Started lifting weights again.

[AvoidingRealWork]

I found this pic of me from four years ago:

http://fileserver6.jpghosting.com/images/arw2004_5faf1a60ec1730d7ee2fde0e11ca6fa3.jpg

Damn, I forgot I was that beefy. I was 210 lbs then. Today I'm 185.

Went to the Y last night and it's like HOLY SHIT WHEN DID I BECOME A FUCKING WEAKLING?! Oh well. I'll get the muscle back. Really, I will.

 

[TxRad]

At my age, 12 ounce curls are about my max.

Anyway, round is a shape.

 

[lushlucid]

That photo doesn't look too beefy to me

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

That photo doesn't look too beefy to me

It is for me. I'm a skinny guy.

 

[R. Richard]

The important thing is to find a program that you can live with that will accomplish your objectives. The program that will get you strong is not the same one that will bulk you up. I would suggest that you peruse back issues of "Muscles and Fitness" to find the program you need.

 

[Katyusha]

I found this pic of me from four years ago:

http://fileserver6.jpghosting.com/images/arw2004_5faf1a60ec1730d7ee2fde0e11ca6fa3.jpg

Damn, I forgot I was that beefy. I was 210 lbs then. Today I'm 185.

Went to the Y last night and it's like HOLY SHIT WHEN DID I BECOME A FUCKING WEAKLING?! Oh well. I'll get the muscle back. Really, I will.

Do I know you?

 

[TheeGoatPig]

It is for me. I'm a skinny guy.

That depends on how tall you are. I'm 215 at 6'-4, and aside from my belly, I'm feeling quite skinny and weak right now (then again, I've been sick on my ass for almost two weeks).

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

The important thing is to find a program that you can live with that will accomplish your objectives. The program that will get you strong is not the same one that will bulk you up. I would suggest that you peruse back issues of "Muscles and Fitness" to find the program you need.

I have an approach that leads to decent strength building and a little bulk as bonus. I just have to get my ass in the gym and do it. Work, home and the Y are all in close proximity, so I now have a chance to get back into things.

The side benefit to all of this is that when I lift weights it sends my testosterone through the roof, which wifey appreciates later that evening .

 

[Weird Harold]

The important thing is to find a program that you can live with that will accomplish your objectives. The program that will get you strong is not the same one that will bulk you up. I would suggest that you peruse back issues of "Muscles and Fitness" to find the program you need.

Nearly as important as Rob's advice is patience. You didn't get to be a weakling overnight, and you'll only hurt yourself -- possibly permanently -- if you try to rebuild strength (or endurance) overnight.

I started swimming every day at the end of last June because I needed a low-impact way to regain some fitness. It was all I could manage just to keep afloat and moving for more than about five minutes at a stretch; Yesterday I swam 48 laps (50yds) in 68 minutes of actual swimming (with two five minute breaks between sets)

My goal is to swim 366 nautical miles from the first of last November before the first of November 2008. To do that, I'm going to need to knock eight minutes or so off that 68 minutes so I can add another 0.15 NM a day to make up for Sundays and Holidays. But I can't just decide to knock 10 seconds off of every lap without risking drowning from cramps or exhaustion; I have to settle for knocking two or three seconds off my average lap time this month and then another two or three next month and then add the extra laps when I can do so without also adding a(nother) half hour to my daily swim.

The same thing applies to weight training -- set a goal and a schedule for achieving that goal; then stick to that schedule even when a good week makes it seems as if the schedule is too conservative. You can adjust your schedule, but base the adjustments on monthly averages rather than daily or weekly performances.

 

[R. Richard]

Of course, patitence and a step by step approach is important.

One other thing that is important is to avoid over omptimism when you start to improve. A new workout guy may struggle to add five pounds of resistance [or subtract a second per lap.] Suddenly, the support systems the workout guy has been building kick in and the guy can add 15 pounds of resistance [or subtract five seconds per lap.] After the brief spurt, it is back to five pounds/-one second per several weeks. The guy needs to realize that he is building more support systems and the gains will [sloooooooowly] come.

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

Here's where I'm starting from now.

Warning: nudity (as if that needs to be warned against here):

http://fapomatic.com/0802/arwn.jpg

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

Do I know you?

hi.

 

[oggbashan]

The trouble with building muscle is that you need to maintain the work for the rest of your life - if you can.

I was fit and well-muscled in my late teens and twenties and until my early thirties when I developed ankylosing spondilitis (only diagnosed in my sixties). Keeping the weight down when every movement hurts is very difficult.

One of my friends was a UK champion in several martial arts and competed in Japan. Now that he is in his late fifties he looks as if he had spent all his life sitting on a couch downing beer. (But don't annoy him - some local punks tried to rob him. They went to ER escorted by police, then to the cells.)

