The “knee high socks” are calf sleeves and I use them because i used to get pretty bad shin splints from running with the thin soled crossfit sneakers. Calf sleeves have relieved a lot of the post workout pain. Highly recommended!
Just got my 1st gym session done in a long time. I decided it was time to hit the gym, lose some weight and clean up my diet. I started off with a personal trainer today just to familiarize myself with the equipment and get down a routine. Did mostly arms, some legs and a little bit of abs. No free weights because they were remodeling, but I have another meeting on Saturday with my trainer to get some free weight work in. Oh and I also forgot how good (and bad) the scenery can be at the gym. Last time I was there, yoga pants were still under the radar…
Yoga pants are deceiving, if you are even in OK shape, they make anyone’s ass look amazing. A few women I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know better have come with the surprise of cottage cheese and stretch marks.
Regardless, it makes for a pleasant gym experience. Let’s face it, I’m not at the gym to pick up girls anyways. If I was single, it might be a different story.
a few numbers;
weighing in at 185lbs:
225lb flat bench press: 3 sets of 15 reps. I’d really like to find my max but I work out alone and hate asking for spots.
205lb push press (slight bend in knees,but feet planted, full lockout overhead) my shoulders are pretty weak 
365lb deadlift 3 sets of 6 with more in the tank
started running a bit, I HATE running. Ran 3.6 miles in 34:30… half the run was on hard/soft pack sand, which really made the shin splints flair up. Running is one thing I REALLY need to get better at, I’m terrible at it.
really trying to clean my diet up; running at about 60-70% paleo… can’t do without milk, brown rice…and a scoop of ice-cream every now and then.
Do you guys workout with gloves on? If so, what is a good set? Also, how about lifting hooks? I am not into any serious weight, but I have been working on my traps and I seem to notice on those it might help to have some hooks. Any thoughts?
I only use straps for my final sets when I go max weight on my workouts so that my grip stength isn’t far behind what I’m actually lifting. I’ve also recently started using Fat Gripz on alternating days to further engage grip strength while lifting, what a huge difference the fat gripz make!
I don’t do gloves, I tried them a long time ago and got way worse blisters WITH gloves than without.
Gloves? c’mon.
I wear gloves but only incase my hands decide to get sweaty lol. some of the weights are super knurled too so it helps. But as focusinprogress said you will still get blisters just in a different spot (usually where the glove ends)
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I am more looking for input on hooks, but I was just seeing what you guys thought of gloves. I see people at the gym using them, but I don’t know what the benefit is of using them.
if you’re using the catalyst express on seneca, there’s a pair of guys that workout there that me and my buddy alex have nick-named “dinner and a show”…cuase its a chubby guy with terrible posture “training” a fat slightly older guy and giving him nutrition “advice”…clearly he’s such a good example of how to successfully get into shape :rolleyes: This guy wears gloves LOL.
I’ve been considering hooks lately for things like shrugs and pullups, but otherwise my straps do the trick just fine.
Yeah, I have been working with the younger guy Tom who works there. Yesterday kicked the crap outta me. First time we really did and aggressive workout with free weights and bench pressing. I did 3 sets of 90 lbs on the flat bench @ 10 reps and then did some shrugs and worked on the fly machine. I feel like 90 lbs. is so little, but I am just beginning to get back into working out again.
I started out at 75lbs when I first began working out 4yrs ago. 90lbs is not at all anything to be ashamed of as a starting point lol. You’ll jump up to like 135 pretty quick, and then you can add weight just about every week until you hit 215…215 is a tough threshold to break…once that’s broken you progress a little quicker again until about 305 and then it’s the same thing again.
I dont wear gloves ever.
The bar is 45lbs so with one 45 on each side its 135lbs.
stack45sbrah
there’s a good article on lifting straps.
I use them when I’m doing pulling excersises (obv) deadlifts/ standing bent over rows etc…
If you think about it, if you’re working out 5 days a week, you’re working out your grip 5 days a week…that’s not good. I have a pair of Atlas lifting straps that I only use on my heaviest sets.
BUMP
So the last 3 weeks for the first time ever I started taking creatine and using ephedra before hand since I’ve pretty much peaked and haven’t made shit for progress in 6 months
HOLY FAWWWWK
A month ago I weighed 148 pounds
Now I’m 168, could barely get 10 reps of 185 flat bench, put up 9 of 225 today
Before could maybe get 4-5 incline bench of 145, put up 15 of 185
Deadlift back up to 275 - 5x from 225
Haven’t lost any definition, still have the six pack, all of my shirts are now too tight, looks like I’ll have to go from a woman’s large to a men’s small
Usually eat two bowls of raisen bran a day with 2.5 scoops of isolate protein and a cup of frozen berries in each bowl, bag of frozen veggies and half a chicken, lots of water obv.
Squats are wayyy up there compared to before. Could maybe get 3-4 full reps of 225 before, did 15 the other day. Leg Press used to max out with 3 plates on each side, up to 4 plates with solid 10 reps
Also has helped my running as well, first time ever yesterday ran 6.5 miles straight, did have to use my inhaler once though
I’m a pretty small guy at 5’9 so I’m ecstatic with the results, I know the creatine is water weight (so I’m told) and if I stop I’m sure I’ll get weaker, but I’ll keep going till I peak again
If anyone needs a partner to run or lift I do both everyday, I go to World on Dick/George
I have progress selfies but I’d rather not post them on the internet, but the difference is pretty overwhelming to where I was in the winter
Have no fear, hot tranny, there’s always Torrid.
BUMP, up to 175, so a total gain of almost 30 pounds in about 6 weeks. Haven’t lost any definition, gained some major vascularity.
Current Stack -
PW - Ephedra Pills, only have about 4 left, since it’s been banned from the last time I purchased them I’m either going to try C4 or NOExplode
Creatine - 5g (one teaspoon daily)
Glutamine (added last week) - 2 pills (IDK how much is in each pill, it’s just the rec. dosage.)
Animal PAK (Started Monday) - One Pak a day, and what a pain in the dick it is, I checked out their website and they recommended crushing the pills and throwing them in a shake, which is what I’ve been doing.
Dymatize Protein Isolate - 4 scoops daily (100g protein), usually put 2 in a shake with berries and put two scoops on raisen bran or frosted flakes
Also have graduated from a men’s small to a men’s medium, and all of my tailored dress shirts no longer fit :smash2:
EDIT: If anyone has any recommendations for sups let me know. The only thing left really is a test kit which is a decent monthly expense. Not interested in illegal steroids or injections of any kind.