Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if there's even a point to nutrition

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

For the past several years, and especially in the past year for me, I've been a total health nut when it comes to nutrition. Every day my diet consists of carrots, spinach, apples, oranges, nectarines, banana's, and peas. About 80% of the food I eat is fruits and vegetables, and the rest is found in carbs (like rice and potatoes) and protein (bacon and eggs).

But really, I don't see what difference it makes. My digestion is definately WAY better with all the plants I eat, but that's it. I don't feel healthier, or more energetic, I still can't heal from all the nerve damage in my spine, I still get depressed and in bad moods. And then there's my friends who live on spaggetti, pizza pops, bacon, burrito's, and smoke tobacco. They all have more muscle than me (maybe because they can be more active), they all have more energy, and their health seems the same as mine. The only thing I have going for me is that I did some research on Vitamin-C, started taking 3-4grams a day, and almost never get sick since doing that. Otherwise, my junkfood eating counterparts are as healthy or more.

Besides good digestion, has anybody really noticed results from eating healthy?

[Frivolous248]

Well do you work out? Just 'cause your friends look buff doesn't necessarily mean they're healthy. You can still get protein from stuff like pizza and if they work out they're gonna build muscle.

Add more protein to your diet 'n start pumping some iron, you'll get buff.

[WakingDream]

The difference is that if you eat healthy you will probably live longer. I read a book that said that many diseases are caused by mineral deficiencies so keep eating those daily vitamins.

I had wierd eye spasms awhile ago and somebody told me it was a potassium deficiencie so I ate some bananas and the spasms went away. I've gotten them a few times and potassium helps.

[rainbows.rsexy]

its a long term thing

just wait and see who has more prescription meds at 50 years old

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Well do you work out? Just 'cause your friends look buff doesn't necessarily mean they're healthy. You can still get protein from stuff like pizza and if they work out they're gonna build muscle.

Add more protein to your diet 'n start pumping some iron, you'll get buff.

Oh yeah, I've devised the perfect workout roughtine, though only recently discovered that pushups are WAY more effective if you do them while holding onto weights that you have to keep from rolling side-to-side. Still though, my friends seem as strong as me, and some stronger, and I'm the only one that works out. However, I think that's due largely in part that I'm housebound and can't be on my feet most of the time because of my screwed up back and neck.



The difference is that if you eat healthy you will probably live longer. I read a book that said that many diseases are caused by mineral deficiencies so keep eating those daily vitamins.

I had wierd eye spasms awhile ago and somebody told me it was a potassium deficiencie so I ate some bananas and the spasms went away. I've gotten them a few times and potassium helps.

Hey that's pretty cool you discovered that! Yeah that is definately the main reason I stick to my healthy diet. I fear cancer like the grim reaper and I generally want to avoid disease and live a long life. Oh of all things that are important to me, I want to live as looooooonnng a life as possible.

I wonder if the tramadol and pregabalin I take are shortening my lifespan though. Nothing I can do right now to avoid taking those unfortunately.



its a long term thing

just wait and see who has more prescription meds at 50 years old

Very true that, I just wish I could see some more immediate benefits.

[bhouncy]

Hey that's pretty cool you discovered that! Yeah that is definately the main reason I stick to my healthy diet. I fear cancer like the grim reaper and I generally want to avoid disease and live a long life. Oh of all things that are important to me, I want to live as looooooonnng a life as possible.

Thinking positive has a great effect on the mind/body. You say you fear cancer. If I ask you NOT to think of a black cat then in order for you to understand the statement you have to think of a black cat. So say you want to 'avoid disease'. If you think in this way a lot then you are focusing on disease rather than good health. So maybe you could say "I want to be healthy". You can expand this with questions like "How healthy?" "How will I know when I am at my optimum health?". You can make up lots of questions and they will be helpful as long as they focus on health rather than disease.

