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Walking in a Winter Winckleland wrote:

Hime wrote:Winckle that is fantastic, do you feel better? Have you had to keep dropping your calories.

I feel a bit better, but the process is so gradual it's hard to say how different it is.

I haven't had to drop back calories quite a bit, but in general I've aimed for 1800 kcals a day since the beginning. That was originally a deficit of more than 1000kcals, but it's only about 750 now.

If not physically you must be proud of your mental strength? Being that deep into a calorie deficit is tough.

Hime wrote:

Walking in a Winter Winckleland wrote:

Hime wrote:Winckle that is fantastic, do you feel better? Have you had to keep dropping your calories.

I feel a bit better, but the process is so gradual it's hard to say how different it is.

I haven't had to drop back calories quite a bit, but in general I've aimed for 1800 kcals a day since the beginning. That was originally a deficit of more than 1000kcals, but it's only about 750 now.

If not physically you must be proud of your mental strength? Being that deep into a calorie deficit is tough.

I'd murder someone if I had to run a 1000 cal deficit

Hime wrote:

Walking in a Winter Winckleland wrote:

Hime wrote:Winckle that is fantastic, do you feel better? Have you had to keep dropping your calories.

I feel a bit better, but the process is so gradual it's hard to say how different it is.

I haven't had to drop back calories quite a bit, but in general I've aimed for 1800 kcals a day since the beginning. That was originally a deficit of more than 1000kcals, but it's only about 750 now.

If not physically you must be proud of your mental strength? Being that deep into a calorie deficit is tough.

It can be tough, but routine helps. I eat the same breakfast and lunch every weekday.

Some impressive numbers being thrown about here.

Well done everyone .

I'm not a gym person but I make up for it with a healthy obsession for swimming.
Between 1st Jan and today I've done 202 swims for a total of 627km with an average distance of 3103m.

I have no idea how much I weigh and I'm just under 6 foot I think as I've never bothered to get measured .
I'm not exactly Charles Atlas but I'm not the Marshmallow man either I'd say I'm about average as swimming doesn't really build any particular muscle group.

I do strawberry floating love cake though so that may not be helping .

Question, how much does the bar on a squat rack weigh? trying to work out how much I did on the bench press today but I don't know how much the bar weights.

ITSMILNER wrote:Question, how much does the bar on a squat rack weigh? trying to work out how much I did on the bench press today but I don't know how much the bar weights.

Almost always 20KG, there are some that weigh 15KG.

Walking in a Winter Winckleland wrote:

ITSMILNER wrote:Question, how much does the bar on a squat rack weigh? trying to work out how much I did on the bench press today but I don't know how much the bar weights.

Almost always 20KG, there are some that weigh 15KG.

Cheers Winckle!

God I love muscle memory.

Rocsteady wrote:God I love muscle memory.

Looking swole?

Hime wrote:

Rocsteady wrote:God I love muscle memory.

Looking swole?

Ye boi.

Not posting numbers anything like you are at present unfortunately though. I was a bit lax over the autumn with consistently going to the gym due to a few different health issues. Even after just a few weeks of running 2/3 times a week and lifting 3 times a week the muscle and strength is starting to pile back on thankfully.

Rocsteady wrote:

Hime wrote:

Rocsteady wrote:God I love muscle memory.

Looking swole?

Ye boi.

Not posting numbers anything like you are at present unfortunately though. I was a bit lax over the autumn with consistently going to the gym due to a few different health issues. Even after just a few weeks of running 2/3 times a week and lifting 3 times a week the muscle and strength is starting to pile back on thankfully.

Glad it's coming back. Are you running a programme or just doing your own thing? I started Madcow this year and really enjoying it.

Made the mistake of looking at pictures of last year's cut at around 170-175lbs, feeling like a bit of a fat gooseberry fool at around 200lbs. This is hard in your brain.

Hime wrote:

Rocsteady wrote:

Hime wrote:

Rocsteady wrote:God I love muscle memory.

Looking swole?

Ye boi.

Not posting numbers anything like you are at present unfortunately though. I was a bit lax over the autumn with consistently going to the gym due to a few different health issues. Even after just a few weeks of running 2/3 times a week and lifting 3 times a week the muscle and strength is starting to pile back on thankfully.

Glad it's coming back. Are you running a programme or just doing your own thing? I started Madcow this year and really enjoying it.

Made the mistake of looking at pictures of last year's cut at around 170-175lbs, feeling like a bit of a fat gooseberry fool at around 200lbs. This is hard in your brain.

You finding it effective for continuing to gain strength? I remember looking at that one a while back, does look as though it would be a fun program to run.

What height are you? I'm at about 195 just now (at 6'1) which is about as heavy as I like to go, can push it up to about 200 max. I find that if I continue to pack on more weight I feel quite sluggish, even if it's muscle that's being added. I'm naturally very skinny so not sure my frame's built to hold too much.

I'm still running an increasingly bastardised version of Layne Norton's PHAT. The base version is too catered towards roid users for my liking. Mine is more of a bodybuilding program than strength which suits me just now. I find it too easy to tweak muscles and put myself out for weeks when I go really heavy nowadays. Building myself back up to about 160kg deadlifts 3x8 just now which shouldn't take long, at which point I'll have to consider where to go from there as I don't have the inclination to try and push myself to extremes as I used to.

Rocsteady wrote:

Hime wrote:

Rocsteady wrote:

Hime wrote:

Rocsteady wrote:God I love muscle memory.

Looking swole?

Ye boi.

Not posting numbers anything like you are at present unfortunately though. I was a bit lax over the autumn with consistently going to the gym due to a few different health issues. Even after just a few weeks of running 2/3 times a week and lifting 3 times a week the muscle and strength is starting to pile back on thankfully.

Glad it's coming back. Are you running a programme or just doing your own thing? I started Madcow this year and really enjoying it.

Made the mistake of looking at pictures of last year's cut at around 170-175lbs, feeling like a bit of a fat gooseberry fool at around 200lbs. This is hard in your brain.

You finding it effective for continuing to gain strength? I remember looking at that one a while back, does look as though it would be a fun program to run.

What height are you? I'm at about 195 just now (at 6'1) which is about as heavy as I like to go, can push it up to about 200 max. I find that if I continue to pack on more weight I feel quite sluggish, even if it's muscle that's being added. I'm naturally very skinny so not sure my frame's built to hold too much.

I'm still running an increasingly bastardised version of Layne Norton's PHAT. The base version is too catered towards roid users for my liking. Mine is more of a bodybuilding program than strength which suits me just now. I find it too easy to tweak muscles and put myself out for weeks when I go really heavy nowadays. Building myself back up to about 160kg deadlifts 3x8 just now which shouldn't take long, at which point I'll have to consider where to go from there as I don't have the inclination to try and push myself to extremes as I used to.

Yeah definitely, the three heavy sets on fierce 5 was starting to take it's toll so it's nice to go down to just the one. I talked to the strength and fitness coach at my gym about the assistance exercises and I've got something I really like. To be honest just a change of programme has made things more enjoyable, there are all sorts of things you can adjust in the spreadsheet so I won't be at my previous PR's for a few weeks but the psychological difference of just one top set will make a difference (I hope).

I'm 6 foot but fairly broad, I feel like I look good with a t-shirt on but a bit fluffy without. I'm trying a quick mini cut then back in a surplus until around mid March, I've been bulking since May and an up to 4000 calories so it's nice to have a break from eating all the time. I feel great to be honest, joints feel good, no aches and pains, etc. I think 220lbs and 8% BF is the way to go

That's the sort of programme I'll end up on, the long term plan I set out is Fierce 5 > Madcow > 531. I need the strength stuff just to have a target to hit, pure bodybuilding is so subjective and I'm too paranoid and hard on myself to just judge progress purely on how I look. Could you try looking at an alternative like trap bar or build up RDL's? I do sumo as I feel less like I'll rip the base of my spine out.

Hime wrote:

Rocsteady wrote:

Hime wrote:

Rocsteady wrote:

Hime wrote:

Rocsteady wrote:God I love muscle memory.

Looking swole?

Ye boi.

Not posting numbers anything like you are at present unfortunately though. I was a bit lax over the autumn with consistently going to the gym due to a few different health issues. Even after just a few weeks of running 2/3 times a week and lifting 3 times a week the muscle and strength is starting to pile back on thankfully.

Glad it's coming back. Are you running a programme or just doing your own thing? I started Madcow this year and really enjoying it.

Made the mistake of looking at pictures of last year's cut at around 170-175lbs, feeling like a bit of a fat gooseberry fool at around 200lbs. This is hard in your brain.

You finding it effective for continuing to gain strength? I remember looking at that one a while back, does look as though it would be a fun program to run.

What height are you? I'm at about 195 just now (at 6'1) which is about as heavy as I like to go, can push it up to about 200 max. I find that if I continue to pack on more weight I feel quite sluggish, even if it's muscle that's being added. I'm naturally very skinny so not sure my frame's built to hold too much.

I'm still running an increasingly bastardised version of Layne Norton's PHAT. The base version is too catered towards roid users for my liking. Mine is more of a bodybuilding program than strength which suits me just now. I find it too easy to tweak muscles and put myself out for weeks when I go really heavy nowadays. Building myself back up to about 160kg deadlifts 3x8 just now which shouldn't take long, at which point I'll have to consider where to go from there as I don't have the inclination to try and push myself to extremes as I used to.

Yeah definitely, the three heavy sets on fierce 5 was starting to take it's toll so it's nice to go down to just the one. I talked to the strength and fitness coach at my gym about the assistance exercises and I've got something I really like. To be honest just a change of programme has made things more enjoyable, there are all sorts of things you can adjust in the spreadsheet so I won't be at my previous PR's for a few weeks but the psychological difference of just one top set will make a difference (I hope).

