The Official Stupid Question Thread

[Smokejr2]

4x8-12 means you rep it 8-12 times. Pause for 45 sec then continue on to your next set which would be 8-12 again. Then do that 2 more times.

[russgenious]

Doing babylover's SS again but my upper body is lagging big time. Any exercises that I should throw in?

Also, which do you guys think is better - chin-ups or assisted pullups (on a machine)?

[Padraig123]

I have been doing SS for a couple of months now. I am also bulking and taking protein supplements. I have gone from 76kg to around 83kg now and it looks like the weight has gone straight to my gut and I don't like the way it looks. I am 5'10. Do I just keep going and keep lifting heavy and eating a lot and I will see improvements or do I eat less?

[boozebrah]

6'2/6'3(notsure) 222lb, just an estimate.

im not ripped or muscle. what sort of goals should i go for, muscle up or cut?

[ease1995]

aight lads, so i am part of a bragging rights competition with my mates, i have a great knowledge of bodybuilding and all the theory and stuff. but my question to you is...
is it possible for me to gain 20kg lean mass before the end of 2012 i weigh 60kg at 173cm now...
i have the most weight to gain because my mates are taller which puts them at around 73kg, so i know i'm going to have to work harder and eat more than them, i just need to know if it is physically possible to gain 20kg in a year

[NtripleB]

hey lads
im sorta new to bbing and wondering if this working would be okay;
1: FULL WORKOUT
2: REST
3: BACK
4: CHEST / TRI
5: REST
6: BICEPS
7: REST

i get burnt out really easy for some reason so im trying to isolate the muscles so it doesn't seem like a task to do it ( i know gym shouldnt be a task ), im varying up my routines alot to see what i like, ive been doing gym on and off for about a year due to back injures and other commitments as i just finished highschool, looking to regularly hit gym now.. im eating good for my age i guesse with occasional cheat meals, i also take post whey protien.. reponses repped/ needed

[NtripleB]

aight lads, so i am part of a bragging rights competition with my mates, i have a great knowledge of bodybuilding and all the theory and stuff. but my question to you is...
is it possible for me to gain 20kg lean mass before the end of 2012 i weigh 60kg at 173cm now...
i have the most weight to gain because my mates are taller which puts them at around 73kg, so i know i'm going to have to work harder and eat more than them, i just need to know if it is physically possible to gain 20kg in a year

no hope in hell, unless you eat absolute sh!t and dont do any exercise then maybe, but hello homer simpson

[NtripleB]

I have been doing SS for a couple of months now. I am also bulking and taking protein supplements. I have gone from 76kg to around 83kg now and it looks like the weight has gone straight to my gut and I don't like the way it looks. I am 5'10. Do I just keep going and keep lifting heavy and eating a lot and I will see improvements or do I eat less?

the disadvantages of bulking, if you don't like your gut then cut, simple

[NtripleB]

6'2/6'3(notsure) 222lb, just an estimate.

im not ripped or muscle. what sort of goals should i go for, muscle up or cut?

muscle up, when you see your noobie gains, cut, then work on your diet and pefect your routiene

[NtripleB]

Doing babylover's SS again but my upper body is lagging big time. Any exercises that I should throw in?

Also, which do you guys think is better - chin-ups or assisted pullups (on a machine)?

machines are not nearly as effective as not machine exercises, chin ups all the way

[doggies2012]

is there a way to lose belly fat without losing muscle if dere is so help please thanks

[NtripleB]

is there a way to lose belly fat without losing muscle if dere is so help please thanks

firstly you cant target areas that you wish to loose your BF, but for men it is first play fat is usually stored is in their stomach, its pretty complex to do but yes it is possilble to maintain your muscle while loosing your BF. what you would be doing is "cutting" search the forum and you'l find loads of information. Simply all you do is lower your carbs, and increase your protien intake, whilst maintaining the same ammount of gym exercises you would do if you weren't cutting.
remember the carbs you take in must be less then the carbs you use throughout the day.

[Windmillzp]

Currently bulking. On the days I don't workout do I have to keep a calorie surplus? Like if I maintained eating the required amount of protein but ate a little less food as a whole on my rest days. Would that affect my gains?

[6PackUnderFat]

1. What exercises should I NOT do if I'm recovering from a shoulder injury (90%) (Dumbbell Shoulder raise (flys) is only exercise hurts my shoulder).

