The Official Stupid Question Thread: PART 2

[Garrett4000]

How do I find the notification that someone replied to my reply in a thread? Or how do I subscribe to a thread to get
notifications?

[NewRookie]

yeah im having this problem too. i have to manually search for any replies and i rather just get a notification if this site has that option.

[NaturalFTW]

How do I find the notification that someone replied to my reply in a thread? Or how do I subscribe to a thread to get
notifications?

click thread tools on the upper right and then sub

[Chisholm94]

3 times a week should be decent, 6 if you have the time

thank you for the help

[SebastianSD]

Hey anybody do you have aesthetic workout plan how much cardio for a week

[fanzil5]

Should a beginner start off with a hypertrophy routine or a more strength orientated program like BLSS. Is it possible to make good muscle gains on BLSS ?

[TA28]

Should a beginner start off with a hypertrophy routine or a more strength orientated program like BLSS. Is it possible to make good muscle gains on BLSS ?

Strengh program, such as babylovers.

[met3ork]

Should a beginner start off with a hypertrophy routine or a more strength orientated program like BLSS. Is it possible to make good muscle gains on BLSS ?

Yes, you can put on alot of muscle on a strength routine.
I started with BLSS when I was a beginner, and IIRC my lifts went from
Bench 80kg to 100kg 1RM
Squat 60kg to 100kg 5RM
Deadlift 70kg to 120kg 5RM. In 3(ish) months
So yeah I would recommend you to start with BLSS, build a solid strength base and then switch to a more hypertrophy specific routine.

Hey anybody do you have aesthetic workout plan how much cardio for a week

There is no such thing as aesthetic routine. You can build muscle on allmost any routine if your training, diet and rest are in check for an extended period of time.
Read the stickies in training, nutrition section and do some research (especially on bulking and cutting), choose what you want to do first, and then come for help on a more specific matter to get you started on the right path.

[Bobert91]

Hey guys, i'm just curious what others might classify my activity level as for calculating my TDEE. Someone said that I have a very active lifestyle but I don't want to over estimate my calories.
Right now, I've been using Lightly active as my guideline with my BMR being 1850 x 1.4 (lightly active) = Rounding to 2600 calories and I've been eating about 1900-2200 a day for the past month during my cut.


My weekly routine is typically:

Monday to Friday: Work for 3-5 hours at fedex as a package handler (constantly moving, picking up packages weighing 1-90lbs, loading them, building walls etc) It's not that hard that i'm heavily breathing, but I do sweat though.

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - 1.5 hour workout session (about 1 hour 10 mins with heavy weights and 20 mins doing some sort of cardio exercise)

Sunday - Lazy day where I engage in the most least activity in the entire week.

The rest of the unlisted hours which is quite a lot, i'm usually sitting down on my computer at home or at school sitting down some more.

Of all 3, what would you guys classify me as?

(Copy & pasted from the macronutrient sticky)
1.3-1.4 = Lightly Active (Little daily activity & light exercise 1-3 days a week)
1.5-1.6 = Moderately Active (Moderately active daily life & Moderate exercise 3-5 days a week)
1.7-1.8 = Very Active (Physically demanding lifestyle & Hard exercise or sports 6-7 days a week

Once again, I've been using Lightly active as a guideline, someone said that I'm very active but to be honest, I'm having some doubts from both answers. A second opinion would be appreciated!

[met3ork]

Hey guys, i'm just curious what others might classify my activity level as for calculating my TDEE. Someone said that I have a very active lifestyle but I don't want to over estimate my calories.
Right now, I've been using Lightly active as my guideline with my BMR being 1850 x 1.4 (lightly active) = Rounding to 2600 calories and I've been eating about 1900-2200 a day for the past month during my cut.


My weekly routine is typically:

Monday to Friday: Work for 3-5 hours at fedex as a package handler (constantly moving, picking up packages weighing 1-90lbs, loading them, building walls etc) It's not that hard that i'm heavily breathing, but I do sweat though.

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - 1.5 hour workout session (about 1 hour 10 mins with heavy weights and 20 mins doing some sort of cardio exercise)

Sunday - Lazy day where I engage in the most least activity in the entire week.

The rest of the unlisted hours which is quite a lot, i'm usually sitting down on my computer at home or at school sitting down some more.

Of all 3, what would you guys classify me as?

(Copy & pasted from the macronutrient sticky)
1.3-1.4 = Lightly Active (Little daily activity & light exercise 1-3 days a week)
1.5-1.6 = Moderately Active (Moderately active daily life & Moderate exercise 3-5 days a week)
1.7-1.8 = Very Active (Physically demanding lifestyle & Hard exercise or sports 6-7 days a week

Once again, I've been using Lightly active as a guideline, someone said that I'm very active but to be honest, I'm having some doubts from both answers. A second opinion would be appreciated!

I would say moderately active. So use 1.5-1.6 as a guideline.
How is your cut going? Remember that these equations are to be used ONLY as a guideline. Not to be followed exactly.
How much are you losing per week now? IMO around a 500 deficit is the way to go. So that would be 0.5kg/1lb per week of weight loss. Step on the scale once per week at the exact same time (for me its monday morning, right when I wake up, after morning toilet visit) and see how much you lose. If you are losing more than 0.5kg, add a little calories, if less than 0.5kg then eat a little less calories.
Its really that simple. Monitor your weight loss, and make SMALL adjustments every 3-4 weeks. Dont adjust every week. Weight changes day to day depending on numerous of factors, such as sodium intake.
Gl brah I hope this helps.

[Bobert91]

I would say moderately active. So use 1.5-1.6 as a guideline.
How is your cut going? Remember that these equations are to be used ONLY as a guideline. Not to be followed exactly.
How much are you losing per week now? IMO around a 500 deficit is the way to go. So that would be 0.5kg/1lb per week of weight loss. Step on the scale once per week at the exact same time (for me its monday morning, right when I wake up, after morning toilet visit) and see how much you lose. If you are losing more than 0.5kg, add a little calories, if less than 0.5kg then eat a little less calories.
Its really that simple. Monitor your weight loss, and make SMALL adjustments every 3-4 weeks. Dont adjust every week. Weight changes day to day depending on numerous of factors, such as sodium intake.
Gl brah I hope this helps.

I believe my cut is going pretty good. My scale is kind of screwed up so I haven't been able to weigh myself accurately as It's been saying i've been 180lbs for the past 1 month and it hasn't moved. When I look in the mirror though I can feel and see my abs now (Which i couldn't do both a month ago as there was a good amount of fat layer). I have been maintaining the same lifting routine with the same weights for the past month maybe with the occasional 1-2 less reps on some sets but that's to be expected during a cut, right? I also took some Jan 1 2013 and Feb 1 2013 before and after pictures and I can see a noticeable difference of fat loss in my midsection . Thank you for the help though, really appreciated

[Chebding]

I have a few questions on supplements. I've done a fair share of research, but I wanted some feedback on what I'm currently taking as it seems to be a lot.

I'm currently going to the gym 5 days a week. I started off with zyzz's workout for about 90 days (Went from 151 -> 157 or so). After reading a lot of negative posts about it, I switched to Layne's Hypertrophy Workout. After about 2 1/2 weeks, I switched to the "advanced" workout routine in the Strength Training Anatomy Workout II book. Currently around 171 at 8-9% bodyfat.

Anyways, Supplements:

Creatine Caps: 6 (2 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Green Tea Extract: 2 (Morning)
Multivitamin: 1 (The plastic packs w/ 7 pills)
L-Arginine: 2 (Morning)
San T2 Extreme Fat Burner: 3 (1 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Fish Oil 1400 mg, 960 mg Omega 3: 2 Daily


After Work Outs:

1 Protein Shake:

Switch off between:
100% Egg Protein
Platinum Hydrowhey

[N4J4R]

I have a few questions on supplements. I've done a fair share of research, but I wanted some feedback on what I'm currently taking as it seems to be a lot.

