The General Fitness Thread!

[Joanne]

I <3 badminton, but never play it because it costs pennies....

[pcstru]

Anyone on here a dab hand at badminton?

I play - don't know about dab hand, but I play most weeks and have been doing so for the last 6-8 years. Unfortunately I started Tennis a few years ago and neither game is good for the other.

[hardtailstar]

Seems silly but I started swapping out drinks for just water and drinking about 3 litres of the stuff during the day.

 

I lost 5lbs in my first week.

 

Just need to exercise properly now!

Edited June 6, 2016 by hardtailstar

[Patrick]

Unlucky, there's always going to be one loser. As long as you've learned(?) something from it, you haven't truly lost... ( Just call me Gandhi.)

 

I have learned something from it, so thats ok. I'm training tonight so getting right back at it.

[MrMat]

Finally got around to ordering some of these:

 

 

I'll be finding out how they feel this afternoon

[Arreks]

Finally got around to ordering some of these:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]37170[/ATTACH]

 

I'll be finding out how they feel this afternoon

 

I have absolutely no idea what those are or what they're used for

[MrMat]

I have absolutely no idea what those are or what they're used for

 

Haha, knee wraps!

 

Wrap them tightly around your knees during heavy lifts. They give support to your knees which helps to reduce the chances of injury etc and can actually help you lift more (due to their elasticity).

 

My plan is to only use them when I hit about 85-90% of my max weight on squats and leg press. Then i'll wrap allowing me to either go heavier, or just get more reps out of the weight. It should help me get used to being under heavier loads and, eventually, should help me get stronger.

Edited June 7, 2016 by MrMat

[unixman_again]

It's good to see you're going to use the wraps correctly. I've seen several who put them on at the start of the gym session and leave them on to the end! Same with their weight belt. I saw a bloke the other day, with his belt on backwards!

 

Personally, I don't use anything for lifting - I've never felt the need, even when I used to squat with body weight on the bar.

 

If I'm lifting in my shed and it's cold (when you can see your breath) I'll wear gloves to keep the hands warm. I don't like to wear gloves - I like to feel the bar in my hands and I can't with gloves. A couple of months ago, I found the perfect full finger gloves. https://harbingerfitness.com/product/X3_Competition_Full_Finger_WristWrap_Gloves They are very thin leather and the wide wrist wrap keeps them in place. Other full finger gloves I've tried have only narrow velcro at the wrist and move about. I got them from Newitts but they aren't listing them any more. My only gripe is they show the dirt very quickly.

[Patrick]

I wear belt for deads, squats and OHP. I know OHP sounds a bit odd but it gives me som extra support at the lower back as it is a bit prone to injury. I fancy getting some liquid chalk though! Anyone use it?

[MrMat]

Agreed! There are so many people that don't seem to understand how to use lifting equipment such as straps, belts, wraps etc. With all the resources that are available these days, there's really no excuse in using your equipment incorrectly.

 

My biggest pet hate is lifting belts. It seems that most people either don't know or simply misunderstand the point of belts. I use (and love) a lifting belt but again only when I start getting into the upper reaches of what I can lift. Firstly they don't actually provide very much support to your spine at all, they don't 'hold you' in and they don't help you lift more weight unless used properly. They are designed to help you create and maintain abdominal pressure by giving you something to push against. Engaging your 'core' by creating abdominal pressure will make your stronger throughout the lift and strengthen the muscles that support your spine. If you can comfortably wear your belt for your entire workout then it's not tight enough and is more than likely doing nothing at all.

 

Agree about the gloves too. I used to wear them, mainly because I saw everyone else wearing them so thought they were needed. Nowadays I never wear them, my hands have toughened up so they never really hurt and if I need extra grip i'll just use chalk. The only real downside is that my hands are mess of caluses etc but I have no plans to become a hand model so I can live with that!

 

I wear belt for deads, squats and OHP. I know OHP sounds a bit odd but it gives me som extra support at the lower back as it is a bit prone to injury. I fancy getting some liquid chalk though! Anyone use it?

 

I'm the same. Belt for deads, squats and overhead.

 

Yup I use liquid chalk. It makes a mess if you touch stuff before it dries and it can really dry out your hands BUT it's great. It's improved my grip strength loads as I don't need strap when pulling heavy.