How long is as long as possible? It's possible it could be another 100 years or possible that it is 10 minutes *cue the fear*:D. It's like people who say they want to lose weight. How much weight? What will you look like when you reach your goal? So a more positive statement could be "I want to be x amount of pounds in 6 months time". How about "I want to live past 120 years with health and vigour". You can mess around with these statements until you find one that inspires you.

People say "THINK POSITIVE!"
The question I ask is "How?"

[MajMike]

We like immediate results these days, but many benefits to nutrition are long-term. Stronger immune system, reduced muscle/bone loss to aging, longer life, these things are not measurable now but if you continue your diet you will see the results long-term.

[stinkyattic]

bhouncy that is a great way to look at things. +rep to you but it's turned off ... awww...

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

bhouncy that is a great way to look at things. +rep to you but it's turned off ... awww...

yep, my thoughts as well. Think of all the rep you could get bouncy!:jointsmile: I agree with his philosophy 100%, I've already been trying not to think of the fact "I don't want cancer", but I never thought of actually going into specifics. Cool idea +imaginary rep for you :)

[Staurm]

When I eat healthy=

my skin has more colour
I am less depressed
I have more energy
I shit regularly
I sleep better
my farts don't smell

So yes, very much I notice the difference when I don't eat well, compared to when I do.

I eat loads of green vegetable mostly spinach, home cooked indian cuisine, tofu, boiled potatoes and I drink plenty of green tea.

In the morning ideally I like to have a hemp seed bar with a few mugs of black tea, or milky chai, depending on my mood.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Ah you like the hemp seeds eh Staurm? I really wanted to get some myself, I heard they have a very helpful protein that's completely unique to hempseeds. And you're right, a good plant-filled diet really keeps the bowels working properly. I especially need that with the opiate painkillers I take. Speaking of which, I found out all I needed to do was take 3 appricots a day and constipation isn't an issue at all anymore. It's amazing how well they work!

[Staurm]

I used to eat apricot kernels every day, they are a very good course of anti-oxidants, and they taste like marzipan. THe only unique thing about hemp is that it is the only plant source to contain all fatty acids neccessary to sustain human life. THey have the closest balance of omega 3, 6 and 9 to what is ideal for human comsuption as any plant source as well.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

I used to eat apricot kernels every day, they are a very good course of anti-oxidants, and they taste like marzipan. THe only unique thing about hemp is that it is the only plant source to contain all fatty acids neccessary to sustain human life. THey have the closest balance of omega 3, 6 and 9 to what is ideal for human comsuption as any plant source as well.

wow, that's really neat to know man! As soon as I get working again I'll be sure to buy some.

[Staurm]

UdoErasmus.com > FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions! (http://www.udoerasmus.com/choose.right.fats.htm)

I've only read a leaflet by this guy, but it was very informative, he seems to know what he is talking about.

EDIT: This link is better.

UdoErasmus.com > FATS THAT KILL FATS THAT HEAL - The Complete Lecture - Part One: Introduction (http://www.udoerasmus.com/articles/udo/fthftk.htm)

[Storm Crow]

Some 40 years ago, I was a bio major. I took a course on tending laboratory animals- nutrition was about 50% of what we learned. (This is what got me into nutrition!) All the rest, animal physiology, cages, sanitation, and all the other stuff was dwarfed by the amount of nutritional info we had to learn. And why did we have to learn it? Because the animals have to be in absolutely perfect health or the experiment (whatever it was) would be invalid! Nutrition is vital whether you're a lab rat or a human!

Livestock owners always give their cattle and sheep extra vitamins and minerals for a few weeks before breeding- this increases the number and viability of calves and lambs. The ability to breed successfully is a reasonable indicator of health.

Now, it's hard to prove that eating healthily makes/keeps you healthy, but the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons do tend to out-live the general population. Japanese who eat a traditional diet (lots of veggies, kelp, fish) live longer, but those who eat a western diet live shorter lives. Our teeth label us as omnivores, tending a bit toward vegetarian.

