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Less gym time, same results: Why ‘lowering’ weights is all you need to do

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81–90 of 219 posts

Re: Less gym time, same results: Why ‘lowering’ weights is all you need to do

#81

From my personal experience, for the majority of people, I would recommend to stay away from classic body building weight trainning. I trainned that way for several years in my early twenties (back then, I was even a certified body bulding trainner) and the overload in my joints was a recipe for disaster + the kind of body I developed was disfunctional for activities other than weights themselves. The excercises I've…

May I know what you are referring to as the "classic body building" exercises. To me the classic ones are squat, bench and deadlift. I am curious why you think it's a disaster.

Doing the traditional powerlifting lifts like you mentioned is something can can be sustained long term, and has incredible health benefits. I am a competitive strength athlete, and there are a ton of people in the community that have been lifting competitively for as much as 40-50 years and are still in great shape. Proper form and technique are critical to preventing injury, I have only seen people get injured when they are doing things unsafely or incorrectly. I have never had a major injury or issue with heavy weight training, and have been doing it for 17 years now myself. It's been life changing for me- I have so much more energy, focus, mental strength, and calm.

Competitive bodybuilding however is a totally different thing (very different lifts- mostly light weight, very high rep), and I think the extreme diet and drugs alone takes a toll on your body regardless of the workouts.

Re: Less gym time, same results: Why ‘lowering’ weights is all you need to do

#82
post #70

From my personal experience, for the majority of people, I would recommend to stay away from classic body building weight trainning. I trainned that way for several years in my early twenties (back then, I was even a certified body bulding trainner) and the overload in my joints was a recipe for disaster + the kind of body I developed was disfunctional for activities other than weights themselves. The excercises I've…

There is zero science behind this. Professional body builders have chronic issues not because of the exercises but rather the intensity of training and specialized focus on certain muscles/aesthetics. You can say the same for pro athletes in most other sports as well. An amateur doing a standard squat, bench press, curl, deadlift etc. routine with manageable weights and good guidance/form is absolutely going to benef…

At the climbing gym body builders show up and they're more likely to be worse than the typical sunken chested beginner.

Dancers, gymnasts, Martial artists, and calisthenics guys show up and tend to do pretty well at climbing straight out of the gate. They bothered to learn how to move, and the skills translate at least somewhat.

When it comes to health and longevity, simply going for a brisk walk on a regular basis will realize the lion's share of benefits.

Re: Less gym time, same results: Why ‘lowering’ weights is all you need to do

#83
post #82
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is zero science behind this. Professional body builders have chronic issues not because of the exercises but rather the intensity of training and specialized focus on certain muscles/aesthetics. You can say the same for pro athletes in most other sports as well. An amateur doing a standard squat, bench press, curl, deadlift etc. routine with manageable weights and good guidance/form is absolutely going to benef…

At the climbing gym body builders show up and they're more likely to be worse than the typical sunken chested beginner. Dancers, gymnasts, Martial artists, and calisthenics guys show up and tend to do pretty well at climbing straight out of the gate. They bothered to learn how to move, and the skills translate at least somewhat. When it comes to health and longevity, simply going for a brisk walk on a regular basis w…

Sure but anyone who’s heavy would struggle climbing. Even truly athletic and flexible heavy athletes like football or basketball players.

Re: Less gym time, same results: Why ‘lowering’ weights is all you need to do

#84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those aren’t very classic for bodybuilding, rather they are the ones for powerlifting. Bodybuilding uses a very wide variety of movements incorporating dumbbells, barbells, and machines to train every single muscle periodically (even focusing on little tiny ones no one else would care about). Here’s a good example of a bodybuilding training routine: https://thinksteroids.com/community/threads/first-bodybuildi... That…

I'm not sure linking to a post detailing the PEDs alongside their routine is typical of the average person who does bodybuilding style training.

PEDs seem to be the most classic bodybuilding routine.

Re: Less gym time, same results: Why ‘lowering’ weights is all you need to do

#85

A set of gymnastic rings for 50USD is a great investment if you can find a good place to use them. I have a set that I take with me to the gym. Ring dips and push-ups are awesome pushing exercises. Ring dips especially put a lot of load on the chest in way that almost no other exercise does. Ring pull-ups and rows are great pull exercises. Rings allow you to do a lot of interesting movements and variations on these e…

pull-up bar and rings and you're set. these days 80-100$ on Amazon

Not quite…the door bars will all result in “low” rings - which heavily limit your vertical movement range.

