Bought a workbench and weights...
Discussion
LordGrover said:
The one I used was a little cheaper - maybe inferior? Dunno - worked for me though. 
More like this: click.
ETA I used green.
It came this morning. I have tried it and it works great! I can now do 10 reps instead of 3-4 for the pull ups (palms facing away from me and gripping the widest bars)More like this: click.
ETA I used green.
Edited by LordGrover on Monday 29th September 15:43
Would I be right in assuming that I wouldn't need the lat machine add on, as the pull ups do the same job?
LordGrover said:
Give it a try for eight weeks. Pull-ups, rows and deads will grow a decent back and lats - if you're not happy after working it for a while try something different like the lat attachment.
Nothing will work if you don't put in the effort - most things will work if you do put in the effort.
Nothing will work if you don't put in the effort - most things will work if you do put in the effort.
I know. Most of the stuff I do, I do to failure and use maximum concentration - which is why I bought the new cage with spotters, as failing on the squats was getting to be a tad dangerous.. 
OK, I like the pull up assists, but the lat machine attachment came into stock for my new cage, so have ordered that, too.
I have been umming and arring about whether to post some before and 4 and a half months later pics up, as I find them cringe worthy to say the least - but others do the same, so:
This is the photo that made me realise I didn't look exactly how I thought I looked, and was quite ashamed:
And this was took on Tuesday, after my workout:
(Hideous, I know..)
Got a long way to go still - but enjoying it, even though I seem to now have a constant ache in my right upper arm....
I have been umming and arring about whether to post some before and 4 and a half months later pics up, as I find them cringe worthy to say the least - but others do the same, so:
This is the photo that made me realise I didn't look exactly how I thought I looked, and was quite ashamed:
And this was took on Tuesday, after my workout:
(Hideous, I know..)
Got a long way to go still - but enjoying it, even though I seem to now have a constant ache in my right upper arm....
AndStilliRise said:
Or try to do light weights with lots of sets. That will help develop the lactic threshold for the muscles and leave you feeling pumped.
Working from home also allows you do do pressups. I normally do 10 sets of 20 pressups (or any other variation upto 200) through an entire day. Waking up, Making tea, waiting for email.
Cheers - will try lighter weights after the 6 months. My 6 month aim is to lose the majority of the fat but build muscle at the same time - so I have had a strict diet of supplements, lean protein shakes, fish and fruits, after trying different things to find out what worked best for me.Working from home also allows you do do pressups. I normally do 10 sets of 20 pressups (or any other variation upto 200) through an entire day. Waking up, Making tea, waiting for email.
If I do press ups in the house, it's a nightmare, as our 4 sausage dogs think that I'm playing and they all lick my face....
philv said:
You could always add a punchbag workout to your schedule.
Recently bought a bag, stand, wraps and gloves.
Hard wordk excellect aerobic.
And fn.
I have looked and thought about a punchbag, but not sure I have the space, already have that huge cage, two benches and preacher curl bench...Recently bought a bag, stand, wraps and gloves.
Hard wordk excellect aerobic.
And fn.
Just finished my 20th week, arms and shoulders tonight; managed to do 6 preacher curls with 50kg on my fifth and final set - but my left wrist is now complaining...
I have noticed that, since starting on heavier weights, I seem to have one minor problem after another - I had a bit of what I thought was Tennis Elbow, that goes away and then I have an ache somewhere else - the right shoulder hurts when I lift my arm at the side, laterally. Don't know what the hell I've done there - but that's starting to get better and now my left forearm aches.
I don't remember getting any of these ailments when I was training in my teens...
GavC88 said:
I like your set up! I wish our house had a garage!
Seeing good results with the photos! Keep it up, well worth it!
Thank you Gav! Seeing good results with the photos! Keep it up, well worth it!
As I mentioned in my first post, I did weight train throughout the entirety of my teenage years (13-19), and wonder if I still had a bit left, under all the crap I'm now trying to get rid of....
I wish I had bought the better equipment from the start - but wasn't sure I would hack it at the time..
philv said:
I think youre the same age as me.
I had a frozen shoulder for a year through repetative shoulder injury.
Got over that and got stuck in again - started to get in great shape like yourself.
Noy im a year in with frozen shoulder on other side.
It started with shoukder aches like yiurs and lifting ever heavier weights.
Warm up those shoulders.
Check out the various stretches on the net for shoukders.
I also had tendonitus iinside the elbow.
Not the elbow but the other side. Is that like yours.
Stretching before and after biceps related excercuces did wonders.
It was a nightmare even feeling it whiping my backside!
Now all gone.
Stretch stretch stretch etc
Hi Phil, thanks for the advice - I think that perhaps I should spend a little more time warming up. I do start on the bike rollers, and then do a few light exercises using light dumbbells, but maybe I need to start each set with lighter weight, as that seemed to work with the preacher curls.I had a frozen shoulder for a year through repetative shoulder injury.
Got over that and got stuck in again - started to get in great shape like yourself.
Noy im a year in with frozen shoulder on other side.
It started with shoukder aches like yiurs and lifting ever heavier weights.
Warm up those shoulders.
