General weights discussion thread

[abpanther]

Thanks for the advice everyone, think i will wait to get trained by someone

 

[Pete Cash]

Speaking of Olympic lifts Hang Cleans, Jump Shrugs and Power Cleans are fairly enjoyable lifts.

EDIT

An actual question.

Anyone got any good tips for hip mobility. I am decent enough for a gigantic man but its an area I could certainly improve.

 

[Cliffhanger]

Yeah I need to work on my hip mobility too, just started doing barbell hip thrusters and one-legged inverted rows.

A bit late as my pelvis is already twisted and fixing that completely is going to take a few weeks.

I prefer cleans to snatch to be honest, today was snatch day though. Snatch dead lifts are good, my coach made me do them today, he makes me do them very slow and controlled, if he hears the bar hit the ground he makes me do them again, only went up to 60kg today, but because I was doing the reps so slowly it was hard.

 

[Cliffhanger]

You are kidding yourself

Squats and deadlifts are single facet moves. Clean and jerk or even snatchs are much more complicated, multi facet moves that require the correct technique and more importantly the correct timing

Get someone to train you mate

Yep, they are much harder than they look, getting the brush exactly right is incredibly tough, I've hit my pubic bone more times than I care to mention. With clean and jerk I struggle so much with moving elbows fast enough after the high pull to get myself under the bar.

There's basically four steps to both, getting them perfect when you break down is hard enough, executing them altogether in under a second, is insane, have so much more appreciation for the sport and anybody who can do them.

 

[Pete Cash]

Hay guyz today I was terrible in the gym. Lack of sleep, not enough food, poor form or just not mentally switched on but I sucked. Let's not forget that lifting is a marathon and not a sprint and some sessions we will be balls.

 

[Cliffhanger]

Yep. Remin yourself you love the process and it's okay to miss a lift.

 

[abpanther]

My last 2 sessions have been like that, also pushed too hard and tweaked my neck both times..

 

[Pete Cash]

Farmer walks with dumbbells are so awesome great for grip.

 

[Sydney Knight]

I'm changing to my work gym as its much cheaper. There is no squat rack only a smith machine. Is there any real issues doing squats on a smith machine other than it uses less muscles to stability?

 

[abpanther]

I have a question regarding barbell rows.

Up to this point, I have been doing Barbell Rows similar to this guy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0khA92FW2o&feature=related

The small amount of cheating (hip movement) has allowed me to lift quite heavy.

However I'm all for using the best exercise to get the best results, I've been doing my research and the Stronglifts guy recommends this technique - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQBSRBgRLVI

It seems very much like a Pendlay Row - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oMY2lQYQSE

I've also seen quite a few guys in the gym doing this exercise with a reverse grip.

Just wanted to get advice on what you guys do and what you find works best.

Thanks

 

[shaggs]

Stronglifts uses the pendlay row.

Like you say the Yates row allows bigger weight but for me and the anatomy of my back the pendlay hits more muscles harder. Although I was up to about 65kg for 5x5 when I stopped SL. At 80kg bw.

Different strokes for different folks.

As for grip, it doesn't hurt to alternate each week, but the pendlqy row is the mirror/opposite of the bench. Primates grip is best for me. It helps with my bench, because I think about my back whilst doing it.

 

[shaggs]

Sorry pronated grip.

 

[abpanther]

Thanks for the feedback, I somehow overlooked this when I started Stronglifts in January and as a result have been doing the Barbell Row the Yates way ever since. I started to wonder about it when I hit 90kg on 5x5 with my Barbell Rows and still wasn't failing.

Okay I'm gonna switch to Pendlay Rows now, they seem better and stricter. I'll drop to 60kg or so and go from there

Thanks

 

[Cliffhanger]

Honestly, there is nothing wrong with alternating between both in different sessions. The less different workouts you do, the more often you need to change up your training program.

 

[Pete Cash]

I rotate some stuff from day to day.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

I have switched to swimming. I feel as though I get a better delt, ant delt, tri, lat, pec and core workout then lifting weights for these muscle groups.

When I get out of the pool I have a lot more 'pump' in the muscles and a lot more fatigue then just lifting.

Its not going to make me huge but I will still get significant strength gains out of it.

 

[shaggs]

How long have you been swimming for??

I don't believe the pump will last for long as you develop your pool fitness. I did some weights with a group of swimmers, as part of a cross training exercise to get them out of their routine. For their size and muscular development they were significantly weaker than I and the other trainers expected.

This group included some Olympic swimmers too.

I also believe that swimming might give you a soft look. Strong lean flexible muscles.

Magnussen got his physique from the gym not the pool. He would spend hours doing swim specific weights to build his explosiveness.

It is good as part of balanced and ever changing program.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

How long have you been swimming for??

I don't believe the pump will last for long as you develop your pool fitness. I did some weights with a group of swimmers, as part of a cross training exercise to get them out of their routine. For their size and muscular development they were significantly weaker than I and the other trainers expected.

This group included some Olympic swimmers too.

I also believe that swimming might give you a soft look. Strong lean flexible muscles.

Magnussen got his physique from the gym not the pool. He would spend hours doing swim specific weights to build his explosiveness.

It is good as part of balanced and ever changing program.

I only swim once a week. Been swimming on and off for a few years. Generally will probably swim 4 months a year, to complement cardio routines. I do spartacus once a week, google it if your not sure of it, which is pretty much the only resistance work I am doing atm. I am over weights, hit plateaus every time, get bored, need to change it up.

 

[Joker's Wild]

If youre getting bored CH, maybe give CrossFit a try

Minimal equipment needed and different workouts may just be up your alley. Wont make you huge though if size is what youre after

 

[shaggs]

That sounds good jw. One if my mates spent years working his arse off lifting weights for not much result. I saw him for the first time in 12 months and the difference was huge. He joined a crossfit gym and loves it. Saud he has never felt fitter or stronger.