I'm 6 foot but fairly broad, I feel like I look good with a t-shirt on but a bit fluffy without. I'm trying a quick mini cut then back in a surplus until around mid March, I've been bulking since May and an up to 4000 calories so it's nice to have a break from eating all the time. I feel great to be honest, joints feel good, no aches and pains, etc. I think 220lbs and 8% BF is the way to go

That's the sort of programme I'll end up on, the long term plan I set out is Fierce 5 > Madcow > 531. I need the strength stuff just to have a target to hit, pure bodybuilding is so subjective and I'm too paranoid and hard on myself to just judge progress purely on how I look. Could you try looking at an alternative like trap bar or build up RDL's? I do sumo as I feel less like I'll rip the base of my spine out.

I would imagine having only one top set would help massively, I was always at my strongest running 1x6 max sets.

To be fair it’s the time of year to be hitting that shape, good to be filling out jumpers etc. My comparative laziness has left me with some fat over my stomach so I need to try strip that off while still growin in the chest, arms, glutes, thighs. Should be easily possible as I’ve found the body basically remembers the shape it’s been in previously to a large extent (not sure that’s backed by science but it’s defo easier to get back than gaining it the first time round...)

I kind of agree with the strength although for a long time I can just increase reps - e.g. work up to 3x12 bench 100kg rather than 1x5. Does fry your CNS when you do similar with deadlifts though. I’m so comfortable with regular dead’s that I’m reluctant to change tbh, might give sumo a go sometime just for variation though.

12 reps for 100kg bench? Jesus, I can only dream of ever hitting those sorts of numbers. Been training bench for years and resigned now that 5 reps at 90kg is my absolute limit. Barely hitting 85kg now and I'm not exactly out of shape at the moment.

I've only got back into lifting recently after a year off. My numbers were crap then and they're like a beginner now, but it's nice to be back and I'm starting to see some changes which is promising. Seeing your guys numbers is insane.

My main measurable goals right now are cardio based. At Christmas I went for a couple of runs, and ran 9.5km in 44 min, which I was ecstatic about. I was out for a few months at the beginning of the year from an ankle injury, but even before that my best was about 52 mins for a 10k. My long terms goals are to get to a 40 min 10k, and then (eventually) a 1:30 half marathon. I know these will be difficult - especially the half marathon since I've not done anything more than a 10k in a couple of years.

I'm lifting about 3 times a week and making slow, but steady, progress. I'm currently doing a push/pull/legs routine where I tend to alternate lifts each week from 5x3 to 12x3 (but different weights) - which feels like a good all-round way of doing things for me, considering how much I diversify in general.

I'm swimming a couple of times a week, and looking to get back into cycling - as I intend to do another few sprint triathlons, and want to build up over the next few years to longer versions.

I've had a few comments about my weight looking better which is nice. I've only actually lost about 6kg in the last 6 months, but I guess I've gained some muscle which will improve things greater than this number implies.

Not a bad starting point for the year.

I Shot A Kid wrote:12 reps for 100kg bench? Jesus, I can only dream of ever hitting those sorts of numbers. Been training bench for years and resigned now that 5 reps at 90kg is my absolute limit. Barely hitting 85kg now and I'm not exactly out of shape at the moment.

That's not to say I'm hitting those numbers currently! Give me a few months

I often plateau at 90kg for a while too, I think for me it's psychological as much as anything else. Putting on 1.25 plates and lowering rep count has helped me break through it before.

Nice run numbers TNAG, when I look at the running thread everyone here puts me to shame. Takes me about half an hour to do 5km and I'm fairly comfortable with that, definitely not my strong point although I am trying to improve.

I found fartlek / sprints are the thing that really improved my running speed. Once a week I would do something like:

4 x 5 min loops:
[4:30 - 7kmph] [0:30 - 12kmph]

Then each week I would increase certain things, for example if the about was week 1, then week 2 could look like:

4 x 5min loops:
[4:28 - 7.1kmph] [0:32 - 12.1kmph]

I broke it down into 3 variables:
amount of loops
time for sprint
speed

But in reality I concentrated on increasing 1 at a time. So I built it up so I could do 8 loops (with occasionally increasing the others), then primarily increased the speed, then primarily increased the time for the sprints.

I found it made running goals more like that of weight lifting, which was good for my motivation as I've found I need slow, steady progress to stop me loosing interest.

Couldn't even make 5k today before my calves completely seized up think I need a few day rest from running.

Been trying to do yoga a few times a week as well (just following YouTube videos) to prevent moving like a 70 year old. After over a decade of consistent lifting with minimal stretching my body's strawberry floating stiff as a board.

When I first started stretching regularly it took months for me to really notice the difference, but my back hasn't had an issue since (my back was my main issue - pulled it loads of times in the past - but I found stretching my legs registry fixed it. I can now even touch my toes, when before I could only reach about an inch below my knee).