Weights

po0k

Looking into getting a Bar and prehaps one or two dumb-bell bars + weights.

Any reccomendations?

Prehaps start out with the dumbells first?
Don't want to invest too much too early and cash is a bit scarce atm too.

I've been advised not to buy just any old bar from Argos as they can break, but rather get the cheap weights and get a decent bar from a sports shop.

Any retailers? Staunton's/Elvery Sports?

Galway area

oeNeo

I got two dumbells and a bar from Argos for €50 and they're grand.

logic1

Argos weights will be fine until you get more into it. They'll last you 5 or 6 months anyway training regular.

.logic.

Steve_o

I got my bench and dumbells in elverys in athlone they have shops scattered around the place shouldn't be to hard to find 1 great value to!!

BrianD3

If you're getting weights in Argos, make sure to go for the cast iron weights not the vinyl weights. I have both types - naturally enough the cast iron are heavier and smaller. Also the bars supplied with the cast iron ones are a lot more substantial so less chance of a break. I have the Argos 50kg cast iron dumbell/barbell set which cost around 80 euros and I'm happy with it. I'm only a beginner when it comes to weights and I can't see myself outgrowing it anytime soon

BrianD3

trotter_inc

The cast iron weights from Argos will do you fine... once you get into it you can always buy extra weight for them...

po0k

Sound

How much is a bench or even the stand?

Not looking at getting a bar *just* yet, maybe in a month or two's time.

Crunch

bump. what syxpak asked.

king_of_inismac

hey man,

Just a thought to consider before investing too much in weights equiptment: What do you really want to achieve, Do you want to be seriously strong or to look good? IMHO, to look fit ya don't need massive muscles, just plenty of cardio work, and a Small bit of weights, i.e. small weights and high reps.
Your other choice is the Stron choice. Lifting heavy weights will make you seriously strong, but the extra muscle mass does not always make you look great in your regular clothes. You might feel strong, but all your mates will think you just got fat.

My advice, is to stick to the former. Join a running club or any other kind of fitness club. Get rid of all the body fat. Then do a lot of small weights with high reps.
The problem with doing heavy weights is the high maintenance.If you do weights hard for 6 months and then take a break for a month or two, it'll all turn to fat.

Look, at the end of the day its your choice, just wished somebody had given me this advice when I started doing weights. I used to work my ass off, get pretty big, and still not be happy with the results. Now I do cardio, have lost a lot of weight and my muscles now have definition. I mean I love weights and would do them everyday if I could, but Ya get too big. My training routine is cardio two/three times a week and some upper body work, like a vcouple of houndred pushups and some situps. I also do martial arts which keeps me trim enough.

soin conclusion, no heavy weights, keep them small and high reps.
THe ladies love it

Jak

Yah I just wanted to get toned, but I did a few heavy sessions and Bam! I was 17 stone and built like a tank.

I wish someone had told me I could go running instead, that would have rocked.

I miss the ladies.

JAK.

ps- Stop posting random crap please. If you find doing weights only makes you look fat you are doing something very wrong. I have a lot of respect for cardio and runners and the training they do, but while it helps a lot in cutting bodyfat, if you are looking to get built as well, you will need decent weights sessions. Most of the runners I know train pretty hard in the gym to avoid the "marathon" look.

king_of_inismac

think you missed my point Jak,

Combination is best; all weights + no cardio looks really bad

Crunch

Originally posted by king_of_inismac
hey man,

Just a thought to consider before investing too much in weights equiptment: What do you really want to achieve, Do you want to be seriously strong or to look good? IMHO, to look fit ya don't need massive muscles, just plenty of cardio work, and a Small bit of weights, i.e. small weights and high reps.
Your other choice is the Stron choice. Lifting heavy weights will make you seriously strong, but the extra muscle mass does not always make you look great in your regular clothes. You might feel strong, but all your mates will think you just got fat.

My advice, is to stick to the former. Join a running club or any other kind of fitness club. Get rid of all the body fat. Then do a lot of small weights with high reps.
The problem with doing heavy weights is the high maintenance.If you do weights hard for 6 months and then take a break for a month or two, it'll all turn to fat.

Look, at the end of the day its your choice, just wished somebody had given me this advice when I started doing weights. I used to work my ass off, get pretty big, and still not be happy with the results. Now I do cardio, have lost a lot of weight and my muscles now have definition. I mean I love weights and would do them everyday if I could, but Ya get too big. My training routine is cardio two/three times a week and some upper body work, like a vcouple of houndred pushups and some situps. I also do martial arts which keeps me trim enough.

soin conclusion, no heavy weights, keep them small and high reps.
THe ladies love it

Well, I'm of the exact opposite opinion. You don't JUST get too big. It takes lots o hard work. (You don't accidentaly turn Andre Agassi because you start playing a bit o tennis either) moreover, AFAIK there is no way that muscle can somehow be transmogriffed into fat. Not saying cardio is bad, it is good for trimming.
and AFAIK, the women do like muscular men, and not the marathon look. (sorry for making a generalization, it is of course up to individual taste)

logic1

Originally posted by king_of_inismac
think you missed my point Jak,

Combination is best; all weights + no cardio looks really bad

I don't think he did your point was just rubbish.

All weights and no cardio doesn't look **** if diet and training are in check.

Weights can burn off fat just as effectively as cardio.

.logic.

king_of_inismac

I don't think he did your point was just rubbish.

Hey sorry man, I thought Boards was a forum where you could express your opinion without ridicule.
I've been weight training since I was 13. I been training since then. I run my own karate club. I competed in running/cycling/triathlons. I have won all-ireland medals for shotokan karate, so I think I'm intitled to my own opinion.
I've seen a lot of guys pass thru our gym. They arrive with the intention of building serious muscle, the enthusiasm lasts about 6 months. Yes, they do make progress, build themselves up, and then stop.
Now their diet while they're training is high carbs and protein, food for muscle. When they stop, and unless they've great discipline, they continue eating in this manner and gain huge weight.
The key is discipline and commitment. Starting a weights program demands that you commit yourself and that you will last thru all the *****ty training sessions and the dogs abuse ya get from your trainer.If you last, stick to a good diet and work hard , you get the body, otherwise you lose out.
Look I'm not trying to undermine anyone, but since I've been a gym rat for quite a while now, I think I should at least be allow to air my opinion on the subject.

furthermore, I would also have to say that it depends also on your body type, ectomorph or mesomorph. I belong to the latter category and I gain weight from simply looking at a weights bench, where diet and cardio work is extremely important in order to stay lean...


look these are just a few ideas from a weights enthusiast, take them or leave them...;)

logic1

Originally posted by king_of_inismac
Hey sorry man, I thought Boards was a forum where you could express your opinion without ridicule.

Where did you hear that?

I've been weight training since I was 13. I been training since then. I run my own karate club. I competed in running/cycling/triathlons. I have won all-ireland medals for shotokan karate, so I think I'm intitled to my own opinion.

Well done on your achievements, nobody said you weren't entitled to your opinion. It was simply my opinion your previous point was rubbish which for the most part it was. Come on you stated one of the oldest myths in bodybuilding:

If you do weights hard for 6 months and then take a break for a month or two, it'll all turn to fat.

Maybe you should have rephrased, everyone should know at this stage muscle cannot turn to fat especially someone with so much self professed knowledge as yourself.

I've seen a lot of guys pass thru our gym. They arrive with the intention of building serious muscle, the enthusiasm lasts about 6 months. Yes, they do make progress, build themselves up, and then stop.

I've seen exactly the same but I've never ever seen anyone build serious muscle mass in 6 months. Certainly not enough that they look huge by any means unless they're juicing. And if you're on the sauce I'd expect you to be training alot longer than 6 months and certainly have more commitment than the New Years resolution short haulers.

Now their diet while they're training is high carbs and protein, food for muscle. When they stop, and unless they've great discipline, they continue eating in this manner and gain huge weight.

So the problem isn't actually weight lifting it's their diet? So why would you recommend people do alot of cardio instead of weight training when infact you should be recommending people keep their diet in check instead? Seems like you're giving a solution for the effect and not for the cause of the problem.

The key is discipline and commitment. Starting a weights program demands that you commit yourself and that you will last thru all the *****ty training sessions and the dogs abuse ya get from your trainer.If you last, stick to a good diet and work hard , you get the body, otherwise you lose out.

No one has disputed this. It's 100% true. But your statement was that a weights routine alone will not give you the body you want when infact I have every certainty that it will. You should read up on some of Nelson Montanas thoughts on Cardio. Or take a look at David Henry just recently got his pro card and does very little cardio even for pre-contest prep.

Look I'm not trying to undermine anyone, but since I've been a gym rat for quite a while now, I think I should at least be allow to air my opinion on the subject.

Again nobody said you can't.

furthermore, I would also have to say that it depends also on your body type, ectomorph or mesomorph. I belong to the latter category and I gain weight from simply looking at a weights bench, where diet and cardio work is extremely important in order to stay lean...

Mesomorphs are one of the body types that need least amount of cardio to stay lean. They put on muscle but not fat easily.

look these are just a few ideas from a weights enthusiast, take them or leave them...;)

All points are taken on board here and most are appreciated. Looks like you could add alot to the board, glad to have you around.

.logic.

Jak

Listen,

You are entitled to opinions, but if I think it is useless banter "Teh ladies love it" or factually incorrect "If you do weights hard for 6 months and then take a break for a month or two, it'll all turn to fat."/"soin conclusion, no heavy weights, keep them small and high reps."

I will tell you so.

There are quite a few serious athletes here on boards strangely enough, and while your sporting achievements are grand, they are far from unique here and will guarantee you no added license to post junk.

I also have done Olympic distance triathlons, played a wide range of sports such as waterpolo and rugby, the former at national schoolboy level, kickboxed for 4 years before quitting it for boxing, sailed, windsurfed and dived for years, boxed for my college up to the Uni All Ireland superheavy final and trained weights seriously for a long time. I'm also tied into a supplement company and the Irish natural bodybuilding association which means I try to keep up with training techniques, supplements and diet - but it is all irrelevant if I make a mistake with what I post. And I occasionally do.

