Random Fitness Questions

new2tri19 · 22-02-2021 01:41PM

Cill94 wrote: »

Yeah, the hair loss thing is completely unfounded. I wasn't aware of this being a thing that people believed until a client asked me about it. I did some research and it does indeed stem from a single 2009 study on rugby players.

However the study did not measure hair loss at all. It only measured increases in the androgen DHT, elevations of which is related to hair loss.

The funny thing that everyone seems to have missed is that training itself also increases DHT (quite a bit). So either training makes you go bald or creatine is probably fine.

Is it possible to get in good shape without taking creatine ? Will I notice a big difference in taking it ? Are most lifters taking it ? I'm on the fence with it , I'm not far off aesthetically how I'd like to look ,getting good definition but not ripped or a 6 pack , just wondering would creatine make that much difference? Thanks

Cill94 · 22-02-2021 03:12PM

new2tri19 wrote: »

Is it possible to get in good shape without taking creatine ? Will I notice a big difference in taking it ? Are most lifters taking it ? I'm on the fence with it , I'm not far off aesthetically how I'd like to look ,getting good definition but not ripped or a 6 pack , just wondering would creatine make that much difference? Thanks

Of course you can yeah. Even a supplement like creatine with a huge amount of evidence behind it will actually only add a small amount to your results.

Essentially it can help you get a few extra reps than you usually would. How many extra is likely going to vary from person to person. Is it worth buying creatine to maybe get 6 or 7 reps on a weight that you’d usually only hit for 5? I say yes but it’s your call. For what it’s worth, there is also evidence to suggest creatine has additional health benefits.

Unknownability · 22-02-2021 04:25PM

I recently bought the band in the below link.

Would anyone be able to link to a 20/25 min Upper body excercise circuit that I could do with that? There are hundreds on YouTube and all trying to sell stuff.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LZXVNC2/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_fabc_MCSA0XC19GA3EDGD5QHS

bladespin · 22-02-2021 04:38PM

Unknownability wrote: »

I recently bought the band in the below link.

Would anyone be able to link to a 20/25 min Upper body excercise circuit that I could do with that? There are hundreds on YouTube and all trying to sell stuff.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LZXVNC2/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_fabc_MCSA0XC19GA3EDGD5QHS

AthleanX - loves those bands.

D'Agger · 22-02-2021 05:38PM

Unknownability wrote: »

I recently bought the band in the below link.

Would anyone be able to link to a 20/25 min Upper body excercise circuit that I could do with that? There are hundreds on YouTube and all trying to sell stuff.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LZXVNC2/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_fabc_MCSA0XC19GA3EDGD5QHS

I use the same bands and find them very handy, few below which are handy - for some of them you'd need a pole, I'm starting an indoor/outdoor split this week with the evenings stretching

Pull aparts
Push ups
Wood Choppers
Deadlifts
Bicep Curls
Rows
Face pulls

remember finding this video quite useful when first starting out - guy seems to be a bro but it's a good whip through of exercises to play around with.

the baby bull elephant · 22-02-2021 06:01PM

new2tri19 wrote: »

Is it possible to get in good shape without taking creatine ? Will I notice a big difference in taking it ? Are most lifters taking it ? I'm on the fence with it , I'm not far off aesthetically how I'd like to look ,getting good definition but not ripped or a 6 pack , just wondering would creatine make that much difference? Thanks

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.strongerbyscience.com/creatine/amp/

Will answer pretty much any question you may have.

the baby bull elephant · 22-02-2021 06:02PM

Unknownability wrote: »

I recently bought the band in the below link.

Would anyone be able to link to a 20/25 min Upper body excercise circuit that I could do with that? There are hundreds on YouTube and all trying to sell stuff.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LZXVNC2/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_fabc_MCSA0XC19GA3EDGD5QHS

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DpjeudmtmEU4&ved=2ahUKEwjZ0ZDt-_3uAhVTaRUIHX-xB2kQ28sGMAB6BAgbEAc&usg=AOvVaw2HPUXOLaY7_j91LwQwzXgh

Alf Veedersane · 22-02-2021 09:05PM

D'Agger wrote: »

I use the same bands and find them very handy, few below which are handy - for some of them you'd need a pole, I'm starting an indoor/outdoor split this week with the evenings stretching

Pull aparts
Push ups
Wood Choppers
Deadlifts
Bicep Curls
Rows
Face pulls

remember finding this video quite useful when first starting out - guy seems to be a bro but it's a good whip through of exercises to play around with.

Just looking at your list, I just listed out the banded exercises I've done this lockdown and last. They're so versatile!

