At 3/4/09 04:21 PM, DannyIsOnFire wrote: Hey all, a quick question for you fitness guru's. I've recently quit smoking and plan on heavily cutting back on my drinking due to the word "alcoholic" cropping up a few times from friends and family. I think the fact that I started drinking at 11am today pretty much sums it up.

Anyway, I got in, a bit drunk and started lifting some weights, then I watched a film while doing some jogging and throwing a few punch combos. I drank a shitload of water and can feel myself sweating. My question is, on the social occasions where I do want to go out and have a few drinks, whats the best alcohol to drink. I'm trying to loose the "beer belly" so I guess lager's out? Whiskey maybe? Any advice, other than the obvious "something non-alcoholic". Ta.

The best thing I would suggest to you is cut down on drinking, it'll help a lot and it slows down the growing process in working out if you keep drinking a lot. Beer got lots of calories so I would just take hard shots, get wasted faster and less consumption. I just do rum and coke all the time now. Alcohol will always

At 2/10/09 08:06 PM, Patton3 wrote: Quick question. Which will burn more calories: 2 miles on an eliptical followed by one hour of strength training, or 2 miles on a treadmill followed by one hour of strength training?

Not sure, but the eliiptical will strain your joints less, since it's lower-impact. If you're going to pick one to do on a regular basis, I'd say use the elliptical most of the time, and treadmill when you want to switch it up. You should also do a bit of cardio after the weights (not much, ten or twenty minutes I guess, at a moderate pace) as a bit of a cool-down. It'll help to loosen up your muscles somewhat after all the exertion.

In terms of me news, I decided to get into rock climbing after finally trying it last month. I bought shoes/harness/membership, so I actually have to do it now, since I don't have that kind of money to throw around for no reason. Seems like a pretty good way to work almost every muscle, but way more fun than lifting weights.

Might get back into deadlifts just for the hell of it though.

The only thing I find I need to watch for lengthier periods of exercising like at the climbing gym is hydration. Just water isn't enough, have to get salt in as well. I had some problems with low electrolytes the other day at work, was not awesome.

At 6/15/09 09:36 PM, Elfer wrote: In terms of me news, I decided to get into rock climbing after finally trying it last month. I bought shoes/harness/membership, so I actually have to do it now, since I don't have that kind of money to throw around for no reason. Seems like a pretty good way to work almost every muscle, but way more fun than lifting weights.

Might get back into deadlifts just for the hell of it though.

The only thing I find I need to watch for lengthier periods of exercising like at the climbing gym is hydration. Just water isn't enough, have to get salt in as well. I had some problems with low electrolytes the other day at work, was not awesome.

Rock climbing is my favourite sport other than lifting at the moment. I prefer to do it on climbing walls though because you get a lot more out of it for the time you're there. Not having to set up a top rope or putting your gear in saves a lot of precious time for a good session. I go to a place called 'Awesome Walls' in a place called Stockport near me, it's got the biggest climbing wall in the UK(Not sure if that's height or just general size). Have you tried bouldering too? That's great fun and it really knackers you out fast if you're not used to it. I've also just had a birthday come up so I'm going to get myself some decent climbing shoes, my Dad already has harnesses, ropes, gears etc. Also, Deadlifts and/or Squats should always be part of a strength routine imo, best exercises out there(the most fun too!). After 2-3 heavy sets of Deadlifts you can't tell me you don't feel alpha as hell.

Hey guys, can I join? I can say I'm physically fit, I do gymnastics, parkour, and weights quite regularly and seriously, so as a result over the year and a half I've become built and stuff, but now I'm getting into conditioning and strength training more, to help me in all aspects.

So, anyone know a really effective bicep workout? I've worked my triceps to the max, and although my biceps are big, I'd like them to be much bigger. :)

And a chest workout, other than pushups.

At 6/11/09 08:14 PM, Syth wrote: Im 6"1', 73KG and physcial fit as a horse =D

and i eat nothing but cereal :D

how i love my unhealthy diets!

My diet is fruit and fibre bowls about 5 times a day (Addiction), chicken 30 minutes - 2 hours before the gym, and i'm guessing anything that isn't unhealthy.

I'm not the fittest person in the world, i've been going to the gym for about 3 mounths twice a week, but I havn't been in 3 weeks due to weddings and work. I've started going again and noticed a significant loss of 'power' in the amount of reps I can do.

Advice to get back into my shape or am I starting all over again?

At 6/17/09 11:01 AM, Obvious-M wrote: Hey guys, can I join? I can say I'm physically fit, I do gymnastics, parkour, and weights quite regularly and seriously, so as a result over the year and a half I've become built and stuff, but now I'm getting into conditioning and strength training more, to help me in all aspects.

So, anyone know a really effective bicep workout? I've worked my triceps to the max, and although my biceps are big, I'd like them to be much bigger. :)

And a chest workout, other than pushups.

Flys (Dumbells), and Bench Press's (lower and upper chest), and Parallel Bar Dips. You should be good at the bar dips in consistancy, because it will work your triceps aswell. I believe rowing will also benifit you!

