PH Transformation Thread 2012 - Chat

[Smitters]

Amazing the difference a day makes! I was feeling really flat yesterday and Tuesday. Hadn't lost weight over Easter despite the walking. Just a couple of early nights and some good eating and I'm on top of the world!

I'd be interested to see what people thought of these weights and if I look hideously imbalanced. I know they're low, but I'm working to change that...

Bench 5x5 - 40kg
Standing OHP w. bar 5x5 - 20kg
Lat Pull down 5x5 - 40kg
Standing bent over barbell row - 40kg

[Hoofy]

Smitters said:

I'd be interested to see what people thought of these weights and if I look hideously imbalanced. I know they're low, but I'm working to change that...

Bench 5x5 - 40kg
Standing OHP w. bar 5x5 - 20kg
Lat Pull down 5x5 - 40kg
Standing bent over barbell row - 40kg

What do you mean? Presumably, you're lifting weights that are challenging, so just keep going and the numbers will grow. Pay attention to good form to avoid injury and watch the numbers increase over the next few months.

If you're worried about, for instance, having massive lats and skinny biceps, you can focus on specific areas later. My weakness is shoulders so I started hitting those more. Have started to get comments so clearly it's working. (They're still st by other PHers' standards but people I know have commented so they must be growing.)

[GBDG]

Day 3 of strictness today. I know it's early days, but this regime is a good fit for me. I have such a clear idea of what I need to do that it's just robotically following it, and if I do, I will get results. Uncertainty and doubt are the two things that gnaw away at my motivation, so removing those things is awesome.

Edited by GBDG on Thursday 12th April 10:11

[Ordinary_Chap]

Hoofy said:

Smitters said:

I'd be interested to see what people thought of these weights and if I look hideously imbalanced. I know they're low, but I'm working to change that...

Bench 5x5 - 40kg
Standing OHP w. bar 5x5 - 20kg
Lat Pull down 5x5 - 40kg
Standing bent over barbell row - 40kg

What do you mean? Presumably, you're lifting weights that are challenging, so just keep going and the numbers will grow. Pay attention to good form to avoid injury and watch the numbers increase over the next few months.

If you're worried about, for instance, having massive lats and skinny biceps, you can focus on specific areas later. My weakness is shoulders so I started hitting those more. Have started to get comments so clearly it's working. (They're still st by other PHers' standards but people I know have commented so they must be growing.)

Other PHers standards? Like who?

Anyway my revelation over the past 6 months has been obtaining maximum muscle contraction and volume.

[deadmau5]

I've been having problems with my knees, most notably after squatting and football. I went for physio today and found out my feet pronate which causes bone to rub against cartilage and making them sore( something like that). I also had a bad back during the summer which was brought on my bowling in cricket and all down to the pronation. I now have £42 worth of fancy insoles that I need to use all the time. I'm very happy because I can now start squatting and deadlifting again (well in two weeks anyway) ! I also had 25 minutes on an interferential machine which was weird whilst it was on but I felt the benefits immediately afterwards.

[Smitters]

Hoofy said:

Smitters said:

I'd be interested to see what people thought of these weights and if I look hideously imbalanced. I know they're low, but I'm working to change that...

Bench 5x5 - 40kg
Standing OHP w. bar 5x5 - 20kg
Lat Pull down 5x5 - 40kg
Standing bent over barbell row - 40kg

What do you mean? Presumably, you're lifting weights that are challenging, so just keep going and the numbers will grow. Pay attention to good form to avoid injury and watch the numbers increase over the next few months.

If you're worried about, for instance, having massive lats and skinny biceps, you can focus on specific areas later. My weakness is shoulders so I started hitting those more. Have started to get comments so clearly it's working. (They're still st by other PHers' standards but people I know have commented so they must be growing.)

Cheers. I guess I was just surprised that I was rowing the same as I was benching, but actually, having engaged my brain this morning, it would seem that the biceps driven numbers just seem proportionally higher than the triceps driven numbers. I shall keep plugging away. April is strength month for me, after all!

[theshrew]

Ordinary_Chap said:

Other PHers standards? Like who?

Anyway my revelation over the past 6 months has been obtaining maximum muscle contraction and volume.

Whats your workout now mate ?

[theshrew]

Smitters said:

Amazing the difference a day makes! I was feeling really flat yesterday and Tuesday. Hadn't lost weight over Easter despite the walking. Just a couple of early nights and some good eating and I'm on top of the world!

I'd be interested to see what people thought of these weights and if I look hideously imbalanced. I know they're low, but I'm working to change that...

Bench 5x5 - 40kg
Standing OHP w. bar 5x5 - 20kg
Lat Pull down 5x5 - 40kg
Standing bent over barbell row - 40kg

I dont think the weight matters mate. Just keep going it will go up bit by bit ( well mine has )

When i started i found i was doing lifts wrong. Over the last few months ive tried to watch a lot of vids on youtube etc learnt a lot. I dont think im still 100% on form but certainly a lot better than i was. Since doing that ive progressed a lot faster.

The only thing is i wish i could go with someone who knows what there doing to help me out etc. One of my mates is huge and well into bodybuilding but just my luck he goes to the gym during the day and always working when i go lol.

[Halb]

theshrew said:

When i started i found i was doing lifts wrong. Over the last few months ive tried to watch a lot of vids on youtube etc learnt a lot. I dont think im still 100% on form but certainly a lot better than i was. Since doing that ive progressed a lot faster.
The only thing is i wish i could go with someone who knows what there doing to help me out etc. One of my mates is huge and well into bodybuilding but just my luck he goes to the gym during the day and always working when i go lol.