Check out the various stretches on the net for shoukders.
I also had tendonitus iinside the elbow.
Not the elbow but the other side. Is that like yours.
Stretching before and after biceps related excercuces did wonders.
It was a nightmare even feeling it whiping my backside!
Now all gone.
Stretch stretch stretch etc
Yes, the pain in the elbow was on the inside of the arm, sometimes spreading to the forearm, too. Not so bad now, my right deltoid muscle is playing up now, this seems to affect bench presses, I can't press as much as I could a couple of weeks ago, so I think I need to do lighter with more reps to see if that helps. (Got up to 108kg on BP, but now starting at 80 and finishing on 95 max)! I will look for good stretching exercises, to see if that helps too.
philv said:
For the punchbag - could you hang it on the frame you have already?
A decent on cists about 60 quid and weights 35 kg.
Got agreat bag/gloves/wraps for 100 or so off amazon. Very impressed.
I have a frame outside and it only takes a few sr ongs to clip it up or take it down.
Itll make your arms even bigger!
OK, once I'm happy with my shoulder, I may have to get a punch bag, never used one before!A decent on cists about 60 quid and weights 35 kg.
Got agreat bag/gloves/wraps for 100 or so off amazon. Very impressed.
I have a frame outside and it only takes a few sr ongs to clip it up or take it down.
Itll make your arms even bigger!
ETA - Something like this? :
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Everlast-Foam-Heavy-Punch-...
Edited by chris watton on Saturday 4th October 23:00
obikaii said:
http://rdxsports.com/product/rdx-9-piece-boxing-se...
Bought this lot a few weeks ago,was a bit dubious as it looks like a lot of kit for the money,but its good stuff,all you need to get started,& well made,good fun,good fitness.
Looks a bargain! Will get that.Bought this lot a few weeks ago,was a bit dubious as it looks like a lot of kit for the money,but its good stuff,all you need to get started,& well made,good fun,good fitness.
My lat pully attachement arrived today, so set that up. I love it!
However, I had a bad night tonight - My right upper arm was/is still playing up, even with a whole two days rest. Loaded up my normal 80kg starting weight for bench presses (after half an hour of warm up and stretches - normally do 10-12 reps with that weight), but I could only do three reps before my arm really hurt! Had to de-load to 60kg and did a couple of sets of 20 reps, rising to 70kg and 10-15 reps. I just didn't want to not do any bench presses - I consider those and squats as the 'meat and potatoes' of the workout.
De-loaded on the dumbbell flys too, just to be sure I wasn't stressing an already stressed muscle - dammit! What the hell have I done!
FredClogs said:
I use the heavy bag a lot and don' wrap my hands, it really depends on whether you want to give yourself a good cardio workout, develop your boxing style and movement or learn to punch like George Foreman, you only really need to wrap your knuckles for the latter and most importantly wrap your wrists as well.
You might want to try some battle ropes if you want a cardio workout that makes your arm and shoulders work hard.
Cardio is fine - I do cardio everyday You might want to try some battle ropes if you want a cardio workout that makes your arm and shoulders work hard.
Weren't you the one that told me I was now too old to gain muscle, and suggested I'd have a heart attack if I tried too hard - and I should just stick to light stuff?
I was over 15 stone before I started. I am now 13 stone (Just realised I hadn't mentioned this before..), with noticeable muscle increases..
Edited by chris watton on Tuesday 7th October 09:47
The internets. Full of expert advice. FredClogs said:
Ha ha, I'd stick by that, fat over 50s men should get to a doctors before attempting any regime of heavy lifting and vigorous exercise, that's free advice from a stranger on the internet, take it or leave it. And men of a certain age certainly have much less ability to gain muscle due to their bodies slowed and/or stopping generation of testosterone, that's a fact.
I'm glad you're feeling better and feeling happier about the way you look, sounds like your mid life crisis is coming along a treat.
I'd be interested to know how much more you're lifting on say your bench press and squats compared to what you were lifting 3 months ago, because loosing 2 stone doesn't sound that much like you're building muscle to me.
As you were...
What a nasty, spiteful individual you are!I'm glad you're feeling better and feeling happier about the way you look, sounds like your mid life crisis is coming along a treat.
I'd be interested to know how much more you're lifting on say your bench press and squats compared to what you were lifting 3 months ago, because loosing 2 stone doesn't sound that much like you're building muscle to me.
As you were...
I think that, after reading that, it isn't me with the problem....
OK, I think these will be my final purchases for a while.
The lat/pulley add-on for the cage is one of the best things I have bought! I now do pull downs, rows, curls etc. What a great piece of equipment, and only £127!
I bought this add-on for tricep pull downs, that works well, too:
And finally, having got sick of the time it takes to change weights on the spinlock bar, I bought a set of these 'Lock-Jaw' collars - much better!
I also order a couple more sets of 4x5kg weights. I don't think I'll need any more weights, ever!
After today, that will be the fifth full month of training - great fun!
The lat/pulley add-on for the cage is one of the best things I have bought! I now do pull downs, rows, curls etc. What a great piece of equipment, and only £127!
