At what point does one stop adding weight when weightlifting

[MC Bodge]

TameRacingDriver said:

gregs656 said:

How many calories are you drinking? Its all sugar as well.

I will be cutting alcohol again purely because of how it affects my physique. I could have made much more strident gains if I hadn’t indulged over the summer.

No soft drinks, but yes, probably a bit more booze than ideal, but being teetotal isn't going to happen. In which case, I should possibly just accept the situation.

Good diet is better, but diet is unlikely to be the issue for you at this stage.

Are you generally a determined/competitive person when you play sports?

There are loads of ideas on the internet:

Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 18th September 21:26

[TameRacingDriver]

Thanks, you have convinced me I need to try something else!

[gregs656]

MC Bodge said:

That would be extremely challenging for most people I would say.

Also not saying you should go teetotal just saying that ~600 calories a day in beer is not going to work for you, particularly on stubborn stomach fat.

But you should still be able to bench more than 50kg.

Edited by gregs656 on Wednesday 19th September 03:13

[MC Bodge]

gregs656 said:

MC Bodge said:

That would be extremely challenging for most people I would say.

Also not saying you should go teetotal just saying that ~600 calories a day in beer is not going to work for you, particularly on stubborn stomach fat.

But you should still be able to bench more than 50kg.

Yes, it would be challenging for most. My point(that I was labourering) was that people can work hard and gain general strength and conditioning without gym equipment. Certainly if somebody is looking to build a resilient base.

I think we are agreed on the other points.

Edited by MC Bodge on Wednesday 19th September 05:24

[TameRacingDriver]

gregs656 said:

But you should still be able to bench more than 50kg.

Should be able yes, but as I say I'm finding that hard. Very hard. And that is what is frustrating me, more even than any stubborn fat. I've been going to the gym on and off for years and was a veritable gym addict just over 10 years ago, but yet I was never that strong no matter how hard I tried.

That's why I think I'll try something less focused on absolute strength. I can imagine it's not just me who would feel frustrated with that.

[LordGrover]

Despite your reduced intake on the other thread, the amount you're drinking is still likely to be the limiting factor.

[MC Bodge]

TameRacingDriver said:

Should be able yes, but as I say I'm finding that hard. Very hard. And that is what is frustrating me, more even than any stubborn fat. I've been going to the gym on and off for years and was a veritable gym addict just over 10 years ago, but yet I was never that strong no matter how hard I tried.

That's why I think I'll try something less focused on absolute strength. I can imagine it's not just me who would feel frustrated with that.

Calisthenics, running fartlek/hills and loaded carries with awkward shaped objects should give some benefits.

If you get into pressup position with your hands on bathroom scales you might be surprised by how much weight you will be pressing. Raising yourself on a bench or box will increase it.

Static strength in one plane of motion like a bench press is arguably of little use unless you are a powerlifter. You are probably not as "weak" as you think, especially dynamically. You can presumably pick up bags of garden rubble, move furniture, overhead press your children (or is that just me?) without problem.


Ps. Do you take part in any other sport or are you active (in or outside of work) when not in the gym?

[TameRacingDriver]

LordGrover said:

Despite your reduced intake on the other thread, the amount you're drinking is still likely to be the limiting factor.

In terms of BFP yes possibly but I've always been rubbish at trying for big numbers in the gym. At one time I went 6x a week and was quite fit but not strong.

MC Bodge said:

Calisthenics, running fartlek/hills and loaded carries with awkward shaped objects should give some benefits.

If you get into pressup position with your hands on bathroom scales you might be surprised by how much weight you will be pressing. Raising yourself on a bench or box will increase it.

Static strength in one plane of motion like a bench press is arguably of little use unless you are a powerlifter. You are probably not as "weak" as you think, especially dynamically. You can presumably pick up bags of garden rubble, move furniture, overhead press your children (or is that just me?) without problem.


Ps. Do you take part in any other sport or are you active (in or outside of work) when not in the gym?

Yes to be fair I don't have any problems moving things about generally or picking things up... Often carry fairly heavy boxes with one arm at work so maybe you're right... Don't have kids so can't comment on that!

Don't do any sports... The weights and walking (15k steps a day) are the only exercise I get.

[Fullook]

Forgive me for what may sound like an unsupportive message - its not intended to read that way.

While, I'm guessing your ultimate objective is to have a leaner and more muscular physique, and to be stronger, you seem very confused about what your initial step is going to be - ie is it more important to you initially to lose fat, or is it more important to to initially to gain strength, or is more important to you initially to look more muscular.

TameRacingDriver said:

Diet is alright I think, primary focus is losing flab at the mo, so generally in a deficit.

TameRacingDriver said:

. And that is what is frustrating me, more even than any stubborn fat.

TameRacingDriver said:

hell, probably most teenage girls would probably out-lift me.

As a consequence with the excercise you are doing and your diet, you are giving your body very mixed signals about how you want it to respond. I'm not surprised you're not seeing the results you want, and that you're getting frustrated.

You also seem to be quite adept at finding reasons not to follow the advice you have asked for.

TameRacingDriver said:

I'm not exactly a spring chicken now.

TameRacingDriver said:

Yep I've tried it but I don't have a spotter and it's not an option. I prefer normal cadence as it's just easier for me to track and do consistently.