Then there are the additives that are in our food. I have a problem with one common one in particular, Sodium benzoate. For me, it is poison- If I get a big dose, my whole digestive system goes on "PURGE!" Not pleasant! It can change to benzene in your system under certain condition. Benzene is very bad stuff. I think of my sensitive digestion as an "early warning system". Several things that upset it have later been proven to be not so good for you. You've avoided many of the additives by eating as you do. That means that much less potential poison in your system.

Now about hemp seed's nutritional value- you might like to read this--
HEMP SEED: The Most Nutritionally Complete Food Source In The World (http://www.ratical.org/renewables/hempseed1.html)
HEMP SEED: The Most Nutritionally Complete Food Source In The World (http://www.ratical.org/renewables/hempseed2.html)

I put them in my brownies.:D

I work at a school and am exposed to every germ in the county! I take a handful of herbs and vitamins every night. I seldom am ill. When I do get ill, I am almost always the least sick in my household. I'd keep up the good food, perhaps with a bit more protein. - Granny:hippy:

[thcbongman]

For the past several years, and especially in the past year for me, I've been a total health nut when it comes to nutrition. Every day my diet consists of carrots, spinach, apples, oranges, nectarines, banana's, and peas. About 80% of the food I eat is fruits and vegetables, and the rest is found in carbs (like rice and potatoes) and protein (bacon and eggs).

But really, I don't see what difference it makes. My digestion is definately WAY better with all the plants I eat, but that's it. I don't feel healthier, or more energetic, I still can't heal from all the nerve damage in my spine, I still get depressed and in bad moods. And then there's my friends who live on spaggetti, pizza pops, bacon, burrito's, and smoke tobacco. They all have more muscle than me (maybe because they can be more active), they all have more energy, and their health seems the same as mine. The only thing I have going for me is that I did some research on Vitamin-C, started taking 3-4grams a day, and almost never get sick since doing that. Otherwise, my junkfood eating counterparts are as healthy or more.

Besides good digestion, has anybody really noticed results from eating healthy?

Actually your diet is pretty unhealthy.

Not enough protein, and fats. Start eating more nuts and beans. Start taking fish oil supplement since you are adverse to eating meat. In your case, you should be eating a ton of them.

You notice why vegetarians are so thin? Many of them suffer from malnutrition and lack of minerals. Just because you eat a bunch of vegetables doesn't mean you are healthy.

As for them, their diet is unhealthy as well. Still, it sounds like they have an active lifestyle to make up for it.

[Frivolous248]

though only recently discovered that pushups are WAY more effective if you do them while holding onto weights that you have to keep from rolling side-to-side.


You mean like holding the ends of a dumbell while your doing pushups? I'm interested in trying this if its as good as you say, I want a bigger chest.

[thcbongman]

Oh yeah, I've devised the perfect workout roughtine, though only recently discovered that pushups are WAY more effective if you do them while holding onto weights that you have to keep from rolling side-to-side. Still though, my friends seem as strong as me, and some stronger, and I'm the only one that works out. However, I think that's due largely in part that I'm housebound and can't be on my feet most of the time because of my screwed up back and neck.




Hey that's pretty cool you discovered that! Yeah that is definately the main reason I stick to my healthy diet. I fear cancer like the grim reaper and I generally want to avoid disease and live a long life. Oh of all things that are important to me, I want to live as looooooonnng a life as possible.

I wonder if the tramadol and pregabalin I take are shortening my lifespan though. Nothing I can do right now to avoid taking those unfortunately.




Very true that, I just wish I could see some more immediate benefits.

You have to understand the principle of working out. Most people don't understand it. They think working the same muscles everyday at a heavy weight = muscle gain. That's actually wrong. You grow muscles when you eat, when you sleep, not when you work out.

Building muscle is a combination of doing exercises on a scheduled, consistant basis. You have to compartmentalize working each muscle group. The formula is simple, at least in the beginning:

1. Upper Body - day 1
2. Lower Body - day 2
3. Rest - day 3
4. Repeat

Now I do mine more complex where I work specific muscle groups one day and do max reps, speed reps, deloads and pylotechnics for different exercises. However don't worry about those, the important thing is to figure out how to work-out in proper form, and planning your exercises.

