Strength / Weight Training

Put a bench behind you and if you can lift it just sit down on the smith machine or get someone to spot you

Also, why so many reps?

I'm really liking strong lifts.
Big numbers for me. I'm squatting half my body mass already. And benching just under half.

Unsure about my form though as I have to take my glasses off....

I reckon form is the biggest part of the battle. Lifting weight isn't difficult but getting good form doesn't feel like it comes naturally to me.

Form will always suffer as you lift towards your max weight or reps. Take some time to do a light workout, prop your phone somewhere and film all the angles and try to visualise what your body is doing and focus on any corrections. It's funny how just over 8 weeks I can slip into weird habits, I use deload weeks as a back to basics exercise.

Asking someone to watch you can help

I'm trying to lift lower weights for longer reps. Just build up a base level of strength. My legs are weak to say the least.

I'll try filming with my phone.

Haha, if the person watching knows anything at all about lifting #easygym4life

Yes I was going to add that caveat. But I generally find someone who knows what they're doing and ask them to check my form on max weight reps and they can tell you right away if something doesn't look right

My 2p.
Mark Rippetoe's book Starting Strength gives an amazing amount of guidance on form. He also has a load of vids on YouTube.

Michael Matthews book and website states that time under load makes no difference to strength so slow reps make no difference to strength improvement. (His info is based on studies which have been done)

I am still a newbie at this but I have a reasonable idea when my form is not right - StrongLifts gives a good basis to get is right if you do the warmups.

Richard

i need help/tips on form, my lower back just feels like its gonna snap all the time when attempting heavy squats or dealdlifts. ive had back problems in the past. leg presses are sound 10 reps on 136kg and heavy dumbbell/kettlebell lunges and stepups.

In other news I managed an 80kg squat for 5 reps. Things are looking up

what kind of back problems?

it is very super important to learn to brace your core properly. Lets you lift more with less risk of injury.
Also check hip/ankle mobility, or if you have buttwink in your squat.
Make sure you don't hyperextend in the squat. Pull your ribs down with your core, set your lats tight, and pull your hips under you (squeeze your glutes). Weight on the middle of your foot, feet slightly outside hip-width and when you come up push your knees out (try to separate the floor with your feet). This should keep you more upright and place less direct stress on your lower back.

Hmm, I may take you up on that. Could be just what I need.

I'll send you a PM :)

Went Body power this weekend. Decent day out met lots of big names including terry hollands, Benedikt Magnússon and bumped into Dan hardy which was cool as he had loads of time to talk to us he is a ufc fighter not many people seemed interested in him. Did a good talk on strength and conditioning though. Even met Purple aki which was more scary than anything else haha
picked up some wrist straps for my bad wrist as iv got low vitamin D and lifting can irritate my joints some time. Used them yesterday and they seemed to help make my wrist feel alot more stable.

Purple aki

WHAT?
I guess his ASBO about looking at muscles has passed.

Indeed it has lol there his is with his famous whsmith bag. My mate is quite big so akinwale didnt really look at me.

1 Attachment

Sold my power rack and weights last night. RIP garage gym. That is all.

So I have decided to cut weighted lunges from my program. Could never fucking do them properly and constantly worrying about my form just made it a chore.
Will I die from a lack of lunging?

You're the one looking cut in that photo... You sure you want to cut them if that's what they're creating?

I'm going to let you all in on a little secret... that's not me in that photo. Just thought I'd link to something so as to specify which exercise I was writing about.

Yeah, thats me in the photo.

Will I die from a lack of lunging?

No. Are you an athlete with a specific aim in mind?

http://www.livestrong.com/article/424147-benefits-of-dumbbell-lunges/

But in the picture she's using c kettle bells. Not dumbbells.fake Artie! BAd!

In other news:
Should I buy a bar for home, or should I use a gym? I've got 5 months away from work,where my gym is. I don't really like the idea of paying v 25 quid a month. I am liking the change in body shape I've achieved.