who here is '' GYM'N '' it?

[supanova]

Who here is a frequent gym user?

I am/was a skin&bones kinda guy and after failing the gym once back in 2010 I never looked near the gym since, nothing just seem to work for me. no matter what i did. up until about 2 months ago, I decided to get a bit of shape into my body rather than just looking like a match stick.

at first I went to a ''backstreet'' personal trainer and found that he was really good and I could actually see a change in me. he planned me out a proper diet and work eithic and told me to stick to it. a month went by and within that month a mate of mine seem the change in me and he joined in on the fun too. he was the opposite to me, he was about 15 stone but tall so didnt really notice as much.

after the first month we both decided to try it ourselves in my garage where i have a wee mini gym set up in the roof space. ( garage is pretty big, will be a granny flat in years to come) so plenty of moving space.

its been 2 months now and I have put on a full stone. ironically my mate has went down to under 14st. so its working for both of us.

we dont do much weight lifting as such, its more body shocking/cardio for a full hour we are on the move, with 30sec breaks inbetween. I feel great for it and i see a big difference in muscle mass as i had ****e all to begain with. got a pretty decent 6pack forming and my jeans arnt falling off me either anymore.

 

[Cozza McA]

Guilty is charged for me haha.
Love a good gym sesh!! Different body part every night to mix it up a bit. Can't beat a shoulder work out. (Not much fun the next day though)
All about the gun show for me.

 

[JudderMan]

Good going mate, keep it up. I love doing weights/biking/exercise. I've had a week off but will be back on it tomorrow Nothing like the afterburn of a damn good workout.

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/general-chat/176767-my-500-kettlebell-work-out.html

 

[hillsyxvii]

Confessed gym junkie here. Can't beat the buzz after a good gym session.
Great to hear your getting results. Just keep the body guessing. You'll see more growth the more you confuse the body. Breaks down more muscle fibres. Switch up reps/sets and rest time. Keep up the good work.

:thumbup:

 

[NHN]

Ask Ads about the GYM, although I hear cinemas are his new haunt these days

 

[superkarl]

A stone in 2 months!? Wtf are you eating!?

It took me the best part of 13months to go from 11st 7 to 13st 5. I ate well, and alot, alwas aiming for 4000 calories a day.
Granted, my first stone prob took 6 months, after that it got harder and harder.

Ive now not trained properly since christmas, and im back down to 12 stone. Its so depressing, my mrs knows how angry and frankly upset it makes me that i didnt keep at it. Sadly moving home and a car blowing up means money goes elsewhere.
I have no doubt i wouldve been up to 14st within 2 years, with good benches of up to 140kg, 200kg+ deadlifts and squating 150+ comfortably, they were always my goals.
I do love the old school type of training and big compound/olympic lifts.

 

[hillsyxvii]

A stone in 2 months!? Wtf are you eating!?

It took me the best part of 13months to go from 11st 7 to 13st 5. I ate well, and alot, alwas aiming for 4000 calories a day.
Granted, my first stone prob took 6 months, after that it got harder and harder.

Ive now not trained properly since christmas, and im back down to 12 stone. Its so depressing, my mrs knows how angry and frankly upset it makes me that i didnt keep at it. Sadly moving home and a car blowing up means money goes elsewhere.
I have no doubt i wouldve been up to 14st within 2 years, with good benches of up to 140kg, 200kg+ deadlifts and squating 150+ comfortably, they were always my goals.
I do love the old school type of training and big compound/olympic lifts.

Compound lifts are the best for size and strength gains for sure. :thumbup:
If you had those numbers for your lifts at 14st you'd be up in the best in the national competitions
I have a freind who's 21 who's got potential to be world champion in his weight class (83kg) He squats 182.5kg, dlifts 215 & benches 117.5.
Superkarl if your lifting clean with those weights you've got to get back into it :thumbup:

 

[jojo]

My back hurts just reading all this!

 

[jdp1962]

My back hurts just reading all this!

Me too.

 

[afcbjoshd]

self confessed gym rat here too... currently mixing it up for a few weeks with my own variation on kris gethin's dtp and then thinking going back to strength and hypertrophy based training for a bit following the dtp.