I bought this add-on for tricep pull downs, that works well, too:
And finally, having got sick of the time it takes to change weights on the spinlock bar, I bought a set of these 'Lock-Jaw' collars - much better!
I also order a couple more sets of 4x5kg weights. I don't think I'll need any more weights, ever!
After today, that will be the fifth full month of training - great fun!
LordGrover said:
No safety/spotter rails in the cage? 
I set it up for tonight's training - arms and shoulders (Barbell set for military press, I do these first) - no spotters required, so I take them off as they can get in the way. Squats and bench presses were last night - they are a godsend for squats!
OK, I have been doing the diet and workout routine for one year and one month now, and am still loving it!
My wife took a couple of pics of me tonight, in gym/garage. before starting down this path, I looked like this (This was the picture that made me do something about my lifestyle)!:
And today:
My wife took a couple of pics of me tonight, in gym/garage. before starting down this path, I looked like this (This was the picture that made me do something about my lifestyle)!:
And today:
LordGrover said:
Quite the transformation. 
Well done Chris!
Nohomo.
Thank you Ian! Well done Chris!
Nohomo.
Still find it hard the shift the last vestiges of fat around the middle - am hoping by this time next year, it'll be gone.
This all stemmed from me looking at some recent pictures and thinking, f
k it, if I don't do something now, I never will, so bought the initial training equipment that day. Haven't looked back since - I think the change in diet helped the most....Waynester said:
Just read the entire thread, bloody excellent Chris!! I'm in a similar situation, I'm 43...put on some pounds (15 stone!!), but have been weight training and careful diet management since March. I'm now down to 14 stone, but instead of working out at home (severe lack of space..my TVR takes up the whole garage), I joined a gym. I go everyday, and love it!!
I only eat fish & chicken for protein, Basmati rice and salad...with 2 - 3 protein shakes a day.
My weight has increased again now though, but the right kind..a bit of muscle, back up to 14 stone 6 pound.
Cheers Wayne! I only eat fish & chicken for protein, Basmati rice and salad...with 2 - 3 protein shakes a day.
My weight has increased again now though, but the right kind..a bit of muscle, back up to 14 stone 6 pound.
At one point, I was close to 16 stone, and I'm only 5'7"! Am now around 11.5 stone - have had to buy a whole new wardrobe as none of my old clothes, trousers especially, no longer fitted (36-38" waists, now 30")An added benefit is now that I'm lighter, that's extra free performance for the TVR!
V8covin said:
Quite a transformation.
What exercises are you doing for your abs ?
Very little - I realised early on that they were a bit of a waste of time (although I remember vividly laughing at myself when I first started, trying to do sit-ups and having trouble because my belly was in the way - what a fool I must look, I thought, if anyone seen me!What exercises are you doing for your abs ?
I am sure the heavy compounds (deadlifts, squats, rows, standing overhead press etc.) help take care of the abs, for me anyway. Oh, and of course, diet!
J4CKO said:
Well done, amazing results and it hasn't even been that long in the scheme of things) really.
Definitely spurring me on, I am down a stone from when I started and starting to see a bit of shape, it feels good, my pants fit again, am down a cup size
just need to shift this tendonitis as it is limiting what I can do.
Cheers, I have a bit of tendonitis last year, took ages to fully recover.Definitely spurring me on, I am down a stone from when I started and starting to see a bit of shape, it feels good, my pants fit again, am down a cup size
just need to shift this tendonitis as it is limiting what I can do.I know this perhaps sounds a bit clichéd, but for the first time in about 20 years, it's nice to buy and have clothes that complement the body, rather than choosing stuff to hide it!
J4CKO said:
Chris, know exactly what you mean, I have dug out some old t shirts that are tighter, I am still a lot heavier than I should be but the top is bigger than the middle, my arms fill the sleeves so overall it doesn't look too bad in my humble opinion, was walking round the Trafford Centre and saw loads of blokes my age that looked utterly fked, spurred me on as I just dont want to be slightly better than the properly big fat chaps, or alright for my age, I want to look and feel good full stop.
Good for you, it's that kind of attitude that keeps me going - all or nothing. I always think that, if you're going to do something, do it properly and always see it through.ked, spurred me on as I just dont want to be slightly better than the properly big fat chaps, or alright for my age, I want to look and feel good full stop.didelydoo said:
Very well done Chris- that's a great transformation, and well deserved with the effort you've put in
Thank you, that means a lot coming from you! Reading your routines always help inspire me to try a little harder each time.My only regret is not including Deadlifts from the start - I now realise that it is the heavy compound lifts that make all the difference, not the isolations, which are garnish in comparison..
Aphex said:
Superb effort mate
Thank you That spur of the moment decision back last May must be one of the best decisions I have ever made!I think part of my problem when I was massively overweight was denial. I think there can be a huge difference in what you think you look like, and what you actually look like. It was only when my wife presented me with that photo did the reality hit home and I could pretend no longer.
According to the one size fits all NHS BMI calculator, I am still (just) labelled as overweight! Still a little way to go...
According to the one size fits all NHS BMI calculator, I am still (just) labelled as overweight! Still a little way to go...
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff