Lifting support thread 2

[RayKray]

Just noticed I was the last to post on the lifting support thread as it went to 1k so here's another.

Original thread intro post here from
@Work2live

"Thought I’d start this thread as a few people thought it’d be a good idea.

"It might be a nice place to support each other and talk about lifting in general, ask for tips and advice on workouts, how to get enough protein etc.

"All levels very much welcome, from complete newbies to those who’ve been weightlifting for years! 💪🏼"

Whooop, our second thread! Thanks @RayKray

@Clytemnestra21, those are great numbers! tbh I might progress faster if I focussed more on foundation strength and not the "skills" - but I love it and did enough solo sessions of pull ups dips and push ups in the pandemic to last me a lifetime, so am just enjoying being back in classes and stuff.

I think it isn't just about strength: I could DL and squat my bodyweight when I started training pull ups (with hangs, bands, negatives, holds) and it took 3 months to get one (albeit without tuition, just a gym partner). I can now do sets of pulls, but couldn't squat that weight now without building up again and practising, and wouldn't know how to programme, warm up, accessory moves, etc.....

For push ups, in case useful, I found using stairs really helped - start with hands where you can do 3 by 10 good form, and move down as you get stronger.

Hello may I join?

I got into lifting a few years ago when good old plantar fasciitis did for my running habit - I trained in a v small group where I learned so much about proper form etc but it was quite casual.

Then lockdown etc then that trainer stopped running the club.

in the last 2 years I’ve found another gym that does small group strength training, and I also do an Olympic lifting class there and ‘gymnastics’ which is sort of cross fit style skills.

tonight I managed to do 5x 90kg box squat which I was delighted with and after YEARS of training I can now string two pull ups together!

Ive been really consistent this year and focussed on my nutrition a bit more and Iive managed to get stronger and drop a bit of body fat.

Its been a good year strength wise for me so far!

@ThursdayLastWeek , welcome. And great lifts and pulls!

How small is your small group training? And do you mind saying how you managed to lose a bit of body fat? The only time I lose weight is when I am on holiday or at Christmas when I train less 😀 - so not doing that!

TBH I’ve just been very boring and used my fitness pal to eat slightly less than I was before. Tried to make changes I sustain (ie fruit and kvarg for breakfast 5 out of 7 days instead of having the bagel every time I want it)

Really focussed on protein based meals with loads of veg. Basically trying to really enjoy burgers and meals out etc by having a few less of them!

I have started having a protein shake with creatine most days this year and I do think that has helped.

I forgave myself my over eating during lockdown because I was furloughed and homeschooling and it was the only good thing going on but it did leave me with a bit of extra timber!

Its a CrossFit box style gym - I think for a strength class max numbers are 16, slightly less for Olympic because it tends to be using the floor rather than the rigs.

Tonight there were only 5 of us though so you can get some good attention from the coach.

Thank you!

Thanks for starting the new thread @RayKray!

I’m just getting back into the swing of things after a bizarre chest injury that has nothing to do with lifting - it was really frustrating to have to take a few weeks off.

The DOMS are really DOMMING today 😂 after I did my first properly heavy leg session since the start of May. But very much enjoying lifting again!

Can I join please? I have a bulking thread running!

And can I ask if anyone has any chalk recommendations? My coach said liquid chalk is very drying and harsh but I can't figure out how I would transport solid chalk!!

Welcome @everycowandagain . I don't use chalk but i thought it was powder rather than solid. It certainly is at powerlifting meets. Chalk powder on hands, talc powder on legs. And don't mix them up! 😆

Ah that sounds even messier!! One of the gyms I train in has some little blocks that you rub on your hands rather than loose powder.

Ah ok, shows what I know. My go tos would be strength shop or 9for9 if I were buying.
For my own gripping issues I went mixed grip for deadlifts, then worked on grip strength, built up some nice callouses, and never ever put hand cream on before training - I learnt that the hard way.

