If you were to do it all again...

Hanley

...what would you do differently?

Discuss.

I think this could be really insightful and beneficial for people just getting started.

floggg

Hanley wrote: »

...what would you do differently?

Discuss.

I think this could be really insightful and beneficial for people just getting started.

Gone for a career with actual job prospects.

O.P.H

Learned how to play the piano.

brutusthebarber

Hanley wrote: »

...what would you do differently?

Discuss.

I think this could be really insightful and beneficial for people just getting started.

Squat...

And actually spend time researching what actually needs to be done.

podge57

i think learning is part of the fun and it wouldnt be as satisfactory if it was easier and i knew what i know now when i started.

although in saying that, i wouldnt have bothered with all those crappy machines i used for the first 6-8 months, and would have used a decent 5x5 programme.
also, i spent so much time working y biceps and abs, i cringe to think about it now :eek:

brianthebard

Sought out a back expert when I injured myself instead of thinking it was pointless to get it looked at. a year is a long time to get through just so you can regain size and strength you had a year ago.
Cardio, way more cardio.
moar abz!!! But tbh I think most people do plenty of ab training, I believed the stuff people say about squats and deads being enough for them. So I guess I mean more of the right ab training. (lolz at what podge posted just before me).

cardio,shoot me

fill this thread fast, i can be saved :P

ragg

Personally, I would have done my reasearch from day 1.
I relied on too much classical "wisdom" and didn't take the time to reasearch diet & exercise. I was pissing in the wind for a long time. while spending hours on cardio machines :mad:

arybvtcw0eolkf

I'd have drank the winny.

Damn you winny :mad: You hurtful bitch.

.

Hanley

Ill get on this later when I'm back from training. Keep it coming guys!!

Esse85

Stay away from Maximuscle products.

wylo

hopefully this thread will grow because im only getting into it and 2 things here I seem to have learned already
1: I use machines a good bit in my program, but still unsure about them
2: I feel like im relying too much on classical 'wisdom' as someone pointed out

Khannie

Great idea for a thread. Fair play.

If I were to do it all again, things I would change:

1) Never start smoking. Started at 13.
2) Start doing Muay Thai younger

That's about it tbh. Simply having fights looming is a powerful incentive to clean up your diet, research proper nutrition, learn about supplements, train really hard and so on. Anything for a competitive edge (without cheating of course).

gnolan

Wouldn't have pissed around on those machines for around 6 months, and would have started properly in the gym when i was in my teens

RacoonQueen

I wouldn't have let my self put on so much fat, didn't have the knowledge about dietary changes during injury and it was a loooonnng injury.

floggg

Eat less junk at exam times - the LC in particularly had me piling on the pounds.

Sorted my form out on all exercises early, instead if plodding on for a year with what i though was "correct"

Danye

Would of seeked out a personal trainer from the start, or even somebody who was a serious trainer instead of taking advice from every tom, dick and harry and most of it was contradictory.

BobbyOLeary

If I knew then what I know now I'd have sorted out my diet to the zone and gone on Starting Strength when I was 16. I can't help but be annoyed at how strong and fit I could be now if I'd only have been showed the correct stuff back then. I'd have 5 years of serious lifting and CrossFit under my belt by now if I'd have known.

I'd probably have qualified for the CrossFit games, though I don't know if even 5 years of solid work would have gotten me to be better than Mikko Salo, probably not.

Nate--IRL--

Would never have smoked and would have gotten into Lifting and fitness much earlier in life. Gave up smoking at 26 after 13 years and got fitter, and for the last 4 years have been regreting I hadn't done it sooner.

Nate

cowzerp

i would of bought a heart rate monitor as soon as i joined the gym, i have mine about 7-8 years now and my training went through the roof when it was bought for me, had been coasting through training without realising it.

Hanley

Since I started this, I better weigh in....

Firstly, I don't really regret anything I've done in training/sport. Everything's shaped me into what I am today. I was unlucky from 15-18 with a series of bad injuries, but I doubt I'd have ended up playing upper level GAA or soccer anyway so I guess it doesn't matter a damn anyway!!

Lifting wise, I wish I got involved in Weightlifting when I was younger (12-14). I think it's something I could have made a real go at. That being said, I'm still young so and relatively flexible so I guess I could make the effort to become somewhat proficient. In truth, it's probably the smartest thing to do. I can still powerlift when I'm 30+ and at least I won't ask "what if?".

