Snoopy

I've really fallen off the wagon this fall and winter as far as my eating habits and workouts go. However I've been on track for two weeks now (staying within my macros and not skipping workouts). But I've developed a problem in those two weeks...you know that thing that everyone blames on the dog? Yes, I get gas quite a bit now. And I'm fairly sure it can kill small animals. I'm talking nasty and rank. I feel terrible for my family! Has anyone experienced a dramatic shift like this when climbing back onto the wagon?

And a puppy burrito. Best pre-workout supplement on the market, I hear.

I was talking with some coworkers about post workout stretches, and one of them commented that stretching was very important because it "squeezes the fat out of your muscles so that you can then burn that fat off." Sounds like broscience to me.

I'm a fan of a bagel smothered in peanut butter and drizzled with honey. Delicious!

I use DOH until I hit 225, then switch to right over, left under. I'm working on using the hook grip for my heavy sets, though.

Could be flexibility/mobility issues. Google up DeFranco's Agile 8. Try this out daily (even on rest days, it is not taxing) for a week or so and you should feel a big difference in your ROM. Disclaimer: Dammit Jim, I'm a lifter, not a doctor!

Love reading things like this. Keep at it!

The same reason a puppy burrito sounds delicious.

Ok, so still haven't mastered (read: figured out at all) how to get these videos directly on the page...so I'm not sure if this will work. The first vid is of my last warm up set, which may become my new working weight after seeing the form on these lifts. So the first one has some sketchy bar path to it, but I'm not sure what else needs to be fixed. The second video has 10lbs more and garbage bar path. What else do you guys and gals see wrong here? Don't hold back, I can take it! Warm up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCg7swlV9yg Working weight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3jWaP9PHIY

I don't think it is malicious, but let's not fix what isn't broken. Granted, I like to throw in some farmer's walk action to my sessions, but these people are adding two movements to each workout. Seems excessive, doncha think?

Ugh, I get bombarded by Daily Burn ads everywhere! This gives me another reason to ignore them.

I'd like to start a discussion about using cardio as a post-workout recovery aid. Over the last week, I've been jumping rope for a few minutes after my lifting sessions to see what happens. I've found that I can stretch more easily and more fully when I do this. I don't feel so "crunchy" is a good way to describe it. Now, this is purely anecdotal, but I will continue to do what my body responds well to. What is everyone else's experience with this? I don't want to confine the discussion to just jumping rope. Sprints/sled drags/HIIT/walking, or whatever flavor of cardio you feel like commenting on is fair game. Discuss!

I honestly hope it all goes well for you... but this is exactly the way I felt when I jumped up on my weight, and it turned out bad. Hopefully history does not repeat itself! Keep up the hard work.

Here's hoping for quick healing and keeping a good attitude!

Wells, I can tell you from experience that adding weight is a mistake. I did exactly what you are describing. I threw 10 extra pounds on my squat for just a couple sessions, then went back to 5 lbs increments. (at least, this is was I am understanding as what you want to do) Things seemed to be going well until I hit about 200 on my squat. I had a sudden realization: I couldn't squat properly. That extra week or two that I skipped by adding weight? Pretty important for practicing technique. I had to drop my squat down to 120 lbs just to get to a spot where my form didn't look like an abomination. If I had just kept up with the program, I would be squatting heavier today, and with good form to boot. So, please DON'T DO IT.

And not from a lack of oxygen. I've had to de-load my squats by 40% to fix some technique issues. My bench press also had to be cut down about 30% for the same reason. This has made me think that I'm not progressing enough, I'm not doing my lifts good enough to even be able to make any changes in my fitness, and other generally self-destructive thoughts. But then... I was getting ready for bed and had one of those pesky mid-back itches that you just can't quite reach. I reached around my side to attack it, and I felt something. Something I have not felt since.... well ever. And it was not a disturbance in the Force. My lats! I could feel my lats sticking out! I got into bed, feeling quite a bit better about what I've been spending so much time and energy on. My wife came in, sat down and, completely unsolicited, proceeded to tell me how much of a difference she can see in my physical fitness. She can no longer grab around my arm and make her fingers touch, my belly is hard, and my legs look like (as my wife put it) "the freaking Hulk." It made me realize I haven't been wasting my time. I AM changing my life for the better. I AM getting stronger and looking better as a result. So I just want to give a big shout out to everyone that has helped me along. This is pretty much everyone on NF. There are so many inspiring stores and awesome advice, I'm not sure how I thought I could fail. Thanks again to everybody!

Wait, wearing a belt will make you stronger? What have I been doing with my life?!

I'm curious about this forced walking as well. If you can be coerced into walking, cannot your buddy be coerced into picking up heavy things?

I can make it to 5 reps without dropping the bar, but it feels pretty shady at the end. This is still DOH grip. I'm doing farmer walks (which, incidentally, are a freaking blast to complete) to work some more on my grip.

Well, I feel like a weakling! My deadlift is at 225lbs, and I can feel my grip weakening significantly by the fourth rep. Not sure if I can progress anymore with my grip strength where it is. Time to dial it back some, looks like.

Very helpful video series, Exorcisto. I deloaded my bench down to 95lbs and made a few adjustments based on the videos, as well as putting the bar lower in my hand. Glad to report no pain in the flexors this time around. Also, I could feel my everything activating (more than I have experienced before), so I believe I am making good changes. I'm definitely going to stay away from lifting heavy bench for awhile, and just work on form so this doesn't happen again.

Interesting, I'll have to check this series out. I do bench at least once a week. I mix things up between bench, deads, squats, farmer carries, pull ups, rows, and OHP.

This is a truth I've recently come to terms with, myself. Eat it. Eat all the food. When you're done, go out a buy more food and eat that. Brown rice and peanut butter (natural peanut butter, silly) have become my best friends in the last few weeks. I've started cooking with coconut oil, and I'm not too proud to say that I smash a Philly cheesesteak a couple times a month just because they're delicious. It was hard for me to introduce those kinds of foods into my diet because I was following Paleo, but I have conquered that hesitation and have ended up happier because of it.

Just so you know a little about me: I'm a 6ft male, 185lbs. Current working weights: squat 135lbs, bench 140lbs, deadlift 225lbs. The other day I was in the middle of my workout, warming up on bench press. At 115lbs, I experienced a surge of pain in my left forearm, right below the elbow (which I believe is the forearm flexor?). This ended up completely halting my workout, as I couldn't even row the bar after this without more pain and my left arm losing all strength for several moments afterward. This has happened almost every time I try to pick up anything with my left arm since. Picking up a grocery bag or backpack? Shooting pain in the same spot, followed by immediate loss of strength. The Doc has chalked it up to overtraining, which I feel is an overgeneralization as I only workout one hour a day, three days a week. I'm still taking a break to allow whatever has happened to un-happen, but I want to see if any of you other warriors have experienced anything similar in the past.

This has happened to me a few times. However, each time I've come back next workout and dominated. Sometimes it takes an off day to get you back on track. Either that or failure is the best motivator.