greenprotein

Wow your progress and determination is great...love the outdoor gym

Decbolton, I had a rotator cuff injury about year and half ago from a collision on snow...anyway it is now fully recovered and I have no problems at all with the heavy (for me ) weights... ..what's wrong with your shoulder I am progressing so slowly at the 30kg bench press, that I decided to start an extra few sets at heavier weight...this morning I managed 1 x3, 1 x2, 1x2 at 34kg (there's no way as I had hoped that I could have lifted 40kg)...I do find when I want to move up a weight that doing a few almost at 1RPM makes the lighter weight progress quicker...so I shall see how it goes...I am pleased with what I have achieved though Does anyone have a rule of thumb idea as to when I am likely to start looking bigger (when my arms are hanging down by my side) I am stronger but just no bigger and I still have same fat amount on my arms...For example would I need to be bench pressing 150% of my body weight to start looking bigger FYI I weigh about 50kg and 5ft 9"

That's interesting, I didn't know about decline bar...hmmm..thanks So is it bench pressing but I'm tipped upside down a bit...I'll have a search and find out... I have no excuse but at present I am having to trick myself into weight training...so I'm sticking with exercises I like, such as bench pressing. I'm trying to make it work for the pecs...when I tried dumb bell flys, I didn't like doing them.. I do the same for legs...I love deadlifts but hate squats...so I do deadlifts where I'm bending at the knees and getting as low as possible with the bar as it includes the quads...then I do the stiff legged DL to concentrate on hams/glutes followed by seated leg extension just for quads.. ...it's a game with myself really ..I visit the site to get some inspiration As for my bench pressing, I have been struggling with same weight for weeks, gradually getting in another rep and another etc..I think in about 4 weeks times I will be able to add another 10kg which I really am excited about (especially as I remember the first time I lifted current weight 30kg I could only do 1 rep... now I can do 1 x10, 1 x 8, 1x 6 but it's not an easy weight for me). Soon to be at 40kg I may start to see real results...which should inspire me more...

Hi Dylan Up until yesterday I was doing flat bench press. However, I began testing yesterday incline bench press with bar to see which areas it was affecting...so this is the way to go then for pecs...thanks for tip...

Fantastic transformation...

Oh my goodness That last pic just says it all - Wow and well done.. plus you spread the positive vibes of Veganism

Well, I'm not as dedicated as I should be... bit lazy at times ...so here's a first pic.... ....thing is when my arms are by my side they look like pieces of string ...The laziness is that I haven't started to concentrate on pecs or shoulders (bones stick out on top of shoulders)...However, as I have seen some progress in my benching and bi/tri ceps...I think I have convinced myself to add shoulder presses, this week ...Do incline bench presses concentrate on pecs (cause I really don't like doing dumbell flys, so I'm tring to use something that I like doing already?? )

Hi Jungleinthefrunk, Sar how near are you two now to doing chin-ups Jungleinthefrunk, if the avatar is your good self then I can tell you that you are much stronger than I am, perhaps it's just a technique thing

Hi Dylan Interesting times, especially as (most of us have heard) the Mayan Calendar coming to the end of a 2,600 (or there about) year cycle, which is supposed to end around 21 December 2012. Apparently, the earth aligns up in the galaxy in an unusual fashion where the earth comes very close to a black hole. Well I'm no astro physicist but things I read I try and look out for..so I'm watching

Hi and welcome WaQas Where are you in Pakistan? Have you been Vegan long? How long have you been body building?

