[Closed] Any weight lifters on STW?

On and off for probably 7 years. Struggling to get motivation at the moment and only lift about twice a week. Despite having a gym shed with loads of weights and a chin up bar on the side.
Got disheartened by a guy I used to go to school with. Been training for about 6 months on steroids and has got more progress than I have in years.

Not much recently, although I was training regularly up until a year or so ago, mainly power lifting with a bit of strongman.
Still got a power rack, bench and a couple of olympic bars and a load of plates. I really ought to make use of them again.

big yim, I know what you mean. I tried a local gym once and one of the kids in there asked me if I used gear. He was absolutely astounded when I said no. It's an integral part of lifting to a lot of people.

ive just started to get back into it again, but have read up on it this time and understand the nutrition side of it now, whereas before i thought a protein shake after a workout would get me 'big muscles'. how naive 🙂
bought a bench and squat rack and am borrowing weights til i can afford my own.
unfortunately ive just started getting headaches after the 'big lifts' (squat and deadlifts) so amlooking into that with the doc. blood tests etc etc. googled it and its quite common which comforts me slightly (but only slightly)
im currently trying to roughly follow 'leangains' protocol.

going to try and concentrate on getting my big three up this year, squat bench and dl. thought about trying crossfit too. I had notived I started getting pain in my forearms though like my bones were going to snap in the middle. any one else had this?

think the hardest part is the constant eating of protein all day, well actually the preperation of food all day

I wouldn't say I love it but it's satisfying when you start to see some results and your arms aren't so shapeless 🙂 Just hate how long it takes to get there. No weights with me now and I cant afford a gym so at the minute I'm just doing push ups and stuff to try and keep some strength.

I absolutely detest squats but I know that means they're doing so much good 🙂

nothing like struggling to walk up the stairs after a leg day

Yup - missing squatting like mad atm as my wrist is in cast. Normally lift heavy once or twice a week when not broken - squats, bench, pull-ups, push press being the main of my lifts now.

Used to powerlift as my primary sport, but biking totally took over. Nice to keep some strength for riding though, it helps massively with DH.

I really miss being properly strong, but have neither the gym time or recovery time to train hard with the riding as well.

38 now, been at it since fifteen. Just maintainance these days,but still enjoy it. Consistancy is key, just look at some of the steroid users, they tend to lose it just as fast. Injuries are my biggest issue, tore a pec ten years ago and haven't flat benched since. Currently trying to train through tennis elbow, can't shrug or deadlift as it just kills the next day.

Started for the first time earlier this year, and as most newbies do I went to hard to quick and managed to hurt my back deadlifting with bad form. Almost back to normal now, and going to start doing bodyweight stuff and then start back with weights in Jan and continue doing the Starting Strength routine.

Was good fun for the 5 months I didn't knacker myself.

Yup, I love it. First started when I was 16, and still love it now (31). Don't lift anything heavy though - my weights are more high reps, low weights and designed to help me get stronger for riding/climbing/running. I miss it like mad
when I can't go.

Over the years, I have been frustrated with lack of progress and injuries. I used to be focused on size, but as my genes are more xc racer than bodybuilder, I would have to eat so much food and would end up falling of the wagon.

Now I am training for all round fitness, strength and for the love of it and it is easier to keep it up.

I'd like to re-gain a stone of muscle as I've been injured for most of the year (mtb'ing doh!) and get my bodyfat back down near single digits.

The gear thing is annoying, but as mtb'ing is my no1 pass time now, I know there is no point in getting too big, so I'm not as bothered now.

LGB and dirtygirl, either of you single? 😉 A mtb'ing, gym loving woman sounds ideal

Lifted from 2002 until 2009ish but then moving back to the UK and not having a gym on my doorstep demotivated me.

I miss it and think about doing it a lot. Work even has a gym on site that I can use for £10 a month, but I just don't have time/motivation.

I know though that when I do workout, I have a lot more energy.

Maybe this will be the year to get back into it.

I don't see the point in lifting to get big... it's impractical and a complete waste of time*.

Kudos - a stone of muscle?! Really... how light are you?

*Track cycling being the exception.

i am on a mission to be fit at 30. (30 in jan)

weighed nearly 18st 6 weeks ago. down to 16.9 now. Been running and eating healthy.

Got some weights yesterday cheap i have 40lb on barbell and 20 on dumbells. What should i be doing to get lean and tone. Not too bothered about losing too much weight. Get down to about 15st (im 5'10 and never been much less than 15 even when 18 and racing mtb dh.

Whats shakes and stuff should i be looking at? been looking at thermobol by maximuscle.

I wanna lose fat and tone muscle. Let me know if you can help. I wonder if we can get this thread as popular as bivvying! lol

@ southern yeti. I am 12 stone(ish) at the moment, but am eating like a sparrow as I haven't been able to exercise properly for about 3 months. Muscle has been lost and body fat has increased.

I feel best at about 13 stone. At 14+ I find my CV suffers too much and it is a pain in the arse having to eat the required amount of food.

Josh - You're aims and the equipment you have are perfect for a 'Bodypump' style work out... one of your local gyms will run these classes and it's probably the best way of getting an understanding of what the workout involves.

Essentially it is a high rep, low weight workout that in an hour session will target every part of your body.

Here's the warm up track... (how's your German?)

He's actually uploaded the whole of the workout! 🙂

Kudos - how tall are you?

I'm 5'10". 31.5" waist, 43" chest... and on a mission to stick below 12 stone.
I'd be useless for proper cycling with an extra stone of weight!

I'm 6'3 TSY. Not really a fan of the TDF look so I prefer to be just over 13 stone at about 12% bodyfat.

I'm 5'10". 31.5" waist, 43" chest...

*swoon*

How about a hug Jamie!

6'3, 13 stone makes sense then.

How about a hug Jamie!

Not right now. After reading those stats it might be awkward when I poke you in the thigh.

...and no. It is not a gun in my pocket.

😳

Want me to post up a picture for you??

Used to go 3/4 times a week for 6/7 years but stopped going at the beginning of this year. Wanted to concentrate on my bjj and going to the gym 3 times a week, bjj 3/4 times a week + mountain biking on a Sunday would of resulted in divorce so something had to give. What sort of weights are people lifting? For me (bearing in mind I weigh 12 1/2 stone) were:
Bench : 90kg
Squat : 100kg
Military press : 55kg
Deadlift : 155kg
Not brilliant but not to shabby either ( those weights are for reps and not 1rep max btw)

Want me to post up a picture for you??

If I had any faith in your ability to do so, then I would say yes.

[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/well-done-mcmoonter#post-2911541 ]As it is......[/url]

found a pump fx class round the corner at leisure centre. Will see whats it like on tuesday.

anyone find explaining weights to some people VERY hard work? so many lies and myths about it.

I spent a few years lifting weights but found it was affecting my cycling too much and have now left it behind. Got to the stage where I could bench, squat and dead lift 130kg's, which I'm quite proud of. However heavy bench press was giving me pains in my elbows and training heavy on the squats seem to knock my cycling (quads seem to pump up quickly on climbs). Definitely helped me better understand training and nutrition though. Lost around a stone and a half since I stopped lifting. Miss having a bit of size, but it's helped lots on the bike.

I lifted for a few winters and loved the intensity of it; it's one of the only sports I've ever done that I was naturally good at, made a nice change from cycling in that respect.
Bottom line, though, is that it can never compete with cycling for interest. Lifting is enjoyable but it's a pretty banal activity when you compare it to something like a mountain bike ride.
Ideally I'd do both but there's no way atm, so it's cycling.