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

[Lord of the Large Pants]

This is more general fitness than weightlifting, but I didn't really see a more appropriate topic.

Let's say that I'm a skinny, pasty nerd man who considers any form of exercise to be cruel and unusual punishment. Let's also say that like a total retard, I bought a 2lb and 5lb pair of hand weights, and have started doing these two things on alternating days.

How many times must I repeat this process before I stop longing for the sweet embrace of death after each exercise?

 

[Canoodler]

Haven't been able to go to gym, so I've just been doing pushups, rows with a 50 pound dumbbell, and pistol squats for legs/glutes.

 

[JustFuckinaDude]

This is more general fitness than weightlifting, but I didn't really see a more appropriate topic.

Let's say that I'm a skinny, pasty nerd man who considers any form of exercise to be cruel and unusual punishment. Let's also say that like a total retard, I bought a 2lb and 5lb pair of hand weights, and have started doing these two things on alternating days.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=37PwEIjGhEYhttps://youtube.com/watch?v=U0bhE67HuDY
How many times must I repeat this process before I stop longing for the sweet embrace of death after each exercise?

Assuming you’re otherwise healthy nerd man? Shouldn’t be very long. A couple weeks, tops. Up that weight!

Haven't been able to go to gym, so I've just been doing pushups, rows with a 50 pound dumbbell, and pistol squats for legs/glutes.

I’ve been really pressed for time recently so I’ve picked up a couple kettlebells and found a program online; I’m loving it.

 

[Artificial Baits]

This is more general fitness than weightlifting, but I didn't really see a more appropriate topic.

Let's say that I'm a skinny, pasty nerd man who considers any form of exercise to be cruel and unusual punishment. Let's also say that like a total retard, I bought a 2lb and 5lb pair of hand weights, and have started doing these two things on alternating days.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=37PwEIjGhEYhttps://youtube.com/watch?v=U0bhE67HuDY
How many times must I repeat this process before I stop longing for the sweet embrace of death after each exercise?

Skinny people benefit more from heavier weight training and not for long periods of time, you'll just end up burning muscles (unless that's the goal?). Assuming body transformation, i.e. Gains are the goal, you need to ensure there is progressive overload and enough resistance to produce a stimulus. 2 or 5lbs dumb bells will not be challenging, or at least not for long.

In terms of loving that style of training, it may never happen. I love to lift but fuck this kind of cardio up the ass. You may love it though, so just try it out!

 

[Lord of the Large Pants]

Skinny people benefit more from heavier weight training and not for long periods of time, you'll just end up burning muscles (unless that's the goal?). Assuming body transformation, i.e. Gains are the goal, you need to ensure there is progressive overload and enough resistance to produce a stimulus. 2 or 5lbs dumb bells will not be challenging, or at least not for long.

In terms of loving that style of training, it may never happen. I love to lift but fuck this kind of cardio up the ass. You may love it though, so just try it out!

I don't think it's possible for me to have LESS muscles than I do now. Beyond that, I don't know if I have a goal for this beyond not dying before 40.

 

[CivilianOfTheFandomWars]

My brother just asked me for lifting advice, and for a basic dumbbell and kettlebell routine for him to follow while he's waiting for gym access.
I'm pretty hyped about it, I hope he sticks with it.

 

[Punished “Venom” pH]

I own two five pound weights and a yoga mat, I’ve done one routine of full-body exercises for a year and it’s nice going from a skinny waif to being skinny but also able to carry everything I own packed in a trunk all by myself quite gratifying actually.

 

[s0mbra]

Started kicking my ass to work out.
I love walking and swimming but I want to gain muscle and I hate it. But I'm going to try not to give up.

 

[CrackPipeCowboy]

Started kicking my ass to work out.
I love walking and swimming but I want to gain muscle and I hate it. But I'm going to try not to give up.

Do you do any resistance training? Anything like weightlifting or bodyweight exercises?

 

[s0mbra]

Do you do any resistance training? Anything like weightlifting or bodyweight exercises?

