Strength / Weight Training

That's what I do 2/3 times a week - it can make things easier and allow you to get in a session where you wouldn't be able to otherwise

Things i am not looking forward to .... starting back on the weights after 10 week break due to injury and illness. I may delay the start for another few days because of work and then, i suspect, i will have no excuses left!

Richard

Re: gym and cycling. I don't think it's possible to get to the gym more than once or twice a week if you're really putting in the miles or doing specific training. I've been on one session a week for a year now. Bench is stuck but still mkae progress on squats etc when I go through a build cycle. I pretty much just do what my coach tells me to though. Left to my own devices I would probably do 2x a week.

@Tenderloin get yourself up to 100kg squat - big psychological milestone. I went very quickly from 100 to 120-130kg, whereas I had struggled to get from 80-100kg initially.

Well, ive cancelled the gym for the forseeable as i dont see myself putting the dedication in like i had in the beginning. I progressed quite quickly so happy with. I want to focus on cycling bit more. Although i pay a low rate for a 24hrs no thrills gym i would like to make the most it really

I'm doing SS atm, with front squats instead of back squats, because of lack of shoulder mobility. I'm really struggling with form on the front squats and end up leaning forwards and lifting with my lower back. I guess it's partly because of my height, as I'm quite tall. The Internet seems to agree.
Which exercise would you do instead of these squats? Some sort of dumbell squat?

I guess there's no safety squat bar? It's a bar with handles in front, it keeps you upright more easily and doesn't load shoulders (and makes you feel good technique, I always have to be careful to not lean forward too)

DB squats work, goblet kettle-bell squats are good too, if your gym has kettle-bells.

You hold the bell by the horns in front of you and squat.

It's at my work, so no powercage, no safety squat bar, no kettlebells and only plates for around 80kgs. Maybe I should join a real gym, but the convenience of working out straight after work...

Depends on your goals really, perhaps you can reach what you need with dumbbells.

Always better to have something that's so-so but go, instead of a perfect gym and not go :)

Stick with the front squats but try squatting with a raised heel either weightlifting shoes or metal 2.5 kg plates under your heels . This will allow you to squat deeper through increased ankle mobility and also to maintain a more upright chest position . A front squat requires more conrol through your abs and mobility in the upper thoracic so you should stick with at as you will lean forward even more in a regular squat effectively turning the movement into a good morning . Look up some squat mobility drills on Youtube, Kelly Starretts channel has lots of good information but to get you started try this simple drill -

https://youtu.be/CjeZkpeiNPw

Yeah, I've tried with plates under my heels. Helped a bit. My mobility is quite good, but my core strength is probably lacking.

@JWestland: Goal is just general fitness. I'm not looking for the 1/2/3/4 plate lifts (yet).

Getting the creatine in me, had a really good cycle home yesterday but that could be coincidence ;)

Deadlifting 160 KG last Saturday on a deadlift only, done it x3 now at a comp so time to chase the 165 me thinks :) Didn't have a good runup, OU exams and so on.

BCAA work well for me, if you feel you want a boost during training that's not caffeine related give them a try.

Im going to give creatine a go again.

Not powder.... Not mono..

Any suggestions?

Yeah, I've started adding some bcaa to my drink before gym - still not sure if it's a total placebo

I noticed it worked for me when I cut my calories...perhaps if you eat plenty the effect is lessened?

What's wrong with the powder?

A big steak every day would work too ;)

I joined a new gym after a year off (had to pay for stuff so gym fees were a luxury)

Thought fuck doing SS again basically due to the cleans and my inability to do them properly.

Adopted 531 with the BbB template. I'm even weakerer than I was last time plus fatterer so I'm not bothering dieting, just lift and eat.

dapthechap RE: Starting Strength I've hit the point where I'll have to
increment by 1.25's on the presses Bench - 50 Clean - 55 (Still slow
on getting the elbows up) Press - 40 (Still 5kg increments
here...possibly) Squat - 75 Dead - 95

I've added 10 minutes to my commute now because my legs are
knackered...can't win

I have a big steak everyday anyway...

I always over do it on mono powder. 1g turns into 2g... Then my tummy turns

So i would prefer of a pill of non-mono

I always over do it on powder. 1g turns into 2g... Then my tummy turns

totally

I dissolve it in warm water, the brand I use is myprotein and I take 5 grams, so far so good.

There's no proof non monohydrate is any better absorbable than the standard mono creatine but: http://www.myprotein.com/sports-nutrition/cee/10530403.html exists

Hunt for online discount codes with myprotein I always find one to knock some £££ off.

Creatine in steak form however will always taste many many times nicer... :):)

The cows may disagree!

HCL & Magnesium Creatine Chelate?

I've only tried 1 tub, though found it difficult to tell how effective it was...but I find the same with monohydrate (maybe more to do with my recovery/lack of though) A couple of people I know are convinced.

ive just ordered: PhD Nutrition Beta Alanine & L-Histidine Supplement, Creapure Creatine, L-Glutamine and BCAA's

Not sure which will work.

chrome extension called 'honey' works for me on myprotein to get a decent discount code

huh?

Creapure is monohydrate though?