If you are looking for respect, post a few worthwhile tips and gradually folk will listen.

You don't deserve it for what you posted so far. But I would welcome you to give tips to other people in future.

JAK.

king_of_inismac

I also have done Olympic distance triathlons, played a wide range of sports such as waterpolo and rugby, the former at national schoolboy level, kickboxed for 4 years before quitting it for boxing, sailed, windsurfed and dived for years, boxed for my college up to the Uni All Ireland superheavy final and trained weights seriously for a long time. I'm also tied into a supplement company and the Irish natural bodybuilding association which means I try to keep up with training techniques, supplements and diet -

lets not make this a "who has the biggest D*ck" contest
I was just making the observation that my opinion was valid and in a forum like this opinions should be allowed be expressed without ridicule.If you want athletes to post, ya can't simply shoot their ideas out of the water like that.There are more civil ways of arguing/dismissing someones point.

You don't deserve it for what you posted so far. But I would welcome you to give tips to other people in future.

This really pisses me off, I mean who are you to say I don't deserve a small bit of common curtesy.

My point is this forum will not be sucessful for long when posters opinions are undermined in such a manner...

logic1

Originally posted by king_of_inismac
lets not make this a "who has the biggest D*ck" contest

Well.. you did start it.

I was just making the observation that my opinion was valid and in a forum like this opinions should be allowed be expressed without ridicule.

I seem to be missing where anyone ridiculed you. Various people including myself disagreed with your points as in my opinion they were completely wrong. It's my right as much as yours to air a differing opinion to you. At no point did anyone ridicule or make fun of you.

If you want athletes to post, ya can't simply shoot their ideas out of the water like that.There are more civil ways of arguing/dismissing someones point.

I believe totally that anyone who posts with information which has been scientifically proven and accepted to be totally incorrect like your "muscle turns to fat" comment can and should be shot out of the water before more mis-information is perpetuated throughout the community.

This really pisses me off, I mean who are you to say I don't deserve a small bit of common curtesy.

Nobody said you don't deserve it and as far as I can see every courtesy has been afforded to you so far but this little tyrannical "I'm being victimised" rant of yours isn't doing you any favours.

My point is this forum will not be sucessful for long when posters opinions are undermined in such a manner...

It's been quite succesful so far. If you have a better idea for a web forum or better ideas on how to run this one there's always the "Feedback" forum or alternatively it's a big internet, go start your own.

.logic.

Benbaz

Hey King, listen mate, nobody's out to get ya!! Although I do agree that sometimes JAK & Logic1 come on a bit heavy handed to posters that quite obviously post misinformation, but having said that, the quote from you about muscle turning to fat is a real doosie!! By that reckoning all anybody has to do if they want to get ripped is to get real fat and then miracuously turn the fat back into muscle!!

But on a serious note, I think the reason why JAK & Logic1 come down heavy on misinformation posts, and I don't want to speak for either of them here, is because when it comes to this forum and in particular training practises any misinformation can lead to injury, and in some cases quite serious ones. And with that in mind it's best to stop it before it gets out of hand.

On a personal note, I've only being training for about a year now and I've found this forum extremely helpful, providing losts of informed and practical advice, and as most people are aware of there is way too much bad and potentially injury inducing advice floating around!!

B.

king_of_inismac

Ok, thats sounds fair enough, and I guess I better explain my "muscle turns to fat" line.
Your right muscle does not turn to fat, but any muscle gained requires a certain amount of maintenance. For example If i train for 5 years and am pumped at 15 stone. I then stop training, I have a problem. I loose the Cut-look, your muscles become hidden behind a high percentage body-fat and like you have never trained.
I have seen this happen to a lot of guys, they just don't look good.
I've been trying to ease off heavy weights so I can get to a stage where I'm happy with how I'm cut and not need the heavy maintenance that a serious bodybuilder needs.
Serious bodybuilders need to invest time, sweat and tears to maintain the level their at....

Jak

Nobody is victimising you, read through earlier posts and you will see others who still post having received harsher treatment that you. If it continues to annoy you there is always PI, which is run in a more caring fashion.

Read the charter, lots of folk get off on the wrong foot here, but it is because we like to try and keep a lot of these bull**** gym myths down. The board is pretty sucessful, and plenty of folk I know read without posting for info, and they like the way it is run and the info they get.

Your post was rubbishy, and as I don't know you in person I can only judge you on what you wrote. Just try to keep the points clear on the basic stuff, as this is how people unfamiliar with training pick up half truths.

Hopefully you will take this the right way and continue to post, if not you can go ahead and report me to the admins, they will probably take it out of my pay check.

JAK.

king_of_inismac

nah, your grand, Don't mind me, having a ****ty week at work and can't wait to go training this evening....:)

Jak

Nice one.

Glad all is settled.