[mpimping]

Originally Posted by Taittinger

The general guidelines is around the 20 minute mark, the body switches to the aerobic state, burning fat stored in cells for energy. I would shoot for a pace that keeps your heart rate up for at least 30 minutes and try to extend eventually for 40-45 min.

for bulking or cutting? what is the minimum, 20?

[mpimping]

Originally Posted by BMWE90

If you can bench your own weight then you're pretty damn strong.

I heard that too but only if you never lifted weights. If you can curl your body weight you are strong.

[Taittinger]

Originally Posted by mpimping

for bulking or cutting? what is the minimum, 20?

Not sure what you mean here. It is just a physiological effect. As far as bulking or cutting, unless you plan on competing, there is no reason why you cannot accomplish both at the same time. Just lift heavy and cut down on fats and carbs.

[Taittinger]

Originally Posted by mpimping

I heard that too but only if you never lifted weights. If you can curl your body weight you are strong.

I have seen some heavy curling but never seen body weight curling.

[inabis]

so what are your routines like? I'm trying to cut down on weight so I'm either running for 30 min or on the elliptical trainer for 30 min. Then it's usually a 8 exercise in a half hour/45 min circuit rotation. I dunno why but I can do more time on the elliptical trainer and not be half as tired if I did the same on the treadmill. Elliptical is kinda gay but it doesn't hurt my knees as much...guess its b/c the treadmill forces me to keep a certain pace? I try to keep my RPM within a certain range...maybe I need to up it by 10

[Taittinger]

Originally Posted by inabis

so what are your routines like? I'm trying to cut down on weight so I'm either running for 30 min or on the elliptical trainer for 30 min. Then it's usually a 8 exercise in a half hour/45 min circuit rotation. I dunno why but I can do more time on the elliptical trainer and not be half as tired if I did the same on the treadmill. Elliptical is kinda gay but it doesn't hurt my knees as much...guess its b/c the treadmill forces me to keep a certain pace? I try to keep my RPM within a certain range...maybe I need to up it by 10

My guess is that the elliptical does not work your leg and shoulder muscles out as much as the treadmill as there is no impact for your muscles to absorb.

[phantom330]

Originally Posted by Taittinger

I have seen some heavy curling but never seen body weight curling.

+1........if I could curl my weight I'd need to start competing. I think you might mean bench your own weight, not that it's hard to do.

[txusa03]

if you do pull ups, is that not a form of curl your own weight?

[Taittinger]

Originally Posted by txusa03

if you do pull ups, is that not a form of curl your own weight?

Pullups engage the muscles in the back much more than the biceps.

[i_go_to_rutgers]

Originally Posted by Taittinger

Pullups engage the muscles in the back much more than the biceps.

it all depends on the way you hold the bars as well.

also as you mentioned before, i have yet to meet a human being that curled his own body weight. i can bench press over 200lbs but i only curl 40 pounders..lol

to the people that are interested in losing weight:
most will disagree with me but i would stay away from cardio and do strictly weight lifting. what's the point of losing that weight and just looking skinny or average? to me, it seems more functional to lose weight while building muscle. my friend from work didn't believe me on this so i put him on my routine for a week and he lost 3 pounds. sure, it doesn't sound like much but it's still 3 pounds (it wasn't water weight either because he drinks tons of water daily).

keep in mind that what you look like is 90% diet and only 10% exercise. if you eat crap you will look like crap (no offense). so my theory makes sense about strictly weight lifting....if you eat "clean" and lift weights you will look good in no time whether you are skinny or overweight.

another advice to people that are thinking about working out. do your research because as soon as you tell someone you are going to the gym they will try to tell you what to do. be careful who you listen to, especially since most people do not work out. just the other day the fattest guy in the office was trying to give me advice on which exercises i should be doing......did he really think i was going to do what he told me? i was only listening to him to be nice.

i'll quote my routine again in case anybody wants to start some of the exercises.

another advice: stay off machines and do majority free weights. some of the biggest bodybuilders from the 50s and 60s only lifted huge weights since they didn't have machines back then.

books: if you want to follow a routine from the best in the industry try this book by Rippetoe: "Starting Strength". He teaches you only 5 exercises in great detail (about 50-100 pages on each exercise...squats, deadlifts, bench press, the press and cleans).

i know i'm all over the place but just to reiterate...be careful who you listen to and make sure to be consistant with the gym.


GOOD LUCK

Originally Posted by i_go_to_rutgers

My friend is usually on this forum so he sent me a link to here.

I started working out in May 2007 so it has been about 7 months straight. I'm a hard gainer so it takes a lot of work and dedication for me to grow a little bit of muscle.

Here are two pics I snapped while in the gym for 2 weeks. The other pics were taken today (not my rooms...both of them)

I still have a ton of work to do but what do you expect after only 7 months right? I can't wait to see what I look like once the summer gets here...

Here is my workout schedule.

