New Gay Thread - Part 5

[atticus_a]

Turns out a lot of media is tuned to the daylight spectrum and it keeps the brain stimulated late into the evening, so you're supposed to turn off your television, computer, and phone screen at least an hour prior to bedtime. This may be a reason why you stay awake. I installed the program f.lux to change the color temperature of my monitor, and this seems to make it easier to rest at night.

I don't know if I agree that it necessarily that simple...it is possible the blue spectrum at night. But I think the spirit of it is correct.

If you are like me and always having projects. You can always buy glasses that block the blue light that you can wear for an hour before bed. You can buy the medical grade ones for like 70 dollars or you can by cheap Amazon one for 'fog' for like 8. Additionally, I have found that low dose melatonin 2 hours before bed is helpful as well as a dawn stimulator alarm clock and the very popular sleep hygiene are all helpful for me. I don't know I feel for a lot of people sleep is like any other skill. Some people are good at it and others are not.

Insomnia could also be something that is secondary to something else. Although primary insomnia is fairly common, so is secondary. Depression, anxiety, all can contribute to the insomnia. Traditionally, if getting to sleep is the problem it is secondary to anxiety, behavioral aspects, or stuff like delay sleep phase syndrome. It could be an area to discuss with a qualified health provider.

[dreamboi]

This is the week I change up my routine a bit. Basically I sat down with my training manual and opened an Excel spreadsheet to do it. I am lowering the weight I do for each set - plus adding a set. That means I go to four sets for most things and five for legs. Monday was arm day, and it felt great. Tonight is chest and shoulders, Friday is legs. Oh, as for the obligatory gay comment - I wear shorts that show off my legs. :-)

I do four sets of everything on all days some days I feel frisky so I do a couple more but mostly just do 4 lol today was legs and back and I killed it ! First time I've actually done pull ups in while and for me being a lil larger its move to see all the guys look at me like I won't be able to do em lol now I gotta learn muscle ups

[CarlosFurious]

I'm still trying to find a weekly routine that clicks. One exercise I started doing again is isolated dumbell curls but with a drop set. Feels so good. I've been checking out the Shortcut To Size routine.

[dreamboi]

I'm still trying to find a weekly routine that clicks. One exercise I started doing again is isolated dumbell curls but with a drop set. Feels so good. I've been checking out the Shortcut To Size routine.

Since I'm doing 3 day splits I do more isolated bicep exercises on my second arms day trying to tweak it so all my days are different exercise sets

[CarlosFurious]

Since I'm doing 3 day splits I do more isolated bicep exercises on my second arms day trying to tweak it so all my days are different exercise sets

I'm doing a 4 day split, but do iso curls on two of those four days. And yes, I also hit he triceps since your arm isn't just the bicep.

Also, whatever your doing @dreamboi it's working. Your arms are crazy good.

[dreamboi]

I'm doing a 4 day split, but do iso curls on two of those four days. And yes, I also hit he triceps since your arm isn't just the bicep.

Also, whatever your doing @dreamboi it's working. Your arms are crazy good.

Thanks I had some customers feeling me up last night lol .. I was like o.O oh geez .. I'm a waiter btw.. and when I said 3 day split I do that twice a week so 6 days off Sunday

[CarlosFurious]

So what do you guys think about using bench presses with the smith machine? I know on the forum, smith machine makes you a "*******", but in regards to using it for benching it gets mixed reviews. I find that I struggle quite a bit benching especially with my joints.

What are your thoughts?

Preface: I'm still squatting on the squat rack.

[broad.stance]

I don't know if I agree that it necessarily that simple...it is possible the blue spectrum at night. But I think the spirit of it is correct.

If you are like me and always having projects. You can always buy glasses that block the blue light that you can wear for an hour before bed. You can buy the medical grade ones for like 70 dollars or you can by cheap Amazon one for 'fog' for like 8. Additionally, I have found that low dose melatonin 2 hours before bed is helpful as well as a dawn stimulator alarm clock and the very popular sleep hygiene are all helpful for me. I don't know I feel for a lot of people sleep is like any other skill. Some people are good at it and others are not.

Insomnia could also be something that is secondary to something else. Although primary insomnia is fairly common, so is secondary. Depression, anxiety, all can contribute to the insomnia. Traditionally, if getting to sleep is the problem it is secondary to anxiety, behavioral aspects, or stuff like delay sleep phase syndrome. It could be an area to discuss with a qualified health provider.

BluBlockers? Got 'em.

Thanks for the tip on wearing them before bed. Will have to dig out an older pair and try that out.

