Fitness Whole Pizza In My Mouth

[Jewels]

I work out in the mornings, take our 5:30am class. And we have a shower at the gym and I go straight to work. I just come in, turn everything on, and go get coffee. I'm the first one in, in my office anyway, so I enjoy the solitude.

[Senor_Taylor]

Opinions on belts? I feel like my form for deadlifts is decent, but I've always had back problems (working very hard to improve this). My back gives out well before my legs do, so basically I stop when I know my back can't handle it (Even with proper form). I never squatted or deadlifted without a belt before college, but stopped using one once outside of the weight room atmosphere. I don't really care about looking like a chode, but I want to make sure I'm keeping my back supported now that I'm back in the 300lb zone. A lot of modern literature seems to point out that it's not really about protecting your back, and more about just boosting your max.

What are y'alls thoughts?


Also, I've been working out before work as opposed to after work for a few months and I love it. I've been so consistent and my gains have been very good.

[Jewels]

I like 2POOD belts. I have a hand me down belt that I'm the third owner of. I use it a lot for Deadlifts as my hamstrings are a weak point in my legs and once they are toasted I tend to feel it in my back. Mostly it just keeps my core tight so I don't yank with my back.

[CaptainHenreh]

Opinions on belts? I feel like my form for deadlifts is decent, but I've always had back problems (working very hard to improve this). My back gives out well before my legs do, so basically I stop when I know my back can't handle it (Even with proper form). I never squatted or deadlifted without a belt before college, but stopped using one once outside of the weight room atmosphere. I don't really care about looking like a chode, but I want to make sure I'm keeping my back supported now that I'm back in the 300lb zone. A lot of modern literature seems to point out that it's not really about protecting your back, and more about just boosting your max.

What are y'alls thoughts?


Also, I've been working out before work as opposed to after work for a few months and I love it. I've been so consistent and my gains have been very good.

Belts do not protect your back. The idea that they do will get you REALLY hurt. 

Belts can help you increase intra-abdominal pressure when your core muscles are contracted. This pressure is what supports your back, but if you don't have the strength/training/skill to properly brace, then it wont' do jack shit. Can't just put on a belt and go "welp, now I don't have to worry about form, I can just yank it off the ground."

I don't belt on a deadlift or squat until I'm approaching 80-90% of my max, or going for a new max. To point, I haven't worn a belt at all since I did the 1200# club at UREC. 

If your back "gives out" before your legs do then you need to strengthen your back and your core, and make sure your form is top. Face pulls, bent rows, GHD situps. Romanian deadlifts, pause-at-an-inch deadlifts, reverse flys and if your back really just does suck, maybe try pulling sumo for a while while you work on your back.  

If you're reaching for your belt for below, say, 80% of your 1RM, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION then you're just band-aiding deficiencies, and only putting yourself on the slow car of the Gainz Train.

[Senor_Taylor]

Yeah, I don't need or want a belt for low weight. I'm not using it as a bandaid for bad form. I felt like adding that as a disclaimer but I figured I'd have faith in y'all to not assume. Then again, it's probably best to assume everyone has bad form.

I understand what a belt does and how's it a second set of "abs". I used belts for years before getting casual in my workouts.

My back is legitimately just messed up, but I do agree I should try to strengthen it. I just know every time I've tried to, I just made it worst. When I dropped core/lower back from my workout plan, my back got better. Who knows. I ordered a belt, but also some straps so hopefully I can bang out lower weight more before my hands get weak and can strengthen my back that way.

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[JPolen01]

Maybe you need to see a physical therapist about your back. They can probably aid you in picking the correct workout routines for the specific problems you are experiencing. Or a trainer experienced in sports injuries and rehab.

[Senor_Taylor]

Maybe you need to see a physical therapist about your back. They can probably aid you in picking the correct workout routines for the specific problems you are experiencing. Or a trainer experienced in sports injuries and rehab.

I've been to a million doctors for my back, one earlier this year, and they all say the same thing and prescribe muscle relaxers. I doubt my insurance will cover unprescribed PT.


My back was doing much better until I decided to Max deadlift at Turducken after 10 beers.

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[CaptainHenreh]

I definitely read "always had back problems" in relation to lifting as "always lifted shitty and then wanted to lie in bed for years" which, I've been there. An actual chronic, "this hurts all the time whether I work out or not" problem needs medical attention. 

I mean, you definitely should see a sports-oriented PT. They'll tell you which accessories to work on to prevent further aggravation. You need someone who went to school for this and doesn't for a living, not dipshits on the internet. <3

[Steve85]

I'm sure you have but I'll ask anyway...Have you seen a Chiro? My son was having lower back and hip pain playing soccer. The x ray showed an area in the lower spine where you could tell it was off from the rest in terms of clearance for the nerves running out from it. After about 3-4 weekly visits (at $34 / adjustment) he is playing pain free now. It started happening about halfway through spring season and he never mentioned it thinking it would get rested over the summer and go away. It came right back when fall season started. Since the adjustments he's been able to practice with two teams (sometimes same day) and play the whole game on Sundays.