I'm currently going to the gym 5 days a week. I started off with zyzz's workout for about 90 days (Went from 151 -> 157 or so). After reading a lot of negative posts about it, I switched to Layne's Hypertrophy Workout. After about 2 1/2 weeks, I switched to the "advanced" workout routine in the Strength Training Anatomy Workout II book. Currently around 171 at 8-9% bodyfat.

Anyways, Supplements:

Creatine Caps: 6 (2 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Green Tea Extract: 2 (Morning)
Multivitamin: 1 (The plastic packs w/ 7 pills)
L-Arginine: 2 (Morning)
San T2 Extreme Fat Burner: 3 (1 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Fish Oil 1400 mg, 960 mg Omega 3: 2 Daily


After Work Outs:

1 Protein Shake:

Switch off between:
100% Egg Protein
Platinum Hydrowhey

Drop the creatine caps when you're done and use regular creatine monohydrate in powder form.
Drop the Arginine. It is essentially useless. L-Citrulline Malate would have been a far superior choice.
Drop the fat burner; OTC fat burners (natty fat burners) are essentially useless. An EC stack would be a superior choice and is still very much a 'natty fat loss stack', though Ephedrine may not be 'legal' depending on your location; check local laws, first.

What are your current lifts? I'm not entirely sure an advanced strength program would be your best bet.

[Chebding]

Drop the creatine caps when you're done and use regular creatine monohydrate in powder form.
Drop the Arginine. It is essentially useless. L-Citrulline Malate would have been a far superior choice.
Drop the fat burner; OTC fat burners (natty fat burners) are essentially useless. An EC stack would be a superior choice and is still very much a 'natty fat loss stack', though Ephedrine may not be 'legal' depending on your location; check local laws, first.

What are your current lifts? I'm not entirely sure an advanced strength program would be your best bet.

Thanks for your feed back.

Would you recommend dropping the Arginine and fat burner right away, or once I run out?

My Basic Lifts: (Can add more if you'd like.)

Due to my shoulder injury (laborem), I stopped lifting for 7 months (Ran about 4-5 miles a day to stay at 149 in hopes to be able to wrestle), until I finally found out the cause of my shoulder pain. About 2 1/2 months ago, I started back, and this is what I'm currently at.

Age: 16

Bench: 135 - 155 (Depending on Shoulder, Won't have surgery on laborem (wrestling injury) until School's Out as I'd be out for a week)
Squat: 225
Deadlift: 105


Attached is the current workout program I am doing. Would post links, but I'm not 50 post count yet.

[N4J4R]

Thanks for your feed back.

Would you recommend dropping the Arginine and fat burner right away, or once I run out?

My Basic Lifts: (Can add more if you'd like.)

Due to my shoulder injury (laborem), I stopped lifting for 7 months (Ran about 4-5 miles a day to stay at 149 in hopes to be able to wrestle), until I finally found out the cause of my shoulder pain. About 2 1/2 months ago, I started back, and this is what I'm currently at.

Age: 16

Bench: 135 - 155 (Depending on Shoulder, Won't have surgery on laborem (wrestling injury) until School's Out as I'd be out for a week)
Squat: 225
Deadlift: 105


Attached is the current workout program I am doing. Would post links, but I'm not 50 post count yet.

May as well use them until they run out.

Based on your lifts, I would highly recommend that you discontinue your current program and switch to something like Babylover's modified SS. You'll make better strength gains on that and the frequency is also much higher which is preferable for new and most intermediate natty lifters. Adding in/performing some well placed accessory work is also advisable. If you're cutting (guessing you are based on the addition of a fat burner), then a strength program is also preferable to a more 'hypertrophy' orientated routine, IMO. This is because it is generally possible to maintain, and in some cases, slightly increase strength levels during a cut if you're also running a strength routine. It should also provide your muscles with sufficient stimulation with less volume, whilst cutting.

Furthermore, do not aggravate the affected area(s). You don't want to cause more damage. Be smart and train smart.

[Chebding]

May as well use them until they run out.

Based on your lifts, I would highly recommend that you discontinue your current program and switch to something like Babylover's modified SS. You'll make better strength gains on that and the frequency is also much higher which is preferable for new and most intermediate natty lifters. Adding in/performing some well placed accessory work is also advisable. If you're cutting (guessing you are based on the addition of a fat burner), then a strength program is also preferable to a more 'hypertrophy' orientated routine, IMO. This is because it is generally possible to maintain, and in some cases, slightly increase strength levels during a cut if you're also running a strength routine. It should also provide your muscles with sufficient stimulation with less volume, whilst cutting.

Furthermore, do not aggravate the affected area(s). You don't want to cause more damage. Be smart and train smart.

Way ahead of you on that last one. I'll definitely give this a shot if you believe I'm better off with it:

According to the post, it said just switch off each day and go however much you feel like.

The two days:

A
Squat 3x5
Bench 3x5
Chins 15-20 total reps, add weight or use assisted.
Rows 3x5 SUPER STRICT.
Optional: Cable rows, 3x8 bicep work, 3x8 rear delt flyes, do this at your own discretion. If you don't feel like it, don't worry

B
Front squat 3x5
MP 3x5
Deadlifts 1x5
Optional: 15-20 reps of dips, 3x8 tricep work


Moving on, by accessory work, do you mean targetting abs etc for definition?

For abs, I usually do (every other workout):
4 Sets of 30 reps on the Roman Chair (Usually go slow to make sure I'm working the core as I read that most people do the exercise wrong)
4 Sets of 30 reps of sit ups with decline bench
4 Sets of 30 reps with the Ab Roller

What is your opinion on the ab machines? I hear a lot that they give you more of a gut look, so I usually try to stay away from them.

Also, for the surgery, I'll have to take a minimum of 3 months off from training. Do you think I'll retain decent muscle memory with a good diet and (possibly supplements)?

[N4J4R]

Way ahead of you on that last one. I'll definitely give this a shot if you believe I'm better off with it:

According to the post, it said just switch off each day and go however much you feel like.

The two days:

A
Squat 3x5
Bench 3x5
Chins 15-20 total reps, add weight or use assisted.
Rows 3x5 SUPER STRICT.
Optional: Cable rows, 3x8 bicep work, 3x8 rear delt flyes, do this at your own discretion. If you don't feel like it, don't worry

B
Front squat 3x5
MP 3x5
Deadlifts 1x5
Optional: 15-20 reps of dips, 3x8 tricep work


Moving on, by accessory work, do you mean targetting abs etc for definition?

For abs, I usually do (every other workout):
4 Sets of 30 reps on the Roman Chair (Usually go slow to make sure I'm working the core as I read that most people do the exercise wrong)
4 Sets of 30 reps of sit ups with decline bench
4 Sets of 30 reps with the Ab Roller

What is your opinion on the ab machines? I hear a lot that they give you more of a gut look, so I usually try to stay away from them.

Also, for the surgery, I'll have to take a minimum of 3 months off from training. Do you think I'll retain decent muscle memory with a good diet and (possibly supplements)?

Accessory work is essentially anything other than the core lifts. So, for example, bicep curls, abdominal work, rear delt raises, CGBP etc. etc. As standard, I would do some rear delt and core work about 2x per week. For core work, weighted crunches, DB side bends and cable crunches are decent. Planks are also good and can be performed weighted. I'm not a huge fan of ab machines and personally think that cable crunches would be decent.

Whilst you're not training, make sure you're eating is on point. I'd probably just eat at maintenance levels. Supplements are not necessary, but may help. I'd still continue using a multi and fish oil. Protein can be useful if you need a bit more in your diet. Don't worry about creatine. You can easily just load that once you start lifting again. Once you get back into lifting, you should be able to regain strength somewhat decently if your diet, training and rest are in check over an extended period of time. Don't stress.