The program to change my monitor's color temperature is one part of what I do to ensure a restful night's sleep. Even if it doesn't tune to the correct spectrum, the screen is toned down which causes less strain on my eyes.

Wondering if you've had any experience with ZMA. Do you find it any different than taking melatonin?

[CarlosFurious]

Totally off topic but the Godzilla teaser just leaked online. He's the original beast. I'm totally hyped. Sorry thought I'd share.

[bhujerban]

Jerbs has a job at Macy's for the Christmas season. YAY!

And even better: It seems my right arm injury is finally healing. Had an arms day today and my tendon didn't freak out at a high weight or rep range. It was just like before. MORE YAY!

[cowboyathlete]

Totally off topic but the Godzilla teaser just leaked online. He's the original beast. I'm totally hyped. Sorry thought I'd share.

Please tell me it will be better than that gloriously awful remake from several years ago.

[muscle2s]

hot gay men

[sandmussel]

Took a bit of searching for that Godzilla teaser, as Warner Bros. forced most of the websites to remove the video, but I found it. It looks promising - more faithful to the concept and appearance of the original Japanese Godzilla. It's directed by Gareth Edwards, who wrote and directed Monsters, which received generally positive reviews from critics ... so I think this new Godzilla movie won't be anything like that awful 1998 remake.

And congrats, Jerbs! I hope I'll get a similar break on the job front soon.

Well, today was supposed to be arms day at the gym, but my friends managed to persuade me to join them for happy hour instead. Ugh ... now I feel both bloated and dehydrated; amazing what a few beer flights can do I'll have to make up for it tomorrow with extra sets for penalty.

[tcav26]

Hello!

I'm Tim and recently moved to the DC-metro area and joined Gold's gym. Been working out for awhile now, but recently got focused and want to try and compete in a competition in 2015. I had been doing crossfit for the past year and had some good results, but I missed the gym and really wanted to focus on putting on size. I still try and incorporate some WODs into my training though! Also looking for a training partner if anyone in the Montgomery county area and has similar goals!

Seems like you allhave a great group and good advice!

[dreamboi]

Today is legs and back day for me and boy I'm excited to get this week over with then my rest day is here !!! Great cause my body feels like falling apart

[sandmussel]

Hey, welcome to the thread, Tim! Lookin' forward to reading about your progress -- awesome goal you have there.

Gonna tackle the arm sets today that I should've done yesterday. Then team swim practice after. I usually don't do weights gym and swim practice on the same day, especially since the latter is so energy intensive and we're not allowed much rest time between swim sets. So it's gonna be interesting going into practice shortly after having used up glycogen in the gym. Hopefully the substantial breakfast I had earlier and the coconut water I bring with me can pull me through; I can't stand energy bars.

[dreamboi]

All done with legs and back !! Yay no gym till Monday !!

[atticus_a]

BluBlockers? Got 'em.

Thanks for the tip on wearing them before bed. Will have to dig out an older pair and try that out.

The program to change my monitor's color temperature is one part of what I do to ensure a restful night's sleep. Even if it doesn't tune to the correct spectrum, the screen is toned down which causes less strain on my eyes.

Wondering if you've had any experience with ZMA. Do you find it any different than taking melatonin?

The program is good. I also have the screen shield as well. I find when I don't want to wear the glasses the amber screen is fairly helpful.

Melatonin works better for me for maintaining a good sleep schedule. I only use like 0.5mg to shift my sleep phase forward. Most of the doses above that are just wasting money without increasing clinical effectiveness.

ZMA is better for helping with relaxation for me. If you really want to increase the absorption, you can add b6 to it. B6 enhances the absorption of amino acids, zinc and mag. So if you want to intensify the compound, it might be worth it to add a little bit of B6.

You can also use 5 htp if you want I suppose since serotonin converts to melatonin. Also tryptophan since it converts to serotonin...

[MiamiSpartan]

Just found out another gay couple moved into our hood a couple of months ago....they live across the street and down about 4 houses.....they didn't know anyone in the area, so we have them coming over for dinner tomorrow night to meet all the gays in the hood....my partner is the damn gay Welcome Wagon!

[CarlosFurious]

Killed it at the gym today. Shoulders, bi and tri. Played the Dark Knight Rises soundtrack as I did. Was giving full Bane fierceness in the weight room.

[cowboyathlete]

Chest and shoulders later today.

[sandmussel]

Just found out another gay couple moved into our hood a couple of months ago....they live across the street and down about 4 houses.....they didn't know anyone in the area, so we have them coming over for dinner tomorrow night to meet all the gays in the hood....my partner is the damn gay Welcome Wagon!