If you can attach them to your ceiling you’ll have better experience. I’m lucky to have a thicker concrete ceiling though.

Re: Less gym time, same results: Why ‘lowering’ weights is all you need to do

#86

From my personal experience, for the majority of people, I would recommend to stay away from classic body building weight trainning. I trainned that way for several years in my early twenties (back then, I was even a certified body bulding trainner) and the overload in my joints was a recipe for disaster + the kind of body I developed was disfunctional for activities other than weights themselves. The excercises I've…

I strongly disagree. Weight training is one of the best gifts you can give your body. It keeps you healthy and event prevents injury if done correctly.

What you did wrong was not weight training but following an unbalanced training regimen. No judgement there, I was guilty of the same when I was younger. I think younger/uninformed lifters tend to "ego lift" and focus on size over aspects of physical training. It is easy to fall into this trap when social media is heavily skewed toward steroid users.

Building physical strength is no sin. But you have to approach it from a health and not ego-centered perspective. This means lifting within your ability and with good form, practicing mobility exercises, and understanding the kinetic chain.

Developing a healthy body is a lifelong and rewarding journey. I recommend anyone starting their fitness journey to ground themselves in functional strength and physical therapy instead of the bro culture that is rampant in the fitness industry. I recommend the channels AthleanX and Kneesovertoesguy on YouTube if you want learn from people who teach safe and balanced approaches to strength.

Re: Less gym time, same results: Why ‘lowering’ weights is all you need to do

#87
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the climbing gym body builders show up and they're more likely to be worse than the typical sunken chested beginner. Dancers, gymnasts, Martial artists, and calisthenics guys show up and tend to do pretty well at climbing straight out of the gate. They bothered to learn how to move, and the skills translate at least somewhat. When it comes to health and longevity, simply going for a brisk walk on a regular basis w…

Sure but anyone who’s heavy would struggle climbing. Even truly athletic and flexible heavy athletes like football or basketball players.

Some of these guys can do pullups all day, but they only train within a strict range of motion and they aren't necessarily any good at doing anything outside of that range.

When I started climbing I could do 3 pullups, and now I can do 18 in a set. I don't train pull-ups, just climbing.

Re: Less gym time, same results: Why ‘lowering’ weights is all you need to do

#88

From my personal experience, for the majority of people, I would recommend to stay away from classic body building weight trainning. I trainned that way for several years in my early twenties (back then, I was even a certified body bulding trainner) and the overload in my joints was a recipe for disaster + the kind of body I developed was disfunctional for activities other than weights themselves. The excercises I've…

Body weight exercises can be a recipe for joint overload compared to weights/machines.

For example, bodyweight pullups or dip are way more weight than I would do for a 12 rep working set and don't allow for warmup weights.

Re: Less gym time, same results: Why ‘lowering’ weights is all you need to do

#89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

May I know what you are referring to as the "classic body building" exercises. To me the classic ones are squat, bench and deadlift. I am curious why you think it's a disaster.

Those aren’t very classic for bodybuilding, rather they are the ones for powerlifting. Bodybuilding uses a very wide variety of movements incorporating dumbbells, barbells, and machines to train every single muscle periodically (even focusing on little tiny ones no one else would care about). Here’s a good example of a bodybuilding training routine: https://thinksteroids.com/community/threads/first-bodybuildi... That…

IIRC they were the basis of the routines in Arnold's _Education of a Body Builder_... doesn't get any more classic than that.

Re: Less gym time, same results: Why ‘lowering’ weights is all you need to do

#90
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the climbing gym body builders show up and they're more likely to be worse than the typical sunken chested beginner. Dancers, gymnasts, Martial artists, and calisthenics guys show up and tend to do pretty well at climbing straight out of the gate. They bothered to learn how to move, and the skills translate at least somewhat. When it comes to health and longevity, simply going for a brisk walk on a regular basis w…

Sure but anyone who’s heavy would struggle climbing. Even truly athletic and flexible heavy athletes like football or basketball players.

There are professional climbers who are 'heavy'.

Finger strength, overall strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, and technique all play a massive role as well.

I don't know why the bodybuilders I've climbed with seem to be worse than overweight/obese people I've seen climbing for their first time, but I've had this observation as well.

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