[Chebding]

Accessory work is essentially anything other than the core lifts. So, for example, bicep curls, abdominal work, rear delt raises, CGBP etc. etc. As standard, I would do some rear delt and core work about 2x per week. For core work, weighted crunches, DB side bends and cable crunches are decent. Planks are also good and can be performed weighted. I'm not a huge fan of ab machines and personally think that cable crunches would be decent.

Whilst you're not training, make sure you're eating is on point. I'd probably just eat at maintenance levels. Supplements are not necessary, but may help. I'd still continue using a multi and fish oil. Protein can be useful if you need a bit more in your diet. Don't worry about creatine. You can easily just load that once you start lifting again. Once you get back into lifting, you should be able to regain strength somewhat decently if your diet, training and rest are in check over an extended period of time. Don't stress.

One more thing I forgot to ask, the guy at the Vitamin Shoppe said to take creatine for 6 weeks and then take 2 weeks off. Is this correct or does it really matter?

[sephy009]

I just got into lifting weights about a month ago. I really don't know if I'm working out correctly or what routine I should exactly be going for. I also don't know if I should be cutting or just bulking. I'm 5'11 and around 175. The only image and goal I have in mind is that I want to look large, muscular, and sexy. Any general advice for any of these things?

[N4J4R]

One more thing I forgot to ask, the guy at the Vitamin Shoppe said to take creatine for 6 weeks and then take 2 weeks off. Is this correct or does it really matter?

There is no real need/benefit to cycle creatine. You can discontinue usage whenever you want. The point is to reach and maintain the saturation point.

I just got into lifting weights about a month ago. I really don't know if I'm working out correctly or what routine I should exactly be going for. I also don't know if I should be cutting or just bulking. I'm 5'11 and around 175. The only image and goal I have in mind is that I want to look large, muscular, and sexy. Any general advice for any of these things?

Read my other sticky if you're new to lifting: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=150240963

[Chebding]

There is no real need/benefit to cycle creatine. You can discontinue usage whenever you want. The point is to reach and maintain the saturation point.

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my questions. I appreciate your input.

[Phantastics]

I took 2 months off because of school, weaker of course. Will I have to start like a noob all over again? Or will my muscle kick back in soon?

[NaturalFTW]

I took 2 months off because of school, weaker of course. Will I have to start like a noob all over again? Or will my muscle kick back in soon?

you'll work your way back up pretty fast.

[AliG7]

Can I actually do anything without leaving the house? Basically it's pretty dangerous where I am, so I can't go out running or to a gym.

I've been doing a couple programs for a while (100 pushups/200 squats, it's like couch to 5k I suppose), but I honestly don't know if they'll do any good for me. I'm just doing it because I'm enjoying working out. It's fun and sometimes tires me out.

So yeah, I've changed my diet and started paying more attention to what I eat, but can I actually lose weight/gain muscle with just two exercises? And if not, is there any program I can follow that I could do without equipment/leaving the house?

[iMac46]

What does PR mean?

[NaturalFTW]

What does PR mean?

personal record.

[bolture]

is Mega Mass really necessary for faster growth?
and should i drink it everyday? because i only drink during chest and shoulder days

[Kostya1981]

What is "brb"?

[bolture]

What is "brb"?

uhm... be right back ... ?? lol that's the only brb i know

[mb69]

Breakfast:
Peanut butter jelly sandwich
24 grams of protein with rice milk(I'm allergic to regular milk and whey)
Banana
half cup of oats
V8 vegetable juice

Mid morning snack:
I piece of jerky 11 g protein
And 1/4 cup of dried fruit

Lunch:
Chicken sandwich and veggies

After workout
protein 24 g nutribiotic
Banana
rice milk
And half cup of oats all blended together as a shake

then I get home and usually eat chicken of fish but it varies on how they are prepared

Towards the night I have trouble preparing food cuZ I get bored of egg whites all the time so I have nothing set in stone for my last meal

I weigh 170 I'm 17I 5'10"
And when I used myfitnesspal to track my food the calories where at around 3000 a little bit past that.... the ratio was 50 carbs 30 protein 20 fat.. and I believe the protein was at around 125 grams