2. If my chest is weaker than all other body parts, should I do chest days twice a week? Or maybe push ups 2x a week + chest workout?

3. Whats my maintenance if I'm 6'2 180 pounds and 15% BF?

4. Ive been cutting and losing 4-5 pounds a week, only "sketchy" part of my diet is that I drink 2 diet dr pepper's a day...If i was to cut this out, Would It help me lose more than 4-5 pounds a week?

5. What's the best brand Sugar free Syrup, for cutting..and where can I buy it?


Anyone can answer, and appreciate ANY help even if its just one question..THANKS

[Nickyd123]

Hey guys, here's a quick question, is there any way to monitor DRY MASS gains while taking creatine? I'm not 100% sure I'm eating enough calories to gain 1lbs per week like I want, and I'm taking creatine so the water's making the scale go up, I'm scared I'm not actually gaining muscle and when I cycle off creatine I'll be back at the same weight

[NoXcusesBeast]

Ive gotten to a mass level that I wanted but now I need to lose the xtra fat, (I was always big growing up.)

Any advise on losing weight would be great.

P.s. I'm not a stranger when it comes to working out. Been doing it for ~2 yeArs

[CaptainQ]

my maintenance cals with lifting are 2,4k,does that apply to lifting days only?

i eat 1900 when i don't lift and 2400 on days i do.

[6PackUnderFat]

is there a way to lose belly fat without losing muscle if dere is so help please thanks

You can't lose just belly fat, theirs no just thing as spot loss.

While losing overall body fat, You will most likely NOT gain muscle..what you WANT to do is MAINTAIN whatever muscle you already have

BECAUSE when you lose weight you naturally lose muscle, BUT if your hitting the Gym HARD and eating 1x-1.5x body weight in protein than you should maintain MOST of your muscle but most people will lose a little bit. ( the trick is to keep as much as you can)

It is possible for beginners to gain muscle while cutting but its rare.

[6PackUnderFat]

Currently bulking. On the days I don't workout do I have to keep a calorie surplus? Like if I maintained eating the required amount of protein but ate a little less food as a whole on my rest days. Would that affect my gains?

You should eat just as much including protein on rest days

[6PackUnderFat]

Hey guys, here's a quick question, is there any way to monitor DRY MASS gains while taking creatine? I'm not 100% sure I'm eating enough calories to gain 1lbs per week like I want, and I'm taking creatine so the water's making the scale go up, I'm scared I'm not actually gaining muscle and when I cycle off creatine I'll be back at the same weight

Don't become obsessed with the scale, hit the gym hard and you will have results. You should notice a difference in no time.

[6PackUnderFat]

Ive gotten to a mass level that I wanted but now I need to lose the xtra fat, (I was always big growing up.)

Any advise on losing weight would be great.

P.s. I'm not a stranger when it comes to working out. Been doing it for ~2 yeArs

Im currently in the Cutting stage, and i'm losing about 3-5 pounds a week.

Obviously you need to eat around 500 less than maintenance to have big results.

But for me, I just ate really good foods and counted carbs/protein only and its been working great.

For you, i would try maybe under 150 carbs to start

Eat foods such as: Eggs(whites if possible no big deal), White fish ,VEGGIES, peanut butter organic, chicken breast(skinless), Lean meats ( turkey, ground beef, steak) , Green apple, Banana only once or twice a week. almonds, NO dairy NO sugar caffeine is a must for me as a lost energy at first from lack of carbs

[BlueMaus]

Hi guys, I'm new here, so sorry if I sound inexperienced. I'm about 6'1" and 125 lbs. My body fat is super low due to my high metabolism. I'm fairly new to bbing, just came off a 3day/3wk starter program and got into more advanced stuff a few weeks ago. However I'm not seeing or feeling any results, I can't lift any more than I could at the beginning. My question is: what's a good diet to bulk up fast, without supplements? thanks.

[NtripleB]

Hi guys, I'm new here, so sorry if I sound inexperienced. I'm about 6'1" and 125 lbs. My body fat is super low due to my high metabolism. I'm fairly new to bbing, just came off a 3day/3wk starter program and got into more advanced stuff a few weeks ago. However I'm not seeing or feeling any results, I can't lift any more than I could at the beginning. My question is: what's a good diet to bulk up fast, without supplements? thanks.

go to the supp section and they'l be heaps of stuff on bulking

[N4J4R]

Doing babylover's SS again but my upper body is lagging big time. Any exercises that I should throw in?