Edited June 7, 2016 by MrMat

[Patrick]

My grip strength is the first to fail when it comes to my deadlift. Is it worth a shot?

[MrMat]

My grip strength is the first to fail when it comes to my deadlift. Is it worth a shot?

 

Yeah definitely. For me, it made a massive difference. Some guys i train with didn't notice quite the same difference (maybe i'm sweatier, i dunno) but for the couple of quid it costs, it's certainly worth a shot.

[Patrick]

Yeah, i buy all my stuff from myprotein, putting an order in soon so might get some. Never bought from anyone else, what powders do you use?

[MrMat]

Yeah, i buy all my stuff from myprotein, putting an order in soon so might get some. Never bought from anyone else, what powders do you use?

 

I've been using Huel for a few months but ran out recently so back to cheap whey protein which i get from Bulk Powders (chocolate cookie nom nom).

 

Currently i just use their standard whey which i mix with milled oats, makes a nice easy shake with carbs and proteins.

 

To be honest though, there's not much difference between the brands these days really. My mate uses MyProtein and there's no real difference in price or quality.

 

The only other supplement i use is a decent pre-workout but i like to try different ones. I've currently got ProSupps Hyde which is strong as hell lol, it's 400mg caffeine per serving so certainly wakes you up. I've tried loads of different ones like NoExplode, MyProtein, Bulk Powers (they do about 3 different ones), Mutant Mayhem etc.

[Patrick]

Never tried pre-workout, i train at night, so I don't want to be up hoovering the house at 3:55AM. Does it keep you hyper for long?

[MrMat]

Never tried pre-workout, i train at night, so I don't want to be up hoovering the house at 3:55AM. Does it keep you hyper for long?

 

Yeah it can do. Generally the only really stimulants in them is caffeine so it really depends on your caffeine tolerance really. You drink much coffee?

 

If i train later, like 8 or so, i don't have any because i won't sleep but then again, i'll struggle to sleep if i have a cup of tea too late in the day.

 

I like them, they're great for a kick up the arse however, the downside to that is it becomes harder to train without it.

[Patrick]

yeah even tea affects my sleep too, probably give it a miss. My sleep is poor at the moment anyway. Gonna try that ZMA from bulk powders, Supposed to do wonders for your sleep.

[MrMat]

Yeahh maybe give them a miss for now then

[MrMat]

It's all gone quiet over here!

 

How's everyone getting on?

[unixman_again]

Tried a new exercise last night - one arm barbell curls. I didn't use an olympic bar, rather a light bar with 10kgs on it. My wrists are feeling it this morning (which is what the exercise is supposed to target).

[Patrick]

It's all gone quiet over here!

 

How's everyone getting on?

 

Coming off my first loss in MMA i watched the fight video back and identified my issues. A few classes into brazilian jiu jitsu and i feel like a different fighter at my new gym. Taking the loss and becoming better for it!

[MrMat]

Tried a new exercise last night - one arm barbell curls. I didn't use an olympic bar, rather a light bar with 10kgs on it. My wrists are feeling it this morning (which is what the exercise is supposed to target).

 

That sounds interesting. Is it not really hard to keep it balanced? Interested but doubt i'd be able to do it, broke my left wrist few years back playing rugby so now don't have full mobility (was a good break though, pics available on request! lol)

 

Coming off my first loss in MMA i watched the fight video back and identified my issues. A few classes into brazilian jiu jitsu and i feel like a different fighter at my new gym. Taking the loss and becoming better for it!

 

Onwards and upwards dude! Glad to hear you've come back from it. The next ones all yours!

[unixman_again]

Yes, one handed barbell curls are hard to keep balanced. I guess, the more you do them, the stronger the wrist gets and the easier the balance becomes, at which point you chuck on more weight.

[Joanne]

I'm back on my fitness pal to track my eating. I've had 3 days in a row where I am well over my steps and the 1hr of activity time Google Fit is telling me I need to do. So the robot uprising begins!

[MrMat]

I'm back on my fitness pal to track my eating. I've had 3 days in a row where I am well over my steps and the 1hr of activity time Google Fit is telling me I need to do. So the robot uprising begins!

 

Wahey!