The main point here is if you are doing push-ups everyday, you aren't giving your muscles time to rest and recover. Also you are eating far too little. When you work out, you have to eat ALOT. You seem to already have a good concept of a diet, so this shouldn't be hard. Follow what I said in the first reply, EAT EAT EAT. It doesn't matter if you have a BF of 5% or 25%, the concept is the same. Don't fear weight gain if you eat healthy.

As for cancer, you can be completely healthy and get cancer, like I did. Cancer is such a complex subject you can't listen to "what causes it, and what doesn't." Really no one has a clue.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

You mean like holding the ends of a dumbell while your doing pushups? I'm interested in trying this if its as good as you say, I want a bigger chest.

No, actually what I do is have two arm-curling weights at either side of me, hold onto the handles, and do the pushups. Here's a pic

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Don't worry THCBongMan, I know all that stuff already and I eat plenty, protein and all.

[Staurm]

No, actually what I do is have two arm-curling weights at either side of me, hold onto the handles, and do the pushups. Here's a pic

That's what I do too! Do you also place them next to each other with your feet apart for balance and do them that way?

[Staurm]

You notice why vegetarians are so thin? Many of them suffer from malnutrition and lack of minerals. Just because you eat a bunch of vegetables doesn't mean you are healthy.

As for them, their diet is unhealthy as well.

No it's not, you can get all the nutrition you require from plant sources, and its often more ecologically sustainable.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

No it's not, you can get all the nutrition you require from plant sources, and its often more ecologically sustainable.


Well, I'd say it's always more ecoligically sustainable.

I've wondered that myself, I know you can get many types of protein from plant sources, but can you get all the proteins you get from meat? And can you get it in the same abundance? All I know is Sepultura's singer, Derek Green, has been a vegetarian for something like 16 years, and just look at the guy!

[MegaOctane12]

I have found that if I try and be realistic about healthy food and eat it 70% of the time I can eat junk food 30% of the time and not feel unhealthy as a result, I also enjoy it more. I also stick to eating healthy things when I don't see eating them as a chore.


Also I think if you are working out and your friends don't, but you are the same size or smaller then there is something wrong with either your diet or your training, its most probaly both, although its hard to say because you didn't post your regime. To build muscle you need more protein than you have been told, at least 1gram per pound of body weight, at least. Also, you need a proper regime to see results, I find a three day split is effective. Also I find that back workouts really help alot, I feel when I'm walking around that I am more supported and stronger, exercises like bent over dumbell rows, rowing machine, lat pull downs or chin ups, basically anything where you are having to pull thing's will build a big back.

If you train your chest and your back you will shoot out and you will look bigger. My regime is :-

Chest/Tri
5 Min warm-up
Dumbell Flat Bench - 4 sets 6-8 reps
Weighted Dips For Chest - 4 sets 6-8 reps (last set to failure)
Incline Dumbell Fly- 4 sets 6-8 reps (last set to failure) (Lay so head is at the top of the bench)
Skull Crushers - 3 sets 6-8 reps (or close grip bench press)
overhead cable presses 3 sets 6-8 reps (last set to fail) (or close grip bench presses)

Back/Bi
5 min warm-up
Deadlifts 4 sets 6-8 reps (last set to failure)
Bent Over One Arm Dumbell Rows 4 sets 6-8 reps
Lat pulldowns 3 sets 6-8 reps (last set to fail)
(I would prefer you to do chins instead though if you are strong enough to lift your bodyweight)
Barbell Bicep curl 3 sets 6-8 reps
One arm Dumbell Hammer curls 3 sets 6-8 reps

Delts/traps
5 min warm-up
Seated Dumbell military press (Sit on Bench while executing) - 3 sets 6-8 reps
Lateral dumbell raises (side) 3 sets 6-8 reps (last to fail)
Barbell Shrugs 5 sets 6-8 reps


Legs I do on back day or whenever I go gym I combine back and leg days because you need machines for these.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

That's a pretty good workout MegaOctane. You're much like me in diet, 70% healthy and 30% junk (I say as I'm drinking a can of coke now; damn my weakness). I've only recently figured out the perfect workout myself, but I have been finally seeing the results. I've just been naturally scrawny and skinny my whole life, so it's an uphill battle. But even though I'm not as strong as my friends, I'm getting there and definately have them beat on the abbs. I do my workout every second day, as follows.