For your biceps, use dumbells I'd recommend, but I'm no gym expert. Perhaps the others can give better advice? I only have a vauge idea on working out you see.

At 6/17/09 07:07 AM, Zenan wrote: Rock climbing is my favourite sport other than lifting at the moment. I prefer to do it on climbing walls though because you get a lot more out of it for the time you're there. Not having to set up a top rope or putting your gear in saves a lot of precious time for a good session. I go to a place called 'Awesome Walls' in a place called Stockport near me, it's got the biggest climbing wall in the UK(Not sure if that's height or just general size). Have you tried bouldering too?

Actually, the only stuff I do outside is bouldering. I just don't want to make the equipment investment for trad climbing right now.

The place I go has a hundred foot tall chimney that they turned into a climbing area. Haven't cimbed it yet (don't know any other climbers in town, and don't want to ask random peeps to belay me on a long climb), but sounds like it would be pretty cool. There's windows at the top so you can look out over the rest of the town.

That's great fun and it really knackers you out fast if you're not used to it.

Yeah. I used to play on monkey bars a lot though, so I'm not too awful. I can invert, it's just tricky for me to get the feet right to move around.

On a related note, my hands are developing calluses at a rate that I think is faster than they've ever developed before.

Hey guys, I'd like to join. I just started to get into serious lifting and I'm taking N O Explode. Lemonade is delicious. But I have a total gym that I use as a pre workout, then a bench and dumbells. I've been slacking lately and haven't been lifting as much but at least I'm at my shore house and getting a good exercise by running and surfing most of my free time down here.

Nice to meet you all and hope I can add more to this club.

If you're close to the shore, do some running barefoot on the beach. It's actually extremely good for you (trivia: professional sprinters do this as part of their training), but it will seem way harder at first. It basically because we've become so accustomed to using shoes and hard, flat surfaces that most people don't use the muscles that you need to run on a soft surface like sand or earth.

At 6/25/09 10:08 PM, Elfer wrote: If you're close to the shore, do some running barefoot on the beach. It's actually extremely good for you (trivia: professional sprinters do this as part of their training), but it will seem way harder at first. It basically because we've become so accustomed to using shoes and hard, flat surfaces that most people don't use the muscles that you need to run on a soft surface like sand or earth.

Yeah man, it's a hell of a workout. That's what I've been doing. Basically, just running, surfing, and the normal push up/sit ups before bed and I've managed to stay in decent shape. I just need some weights or hopefully get a membership to a gym after making a few bucks at my new job. I can't wait till college, there's such a nice gym at drexel university =D

At 6/28/09 02:27 PM, Jawdyn wrote: At the moment I can only do 21 reps of 20KG. I don't know if that is pathetically weak or whatnot. I have been doing these 21 reps each day for the past week.

21 reps of what? Bench press? Barbell curl?

Anyway, my immediate advice for you is that weightlifting is not a competition, unless you are in a weightlifting competition. If you're getting stronger, you're doing well.

My other advice is to do compound exercises. Push-ups and pull-ups are both good and require next to no equipment.

Well, your body definitely needs calories and protein if it's going to build up any muscle. I'd say just eat more food, but good food, you know? Also 16 pushups isn't terrible, but the trick is to try very hard until you start doing more for that. Next time you do some, try to do 18 and see if you can push out the last couple of reps. Make sure you keep good form though.

In other news, last time I went climbing I finished a 5.10 first try with no falls, which was kind of annoying, since I was trying to pick something I didn't think I could do.

At 6/30/09 07:23 AM, Jawdyn wrote:
Do energy drinks or certain foods or anything related to consuming help at all? I've always been unsure about that.

If you feel like you're not energetic enough going into a lift I'd suggest trying N.O. Explode. It helps a ton and when drinking before lifting, it really energizes you resulting in a great lift. That's only if you got 50 bucks laying around for a month's supply.

I just came home from the gym. I walked on the treadmill, going 3.2 miles per hour, while reading a book.

30min and 20pages later, I was sore, so I left.

You went to the gym to walk on a treadmill? Couldn't you have just, you know, walked anywhere?

The most baffling thing I have ever seen is people driving to the gym to ride a stationary bike.

Got a membership to the Atlantic club the town over from mine and it's amazing. I've been feeling really sore in the mornings and I feel much more accomplished with my workouts rather than just total gym and dumbells.

Being sore in the morning isn't too bad, but just make sure you're not stiff. If you are, you should stretch in the morning in addition to your regular workout stretching.

If you're already doing this, cool, I'm just pointing it out because it seems like a lot of people around me lately refuse to stretch properly, then screw up their muscles.

At 7/6/09 09:36 PM, Elfer wrote: Being sore in the morning isn't too bad, but just make sure you're not stiff. If you are, you should stretch in the morning in addition to your regular workout stretching.

If you're already doing this, cool, I'm just pointing it out because it seems like a lot of people around me lately refuse to stretch properly, then screw up their muscles.

