Gym And Supplement Discussion

[Dani Boi]

Birds do you have a v-taper with all that oblique work?

I don't get sweaty either after my weights session, then again I don't do high rep work and it's all compounds with big rest times.

[TM7GTR]

Ok lets set this straight here instead of it being ridiculously all over the place.

REST TIMES DEPEND ON THE TYPE OF TRAINING YOU ARE DOING.

No 'ifs' 'buts' or 'maybes'

If you're resting more than 30 seconds in an endurance rep range work harder. If you're resting more than 90 seconds for hypertrophy work harder. If you can push out heavy strength-based sets one after another in less than 2-3 minutes, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG

[Birds]

Birds do you have a v-taper with all that oblique work?

Can you elaborate for me good sir?

[GTR_JOEY]

Do you look like a slice of pizza from the front

[Birds]

I think I do. Should oblique work counter the V or aid it?

[GTR_JOEY]

dunno hey, i have heard that doing obliques stop you from getting the "V" look as it makes you thicker on the sides

[GHOSTrun]

Is it possible to get stress fractures in your forearms from bench pressing? (I know this sounds retarded, but my forearms have been aching chronically for weeks now :S, and the only thing that's changed is I've been getting stronger and shifting more weight then I ever have before...)

Edited July 23, 2012 by GHOSTrun

[Birds]

Yeah, hate to admit it, but when I was reading a Zyzz interview he said he didn't do any oblique work because he was concerned it would make his mid section too big. Anyone shine some more light on it?

I always thought obliques just followed your body lines and being core muscles like abs, you're somewhat restricted on how they can affect the overall shape of your body. Maybe if you really built them up or you were shredded as fark they would affect it more.

Mine aren't far off the rib cage (see below; pic taken prior to my recent cut), so I don't think they play with my shape much. Even then, I'm stick thin in the waist and I've done too much lat work not to look like a pizza slice lol.

[Birds]

Is it possible to get stress fractures in your forearms from bench pressing? (I know this sounds retarded, but my forearms have been aching chronically for weeks now :S, and the only thing that's changed is I've been getting stronger and shifting more weight then I ever have before...)

Where in the forearm does it hurt? Muscle or joint or bone? Is it getting worse?

[GTR_JOEY]

Is it possible to get stress fractures in your forearms from bench pressing? (I know this sounds retarded, but my forearms have been aching chronically for weeks now :S, and the only thing that's changed is I've been getting stronger and shifting more weight then I ever have before...)

generally your bones should increase with strength and density as you start lifting more. Someone correct me if im wrong but everytime you lift heavy small stress fractures develope, they then heal and become stronger.. we just dont feel fractures most of time

Do you do much isometrics?

whats your Calcium intake like and where do source do you get it from?

[GHOSTrun]

If you make a fist and look at your knuckles, from the wrist to halfway up forearm is where the pain is and slight swelling, bit sore to touch, no discolouration. Between this pain in both forearms and even worse chronic pain in my left elbow and shoulder, makes benching a nightmare for me. Might have to give it a rest and switch to military press for a while because the weight would be half of what I'm doing on bench and considerably less stress.

I'd say I don't get as much calcium as I used to because my consumption of milk has dropped a lot in the last few years, but my bone density has always been good in dexa scans so don't think that's an issue?

Edited July 23, 2012 by GHOSTrun

[Birds]

There are major tendons that run all the way from your fingers to the forearm muscle, is it possible you're mistaking these for bones? I'd put it down to technique, there's nothing else short of a seperate medical issue that should cause that. Have you tried different ways of holding the bar? Specifically, the angle of your hands...e.g. knuckles pointing at the ceiling, knuckles pointing behind you. The angle of your hand can make a big difference to stress on joints.

The fact you can lift heavy without issue on deads and squats suggests to me it's a technique issue, as your "bones" seem fine on those exercises no? May need to just rest it or cut back the weight and let your body catch up to it.

I know tendons and cartilage develop microtears and heal back stronger/bigger, I suppose it makes sense that bones do too Joey.

[TM7GTR]

I have the same forearm pain from time to time, and it is definitely bone related.

