Power lifter? Bodybuilder? come on in!

[1sick_eg]

Formally active powerlifter and bodybuilder. I'm still active, but not like I use to be. I have 3 damaged vertebrae/discs, and some muscular tissue damage. Back injury was from motocross. Best lifts were 350 bench @157 lbs, 525 dead @175 lbs(raw but used straps), never maxed squats but highest I've squatted was 365 x 6. Definitely my weak spot. My heaviest was 198lbs @ 5'7". I'm now hovering around 165.

My body just isn't up to it right now with my back. Lifting generally doesn't bother it, but work does.

[Dznts]

Originally Posted by Mydivorcegift

He lifts raw if you are speaking about shirts and suits.

Gear is a term used for steroids

[Mydivorcegift]

Originally Posted by Dznts

Gear is a term used for steroids

LOL and bench shirts and squat suits

Notice I didn't comment on the other

Best suited for PM's

[Dznts]

Originally Posted by Mydivorcegift

LOL and bench shirts and squat suits

Notice I didn't comment on the other

Best suited for PM's

True , and yes I noticed. Those kinds of things are best left for pms.

[Camarojt]

Went to finals in right and left arm this past weekend. Took 2nd place in both in Amatuer division, also entered the Pro division for my 2nd time. Got my 1st win against a Pro Arm Wrestler so I was stoked! This sport takes a while to get good at. It's so much easier for me to bench or squat heavy! Gym strength means almost nothing in arm wrestling. It's mostly tendon strength, and a big portion is wrist and hand strength. Something powerlifters actually promote weak wrists. In powerlifting you use wrist wraps to support your wrists in heavy bench presses so there is no real reason for a strong wrist. Bodybuilding too.

[Mydivorcegift]

Originally Posted by Camarojt

Went to finals in right and left arm this past weekend. Took 2nd place in both in Amatuer division, also entered the Pro division for my 2nd time. Got my 1st win against a Pro Arm Wrestler so I was stoked! This sport takes a while to get good at. It's so much easier for me to bench or squat heavy! Gym strength means almost nothing in arm wrestling. It's mostly tendon strength, and a big portion is wrist and hand strength. Something powerlifters actually promote weak wrists. In powerlifting you use wrist wraps to support your wrists in heavy bench presses so there is no real reason for a strong wrist. Bodybuilding too.

That's awesome. I've watched that show Game of Arms. That (like most "reality" tv) seems a little hokey pokey.

I'd respectfully disagree....on the first bold. Moving massive weights, at any body weight, requires great tendon and ligament strength.

But the second bold...

Really occurred to me the other day while "practicing" crossfit. The single biggest hurdle I have right now (other than I've never done reps in 27 years of training) is wrist pain and discomfort when doing things like cleans and front squats.

Sitting there just racking my brain about it because the weight I'm using isn't an issue for me to do (A whopping 135 lbs lol) but ugh my wrists. Stretching them doing mobility drills for them, my forearms, etc...

Then it hits me about the wrist wraps which out of 27 years of training I've been in for probably 20.

[kevint]

Originally Posted by Mydivorcegift

That's awesome. I've watched that show Game of Arms. That (like most "reality" tv) seems a little hokey pokey.

I'd respectfully disagree....on the first bold. Moving massive weights, at any body weight, requires great tendon and ligament strength.

But the second bold...

Really occurred to me the other day while "practicing" crossfit. The single biggest hurdle I have right now (other than I've never done reps in 27 years of training) is wrist pain and discomfort when doing things like cleans and front squats.

Sitting there just racking my brain about it because the weight I'm using isn't an issue for me to do (A whopping 135 lbs lol) but ugh my wrists. Stretching them doing mobility drills for them, my forearms, etc...

Then it hits me about the wrist wraps which out of 27 years of training I've been in for probably 20.

Move your hands out a little further on the bar and work on getting your elbows up and in.

[Mydivorcegift]

JT sounds like you've gone from PL'ing to Arm Wrestling....

Maybe I should ditch this wild hair up my ass of me doing CF () and take up arm wrestling

[Mydivorcegift]

Originally Posted by kevint

Move your hands out a little further on the bar and work on getting your elbows up and in.

I am experimenting with grip width like you are suggesting and yes I am working hard at getting the mobility and the flexibility to get my elbows to parallel with the floor. It's just going to take time and effort. One thing I have that worked in my favor in PL'ing and benching specifically, that is a detriment in CF, I have a greatly developed 3rd head of the tricep. I have a lot of mass around my elbow joint where most have mostly just development of the 2 lateral heads. This mass I think is hindering my mobility in getting my elbows to that position.

But I'll keep plugging along.

[Camarojt]

Originally Posted by Mydivorcegift

JT sounds like you've gone from PL'ing to Arm Wrestling....

Maybe I should ditch this wild hair up my ass of me doing CF () and take up arm wrestling

Most definitely! I am all in on Arm Wrestling! I want to try to compete in my 1st Pro UAL or WAL event next year. All the top arm wrestlers will say don't expect to get good at this in less than 3 years.

