I agree with the form being the most important. In fact, today I saw some fool trying to curl about 45 pounds in each arm, and on each lift he would use his legs, arch his back, and then after grunting and moaning finally get the weight up. I considered telling him that was a nice back workout, but decided against it.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AP1:
[B]Sorry guys I've another stupid question to ask.

 

Something else I forgot to mention. Use free weights as much as possible, even at the expense of dropping weight. They force you to control the weight instead of the machine. Also, do squats. Most bodybuilders don't care for them, but they are a necessary excercise to build the back and legs. Remember, only enough weight to control it.
Sex: HMMMM. Does sex increase or decrease the testosterone levels? Can't hurt to practice though. Right! Like everything else, you just improve every time.

 

wirejock, I agree about the squats and leg workout, but to anyone out there - be careful! Remember, you are putting a lot of stress on your spine, and you only have one of them.

After being in a car accident many years ago, I fractured the SI joint in my pelvis so it whacked my back out of shape. After going through rehab for so many years that did very little for me, I finally went to a chiropracter two years ago (coming up on December 10th that is, yes I remember the date) - all I gotta say is, I swear by them (or at least mine in particular). Since then, I've been able to actually give workouts and running everything I've got. Squats I'm still a little iffy on, so I only get around to them once every other week, but still, be careful - you can damage disks if you aren't careful.

If you want to be careful, and you dont have a workout partner, then ask to work in a set with someone else. Most of the time people dont mind - because with a spotter people will be more inclined to push themselves.

 

Also, staying flexible is very important...make sure you stretch and warm up properly. Some muscleheads get so big they can't even scratch their own back.

As for working out the legs...I used to, until I hurt my back doing squats (yes I was wearing a belt). As an alternative, I run. It provides a decent workout for my legs and for the cardiovascular part of my workout too.

 

Sorry, I should have mentioned the obvious. The alternatives are lunges with dumbells or use a machine (smith machine or sled), but definately never try it without supervision. I actually use very light weight for bench press and squat. My rotator cuff was damaged by excessive bench press weight. I use less than my body weight. I'm too old to push it now. I never would have thought 42 would be too old. Recovery takes too long and I've noticed low weight is almost as effective if the mechanics are strict. It was pretty cool, long ago, when I could load up the barbell and see it bend. Those days are gone.
And yes, pump up your biceps really good then try and wash your hair. You can't reach the back. Remember: "you must burn to grow"
Rent "Stay Hungry" some time.

 

Interesting story, Schatten.

Another plug for chiropractic, from me. I've been going since summer of '99. I never disagreed with the practice, I just never went. My girlfriend is now in her fifth (of 10) trimester at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA. Two years to go. It's a Doctoral program, and she fully intends to open her own practice.

To me, once I started going, chiropractic always made sense. The whole philosophy is very simple: keep your body aligned, and it can handle the rest. People are WAY too dependent on drugs and MDs for everyday things. Got a headache? Take a pill. Got this, got that... take a pill.

WRONG WRONG WRONG.

Great, so you're wonderful at slapping Band-Aids on, but you'll never actually figure out what's causing your problem.

Pain symptoms are your body's way of telling you that's something is wrong. When a person tells you that they've fallen down skiing, do you say "oh, sorry" or do you help them up and teach them? Same principle, more or less.

Your spine controls everything. If it's pinched in one way or another, it can throw off any number of other things. You don't have to be in pain to be misaligned, though.
Chiropractic is an ongoing thing... a lifestyle. Not just something done to cure a headache (though it may do that), but something done constantly to help your body PREVENT headaches, not to mention other things.

Things like fevers? Your body induces fevers purposely because it knows that viruses can't survive hot temperatures. You go and take a fever reducer, and you've prolonged the virus. Now, understandably, if you're in pain uncontrollably, and it's really really bad, then yes, take medicine. But the point is that your body can handle 90% + of the common ailments if you give it a chance.

It can't do that as well, however, if it's all out of whack. So go see a chiropractor.

 

Right on Siper...I totally agree with you...

 

i'm been into bodybuilding for close to 6 years now. check out this site. http://hit.dozer.com/
IRC buddy.. he has plenty of info on bodybuilding on that site. my advise. read it all. I've noticed this biggest gains with hit style training. changing routines every 2 to 3 weeks puts the muscles in constant shock they never get use to the movements.. so you continue to grow.
at best i've been 175lbs at 5'11 6.1% bf benching 265lbs squating around 410lbs.

i'm entering my first competition this coming summer.. july 28th i think.

as far as diet.. depends on what you want. just email me work leave a message on here with what kind of results you want i'll put together a diet.

but here's some quick facts:

muscle doesn't turn into fat, just like dirt doesn't turn into water.

6 small meals a day as suppose to 3 big ones will speed up your metabolism. (regardless of age).. in fact look at this guy he's 65 yr old and he's all natural. He's in better shape then i've ever been.



oh and the best time to workout to burn fat is in the morning on an empty stomach. and you burn calories at an accelerated rate for up to 1hr after that until you eat.

 

Good info Insomniak, I totally agree. My best was about 8 years ago. I'm 5'6", 165 at the time. Bench 200, Squat 300. Nowhere near that now, but I'm considering moving to alternated morning workouts and evening bicycle. I really would like to get close to the old me. Takes alot of dedication.