TameRacingDriver said:

I could eat more but last time I did that, it all went on the gut.

TameRacingDriver said:

probably a bit more booze than ideal, but being teetotal isn't going to happen.

Once you have decided what your initial focus is going to be (pick one) and have devised an excerise and diet plan to make it happen, you probably need to acknowledge that an effective plan is going to involve you doing a number of things differently to what you are doing now. To get the most out the plan you will need to commit.

[didelydoo]

Get your diet in check. Get your training in check. You can bench over 50kg.

If you're not enjoying it though, why bother- do something you have fun doing, then you'll want to push yourself.

[TameRacingDriver]

Fullook - you've pretty much just summed up the way I generally am in life not just exercise... I don't think I've ever known what I wanted out of anything really which in all seriousness is probably why I am mediocre at everything I do... Perhaps its a new brain I need not a new body!

[Mothersruin]

You need some passion mate - you need to find the things in life that fire you up.

It's not a rehearsal, so don't waste time half arsing stuff. Have a good soul search and think what you'd love to do, then go for it - even if it's to be a world class piss-head. Give it your best shot and go out in a blaze of glory, diabetes, vomit and stty trousers.

Maybe not that last bit - but you get my point.

Also - don't be embarrassed if that 'thing' ends up being something uncool - who gives a fk?

[TameRacingDriver]

I've been searching my soul for years to find passion in something and come away empty handed

[Fullook]

TameRacingDriver said:

Fullook - you've pretty much just summed up the way I generally am in life not just exercise... I don't think I've ever known what I wanted out of anything really which in all seriousness is probably why I am mediocre at everything I do... Perhaps its a new brain I need not a new body!

Most of us are in the same boat. And of those who are 'focused and brilliant' a disproportionate number are also either insufferable pricks or deluding themselves, so don't beat yourself up about it!

So don't try and fix your whole life; just fix one thing. And seeing as we're here talking about exercise, weight etc etc, why not start there?

My suggestion for what its worth would be to give yourself a short term target to lose some of what you perceive to be excess weight. Just focus on that.

The MyFitnessPal app will give you a useful tool to manage your calorie deficit. For exercise, there are a load of people on here who can give you better advice than I can, but I'd suggest a couple of doses of high intensity interval training in amongst your weekly routine.

The main thing is just set yourself a realistic goal - I would have thought if you go for say 10 weeks focused on weight loss (takes you to more or less the end of November), and you commit to it, without expecting to see instant results (it might take a couple of weeks before you start to see material change) you should easily be able to drop 5 kgs over that period.

Once you get to the end of your 10 weeks - then reassess... at that point you can decide if you want to lose more weight, or start gaining strength, or focus on gaining muscle size. Decide and set a plan for the next 10-12 weeks. Repeat until satisfied.

[RTB]

Fullook makes some very good points. Set small realistic goals and measure your progress. We're not really set up for self improvement, it's not a natural state.

Evolution has programmed us to take the easiest, lowest effort way through life. I like to think there are two RTBs. One is the genetically programmed RTB who wants to avoid pain, sit on his arse, eat loads of carbs, drink loads of beer and play on the playstation of an evening. The other RTB is the one who wants to have some self discipline and self control, the one who wants to make progress and be a little bit better than he was yesterday. Every time I go in the gym I try and beat the RTB that evolution has programmed, who wants to stop when it starts hurting, go and get a bacon butty and have a sit down. The instinctive RTB that evolution has created is great for avoiding serious danger and death, but he's not much use for living well.

[gregs656]

MC Bodge said:

Yes, it would be challenging for most. My point(that I was labourering) was that people can work hard and gain general strength and conditioning without gym equipment. Certainly if somebody is looking to build a resilient base.

I think we are agreed on the other points.

Edited by MC Bodge on Wednesday 19th September 05:24

Oh I wasn’t disagreeing with your point - I do calisthenics - I just looked at that routine and thought ouch!

[MC Bodge]

gregs656 said:

Oh I wasn’t disagreeing with your point - I do calisthenics - I just looked at that routine and thought ouch!

Try it this evening?

[gregs656]

MC Bodge said:

Try it this evening?

Im good with my routine at the moment - Antranik’s intermediate routine.

I will be upping volume going into the winter though. I’m pretty pleased with my progress but I’d like to see more and now I’ve switched to a PPL/C routine I think I can get it.

[Halb]

gregs656 said:

Im good with my routine at the moment - Antranik’s intermediate routine.

I will be upping volume going into the winter though. I’m pretty pleased with my progress but I’d like to see more and now I’ve switched to a PPL/C routine I think I can get it.

how long have youbeen doing it?
What's your goal, to be strong from the middle out or aesthetics?

[gregs656]

Halb said:

how long have youbeen doing it?
What's your goal, to be strong from the middle out or aesthetics?

I’ve been doing it for the last few weeks. I found the full body routine I had been doing was just far too taxing at the level I was at so I wasn’t getting the most out of it any longer.

I train for the strength and skills and eat for the aesthetics. I don’t train for size - don’t do any isolation work currently for example (this may change over winter).

I did do some weighted calisthenics stuff earlier in the summer but it plays havoc with my elbows so I have backed off it (again).

I like the routine though. It’s quicker and it’s much easier to add in accessory work or just extra fun stuff I want to try.

Edited by gregs656 on Wednesday 19th September 18:30