Thread: Building Muscle/Working out

+1 to what Jimbo said. it is SO SO SO important to know your limits and use good form when lifting.

sometimes, I'll get under the bar after putting a few extra plates on, push, and then realize I'm about to hurt myself. it's a blow to my pride to take those plates off and replace 'em with something smaller, but I don't get to train if I'm at home with a blown shoulder or something, so in the long run it's better.

also, form is super important. on isolation exercises like the bicep curl, it's easy to cheat and curl more weight by using momentum instead of just your biceps. while it may be an ego booster, what you've just done is turn an excellent arm exercise into a very crappy back exercise. it doesn't really make you stronger, and it opens the door for easily-preventable injury.

I'm just as guilty of doing these things as anyone, you gotta have constant vigilance on your form.

one thing i have realised lately is that there is a big difference between gym strength and real world strength. *NOTE* i am in no way saying that you guys who go to the gym are not strong (i have gone in the past and think the gym is great). but it is very true that technique and variety are VERY important. i have known guys who can out bench me or out squat me but don't do enough variety, are they really strong? not to me cuz those are the guys who are always getting hurt and in practiacl applications of strength (ie climbing a tree, hiking) they are toast.

i know this seems a bit like commun sense but i have also realised that once i started doing and practicing things for practical strength (again, like chin ups and pushups and climbing) when i got back into the gym i was a lot stronger and technique wasn't a issue because my support muscles were so much better.

i listed this before but i will try to put link
http://www.bwculture.net

when i first watched the videos on these things i thought "those are cool but they wouldn't be that hard" and i was very wrong. they have made the most difference out of any piece of equipement i have tried.

also a great piece of exercise equipement is a unicycle. you can't coast so your legs are constantly tense and balance and support muscles are obviously getting used. i go for a 20 min ride every other day when we don't have the snow and it is great.