Well... Hell.

[Meat Shake]

My workouts are definately making me sore, but my brother has been unable to talk lately and I would really like to re structure my routines...
They just feel kinda lack luster in all honesty.

Right now the main thing I want to do is -
Monday - Back biceps shoulder thighs
Wednesday- Triceps chest forearms quads
Friday- Open to suggestions...

Any help would be appreciated.
Like I said, Im gaining weight, and size, but I feel like I could be doing this more efficiently.

Example- Right now I do 3 sets of 8 for most exercises with the same amount of weight each set. Should I be doing this differently?

Should I try and bulk to a point I am happy with before trying to do cardio to tone up? (I have a VERY small beer gut, but its still something I want gone by summer)
Or should I start cardio right now?

Thanks.

[Meat Shake]

25 views, no responses.
Sweet.

Pretty difficult question I guess...
Or not.
Oh well.

Thanks anyways.

[SevenStar]

Where are you training? Do you have access to a squat rack? even if not, I'd do SOMETHING for the lower half, pistols, plyos, etc. Personally, I wouldn't restructure - push, pull, legs is what I try to go for, and it looks like you are doing something similar. What may need change is the particular exercises that you are doing.

the body can either be in catabolic or anabolic phase at any one time, not both. Heavy cardio would definitely be counterproductive to gaining mass, but I would still advocate doing something, just don't go crazy with it.

Instead of 3 sets of 8, I would increase the weight and go for sets of five.

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

i really like the 5x5 program i've been doing. simple .. to the point ... and im getting results.

http://www.geocities.com/elitemadcow...Linear_5x5.htm

[Meat Shake]

Where are you training? Do you have access to a squat rack? even if not, I'd do SOMETHING for the lower half, pistols, plyos, etc. Personally, I wouldn't restructure - push, pull, legs is what I try to go for, and it looks like you are doing something similar. What may need change is the particular exercises that you are doing.

the body can either be in catabolic or anabolic phase at any one time, not both. Heavy cardio would definitely be counterproductive to gaining mass, but I would still advocate doing something, just don't go crazy with it.

Instead of 3 sets of 8, I would increase the weight and go for sets of five.

I train at ballys.
Im trying to get back into pistols, but itll take a week or two before I can fully lower and raise without holding onto something.

For cardio what would you suggest? I figure bag work just because it still allows for a little bit of a workout with the cardio...
Also, athsma and running arent friends.
... Least not for me.

And as far as diet, should I pay much attention to what I eat right now while bulking besides trying to get a ton of protein? I keep it as lean as I can, but I like food... Like the pound of meatloaf I just ate.

[Li Kao]

Hmm in regards to workouts, I can't really offer much -- my workouts change constantly, I don't stick to a set routine for long and try to vary it up every week. I'm not a hardcore gym guy, but I do go faithfully and enjoy working out -- to me, the point is to get to the gym 3-4x a week, every week -- and that is sometimes half the battle for most people.

With cardio, I don't think it matters too much either -- just pick something you'll enjoy and can do regularly. Cardio is pretty boring for most people who aren't runners (which I'm not myself) -- again, I like to vary this as well. Stair machines seem to kick my butt the worst of them all, so I do them at least once a week. Lately, I've been doing the recumbant bike and taking books to read -- I find that the time goes by really quickly that way, and 30 minutes are up before I even realize I sat down. Plus, I don't hardly notice how hard I worked though I am a sweaty pig when all is said and done. So pick something that will either be fun (sounds like you will enjoy bagwork) or something you won't mind doing (I look forward to cardio on recumbant bike now because I've found time again to catch up on reading).

