Man Escorted From Gym For Grunting

[Bill Glasheen]

Its very hard to convince anyone who does this that they will get bigger arms by not specifically working their arms

The problem is, Bruise, that people don't understand what makes the body get big.

It's a lot like the days of "slimnastics" where women would try to "spot lose" fat on specific areas of their body by doing exercises for that area of the body. It doesn't matter how many sit-ups you do. You will lose weight first where your body decides it wants to lose weight (determined mostly by DNA).

Weight training isn't quite that extreme, but not far off it. In general - as you know - you get the best anabolic (growth) effect by shocking the body as much as possible. This means starting with and focusing on weight exercises which use the most possible number of muscles - at the same time.

My only addition or alteration to your list would be the classic Olympic lifts, to be done on days other than the strength training days. Those are less about strength and size, and more about power and neuromuscular reflexes. Power (as opposed to strength) is extremely important in activities from football to martial arts. Size and strength don't hurt, but must be thought of more as a base for power development.

- Bill

[MikeK]

You may be my guest at the AFFC gym any time you want - to do weights. Or machines. Or whatever.

Bill, I really appreciate that. Thanks.

I'm well aware of the "Y" gyms in the city. I visted several of them when I first moved to the area. The one in Twin Hickory is new, so wasn't in consideration.

You were better off. My friend Brian ran Thinh's school there and it was cheaper for him to finally get a storefront on Gayton.

Again... You need to be my guest some time in the weight and fitness areas. If you pick the right times, it's a great place to go. There's no reason to close any doors in life. Your networks and relationships are the most important things going for you.

- Bill

I better use more smilies when I post.
I didn't mean that I was turning my back on anybody or anything and I'm sorry if that was the impression. I hope that you know that you and Rich have my respect and consider you both to be great resources and good people.
For some reason I never cared much for the Pouncy Tract AFFC, but I did used to work out at the Brook Rd AFFC during lunch. Now I'm back at the Y as there's this gal that works out there that I think is pretty hot and I might even pick her up. Of course it's my wife but what the hey.

Once again Bill thanks for the very generous offer.

Mike

[Bruise* Lee]

My only addition or alteration to your list would be the classic Olympic lifts, to be done on days other than the strength training days. - Bill

Advice on more smilies applied to myself also

I would like to add Olympic lifts but these have caused frequent injuries in myself So I don't do them I wish I could but for safety's sake I just don't At my age one more injury and I would rival Evel KnEvil (sp?) Lower and slower is my motto

[Bill Glasheen]

Interesting, Bruise...

I didn't used to be able to do them myself - in my latter 20s. But over time it appears I have conditioned my body to them. Mind you I don't try to go for "lifetime maxes" anymore. Instead I focus on doing all the exercises with as good a form as possible.

But even with my right knee lacking a lateral meniscus (shock absorber) from surgery 32 years ago, my knees no longer get angry when I do power cleans, or cleans and jerks. Yes, I add things to my diet like anti-inflammatory omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids. I take glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM. I take a good multiple. And I listen to my body.

I used to think at 52 that I was the only old fart in the gym doing them. And I didn't finally "get" them until a few years ago. But then a few months ago I saw a fellow with more gray hair than yours truly doing snatches. He was f-ing amazing. The weight was moderate, but the fact he was doing it and his form was impeccable said it all.

Never say never, my friend. Periodize your workouts. Take rests in-between periods. And try something new each time you go back at it. Your body may one day change its mind.

I will say that you already tax the hell out of it with what you do. It can only take so much. So adding Olympic lifts necessarily means cutting back on something else. Food for thought...

Check out what the modern competitive athletes are doing. It was a college athlete working out from my gym who had picked his routine up from a Nebraska strength coach who changed the course of my training. These days they do some really interesting stuff when training for college and pro sports. It's no longer strictly the big three (squats, deadlifts, and bench).

- Bill

[Van Canna]

Periodize your workouts. Take rests in-between periods. And try something new each time you go back at it. Your body may one day change its mind.

Great piece of advise here Bill. I try this every time I workout at my gym.

Only a little something different makes a difference I can feel when I get back on the dojo floor.

[Bruise* Lee]

Interesting, Bruise...
Mind you I don't try to go for "lifetime maxes" anymore. Instead I focus on doing all the exercises with as good a form as possible.

Yes, I add things to my diet like anti-inflammatory omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids. I take glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM. I take a good multiple. And I listen to my body.

Never say never, my friend. Periodize your workouts. - Bill

I will NEVER do an Olympic lift again. It was power cleans when I was 23 that ruptured my L5/S1 disc. It was hanging cleans (with light weight - 25 LBS on each side) that ruptured a disc at my cervicothoracic junction about 3 years ago- there are still days I cannot pick my head up off my pillow in the morning with out literally using my hands to assist. Even if its just so that I never have to lay in one of those little MRI tubes again I will never Olympic lift - they do not build those little MRI tubes for anyone who eats meat or weighs over 200 LBS

I deadlifted 562 for 3 reps about 2 months ago, but I would never do a clean with even <100LBs again.

My work outs now follow alot of Pavels Tatsoulines ideas.

[Bill Glasheen]

Wow...

There's a good reason why a fellow as strong as you are has problems with Olympic lifts. But there's no way I can tell it from here. And obviously there's no point in going there if you have something that's working for you.

Olympic lifts require impeccable form. I've tried teaching them to a few people. I've had to stop several because (IMO) their form was putting them at risk for a ruptured disc. I figured I'd wait until they had done squats for a few more years and internalized good trunk posture.

In your case, it obviously happened the way I pictured it might with my students.

Again, go with what works.

My son wonders why I won't do alpine skiing. With no right lateral meniscus (knee) from football about 3 decades ago, I figure I don't want to tempt fate and mess up the life I live. And yet... I rode a motorcycle every day (EVERY day) for 2 years.

If we want to live a good life, we choose the ways we tempt fate ever so carefully.

- Bill