Day 1:
Squats 3x5
Bench Press 5x5
Incline Dumbell Press 3x8
Dips 3 sets until failure
Tricep Pulldown Machine Using Rope 3x8
Tricep Pulldown Machine using Metal Triangle 3x8

Day 2:
Deadlifts 5x5
Rows 3x8
Lat pulldown 3x8
Pullups 3 sets until failure
Hammer Curls 3x8
Barbell Cursl 3x8

Day 3: OFF

Day 4:
Squats 3x8
Press using olympic bar 5x5
Shrugs 3x8
Pullups 3 sets until failure

Day 5: OFF

Repeat cycle





TODAY:

[inabis]

ok this is going to sound stupid as hell but I really want to see my bicep veins. When I first started I thought that if I just did a lot of curls this would be the answer but I know now this is wrong. It basically comes down to body fat % right?? That's what I think now but it seems that some ppl who are heavily overweight still have theirs sticking out...so im still kinda confused

the thing that pisses me off is that I can put on weight/muscle kinda easily but losing my gut is f'in impossible regardless of how healthy I eat

[Taittinger]

Originally Posted by inabis

ok this is going to sound stupid as hell but I really want to see my bicep veins. When I first started I thought that if I just did a lot of curls this would be the answer but I know now this is wrong. It basically comes down to body fat % right?? That's what I think now but it seems that some ppl who are heavily overweight still have theirs sticking out...so im still kinda confused

the thing that pisses me off is that I can put on weight/muscle kinda easily but losing my gut is f'in impossible regardless of how healthy I eat

Genetics plays a huge role, larger than diet or exercise.

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by inabis

ok this is going to sound stupid as hell but I really want to see my bicep veins. When I first started I thought that if I just did a lot of curls this would be the answer but I know now this is wrong. It basically comes down to body fat % right?? That's what I think now but it seems that some ppl who are heavily overweight still have theirs sticking out...so im still kinda confused

the thing that pisses me off is that I can put on weight/muscle kinda easily but losing my gut is f'in impossible regardless of how healthy I eat

I'm right there with you on the weight thing. I can just look at a squat rack, and my quads grow a 1/4 inch. After my shoulder rehab I brought my bench back from 11 reps at 225 to 24 reps at 225 in 3 mos, adding almost an inch to my chest. Granted I was just getting back to where I had been, but I gain weight easily - muscle and fat. I believe that body type is called a Mesomorph.

Eating healthy is important with any body type, but a Meso will need a little more cardio to lose the fat. Try to get 30-40 min 5 days/ week, keeping your heart rate up btwn 130-150, depending on age. That's my routine when I need to cut weight (like now) and it works. Problem is I just hate cardio. The other thing about the veins - a lot of it is genetic.

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by i_go_to_rutgers

...also as you mentioned before, i have yet to meet a human being that curled his own body weight. ...

I know one. But it took him a shitload of HGH and winstrol to do it!

[phantom330]

Originally Posted by inabis

ok this is going to sound stupid as hell but I really want to see my bicep veins. When I first started I thought that if I just did a lot of curls this would be the answer but I know now this is wrong. It basically comes down to body fat % right?? That's what I think now but it seems that some ppl who are heavily overweight still have theirs sticking out...so im still kinda confused

the thing that pisses me off is that I can put on weight/muscle kinda easily but losing my gut is f'in impossible regardless of how healthy I eat

if you want to see your veins you need less body fat. I can see mine in my biceps when I'm on a strict diet, but if I let loose for a little bit I see them go away slowly. I know what you mean though, I like the lines down the bicep too, usually seeing the viens is signs of low body fat %.

[Taittinger]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

After my shoulder rehab I brought my bench back from 11 reps at 225 to 24 reps at 225 in 3 mos, adding almost an inch to my chest.

Nice

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by phantom330

if you want to see your veins you need less body fat. I can see mine in my biceps when I'm on a strict diet, but if I let loose for a little bit I see them go away slowly. I know what you mean though, I like the lines down the bicep too, usually seeing the viens is signs of low body fat %.

All true, but different people will have better / worse results. It is largely genetic, but what you said will give the best results.

[inabis]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

Try to get 30-40 min 5 days/ week, keeping your heart rate up btwn 130-150, depending on age.

I usually aim for and am aroung 170ish. I'm 24 so I think that where it's supposed to be

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by inabis

I usually aim for and am aroung 170ish. I'm 24 so I think that where it's supposed to be

yeah, but you want it a bit lower for better fat burning.

[inabis]

do you guys take any supplements or protein power or anything?? BTW i_go_to_rutgers what's your diet like?

I'm indian as as you can tell my ppl have always had guts....shit when it comes to genetics man I know for a fact I am screwed

[i_go_to_rutgers]

Originally Posted by inabis

do you guys take any supplements or protein power or anything?? BTW i_go_to_rutgers what's your diet like?

I'm indian as as you can tell my ppl have always had guts....shit when it comes to genetics man I know for a fact I am screwed

I take protein, glutamine and a multivitamin every single day. Well, the protein I try to consume at least twice a day. If you don't get enough of protein then your muscles will not grow no matter how many hours you spend at the gym.

DIET:
My biggest gains have come recently when I cleaned up my diet ALOT. The key is to aim for 5-8 meals a day and the whole traditional breakfast, lunch, dinner routine should be dropped.

I posted a list somewhere in this thread that shows most of the things that I consume....it's pretty long. Those are considered "clean" foods.

[mpimping]

I meanyt when bulking what is the minimum cardio u r supposed to do. How long does muscle memory last for?