Hello Sonja Yes welcome...Interesting what you say about RV...I have read a lot about it...however it's not for me...but from some of the things I learned, I certainly do eat a lot more raw veg.. I use some raw veg as a type of crouton for a lovely cooked bowl of soup....at other times the soup is raw... it's more about what I fancy at the time...today for lunch I had slightly cooked porridge and total raw vegetable green leafy wraps It would be interesting to hear more about what you eat, if you use a dehydrater etc, Maybe you have some tasty raw chocolate bar recipes

Hi MarkAnthony Welcome...when you say your hip blew out..was it that incident that made you go Vegan??? Did you find out something about the way meat metabolizes and draws minerals out of the bones perhaps??? Just curious..

hi kingbhikku I think you have done amazingly well, to have known about Veganism so early in life against a family background that was the opposite...regardless of any set backs.. you seem to dust yourself down and go forth again...welcome

Hi Matt you sound really enthusiastic, like you've got it sorted for good this time...well done and welcome... there seems to be a never ending stream of newbies here incl myself...good to know Veganism is so popular

aaaaww...thanks for being so positive...much appreciated No pre assisted training at all..I have been weight -training about 6 weeks now...my upper body work has been bench presses, tricep dips using body weight, bi cep curls...lower body has been deadlifts and leg extensions...I noticed with the deadlift that it pulls hugely on lower to mid back and depending on which bit of the deadlift I am in, it then pulls on my upper back shoulder blade to top of shoulder area. I also do a shoulder shrug at the top of the lift... The deadlift also pulls hugely onto my forearms...the deadlift and bench press are the two that I really push hard with (for me it is pushing hard but I know this would be easy to many of you) (Obiously I'm not mentioning much re deadlift effects on legs as not needed really for talking about chin-ups ) I grip the chin-up bar with both hands facing me. I cannot do it with palms facing away. All I can say is the forearms felt the most strain, then biceps, then stomach muscles. I tested having the bar at different heights...I can do chin-ups from an almost hanging position (arms just off of being fully locked straight)but it's easier to lower arms to an obtuse angle just past 90 degrees and then chin-up from there... ....I asked guys at work what was correct and they said both but most people don't go all the way back down to almost hanging... I expect there are some experts on here that could explain the differences One thing I could suggest is start with the bar a couple of inches above your head and pull up from there, then as you get used to it put the bar higher up, and also just do them in reverse (this is what I am practising to be able to do more from the hanging position)...Hey you'll know all this anyway as you ladies do look/sound superfit whereas I don't...but I'm trying Hope that helps, what have you tried yourselves, why do you think it's not working for you As an aside, I know I don't have a proper w/out routine yet but I'm gradually introducing more/different exercises to my weekly w/o's. I am happy just now to plateau (or slower progress) on existing exercises whilst new ones are added in. Because I am lazy in terms of introducing abs exercises I'm glad the chin-ups seem to work the abs as a by product

I voted... ...on the hit front..chocolate... just bought some 100% cacoa mass chocolat...yum yum ..along with some single bean, single estate 70%...Venezualen, Peruvian, Indonesian...more like...'just shut up and gimme' the cacoa ... oh la la!

Hi I eat pretty much what stcalico has been saying, and not so much in the way of nuts due to Dr Esselstyn's plant based wholefood diet advice which in turn was based from the Dr T Colin Campbell's China Study...DukeD mentioning Dr Campbell So it's quite a heady mix to: a) muscle build being a Vegan b) deal with lowish Thyroid (cut out soya) c) lower body fat d)keep enough energy food in the diet for my workouts e) try and not have too many oily foods in my diet (and no added oil) re trying Dr Esselstyn's diet ...but it' all good fun Perhaps someone can add something about, too much protein in the diet having adverse affects or is that just animal protein I'm sure I read about this whilst I was doing a mass read on Dr T C Campbell and Dr Esselstyn...can't quite remember though...it was more than just bone loss/Vit D? mass in meat eaters it was also to do with causing other diseases if too much protein is consumed e.g. anything above 15% of daily intake...I'll have to see if I can find out about it again...

