Thread: Pumping Iron

I'm a lifter. Basically I focus on Olympic lifts (deep squats and such) but I supplement with lots of other lifts to round out my physique.

I used to powerlift in college, but injuries and life put me into more of a state of mind that I'll lift for fun and health.

I wish I could get back to my glory days, but I don't think I'll ever get there

Originally Posted by unit

I'm a lifter. Basically I focus on Olympic lifts (deep squats and such) but I supplement with lots of other lifts to round out my physique.

I used to powerlift in college, but injuries and life put me into more of a state of mind that I'll lift for fun and health.

I wish I could get back to my glory days, but I don't think I'll ever get there

I did powerlifting for a few years too, my body is built perfectly for it and it adapts and packs on bulk pretty fast. However, I managed to throw my hip out of alignment on the right side at a competition last year, as a result I'm almost always in some sort of pain through my right leg and hip. So I've chosen to go with lifting for power but not extreme weight. Kinda going for overall size but one that is aesthetically pleasing. I've often thought maybe if I should just go the Xfit route in order to still have power but overall health and body composition. I'm rambling...

point of story, I like lifting heavy things but legs are super underdeveloped and weak due to a powerlifting injury. 525lbs on squat is no bs... Shit hurt.

I only got into it in my mid 50s after breaking a clavicle when I zigged when I should have zagged on a bicycle. Wanted to build bone density and what not. Not heavy weight but found I liked doing Olympic moves like snatch, clean & jerk. Of course squats and deadlifts. Got in pretty good shape with it but kind of drifted away and lost what I'd gained. Now, at 65, I'm easing back into it but just the standard stuff, no more Olympic lift wannabe. Here is one of my favorite lifters from the past in competition. Kind of long but real cool IMHO ; (Had to edit as I put the wrong video in at first. This competition Naim Suleymanoglu vs. Valerios Leonidis / Atlanta 1996 is dramatic AFAIC. Great stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPqdEFJ9PNw

Yeah, when I say "Olympic lifting" I mean lifts like they do...certainly not meaning to imply I have aspirations to be great.

In my best, I was able to squat 450 deep and legal with a 405 dead lift and a (shameful) bench of 250. I'm proud of that considering I was somewhere around 175 for that comp.

Not today though. I'd be lucky to do half that for a combined weight...but me BW is still close to that.

I used to Olympic lift and compete in college. I tore up my shoulder, had surgery an now am nearing where I once was many years ago.

I've been weight lifting regularly (3+) times per week for about three years now and seem to have achieved a solid intermediate/advanced level for someone of my size according to Strength Standards . I started simply enough by installing a pull up bar on the deck of my apartment. Every day I would try to do as many pull ups as possible. After just a few weeks of doing this, I had more than doubled my PR, and I was seeing those glorious beginner gains. This motivated me to look into a real routine.

Eventually me and my brother put together a home-gym with an olympic bar and platform and full set of dumbells. We recently added a ghetto squat rack so we can do heavy back squats (we were doing front squats before which required cleaning the weight into position).

My routine today is a simple one based on strength, but the aesthetic benefits don't hurt anything . For the last year or so, I have been doing a four day split consisting of Squats, Deads, Cleans, Bench Press, Pull Ups, and Overhead Press with accessory work thrown in for aesthetics and muscular balance. My progress has been helped by me learning to eat a lot and to maximize my nutrition. I've gained about 15lbs of muscle and noticeably altered my physique and physical presence. It has been a fun road and I've learned a lot so far, but I understand that I still have much to learn about the mechanics of lifting, nutrition, and my own body. I think that's what makes the hobby fun - there's always room for improvement.

Hello gang. Lifting weights is one of my hobbies. I competed in bodybuilding competitions years ago and decided to take the plunge again last year in an Over 50 contest. I generally prefer a routine of "pre-exhaust" techniques with a HITT approach...as little volume in the way of sets while still getting 6-12 reps with good form going to failure on the last set. Most of my weightlifting sessions usually go for around an hour for "off-season" as I'm not doing abs or cardio. When I'm looking at competitions the gym is essential but for keeping in shape and maybe getting into a more "athletic" looking mode (and not quite the "hulky bulky" look) I'm giving the bowflex a whirl.



This is me at the competition last May...not quite there now but for now, competitions have to take a back seat.

I've machine pressed 420lbs twice at one time. Standing bent over reverse grip row 350lbs 8-10 times till my grip gave out with a barbell. Closed Captain of Crush number 2s a couple times but lost them later. My grips still crazy.

I do a little runnin and speed rope too.