Again, qualifying that by saying that all the training and lifting I've done til now has thought me a lot, and I've gotten pretty strong as a result so it certainly wasn't wasted effort.

The one thing I truly regret is being a fcuking wimp when it comes to deadlift training. I really have been a complete pussy all thru-out my training career. Pulled 190kg in March 2006 and 192 in July 06, neither lift were hard, but I didn't have the guys to grind. Got to 220 by Feb 07, 250 in Nov 07 and STILL haven't pulled a legitimate PR over that. I've been working my deadlift hard, tho I think it could be pushed harder still.

I don't regret the weight gain. It made me look unsightly for a while, but god I got strong with it.

I wish I trained my biceps more, seriously!! I don't have any, all tricep. I bought into the whole "you don't need to train your arms directly" hype, and well it's BS.

I wish I had the drive, desire, determination and motivation that I have now when I was younger, in all areas of life. Working hard to make up that lost ground tho.

cowzerp

Hanley wrote: »

I wish I trained my biceps more, seriously!! I don't have any, all tricep. I bought into the whole "you don't need to train your arms directly" hype, and well it's BS..

I wouldn't call it BS, everyone is different so maybe you needed a bit more arm effort, but most people will get adequate arm training in there chest and back work, your obviously unlucky in the bicep genetics departments.

Hanley

cowzerp wrote: »

I wouldn't call it BS, everyone is different so maybe you needed a bit more arm effort, but most people will get adequate arm training in there chest and back work, your obviously unlucky in the bicep genetics departments.

Ok, allow me to qualify!!

If you want your biceps to grow, you'll have to train them directly at some point! Like I'm not saying I've small or weak arms, they're sitting at just over 17" and I've curled 62.5kg x7. They're perfectly capable of moving me thru highish rep chins (15+) and pull ups (12+), but size wise, my triceps dominate my arms.

That's probably because I've put so much emphasis on them for lockout training tho. I don't think one needs to dedicate a whole day and 16+ working sets to them, but 4-8 sets 2x a week is something I'll be exploring going forward!

metamorphosis

Firstly, I don't really regret anything I've done in training/sport.



+1 on what Hanley said. I don't regret what i have done and how far iv come. I do wish i had started sport at a much younger age like 7/8. I reckon if i had been running since then id be flying it now with my dedication to training. But i didn't start till college and its a real shame because i think there could have been something there. Not to say there is not anything there now but if i had been doing things from a young age it would all be different now i reckon.

But i don't have much time for all those negatives! I love my training, i love what it does to my body and health and i love helping others get to where they want just like i did.

So heres to many more years of doing what i want and getting what i want!!

Also i wish i had started weights when i first got into training.

And agree with cowzerp about the HRM. My polar is a gift in training most times.

LeggyBrunette

I wouldn't have had that can of club orange and bar of chocolate, an hour ago!

I really wish I had known about weights and a high protein/low carb diet instead of endless ''new'' quick fix diets, sticking my finger back my throat and starvation! My poor body!

I have lost 2 stone since end of Feb, by eating high protein foods and going to them gym 3/4 times a week. I need to learn more about weights though and instructers in my gym are basically crap really. I'm stuck doing same ones over and over again.

Khannie

Hanley wrote: »

Lifting wise, I wish I got involved in Weightlifting when I was younger (12-14).

Would you say that's the ideal age to get into lifting at?

Khannie

LeggyBrunette wrote: »

I wouldn't have had that can of club orange and bar of chocolate, an hour ago!

Haha. Nice one. I lol'd.

Hanley

Khannie wrote: »

Would you say that's the ideal age to get into lifting at?

Pretty sure I read in starting strength that the neural capcity to learn new movements as quickly and efficiently as possible is in the 10-12 age bracket. I'd have to check tho. Empirically it would seem to be correct, look at the Chinese lifters coming up now. The Bulgarian's and other east european countries were putting their kids into sports schools around the same age too AFAIK.

Obviously I don't think a child should weight train at that age if it's to the exclusion of other sports, but if it can be done and coached well, an hour or two and week wouldn't hurt IMO, and would probably be beneficial down the road. If you wanted to train a weightlifter tho, that's probably around the ideal age AFAIK.

Assuming the whole 10,000 hour rule applies, training 5x a week, 4 hours per day they'd be hitting that level in around 9 or 10 years, so between 19 and 22 which is when the majority the new era seem to have broken thru recently.

RacoonQueen

ULstudent wrote: »

I don't regret what i have done and how far iv come. I do wish i had started sport at a much younger age like 7/8. I reckon if i had been running since then id be flying it now with my dedication to training. But i didn't start till college and its a real shame because i think there could have been something there.

+1 on all of that, that being said, I was always into sport...was a real little (dress wearing)tomboy and loved PE, was always picked FIRST when playing footy in the yard etc, unfotunately my parents weren't able to give me the opportunity to play sport...it is bloody expensive. Did start playing basketball and footy properly when I got to secondary school and progressed FAST...got injured and poof. Got into weights and later running when I went to college and now a few marathons and ultramarathons later I'm still lucky enough to be doing both...and I've done it all myself, especially with the running I've completely trained myself to the extent that I can run those distances and I think I appreciate it all the more because of that. I'm still only a baby and have lots and lots and lots of time to continue progressing and getting better. The bitch for me is that I rejoined the gym last month when I got a running injury having not really lifted for a year due to ultra training and now I'm in love with the whole gym scene again. While I train mostly for endurance, now that I'm running again I need to be careful that any weight training I do isn't detrimental to my running...and make sure I spend enough time on the road and not too much time in the gym.

brianthebard

ULstudent wrote: »

Firstly, I don't really regret anything I've done in training/sport.



+1 on what Hanley said. I don't regret what i have done and how far iv come. I do wish i had started sport at a much younger age like 7/8. I reckon if i had been running since then id be flying it now with my dedication to training. But i didn't start till college and its a real shame because i think there could have been something there. Not to say there is not anything there now but if i had been doing things from a young age it would all be different now i reckon.

+2 to that, I did the shot putt in community games in the last year I was eligible for it and since then I've harboured a desire to go back to it. But as far as doing this or yours and Hanley's examples differently, it seems to be a question of facilities and schooling that held us back? Shot putt is phased out at age 12 I think in the community games, which is just silly imo. I live in the sticks and there was no concept of coaching or training for anything other than GAA and soccer. There aren't many good weightlifting gyms around (and were probably less back when you or I were kids/teens) and most probably wouldn't cater to young kids wanting to learn to compete someday. I think its a question of facilities and lack of.

Roper

I would have been less loyal to some people and switched codes and clubs sooner. Other than that, I regret nuttin. Every year has brought something new and if I'd have been given everything I know now when I was starting out I wouldn't have known what to do with it.

In unrelated news I wish that guy never wrote that 10,000 hours article.

Hanley

Roper wrote: »

In unrelated news I wish that guy never wrote that 10,000 hours article.

Any particular reason?

devereaux17

nothing really i like being defined and the shape i currently have is near perfect.

Roper

Hanley wrote: »

Any particular reason?

It's a meta truth at this stage. An interesting, but ultimately unprovable concept article that has now been taken as fact due to it's repeated internet references.

Kev M

I wish I'd started training at a younger age, and I wish I'd not wasted my first 2 years of training basically doing fluff.

I like the pyramid analogy: "The bigger the base you build, the higher the peak will be."

I started off trying to build peaks and greatly neglected the base. So now I have to backtrack to sort out my base.


So for someone just starting out, that means stick to the heavy basics, they're what will stand to you over time. Don't be worrying about bent over reverse cable delt flyes.

Roper

Kev M wrote: »

I wish I'd started training at a younger age, and I wish I'd not wasted my first 2 years of training basically doing fluff.

I like the pyramid analogy: "The bigger the base you build, the higher the peak will be."

I started off trying to build peaks and greatly neglected the base. So now I have to backtrack to sort out my base.


So for someone just starting out, that means stick to the heavy basics, they're what will stand to you over time. Don't be worrying about bent over reverse cable delt flyes.

I think that's pretty common but to put it another way, without doing it the wrong way would you truly appreciate the right way today?

itsallaboutheL

Kev M wrote: »

So for someone just starting out, that means stick to the heavy basics, they're what will stand to you over time. Don't be worrying about bent over reverse cable delt flyes.

+1 except do worry about bent over reverse cable flyes!! Work your upper back bitches!!

Kev M

Roper wrote: »

I think that's pretty common but to put it another way, without doing it the wrong way would you truly appreciate the right way today?

Probably not, that's a good point, the best lessons are the ones that you learn for yourself.