Curls (obvz)
Pallof press
Single-arm reverse flys
Push ups
Front raises
Lateral raises
Shrugs
OHP
Rows
Tricep pulldowns/kickbacks
Straight arm pulldowns
Wide-grip banded rows (with brush handle)
Overhead tricep extension
Face pulls
Curls (obvz)
Chest flys
Leg extensions (though its a bit awkward trying to keep it from sliding up your foot to the shin)
Hamstring curls
Good mornings
RDLs

Unknownability · 22-02-2021 09:31PM

the baby bull elephant wrote: »

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DpjeudmtmEU4&ved=2ahUKEwjZ0ZDt-_3uAhVTaRUIHX-xB2kQ28sGMAB6BAgbEAc&usg=AOvVaw2HPUXOLaY7_j91LwQwzXgh

Thank you, that's exactly what I was looking for, so much rubbish on YouTube.

silverharp · 24-02-2021 01:30PM

A row question, Im doing a landmine hex bar row , for me its comfortable to lean back a bit and have my back in a ~1'o'clock position as opposed to bent over. not undermining the exercise in any material way? I try not to let the bar get to high as i assume it starts getting lighter after a point

Alf Veedersane · 24-02-2021 02:50PM

silverharp wrote: »

A row question, Im doing a landmine hex bar row , for me its comfortable to lean back a bit and have my back in a ~1'o'clock position as opposed to bent over. not undermining the exercise in any material way? I try not to let the bar get to high as i assume it starts getting lighter after a point

It's making it easier if your back angle is greater because it means the angle between the bar and the floor is greater. The lower you go towards perpendicular to the floor increases the moment of the force.

voldejoie · 24-02-2021 03:39PM

Is there any actual benefit to taking collagen supplements?

I've been getting more and more into running during the pandemic and it's a big change as I used to swim at a high level, so the increase in impact with running is putting a good bit more stress on my joints (my knees in particular). A few people have suggested a collagen supplement would help but I'm finding it hard to get feedback from someone who has benefitted from taking it!

D'Agger · 24-02-2021 07:19PM

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Just looking at your list, I just listed out the banded exercises I've done this lockdown and last. They're so versatile!

Curls (obvz)
Pallof press
Single-arm reverse flys
Push ups
Front raises
Lateral raises
Shrugs
OHP
Rows
Tricep pulldowns/kickbacks
Straight arm pulldowns
Wide-grip banded rows (with brush handle)
Overhead tricep extension
Face pulls
Curls (obvz)
Chest flys
Leg extensions (though its a bit awkward trying to keep it from sliding up your foot to the shin)
Hamstring curls
Good mornings
RDLs

Great list I'll check out some of them to see if there's any I can incorporate. I got hugely into them my last few years playing GAA because I found they weren't as hard as a gym session where I'd tend to overdo it but still offered benefit and fitted in well with foam rolling and recovery.

The overhead tricep extension I'm a bit iffy on: I think the band I have is too strong I'd like to get a lighter one - I've found with certain exercises if the band is too strong and you're not careful you'd risk doing an injury almost moreso than with too much weight in a gym, though that does seem ridiculous as I type it!

My outdoor is something I'm looking forward to in a big way as it's bands and involves a walk to an outdoor gym within my 5k but I park a bit away and walk down via a greenway - it's a nice excursion and a recovery walk back to the car after is always good. The indoor I tend to use dumbells and kettlebells more, I think it's a simple way to put variety in between the two sessions and make me look forward to them a bit more.

Alf Veedersane · 24-02-2021 07:39PM

D'Agger wrote: »

Great list I'll check out some of them to see if there's any I can incorporate. I got hugely into them my last few years playing GAA because I found they weren't as hard as a gym session where I'd tend to overdo it but still offered benefit and fitted in well with foam rolling and recovery.

The overhead tricep extension I'm a bit iffy on: I think the band I have is too strong I'd like to get a lighter one - I've found with certain exercises if the band is too strong and you're not careful you'd risk doing an injury almost moreso than with too much weight in a gym, though that does seem ridiculous as I type it!

My outdoor is something I'm looking forward to in a big way as it's bands and involves a walk to an outdoor gym within my 5k but I park a bit away and walk down via a greenway - it's a nice excursion and a recovery walk back to the car after is always good. The indoor I tend to use dumbells and kettlebells more, I think it's a simple way to put variety in between the two sessions and make me look forward to them a bit more.

I have three different bands depending on what I'm doing. OH tricep extension, I'd use the red band, which is the lightest of the three. I also use it for face pulls. I only ever go to a heavier band if I can knock out good quality reps rather than just going heavier for the sake of it.

Cill94 · 25-02-2021 12:42PM

voldejoie wrote: »

Is there any actual benefit to taking collagen supplements?

I've been getting more and more into running during the pandemic and it's a big change as I used to swim at a high level, so the increase in impact with running is putting a good bit more stress on my joints (my knees in particular). A few people have suggested a collagen supplement would help but I'm finding it hard to get feedback from someone who has benefitted from taking it!

https://examine.com/supplements/type-ii-collagen/

Would appear not, unless you have some kind of degenerative joint disease. It's important to keep in mind there are literally just a handful of supplements that have concrete scientific evidence to support them.

I would recommend adjusting your running volume, and begin resistance training if you're not already.

Alf Veedersane · 25-02-2021 12:48PM

voldejoie wrote: »

Is there any actual benefit to taking collagen supplements?

I've been getting more and more into running during the pandemic and it's a big change as I used to swim at a high level, so the increase in impact with running is putting a good bit more stress on my joints (my knees in particular). A few people have suggested a collagen supplement would help but I'm finding it hard to get feedback from someone who has benefitted from taking it!

There are a couple of things that could be feeding into it. Runners, surface, muscles, weight to name a few. Where is it sore? Below your knee (between knee and shin), on the outside, etc?

bladespin · 26-02-2021 11:31AM

Robbed from the Amazon bargains thread, might be helpful:

Resistance bands

Alf Veedersane · 26-02-2021 11:41AM

bladespin wrote: »

Robbed from the Amazon bargains thread, might be helpful:

Resistance bands

I have those. I also have a couple I got from D8 Fitness and those Amazon ones are a lot lighter. I think the black 'X Heavy' one doesn't provide as much resistance as the blue mini band from D8.

Just in case that frame of reference is useful to anyone...

voldejoie · 26-02-2021 01:12PM

Cill94 wrote: »

https://examine.com/supplements/type-ii-collagen/

Would appear not, unless you have some kind of degenerative joint disease. It's important to keep in mind there are literally just a handful of supplements that have concrete scientific evidence to support them.

I would recommend adjusting your running volume, and begin resistance training if you're not already.

Thanks a mill! I'll keep an eye on my running volume, I'm using the Nike running club app to train for a half marathon so will maybe dial back a little and up my resistance training to see if there's an improvement.

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

There are a couple of things that could be feeding into it. Runners, surface, muscles, weight to name a few. Where is it sore? Below your knee (between knee and shin), on the outside, etc?

I wouldn't say it has much to do with weight, I'm quite comfortably in the normal weight range according to my BMI (I'm 5' 7" and just under 65kg) but maybe I could do with shaving off a little more. It's not so much as pain as a kind of tightness or pressure, and it's mostly on my right knee (kind of on both sides of the knee, if that makes sense?) which makes me wonder if it could be my runners or my gait that's doing it!

I've today off as an annual leave day and went for a quick run followed by a long walk this morning and feel great after it though!

new2tri19 · 15-03-2021 07:23PM

Guys is there an advantage to adding dumbells to the home gym ? When I read programs lots of accessories seem to have dumbell press or dumbell bench or curls . I'm wondering why not just use the barbell ?

I'm currently doing everything with the barbell or bands , have a few hundred quid I could add to home gym , already have a bench squat rack and pull up bar and weight plates up to 180kg.

The hex dumbells seem good but pricey enough , i don't mind spending 500 quid on them for someone with a max bench in the 70's and max overhead press in the 50's what size dumbells would you recommend? I'm guessing your not going to try a one rep with 2 X 35kg dumbells doing bench press it's probably more for longer sets ? But is barbell better ?

Anyway I'm thinking a set of 16 - 20kg - 25kg ?

Thanks

5-25kg dumbell set with rack 925 on adverts

2 x 5 kg
2 x 7.5 kg
2 x 10kg
2 x 12.5 kg
2 x 15 kg
2 x 20 kg
2 x 22.5 kg
2 x 25 kg

This be good enough ?

Alf Veedersane · 15-03-2021 09:15PM

new2tri19 wrote: »

Guys is there an advantage to adding dumbells to the home gym ? When I read programs lots of accessories seem to have dumbell press or dumbell bench or curls . I'm wondering why not just use the barbell ?

I'm currently doing everything with the barbell or bands , have a few hundred quid I could add to home gym , already have a bench squat rack and pull up bar and weight plates up to 180kg.

The hex dumbells seem good but pricey enough , i don't mind spending 500 quid on them for someone with a max bench in the 70's and max overhead press in the 50's what size dumbells would you recommend? I'm guessing your not going to try a one rep with 2 X 35kg dumbells doing bench press it's probably more for longer sets ? But is barbell better ?