I'm doing bodyweight exercises with some dumbbell rows for now. But I'd like to do more in the future.

 

[CrackPipeCowboy]

I'm doing bodyweight exercises with some dumbbell rows for now. But I'd like to do more in the future.

For strength lift heavy weights in a 3-8 rep range.
For hypertrophy lift relatively light weights in a 10-15 rep range.
For increase of muscle size do hypertrophy training.
For increase of strength do strength.
You can still gain strength by doing hypertrophy training, and you can possible combine the two if you want. Eat more protein, do your cardio (for heart health and recovery mostly), exercise each body part/group twice a week, make sure you sleep, and MOST IMPORTANTLY stay consistent. Muscle building is a slow process, you'll see results within time, but that time can be pretty long. Just don't let it discourage you.

 

[Flavius Claudius Julianus]

Coming up to two months of working out at home now, my last gym session in Bongland being late December. The month or so they were open in December, I was still peaking toward some 1rm attempts on the big lifts + OHP. Closed before I could even bother, so that was annoying.

Limited equipment plus precautions at home mean I'm subsisting on sub-maximal weight and more bodybuilding-oriented work. It's not the same as going heavy, but I have had fun trying new exercises I wouldn't have bothered with in the gym/due to my weightlifting-specific training, and have made some nice gains despite having to get very creative. I'm just hoping I haven't lost any overhead and leg strength.

Benefits I've discovered from lifting at home:

1) new exercises can be fun, and I'm optimistic they'll provide some carryover once I'm back in the gym

2) increased aesthetics due to higher volume/more bodybuilding style workouts

3) my equipment is my own, no waiting, no dealing with niggers and kebabists acting like selfish cunts. No interruptions to training

4) I can workout shirtless if I choose, or indulge in any peri-workout snacks or whatever if I feel drops in energy.

Downsides:

1) lack of equipment. Getting creative is a must. While this has its benefits in some ways, there's also the saddening acceptance of a limited routine. You can do a hell of a lot with a barbell and a bench, but not everything.

2) sub-maximal weights in my case, so no going heavy. Even on flat bench I'm limited to 100kg, which I can smash for reps without issue. Bit worried about the bench I have holding up, so I try and keep it lighter.

3) having to be so damn careful. Limited space throws me off psychologically, and some exercises (standing strict press) aren't possible due to ceiling clearance. I've switched to seated press on that point, but working out in your kitchen definitely psyches you out to some degree.

4) no 24 hour workouts due to neighbourly whinging and whining. I'm mostly cool with this due to being furloughed now, but when I'd get back late after work, a deadlift session was completely out of the equation. Even with foam pads and controlled eccentrics, noise complaints were a thing.

5) no opportunity for practising the Olympic lifts. I'm early into weightlifting specific-training, but aside from technique work with a broomstick, there's not much I can do at home. Dropping the bar after a failed snatch would be game over for my floor, and I don't even half the clearance to stand up with the weight.

All in all, it could be worse. Like the lockdown last summer, I gradually lost passion around the 3 month mark. I'm hoping things are back open in mid-March or so, as I know I could be making so much more progress at a proper gym. The hypertrophy work is fulfilling, but I'm chasing strength.

 

[CrackPipeCowboy]

Coming up to two months of working out at home now, my last gym session in Bongland being late December. The month or so they were open in December, I was still peaking toward some 1rm attempts on the big lifts + OHP. Closed before I could even bother, so that was annoying.

Limited equipment plus precautions at home mean I'm subsisting on sub-maximal weight and more bodybuilding-oriented work. It's not the same as going heavy, but I have had fun trying new exercises I wouldn't have bothered with in the gym/due to my weightlifting-specific training, and have made some nice gains despite having to get very creative. I'm just hoping I haven't lost any overhead and leg strength.