Very true. Doing it correctly means a lot. Front squats, overhead press, bench. I watched a video on deadlifting this year and it showed me something new. It's easy to get into bad habits.

[theshrew]

You never stop learning and i never stop trying to improve no matter what im doing.

[Hoofy]

Ordinary_Chap said:

Other PHers standards? Like who?

Fishing for compliments are we?

[Bolognese]

Ordinary_Chap said:

Other PHers standards? Like who?

Anyway my revelation over the past 6 months has been obtaining maximum muscle contraction and volume.

This is what I have been concentrating on since the start of the year. After watching the Kai Greene vid - I will never be a weightlifter. I have seen great gains already and Im not lifting nearly as much weight as before. Just high intensity and full muscle stretch and squeeze. I find DOMS lasts longer with this style. Hopefully doing something right!

[Ordinary_Chap]

Hoofy said:

Ordinary_Chap said:

Other PHers standards? Like who?

Fishing for compliments are we?

Heh no - I'm just not aware of any outstanding posters in this thread.

[Ordinary_Chap]

Bolognese said:

Ordinary_Chap said:

Other PHers standards? Like who?

Anyway my revelation over the past 6 months has been obtaining maximum muscle contraction and volume.

This is what I have been concentrating on since the start of the year. After watching the Kai Greene vid - I will never be a weightlifter. I have seen great gains already and Im not lifting nearly as much weight as before. Just high intensity and full muscle stretch and squeeze. I find DOMS lasts longer with this style. Hopefully doing something right!

I'm glad you like it! I posted that.

I've found seeking strong muscle contraction mixed with volume can get very painful very quickly.

My coach encourages me to seek failure as fast as reasonably possible.

The pain days after this type of training sure isn't pleasant! Phil Heath trained in my gym a few times and trains exactly the same.

Edited by Ordinary_Chap on Thursday 12th April 11:49

[Hoofy]

Ordinary_Chap said:

Hoofy said:

Ordinary_Chap said:

Other PHers standards? Like who?

Fishing for compliments are we?

Heh no - I'm just not aware of any outstanding posters in this thread.

<sigh>

If we compare shoulders, I think you'll find mine look like that of a teenage boy. Before, they looked like that of a prepubescent so I'm pleased with my development. But it's only in the last 2-3 months that I've really bothered with my shoulders.

[Smitters]

Halb said:

theshrew said:

When i started i found i was doing lifts wrong. Over the last few months ive tried to watch a lot of vids on youtube etc learnt a lot. I dont think im still 100% on form but certainly a lot better than i was. Since doing that ive progressed a lot faster.
The only thing is i wish i could go with someone who knows what there doing to help me out etc. One of my mates is huge and well into bodybuilding but just my luck he goes to the gym during the day and always working when i go lol.

Very true. Doing it correctly means a lot. Front squats, overhead press, bench. I watched a video on deadlifting this year and it showed me something new. It's easy to get into bad habits.

I've been using a combo of youtube and bodybuilding.com descriptions and trying to take it slowly. I'm lucky in that the gym owner is often training when I go at lunchtime, so I can always ask him to check form. I'm also of the school of slower and squeezing, really focussing on the muscles you're trying to work, as opposed to swinging a higher weight about and trying to look cool! I also don't use straps or anything, so if my limiter is grip, I work on upping that, which gives the muscles and ligaments plenty of time to adapt. I guess the total philosophy is a good body for life, so I'm in no rush. Rushing and urgency has led me to injuries in the past, so maybe I'm finally learning my lessons!

[theshrew]

Bolognese said:

This is what I have been concentrating on since the start of the year. After watching the Kai Greene vid - I will never be a weightlifter. I have seen great gains already and Im not lifting nearly as much weight as before. Just high intensity and full muscle stretch and squeeze. I find DOMS lasts longer with this style. Hopefully doing something right!

Thats what also go me thinking and changing what i did etc. Really good interesting vids. Id never want to anything near as big as him tbh the fella that trains with him in the vid is more what id be happy with if i ever got that far.

[Bolognese]

Ordinary_Chap said:

I'm glad you like it! I posted that.

I've found seeking strong muscle contraction mixed with volume can get very painful very quickly.

My coach encourages me to seek failure as fast as reasonably possible.

The pain days after this type of training sure isn't pleasant! Phil Heath trained in my gym a few times and did exactly the same.

You did indeed

Kai seems like a really cool guy - I like his style. I personally train for aesthetics over strength so im not bothered about how much I can bench etc.

It must be amusing to see me curling 8kg DB's to failure with a face of pain..

[Hoofy]

Bolognese said:

You did indeed

Kai seems like a really cool guy - I like his style. I personally train for aesthetics over strength so im not bothered about how much I can bench etc.

It must be amusing to see me curling 8kg DB's to failure with a face of pain..

On Tuesday, I was doing dumbbell clean and press with 17.5kg (it was tough for me because my shoulders are weak/injured). Half way through one set, I had to pause to catch my breath. Training partner handed me a 2.5kg dumbbell. Bastid!

[Big E 118]

Hoofy said:

On Tuesday, I was doing dumbbell clean and press with 17.5kg (it was tough for me because my shoulders are weak/injured). Half way through one set, I had to pause to catch my breath. Training partner handed me a 2.5kg dumbbell. Bastid!

Ha, ha! My training partner lifts heavier than me for everything apart from bicep curls. When were setting up for biceps I usually hand him the plastic "ladies weights" much to his amusement!