Yes you do develop small fractures in the bone after heavy resistance workouts because in order for your bones to strengthen in density (so that they aren't crushed under heavy load) they must break down and rebuild just like muscle tissue. Basically you have osteoclasts which break down the bone, and then osteoblasts which are bone forming cells. This process of remodelling constantly occurs if you continue to participate in regular workouts, and this is all part of:

Wolff's Law

"...states that bone in a healthy person or animal will adapt to the loads it is placed under. If loading on a particular bone increases, the bone will remodel itself over time to become stronger to resist that sort of loading. The internal architecture of the trabeculae undergoes adaptive changes, followed by secondary changes to the external cortical portion of the bone, perhaps becoming thicker as a result. The converse is true as well: if the loading on a bone decreases, the bone will become weaker due to turnover, it is less metabolically costly to maintain and there is no stimulus for continued remodelling that is required to maintain bone mass."

In my opinion, I'd say that because during a bench press movement where your arms are directly under the path of gravity, it's more trauma on the bones in your arm (radius, ulna especially) when you really go heavy. A good way to see this for yourself is if you pick up two heavy dumbbells and lie on the floor with your arms flat out at 90 degrees. It's pretty painful and it feels as if all the weight is pressing down on your bones alone.

In response to Birds,

Your obliques and abs will grow in size as do any muscle, so yes, the more oblique work you do with added weight means it will take away from your V-taper slightly as your obliques tend to bulge and grow outwards like your lats.

If you choose to work them heaps, you just need to shed a lot more body fat to retain your V because that area is also quite a large fat deposit for the body (think "love handles")

[NickR33]

If you make a fist and look at your knuckles, from the wrist to halfway up forearm is where the pain is and slight swelling, bit sore to touch, no discolouration. Between this pain in both forearms and even worse chronic pain in my left elbow and shoulder, makes benching a nightmare for me. Might have to give it a rest and switch to military press for a while because the weight would be half of what I'm doing on bench and considerably less stress.

you need to see a physio or equivalent... I have a bad left elbow that causes me trouble when I curl, row or pull up with palm supinated... I can train around it but your issues sound more serious than that... get it checked

Birds, keep training those obliques! the thought that someone would deliberately avoid strengthening a muscle so they appeared larger/stronger is just a tad retarded... I have huge respect for BBers and what they do but sometimes............ face palm

Edited July 24, 2012 by NickR33

[TTT]

Ghosty.

But use a broom stick.

It's the best thing for shoulders, chest, elbows, wrists.

Trust me I'm 35 and falling apart and this keeps me together a little longer.

I start right out the edges, and do 3 reps, then move in a little from both side and repeat till my traps are burning.

Do it every time you walk past the broom stick.

or at least before and after any training.

and during if you can between sets.

[GHOSTrun]

^ hmm interesting

[God_speed]

Ghosty.

But use a broom stick.

It's the best thing for shoulders, chest, elbows, wrists.

Trust me I'm 35 and falling apart and this keeps me together a little longer.

I start right out the edges, and do 3 reps, then move in a little from both side and repeat till my traps are burning.

Do it every time you walk past the broom stick.

or at least before and after any training.

and during if you can between sets.

Fark. This is exactly what I need to be doing. My shoulder flexibility is crap and seriously hinders not only my shoulder pressing movements but also benching, not to mention posture. Gonna go grab a broomstick from the shed this arvo.

I also read an article on TNation that lists Cuban Curls as a good way to strengthen the shoulder, which should lead to increased strength in pressing.

Like this, except the "upright row" part of the movement is 'optional'

[-FIGJAM-]

have heard that working the obliques and deadlifts thicken the waist area which in turn makes the 'V' harder to get.

guess you have to decide what look you're after and go from there.

Also Birds out of interest can you post your routine (if you havent already)?

Also, reps range that you go for, rest between sets, rep times ie 3-1-3?

Edited July 24, 2012 by -FIGJAM-

[tweety bird]

Ghosty.

But use a broom stick.

It's the best thing for shoulders, chest, elbows, wrists.

Trust me I'm 35 and falling apart and this keeps me together a little longer.

I start right out the edges, and do 3 reps, then move in a little from both side and repeat till my traps are burning.

Do it every time you walk past the broom stick.

or at least before and after any training.

and during if you can between sets.

i will add that to my morning stretches.

[Birds]

Birds, keep training those obliques! the thought that someone would deliberately avoid strengthening a muscle so they appeared larger/stronger is just a tad retarded... I have huge respect for BBers and what they do but sometimes............ face palm

Yer only thing that's gonna make me give up woodchops is injury. As you know I'm going for looks over strength but I could never avoid training a useful muscle to make another part of me look big, that's just douchebaggery of the highest order. And now that I have visible obliques, I think the mid section would look plain without them anyway.