Benefits I've discovered from lifting at home:

1) new exercises can be fun, and I'm optimistic they'll provide some carryover once I'm back in the gym

2) increased aesthetics due to higher volume/more bodybuilding style workouts

3) my equipment is my own, no waiting, no dealing with niggers and kebabists acting like selfish cunts. No interruptions to training

4) I can workout shirtless if I choose, or indulge in any peri-workout snacks or whatever if I feel drops in energy.

Downsides:

1) lack of equipment. Getting creative is a must. While this has its benefits in some ways, there's also the saddening acceptance of a limited routine. You can do a hell of a lot with a barbell and a bench, but not everything.

2) sub-maximal weights in my case, so no going heavy. Even on flat bench I'm limited to 100kg, which I can smash for reps without issue. Bit worried about the bench I have holding up, so I try and keep it lighter.

3) having to be so damn careful. Limited space throws me off psychologically, and some exercises (standing strict press) aren't possible due to ceiling clearance. I've switched to seated press on that point, but working out in your kitchen definitely psyches you out to some degree.

4) no 24 hour workouts due to neighbourly whinging and whining. I'm mostly cool with this due to being furloughed now, but when I'd get back late after work, a deadlift session was completely out of the equation. Even with foam pads and controlled eccentrics, noise complaints were a thing.

5) no opportunity for practising the Olympic lifts. I'm early into weightlifting specific-training, but aside from technique work with a broomstick, there's not much I can do at home. Dropping the bar after a failed snatch would be game over for my floor, and I don't even half the clearance to stand up with the weight.

All in all, it could be worse. Like the lockdown last summer, I gradually lost passion around the 3 month mark. I'm hoping things are back open in mid-March or so, as I know I could be making so much more progress at a proper gym. The hypertrophy work is fulfilling, but I'm chasing strength.

Prices for weight equipment has gone down a lot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvJLDuMDQyo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErbFiTj4ojM

Just get some stands, a barbell, and some plates. They can be easily stored and put away.

 

[Flavius Claudius Julianus]

Prices for weight equipment has gone down a lot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvJLDuMDQyo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErbFiTj4ojM

Just get some stands, a barbell, and some plates. They can be easily stored and put away.

I should have clarified in my original post: I already have some stands, a bench, and quite a significant bit of weight - but only a 100kg barbell. While I can squat, deadlift, and bench enough to get a decent workout, I just don't have enough to approach more than 70% 1rm for most of the big lifts.

And I admit to not having checked prices for a month or two. Last I checked, even a shitty incline bench was well over 150 GBP, where pre coof it would have been a third of that.

 

[CrackPipeCowboy]

I should have clarified in my original post: I already have some stands, a bench, and quite a significant bit of weight - but only a 100kg barbell. While I can squat, deadlift, and bench enough to get a decent workout, I just don't have enough to approach more than 70% 1rm for most of the big lifts.

And I admit to not having checked prices for a month or two. Last I checked, even a shitty incline bench was well over 150 GBP, where pre coof it would have been a third of that.

Just realized you were english. I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Flavius Claudius Julianus]

Just realized you were english. I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Artificial Baits]

Muscle building is a slow process, you'll see results within time, but that time can be pretty long. Just don't let it discourage you.

OR you can go for those anabolic chickens and trenboloni sandwiches for mad gainz! Joking, you gave solid advice

All in all, it could be worse. Like the lockdown last summer

I was in the same situation and was luckily able to borrow some equipment from a mate who has a gym, but there is only so much you can do till you max out on lifts and/or exercises. It is not the same, even if you can do most of the compound lifts. I personally train much better in a gym atmosphere (despite never talking to anybody). At home the motivation just isn't there, even with pre-workout. I do it for sanity and maintaining some muscle mass and strength. The way things are going I would not be surprised if many small gym owners will be going out of business, so it may be worth keeping an eye out for second hand equipment from gyms which have gone bust? Not sure what the pricing is doing now, we got properly shafted the first lockdown paying £1k for a 10kgs barbell and up to 100kgs plates, but it was better than nothing. I would suggest when the restrictions ease and the gyms open back up again, try and perhaps stock up on enough plates as the prices will probably drop then. Until then, time under tempo and supersets galore!