Start out with gentle warm-up with a yoga stretching routine.

Arm Curls:
Always keep a good heavy weight. 3 sets of 10 reps.

Abbs:
I lie back, put one foot on the opposite knee, the put my arm from the same side as the leg through the hole made by my leg. Then I do crunches that work just my left, then switch and do just my right. It works really well.

Then I do strait-up situps.

Then I do leg-lifts, where I lie on my back and put my legs together and lift them right up, then lower them an inch above the floor and repeat.

All 4 of these are done in 3 sets of 10.

Pushups:
As described above, do them holding the dumbbells. Right now I can only manage 2 sets of 10 because I just switched to this method, but I will work it up to 3 sets.

Thingamajigs:

LOL, can't think of a name for it. I take my arm-curling weight at one side at a time, and lift it at my side up to my armpit. This works those muscles that connect your neck to your shoulder really well.

2 sets of 10, will get it up to 3 when I get used to my pushups. I like to keep all my muscles capable of a consistant number of reps.

As for my legs I'm not sure what I can do. I walk whenver I can, but the sciatica kills me when I walk more than 20 minutes. I tried leg lunges but it made the sciatica much worse.

[LuckyG]

I found out all I needed to do was take 3 appricots a day and constipation isn't an issue at all anymore. It's amazing how well they work!

I had three nectarines yesterday, and this morning I think I shit out my entire intestinal capacity. Just thought y'all would like to know. :D

[thcbongman]

No it's not, you can get all the nutrition you require from plant sources, and its often more ecologically sustainable.

You can, but most vegetarians, especially vegans suffer from malnutrition because they don't eat enough from plant sources. As I stated, you have to eat alot of beans and nuts. Tofu as well.

Well Gandalf, you claim to know about that already, but obviously you are doing something wrong. You either aren't eating enough, or you are aren't giving parts of your muscles proper rest. You have to consistantly eat meals, at least 6 times a day. It's pretty tough to do, but once you get use to it, you'll be big in no time.

I'm a of a thin-body type as well, and believe me you can get bigger. In 3 months, I went from a post-surgical weight of 153 to 165 while maintaining a 7% BF. It required eating a ton of healthy food, and not one bit of shit. In my first years of working out it took me a year to gain 12 pounds of muscle, because I kept screwed up without and assumed I knew everything just because I learned a lot of exercises.

Read some articles on bodybuilding.com to self-assess what you aren't doing right. You can't assume you know that, there's always something to learn about exercise, learning doesn't stop. The more you learn, the better you'll be at gaining that mass.

[Staurm]

Well, I'd say it's always more ecoligically sustainable.

I've wondered that myself, I know you can get many types of protein from plant sources, but can you get all the proteins you get from meat? And can you get it in the same abundance? All I know is Sepultura's singer, Derek Green, has been a vegetarian for something like 16 years, and just look at the guy!

Is that the new singer? I've not listened to them for years.

Anyway, this fine specimen of a vegetarian also comes from Brazil, remember. British vegetarians tend to look lethargic not only because they eat shit from Holland and Barret, but also because they don't get enough vitamen D from the sun.

[Staurm]

That's a pretty good workout MegaOctane. You're much like me in diet, 70% healthy and 30% junk (I say as I'm drinking a can of coke now; damn my weakness). I've only recently figured out the perfect workout myself, but I have been finally seeing the results. I've just been naturally scrawny and skinny my whole life, so it's an uphill battle. But even though I'm not as strong as my friends, I'm getting there and definately have them beat on the abbs. I do my workout every second day, as follows.

