Health, Good Practises, and Exercise

[44267547]

Just have to put this out there:

So, I have been lifting weights for years (10
+). As already mentioned, I have been spending an ample amount of time inside the gym training and bodybuilding, usually approximately 2 1/2 hours each session (So I see a lot). During my sessions, I don’t watch TV and I don’t listen to music, but in between my sets, you tend to look around at the other individuals working out, [i.e what they might be doing, routines, etc.] What I find absolutely baffling is how many weightlifters use *horrible* form, not necessarily with the machines, but with free weights. And I mean bad form in the sense they look like they’re going to injure themselves the way they pick up weights that are too heavy for what they can manage and lift, improper stance, ect. Not only that, but using bad form does not build muscle or even remotely help you get a work out appropriately, because you’re not using the full ROM (Range of Motion) correctly.

Now, it’s not my place to say anything to anyone inside a gym about what they should or should not do, proper form, (Nor am a I licensed trainer) or make any recommendations , because it strictly not my Prerogative. However, Part of me wants to offer advice just for the education and safety side of things, but I understand someone might misinterpret that in terms of being humiliated and embarrassed by saying to someone else ‘how to do something’. And I also gather if they injure themselves, that is by their own doing. But what I find even more dumbfounding , is that there actually even a multitude of ‘trainers’ walking (And monitoring) that Clearly observe this type of behavior and they don’t Say/do anything. (Not that they’re required too, which their policy actually says they don’t have to and you sign a liability waiver acknowledging this.)

Point is, I’m just amazed at the amount of people that don’t acquire the basic techniques to lift weights and they’re not doing/building any benefit to their body whatsoever when they use bad form, where they could potentially injure themselves lifting weights that are too heavy because of their egos or don’t respect their body limits., ect. I gather we all have different learning and experience levels, it’s just my observations inside the gym.

(For the record, weightlifting is 50% education, meaning that you learn through instruction and technique to work your body in the most suitable and appropriate way possible that is safe to work muscles groups most effectively.)

 

[Mac'nCheese]

Water retention, don't sweat it, or _do_ sweat it ... out You'll recover in 48 hours.

Thank you, I did. Back on track and lost a pound. On my way to 70 or 75 loss by summers end.

 

[Lioness~]

Now, it’s not my place to say anything to anyone inside a gym about what they should or should not do, proper form, (Nor am a I licensed trainer) or make any recommendations , because it strictly not my Prerogative. However, Part of me wants to offer advice just for the education and safety side of things, but I understand someone might misinterpret that in terms of being humiliated and embarrassed by saying to someone else ‘how to do something’.

Point is, I’m just amazed at the amount of people that don’t acquire the basic techniques to lift weights and they’re not doing/building any benefit to their body whatsoever when they use bad form, where they could potentially injure themselves lifting weights that are too heavy because of their egos or don’t respect their body limits., ect. I gather we all have different learning and experience levels, it’s just my observations inside the gym.

When you know even more you’ll be amused of the amount of lack of knowledge of many things

People will always hurt themselves, listen to the wrong advices, get injured, sick and eventually die.
It’s nothing you can do or should do unless they ask you very politely, or pay you well for your expertise.
Sometimes not even that will inspire you, if your gut and heart says otherwise with some people.

It’s even people who are legitimately licensed in some areas who don’t now enough, but uses power and positions to spread wrong knowledge to people which affects them badly.
Nothing we can do about it.

But the real beauty of knowledge is how it spreads of itself to those who sincerely require it. There will always be people who don’t require it, but want’s shortcuts, rather listen to hypocrites or wrong messages.

Let your own knowledge just continue to inspire you on your path, and enjoy the benefits of it
It will also inspire the right people around you, believe me.

 

[44267547]

When you know even more you’ll be amused of the amount of lack of knowledge of many things

People will always hurt themselves, listen to the wrong advices, get injured, sick and eventually die.
It’s nothing you can do or should do unless they ask you very politely, or pay you well for your expertise.
Sometimes not even that will inspire you, if your gut and heart says otherwise with some people.

It’s even people who are legitimately licensed in some areas who don’t now enough, but uses power and positions to spread wrong knowledge to people which affects them badly.
Nothing we can do about it.

But the real beauty of knowledge is how it spreads of itself to those who sincerely require it. There will always be people who don’t require it, but want’s shortcuts, rather listen to hypocrites or wrong messages.

Let your own knowledge just continue to inspire you on your path, and enjoy the benefits of it
It will also inspire the right people around you, believe me.

Believe me, I totally understand. Those are just my observations of what I have encountered in the gym with those using poor form and technique, but I understand that’s the nature of being in the gym, sometimes you have those who are inexperienced who don’t know right from wrong, but they learn the ‘Hard way.’

The reality is, is that you have those who don’t know their own body limits, therefore they don’t know where to start, they lift to heavy or don’t acquire the ‘know how’ to appropriately use weights based off what they can handle, so they really are ‘self taught’ until they actually injure themselves or somebody educates them. Free weights are the toughest, because they really require proper form and the appropriate weight level to actually be effective on your body, if you’re missing one of those two ingredients, then it can be very problematic and not beneficial to your exercise regime.

My suggestion is to somebody that’s starting out weightlifting, is avoid freeweights and try to focus on machines, which it’s very difficult to improperly use a machine, aside from selecting the appropriate weight you can manage. Free weights are a great form of exercise, but they take lots of practice depending on the amount of weight you’re using and form. But there are also a plethora of great Turtorial videos that are available on the Internet.

As I mentioned, weightlifting is about education and you learn through mistakes made and how you can improve your ROM and appropriate form.

 

[kazmac]

After almost dying from food borne illness last month (listeria bacteria which may have also induced double pneumonia. Bug hit my blood, lungs and brain which it was starting to shut down); I will be royally irked if it was produce or green juice which I have been eating and drinking for over 30 years without incident.

Hospital and NYSDof Health cannot determine what food poisoned me.


After almost four weeks in the hospital and rehabilitation site, I am grateful to be on the mend and soon away from hospital food. Ewwww.

So now I have to be even more with careful what I eat (no more juices in Manhattan etc.)

 

[decafjava]

After almost dying from food borne illness last month (listeria bacteria which may have also induced double pneumonia. Bug hit my blood, lungs and brain which it was starting to shut down); I will be royally irked if it was produce or green juice which I have been eating and drinking for over 30 years without incident.

Hospital and NYSDof Health cannot determine what food poisoned me.


After almost four weeks in the hospital and rehabilitation site, I am grateful to be on the mend and soon away from hospital food. Ewwww.

So now I have to be even more with careful what I eat (no more juices in Manhattan etc.)

Good grief, reminds me of what I went through in March when my right hand started to swell and it was determined to be a flesh-eating bacteria that necessitated the amputation of my index and middle finger and removal (and subsequent graft) of skin on the back of may hand and around the thumb which was thankfully intact. I am currently typing with both hands just as badly as before so am on the mend.

 

[kazmac]

Good grief, reminds me of what I went through in March when my right hand started to swell and it was determined to be a flesh-eating bacteria that necessitated the amputation of my index and middle finger and removal (and subsequent graft) of skin on the back of may hand and around the thumb which was thankfully intact. I am currently typing with both hands just as badly as before so am on the mend.

I am glad you are on the mend. Bless you for having a sense of humor about it.

 

[Huntn]

Good grief, reminds me of what I went through in March when my right hand started to swell and it was determined to be a flesh-eating bacteria that necessitated the amputation of my index and middle finger and removal (and subsequent graft) of skin on the back of may hand and around the thumb which was thankfully intact. I am currently typing with both hands just as badly as before so am on the mend.

I am sorry you have suffered in this manner and glad you sound like you are recovering. Do you have any idea how you were exposed to it?
[doublepost=1533992552][/doublepost]

After almost dying from food borne illness last month (listeria bacteria which may have also induced double pneumonia. Bug hit my blood, lungs and brain which it was starting to shut down); I will be royally irked if it was produce or green juice which I have been eating and drinking for over 30 years without incident.

Hospital and NYSDof Health cannot determine what food poisoned me.


After almost four weeks in the hospital and rehabilitation site, I am grateful to be on the mend and soon away from hospital food. Ewwww.

So now I have to be even more with careful what I eat (no more juices in Manhattan etc.)

My gosh, I’m glad you made it. Green juice?

 

[kazmac]

My gosh, I’m glad you made it. Green juice?

I am too...so all these things caused sepsis which was triggering the organ shutdown.

Green juice: Green vegetable juice.

And now I have the added stress of my job threatening to let me go if I do not get back to work ASAP. All they could have said was, we need you back by this date.

 

[Huntn]

I am too...so all these things caused sepsis which was triggering the organ shutdown.