Good call, I didn't stretch properly for ages, or at all really. What started out as a neck ache and a gentle stretch turned into a trapped nerve and my head being lodged to the left for 2 days. I also used to get major debilitating headaches whenever I trained due to lack of stretching my shoulders and back. Here is a great video showing how to stretch the lower body. What I've done to stretch is hold it for about 30 seconds and not over-stretching so that it's very painful, that can lead to injury too. Here's another for the upper body.

At 7/7/09 03:33 AM, Zenan wrote:
Good call, I didn't stretch properly for ages, or at all really. What started out as a neck ache and a gentle stretch turned into a trapped nerve and my head being lodged to the left for 2 days. I also used to get major debilitating headaches whenever I trained due to lack of stretching my shoulders and back. Here is a great video showing how to stretch the lower body. What I've done to stretch is hold it for about 30 seconds and not over-stretching so that it's very painful, that can lead to injury too. Here's another for the upper body.

Great tip thanks, stretching isnt something I usually consider too much when I go to the gym, will make sure to incoorporate this into my work out.

Stretching also promotes muscle growth when you work out, so there's another reason to do it.

Yeah I always stretch before but never remember to after which is probably a mistake I should try to avoid. But I was saying feeling sore is awesome because you know you're working your muscles and not just doing some bullshit workout to make you feel better about yourself.

Just stumbled upon this thread, Wanted to ask some stuff that I have asked so many people but never got a good answer.

Basically I'm 16 pushing 17 years old and I have no upper body muscle at all basically, I'm pretty skinny and have such a high metabolism it's unbelievable, I won't lie, I've never really attempted to make an effort at building muscle as it seems so pointless having hardly any body fat to work with, my Dad had the same issue when he was younger being another reason I can't see point in trying.

I basically would like to know any advice about beginners, What sort of non-weight based excersise I should do, I can probably acquire weights if it'll help. Thanks to anyone who's helpful enough to reply and not flame.

At 7/7/09 07:51 PM, Scuzzfest wrote: I basically would like to know any advice about beginners, What sort of non-weight based excersise I should do, I can probably acquire weights if it'll help. Thanks to anyone who's helpful enough to reply and not flame.

Body weight stuff is all good. Push-ups, different types of squats, pull-ups/chin ups, whatevs.

Also, if you don't have weights, anything that can hold water or sand can become as heavy or as light as you want.

Also, protein. Eats your chickens, nuts, fishies :).

At 7/7/09 11:15 PM, Elfer wrote:

At 7/7/09 07:51 PM, Scuzzfest wrote: I basically would like to know any advice about beginners, What sort of non-weight based excersise I should do, I can probably acquire weights if it'll help. Thanks to anyone who's helpful enough to reply and not flame.

Body weight stuff is all good. Push-ups, different types of squats, pull-ups/chin ups, whatevs.

Also, if you don't have weights, anything that can hold water or sand can become as heavy or as light as you want.

I'll give doing push ups etc a shot, how many should I be aiming to do a day? And do crunches count?

At 7/10/09 10:10 AM, Scuzzfest wrote:

At 7/7/09 11:15 PM, Elfer wrote:

At 7/7/09 07:51 PM, Scuzzfest wrote: I basically would like to know any advice about beginners, What sort of non-weight based excersise I should do, I can probably acquire weights if it'll help. Thanks to anyone who's helpful enough to reply and not flame.

Body weight stuff is all good. Push-ups, different types of squats, pull-ups/chin ups, whatevs.

Also, if you don't have weights, anything that can hold water or sand can become as heavy or as light as you want.

I'll give doing push ups etc a shot, how many should I be aiming to do a day? And do crunches count?

Rather focus on large, weighted compound exercises, such as bench presses and assisted pullups (for upper body), combined with deadlifts and squats for lower body.

At 7/10/09 10:10 AM, Scuzzfest wrote: I'll give doing push ups etc a shot, how many should I be aiming to do a day? And do crunches count?

Just do as many as you're comfortable doing. If you think you can do more, do more.

You should try doing dips too, those are great. You could just use the end of your bed and it'll help you get a lot more cut.

I haven't posted in here in a long ass time but i will some up all the questions about how to get bigger the easiest way that i can.

eat more, eat right, lift heavy, lift smart, don't quit.

Right. I have a problem. Partying' has negetively effected me badly. I now have a layer of fat over my now decreased overall Peck size and is there a diet that can build muscle, but effectively loose fat simultaneously.

Furthermore I used to be able to row 40 minutes with breaks in between every solid 20 minutes. I had a serious lower back injury and thus have not rowed in two months. Now I struggle to row a solid 12 minutes and i'm infinitely pissed off.

Help me Newgrounds... I need solid advice. I'm thinking about cutting all carbohydrates from my diet; things like chocolate, pepsi - which is what I refused to eat in my prime. I plan to get back into shape within the next month.

I'm taking all things into consideration, and going to the gym tommorow I am going to ask a gym instructor for advice whether he or she is avalible.