Why do people go to the gym but then only do cardio?

[Six Thousand Year Old Man]

Re: Why do people go to the gym but then only do cardio?

Originally posted by Doddler
Seems a bit pointless - a marathon runner's build isn't exactly something to aspire to...

I suppose that's a matter of opinion.

Anyway, people work out in a way that they are either comfortable with, enjoy, or that isn't too complicated as to be offputting. Whatever works, so long as you do something.

[b etor]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
Nah, I currently get to work in about 10 minutes... maybe a bit more if traffic is bad.

JM

get the backpack

[Solly]

Originally posted by b etor


get the backpack

don't let a fifteen year old tell you what to do Jon!

[b etor]

but it's cool
also, i'm sixteen.

[Apocalypse]

A marathon runner's build isn't bad. It's fairly cheap in that you can be very healthy without a gym membership. If you just want to be basically not fat, then it is still better than 2/3rds of bodies out there.

[Solly]

Originally posted by Apocalypse
A marathon runner's build isn't bad. It's fairly cheap in that you can be very healthy without a gym membership. If you just want to be basically not fat, then it is still better than 2/3rds of bodies out there.

Skin and bones with no functional strength to speak of? Just massive lungs.

[Apocalypse]

I've known guys with 32+ inch waists and girls with more than a B cup that can run marathons.

[Footie Mad]

Originally posted by Doddler


Skin and bones with no functional strength to speak of? Just massive lungs.

And a strong heart is not functional?

[Solly]

Originally posted by Footie Mad


And a strong heart is not functional?

Yes, but you don't need to get down to 50kg to get a strong heart.

[Jon Miller]

It seems that some things increase well, especially legs (from squats), but also chest. But other things are a real struggle, like back or biceps. I think that my triceps increase decently also.

The thing is, it is depressing when I haven't gone up in weight for my lat pulldown in a while. Also, I have been doing dumbell press (probably works my triceps more than my chest, actually) but I don't think I can go up in weight without a spotter to help me get the weight up... (I do more per arm on my dumbell press then I do with both arms combined on a bicep curl).

JM

[Solly]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
It seems that some things increase well, especially legs (from squats), but also chest. But other things are a real struggle, like back or biceps. I think that my triceps increase decently also.

You should spend around 35% of your time on your back, 25% on chest, and 45% on legs. perhaps your routine is dominated by chest?

The thing is, it is depressing when I haven't gone up in weight for my lat pulldown in a while.

Eat more. Change your routine, try supersets or something else new.

Also, I have been doing dumbell press (probably works my triceps more than my chest, actually) but I don't think I can go up in weight without a spotter to help me get the weight up... (I do more per arm on my dumbell press then I do with both arms combined on a bicep curl).

JM

There are hooks you can get to rest dumbells on an overhead bar, they are quite useful when you are getting up towards 100lbs per hand

[Jon Miller]

Lol, I am less than 50 lbs per hand. It is just that my bicep is super weak, despite appearing when I flex my arm.

Currently I do:
1. Lat pulldowns (machine)
2. Dumbell press
3. squats (machine)
4. bicep curl (not every time)
5. bendy things (don't know the name, I take a weight, anchor might feet at a 45 degree angle with all my weight on my thighs and below, and then bend down so that my head is towards the floor, I think it works my hamstrings and lower back)
6. pillars

JM

[Jon Miller]

When I saw improvements with my chest is when I was doing isolateral press (machine).

JM

[Solly]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
Lol, I am less than 50 lbs per hand. It is just that my bicep is super weak, despite appearing when I flex my arm.

Currently I do:
1. Lat pulldowns (machine)
2. Dumbell press
3. squats (machine)
4. bicep curl (not every time)
5. bendy things (don't know the name, I take a weight, anchor might feet at a 45 degree angle with all my weight on my thighs and below, and then bend down so that my head is towards the floor, I think it works my hamstrings and lower back)
6. pillars

JM

Scrap the curls, bendy things and pillars. The first three are OK though.

Add in bent-over (parallel to bench) rows, incline presses, bodyweight dips and you're nearly done!

[Solly]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
When I saw improvements with my chest is when I was doing isolateral press (machine).

JM

The problem is with machine they isolate, meaning it's not functional strength that you gain, just strength on that one machine, so ends up being strength that isn't very transferrable.Stick to dumbells and compound lifts (basically heavy s***, no curls or isolation movements)