Green juice: Green vegetable juice.

And now I have the added stress of my job threatening to let me go if I do not get back to work ASAP. All they could have said was, we need you back by this date.

An understanding employer. You are just the cog that’s missing. What about a temp worker in the meantime?

V8 sells a bottled, green, low cal vegetable juice that I drink on occasion, but among their other flavors, it’s not my favorite taste.

 

[kazmac]

An understanding employer. You are just the cog that’s missing. What about a temp worker in the meantime?

I suspect the person who trained me is filling in for part of the week. Why else would she email me feigning concern a couple of weeks ago (and say wow that’s a long time - asking how long I would be here). I am now with an outsourcing company rather than a private firm, and it’s been quite from the get-go. This just confirms it.

 

[Huntn]

I suspect the person who trained me is filling in for part of the week. Why else would she email me feigning concern a couple of weeks ago (and say wow that’s a long time - asking how long I would be here). I am now with an outsourcing company rather than a private firm, and it’s been quite from the get-go. This just confirms it.

Just observing, this is one of the advantages of having a contract and a union to back you up. Not starting any kind of a debate with anyone , and I admit that unions are not perfect.

 

[smallcoffee]

Point is, I’m just amazed at the amount of people that don’t acquire the basic techniques to lift weights and they’re not doing/building any benefit to their body whatsoever when they use bad form, where they could potentially injure themselves lifting weights that are too heavy because of their egos or don’t respect their body limits., ect. I gather we all have different learning and experience levels, it’s just my observations inside the gym.

(For the record, weightlifting is 50% education, meaning that you learn through instruction and technique to work your body in the most suitable and appropriate way possible that is safe to work muscles groups most effectively.)

I know you mentioned it's not your place, but if you see somebody and it's clear they are new to the gym if you approach them very nicely - you may be able to change their life. Especially if you're literally a body builder.

If you came up to me and were like, hey man how's it going with a big smile, and said hey I'm not telling you what to do but I noticed that when you squat you do XYZ, and here let me show you, so when you go down like this you should do X and not. Y. And then say I can spot you a couple of reps, I'm trying to help you improve.

Most people (from my experience) are pretty receptive to that. And those that aren't? Screw em' . Most of the time people want to do the right thing (form, etc) and it's, as you said, just a matter of education.

As an example I was watching this guy struggle to swim - was getting tired etc. I didn't give him tips on form but mentioned he could use a float for his legs if he gets tired. He was like oh dang I never really knew what those were for and he said thanks and we joked about all the ripped swimmers and how it was intimidating. Your milage may vary. I'm just saying don't be afraid.

 

[Mac'nCheese]

I know you mentioned it's not your place, but if you see somebody and it's clear they are new to the gym if you approach them very nicely - you may be able to change their life. Especially if you're literally a body builder.

If you came up to me and were like, hey man how's it going with a big smile, and said hey I'm not telling you what to do but I noticed that when you squat you do XYZ, and here let me show you, so when you go down like this you should do X and not. Y. And then say I can spot you a couple of reps, I'm trying to help you improve.

Most people (from my experience) are pretty receptive to that. And those that aren't? Screw em' . Most of the time people want to do the right thing (form, etc) and it's, as you said, just a matter of education.

As an example I was watching this guy struggle to swim - was getting tired etc. I didn't give him tips on form but mentioned he could use a float for his legs if he gets tired. He was like oh dang I never really knew what those were for and he said thanks and we joked about all the ripped swimmers and how it was intimidating. Your milage may vary. I'm just saying don't be afraid.

I'm glad there are people like you in gyms. I welcome advice from anyone kind enough to help.

 

[smallcoffee]

I'm glad there are people like you in gyms. I welcome advice from anyone kind enough to help.

Flip-side is that you have to do it tactfully. It’s actually a difficult social interaction to perform, in my opinion.

 

[44267547]

You Make some really great points @smallcoffee and I agree with a lot of what you’re saying, but I do think it’s a little bit *more* complicated than that. And I’ll reply to different parts of your posts why I believe that.

I know you mentioned it's not your place, but if you see somebody and it's clear they are new to the gym.you may be able to change their life

I agree the smallest amount of advice can easily change the way somebody executes a lifting exercise and could help prevent injury. One of the The Reasons it’s ‘not my place’ that I don’t offer advice, is what I may use for form and technique, may not work for someone else (i.e Dependent on how much weight, physical size, what type of exercise they are doing, ect) everyone has their different physical limitations and I respect that. The other reasons I will explain later in this post.