Anyway I'm thinking a set of 16 - 20kg - 25kg ?

Thanks

5-25kg dumbell set with rack 925 on adverts

2 x 5 kg
2 x 7.5 kg
2 x 10kg
2 x 12.5 kg
2 x 15 kg
2 x 20 kg
2 x 22.5 kg
2 x 25 kg

This be good enough ?

The two main reasons would be (a) using dumbbells recruit more muscle to stabilise and (b) you're using your arms independently so they can help iron out imbalances. There are other reasons but they would be two of the main ones.

Dumbbells can complement barbell training for through reasons above but you can load more with the barbell.

You don't necessarily need to use them but if you're looking to invest in the home gym, dumbbells would be a good investment.

You could probably get a smaller set that would cater for both bench and overhead for €500. Something like 15/17.5/20/22.5/25 or maybe 12.5 instead of 22.5 to allow more for OHP (12.5/15/17.5) and add to it over time as needs be. Obviously those could be used for plenty of other exercises as well.

No, you wouldn't be testing your 1RM with dumbbells. They're not really for that top top end strength as such. Or you don't need them to be.

new2tri19 · 15-03-2021 09:26PM

Fair play for the detailed reply appreciate it. Yeah I was thinking 12kg minimum then I asked the wife would she like some weights and she said she would use up to 10kg so the full set seems a no brainer now. I doubt id need anything much heavier than 25kg so I'll go ahead with that set . I can always add more later.
Thanks again .

Mellor · 16-03-2021 10:28AM

I’m a big fan of DB bench. Even for heavy 3-5RM work. The issue is that you need a lot of DBs to cover the range of a barbell and a few plates. You’d very quickly need 10+ pairs to cover curl, press, bench. If you have the space and the money. A full set of DBs is awesome to have.

Adjustables are either slow to move between weights. Or expensive.

new2tri19 · 16-03-2021 11:19AM

Mellor wrote: »

I’m a big fan of DB bench. Even for heavy 3-5RM work. The issue is that you need a lot of DBs to cover the range of a barbell and a few plates. You’d very quickly need 10+ pairs to cover curl, press, bench. If you have the space and the money. A full set of DBs is awesome to have.

Adjustables are either slow to move between weights. Or expensive.

Thanks i've ordered that set from gymless on adverts, they supplied my weight plates and barbell and squat rack before and i'm very happy with the quality of the stuff so far.
I'll have 5-25 so should cover most exercises i'm not into adjustable stuff if i need heavier i'll buy some 27.5 and 30's , i don't mind spending money on stuff for health and you save gym membership. My thoughts are on what else now to make it a perfect home gym!

new2tri19 · 16-03-2021 12:06PM

Currently using a flat bench which i prop up on a box to do incline may aswell get an adjustable bench now i'm getting dumbells .
Any opinon on this bench https://www.adverts.ie/benches/heavy-duty-fid-utility-bench/22841143 i'm trying to figure if your doing decline would you need some foot holder to stop you sliding off bench or does having your feet on the floor stop this. Sorry for stupid questions!
The bench says it does decline , is it even worth worrying about decline positions as they probably not necessary or used that often ? Thanks

Mellor · 16-03-2021 01:36PM

new2tri19 wrote: »

Currently using a flat bench which i prop up on a box to do incline may aswell get an adjustable bench now i'm getting dumbells .
Any opinon on this bench https://www.adverts.ie/benches/heavy-duty-fid-utility-bench/22841143 i'm trying to figure if your doing decline would you need some foot holder to stop you sliding off bench or does having your feet on the floor stop this. Sorry for stupid questions!
The bench says it does decline , is it even worth worrying about decline positions as they probably not necessary or used that often ? Thanks

The bench in the photo might do decline, it you take it unlatch the support completely. But there's no hook position that corresponds to a decline.

Decline is overrated imo though

Alf Veedersane · 16-03-2021 03:08PM

Mellor wrote: »

Decline is overrated imo though

I'd agree on this.

bladespin · 16-03-2021 05:23PM

Dips

Brian? · 17-03-2021 06:24AM

Mellor wrote: »

The bench in the photo might do decline, it you take it unlatch the support completely. But there's no hook position that corresponds to a decline.

Decline is overrated imo though

Decline always struck me a gym bro exercise. You can load more weight on but you're basically cheating a bench.

Mellor · 17-03-2021 08:29AM

Brian? wrote: »

Decline always struck me a gym bro exercise. You can load more weight on but you're basically cheating a bench.

Pretty much my thoughts on it also.
What is it training that bench is lacking.

Random Fitness Questions

Comments