discussion 🏋️‍♂️ Fitness Thread 🏋️‍♂️do u even lift bro?

[JoeAg]

for the past year and a half my best friend and I would alwayssss get those fairlife shakes and they're great but since we're at a new apartment we figured we'd try some new stuff so he made me a protein shake tonight after our workout that had creatine in it for the first time  we might also switch from planet fitness to 24 hr fitness since there's one closer to our new place. tonight we just worked out in the basement gym at our complex

[JoeAg]

for the past year and a half my best friend and I would alwayssss get those fairlife shakes and they're great but since we're at a new apartment we figured we'd try some new stuff so he made me a protein shake tonight after our workout that had creatine in it for the first time  we might also switch from planet fitness to 24 hr fitness since there's one closer to our new place. tonight we just worked out in the basement gym at our complex

[AlanRickman1946]

What exercise is the best for toning thighs?

Squats? Running? Weights?

[DanyelP23]

 

Trigger warning: I'm sorry but I HATE bulking.

I feel really disgusting when I have to eat past the point of being full. Like, today, I could've gone to bed without 700 calories (2 bananas and salmon in the oven), but of course I HAD to eat it..

I feel like even when I'm putting on weight, it's fat and not muscle (this also boggles me because I don't see the fat gain that much and I do feel better in my clothes) which is super annoying because I do train 3 times a week to the point of failure (well maybe not fully for leg day, but still). I can't wait to go on my first cut... I miss the skinny life I had when I was only losing weight before going to the gym.

[Hephaestus]

Started wearing long jeans/trousers again and guys, the absolute shock when I almost couldn't fit in them. Like granted, they're mostly skinny or slim, but I can assure you there was plenty leg space when I last wore them a couple months ago.

 

On one hand I'm happy because I have factual proof gym is working (which is nice because I genuinely didn't think my legs grew that much considering I don't train them a lot), but on the other I'm kinda sad because I now have to replace all my favorite pants 

 

I wish I had similar results on my upper body (especially for pecs and arms), but a couple friends have commented that I look bigger/fuller so I guess something did change there as well.

 

Started seeing a PT too, let's see if it actually makes any difference 

[Cesar]

On 9/16/2024 at 1:35 AM, AlanRickman1946 said:

What exercise is the best for toning thighs?

Squats? Running? Weights?

squats, toning isnt really a thing in fitness. you either burn it off (losing fat), or increase muscle size so its more visable 

[Cesar]

On 9/19/2024 at 3:02 PM, DanyelP23 said:

I miss the skinny life I had when I was only losing weight before going to the gym.

you don't find joy in advancing in fitness? sometimes i'd get annoyed but then i really look back at all the progress i've made and get that boost to keep going again

[DanyelP23]

3 hours ago, Cesar said:

you don't find joy in advancing in fitness? sometimes i'd get annoyed but then i really look back at all the progress i've made and get that boost to keep going again

No, I (relatively) like going to the gym, lifting weights and seeing that I progress with how heavy the weights are compared to how I used to do half a year ago when I started. It's just that I feel like I need to overeat to be in a calorie surplus to build muscle and I find it difficult.

[Gladiator]

Dealing with another injury, I fear. Did something to not only my shoulder but my chest as well.

Did some research on what I was feeling and I think it is Costochondritis.

Thought I was suffering from a heart attack or something since the sensations are similar, except thankfully it is on my right side.

I got some pain relievers so I am hoping that that is enough to mitigate the pain while it heals without needing to go to an orthopedic office.

Seems to go relieve as the day progresses. Last night I thought it was fully healed. But I am a side sleeper and I woke up in a ton of pain from it.

The chest part is the most concerning because it makes it uncomfortable to breathe.

 

Anyway, thanks for reading my diary entry. 

[DanyelP23]

Shoulder exercises might have made some points.

 

I looked so pumpedT after today's workout where I did 2 shoulder exercises, 2 pec exercises and 1 for triceps. (I'm relatively a beginner)

Edited September 26 by DanyelP23

[Romova99]

Maybe it's been posted to death, but I really need some advice on how to start going to the gym. 

 

I'm bored of my physical appearance, I want to start working on me but every time I made an appointment to start going to the gym, I end up cancelling it or changing the date, I live alone and once I get home from work I'm so exhausted, I have to cook for the day and cook my lunch for next day, do the chores of the day and every other errand I have to do, I lay down to rest a little of how tired I am and by that I'm already lazy.

 

I know all of this are excuses but somehow I can't breakthrough them, I don't know how am I going to be physically ready for being also tired from working out, the fact I don't drive and waiting for the buses and that stuff also makes me sooo lazy, I've tried to make some gym friends and stuff but I haven't had any success, I'm "new" to the city so don't have any friends yet.

 

How can I breakthrough this mindset? how can I find motivation? Any advice? 

Edited September 26 by Romova99

[Hephaestus]

4 hours ago, Romova99 said:

Maybe it's been posted to death, but I really need some advice on how to start going to the gym. 