Start out with gentle warm-up with a yoga stretching routine.

Arm Curls:
Always keep a good heavy weight. 3 sets of 10 reps.

Abbs:
I lie back, put one foot on the opposite knee, the put my arm from the same side as the leg through the hole made by my leg. Then I do crunches that work just my left, then switch and do just my right. It works really well.

Then I do strait-up situps.

Then I do leg-lifts, where I lie on my back and put my legs together and lift them right up, then lower them an inch above the floor and repeat.

All 4 of these are done in 3 sets of 10.

Pushups:
As described above, do them holding the dumbbells. Right now I can only manage 2 sets of 10 because I just switched to this method, but I will work it up to 3 sets.

Thingamajigs:

LOL, can't think of a name for it. I take my arm-curling weight at one side at a time, and lift it at my side up to my armpit. This works those muscles that connect your neck to your shoulder really well.

2 sets of 10, will get it up to 3 when I get used to my pushups. I like to keep all my muscles capable of a consistant number of reps.

As for my legs I'm not sure what I can do. I walk whenver I can, but the sciatica kills me when I walk more than 20 minutes. I tried leg lunges but it made the sciatica much worse.

Fuck that shit man, don't ever get into a routine. And yoga is for winding down, not warming up. Warm up by going for a walk, walk until you are tired. Then when you go home if you feel energtic throw some dumbells around and do some press ups, otherwise do some light yoga. If you don't then maybe the next day. Get the blood pumping through your heart before you try lifting anything heavy. You don't need excessively heavy weights to put on some muscle either. Use the same weight until you feel like your not lifting anything and you can throw them around like they are weightless, and then build up that way. Use the same weight for ages and don't worry about how many reps you do. Wind down afterwards by relaxing and stretching. Sleep on a hard surface if you can. I sleep on the floor using a quilt as a matress, I wont have it any other way.

[thcbongman]

That's a pretty good workout MegaOctane. You're much like me in diet, 70% healthy and 30% junk (I say as I'm drinking a can of coke now; damn my weakness). I've only recently figured out the perfect workout myself, but I have been finally seeing the results. I've just been naturally scrawny and skinny my whole life, so it's an uphill battle. But even though I'm not as strong as my friends, I'm getting there and definately have them beat on the abbs. I do my workout every second day, as follows.

Start out with gentle warm-up with a yoga stretching routine.

Arm Curls:
Always keep a good heavy weight. 3 sets of 10 reps.

Abbs:
I lie back, put one foot on the opposite knee, the put my arm from the same side as the leg through the hole made by my leg. Then I do crunches that work just my left, then switch and do just my right. It works really well.

Then I do strait-up situps.

Then I do leg-lifts, where I lie on my back and put my legs together and lift them right up, then lower them an inch above the floor and repeat.

All 4 of these are done in 3 sets of 10.

Pushups:
As described above, do them holding the dumbbells. Right now I can only manage 2 sets of 10 because I just switched to this method, but I will work it up to 3 sets.

Thingamajigs:

LOL, can't think of a name for it. I take my arm-curling weight at one side at a time, and lift it at my side up to my armpit. This works those muscles that connect your neck to your shoulder really well.

2 sets of 10, will get it up to 3 when I get used to my pushups. I like to keep all my muscles capable of a consistant number of reps.

As for my legs I'm not sure what I can do. I walk whenver I can, but the sciatica kills me when I walk more than 20 minutes. I tried leg lunges but it made the sciatica much worse.

You say you know yoga stretches. You know the one where you have to lift your leg into the air, stretch it out and hold? From time to time you move it at a 45 degree angle? Don't do it for very long since you have a considerable amount of pain, but in burst, it's pretty managable.