 

[jojo]

Funny thing is, I have Gym membership, but I only go to use the steam/sauna/jacuzzi/pool, probably used the gym twice! I think it's a confidence thing, I will happily do 20-30 minutes on my exercise bike at home in peace, but find it hard to motivate myself to use the gym equipment. And going on my own, I find it boring, I have no local friends which is sad, all my best mates live the otherside of town.

 

[Big Pumpa]

Yep, been training hard for the past 8 years! Currently on my cutting regime for the past 5 weeks. Got another 7 weeks left of it!

 

[Big Pumpa]

self confessed gym rat here too... currently mixing it up for a few weeks with my own variation on kris gethin's dtp and then thinking going back to strength and hypertrophy based training for a bit following the dtp.

I did Kris Gethins dtp last year... whilst the results were good and I followed his routine religiously, his results were better since he was definitely juicing and I stayed natural. This year I'm just doing my own thing!

 

[superkarl]

Compound lifts are the best for size and strength gains for sure. :thumbup:
If you had those numbers for your lifts at 14st you'd be up in the best in the national competitions
I have a freind who's 21 who's got potential to be world champion in his weight class (83kg) He squats 182.5kg, dlifts 215 & benches 117.5.
Superkarl if your lifting clean with those weights you've got to get back into it :thumbup:

they were always my GOALs btw, not what i did at my heaviest at 13st5.
My legs and back WERE strong, bench never was tbh, never did more than sort of 110-115.
I used to love it tho!
Although i was never brave enough to start doing snatches! **** that, too dangerous!


Currently i pretty much hate myself when i look iin mirror, vanity is a *****, i also went the gym with my bro as a one off about a month ago and walked out in an angry strop after realising the strength id lost.
It becomes an obsession, all or nothing, which has its bad points

 

[Big Pumpa]

Compound lifts are the best for size and strength gains for sure. :thumbup:If you had those numbers for your lifts at 14st you'd be up in the best in the national competitions I have a freind who's 21 who's got potential to be world champion in his weight class (83kg) He squats 182.5kg, dlifts 215 & benches 117.5. Superkarl if your lifting clean with those weights you've got to get back into it :thumbup:

Not bad lifts. How many reps of 117? I'm 83kg and benching 120... wouldnt class it as world champion potential though. I'm sure there are fella's of the same weight benching 150+.

 

[Jason.s]

I want to start going but as mentioned by others. I also lack the motivation and will power to go and carry it on even though i do want to lose the gut and bulk up. Self confidence is another issue. Feel embarrassed using weight machines when theres huge meat heads there lifting silly weight. Hate to think about what they think about me lifting ****** all compared to them.

I just hope no one here is the typical guys you see walking around with big upperbody and arms but tiny little legs. Feel like asking if they`re always busy on leg days..

 

[Big Pumpa]

I want to start going but as mentioned by others. I also lack the motivation and will power to go and carry it on even though i do want to lose the gut and bulk up. Self confidence is another issue. Feel embarrassed using weight machines when theres huge meat heads there lifting silly weight. Hate to think about what they think about me lifting ****** all compared to them.I just hope no one here is the typical guys you see walking around with big upperbody and arms but tiny little legs. Feel like asking if they`re always busy on leg days..

Haha legs day is a must... cant be skipping that! I dont think you should care about what people think about the weights you're pushing. Everyone starts somewhere! I don't think anyone would think/look down on you for lifting smaller weights anyway so you should never feel embarrassed mate. Do ya thing!

 

[NHN]

I dont think you should care about what people think about the weights you're pushing. Everyone starts somewhere! I don't think anyone would think/look down on you for lifting smaller weights anyway so you should never feel embarrassed mate. Do ya thing!

Exactly, 100%, who cares what others think, you do it for yourself not anyone else

 

[Jason.s]

Indeed 100% correct. Doesnt stop me thinking it though lol.

 

[hillsyxvii]

Not bad lifts. How many reps of 117? I'm 83kg and benching 120... wouldnt class it as world champion potential though. I'm sure there are fella's of the same weight benching 150+.

