GMG Barbell Club |||||========|||||

[EigenUser]

I had my meet Saturday. It was a lot of fun, but it was very long. We started at 8:15AM and it was 8:15PM by the time I left. I got perfect scores from the judges so that means I could have done more (I thought everything looked too easy after watching the videos).

Squat (205kg/452lbs): https://www.instagram.com/p/BElk-EIGDF7/
Bench press (130kg/287lbs): https://www.instagram.com/p/BEll_pBmDJM/
Deadlift (240kg/529lbs): https://www.instagram.com/p/BElm3Q9mDLV/

Even though I was one of the weaker people there, I was the only person in my category so I got 1st place, haha.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BElbjsymDLv/

At least I can be sure that you guys will appreciate my Instagram name.

[NikF]

I had my meet Saturday. It was a lot of fun, but it was very long. We started at 8:15AM and it was 8:15PM by the time I left. I got perfect scores from the judges so that means I could have done more (I thought everything looked too easy after watching the videos).

Squat (205kg/452lbs): https://www.instagram.com/p/BElk-EIGDF7/
Bench press (130kg/287lbs): https://www.instagram.com/p/BEll_pBmDJM/
Deadlift (240kg/529lbs): https://www.instagram.com/p/BElm3Q9mDLV/

Even though I was one of the weaker people there, I was the only person in my category so I got 1st place, haha.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BElbjsymDLv/

At least I can be sure that you guys will appreciate my Instagram name.

Well done.
Even if you believe you could've done more you were still within shouting distance of your PBs and only a few pounds short of your best squat. And as far as getting first place for being the only competitor in your category, you're always competing against yourself anyway. Good stuff.

[NikF]

I can't remember the last time I went to a gym on a Friday night, but my girlfriend is away until Sunday and so I decided to buy a pass and spend an hour or so there this evening. It was the busiest I've seen it. And I don't think I've ever been anywhere I've seen more people taking more selfies at the same time.  And yes, there were plenty of bicep curls being performed - perhaps to get the pump before hitting the bars and clubs? - but very little triceps work, despite that forming about two thirds of the upper arm. Still, I refuse to be one of those interruptiing know it all types who proffers unsolicited advice in the gym. Anyway, I ran home afterwards (only about 20 minutes away) first stopping at the all night supermarket to buy some milk and a steak.
Sitting back now after my steak, drinking my milk, and I feel great. It's not just the post-workout buzz, it's a state of general physical and emotional well-being. But...although that gym was so very busy throughout my time there I never saw one person older than me. Huh.

[NikF]

Back from the gym and still feeling a little surprised that I got so near to bench pressing my bodyweight.

[EigenUser]

Surprised that I only had to go to the 3rd page to find this thread!

Back from the gym and still feeling a little surprised that I got so near to bench pressing my bodyweight.

That's awesome! Are you going to try for bodyweight next time?

Although, as a 270-lb (fat?) person, I really hate bodyweight multipliers for judging strength. While we're at it, the Wilks coefficient sucks, too.

Ken, now that you are back -- I can say that I've beaten your best bench by 15 lbs two months ago.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFWk-a2GDOx/

(didn't you say 300 was your best years ago?)

[Ken B]

Surprised that I only had to go to the 3rd page to find this thread!
That's awesome! Are you going to try for bodyweight next time?

Although, as a 270-lb (fat?) person, I really hate bodyweight multipliers for judging strength. While we're at it, the Wilks coefficient sucks, too.

Ken, now that you are back -- I can say that I've beaten your best bench by 15 lbs two months ago.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFWk-a2GDOx/

(didn't you say 300 was your best years ago?)

I did. 315 is a lot. It's even more impressive since you are carrying the weight of Turangalila too. And that's dead weight.

[NikF]

That's awesome! Are you going to try for bodyweight next time?

Thanks. It depends. It's not a priority at the moment. I've the chance to spar with another retired amateur and then maybe a white collar bout, which although I'm not sure will go ahead is what I'm working towards.

Anyway, good to see you're back and I hope your lifting has been going well.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Just out of curiosity--How many calories/day are you guys eating? Do you care, or feel the need to keep track? I read an article recently (not saying this applies to you--it would not seem so), that many young guys feel the need to be HUGE, rather than merely strong or "buff". In pursuing this goal, many of them are ingesting massive amounts of food (tens of thousands of calories/day), much to the detriment of their health. There is much evidence that caloric restriction can extend lifespans and place the body under much less stress than pigging out all the time--although this clearly is at odds with the desire to build large muscles. As for myself, I just eat until I feel full (actually try to stop a little before) and never think about calories. We have a very good diet--lots of plant matter, and enough meat, wine, and dark chocolate.

[EigenUser]

Just out of curiosity--How many calories/day are you guys eating? Do you care, or feel the need to keep track? I read an article recently (not saying this applies to you--it would not seem so), that many young guys feel the need to be HUGE, rather than merely strong or "buff". In pursuing this goal, many of them are ingesting massive amounts of food (tens of thousands of calories/day), much to the detriment of their health. There is much evidence that caloric restriction can extend lifespans and place the body under much less stress than pigging out all the time--although this clearly is at odds with the desire to build large muscles. As for myself, I just eat until I feel full (actually try to stop a little before) and never think about calories. We have a very good diet--lots of plant matter, and enough meat, wine, and dark chocolate.

I count calories very roughly (i.e. I know what is in the foods I usually eat). I could never imagine eating tens of thousands of calories each day, though. That sounds awful! I probably eat 3500 calories/day to maintain weight (seems like a lot, but I'm 6'4''). If I want to gain weight I add to that and if I want to lose weight I take away from it. I actually don't particularly enjoy eating a lot, to be honest.

Though, I have no particular desire to be huge -- just strong.

[NikF]

EigenUser will one day lift all the weights because he has eaten all the food. But that day will be all cool.

To maintain my weight while training I eat about 2500 calories a day based on a bodyweight of around 160lbs at 5' 8". My protein intake is about 0.7g per lean pound of weight and so I'm eating anywhere between 110g and 120g of protein. But some days are a little less and some are more, with the point being that I don't sweat it either way.

The Young People™ I occasionally talk to in the gym that I sometimes visit eat anywhere between 1g and 2g of protein per lb of bodyweight, depending on how much broscience they're employing. Although it isn't a bodybuilding gym as such, there are a few regulars who are clearly huge, shredded and poking themselves with some combo of Test E, Clen and/or whatever else is currently hip.

[EigenUser]

Squatted 475lbs today (PR): https://www.instagram.com/p/BIAry9LDqh7/

[NikF]

Squatted 475lbs today (PR): https://www.instagram.com/p/BIAry9LDqh7/

You obviously worked hard for that. Well done.

[NikF]

Does EigenUser still post? Wherever he is I hope he's well and still lifting all the weights.

A while back I lost the weight I considered excess. As ever, it really came down to eating under my daily allowance. So if I'm at 2400 calories a *day to maintain weight, then eating 2200 means I'll eventually lose weight. Yes, it is possible to make it more complicated than that. I choose not to.

As usual after the new year there was an influx of resolutionists in the gym. A couple of the regulars were quietly dismissive of them. I wish they would remember that all of us were newbies at some point. But they won't. (And the reason they won't is because despite having the ability to lift heavy weights and be swole they are weak and unswole where it matters most - in the head.)

My routine is settled into PPL - push/pull/legs - Monday/Wednesday/Friday with an optional easy morning run whenever I feel like it. On leg day it's goblet squats or Zercher squats and lunges, alternated with running sprint intervals around the duck pond in the park. The latter is a killer, but afterwards I feel great and powerful. 

Tuesdays/Thursdays are scheduled runs, kettlebell stuff, shadow boxing, and then finishing with 3x3 minute rounds on the heavy bag. I'm looking forward to sparring again, although I don't have any of that schedule soon.

I'm going to enjoy feeling good for as long as possible. But I know I can't beat the clock. And I'm aware of slowly getting weaker and becoming increasingly vulnerable to annoying little aches and pains. However as long as I respond to that properly then it's okay. And in any case, if I'm going to worry about it then I'll worry about it later.


*although I prefer to count my calories weekly rather than daily.

[Mirror Image]

Nik, the part about getting older and having little aches and pains reminds me of this Brian Regan bit, which starts at :20 -

https://www.youtube.com/v/YLCa381TIJA

[NikF]

Nik, the part about getting older and having little aches and pains reminds me of this Brian Regan bit, which starts at :20 -

https://www.youtube.com/v/YLCa381TIJA

Sadly much of that sounded familiar... And the doctor/just making smalltalk is really quite accurate But the small aches and pains are to be expected and if those are all I have to be dealing with then I'm doing well.

[Mirror Image]

Sadly much of that sounded familiar... And the doctor/just making smalltalk is really quite accurate But the small aches and pains are to be expected and if those are all I have to be dealing with then I'm doing well.

That's great to hear, Nik. I wish you continued good health both mentally and physically.

[NikF]

That's great to hear, Nik. I wish you continued good health both mentally and physically.

Thanks, man. Back at you. 

[snyprrr]

It's obvious I'm the most ripped member of GMG...







oh,... wait,... you mean exercising?!!

[NikF]

It's obvious I'm the most ripped member of GMG...







oh,... wait,... you mean exercising?!!

The only way I'm most ripped is when it comes to my gym shorts. They're the opposite of label conscious colour-coordinated fitted workout gym bro attire. I'd take a photo of them, but between gym visits they're kept frozen in suspended animation in an attempt to maintain their structural integrity. Fact.

[The new erato]

I bench pressed 130 kg with a body weight of 105 when I was 48 years old, but had to give it all up because of back problems. It's been all downhill after that (I'm 65 now).