The Bodybuilders Thread!

[Tinuva]

Heh I don't know that much, more like I read a lot on things that interest me, so I bit of everything, but not a pro at anything either.

Decline is always hard, what I have seen the guys do at my VA is, they take the normal benches, then put the one end on top of 2 of those stepper things the girls use in the rooms, and they do this in the smith machines, so its safe'ish I guess. But yeah I prefer high cross over flies.

This is the version I prefer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwe6AmxVf7o

ps. Start low weight, this exercise is much harder than you would expect. When I say low, 5 or 10, get used to the exercise, then go higher.

 

[juBa]

Anybody here planning on giving ol' Jim Stoppani's new workout plan a go?

 

[InternetSwag]

ps. Start low weight, this exercise is much harder than you would expect. When I say low, 5 or 10, get used to the exercise, then go higher.

Still 5x5 rep range?

 

[Tinuva]

Still 5x5 rep range?

This is a isolation type exercise, not compound, so rather aim for 8-10 reps. If you can do 8 reps at specific weight, aim to take it up to 10 at that weight, once you can do 10 reps, next week up the weight and get to 8. And so on. You want to feel your muscles get close to fatigue. Only reach fatigue on the last set. Do 3-4 sets.

 

[xrapidx]

What a crap session tonight, really not enjoying injured, and just demotivated - and I think the Parklands weight plates are heavier than the other two gyms (Tableview and Canal Walk) - wanted to 95kg for 10+, and got stuck at 7 reps.

, then put the one end on top of 2 of those stepper things the girls use in the rooms,

What do you mean girls use I use them for stiff leg deadlifts I'm waiting for the day one breaks in half with 100kg + 110kg frame... I can see the thing bending in the middle in the mirror.

 

[xrapidx]

Anybody here planning on giving ol' Jim Stoppani's new workout plan a go?

I'm hoping to start the weight loss one next week: http://www.muscleandfitness.com/hiit-100s-carve-your-physique-6-weeks

 

[Tinuva]

What do you mean girls use I use them for stiff leg deadlifts I'm waiting for the day one breaks in half with 100kg + 110kg frame... I can see the thing bending in the middle in the mirror.

Haha!

 

[RogueTr00per]

InternetSwag, have u been working more on back than on chest?

I keep wanting to do chest stuff more than other stuff but I have to then remind myself I can't neglect back as it's needed for working the chest too.

 

[juBa]

I'm hoping to start the weight loss one next week: http://www.muscleandfitness.com/hiit-100s-carve-your-physique-6-weeks

Ahh awesome, lemme know how it goes. I might try it after I do this new one of his.

 

[InternetSwag]

This is a isolation type exercise, not compound, so rather aim for 8-10 reps. If you can do 8 reps at specific weight, aim to take it up to 10 at that weight, once you can do 10 reps, next week up the weight and get to 8. And so on. You want to feel your muscles get close to fatigue. Only reach fatigue on the last set. Do 3-4 sets.

Alright Awesome, I actually think I will now have a dedicated day for chest just to try and bring it up more.

 

[InternetSwag]

InternetSwag, have u been working more on back than on chest?

I keep wanting to do chest stuff more than other stuff but I have to then remind myself I can't neglect back as it's needed for working the chest too.

To be honest, I don't know. I didn't even realize what my back had progressed until 4 or 5 months into my bulk, you know the problem with the back, is that it's not the front So when I saw my back in a photograph I was like whaaa?

I am told I have good back genetics, which I believe, since all I really do for back is Lat Pulldowns (not strong enough to do wide grip pull ups properly) Chin Ups (close grip underhand, actually focusing on the biceps) I've never done V-Bar rows or standing rows and only included Deadlifts into my workouts recently, and now they've obviously gone away as well.

I don't really think my back is that good, it's probably just a lot of definition showing because of bf percentage and good lighting. But if I really do have good back genetics then I will welcome that with open arms

Cliffs

-only recently started doing lower back exercises
-not deadlifting anymore (injury)
-probably built back because of lots of pull ups, dat dere compound movement
-do chest more than back tbh, obviously the routine for my chest is not working and needs to be altered.



Edit: I forgot, I do seated face pulls as well.

I was also hoping for Deadlifts to be my main trap builder as well, since I have not done shrugs often and wanted to kill two birds with one compound.

 

[RogueTr00per]

@IS: Duly noted on what u have been doing for back

I guess no point me posting pics, as I am only 2-3 months into stronglifts 5x5, and I am still in proportion as a novice lifter would be. Nothing to write home about. Yeah, the body fat thing makes a big difference as u are probably around 12% bf? Are u trying for a six pack at all? With winter approaching I might as well forget about six pack abs and make sure I just feed my muscle recovery properly.

