The Sideshow Freaks Fitness Thread

[JC]

Im assuming your using the bar, have you tried dumb bells then going back to bench?

Oh yeah, I'm using the bar, I switch between dumbbells and the bar, but Im plateauing using the bar..

 

[Anzik]

https://www.amazon.com/New-High-Intensity-Training-Muscle-Building/dp/1594860009

 

[DarkArtist81]

Triceps are the key to arms, try close grip press, skull crushers and dips

Yep! Triceps are very important and definitely the key to arms. They have always been the first muscle to show visually on my body and I am very thankful for that. I think it was the millions of pushups I did while in the Navy that made them so prominent on me. That and genetics.

My biggest problem right now is with my bicep exercises. My left arm just craps out on me super fast and I am having to lighten my weight and do more reps in hopes of building it up to speed. It's frustrating because it's hindering real growth in that area, but I can deal with it until I can get that left arm power again.

 

[paulaura]

Hey guys, your tricep is about 2/3 of you arm size...

Stubborn biceps are a very common problem in bodybuilding. People tend to overtrain what is essentially a small muscle.
Try training your back hard, and then finish with 6 sets of preacher curls, dont count reps , just go to failure on each set.
If you train your back right, the biceps will be pre-exhausted and dont need hardly any extra. Ive done this for years and yes it does work, my arms measure 20 3/4" at the moment...

The key to "big" arms is absolutely tricep development. My favourite exercise is pressdowns on a machine. I do 10 sets of these twice a week.Heavy...

JC, I dont know what rep system you use, but if you want to lift more, simply put a little more than your max weight on and try to force a rep or two.

Over time, your reps will creep up on your previous max weight..
It just takes a while.
In all honesty though, you are lifting ok for a little dude.

 

[MaulFan]

My biggest problem right now is with my bicep exercises. My left arm just craps out on me super fast and I am having to lighten my weight and do more reps in hopes of building it up to speed. It's frustrating because it's hindering real growth in that area, but I can deal with it until I can get that left arm power again.

I've often found that when I do any weight lifting, arms, legs. I am super dominant righty, if there weren't tasks that required two hands or legs I could easily cut them off , so sometimes when I lift, I use the same weight on both sides to keep in balance, but because the left's so weak, I find for a long time, that side makes much more progress cuz it strains harder to do the same ammount of work as the right, pisses me off but I figured I'd be all screwed up if there's a 5-10 lb difference in what I do for right side vs left.

 

[DarkArtist81]

Man, I just had an awesome experience at the gym... I was running about 7.2 mph and just had a surge of energy (coupled with a badass song) and pushed it to 10 mph for 3 minutes. It was like being The Flash for a few moments, I was on a high for the majority of that time... felt amazing.

I also think I got some great bicep work done. Which is nice, since I was just ^^^^^ing about that. And once I got home, it wasn't over... I had to mow the lawn. So yeah, sweat city today.

 

[MaulFan]

Man, I feel kindrid with you today Josh. I just finished my work out, glad my brother's a physical therapist so we've got everything I need at home I did some yard work this afternoon, came in, got a drink, then I did my workout and during my run, I decided to push the levels higher on the treadmill, because of my hickups I've been working the past few weeks to steadily do the full 30 minutes at the levels I'd gotten to. I just felt like pushing, I felt I could do it, I was exhausted and I think I poured out about 3 gallons of sweat (hey it's a fitness thread it's not gross ) and I'm drained but I'm feeling good, shoulders are really firming up, I'm starting to feel my triceps coming in. Such a good feeling when that little ridge of your triceps starts showing on your outer arm. I've got a good feeling this week about Monday's weigh in, I think this is going to be a good week. Right now, I'm working to 290, I'm at 294, 290 is halfway mark to my goal, that'll feel like a big achievement if I get there, then 280, which is where I was in college, so come 280, I'll be at the best I've ever been, then from there to 260 is all about reaching the best I'm capable of.

 

[Deeznutz6]

Congrats, baby steps, nothing happens over night

 

[MaulFan]

Nope, if you expect instant gratification, you're in for dissappointment. My big goal is 60 lbs, but one thing I learned from a good friend of mine is to break big goals down to smaller, more easily attained ones, and through the confidence of meeting those small goals, you'll reach the big one without realizing it. It can be very intimidating to keep your eyes on a big goal and make small progresses towards it, but if you set your sights smaller, the feeling of success will keep you going.