 

I'm bored of my physical appearance, I want to start working on me but every time I made an appointment to start going to the gym, I end up cancelling it or changing the date, I live alone and once I get home from work I'm so exhausted, I have to cook for the day and cook my lunch for next day, do the chores of the day and every other errand I have to do, I lay down to rest a little of how tired I am and by that I'm already lazy.

 

I know all of this are excuses but somehow I can't breakthrough them, I don't know how am I going to be physically ready for being also tired from working out, the fact I don't drive and waiting for the buses and that stuff also makes me sooo lazy, I've tried to make some gym friends and stuff but I haven't had any success, I'm "new" to the city so don't have any friends yet.

 

How can I breakthrough this mindset? how can I find motivation? Any advice? 

The best thing you can do is going to the gym right after work, so when you get back home you don't have to go out again. Motivation is highly subjective so I don't really know how to help you here, but for me thinking that I'm training to get a nicer body is usually enough to keep me going.

 

The hardest part is honestly committing to the process, making a plan and sticking to it as much possibile. Start small and don't overdo it, like 2 or 3 times a week are usually more than enough. You'll feel very tired in the beginning and it may look like it's not worth it, but it gets easier and better with time.

[AlanRickman1946]

How far can you guys run and how long does it take you to run it?

[AlanRickman1946]

On 9/24/2024 at 1:24 AM, Cesar said:

squats, toning isnt really a thing in fitness. you either burn it off (losing fat), or increase muscle size so its more visable 

Hmmm true. I do find my thighs jiggle less with running though (but I am also trying for calorie deficit)

[Ichinaru19]

On 9/26/2024 at 2:16 PM, Romova99 said:

Maybe it's been posted to death, but I really need some advice on how to start going to the gym. 

 

I'm bored of my physical appearance, I want to start working on me but every time I made an appointment to start going to the gym, I end up cancelling it or changing the date, I live alone and once I get home from work I'm so exhausted, I have to cook for the day and cook my lunch for next day, do the chores of the day and every other errand I have to do, I lay down to rest a little of how tired I am and by that I'm already lazy.

 

I know all of this are excuses but somehow I can't breakthrough them, I don't know how am I going to be physically ready for being also tired from working out, the fact I don't drive and waiting for the buses and that stuff also makes me sooo lazy, I've tried to make some gym friends and stuff but I haven't had any success, I'm "new" to the city so don't have any friends yet.

 

How can I breakthrough this mindset? how can I find motivation? Any advice? 

Start working out on Friday, Saturday and Sunday when you have more time (assuming your don't work the weekends)

[YouSmellLikeHospital]

On 9/26/2024 at 11:49 PM, AlanRickman1946 said:

How far can you guys run and how long does it take you to run it?

I go on half marathon trail runs all the time now and I love it! I can usually finish in 2 hours which is not super fast, but I could finish in les than 2 hours if I really exerted myself. I've done a full marathon once before to see if I could do it, and it was brutal, but I want to train to be able to run in an actual marathon race. For running like a 5K, I've gotten my pace down to about 7:30-7:45/mi but thats really pushing myself, my average pace is more like 8:00-8:30/mi depending on the shoes I am wearing and how prepared I am that day

[JoeAg]

first evening at 24 hr fitness and it's already so much better than planet fitness  albeit more crowded so hopefully i don't get weird and insecure when i wanna do triceps and forearms in a bit 

[Ichinaru19]

Starting to track my macros with My Fitness Pal. Trying to go for a clean bulk, but would like to shave fat off too so I could see my abs. I'll see how it goes, tracking macros and determining how much calorie you should get is a bit confusing lol

[Bubble Tea]

On 9/27/2024 at 6:16 AM, Romova99 said:

Maybe it's been posted to death, but I really need some advice on how to start going to the gym. 

 

I'm bored of my physical appearance, I want to start working on me but every time I made an appointment to start going to the gym, I end up cancelling it or changing the date, I live alone and once I get home from work I'm so exhausted, I have to cook for the day and cook my lunch for next day, do the chores of the day and every other errand I have to do, I lay down to rest a little of how tired I am and by that I'm already lazy.

 

I know all of this are excuses but somehow I can't breakthrough them, I don't know how am I going to be physically ready for being also tired from working out, the fact I don't drive and waiting for the buses and that stuff also makes me sooo lazy, I've tried to make some gym friends and stuff but I haven't had any success, I'm "new" to the city so don't have any friends yet.

 

How can I breakthrough this mindset? how can I find motivation? Any advice? 

I guess you need to identify your "why?" for the gym. What makes you want to go in the first place? For me, I started when I was a teenager because I was getting chubby and really didn't want to be. I idolized models and wanted to be THIN like Paris Hilton lol.