[Senor_Taylor]

I should probably see a chiropractor, but I've had X-rays of my back done many times and they've never found anything odd. General consensus is chronic back spasms. I'll talk to my doctor again about it next time I go back.

I'd like to reiterate that my back and knees have been better than ever (which isn't saying much) after changing my workouts after college. Just was an idiot at Turducken and now I begin the long road to recovery, haha.

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[D_Eclipse9916]

I definitely read "always had back problems" in relation to lifting as "always lifted shitty and then wanted to lie in bed for years" which, I've been there. An actual chronic, "this hurts all the time whether I work out or not" problem needs medical attention. 

If they are telling just to take painkillers, it's probably your technique. Fix right meow. Trust me, you don't want to be 31 and be in serious pain.  I ignored my back problems when I was 16 and now have to live with it forever pending back surgery on my 2 herniated discs.  I have known people who go in for surgery and it fixes everything, to others who are still in serious pain.

<-- Who lives in constant pain, but almost fell back out of his truck last week when I moved "just wrong" to get in the truck.

[JPolen01]

After blowing off leg day for maybe 8 months I'm back in the in the 200# club for squats. 2 sets of 5 reps at 200. Couple sets before that so if went straight max I'm sure I could do a bit more. It's no Rex-hulk squat but it's something.

[Senor_Taylor]

After blowing off leg day for maybe 8 months I'm back in the in the 200# club for squats. 2 sets of 5 reps at 200. Couple sets before that so if went straight max I'm sure I could do a bit more. It's no Rex-hulk squat but it's something.

Way to go!

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[GTBrandon]

In regards to lower back pain, I have been having issues ever since a squat with bad form a year and a half ago. X-Ray showed the lowest (also tallest disc in your spine) L5-S1 disc was half as tall as it should have been. Also based on a chiro consultation, found that I had been using bad posture overall due to my bad ankles/knees from soccer. Left knee tilted inwards, causing the pelvis to lean to a certain angle, then put 300lbs on that form and it's a recipe for disaster.

TLR, went to a Chiro and they gave me a list of stretches and foam rolling to do every morning and it has improved my pain and posture dramatically. Also got a pair of orthotics to fix my posture when walking around daily as well as lifting. Finally, using electro stim helped A LOT for the pain and muscle tension.

Also, just know that the stronger your abdomen is, the less pain/force you will put on your back daily. Once I started strengthening my abs (after I fixed my form) everything got a lot better. Just please do not start lifting before seeing a Chiro and making sure your form is in check. My issue was I was lifting and therefore strengthening my muscles in a bad posture, therefore solidifying the issue and continuing my pain.

Try Misra Chiropractic in Ashburn, they were by far the best one I have been do for the issue. They can also pinpoint the source of your pain, as the disc from my x-ray really wasn't the issue. For me, it's the SI joints that really cause the day to day pain. So don't assume just because an x-ray was fine, that there's no underlying joint/other injury.

[CaptainHenreh]

Hit an ugly 535# squat today. Going down felt good, coming out of the hole was fine, but as soon as I engaged #HEPDRAHVE my psoas felt like being struck by a lightning bolt, blech.

I mean I'll take it but it's grindy AF.

[JPolen01]

Hit an ugly 535# squat today. Going down felt good, coming out of the hole was fine, but as soon as I engaged #HEPDRAHVE my psoas felt like being struck by a lightning bolt, blech.

I mean I'll take it but it's grindy AF.

I was squatting over the weekend. Only 200# but I'll take it. Anyway after that I was really sore in the groin area. Just looked up psoas and now I know what was sore. 

[.RJ]

yore a monster, Rex. Bravo.

[ScottyB]

yore a monster, Rex.

i looked up the dressed weight of an LS1.  its 497 lbs. 

which means Calfasaurus Rex could manhandle a V8 engine off the ground.  which is ridiculous.  Rex do me a favor and change your avatar to Rictus plz

[V1GiLaNtE]

On the other side of the fitness coin I'm back in the saddle (well at least on a more consistent basis). I've been riding a rigid SS 29er for the last 5 years (casually) and after breaking my arm a few months ago my wrists can't take the abuse anymore. Nothing fancy just a few years old updated 29er, but with gears and a solo air fork up front. I'm happy.

[Jake]

I guess it's worth chiming in now that I'm outgrowing pants and dress shirts.

Been doing a spin class for almost two years and wanted to work on muscle growth beyond just bike-y/leg-y things. Spin helped my cardio health tremendously and I'm continuing to go once a week to just keep that up.

So, a friend of mine started instructing at [solidcore] (yes the branding has those cute brackets and all lowercase) which is basically aggressive pilates, I think. Been going for a couple months now and already noticed a big difference in strength and muscle tone. Their whole M.O. is slow, controlled movement that works various muscle groups to failure or close to failure. It's very core-centric given the name, but does get the arms and legs in there as well.

Anyway, I've never been stronger and this is just a start. Kinda hate gyms so having classes like these to go to has been a really good route for me.