Also, which do you guys think is better - chin-ups or assisted pullups (on a machine)?

In which areas are you lagging?

IMO, rear delt work and some additional back work is always a good idea when on SS. Chins are a solid choice. If you lack the strength to do them, assisted pull up machines are an option. Rack chins are also advisable for improving chin up strength.

I have been doing SS for a couple of months now. I am also bulking and taking protein supplements. I have gone from 76kg to around 83kg now and it looks like the weight has gone straight to my gut and I don't like the way it looks. I am 5'10. Do I just keep going and keep lifting heavy and eating a lot and I will see improvements or do I eat less?

Your choice. If you feel like your bf% is too high, then cut. If not, keep bulking. Take it slow and aim to gain 0.5 to 1 pound per week.

6'2/6'3(notsure) 222lb, just an estimate.

im not ripped or muscle. what sort of goals should i go for, muscle up or cut?

If your bf% isn't too high, bulk. If it's too high, cut. Your choice. In either case, you should probably get on SS.

aight lads, so i am part of a bragging rights competition with my mates, i have a great knowledge of bodybuilding and all the theory and stuff. but my question to you is...
is it possible for me to gain 20kg lean mass before the end of 2012 i weigh 60kg at 173cm now...
i have the most weight to gain because my mates are taller which puts them at around 73kg, so i know i'm going to have to work harder and eat more than them, i just need to know if it is physically possible to gain 20kg in a year

20kg of DRY MUSCLE TISSUE. Probably not. 20kg of WEIGHT. Yes. Take it slow. You're still young and have ages ahead of you, mate.

hey lads
im sorta new to bbing and wondering if this working would be okay;
1: FULL WORKOUT
2: REST
3: BACK
4: CHEST / TRI
5: REST
6: BICEPS
7: REST

i get burnt out really easy for some reason so im trying to isolate the muscles so it doesn't seem like a task to do it ( i know gym shouldnt be a task ), im varying up my routines alot to see what i like, ive been doing gym on and off for about a year due to back injures and other commitments as i just finished highschool, looking to regularly hit gym now.. im eating good for my age i guesse with occasional cheat meals, i also take post whey protien.. reponses repped/ needed

Do not use this set up. Get on a proven program like rippetoes SS or babylovers modified version. Learn the lifts, eat big and rest up. You will thank yourself later.

is there a way to lose belly fat without losing muscle if dere is so help please thanks

You cannot spot reduce fat. When losing weight, you will usually lose some muscle tissue. Boost protein consumption to roughly 2g/kg of bodyweight or more if you want whilst remaining in a deficit. Strength routines are also advisable for cuts.

Currently bulking. On the days I don't workout do I have to keep a calorie surplus? Like if I maintained eating the required amount of protein but ate a little less food as a whole on my rest days. Would that affect my gains?

IMO, you can if you want to. You could also eat at maintenance, but I would recommend eating at a surplus. Say 200 calories above maintenance needs.

1. What exercises should I NOT do if I'm recovering from a shoulder injury (90%) (Dumbbell Shoulder raise (flys) is only exercise hurts my shoulder).

2. If my chest is weaker than all other body parts, should I do chest days twice a week? Or maybe push ups 2x a week + chest workout?

3. Whats my maintenance if I'm 6'2 180 pounds and 15% BF?

4. Ive been cutting and losing 4-5 pounds a week, only "sketchy" part of my diet is that I drink 2 diet dr pepper's a day...If i was to cut this out, Would It help me lose more than 4-5 pounds a week?

5. What's the best brand Sugar free Syrup, for cutting..and where can I buy it?


Anyone can answer, and appreciate ANY help even if its just one question..THANKS

1. Do not aggravate the affected area. Speak to your physio if you're uncertain.

2. Get on a strength program. Rippetoes SS, babylovers SS are both solid choices for new lifters.

3. Use this thread: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=121703981

4. Aim to lose 0.5 to 1 pound per week. 4-5 pounds per week is far too aggressive a cut, IMO.

5. I have no idea. Go to your local surpermarket and find a cheap one, I suppose. Stevia extract is usually pretty good.

Hey guys, here's a quick question, is there any way to monitor DRY MASS gains while taking creatine? I'm not 100% sure I'm eating enough calories to gain 1lbs per week like I want, and I'm taking creatine so the water's making the scale go up, I'm scared I'm not actually gaining muscle and when I cycle off creatine I'll be back at the same weight

Not that I know of. Calculate your macronutrient and caloric needs using this thread: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=121703981
Write down EVERYTHING you consume for a week and the amounts. Work out the calories and macros for these foods and see if you're hitting your requirements.
You also do not have to cycle off of creatine if you don't want to.