I remember back when I was starting out, some people did give me some genuinely good advice, but in my ignorance at the time I just went ahead with Ronnie Coleman's bicep blaster workout from flexonline or whatever, and I see alot of beginners going down that same path every day.

Chris89

Join a better gym 1st.

My gym had no squat rack, a stupid crunch gym.

All i was doing was deadlifting, i was pulling almost 3x bodyweight and all, and could hardly squat 1.5x. now have some serious imbalances.

rainbow kirby

I'd never, ever have let my weight get up to 96kg (for context: I'm only 5'6").

I also wish I'd started running at a younger age, and I shouldn't have given up martial arts.

Vegeta

Start training with a strength program at a younger age
Do the big 3 from day 1
Know more about nutrition
Keep on top of flexibility (crap wrists)
Do more cardio.

BraziliaNZ

realising that the only way to lose weight is to eat less

metamorphosis

brianthebard wrote: »

+2 to that, I did the shot putt in community games in the last year I was eligible for it and since then I've harboured a desire to go back to it. But as far as doing this or yours and Hanley's examples differently, it seems to be a question of facilities and schooling that held us back? Shot putt is phased out at age 12 I think in the community games, which is just silly imo. I live in the sticks and there was no concept of coaching or training for anything other than GAA and soccer. There aren't many good weightlifting gyms around (and were probably less back when you or I were kids/teens) and most probably wouldn't cater to young kids wanting to learn to compete someday. I think its a question of facilities and lack of.

I strongly agree with you about the lack of facilities. For those who have an interest in athletics and are really looking to become more competitive- the facilities are ****e. Long jump, shot putt etc are very determined by the weather here and we all know its ****e and there are not enough decent indoor facilities. Look at the advantages the Brits have over the Irish in this area. Completeley crazy

kevpants

Roper wrote: »

I think that's pretty common but to put it another way, without doing it the wrong way would you truly appreciate the right way today?

This would echo my contribution to this thread.

I did everything wrong for so many years and listened to everything I shouldn't have.

I'm actually kinda glad I did it though. I only started powerlifting around my 28th birthday and it's nice not being young and headstrong and making a mess of everything. I train less than I used to and I doubt I'd be progressing as well if I was 20.

I spent my teens and early 20's being an immature eejit but I'm glad I did I suppose. Maybe it'll prevent me buying a sports car when I'm 55.

I wouldn't be one for regrets anyway.

d'Oracle

Although I'm technically one who this thread is aimed at helping, I can say that I do wish I knew about starting strength/ or a decent weights programme when I was 16/17 and playing rugby.

I didn't know where to look and there wasn't anyone to ask. Probably because of the caste system in the club I played in. I think the lack of real strength played a big role in my stopping playing.....

I also wish I wasn't such a dick when I was younger. At 27 I'm more wise, more committed and enjoying training more. It would have been nice to have that attitude when I played sports properly.

I'd love to help out some lads who are where I was back then.

floggg

d'Oracle wrote: »

Although I'm technically one who this thread is aimed at helping, I can say that I do wish I knew about starting strength/ or a decent weights programme when I was 16/17 and playing rugby.

I didn't know where to look and there wasn't anyone to ask. Probably because of the caste system in the club I played in. I think the lack of real strength played a big role in my stopping playing.....

I also wish I wasn't such a dick when I was younger. At 27 I'm more wise, more committed and enjoying training more. It would have been nice to have that attitude when I played sports properly.

I'd love to help out some lads who are where I was back then.

Where did you train, Mumbai?

the drifter

1) never spoke to Hanley that day in shelbourne park :P

2)not spent so much time on westside

3) not eaten my way to fatness

4) never given up MA training for 4 years

Hanley

the drifter wrote: »

1) never spoke to Hanley that day in shelbourne park :P

Hahahaha man climbs down out of a hole in the roof of course he's gonna get a weird look!!

the drifter

Hanley wrote: »

Hahahaha man climbs down out of a hole in the roof of course he's gonna get a weird look!!

ya but you never expected the man climbing down out of a hole in a roof to go "hey your james hanley i lifted with you in nationals"

Hanley

the drifter wrote: »

ya but you never expected the man climbing down out of a hole in a roof to go "hey your james hanley i lifted with you in nationals"

Well no, that was the second surprise!!

d'Oracle

floggg wrote: »

Where did you train, Mumbai?

BOOM BOOM.
:pac:

I probably should have made some attempt to explain the difference between treatment of LSC Section B schools and Club u-18 Rugby teams.