The Bodybuilders Thread!

[killadoob]

Rowing is not that great. Cycle, run and swim. Cannot go wrong.

Don't do the same thing everyday. Mix it up. Running for 60 minutes a day will not help if you do it every single day. You can row, run, walk, swim but if your diet is poor you are getting nothing done.

If you want to tone surely they have yoga classes your side? I have yet to see a well toned figure doing squats. Very muscular legs is all i see.

Exercise ball is also sweet for toning and gym in general.

 

[syntax]

Thats a little open to interpretation.... Squatting doesn't necessarily need to involve heavy weight. To tone, you could either use no weights (air squats) or just the bar and squeeze out more reps.
TRUELY a great excercise for quads, butt and even hamstrings to a degree.

I'm not saying you assumed the weight would be piled up, it just seems to be the conclusion many draw when Squats or Bench is mentioned

if you are just doing air squats , i think you are waisting your time. You would be far better off simply running....

 

[PhreeMe]

I have yet to see a well toned figure doing squats. Very muscular legs is all i see.

If you're ever in Natal, come by the Howick/Hilton/PMB gyms. Lots of ladies with toned bodies.... not just legs. And yes, they squat. The problem is I'd say 60+% of people who do squats either don't understand why they're doing it - thus the weight is wrong for said intentions - or do the excercise wrong, defeating the point entirely.

It is also a ignorant (not referring to you) to assume that all you have to do to tone is do squats.

Diet is probably the most important (and overlooked) aspect of weight loss. Not necessarily toning. Toning is shaping, which requires some form of input.

if you are just doing air squats , i think you are waisting your time. You would be far better off simply running....

That I will agree with. But it's not a bad excercise, by any means, when used properly in conjunction with others.

 

[bakkies]

I would like to know is it better eating before gym or after?

 

[killadoob]

I would like to know is it better eating before gym or after?

After gym, you do not want your body spending energy digesting food and trying to gym or so i have read. Depends how soon you gym after eating, i would say chomping and then going straight to gym is not good but perhaps an hour after would be fine.

 

[bakkies]

thanx i normaly have a lean shake after gym. i try to eat an hr before the time depends how long i take to make the meal in the evening

 

[DigitalSoldier]

If you're ever in Natal, come by the Howick/Hilton/PMB gyms. Lots of ladies with toned bodies.... not just legs. And yes, they squat. The problem is I'd say 60+% of people who do squats either don't understand why they're doing it - thus the weight is wrong for said intentions - or do the excercise wrong, defeating the point entirely.

Diet is probably the most important (and overlooked) aspect of weight loss. Not necessarily toning. Toning is shaping, which requires some form of input.

Jamie Eason



Very well toned and she squats.

 

[FuNkEr]

I try and not eat something for an hour and a half before going to the gym. And then after my workout take my shake and then eat a good meal.

Just got back from the gym and made myself some chicken breasts, mash & sweet potatoes ! I think I can hear my muscle applauding

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

After 2 months back in the gym I'm enjoying it again...a quick question to the experts...

Who here, when bench pressing, grips the bar bell with their thumbs over it, or grips the bar bell with their thumbs under it?

I've tried both variants...the grip with the thumbs under the bar bell seems better for heavy pushes and stabalizing. But then again, when I use the thumbs over the bar bell approach it feels like I'm using more of my thumbs to push than anything else...

Also, a matter of interest, I find the thin bar bell to be more manageable than a thick one...opinions?

 

[syntax]

After 2 months back in the gym I'm enjoying it again...a quick question to the experts...

Who here, when bench pressing, grips the bar bell with their thumbs over it, or grips the bar bell with their thumbs under it?

I've tried both variants...the grip with the thumbs under the bar bell seems better for heavy pushes and stabalizing. But then again, when I use the thumbs over the bar bell approach it feels like I'm using more of my thumbs to push than anything else...

Also, a matter of interest, I find the thin bar bell to be more manageable than a thick one...opinions?