Diet is something you shouldn't ignore -- especially if you want to lose your beer belly. I found that my beer belly goes away when I'm not, well, drinking much beer It's a hard thing to give up or even diminsh for a lot of guys -- I still enjoy drinks in moderation too, though I'm back in school and I make a pact with myself not to drink during the week while I'm in semester and it works out well for the most part. You'd be suprised how some small changes and discipline in diet can melt off pounds and body fat though. And think about portions and calories as well -- for my meals, I use my fist as a guide for portions (or as my brother used to say to kid me -- "human-size portions") -- for example, a fist-sized portion of meat, a fist-sized portion of vegetables, a fist-sized portion of starch (wholewheat rice, sweet potatoes) and so on. I also eat probably 5x a day, albeit smaller meals, but it's not like I'm ever hungry and my metabolism has now evolved so that I would have a problem eating a big meal anymore. I cook/prepare almost 100% of the food I eat, even though I work in a restaurant right now and there are tons of temptations. It's hard to switch over to that mentality -- I was raised with the idea that you always cleaned your plate and my mom used to cook HUGE meals, so I was a bit of a glutton growing up. Eventually, as you age and your metabolism slows down, it will catch up with you, as it did to me. So I decided to look at eating as fueling my body instead of eating for pleasure. It's a difficult mind-set if you're not accustomed to it, but I have come up with tons of healthy recipes over the years that I find delicious, and so it doesn't feel like I'm punishing myself -- it's just a form of discipline you eventually adapt.

Sorry if my advice is rather general -- I've never been one to track or record my workouts and like I said, I do something different every time. It works for me -- good luck with your routine.

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

[quote=I've never been one to track or record my workouts and like I said, I do something different every time. [/quote]

its all about your goals. if you're trying to make some decent strength gains or run a faster mile your progress will be slow wingin it, but if you're just trying to up your general fitness level and you're happier playing it by ear then there's nothing wrong with that. you're going to improve if you do anything at all, but i think a lot of people would be surprised at how much quicker they make progress with a decent program. then again ... if that takes the fun out of it for them it's not worth it. if you like mixin it up you might actually like some of the stuff the crossfit guys do. they have workout routines, but they are so vastly different from one workout to the next that your body never gets a chance to adapt. i've heard arguments for and against this approach, but like i said ... just about everything works, its more important to find out what works best for you.

good advice in general ... espeically about learning to change mind set in regards to eating. i have to do the same thing trying to gain mass. i got to eat on the clock even when i dont feel like eating. sometimes i feel like i eat more **** in a day that i cant stand then most people eat things they like in two. sometimes i hate it, but its all about fueling the body just as you said.

[SevenStar]

For cardio what would you suggest? I figure bag work just because it still allows for a little bit of a workout with the cardio...
Also, athsma and running arent friends.
... Least not for me.

rope skipping and an eliptical machine. heavy bag work tends to be more anaerobic. It's great though, don't drop it.

And as far as diet, should I pay much attention to what I eat right now while bulking besides trying to get a ton of protein? I keep it as lean as I can, but I like food... Like the pound of meatloaf I just ate.

personally, I don't. I've never been a calorie counter. watch your portion sizes, try to eat healthy and try to eat several small meals per day. Those are my main guidelines. I know what you mean about liking food - I can kill two large pizzas with ease. I have a record at my workplace of eating 33 pieces of sushi. Luckily, that bill was on someone else's tab! I actually wasn't full after the 33, but after so much sushi, you just don't want it anymore...

[Pork Chop]

I have a record at my workplace of eating 33 pieces of sushi. Luckily, that bill was on someone else's tab! I actually wasn't full after the 33, but after so much sushi, you just don't want it anymore...

okay is that 2 pieces per order or 6?
2 piece per order usually go for around $8.
6 pieces per order usually go for around 6 to 10.

For example, say you went 5 orders of 6 and 2 orders of 2, that'd work out to around $66.
Heck, 17 orders of 2 is still "only" $136....

Those big sushi/sashimi boats are usually between 28 and 38 pieces.
Usually kill one of those and get dessert.
My largest single person sushi bill was well over 200.....

of course it helps when you mix it up with different fishes and different types of rolls. I like sashimi more than futomaki.


Lately I've really worked hard to split up my meals and not skip any.
Think i've done a good job of eating at least 4 times a day, and i do hit 6 quite often.

Unfortunately, I've also cut working out almost completely out of my daily routine. Haven't packed on TOO much weight yet, but it's slowly starting. Need to get back in the gym but it's proving to be more difficult than i'd planned.