Check him out. He does all the big national meets. It's not the single lift. It's combined total. He can now squat 200+ his names dominic manifold. He posts on YouTube quite a bit.

 

[afcbjoshd]

I did Kris Gethins dtp last year... whilst the results were good and I followed his routine religiously, his results were better since he was definitely juicing and I stayed natural. This year I'm just doing my own thing!

yeah he was definitely juiced for it. i'm doing it as a change and to shock my body for a bit whilst i write my new routine out and figure out my next goals. at the moment it's nice not to think too much, just go in and smash it out, obviously the first couple sessions you need to figure out what weight to use with the different rep ranges but after that just incrementally increase the weight as i see fit and i'm away. enjoying it though, the intensity is good from it too...

 

[afcbjoshd]

I want to start going but as mentioned by others. I also lack the motivation and will power to go and carry it on even though i do want to lose the gut and bulk up. Self confidence is another issue. Feel embarrassed using weight machines when theres huge meat heads there lifting silly weight. Hate to think about what they think about me lifting ****** all compared to them.

I just hope no one here is the typical guys you see walking around with big upperbody and arms but tiny little legs. Feel like asking if they`re always busy on leg days..

as big pumpa says mate don't be put off by what others are doing. the only person you're in competition with is yourself, if YOU are getting better compared with your old self that's all that matters not what anyone else is doing. Just go in and do the best you can and no one will look down on you for that. you might even find that some of the guys will offer advice that you can implement into your training and learn from! and i've seen quite a lot of this 'no leg day' and to be honest it looks ridiculous. saw someone the other day who clearly never trains legs as the weight he was doing standing cable flyes with he was struggling to stay upright because he lacked the leg and overall core strength to stay balanced enough to do the exercise. he was a big guy up top too! i actually laughed when i saw it...!

 

[AlexGSi2000]

I want to start going but as mentioned by others. I also lack the motivation and will power to go and carry it on even though i do want to lose the gut and bulk up. Self confidence is another issue. Feel embarrassed using weight machines when theres huge meat heads there lifting silly weight. Hate to think about what they think about me lifting ****** all compared to them.

Don't worry about the bigger guys at the gym, what I have found is that the bigger scary looking guys are good lads and will respect anyone putting effort in at the gym - regardless of size.

Its the wannabe drug dealers who are on their phones / shouting all the time that annoy people.

Dont forget, everyone has to start from somewhere.

I have been going to the gym on a regular basis for the past two years, I used to go 3 times a week but this has dropped down to 2 days due to moving house (takes 30minutes to get to the gym!) so waiting for my membership to expire at the end of the month before I join a closer gym.

People go to the gym for different reasons, personally im not wanting "size", but to build muscle and tone up progressively.

Diet is just as important as exercise - im a sucker when it comes to pizza/takeaway/mcdonalds - I usually eat fast food twice a week, which is pulling me down. Its the same story for convenience food at home but starting to break the habit!
I know I have a 6-pack (not beer) - its just hiding away under a "layer of insulation"

The key for me was to do things gradually, im not expecting "6-pack in 60 days" as I find you end up working too hard and it inevitably puts you off. Try starting low and building yourself up.

As far as will power and motivation goes - I was the same, its all too easy to watch TV after work, but I get guilty / annoyed if I don't go to the gym for a few days.
The result after going to the gym is the satisfaction - it gets fairly addictive.
For some bizarre reason, I find the ache a few days after a good workout is also addictive!

 

[JudderMan]

I want to start going but as mentioned by others. I also lack the motivation and will power to go and carry it on even though i do want to lose the gut and bulk up. Self confidence is another issue. Feel embarrassed using weight machines when theres huge meat heads there lifting silly weight. Hate to think about what they think about me lifting ****** all compared to them.

I just hope no one here is the typical guys you see walking around with big upperbody and arms but tiny little legs. Feel like asking if they`re always busy on leg days..

The biggest guys will most likely give you tips and help, if anything. However, no one will look at you as they are focused on doing their own thing. Some meat heads go and lift lighter weights on certain days.

