Hello.

[LTC]

I don't see lots of people introducing themselves here, but I thought I'd buck the trend. Since the site is about GYM, so I will follow that angle.

First started lifting 7 years ago, on and off, more off than on. But ever since starting work in 2012, signed up to a FF membership and been hitting the gym 4-5 days a week, mostly during lunch or after work. Why 5 day training split? Because FF is bloody expensive, if I had to go in and take a shower there after work just to smell good I would.

I have had other interests in sports in the past, including badminton and triathlon. My highest point in sports "career" was finishing two half Ironmans, one in Singapore and one in KL. I was a happy amateur, crossing the line is a feeling unlike anything else.

Why exercise? Because I feel much better with it than without. I was once 86 kg, 36 inch waistline and just fat and sleepy. At my leanest after jumping headfirst into triathlon, I was 64 kg, 30 inch waistline, also sleepy, but at least its self-induced, such as after a 3 hour ride. Not trying to boast, but really massive fat loss and resultant good health is something to be proud of...really.

Now, why only lifting? Getting older, joints are less flexible, and I am facing the reality of roads that are nasty and dangerous in Singapore. People die too often on them, sometimes a little too spectacularly. Also, heavy lifting is proven to have health benefits beyond that provided by steady state aerobic training. Also, I look better without a shirt than when I was an amateur triathlete.

Hit me up if you also work in Pasir Panjang and want to head to FF!

 

[gosu_smurf]

Thanks for sharing I agree with you on the heavy lifting aspect.

Welcome to the forum and hope to see you around!

 

[luXy]

welcome bro. lifting for 7 years, u probably shd know quite a bit hahaa

 

[LTC]

Lol not 7 la. First 2 out of the 7, then triathlon took out 3, ultimate frisbee took out the remainder. During those cardio sports years didn't heavy lift, just did sports specific lifting to support... Now its 5 day split heavier weights...learning much more about the metal now...

 

[msnangersme]

r u purely focussing on heavy weights now, like powerlifting style?

 

[LTC]

r u purely focussing on heavy weights now, like powerlifting style?

No. Leaning towards a bodybuilding style. Lifting Atlas stones and doing farmers walks isn't my cup of tea. Yet.

Would probably do a year more of this and build a base, and then decide if I wanna do something else.

How about you?

 

[msnangersme]

No. Leaning towards a bodybuilding style. Lifting Atlas stones and doing farmers walks isn't my cup of tea. Yet.

Would probably do a year more of this and build a base, and then decide if I wanna do something else.

How about you?

I spend 80% of gym time just doing squats deadlifts and bench presses. Just aiming to add 1.25kg per side each session. I'll say it's really difficult to keep adding those 2.5kg week in week out. Need a solid diet and proper rest.

 

[LTC]

So

I spend 80% of gym time just doing squats deadlifts and bench presses. Just aiming to add 1.25kg per side each session. I'll say it's really difficult to keep adding those 2.5kg week in week out. Need a solid diet and proper rest.

A very measurable goal. Ensures no small measure of success then. Yeah, working 9-5 plus extras makes quality sleep difficult. If you do plateau I suggest German Volume training for a couple of weeks? I tried it once and it seemed to move the numbers up after that 3 weeks of GVT real quick.

 

[sinful]

Hey @LTC welcome to the community!

 

[sinful]

I spend 80% of gym time just doing squats deadlifts and bench presses. Just aiming to add 1.25kg per side each session. I'll say it's really difficult to keep adding those 2.5kg week in week out. Need a solid diet and proper rest.

Once you hit plateau, do some variations for a couple of weeks or so and you should be breaking the plateaus!

 

[Bestyogaworld]

Firstly i am saying welcome in this great community after i am saying i am agree with your discussion..