@Work2live , glad bizarre injury in retreat and I hear you about DOMS after a break...creaking through the week here

@everycowandagain , I use liquid chalk. I do calisthenics so pull days can be brutal on the palms. If I use hand cream, or anything like that I try to steer clear of my calluses.

Can I join? I use liquid chalk. I also use a foot scraper and thick moisturiser to avoid calluses.

My PT carries liquid chalk. It's just a thick liquid, you have a pea-sized drop & then rub your palms together& it dries to a chalk coverage. I find it's better than the loose chalk at my old university gym.

Spasmed my back last week deadlifting sets of 3 @ 90 kilos It was a bit niggly over my left hip before I started, but I thought I'd warm up through it (run for 5 mins, then a mobility warm up for another 5 mins), but by the 3rd set, I was not getting the bar off the floor because I was afraid of really spasming my back. So I stopped. Really annoying as I love deadlifting, and I need to get comfortable with 90k and above to keep getting a higher 1RM. I want to get beyond 100 k - maybe 110 before I get too old (I'm 64 and a late starter).

I celebrate my callouses! But take of my rings before training.

And is it weird, but I like a small touch of DOMS. Makes me realise I"ve worked my body.

I've seen some horrific pics of callouses building up and the whole thing ripping off. I was told filing them down would safe guard against this.

I also love my callouses, I love DOMS, I love slowing things down so they really burn, I love the last reps where you can't do it without the focus and pushing through. You're not alone!

Yes the gym I go to has a lot of metcon classes that feature a lot of kipping movements - built up callouses can rip off if your hands are moving swiftly around the rig.

Im not bothered about kipping because I have absolutely no intention of ever doing a metcon class! Too much too fast for me

Sorry about your back DollyParkin hope it’s feeling better today?
Deadlift is by far my weakest lift because I just fed it in my lower back when I pull from the floor.

liquid chalk banned in my gym - v hard to clean off the rubber floors I think. Chalky chalk is my comfort blanket, esp during Olympic lifting.

Yep, me too!

Happy with a bit of DOMS - this week was tough as routine had been disrupted so I was catching up....

Calluses are much discussed in my cali classes. People who do freestyle - so lots of flips, turns, moving on the bars, seem to file them down a bit to avoid ripping. So similar to you @ThursdayLastWeek. Or lots of muscle ups. I don't though, and have never filed mine - they definitely help my grip last the workout.

@DollyParkin awesome lifts! How old were you when you started? I was 50-ish when I started, but that was more general conditioning/circuit type classes, gradually starting heavy lifting (mainly squats and DLs) then started moving into calisthenics just before covid.

So love having somewhere to talk about all this stuff 😀

Yeh I'm powerlifting so no quick movements to rip my callouses. I know a cross fitter who ripped one as they have more of that sudden movement too.

I've got lots of DOMS at the moment as my programme has changed to competition prep so some accessories are ones I've not done for a while. I'm very excited to now be on the road to competition

Ooh how far out from competition are you?

A few months (sorry being a bit vague to not be entirely identifiable). Still a fair while but close enough to be real!

Ms Martini - I'm a regular NC on MN, so you've all heard my story before, but I started just before my 58th birthday, and that was 5 and a half years ago. But I've always done body pump, step classes (I miss doing Step - it's gone out of fashion), aerobics (in the aerobics fad of the 1980s), & ballet & contemporary dance. I was NEVER a team sports person, but rode competitively throughout my teens - 3 hours a day on my horses.

So I guess I have a good kinaesthetic sense and as my job requires long long hours sitting on my arse (writing, reading writing again) I need to throw myself into extreme exrecise. Ballet classes got me through my PhD. So, I'm hoping that weightlifting & metcon sessions will get me through my next big full on project. As soon as I can afford it, I"m going to train with my PT 3 times a week - he is fantastic, and such a nice person too.

And Ms Martini, you've inspired me - yesterday my PT mixed it up a bit & we did loads of balance stiff on a Bosu ball & pilates balls. I think I might ask him about working on some calisthetics/gymnastic style moves such as teaching me a handstand against the wall.