Anyway, at the gym do big compound movements ie. dead lifts, squats, bench press. You will see much more gains and in a quicker time than those gymfags that only do bicep curls in front of the mirror. If you've got a gut then stay clear of working one muscle at a time. Squats, for instance, do your core, quads, hamstrings, lower back, upper back (to some extent as you stabilise the bar) and burns fat, builds muscle and hurts like hell so you know it's working

 

[Westy]

I've been on and off the weights since I was 18. I'm 6'1" and naturally skinny and find it very hard to hold onto any added weight. I've got half a double garage setup as a gym with free weights, bench, and chin up bar. I can never make my mind up whether to bulk or cut and can easily go from 12 stone to 14 stone and back again in 6 months. This year I'd cut down from 13.5 stone to 12.5 by watching the calories and doing mainly body weight exercises.

As of this Monday I've started this compound routine:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/hardgainer-workout-ready-set-grow.html

I'm pretty clued up an have read a lot of info over the last 10 years and I have all the motivation in the world but still struggle to bulk up. Really concentrating on sorting out my stick legs over the next 6 months. Put away 3500 calories today (meant to only be 2500) so that should help

 

[Zak0123]

Don't worry about the bigger guys at the gym, what I have found is that the bigger scary looking guys are good lads and will respect anyone putting effort in at the gym - regardless of size.

Agreed! Everyone looks scary until you talk to them but most are more than happy to help, as said, everyone has to start somewhere!

This post made me laugh as I just got back from the gym! I'm only 11 and a half stone and about 5 foot 9/10. Do all free weights and a tiny bit of cardio (need to do more!). It's all about free weights.. staying on the machines and then moving to free weights you'll find yourself flimsy as anything as its all about the stabilising muscles (apparently, what do I know haha). Benching about 40kg in each hand and 30kg in each hand on shoulders, interesting knowing what everyone's pushing!

I have a big head (literally) so since I've started working out properly my neck has gotten HUGE. Makes my friends laugh haha, thumb head..

 

[PaulAr]

Technique is everything.
General good diet with elavated protein intake is close behind.

Gyms are full of people lifting weights that are too heavy for them. Crap form, half reps etc.. are almost the norm. Pay no attention to these people, do your thing and you will see results before you know it.

Always work your legs into your routine too. Nowt better than a good clean squatting session and hobbling back to the changing room with that perverse sense of satisfaction.

 

[supanova]

Yeah don't worry about the bigger guys, I'd rather be slim and defined with good athlete ability/figure than look like a meat head that has to literally turn sideways to go through door ways. big and bulky for me isnt a good look. those bigger guys can maybe lift a whole lot but IMO they aren't fit/in-shape, they just look huge.

 

[Jason.s]

Yeah that makes me laugh. There used to be a bodybuilder type guy that went to the same bootcamp classes as my mrs. He used to get out of breath so easily and usually had to stop for a rest while the others carried on lol.

 

[sliced]

yeah he was definitely juiced for it. i'm doing it as a change and to shock my body for a bit whilst i write my new routine out and figure out my next goals. at the moment it's nice not to think too much, just go in and smash it out, obviously the first couple sessions you need to figure out what weight to use with the different rep ranges but after that just incrementally increase the weight as i see fit and i'm away. enjoying it though, the intensity is good from it too...

yeah was wondering why his abs looked way more defined in 12 weeks than mine! I believe he was on test,var,t3,clen he admitted yohimbe( not a roid but still banned).
Still a very good program, ill never forget dtp leg days!!!!

 

[afcbjoshd]

yeah was wondering why his abs looked way more defined in 12 weeks than mine! I believe he was on test,var,t3,clen he admitted yohimbe( not a roid but still banned).
Still a very good program, ill never forget dtp leg days!!!!

i'm still aching from dtp leg day now!

 

[superkarl]

The bodybuilding/fitness world is full of bull**** too, so if anyone does get into be weary. Its is not an exact science!
Far too many people say Or reckon you HAVE to do this, youve GOT to do it like this, you MUST do this many sets and reps....**** OFF.
Too many lads reading articles written by scientists or blogs by big guys and take everything as gospel, they are idiotsthat just want justification of why they arent what they want to be.