I prefer my thumbs over, it seems more comfortable for my wrists, which take a fair whack of strain..
I also prefer the thin bar, probably because i have rather small hands, but it just feels more ..comfortable...

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

I prefer my thumbs over, it seems more comfortable for my wrists, which take a fair whack of strain..
I also prefer the thin bar, probably because i have rather small hands, but it just feels more ..comfortable...

Ja agreed, also another thing, I've read numerous articles on where to keep the car...wide grip or just shoulder width apart?

 

[Zenbaas]

Ja agreed, also another thing, I've read numerous articles on where to keep the car...wide grip or just shoulder width apart?

Inbetween. Wide grip is good for a better stretch and will build a nice chest. Narrow is more for tricep action. So inbetween hits both spots. It's good to switch every now and then for something different as well. I grip "wide" although my arms are on the shorter side of things.

 

[syntax]

Inbetween. Wide grip is good for a better stretch and will build a nice chest. Narrow is more for tricep action. So inbetween hits both spots. It's good to switch every now and then for something different as well. I grip "wide" although my arms are on the shorter side of things.

I try wide, medium and close grip, obviously on different weights, but they defintely change in targeting from more chest to more triceps..

Main thing i concentrate on is breathing during the exercise and making sure I do the reps in time to my breathing.
I try do this with almost all the exercises, to match my reps to my breathing, and occasionally use burst breathing when doing exceptionally slow sets..

 

[Zenbaas]

I try wide, medium and close grip, obviously on different weights, but they defintely change in targeting from more chest to more triceps..

Main thing i concentrate on is breathing during the exercise and making sure I do the reps in time to my breathing.
I try do this with almost all the exercises, to match my reps to my breathing, and occasionally use burst breathing when doing exceptionally slow sets..

What I like to do for bench (And DB press for that matter) is pause when the weight is on my chest and then "explode" upwards. This of course comes from training for powerlifting but it has given me very good results

 

[syntax]

What I like to do for bench (And DB press for that matter) is pause when the weight is on my chest and then "explode" upwards. This of course comes from training for powerlifting but it has given me very good results

Never tried that, I always went by the rule that the bar should stop just before touching your chest, but should never touch or "bounce" off it...

Will give it a go though....what I also havent done in a while is stacking a fair whack more than normal on, have 2 spotters, and basically let the weight come down as slowly as possible, they help you lift it up.... I used to do that a fair amount when I was younger...but now prefer doing the breathing technique for most of my routines...

 

[Zenbaas]

Never tried that, I always went by the rule that the bar should stop just before touching your chest, but should never touch or "bounce" off it...

Will give it a go though....what I also havent done in a while is stacking a fair whack more than normal on, have 2 spotters, and basically let the weight come down as slowly as possible, they help you lift it up.... I used to do that a fair amount when I was younger...but now prefer doing the breathing technique for most of my routines...

Yeah they're called "Negatives". As for the bar never touching your chest....erm thats a bit retarded. The not bouncing bit I can agree with but not touching your chest is stupid. If a persons flexibility is that pathetic then they should rather spend their time in yoga and pilates classes

 

[syntax]

Yeah they're called "Negatives". As for the bar never touching your chest....erm thats a bit retarded. The not bouncing bit I can agree with but not touching your chest is stupid. If a persons flexibility is that pathetic then they should rather spend their time in yoga and pilates classes

Its not flexibility, its the fact that i dont want to "rest" at all during the rep...whether it helps or not, i cant say, but its how i have always done em

 

[FuNkEr]

By not touching your chest with the bar, tension is kept on you chest/arms ect. The moment the bar touches your chest that tension is gone.

 

[Zenbaas]

Its not flexibility, its the fact that i dont want to "rest" at all during the rep...whether it helps or not, i cant say, but its how i have always done em

Change is a good thing. Try doing them differently

 

[syntax]

By not touching your chest with the bar, tension is kept on you chest/arms ect. The moment the bar touches your chest that tension is gone.

yeah, that was what i have been thinking...but cant hurt to mix things up i guess