MiamiSpartan, your partner sounds like a really cool guy! I wish people had welcomed me like that when I moved to this neighbohood a few months ago. This is part of the city's gayborhood, but the gay people in my immediate area seem to keep to themselves.

Today's gonna be interesting: I had only 2 hrs of sleep and couldn't sleep anymore after that. I know it isn't anxiety because the past weeks have been pretty laid back and I can't think of anything of real concern for the immediate future. I think I'll try atticus_a's suggestion of low dose melatonin tonight. The fact that today is pecs and back day at the gym should help ... plus, I plan to do a hike at one of the city mountains late this afternoon. Good thing this sprawling city has so many mountains within it, most of which have been converted into municipal parks with lots of hiking trails.
PhxMtnHike.jpg

[atticus_a]

MiamiSpartan, your partner sounds like a really cool guy! I wish people had welcomed me like that when I moved to this neighbohood a few months ago. This is part of the city's gayborhood, but the gay people in my immediate area seem to keep to themselves.

Today's gonna be interesting: I had only 2 hrs of sleep and couldn't sleep anymore after that. I know it isn't anxiety because the past weeks have been pretty laid back and I can't think of anything of real concern for the immediate future. I think I'll try atticus_a's suggestion of low dose melatonin tonight. The fact that today is pecs and back day at the gym should help ... plus, I plan to do a hike at one of the city mountains late this afternoon. Good thing this sprawling city has so many mountains within it, most of which have been converted into municipal parks with lots of hiking trails.
Attachment 6271563

It might not be useful for you but worth a try regardless. I have more of a delayed shift sleep syndrome so for me the melatonin a couple hours before bed, avoid bright lights at night, and the bright light in the morning helps maintain my sleep cycle. Otherwise, I am seldom able to sleep until 2 to 4 am. With it, I am able to be a functioning member of society without the interventions I drag.

[MiamiSpartan]

Melatonin usually works for me when I have trouble sleeping....

My partner is a pretty cool guy....

It's especially great, since we live in the suburbs of Miami....not South Beach, or Wilton Manors, but in the middle of middle class suburbia....We do end up with a pretty mixed social group.50% gay, 50% straight......which works pretty well for us...

[cowboyathlete]

Debating whether or not to go out tonight (Saturday). Friday was leg day, still in that pleasant state of achiness.

[MiamiSpartan]

Good chest WO this am.....weather is starting to cool down SLIGHTLY.....humidity is going away....winter is coming....

[sandmussel]

Amazing how quickly a full workout routine can be accomplished when you arrive at the gym a bit close to closing time. I was forced to really shorten the rest periods between sets. Maybe I should do that more often - come near closing time. Otherwise, I tend to follow what Bob Paris said, ages ago: "I take as much rest time as I want between sets."

Also, the low-dose melatonin worked! For each of two nights now, I've been having about 8 hrs of sleep, and I feel great the whole day. Even gym workout feels more intense

And something not gym related but I want to say it anyway: Gravity -- watch it if you haven't already. It is awesome!

[lukelb1231]

Hey everyone started using this again. Would love to chat to some other gay musclemen. Btw I'm UKnewboy's bf.

[MenStraight]

Best workouts when you're running short on time and still knock it all out.

Amazing how quickly a full workout routine can be accomplished when you arrive at the gym a bit close to closing time. I was forced to really shorten the rest periods between sets. Maybe I should do that more often - come near closing time. Otherwise, I tend to follow what Bob Paris said, ages ago: "I take as much rest time as I want between sets."

Also, the low-dose melatonin worked! For each of two nights now, I've been having about 8 hrs of sleep, and I feel great the whole day. Even gym workout feels more intense

And something not gym related but I want to say it anyway: Gravity -- watch it if you haven't already. It is awesome!

Hey everyone started using this again. Would love to chat to some other gay musclemen. Btw I'm UKnewboy's bf.

Welcome and nice bicep shot.

[CarlosFurious]

Really wish I could meet other gay folks into training, nutrition, and working out together. I've tried everything: this forum, ********, Twitter, even social apps like Growlr. But nothing. either everyone's looking to hook up, or nobody goes to my gym.

This could be symptomatic of something else, a sort of loneliness I'm feeling, I guess. Oh well. Good workout today. Flying out to the west coast for the week, no protein powder, creatine or C4. Hotel gym should be good.

Edit: I just wanted to clarify I'm open to straight ppl too, I just don't wanna deal with homophobia which is rampant in gym culture.