I've always been one to wear baggy clothes, A) for my body and B) it's just comfortable, but tonight I've got on a tighter shirt I usually wear under stuff and I caught myself in the mirror and, even though I'm still well overweight, I'm seeing things take shape like I never imagined. I look at my shoulders and chest compared to my torso and I'm looking broader and better. It's like seeing a self I never thought I could be.

Admittedly, I got started on the whole diet thing to get girls, which is kinda silly because I shouldn't have to look a certain way, but I swear it's been a factor against me with some in the past, but that's not my motivation now, directly anyway. I've actually decided if any that passed me by before had a change of heart because of my improvements I'd pass them by because I'm still the same me, and if that wasn't good enough before I don't want to be in that relationship.

However, the good thing for dating I'm getting out of this is confidence, which is probably more important than looks for a lot of women and it's never been strong suit, but to be taking hold of some part of my life, wanting to make it something it isn't, accomplishing it without anyone stopping me and feeling like somehow I can control my life is such a great feeling. There is so little we can control in life, we can't make people love us, we can try hard but we can't just have any job we want and keep it. All we can ever truly control is our mind body and soul. My body's never been in control, but now it is, and it's giving me the confidence to take control of everything else in my life.

Ok, rant over, haha, just feeling a little high on life tonight.

 

[DarkArtist81]

Great post Sean!

It is really nice when you start to realize that the only thing that ever held you back was yourself. When the muscles start to show and the weight drops, your confidence appears and you realize what you have been missing. It's great.

My problem was that I got married and complacent. I stopped working out because I felt that I didn't need to anymore. My fitness when I was younger was just a tool, something that allowed for me to remain confident and land a great woman. It sounds horrible to think of it that way, but in the end we are all animals and we do tend to "hunt" women regardless of how nice we are.

But I noticed that I was starting to become less happy with myself, my clothing, everything. I was ashamed to go anywhere, avoided swimming (which I love so much), any situation where I was going to be shirtless I avoided like the plague. And once I weighed myself and realized that I had ballooned to 220, I knew it was time to do something about it. At my best, I was always around 170-185. But to learn that I had jumped 40 pounds over my highest point was really the last straw.

Now when I go to the gym, I'm not filling my head with delusions of landing a hot girl or showing my detractors how fit I can be. It's more about myself, my future health, and it's just doing something that I always wanted to do but never had the guts to really go for. I want to be the best I can be, and I aim to achieve that no matter the cost.

So far, things are really great. I have dropped 10 lbs in 2 weeks and hope to lose even more now that I am doing this 5 days a week. I'm just taking it 5 lbs at a time, each time I hit that mini goal I have a little personal celebration in my head...knowing that I am well one my way is gift enough.

 

[The ill Jedi]

I'm really pissed that my knee (I had arthroscopic surgery about 8 years ago) has been keeping me from walking/running, I come in here and read that you guys are having success and it really gets me down. I'm hoping that the soreness/tightness subsides soon so that I can join you guys and post some good progress soon.

 

[MaulFan]

I was ashamed to go anywhere, avoided swimming (which I love so much), any situation where I was going to be shirtless I avoided like the plague.

Boy do I know that one. A couple years ago I went up to Vermont with a bunch of friends for a weekend late summer and there was a river we spent most of the time swimming in, I would rush to get into the water and spent so much time finding away to keep from my neck down submerged, really sucked, but the other guys there, one was super skinny and the other's a ripped football player type and all the girls were in shape so I was odd man out.

Then last year, I went to the beach with my best friend and if we weren't out in the water I was putting my shirt on right away.

Hell, I never wear shorts because I always hated how big my calves looked and not a healthy big, I'm looking forward to it now that my calves are ripped. Only sucky thing is I'm refusing to buy any new pants until I hit my goal, it's just wasted money if I don't have to do it.

I have a little personal celebration in my head...knowing that I am well one my way is gift enough.

Silly, but it works for me, whenever I think of the day I finally realize my full goal with all of this, I think about shouting to everyone I know, "Yo Adrian, I did it." Simply because it's the most worn out, heart felt, plea of excitement and amazement over and accomplishment I've ever heard and it's how I'll feel. I even think about taking a jog that day and running up some stairs acting victorious at the top Again, silly stuff, but if it keeps you going then it's not silly.