 

[s0mbra]

For strength lift heavy weights in a 3-8 rep range.
For hypertrophy lift relatively light weights in a 10-15 rep range.
For increase of muscle size do hypertrophy training.
For increase of strength do strength.
You can still gain strength by doing hypertrophy training, and you can possible combine the two if you want. Eat more protein, do your cardio (for heart health and recovery mostly), exercise each body part/group twice a week, make sure you sleep, and MOST IMPORTANTLY stay consistent. Muscle building is a slow process, you'll see results within time, but that time can be pretty long. Just don't let it discourage you.

thanks. I've admittedly been a bit overwhelmed with info and still feel like I may not be doing everting right. I just want to not feel like shit all the time
Btw should i take creatine every day or just the days i work out?

Don't tempt me. I've already legit thought about it since im a vapid hoe. But I don't want to mess with T as a chick. Rather not end up looking like a tranny...

OR you can go for those anabolic chickens and trenboloni sandwiches for mad gainz! Joking, you gave solid advice

 

[he who has thus come/gone]

1) lack of equipment. Getting creative is a must. While this has its benefits in some ways, there's also the saddening acceptance of a limited routine. You can do a hell of a lot with a barbell and a bench, but not everything.

I got one of these (actually a different brand but basically the same exact thing) for my birthday and it was a great investment for my routine. Knee raises, leg raises, pull ups, dips (I love dips), a stand attached to the back you can use to hold a bar (I have dumbbells for dumbbells presses so I use it to hold my easy curl bar), you can even do push ups with it if the ground isn't good enough for you. It's not that large a piece of equipment and is fairly sturdy. If you have the money and are looking to add some good stuff to your routine without buying multiple new pieces of equipment, I'd recommend it.

Let's say that I'm a skinny, pasty nerd man who considers any form of exercise to be cruel and unusual punishment. Let's also say that like a total retard, I bought a 2lb and 5lb pair of hand weights, and have started doing these two things on alternating days.

I was in the same exact position as you a couple of months ago. I started off with five pounds (plus the dumbbell bar is probably 2.5-3 pounds) and now I'm up to 22.5 pounds dumbbell press—and could definitely go higher but that's my max right now for military press without hurting my back. Hoping I can get to 40 pounds by the end of the school term. 2 and 5 pound weights aren't going to be very useful in the long run if you decide to do a little more typical weightlifting routines.

 

[CrackPipeCowboy]

I got one of these (actually a different brand but basically the same exact thing) for my birthday and it was a great investment for my routine. Knee raises, leg raises, pull ups, dips (I love dips), a stand attached to the back you can use to hold a bar (I have dumbbells for dumbbells presses so I use it to hold my easy curl bar), you can even do push ups with it if the ground isn't good enough for you. It's not that large a piece of equipment and is fairly sturdy. If you have the money and are looking to add some good stuff to your routine without buying multiple new pieces of equipment, I'd recommend it.

I was in the same exact position as you a couple of months ago. I started off with five pounds (plus the dumbbell bar is probably 2.5-3 pounds) and now I'm up to 22.5 pounds dumbbell press—and could definitely go higher but that's my max right now for military press without hurting my back. Hoping I can get to 40 pounds by the end of the school term. 2 and 5 pound weights aren't going to be very useful in the long run if you decide to do a little more typical weightlifting routines.

I do dips and the other exercises with two metal folding chairs. It works just as well and doesn't take up too much space. A $20 or $30 pull up bar can also be used to do push ups on the floor. I've occasionally filled gallon jugs with water/sand.

Also, DO NOT FOCUS ON MAXES TOO MUCH! If you get back pain when going higher in weights, then consider keeping the weight lower and making sure you have proper form. This can be something that DAMAGES your body. You want to get good reps for your workouts. Getting solid reps with good form > maxing out every workout. It is much more difficult to rep lighter weights for 12 reps and/or to failure than bumping out a one rep max.