There are also calf-raises. Those aren't as taxing as lunges or squats.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Fuck that shit man, don't ever get into a routine. And yoga is for winding down, not warming up. Warm up by going for a walk, walk until you are tired. Then when you go home if you feel energtic throw some dumbells around and do some press ups, otherwise do some light yoga. If you don't then maybe the next day. Get the blood pumping through your heart before you try lifting anything heavy. You don't need excessively heavy weights to put on some muscle either. Use the same weight until you feel like your not lifting anything and you can throw them around like they are weightless, and then build up that way. Use the same weight for ages and don't worry about how many reps you do. Wind down afterwards by relaxing and stretching. Sleep on a hard surface if you can. I sleep on the floor using a quilt as a matress, I wont have it any other way.


Actually yoga has warm up excercises, we used them to warm up at Yoga class :p . And sorry man but I can't go for runs like you, the spine's just too fricked up.
As for the weights, I actually did it by the method you describe for 3 years, and baaaaaaarely saw results. It's when I changed to the system I do now, where I have plenty of weight but still enough that I can curl 30 times, that I've seen major results. Not as stong as my friends, like I said, but a hell of a lot stroner than I was. At the rate I'm going, I'll surpass them all within the year.



You say you know yoga stretches. You know the one where you have to lift your leg into the air, stretch it out and hold? From time to time you move it at a 45 degree angle?

I think what you're describing is the warrior 2 pose.


Don't do it for very long since you have a considerable amount of pain, but in burst, it's pretty managable.

I don't even bother with that one anymore. It's all good if you're actually going for a yoga workout, but the weights just proved better.

[thcbongman]

Actually yoga has warm up excercises, we used them to warm up at Yoga class :p . And sorry man but I can't go for runs like you, the spine's just too fricked up.
As for the weights, I actually did it by the method you describe for 3 years, and baaaaaaarely saw results. It's when I changed to the system I do now, where I have plenty of weight but still enough that I can curl 30 times, that I've seen major results. Not as stong as my friends, like I said, but a hell of a lot stroner than I was. At the rate I'm going, I'll surpass them all within the year.




I think what you're describing is the warrior 2 pose.



I don't even bother with that one anymore. It's all good if you're actually going for a yoga workout, but the weights just proved better.

It's not a warrior 2. I'm unsure of the name, but you lift your leg, at a 90 degree angle and hold it with your arm. Essentially using your 1 leg to balance. Great exercise for balance if you attempt to hold it. I wouldn't call weights better because both works different aspects of strengths. I only started learning Yoga a month ago, but it definitely has helped when lifting weights. After all, usage of free weights partly balance as well as strength.

However if you want to seriously bulk up, you gotta eat 3 full meals and 3 semi-meals, and do exercises at 8-10 reps at 70% of your max. To develop it you have to switch every week with speed sessions, which is doing 8 sets of 3 reps with 30 second rest where you lift as much weight as you can forcibly while in proper form. It improves on your power, and helps with your strength gains.

I saw your picture and you have a similar body-type to mine, yeah, I think you just have to eat more. Believe me, it's a struggle, but just keep eating!

Another thing is your friends could have more body fat than you do.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

I'll try that 8 sets of 3 thing, thanks man.

[MegaOctane12]

3x8-10 is dosen't have to be fixed 8 all the time, pick a weight you are just comfortable with and use that. Post workout nutrition is extremely important, so is eating on days you don't train. When doing cardio you must have carbs before and after workouts otherwise you will lose muscle. You need protein every four hours to build bulk and to prevent catabolism (muscle burning), do it properly otherwise you will only be wasting your time and prolong the amount of time it takes to get anywhere.

[thcbongman]

3x8-10 is dosen't have to be fixed 8 all the time, pick a weight you are just comfortable with and use that. Post workout nutrition is extremely important, so is eating on days you don't train. When doing cardio you must have carbs before and after workouts otherwise you will lose muscle. You need protein every four hours to build bulk and to prevent catabolism (muscle burning), do it properly otherwise you will only be wasting your time and prolong the amount of time it takes to get anywhere.

Yeah, but you use 8 as a base. When you could do 9-10 sets too comfortably, it's time to raise the weight a little.

But I 2nd everything said. Eating is highly important!