I'm really pissed that my knee (I had arthroscopic surgery about 8 years ago) has been keeping me from walking/running, I come in here and read that you guys are having success and it really gets me down. I'm hoping that the soreness/tightness subsides soon so that I can join you guys and post some good progress soon.

It's not for me, but my brother tells me riding an exercise bike, or even a real one, is better on the knees, you might want to give that a try.

 

[DarkArtist81]

I'm really pissed that my knee (I had arthroscopic surgery about 8 years ago) has been keeping me from walking/running, I come in here and read that you guys are having success and it really gets me down. I'm hoping that the soreness/tightness subsides soon so that I can join you guys and post some good progress soon.

Damn dude, that really does suck. I would definitely do some swimming or moderate bike work, maybe that won't be so hard on your knees and still allow you to burn off the calories. It's really hard to deal with knee injury and still stay in shape, I've known many guys who ended up in the same boat you are because of it.

And Sean, I totally agree man.. When I was a kid I always swam with my shirt on, I was so embarrassed. And when I got older I just avoided it altogether, or stayed in the water the whole time so nobody would notice. I'm very happy now to be able to let loose a bit. I still have a little gut and my lovehandles are not gone yet, but at least I have decent arms now, as well as great triceps and a decent "starter" back.

And nothing wrong with your celebration man, I wish I lived close... I would so do that with you. We would just have to be blaring the Rocky theme as we did it... just to make it even more fun.

 

[MaulFan]

And nothing wrong with your celebration man, I wish I lived close... I would so do that with you. We would just have to be blaring the Rocky theme as we did it... just to make it even more fun.

I just might make a video, add some music, I do intend to take photos at least, flexing and showing off, yeah I'm going to be a little bragadocious when I've accomplished it all, I don't think it's being cocky, if I go around all the time doing that from that point on, yeah that'd make me an ass, but when it first happens I think I'm entitled.

 

[DarkArtist81]

I just might make a video, add some music, I do intend to take photos at least, flexing and showing off, yeah I'm going to be a little bragadocious when I've accomplished it all, I don't think it's being cocky, if I go around all the time doing that from that point on, yeah that'd make me an ass, but when it first happens I think I'm entitled.

You will certainly deserve it. I know I will be flaunting it a bit when I get there as well. Nothing wrong with that, especially once you have spent a good 9 months straight on a strict diet and workouts 5 days a week. I'd say it would be well earned by that point.

 

[MaulFan]

Ya, I'm totally buying a few shirts that are just a hair too small just to enjoy that if a shirt's tight on me, what pops through looks good instead of looking like I need to wear the bro.

 

[Eli26]

I'm really pissed that my knee (I had arthroscopic surgery about 8 years ago) has been keeping me from walking/running, I come in here and read that you guys are having success and it really gets me down. I'm hoping that the soreness/tightness subsides soon so that I can join you guys and post some good progress soon.

We'll support you bro! I am pretty sure you can do therapy on your knees.

 

[DarkArtist81]

Ya, I'm totally buying a few shirts that are just a hair too small just to enjoy that if a shirt's tight on me, what pops through looks good instead of looking like I need to wear the bro.

I know exactly how you feel man. I miss those days, and I want them back so damn bad I can taste it.

Here I am now...in all my fatty fat glory....

As you can see, the only thing I have going for me are decent tris.

 

[MaulFan]

I know exactly how you feel man. I miss those days, and I want them back so damn bad I can taste it.

I haven't had those days since I was 8 The WORST thing that every happened to me for my physique was losing my allergies when I became a teenager.

I was allergic to wheat and dairy products as a kid, no cheese, no bread, no pasta, no cookies, pretty much all the fun stuff you can eat. When I finally lost them, I went on an eating spree, I was like a prisoner seeing daylight for the first time. I had 2-3 ice cream sandwiches a day in Jr High for lunch because I loved them and could eat them with no deadly consequence, just getting fat. I wish I'd had more restraint in those days, but it was just so liberating. I swear Pizza's my favorite food because it was so rare to be able to have it as a kid and could have so little when I did. Cheese and bread was double trouble for me.

 

[DarkArtist81]

Damn dude... Yeah, I can see how that would screw up someone pretty quick.