisfied where I'm at. I guess it's influenced thanks to said videos and infomercials, that I crave this; because it seems that's what improves the sex appeal for girls as well. I might be doing this for petty reasons, but that's why I'm asking this now. I'd rather not work hard for great muscle gains over the years, only to have my body breakdown on my by the time I'm 35.

Any advice, ANYTHING, would be just lovely.

[Toadstool Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Toadstool]

Edwards, I'm not exactly sure what your question is.
Commercials will use buzzwords that their market researchers have found to have impact on the viewing audience. Lean and toned, muscular, health lifestyle. These are all things that peak our interest.
There might be no difference between the terms whatsoever.

But there is a big difference between going to the gym, practicing a movement, building some muscle ... and pushing past the pain threshold and blowing out your knees. Up there, JDavid said something about "needing to push past the pain at certain levels." He was a professional MMA fighter. Okay? Keep this nonsense in perspective.

You hurt yourself by not letting your body rest, but taking on more than your body can handle, by doing ballistic movements before you are able to, not practicing proper posture.
The line between health and unhealth can sometimes be a fine one, but listen to your body. If you're tired, sore, or whatever - take a day or two off.

The truth is, your body is designed to last for around 111 years, I believe. The body breaks down when dummies do what I described above. Also remember that a lot of bodybuilders/power lifters take drugs to enhance performance. Their muscles might have become stronger than what their joints are able to.
I went to a Goodlife where the receptionist said that her boyfriend had taken some steroids and started lifting a heavy deadlift. Blew his knee caps out and needed surgery.

[XLEdwards Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close XLEdwards]

Edwards, I'm not exactly sure what your question is.
Commercials will use buzzwords that their market researchers have found to have impact on the viewing audience. Lean and toned, muscular, health lifestyle. These are all things that peak our interest.
There might be no difference between the terms whatsoever.

But there is a big difference between going to the gym, practicing a movement, building some muscle ... and pushing past the pain threshold and blowing out your knees. Up there, JDavid said something about "needing to push past the pain at certain levels." He was a professional MMA fighter. Okay? Keep this nonsense in perspective.

You hurt yourself by not letting your body rest, but taking on more than your body can handle, by doing ballistic movements before you are able to, not practicing proper posture.
The line between health and unhealth can sometimes be a fine one, but listen to your body. If you're tired, sore, or whatever - take a day or two off.

The truth is, your body is designed to last for around 111 years, I believe. The body breaks down when dummies do what I described above. Also remember that a lot of bodybuilders/power lifters take drugs to enhance performance. Their muscles might have become stronger than what their joints are able to.
I went to a Goodlife where the receptionist said that her boyfriend had taken some steroids and started lifting a heavy deadlift. Blew his knee caps out and needed surgery.

Thanks for the response, Toadstool, I'll be sure to take all that in consideration. The question I was trying to get across was that, is having more muscle, or gaining more muscle meaning you're becoming more healthy? Or would being more healthy just be having a well balanced, and nutritional diet? I suppose when I think more about it, having both of them in moderation would probably be more beneficial and healthier down the line.

Sorry if it seems like I'm not making it clear enough, in the USMC, seems like a lot of guys focus on going to the gym, doing weight training, while taking in a LOT of protein shakes/drinks. I never thought it seemed healthy, since there's the risk of injury in pushing yourself too hard, as well as probably not having much of a diet at that. Guess what I'm trying to get at is whether weights are a good thing to use while working out or just using manual exercises(push-ups, sit-ups, etc) so I don't put too much strain on my body/joints?

Thank you for your patience ^^;

[Toadstool Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Toadstool]

Exercise is healthy for you. There are many different modes of exercise. You can dance, do calisthenics, weight train, you can run, jump, swim. It doesn't matter. Just get moving. Make sure that you aren't leading a sedentary life and you'll be healthy enough.

It is ideal to have both a sound diet and exercise regime that works on strengthening your muscles, joints, and everything else. You CAN get that through weight training, however most people who go to the gym look at the whole thing one dimensionally: Train to look good to get girls!
In my opinion, having a low body fat percentage and looking attractive is a symptom of a solid exercise foundation, rather than the actual goal.

It's also not uncommon to see someone use terrible form in an effort to lift the weight. I can't tell you how many guys and girls are deadlifting with a back arched in the shape of a C, or doing pullups with their whole body swinging, or doing planks with their hips sagging.
Good intentions that rest on poor principles can be just as bad long term as if they had done nothing at all.

[littletoobig Member Find all posts View Profile Close littletoobig]

Hey Mr Toadstool? I was wondering what would be great exercises to develop lower chest muscle growth. I know I may not seem like it but I doo work out, so far for my chest area I have been developing my middle chest, and I have gained size. Now want to focus on detailing it out. What's the best approach I can take to develop lower chest muscle?
-Thanks in Advance