Also, in most situations, There’s no way of me knowing if somebody’s ‘new’ to a gym or not, it’s just the technique that they are using might be inappropriate or incorrect.

Especially if you're literally a body builder.

Quite literally. I just started my bodybuilding goal back in mid July. 20 sessions in/55 hours invested thus far, which equates to about 2.5/3 Hours per session. On my off days when I’m not the gym, I study hours of videos and reading the art form a bodybuilding from past/present B.B’s, structure and techniques to help better improve myself, because I too am new and learning in B.B., but I have been lifting for years prior at my home gym. I know I mentioned before, bodybuilding is 50% through education.

If you came up to me and were like, hey man how's it going with a big smile, and said hey I'm not telling you what to do but I noticed that when you squat you do XYZ, and here let me show you, so when you go down like this you should do X and not. Y. And then say I can spot you a couple of reps, I'm trying to help you improve.

This is where I think it’s a very gray area in your post and its so variable. I agree with your approach that you can be very interpersonal with somebody by being open and Not intimidating. (I can gauge others attitudes around me fairly well in the gym.) But this is also very difficult to do, because to be honest, a lot males have egos in Gyms, especially in the ‘Heavy’ weight area. (You know the attitude I’m referring to, the ‘I’m strong and tough’ mentality type of guy) Especially if somebody that’s fairly concentrated on their sets and dependent if they appear like they want be bothered or not, that’s also something else to consider. Gym settings can be very polarizing at times.

Most people (from my experience) are pretty receptive to that. And those that aren't? Screw em' . Most of the time people want to do the right thing (form, etc) and it's, as you said, just a matter of education.

At the End of the day, everyone in the gym is there for the same goal, which is the better them self one way or the other physically.

Something else to add I want to mention, I’m 33 years old (Age alone can very intimidating), I’m fairly young and fit as it is. I also gather the perception is there that someone who may be more experienced or and ‘Older’ guy may not want to take lessons from a younger male in the gym. Especially being I’m not a ‘trainer’ (And Some of trainers at this gym are a joke, I don’t mean to be rude, but its true) , that also could be very intimidating and some may not be receptive to accepting mistakes they are making. Obviously everyone is different, but being social interaction is sparse in gyms for the most part, its difficult to engage most times.

As an example I was watching this guy struggle to swim - was getting tired etc. I didn't give him tips on form but mentioned he could use a float for his legs if he gets tired. He was like oh dang I never really knew what those were for and he said thanks and we joked about all the ripped swimmers and how it was intimidating. Your milage may vary. I'm just saying don't be afraid.

I Like your example here, I just think your example is entirely different from weightlifting. Like I said before, weightlifting is very intimidating and it’s one of those facets in a weightlifting gym where the ‘next guy doesn’t necessarily want to take advice from the guy next to him’ sort of way. Its almost competitive in some respects, which I don’t think it should be competitive in a gym, but the reality is, it is, and that affects interactions around you and those that walk around with a ‘smug’ attitude for the most part. But every Gym might vary, but that’s kind of how a gym is. (Mine is at times.)

Flip-side is that you have to do it tactfully. It’s actually a difficult social interaction to perform, in my opinion.

It’s definitely a difficult social interaction to perform, in a gym. I like to think of myself that is a really outgoing individual, I’m very interpersonal and extroverted. But I find that I don’t talk to much to anyone in the gym, which is the only downside that I don’t like. Being social in the gym is minimal for most, I think it’s really hard to engage someone and understand there mindset of when they are concentrating and focusing on their exercises and you don’t want to bother them, as I mentioned before from the above points, there’s a lot of things to take in consideration when offering advice on how to do something, some are more receptive to that and others are not. I find a gym that I work in, it’s more competitive than it is anything else. But obviously that will vary depending on the environment, type of exercises someone is involved in and overall gym environment. As you said, ‘Mileage May vary.’

 

[Sword86]

I haven't read through the thread, as I have just discovered it, but want to add something that most people don't look into, or aren't told.

Weight, in large, is managed by metabolism, as everyone knows. Now here's where it gets more complex and is a HUGE reason why older people can't figure out why they aren't keeping pounds off. This also correlated to why the west is so fat.