Og

 

[Guest]

Ogg, you have my sympathy. From what I've read, ankylosing spondylitis is a bitch to live with.

My case isn't as extreme, but still annoying. I'm 53, and about 6 years ago I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy (for you medical geeks, it's a symmetric, primarily axonal, sensorimotor polyneuropathy), Not only was the pain nearly incapacitating, I lost a BOATLOAD of muscle, and what I had didn't work right. At the time, I was 6'2" and 220 lbs, and I'd literally strain the muscles of my forearm lifting a gallon of milk from the fridge!

I'll spare you the diagnostic workup, 'cause it didn't find anything conclusive and treatment wasn't effective. The real key was when I stopped taking statins for high cholesterol (it's genetic in my case--I ran high even when I was lacto-vegetarian for four years). PN due to statins is rare but exceedlingly well-documented. Stopping the drugs drastically reduced my pain but I was still weak.

I've gradually recovered some strength over time and now, at a relatively skinny 200 lbs, I need to lose 5-10 lbs of fat and gain 10-15 lbs of muscle. Since my muscles still don't respond to exertion right, I am NOT looking forward to this.

Thanks for listening, y'all. I feel better now.

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

A new workout guy may struggle to add five pounds of resistance [or subtract a second per lap.] Suddenly, the support systems the workout guy has been building kick in and the guy can add 15 pounds of resistance

I always notice this whenever I start lifting weights. I'll start benching sets of 8 at 125, then in about a two month period rapidly progress to 155. Then it takes about a year to get from 155 to 175.

I've been through this all before; it's just a matter of doing it again. I was really happy about where I was three years ago, but time, money, and life in general got in the way.

As far as being forced to maintain what I have, I have a very high metabolism, so when I stop working the muscle I just sort of slowly deflate. It doesn't turn into fat; it just melts off. I should count my blessings, I know.

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

Ogg, you have my sympathy. From what I've read, ankylosing spondylitis is a bitch to live with.

I had to Wiki this. It sounds really awful. Ogg and Gnome, you both have my sympathy.

 

[lushlucid]

Here's where I'm starting from now.

Warning: nudity (as if that needs to be warned against here):

http://fapomatic.com/0802/arwn.jpg

i'd do ya

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

i'd do ya

*blush*

I was wondering if maybe I ought not to have posted that. I feel a bit embarrassed about it. But thank you.

 

[Weird Harold]

As far as being forced to maintain what I have, I have a very high metabolism, so when I stop working the muscle I just sort of slowly deflate. It doesn't turn into fat; it just melts off. I should count my blessings, I know.

Your birthdate in your profile doesn't include a year, but I'm guessing that since you still have a high metabolism it's under 35.

"Middle Age Spread" isn't just a stereotype, it's a real change in metabolism somewhere around age 35-40 and that "melting way" is going to be a fond memory -- be prepared for it.

 

[Vermilion]

Here's where I'm starting from now.

Warning: nudity (as if that needs to be warned against here):

http://fapomatic.com/0802/arwn.jpg

Looks just fiiiiiiiiine to me...


hey, if I lifted weights (to tone, not to bulk. I don't wanna look like Arnie's little sis) would it increase my testosterone and sex drive? Cos it goes into hibernation a bit in the winter and could use a boost...

x
V

 

[lushlucid]

Looks just fiiiiiiiiine to me...


hey, if I lifted weights (to tone, not to bulk. I don't wanna look like Arnie's little sis) would it increase my testosterone and sex drive? Cos it goes into hibernation a bit in the winter and could use a boost...

x
V

It would yes.

Magnesium and Zinc are also good for the horny button

 

[Vermilion]

It would yes.

Magnesium and Zinc are also good for the horny button

Excellent. I take Magnesium anyway and have quite a high zinc diet I think, so down to the gym I go
x
V

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

i'd do ya

I'd just like to return the compliment by saying that if that AV is you, you have a marvelous ass! Wow!

That is all.

 

[rgraham666]

Sigh. I'd like to exercise but I don't have the room or the money.

I can't practice martial arts unless I have a fair bit of space. And a dojo cost money. Sigh.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

I found this pic of me from four years ago:

http://fileserver6.jpghosting.com/images/arw2004_5faf1a60ec1730d7ee2fde0e11ca6fa3.jpg

Damn, I forgot I was that beefy. I was 210 lbs then. Today I'm 185.

Went to the Y last night and it's like HOLY SHIT WHEN DID I BECOME A FUCKING WEAKLING?! Oh well. I'll get the muscle back. Really, I will.

Yay you!

(Don't forget to say "yay me!" after your workouts. )