Ive gotten to a mass level that I wanted but now I need to lose the xtra fat, (I was always big growing up.)

Any advise on losing weight would be great.

P.s. I'm not a stranger when it comes to working out. Been doing it for ~2 yeArs

Strength programs are usually advisable during a cut. You can usually maintain and in some cases, slightly increase strength during a cut. To cut, boost protein intake to 2g per kg of bodyweight or more if you want to. You must also remain in a caloric deficit. 200-400 calories below maintenance is usually a good ballpark. Just a few quick pointers.

my maintenance cals with lifting are 2,4k,does that apply to lifting days only?

i eat 1900 when i don't lift and 2400 on days i do.

Keep things simple. If you're looking to gain weight, consume 200-400 calories above maintenance levels. This means on lifting and non lifting days you would need to eat about 2600-2800 calories.

Hi guys, I'm new here, so sorry if I sound inexperienced. I'm about 6'1" and 125 lbs. My body fat is super low due to my high metabolism. I'm fairly new to bbing, just came off a 3day/3wk starter program and got into more advanced stuff a few weeks ago. However I'm not seeing or feeling any results, I can't lift any more than I could at the beginning. My question is: what's a good diet to bulk up fast, without supplements? thanks.

If you're new to lifting, something like rippetoes SS or babylovers modified version is a good idea. Make sure your diet and rest are also in check otherwise your progress will be hindered. To help you calculate your caloric needs, see this link: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=121703981
Food sources you should probably look into are oats, full cream milk, eggs, bread, pasta, fruits, veggies, red meat, tuna, salmon, chicken, turkey, peanut butter, cottage cheese...the list goes on.

Hope this helps, mate!

[tumadre51]

I've been using a split for a about 2 months but decided I should switch to something like SS or a push/pull since I'm still a novice. Could someone recommend me a push/pull routine preferably 5-6x a week, maybe 4? and a couple questions, I was wondering if this switch would get me better gains in mass and strength? Is there anything I could replace squats and deadlifts with? Maybe a machine press and rack pulls? Lastly, is it a bad idea to replace benching with dumbell press? Thanks in advance

edit: I'm in college right now and was going to wait until I got back home to switch over to SS because it's hard to eat a large amount of food while I'm here. My goal is really just to gain mass and strength as much the best I can and I think switching over from a split would be better for me in the long run. I also swim 3-5x a week if it matters

[NoobyWhiteBelt]

Ive gotten to a mass level that I wanted but now I need to lose the xtra fat, (I was always big growing up.)

Any advise on losing weight would be great.

P.s. I'm not a stranger when it comes to working out. Been doing it for ~2 yeArs

it depends on how much extra fat you have. the first guy that replied to you said he was losing 3-5 pounds / week. the only way thats healthy to do, is if he is morbidly obese (im not calling you out, random guy). if you are healthy, do NOT try to lose 3-5 pounds/week... thats extremely unhealthy, unless you're morbidly obese. 1 pound of fat = 3500 calories. take 500 LESS calories per day, and you'll lose 1 pound of fat per week. which is healthy. you dont want to lose more than 1.5 pounds per week.

[shanerambo]

What do you think is the best pre workout meal and how soon before a workout should i have it. Ive been using peanut butter as i have no protein but i will have some in a few days

[Xercis]

What happens if a skinny guy, like me for say? Trains hard but isnt eating enough? With a lower calorie intake than I should have for maintenance? Nothing?

[TheBoyBoyJesse]

After reading the SS FAQ, I still don't understand the workout A/B thing. Do I alternate A and B, doing one per week? So 3 days a week? Or is it 6 days a week. Sorry if I sound retarded, please don't neg

[dberb11]

ive been training for a year now ive had gyno for 3 years im 15 , should i take tamoxifen for my gyno and will it be bad for my training ?