People think that counting calories and eating LESS, is the key. However, that is a gross generalization of the matter, and just a small part of the weight/health spectrum. MOST people who are overweight actually need to eat MORE. Not more, is in bigger helpings, but more often.

People talk a lot about metabolism, but not what governs it, or the mechanics behind it. Most overweight people have flat out KILLED their metabolism by only eating when they can, which lends itself to eating MORE. This is because the body goes into saving mode, when it finally does get something to eat. Your body gets used to not eating, when you eat only two, to three meals a day. So it learns to save, or store, what you eat, as fat, so it can metabolize the fat, when it has nothing else.

The answer to this, is to eat up to six moderate meals a day. That doesn't mean a what the west has come to know as a meal. This means a decent portion of something nutritious. A banana and glass of water count. So your body starts to learn that it needs to USE that energy, instead of storing it.

That part goes into what to eat. There are fast acting carbs, and slow carbs. Think of it as nothing more than fuel for the body. When you are going to work out, you can eat a helping of pasta, because it is fast acting carbs which means explosive energy. When you are not going to be doing any intensive activity, you eat slow acting carbs, like oatmeal, so the energy is released slowly.

Now THAT, leads into a lot more, but one of the most important things to know, is that muscle is one of the biggest things that burns fat. JUST having muscle, burns fat. Muscle burns fat when you're just sitting around.

This is all a general rule for anyone, and that includes all ages. So eat more times, fewer portions, the appropriate type of carb, and grow muscle. That is simply the key to staying in shape. Now, I understand a 60 year old has a hard time growing muscle, but what's so great, is it doesn't depend on growing a lot. It all comes down to keeping you muscle mass above your fat mass, so when your body is waging that silent war, when you don't even know it, the muscle continues to win, and your body will metabolize your fat. The less fat you have the faster you lose muscle, because then, the body cannibalizes the muscle. So it's also important to have a bit of fat. For a body builder, not in competition, 8-14% of body fat is ideal. For the average joe, who wishes to hang on to the muscle they keep up with, 20% of fat is fair.

So, burn fat but keep up with muscle, eat 5/6 actual meals a day, eat the proper type of carb, and you will have a balanced healthy lifestyle. Look at this as a fine line. DON'T do this and you get fat. Do this more extremely and add in MORE food and working out, and you're a body builder.

OP, I would recommend cycling, if your legs are too bad to run. And cut out soda all together. You'll be surprised how much you won't miss it. Drink more water and juices.

Wow....finally. I just discovered this thread today. I’ve read all the way up to this point from the very first post. I think this just may be the first post that touches on one’s metabolism. All you ever read about is “I lost 50 pounds”. I need to lose more weight. My first response to that is “50 pounds of what?”
Just about everyone says they want to lose weight and attempt to achieve it through starvation or fad dieting, losing the abilty to burn the fat instead of fueling adequately and hanging on to what does the fat burning.
Women are always saying I need to lose X pounds and starve to hit it, losing whatever little muscle they may have had. How many times do you hear a chick say, “I don’t want to have big muscles?” Sorry honey, fat chance of that. Not much different for guys. It’s real tough.
A few years ago I was at work and walked by the lunchroom and caught a slim/skinny girl say to all our co-workers, “I lost 6 pounds this week” I stopped and chimed in with “6 pounds of what?” All the girls looked at me like I was on LSD. Not a clue.
It’s about limiting you reliance on using scales as your sole means of measuring your progress and determine what your body composition is. If your weight is dropping and your body mass is along with it your not doing it right. You want the fat to be coming off and maintain as much muscle mass as you can while you’re at it. The scales are one tool, but not a real good one. I can appreciate that if you are obese you want to see results and scales often satisfy your need to appease that what you’re doing is working, but at some point along the way you have to get the true measure of the real effectiveness of your efforts.
Sorry if I’m coming across as a Know it All. That is not my attempt. People just need to find out if their efforts are getting real results.
I could go on forever and up until now I was conguring up a post in my head for after I’d read all the way through to the end, but this post rang true.
I’m an old fart who knows what works for ME over the years, but everyone is different with different somotypes and genetics. It’s not one thing fits all, but there a lot of basics that work no matter who you are. As you progress you’ll pick up valuable insight as to what others do (or not) and whether it really works (or doesn’t and is a waste of time and effort) and hopefully determine what works for you. Just my 2 cents for now. S

 

[Sword86]

Do you take your yoga in the hot variety? I've heard many say they really enjoy that experience. Haven't tried it myself, but they do offer the classes at the gym I go to.

I had severe tendonitis in both my shoulders over the last decade or so. My shoulders were crap for the prior 30 years or so which likely brought it on.
I saw a physiotherapist for about 20 sessions a year or so ago and my shoulders are as good as they’ve ever been now. Some manipulation every visit and maintaining a daily 22 minute ‘stretching’ regimen solved it.
My phisiotherapist says he just LOVES hot yoga. Makes a huge amount of business from people who F*** themselves up doing it. I have no reason to not believe the guy who gave me my life back.
Just sayin’. S
[doublepost=1534130898][/doublepost]

Hot yoga doesn't sound remotely appealing.

Exercise is something that is required. And it's not hard to imagine why a lot of people hate it. You can make it fun and have fun while improving your body and health. Also, because you can occasionally go through a silly phase of eating stuff you shouldn't at your age, which is whatever age demographic you're in, usually older and older.

I find running on sidewalks boring, but trail running is incredibly fun. Especially if you imagine an axe murderer running after you or a rabid coyote wanting to eat you alive. Or, in your case, running away from a demented Mustang hellbent on sideswiping me and killing me.

Which brings up the old joke of the two guys walking in the forest that startle a bear. One guy stops to tie up his shoelaces. The other guy says, “are you crazy? That’s not gonna help you outrun the bear”
His buddy replies, “I don’t have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun YOU!”

 

[Sword86]

Just wanted to share my progress. I'm hoping it will keep me accountable to someone, kinda like the Weight Watchers meetings.

Starting weight: April 26, 2018 - 212.6
Today's weight: May 15, 2018 - 201.2
Total Progress: 11.4 pounds
Goal Weight: 170 pounds

What I'm Doing: I've mainly been watching calories and avoiding sugary/starchy foods when possible. I've cut back from 2-3 sugary sodas per day to maybe 1-2 low/zero calorie sodas per week (I've had maybe 2 full-calorie sodas since starting). I'm hoping to eliminate sodas of every kind completely. I'm trying to choose foods with a lot of protein to help me feel full, and I'm drinking probably 80 oz of water a day. About once per week, I'll allow myself to indulge and go over my calories a little bit. I've been going on more hikes and swimming in the pool now that it's open.

Next steps: I'd like to add some gym workouts including treadmill and weights.

I’m curious....what factor(s) did you use to arrive at your target goal weight? Not that setting goals is not necessary, they are close to paramount.
Why I ask is to not be a pri** but rather, why wouldn’t you let your eating/exercise/lifestyle/motivation determine an outcome for you? If you set a goal that may or may not be attainable over the period of time you’ve set, it can lead you to take actions to cheat to hit that goal when it appears you might not make it that can hinder your progress over the long run. I’ve done it a zillion times.
Is it reasonable to expect this is attainable? How about putting your nose to the grindstone best you can and let the cards fall where they may? What if you were to hit the target early? Do you stop and halt further improvement?
I’ve set the goal of say, 200 pounds ripped, and when I saw I wouldn’t get there by the deadline, I’d cheat, overeat, and get fatter than I wanted to be. Missed target. Just curious. S
[doublepost=1534138054][/doublepost]




Sorry...the following was in response to the Clenbuterol thread. I don’t know what happened

If you can hack it. It was all the rage back in the ‘80s but it was NOT legal and I wasn’t aware that it is now. It really elevates your heartrate and makes you sweat something fierce. You adapt to it rather quickly so it loses it’s effectiveness. It works like a hot damn for a short stretch though. I’m sure it isn’t all that good for you however.
It made a lot of folks too antsy so some didn’t like it for that.
Chicks and guys were taking it to aid with contest cutting. S[/QUOTE]

 

[44267547]

Added CX5 Creatine to my pre and post workout supplement. Definitely will help with the muscle fullness and growth post workouts. A lot of Body-builders add creatine to meals and protein drinks. Its supposed to help with ‘power’ in the gym, but that’s not why I purchased this For that reason.

Additionally what is important, No monohydrate whatsoever, which equals _no_bloating (Thats a huge downfall with many creatines on the market). And, No loading phases with this specific creatine as well, which a lot of creatines require absorption for a longer duration for it actually to be effective, and CX5 creatine eliminates that.

I Could have opted for the ‘Pill form’, but being that I consume a lot of milk and whey protein, I figured this would be easier direct supplement with mixes.