As a weight lifter/powerlifter I would say I'm pretty dang strong. I've set 2 drug tested State Records. Bench 420, Squat 535, Deadlift 560 @ a body weight of 175.
I currently don't compete in powerlifting but I'm still strong enough to, but I don't deadlift at ALL anymore. To many disc issues. I don't do flat bench press anymore Bc of shoulder issues. I can still do dumbbell bench press. 120's for 8 good reps, no half rep stuff, and I do a machine chest press with full stack 280 for 30 reps. I can do tricep pushdowns with 200lb full stack with perfect form for 12 reps no momentum or half reps. And I can hammer preacher curl 75 lb Dumbbells for 10 reps each arm. 2 years ago I squated 405 for 22 reps! Those are just a few of my lifts.
But there are guys that can't lift anywhere near that but they can beat me on the arm wrestling table.
The tendons and muscles involved in arm wrestling are very specific. They will tell you that the #1 way to get better at Arm Wrestling is to Arm Wrestle! We hold practices at different places about each 2 weeks. After you hit a tough practice you literally can't use your arm for at least a few days, then if your new it hurts for another 2 weeks. Feels like you have nerve damage in ur arm almost like a tooth ache. It's nothing like being sore from the gym. It tears your wrist tendons and Brachialis tendons UP!
But after about 1-2-3 years your tendons start to get used to it and become conditioned. That's when you start to get to where you can HIT hard off the Ready Go! At 1st if you try to Hit hard it will set you down as you hold your arm in pain.

[Normagene]

Well I'm still struggling to add a few pounds. This is the last wk of my bulking up routine. I'll post my startup and end numbers nx wk. I don't ever eat junk and clean eating isn't adding muscle like I'd like. I feel much stronger, but really not getting any bigger.

Hubby finished his bulking/adding muscle routine, 12 wks total, and now one month later he's almost dropped 15 pounds. Body fat still going down, he still is eating clean, just not 42 to 4,500 cals a day more like 3,000. So his weight keeps dropping. Still looks good, but now he's starting to look thin. He said it's very difficult to eat so much food.

[Mydivorcegift]

Originally Posted by Normagene

Well I'm still struggling to add a few pounds. This is the last wk of my bulking up routine. I'll post my startup and end numbers nx wk. I don't ever eat junk and clean eating isn't adding muscle like I'd like. I feel much stronger, but really not getting any bigger.

Hubby finished his bulking/adding muscle routine, 12 wks total, and now one month later he's almost dropped 15 pounds. Body fat still going down, he still is eating clean, just not 42 to 4,500 cals a day more like 3,000. So his weight keeps dropping. Still looks good, but now he's starting to look thin. He said it's very difficult to eat so much food.

Pics or GTFO

[RGRCamaro]

Originally Posted by Normagene

Well I'm still struggling to add a few pounds. This is the last wk of my bulking up routine. I'll post my startup and end numbers nx wk. I don't ever eat junk and clean eating isn't adding muscle like I'd like. I feel much stronger, but really not getting any bigger.

Hubby finished his bulking/adding muscle routine, 12 wks total, and now one month later he's almost dropped 15 pounds. Body fat still going down, he still is eating clean, just not 42 to 4,500 cals a day more like 3,000. So his weight keeps dropping. Still looks good, but now he's starting to look thin. He said it's very difficult to eat so much food.

If you are struggling to eat enough, or to get enough calories to make your Macro numbers, here are a few simple suggestions I have used. (I am a hard-gainer with a stupid fast metabolism)

-Adding coconut oil to shakes (it is the healthiest of all oils, contains good fats, doesn't taste like anything, and per serving is very calorie dense)

-Setting an alarm 4 hours into your sleep (Or just halfway through) get up and drink another shake or eat. This gives you an extra meal and helps to keep the body fueled during sleep.

-Similar to the above post - add peanut butter to your last meal of the day. Besides extra calories and good fats - peanut butter slows the digestion of the food, allowing a more steady supply of nutrients over a longer time. My go to is a peanut butter and honey sandwhich on whole wheat bread right before bed, after dinner.

Good Luck.

[Camarojt]

Originally Posted by RGRCamaro

If you are struggling to eat enough, or to get enough calories to make your Macro numbers, here are a few simple suggestions I have used. (I am a hard-gainer with a stupid fast metabolism)

-Adding coconut oil to shakes (it is the healthiest of all oils, contains good fats, doesn't taste like anything, and per serving is very calorie dense)

-Setting an alarm 4 hours into your sleep (Or just halfway through) get up and drink another shake or eat. This gives you an extra meal and helps to keep the body fueled during sleep.

-Similar to the above post - add peanut butter to your last meal of the day. Besides extra calories and good fats - peanut butter slows the digestion of the food, allowing a more steady supply of nutrients over a longer time. My go to is a peanut butter and honey sandwhich on whole wheat bread right before bed, after dinner.

Good Luck.

^^ good suggestions! You can also add avocado to a meal where you are eating something like chicken breast and sweet potatoes! I add a little salt and eat a whole avocado. Another source of good fats!
Try adding in a small protein shake 30 min-1hr right after you eat a meal to up your macros. Bottom line there is not a real easy way for us hard gainers to add weight without force feeding ourselves.
I used to have to force feed an additional 30% of food after I was full by just putting it in my mouth chewing it up and chasing it with water like taking pills!