For BG fitness fanatics, a question..

[Headspace]

But I like doing abs

[Atreides]

squats and deadlifts hit your abs hard enough, don't change the plan before you even start it lol

[Headspace]

That bitch rippetoe recommends to drink a gallon of milk a day.

There's not enough time in the day for me to go through a gallon.

[Sanoske]

Hmm, I'm looking at the SS routine, and it's pretty different than what I'm doing now. Would it be worth trying out this routine? I've never done deadlifts or squats really (I've tried squats but can't get the balance or form right), and frankly hesitant to try them out as I'm afraid I'll screw the form and and injure myself.

I also probably cna't do the recommended chin ups or dips, so would it be worth it or continuing what I've been doing with more iso shit?

Stop almost all iso, start doing compound movements. What do you consider iso?

I never used to to do squats or deadlifts, and I was fine... but I've started doing them within the past month because really theyre two of the key lifts. If you have trouble squatting, just do the bar until you get the form right and then start adding weights. (Also, dont wear any kind of shoe with a thick sole, which is basically all athletic shoes. On my legs/squat day I go in Chucks, although I know people who barefoot it.) Squats are MUCH easier for me to get form than DL, I can't get the DL form right for beans.

If you're a beginner and unsure, do SS or Stronglifts 5x5 for a while.

EDIT: Beaten to it.

[Atreides]

I'm the opposite way actually, for me Deadlifts are somewhat self-correcting but my Squat form really suffers from my poor hamstring flexibility, especially at low weights. As soon as the bar starts get heavy during my warmup sets my form kinda gets forced into place, but I seem to have a much easier time with deadlifts.

And yeah, you shouldnt be squatting/deadlifting in sneakers. If you're balancing 300+ lbs on your spine the last thing you want to do is stand on top of a bubble of air.

[richardd]

deadlifts and squats make my abs fucking scream in pain. dont you love it? i feel it more from my stomach than i do anywhere else

[archibaldcrane]

deadlifts and squats make my abs fucking scream in pain. dont you love it? i feel it more from my stomach than i do anywhere else

wut
I never feel either exercise in my abs
but then again the vaunted ab ripper x never did anything to me but make my groin sore

[Headspace]

just do the bar until you get the form right and then start adding weights.

The bar is hard enough.

[richardd]

wut
I never feel either exercise in my abs
but then again the vaunted ab ripper x never did anything to me but make my groin sore

i never did that lol, but my ab exercises are poor. i do leg lifts like 4-5x a week but only in sets of 40. squats/deadlifts are what i do to make up for it. i use my stomach to pivot me up and my legs to balance whenever im deadlifting and it hurts like motherfucker

[Weiing]

@Darlantan RE: cardio- You really don't need to do an hour of cardio... and it's not 'laughable' when trying to lose some fat. However, have you looked into HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)? That will conserve more muscle while also burning fat. You may not be able to sprint fast at the start, but just do something like running for 30sec-1 minute and then walking/jogging for another 1-2 minutes is just as good. Then you can slowly build up to sprints, perhaps. Just make sure you are eating right...as losing fat is mainly about your diet. But stick to something you can do, and enjoy doing. Walking is great! I just went on a 3 hour hike today and will do some HIIT tomorrow. (This is my week off lifting...sad panda)

Perhaps these may help:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/chronic-cardio-2/
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/case-against-cardio/

PS
HOWEVER, if you enjoy cardio and it's what gets you moving, then do it. But if you feel you are really dragging yourself to do it...you don't HAVE TO!

************

@ the squat/deadlift discussion-- ease into squats/deadlifts if you must! These ARE key workouts. You will learn to stabilize. I think for me--my squat form is better than my deadlifts. And I love doing squats in my Vibrams. :D

[richardd]

wei is right. i did the HIIT tonight and im fucking loving it. def gonna incorporate that more, especially since im burning less muscle and getting rid of more fat now

@ the lifts and squats? im with atrei' on this one. my deadlifts > my squats, but thats just me. everyone's body is different

[Zoolander]

Been frustrating for me lately, on my Back/Biceps day I have to stop or lower the weight because my hands can't grip the weight anymore lol - notably on Deadlifts and Shrugs. I guess maybe its just from certain muscles getting stronger at a faster pace than my forearms? Is this normal, doesn't seem like there is much I can do about it. I finally like doing deadlifts now and my form is great throughout the motion and now I gotta chill out with adding weight :/

[Weiing]

Yeah. I notice a lot of why I can't progress is my lack of forearm strength/grip strength... thinking I may have to build on those, too. Any way to remedy??????? I'm stuck doing 30lb dumbbell lunges at most.... and ~110 lbs deadlifts...because of grip.

[richardd]

Yeah. I notice a lot of why I can't progress is my lack of forearm strength/grip strength... thinking I may have to build on those, too. Anyway to remedy??????? I'm stuck doing 30lb dumbbell lunges at most.... and ~110 lbs deadlifts...because of grip.

im proud of you ab girl, keep it up

[richardd]

Been frustrating for me lately, on my Back/Biceps day I have to stop or lower the weight because my hands can't grip the weight anymore lol - notably on Deadlifts and Shrugs. I guess maybe its just from certain muscles getting stronger at a faster pace than my forearms? Is this normal, doesn't seem like there is much I can do about it. I finally like doing deadlifts now and my form is great throughout the motion and now I gotta chill out with adding weight :/

you too man, keep at it

[Atreides]

Been frustrating for me lately, on my Back/Biceps day I have to stop or lower the weight because my hands can't grip the weight anymore lol - notably on Deadlifts and Shrugs. I guess maybe its just from certain muscles getting stronger at a faster pace than my forearms? Is this normal, doesn't seem like there is much I can do about it. I finally like doing deadlifts now and my form is great throughout the motion and now I gotta chill out with adding weight :/

What is your back/bicep routine like? If your deadlift progress is that important, why not just switch them to do your deadlifts first?

also, did you start have deadlift grip problems when you got closer to 200 lbs? A lot of people have issues with grip when the weight starts to get heavy, solution is usually to use an alternating grip. You can use an underhand grip for shrugs too I guess. I can hardly hold the bar past 200 lbs if I'm not using an alternating grip lol

[archibaldcrane]

Been frustrating for me lately, on my Back/Biceps day I have to stop or lower the weight because my hands can't grip the weight anymore lol - notably on Deadlifts and Shrugs.

Wrist straps. Get them.
http://www.musclehack.com/wp-content...ist-straps.jpg
and yeah, I use alternating grip on my deadlifts.

[Weiing]

Wrist straps really worth it? I use mixed/alternating grip, too. I feel like a cheater using it but the only way.

[archibaldcrane]

Wrist straps really worth it?

If you can only hold 30 lb weights for lunges, yes.

[Atreides]

chalk can help a lot too

straps can be helpful but if you're a novice/beginner they'll probably do you a disservice in the long run, since grip develops very quickly and having a strong grip is essential for virtually every exercise, straps let you rely on something other than your hands alone to hold the bar so it won't happen as quickly or at all.