 

[blu3]

Hi. Am new and was browsing the threads and I saw yours. Makes me even more motivated to lose weight. I am where you were when you first started. No one to blame but myself. Been running swimming sporadically past few years but somehow was not motivated. Until recently had cause to reexamine my life, as cliched as it sounds and I didn't like what I was seeing. Plus I don't want to be the biggest sized person anymore. I've been doing a lot of reading regarding weight loss. Slowly making changes to my diet (no carbs at night) but its tough. Now looking to work on the exercise part. I read that the best way to lose weight and keep it off is to do weight training. How did you start if I might ask? Just went to the gym and started lifting?

 

[LTC]

1) Read lots. Try T-nation, Bodybuilding, Cutandjacked (all .com), or you could read those bodybuilding "bibles".
2) You don't have to read everything, just like a hamster, read a little a day, just one article maybe? But Think. Not everything you read is for you, for your schedule, for your goals (e.g. I never apply some of the powerlifting stuff I read because that is not my goal). Process it.
3) Try to understand why. Some information may be very deep and takes specialized knowledge to apply or even understand (especially some of T-nation's articles). Why helps you with the rest of this list.
4) Do something. Tough. Damn tough, but do it right. If you don't know how to do it right and the pictures and articles don't give you enough confidence to try it out (usually they don't for a beginner), go find someone to help you. Should not be anyone who has anything to gain from you. Such as a trainer. Trainers are not for beginners who know naught whether what they are taught is worth a single cent. Trainers are for later, if you need them to reach another level. If you need a trainer to "motivate" you, well, that is pathetic. If you can build motivation yourself, to do that damn tough stuff right, month after month, day in day out, you will get that change that you want.
5) Stay unsure until the numbers prove it. If you aren't improving, the iron tells you. Then you might have to challenge your fundamental beliefs, even if they are convincingly expressed by some huge guy you met at the gym that satisfies the conditions in point 4. Maybe, what he told you just doesn't apply to you. Maybe, it was broscience, or even hogwash.
6) Train intuitive, yet somewhat scientific. Some people keep a log. Some people use their iPhone. Some people have elephant memory. But record what the iron tells you, so that when you somehow know that something, a tweak, a mod, might work, you can try it out and have the confidence, that something's changed for the better. And change once in a while you should.
7) Three pillars to transformation and maintenance of healthy physique. Training, nutrition, and recovery (sleep and related activities). I speak for the entire world of people who are regular resistance trainees who have regular day jobs, after the first few months, training remains tough, and yet the least difficult part to be disciplined about. Nutrition and recovery is always compromised more than training in our modern life. Fight that, for that battle will come.
8) Maintain balance. Friends. Family. Girlfriend. Hamsters (in my case). If you are part of that large majority who end up putting training first and then moving all else that is important to last, be warned. No point being the beast of the joint when no one mourns your passing. Learn to put a couple of things first, just like the three pillars in number 7. Make time for all, be disciplined, and sacrifice the least worthy things.
9) Be happy. Smile when you fail. If you don't know what I mean, you will soon if you do 1-7. No point grimacing and kicking the DB when you had a humbling set. What you want, is to be excited about going to the gym every single training day. Make some friends, the largest men in the gym are typically the friendliest, believe me. Just don't talk to them when they look like they are into serious work.
10) Reassess why the hell you are doing this and not everything else. Yes, doubt yourself. Life isn't about your waistline, or a six pack, or looking good with a shirt off. If you had 1 year left to live, will you really do this? If you would, why? If you wouldn't, maybe you should be doing something else that is important to you. But if you can find that reason to do it, then you would have the fuel for this particular healthy passion. Something personal and unique to you, that will give you the drive to do 1-10.

PS: Number 10 is number 10 for a reason. You don't actually have to start knowing why the hell you do this in your bones. Do number 1-4 first.

PPS: This is personal opinion, enjoy reading if you may. But FYI to trolls: I am seriously apathetic to all name calling and idiotic comments. You know, like I were reading some Garfield comic strip. They hardly make me raise an eyebrow, not funny enough.