 

[decafjava]

I am sorry you have suffered in this manner and glad you sound like you are recovering. Do you have any idea how you were exposed to it?

Thanks for all the kind responses, to answer your question I am not sure but the hospital told me it was a Staphylococcus infection that possibly entered through a crack on my hand. I was also told that an infection like this taking hold is really rare. I have always had eczema and as this past February was very cold I got some deep cracks on my hand (in the lines as well) in spite of moisturizing etc. I also understand eczema and also the state of the immune system depend one's psychic state and stress level. Although I really like my current job having been through being laid off in 2017 and a family illness and death certainly took it's toll on me.

 

[Gutwrench]

As a National Strength and Conditioing Association member you have access to their strength and conditioning research journals. I found it informative and helpful.

 

[jeyf]

its consistently very dry here where i live. If rough or cracked hands over night i wear latex gloves and put lotion inside before bed.
Take care of your self.

 

[jdechko]

I’m curious....what factor(s) did you use to arrive at your target goal weight? Not that setting goals is not necessary, they are close to paramount.
Why I ask is to not be a pri** but rather, why wouldn’t you let your eating/exercise/lifestyle/motivation determine an outcome for you? If you set a goal that may or may not be attainable over the period of time you’ve set, it can lead you to take actions to cheat to hit that goal when it appears you might not make it that can hinder your progress over the long run. I’ve done it a zillion times.
Is it reasonable to expect this is attainable? How about putting your nose to the grindstone best you can and let the cards fall where they may? What if you were to hit the target early? Do you stop and halt further improvement?
I’ve set the goal of say, 200 pounds ripped, and when I saw I wouldn’t get there by the deadline, I’d cheat, overeat, and get fatter than I wanted to be. Missed target. Just curious. S

No problem. I chose the goal weight based on BMI. Ideally, somewhere in the 165-172 range is what's considered a healthy BMI for my age & height. I don't consider BMI as the be-all, end-all. Nor do am I choosing to focus just on my weight. I realize that there are other factors that define what "healthy" is, such as diet and exercise. But like you said, setting goals are paramount.

Letting my eating, exercise, lifestyle and motivation is what got me overweight to begin with. I've watched too many people in my life struggle with weight. I was at the doctors office back in April when I saw the 212.6 on the scale. I decided that I had to make some changes starting then.

I never set a hard time limit because there is cheating, but I decided that about a pound per week felt right for me. I hit the halfway mark last month, and decided to take some time to work on maintenance, to see how I eat when I'm not tracking every single calorie, and exercising.

 

[Sword86]

No problem. I chose the goal weight based on BMI. Ideally, somewhere in the 165-172 range is what's considered a healthy BMI for my age & height. I don't consider BMI as the be-all, end-all. Nor do am I choosing to focus just on my weight. I realize that there are other factors that define what "healthy" is, such as diet and exercise. But like you said, setting goals are paramount.

Letting my eating, exercise, lifestyle and motivation is what got me overweight to begin with. I've watched too many people in my life struggle with weight. I was at the doctors office back in April when I saw the 212.6 on the scale. I decided that I had to make some changes starting then.

I never set a hard time limit because there is cheating, but I decided that about a pound per week felt right for me. I hit the halfway mark last month, and decided to take some time to work on maintenance, to see how I eat when I'm not tracking every single calorie, and exercising.

Perfect. I think too mank people just arbitrarily decide on a final weight by things like “ this was my weight when I was in my 20s, or I think I need to drop 60 pounds and right now I’m 260 so I need to see 200”. I’m an ecrptomorph and 5’ 10”. I played HS football at 155 pounds and I was fat and out of shape.
For example, There is no way I’d ever get to see 220 and under 15 % body fat. That is simply unrealistic. You don’t want to be setting unrealistic goals, but rather, a series of ones you can reasonably expect to hit, reassess things as you advance and continue to set new attainable goals. I will stop here. I am absolutely terrible at this. I have always had long term goals I was never going to hit because I wouldn’t stick to it long term. What works for me, (when I actually do it) is work out 6 days a week. Taking days off are killers for me. It’s so easy to find excuses to stop. The trick is to regulate things to not overdo it.
The best advice I’ve ever received (for me, not nessessarily others) came from a former Mr. Canada. Don’t miss workouts. It seemed so DUH at the time. But for me it was essential
When I skipped working out, it became just that much easier to STOP.

S