Hi folks I know it is pathetic to some of you but I really have just done 10 chin-ups - I had a second rest between each one as I couldn't believe I'd even done 1, had to stop for shock factor I know this is a good exercise to do but is it a good sign that I can even manage one? Do you think my recent training has strengthened me enough to manage this OR is it something that everyone can do straight off?..and I'm just excited over nothing I just thought I would not be able to do one for at least 6 months..my chin-up bar has sat in its box for weeks until just now that is... Anyway comments appreciated so I can get things in perspective Okay I am now editing this post as I had another go and done 6 (to failure) with no rest...there must be hope for me somewhere then...

Yep, same here, snow kiting ... it's on the agenda....could be during the Summer too with a wheelie ATB....imagine doing somersaults...now that would be fun..then the following Winter, do the somersaults without the kite

Hi Baby Herc, I see what you mean about having a dog around, scaring off the wildlife...could be handy though if it's a bear ....I do agree how being outdoors in the wilderness can be theraputic...hhhuuuummmm....calmmmmm Well I have temporarily stopped my longish hike/bike runs, as i Have been losing weight ... but I'm not quite addicted to the bodybuilding as I was the hike/bike stuff...I'm going through a weird transition phase ...Have you ever snowboarded in the dark and stopped to have something to eat by the Shining hotel .....waaaaa hahahaha.. Here's another Ryan Knapton...ultimate snow slashing and mental music. My favourite bit is Ryan coming out of the 18 sec slash. There appears to be a lot of 'g-force' and he flips onto the heel edge and powers away...wooo hooo Lancelon, you sound like your in with snowboarding already...then I know you will have so much fun, you will be addicted You won't have to look very far to find someone to teach you..you have so many great places in America Do you have a board yet or have you got an eye on one?

Hi Some great snowboarding from you and your pals... ..flatland tricks, love the slashes ..some cool chilling music Have you ever seen the Ryan Knapton you tube video doing similar stuff?... it is really worth the watch (and the music) it's titled something like..'flatland...slashes...' and is 3:58 long. Wow what a great mountain...is that right on your door step or is it a 4 hour drive kinda' thing? Cairngorms is a 2 1/2 hour drive for me.. but it was the only place with uplift and good enough snow in Scotland...but most of the Winter I go to my local slope at Glenshee.. only 45 min drive.... I see you really are a snow shoer..what about dog snow shoes? Some beautiful scenery from shots in the link...I like the comment about the fast route down on your 'back sides' hahaha...I did manage something similar last Winter by accident tho' and yeh it was good fun...

That is amazing Andrea... Congratulations

Hi Stu Do you ever run with a weighted back pack? Or is that your plan after you have added ankle weights? Wow, you will be flying if you take the weights off

Hi Dylan I have seen sprinters' legs close up from my more youthful days' track sessions and boy I have been hypnotised by them...amazing hamstrings....on the male and females...I would love to have legs like that...

Hi Just wondered if there are any snowboarders here? If so what kind of kit have you got? What style of snowboarding are you doing? Any cool pics of you in action? Besides bodybuilding being a new sport to me, so is snowboarding which I am addicted to and adore...I will be going into my 4th season this Winter. I started on a standard board with soft boots and I am keen to learn alpine snowboarding...I have been doing this 2 months (end of last Winter)...It takes a lot of getting used to with totally different board (side cut etc) and using hardboots (like skiers' boots) but hey it is such good fun... Besides taking up bodybuilding due to some health issues that I have, I also know that b/b will help me become a better snowboarder...I can't wait for the new Winter season to test out the new STRENGTH that I will have in my legs... The pic below was taken in Scotland just a couple months ago in the Cairngorm mountains... when there was an unexpected 6-8 week snowfall (where the Winter's snow had already melted)..what a result...the board and boots, is the alpine set-up... there are hardly any hardbooters in the UK but WOW loads in America and Europe...so just wondered if any are here BTW I do belong to some snowboarding web forums and I know of 1 chap who is an alpine snowboarder lives in USA and turned Vegan around 2010....so 1 and counting... The pic below is the type of board I started out on with soft boots: