Weightlifting for Kiwis - Discussion and support regarding the art of swole

[Dead Gay Muppet Gangbang]

Have any of you needed to rejuvenate your long term motivation (more substantial than motivation meme videos)?
I made really good progress for a bit over 2 years (usually six days a week, 160lbs-185lbs similar bf%) and have been struggling to lift consistently for the last six months or so. I’ve tried changing my split, adding novelties, etc but nothing has given me back the drive to spend more time in the gym.

Does anyone have any personal anecdotes about regaining motivation?

I've found that when I lost motivation, I couldn't "trick" myself into wanting to work out again.

I had to do some self-reflection, soul searching and some other gay shit to figure out why I was even doing this stuff in the first place, but afterward I was more enthusiastic about it than before. This method may be a bit rough for most, however, so maybe just try taking a break to get some perspective.

 

[Ewan McGregor]

Have any of you needed to rejuvenate your long term motivation (more substantial than motivation meme videos)?
I made really good progress for a bit over 2 years (usually six days a week, 160lbs-185lbs similar bf%) and have been struggling to lift consistently for the last six months or so. I’ve tried changing my split, adding novelties, etc but nothing has given me back the drive to spend more time in the gym.

Does anyone have any personal anecdotes about regaining motivation?

There are sometimes, like now, where I'm feeling all too lazy to go through spending two ours on my daily training, but then I remember it's always worth it and that otherwise I would regret it.

But yeah, sometimes it's hard to keep motivated.

 

[CharlesBarkley]

Have any of you needed to rejuvenate your long term motivation (more substantial than motivation meme videos)?
I made really good progress for a bit over 2 years (usually six days a week, 160lbs-185lbs similar bf%) and have been struggling to lift consistently for the last six months or so. I’ve tried changing my split, adding novelties, etc but nothing has given me back the drive to spend more time in the gym.

Does anyone have any personal anecdotes about regaining motivation?

Audiobooks and podcasts do it for me. That and just knowing even if I have a bad day lifting, it's still lifting and better then sitting around doing my 500th baulders gate 3 playthrough.

 

[Ewan McGregor]

I am trying to bulk lately but with the shitty economy it is difficult to get all the right food.

 

[Michael_Jordan_Peterson]

Have any of you needed to rejuvenate your long term motivation (more substantial than motivation meme videos)?
I made really good progress for a bit over 2 years (usually six days a week, 160lbs-185lbs similar bf%) and have been struggling to lift consistently for the last six months or so. I’ve tried changing my split, adding novelties, etc but nothing has given me back the drive to spend more time in the gym.

Does anyone have any personal anecdotes about regaining motivation?

I hit PRs like 4 years ago and it was a blast. The last 4 years I've been maintaining and its been very boring/difficult to stay on a program to the end. Getting older so injuries/fatigue pile up quick.
I started doing crossfit, taking a lot more rest, but when I'm in the gym I stopped being as rigid with my programming. Going for more 1 rep PRs even if I feel like I dont deserve to yet/at that point in the program.

Switching from 5x5 to 5/3/1 and bumping the weight up a bit made things more fun too, you get to attempt a PR or atleast rep PRs every 3 weeks as opposed to some other programs which take longer. Less volume more weight has been exciting too.

 

[glow]

Have any of you needed to rejuvenate your long term motivation (more substantial than motivation meme videos)?

I find my motivation and energy levels are really good so long as I'm getting enough sleep. Are you getting enough sleep that is of sufficiently quality, and are you getting this on a regular basis?

Also, if I don't work out, I get horrifically depressed and want to die despite having an objectively amazing life, so that helps with motivation also.

 

[Ewan McGregor]

What is a method to measure body fat that is not utter bullshit?

 

[glow]

What is a method to measure body fat that is not utter bullshit?

I understand that hydrostatic weighing and dexa are about as good as you can get but of course you are limited by what is in your area and how much you want to spend.

Why do you want to though? I used to autistically focus on fitness numbers and statistics like I was operating a nuclear reactor or submarine or something, but if I'm honest I was building systems and schemes and obsessing in order to not actually do the real work. Today I just look in the mirror and if I'm not happy I'll take action, which is typically intermittent fasting paired with cardio for a week or two.

 

[Ewan McGregor]

Why do you want to though? I used to autistically focus on fitness numbers and statistics like I was operating a nuclear reactor or submarine or something, but if I'm honest I was building systems and schemes and obsessing in order to not actually do the real work

I think you are spot on, and I'm noticing this a lot on influencers.

I was going to shit on zoomers for relying too much on influencers but, to be quite honest, influencers are pretty much all you have when you start on this, and you may spend years, like I did, doing retarded stuff until you finally get your shit together and cut out all the bullshit.

But influencers need to create content because being a PT pays shit and you don't do any of this shit to earn money, you do this shit losing money and maybe getting a couple of shags in a dirty greasy spoon in the middle of Ohio, but I digress...

All these influencers are like "You need to do this keeping track of the angle, in this exact tempo for maximizing mechanical tension, while eating this exact number of protien(tm) and singing Katy Perry" with their constant "This is how you gain mass/build arms/build pecs/etc" videos when the only answers that matters in what regards how did they did it is ROIDS, LOTS AND LOTS OF ROIDS.

And roids are expensive, so the more roids, the more bullshit-peddling they need to upload.

While the only thing that really matters is LIFT. HEAVY.

It's the easiest and yet the most difficult part. Eat heavy and lift heavy, eating lots of protein yeah but, well, is it really worthy to be so anal?

I'm doing my prots and I'm doing my cals and I'm gaining weight and strength, so I guess that's OK but I'm concerned about carrying too much fat, to be honest.

 

[glow]

I'm concerned about carrying too much fat, to be honest.

In that case, I propose a programme of fork put downs and plate push aways. I don't know what influencers are doing these days because I don't use any kind of mainstream social media but I would assume there aren't too many people peddling fasting because there's nothing to sell and it is somewhat psychologically difficult.

Do actually do some reading on fasting because you need to pay attention to electrolyte levels if you do it at length but it is very easy in terms of a technique but a challenging psychological challenge, I propose pairing it with meditation also to calm the anxiety and to remind your caveman brain that you aren't actually starving to death.

 

[Chicken Gendies]

Does anyone have any personal anecdotes about regaining motivation?

I find motivation is overrated, discipline will carry you through a workout when you don't want to do it. Just be stubborn about not skipping sessions. When I try talk myself out of going, I always remind myself that when I finish a workout I never think: "I wish I hadn't done that".

Also has anyone found anything that improves their squat mobility? My mobility is fine for squats but I would like it to be better to progress to pistols and would like to be able to rest in a deep squat.

 

[Swamp_Donkey]

Also has anyone found anything that improves their squat mobility? My mobility is fine for squats but I would like it to be better to progress to pistols and would like to be able to rest in a deep squat.

thanks for the input!

try heel elevation if you havent already. also if you can get to a deep squat already, set a timer for 2+ minutes and sit in one (with engaged muscles) for part of your warmup. i also like to rest at the bottom with a bit of weight.

i found pistol squats to be more of a balance thing than mobility or strength.

 

[Chicken Gendies]

i found pistol squats more of a balance thing than mobility or strength.

I think my problem is more mobility related. I tend to fall backwards attempting them but I can do a few holding dumbbell out in front as a counterweight.

 

[MS Paint Gigachad]

I find motivation is overrated, discipline will carry you through a workout when you don't want to do it. Just be stubborn about not skipping sessions. When I try talk myself out of going, I always remind myself that when I finish a workout I never think: "I wish I hadn't done that".

To me discipline only really works as long as I have a reason to do it, which can in turn be interpreted as a motivation. Besides, i actually kinda enjoy my training.

So in a way, both.

Also has anyone found anything that improves their squat mobility? My mobility is fine for squats but I would like it to be better to progress to pistols and would like to be able to rest in a deep squat.

I'm gonna steal this from @ movementbydavid on instagram, but it helped me quite a bit: he recommends doing "elephant walks" for hip mobility, which is to essentially bend over as far as you can and then repeatedly slightly bend and straighten your knees such that you get a stretch every time you straighten them.

meanwhile for ankle mobility, I do something similar, but I use a lunge-like stance and kinda just try and push my front knee back and forth over the toes

PS, to me pistol squats were more a balance/mobility exercise than a strength one, being able to comfortably put out a pretty high number of bodyweight bulgarian split squats before my first pistol (Experiences may vary.). In any case, I'd certainly recommend doing pistols supported by one hand as a sort of bridge to full pistols.

 

[VeteranOfTheRetardWars]

My fellow lifters, I have been getting credits for my degree and as such, have been going to a yoga class twice a week.
I used to be more into yoga, then fell off it for like a few years, but man I forgot how hard that shit is. But, I would highly recommend some yoga work for all athletes or anyone who trains. It just loosens everything up and evens everything out, literally just doing some Sun Salutations before or after your workouts just makes things feel better.
It's also good for injury prevention, I'm actually learning enough about yoga now that I can find ways to program it in my workouts.

 

[Suction Bucket]

It's also really good for combat sports. I got dragged along to ashtanga by my other half, and suddenly my body kicks in muay thai are ferocious and I'm hitting all kinds of incredibly unexpected subs and transitions in BJJ.

 

[VeteranOfTheRetardWars]

It's also really good for combat sports. I got dragged along to ashtanga by my other half, and suddenly my body kicks in muay thai are ferocious and I'm hitting all kinds of incredibly unexpected subs and transitions in BJJ.

It has been helping me in BJJ and Judo, but I’m still very bad at both lol.

 

[Jarry Seinfelt]

My fellow lifters, I have been getting credits for my degree and as such, have been going to a yoga class twice a week.
I used to be more into yoga, then fell off it for like a few years, but man I forgot how hard that shit is. But, I would highly recommend some yoga work for all athletes or anyone who trains. It just loosens everything up and evens everything out, literally just doing some Sun Salutations before or after your workouts just makes things feel better.
It's also good for injury prevention, I'm actually learning enough about yoga now that I can find ways to program it in my workouts.

So many aging related complaints can be fixed by just stretching a bit. I've had less back, knee, and ankle issues in my thirties than I did in my twenties because now I stretch before and after exercise. It takes more time, sure, but would you rather stay strong and flexible or become a bloatbeast talking at gym zoomers about how you used to rep 495?

 

[Iron Jaguar]

I changed my diet and eating habits recently and the weight has just fallen off.
I started doing a 12-14 hr fast between dinner and breakfast, and that's what I mainly attribute it to. I hate cardio, so I don't do any of that, although I have continued with my weight training. I can still bench 140kg for reps, but not 150kg now.
My abs are starting to become defined.
My wife actually went searching through my supplements because she thought I must be using some kind of PED, but it's purely from fasting and calorie reduction.
If more people knew how easy it is and they had just a tiny bit of discipline, there would be far fewer fatties around.

 

[Ewan McGregor]

I would highly recommend some yoga work for all athletes or anyone who trains

Yoga is a satanic practice and therefore not suitable for anyone who claims to be a christian.