Most pros and athletes or these idols are quite old school and subject to doing what they want and doing things their way that suits them.

P.s. After this thread i got a little upset and decided to do something, it involved a field, a tractor tyre, barbell, dumbells, kettlebells and an altitude mask. Made me feel better about muself for a couple of days anyway. Still need to get back into it fully tho

 

[leeds2592]

Started going to the gym properly just under a year ago now and when I first started I was about 10stone 2 and a massive hardgainer. Started on the 12 week Kris Gethin workout. Didn't follow it to the book, especially the nutrition side of it, but still saw good gains. Managed to put on about a stone and a half to date but only learnt about macros and stuff a few months ago. All I can say is, if you don't know about macros or IIFYM, get to know! They've helped me massively. Myfitnesspal is also brilliant for tracking what you're eating.

When I first started, I was a bit embarressed at how little I was lifting but I just got my head down and worked hard. It all pays off in the end, especially when people start noticing

 

[Westy]

I was reading an article about a pro BB in te states and how his monthly food shop was $2000! His meat shop was $150 a week alone. This also doesn't take into account of his supplements. He said he would eat between 3-6 dozen whole eggs a day, that's a max of 72 eggs a day! These guys spend hours a day in a gym also and have dedicated their lives to bodybuilding. If anyone holding down a regular 9-5 job and earning an average wage thinks they will ever be as big as pro BBs, stop dreaming.

Along with all the science, eating and hard work you put in, at the end of the day genetics play a huge part. Some guys find it mega easy to build muscle, some guys struggle to put on weight, and most of us will have 1 muscle group that grows a lot faster then another.

I think it's nice to if you can get into a shape that your happy with and maintain it.

 

[Westy]

Myfitnesspal is also brilliant for tracking what you're eating.

Quality app. When I started back again in January I couldn't work out why I was loosing weight instead of gaining. Downloaded myfitnesspal and did a food diary and realised I needed a lot more calorlies. I started eating a regular amount of cals and made sure I was taking on 1g of protein for every lb of body weight I was and all was good again. Unfortunately that app just highlights how bad beer and pizza is for you

 

[Hurstie]

I go to the gym 3 times a week, mainly on body weight exercises, some compound lifts (squat, deadlift, power cleans) and lots of erging (rowing machine).
I train for rowing on the water 4 times a week in a single scull, or double scull.
Love going to races and building up my medal collection

 

[superkarl]

I go to the gym 3 times a week, mainly on body weight exercises, some compound lifts (squat, deadlift, power cleans) and lots of erging (rowing machine).
I train for rowing on the water 4 times a week in a single scull, or double scull.
Love going to races and building up my medal collection

hero. I love rowing. I start a Pull session with 1000m in under 4 mins. Would love to try real rowing though, although id probably die

 

[Hurstie]

hero. I love rowing. I start a Pull session with 1000m in under 4 mins. Would love to try real rowing though, although id probably die

I can't work out whether I love it or hate it. It's so painful.
My best 1000m time is 3:25. I was nearly sick after!
Now it's coming up to the winter season it means I'm going to be sat on that machine for over an hour at a time building fitness, boring!

 

[jamiebennett81]

Gym Junkie here as well

Hit the gym 4-5 days a week, 2 days weights, 2 days cardio, 1 day legs mixed up in between the days

On a diet though at the moment, as I need to shed some weight, and the gym is massively helping at the moment achieve a weight loss target pretty quickly, I can't lose too much though otherwise this will start to affect my weights.

Finally managed to bench 100KG today, could have done maybe another 5KG, but I don't have anyone to spot me, so if it all goes wrong, I'm in trouble lol.

I am also on the SCIFX lean muscle gain, which is the best protein shake I have tried yet, as it doesn't bulk on the pounds as I have found with other types of shakes, its really helping me build on muscle than sheer bulk.

 

[Westy]

What's your opinions on working out with a cold? Normally I avoid exercise as I think it hinders your body's recovery rate plus I'm normally too weak to train. I know some people train with colds and say it speeds up getting it out your system. Any views?