 

Of course once I got started, and remember I'm a man who loathes skinny men, I enjoyed the feeling of being fit and sleeping better and looking better - and it just became a lifelong discipline for me, especially as an office worker. My job is so sedentary, I must workout or else I'll feel and look like sh*t. My "Why?" is that it makes me feel confident and full of energy, and I know keeping fit now will help me so much later in life.

 

As for time, I go to the gym in the morning because my evenings are often busy. It's not easy but you can force yourself into a rhythm if that works better for you. I also live alone and take care of everything, meals, cleaning, hobbies, friends etc so the morning is the best time for me. Also, make sure you've pre-planned your workout so you know what you're doing when you get there and don't waste time. 

[Hephaestus]

So I've been working for weeks with my PT on strengthening my core muscles, especially at abdominal level and let me tell you, it's not only hard and fatiguing, but also extremely frustrating because progress comes soooo slowly and it looks like there's not a lot of progress (working an office job and not being particularly active before starting to go to the gym a few months ago must've contributed to this). I know it's something I need to work on especially for lifting, but sometimes I wonder if it's really that necessary because I don't think all people I see at the gym are actually trained to maintain proper form during exercise and they still look somewhat good to me, physically I mean. It's also so difficult for me to keep core engaged while training because I have to focus on multiple parts of my body at once which I'm clearly still not good at.

 

More of a rant than anything, but yeah I guess this is gonna help me in the long run 

[Kern]

I'm reading a scientific book about diet now and I thought I'll share this about protein because I remember someone posting here their diet that had crazy amount of protein but very little carbs:

 

If the proportion of protein to energy nutrients is incorrect, its synthesis in the body does not occur properly. Insufficient intake of carbohydrates and fats leads to a situation where protein is used as an energy source.

 

Meaning if you focus only on protein because you want muscle then that won't work

[sugarysunflower]

On 9/16/2024 at 6:35 AM, AlanRickman1946 said:

What exercise is the best for toning thighs?

Squats? Running? Weights?

 

Try do a combo of:

 

1) One of: Running or StairMaster (or a ball/agility based sport like tennis or hockey or running) - low resistance, high impact

2) One of: Swimming or Cycling (indoor/outdoor) - high resistance, low impact

3) Series of: Leg Extensions, Weighted Lunges, Barbell or Kettlebell Squats, Leg press

 

............. Don't forget hamstrings and glutes thoughts (Leg Curls, Weighted Donkey Kicks etc)

 

Try to do 1 + 2 + 3 at least once a week. 

At least twice a week to make them pop.

[Mordecai]

Hi resident fitness bros 

 

I'm looking to get into weight training but I have NO idea where to start. I've been apprehensive and put it off for so long because I've wanted to use a personal trainer to help ease me into things but I'm in the final months of my degree so don't have a job, meaning my financial situation atm doesn't allow for me to take on PT rates which are quite expensive. I'm willing to get a job to make that financial investment but realistically I probably won't be able to land anything until the new year with the holiday season approaching

 

I'd start weight training on my own without PT help but I'm worried that if I do so I'll fall into bad habits, develop bad form and become more injury prone etc. I know there are a ton of resources out there that I can use to my advantage, so is it worth waiting until I can get a PT or should I start on my own? And if anyone did start weight training without professional help I'd love to hear your experiences

 

This is the last time I want to 'start over' my fitness journey which means I have to be all in and accept that I don't know what I'm doing

[Kern]

2 hours ago, Mordecai said:

I'm looking to get into weight training but I have NO idea where to start. I've been apprehensive and put it off for so long because I've wanted to use a personal trainer to help ease me into things but I'm in the final months of my degree so don't have a job, meaning my financial situation atm doesn't allow for me to take on PT rates which are quite expensive. I'm willing to get a job to make that financial investment but realistically I probably won't be able to land anything until the new year with the holiday season approaching

 

I'd start weight training on my own without PT help but I'm worried that if I do so I'll fall into bad habits, develop bad form and become more injury prone etc. I know there are a ton of resources out there that I can use to my advantage, so is it worth waiting until I can get a PT or should I start on my own? And if anyone did start weight training without professional help I'd love to hear your experiences

you need a plan for both diet and workout. With diet you can use calculator online but not for calories stricte but for protein/fat/carbs ratio. And then an app for counting them daily. With workout there are tons of beginner programms and I'd suggest to start with a barbell already even with no weights. You won't do it right the first few times but watch videos for the workouts and after a while it'll get easy and intuitive

[Ichinaru19]

On 11/27/2024 at 8:12 AM, Kern said:

I'm reading a scientific book about diet now and I thought I'll share this about protein because I remember someone posting here their diet that had crazy amount of protein but very little carbs:

 

If the proportion of protein to energy nutrients is incorrect, its synthesis in the body does not occur properly. Insufficient intake of carbohydrates and fats leads to a situation where protein is used as an energy source.

 

Meaning if you focus only on protein because you want muscle then that won't work

What would be the correct amount? Trying to do a lean gain right now