 

[InternetSwag]

@IS: Duly noted on what u have been doing for back

I guess no point me posting pics, as I am only 2-3 months into stronglifts 5x5, and I am still in proportion as a novice lifter would be. Nothing to write home about. Yeah, the body fat thing makes a big difference as u are probably around 12% bf? Are u trying for a six pack at all? With winter approaching I might as well forget about six pack abs and make sure I just feed my muscle recovery properly.

Yeah probably at around 11-12%.

Don't care about abs at all, had skinny man abs my entire life, seeing them disappear is almost liberating.

Just make sure to take some pictures now at least So you have progress pictures to go by, I only have 1 proper before picture (like before even touching a weight) and its poverty quality.

I would not however have posted any pictures at all on this website if I didn't at least feel like I made a wee bit of progress. I also reckon that's why so few pictures have been posted ITT so far. Proper diet and muscle building as a natural is hard and takes time. You truly need to have a passion for it.



Which I believe I do, I can talk about it all day Which is why my posts are so long.

 

[RogueTr00per]

I'm quite intrigued with this A2 milk theory. Anyone in Cape Town know where one can get raw A2 milk?

Apparently Guernsey cows are one kind of cow that produce it.
http://www.saguernsey.co.za/

edit:
Regarding taking proper pics, should one be flexing or not flexing or are both required? I took some the other day, but not flexing as I was only using my camera phone.

In 2 to 3 months on SL5x5 there is an improvement, so I look forward to every gym session, knowing that the work will pay off.

 

[Tinuva]

To be honest, I don't know. I didn't even realize what my back had progressed until 4 or 5 months into my bulk, you know the problem with the back, is that it's not the front So when I saw my back in a photograph I was like whaaa?

I am told I have good back genetics, which I believe, since all I really do for back is Lat Pulldowns (not strong enough to do wide grip pull ups properly) Chin Ups (close grip underhand, actually focusing on the biceps) I've never done V-Bar rows or standing rows and only included Deadlifts into my workouts recently, and now they've obviously gone away as well.

I don't really think my back is that good, it's probably just a lot of definition showing because of bf percentage and good lighting. But if I really do have good back genetics then I will welcome that with open arms

Cliffs

-only recently started doing lower back exercises
-not deadlifting anymore (injury)
-probably built back because of lots of pull ups, dat dere compound movement
-do chest more than back tbh, obviously the routine for my chest is not working and needs to be altered.



Edit: I forgot, I do seated face pulls as well.

I was also hoping for Deadlifts to be my main trap builder as well, since I have not done shrugs often and wanted to kill two birds with one compound.

OHP builds traps much better than Deadlift when done correctly. Deadlift is not really a trap builder, unless you go and pull up at the top, which means your doing the deadlift too light, so wasting your time really.

@IS: Duly noted on what u have been doing for back

I guess no point me posting pics, as I am only 2-3 months into stronglifts 5x5, and I am still in proportion as a novice lifter would be. Nothing to write home about. Yeah, the body fat thing makes a big difference as u are probably around 12% bf? Are u trying for a six pack at all? With winter approaching I might as well forget about six pack abs and make sure I just feed my muscle recovery properly.

Take photos both ways, flexed and non-flexed. They show different things. Take photos of full body if you can, you can still have underwear on, but since you on a leg focused program like SL, its worth showing.

 

[Sensorei]

OHP builds traps much better than Deadlift when done correctly. Deadlift is not really a trap builder, unless you go and pull up at the top, which means your doing the deadlift too light, so wasting your time really.

Lol. Post this on a proper bodybuilding forum and see how you get laughed at. Overhead press better for building traps than deadlifts??! Wtf :what:

 

[RogueTr00per]

In any event, my traps seem to have grown somewhat in the last 3 months from deadlifts . Yeah, I try to pull at the top. Saves me from doing shrugs separately

 

[Tinuva]

Lol. Post this on a proper bodybuilding forum and see how you get laughed at. Overhead press better for building traps than deadlifts??! Wtf :what:

Thats true, but then again 90% of bodybuilders **** up the deadlift anyways, so who cares if they laugh at me.

With how much bodybuilders do isolation exercises, they may as well do a proper trap exercise, and do the deadlift heavier, and get much more out of both exercises.

 

[Orihalcon]

^Agreed

Warm up traps and hit the deadlifts heavier and do proper barbell / dumbell shrugs as a seperate excersise. Get the most from your deads by going heavier.

 

[Hemps]

I was also hoping for Deadlifts to be my main trap builder as well, since I have not done shrugs often and wanted to kill two birds with one compound.

Upright row with EZ-bar and bent over lateral's with palms facing forward, two of the best exercises for traps, deadlifts and t-bar row I have found also hit them somewhat.
I have tested all the exercises above to see what hurts the next day so personally the first two exercises hit traps and upper back well for me, you also get rear delts in there as well.