*Official* Work Out Thread

[Reddy]

Hell no. I dont need anything increasing my heart rate with chemicals.

yeah kind of my thought as well

[SoxFan1]

any of you guys take pre-workout supplements like noxplode, superpump 250, etc? trying to decide if it's worth it. I'm not big on putting chemicals in my body - but i'm skinny and trying to gain mass, and a pre-workout drink would probably help me lift harder...

Two of my good buddies do. One take NOXplode and the other takes Jack3d. The Jack3d is some CRAZY stuff and he got HUGE in a couple months, but even he says it scares him sometimes. He'll get an accelerated heartrate and even have mood swings and get overly angry at times. The NOxplode is a lot "safer" and used way more widely.

 

I've been thinking about starting it myself, but I don't really like the idea of taking something to make my blood vessels open up and my heart pump faster. Honestly, from what I've researched, taking anything with a good bit of caffeine before a workout will give you a boost of energy and prolong your workout/improve your focus.

[iamshack]

Two of my good buddies do. One take NOXplode and the other takes Jack3d. The Jack3d is some CRAZY stuff and he got HUGE in a couple months, but even he says it scares him sometimes. He'll get an accelerated heartrate and even have mood swings and get overly angry at times. The NOxplode is a lot "safer" and used way more widely.

 

I've been thinking about starting it myself, but I don't really like the idea of taking something to make my blood vessels open up and my heart pump faster. Honestly, from what I've researched, taking anything with a good bit of caffeine before a workout will give you a boost of energy and prolong your workout/improve your focus.

What are your workout goals?

[Reddy]

Two of my good buddies do. One take NOXplode and the other takes Jack3d. The Jack3d is some CRAZY stuff and he got HUGE in a couple months, but even he says it scares him sometimes. He'll get an accelerated heartrate and even have mood swings and get overly angry at times. The NOxplode is a lot "safer" and used way more widely.

 

I've been thinking about starting it myself, but I don't really like the idea of taking something to make my blood vessels open up and my heart pump faster. Honestly, from what I've researched, taking anything with a good bit of caffeine before a workout will give you a boost of energy and prolong your workout/improve your focus.

 

I actually decided to grab Beachbody's Energy & Endurance formula. Basically the same thing as NoXplode etc, but done with real ingredients instead of chemicals. Probably won't work quite as well - but it'll be good enough I bet. (still has caffeine)

 

[Rowand44]

any of you guys take pre-workout supplements like noxplode, superpump 250, etc? trying to decide if it's worth it. I'm not big on putting chemicals in my body - but i'm skinny and trying to gain mass, and a pre-workout drink would probably help me lift harder...

I don't take anything pre-workout but I do take bcaa's intra-workout and I love the result so far.

[Reddy]

I don't take anything pre-workout but I do take bcaa's intra-workout and I love the result so far.

in what form?

[Y2HH]

in what form?

 

Yea, this is a little odd...taking something intra-workout won't often do much, as the time it takes to begin absorbing things usually takes a while...

 

The only way I know of is direct blood injection or putting something under your tongue? I'm not sure if you took amino acids before, during or after a workout would really matter...then again, I'm not a biologist? heh I know they can help with working out/building mass, but does it matter when you take them?

Edited April 17, 2012 by Y2HH

[SoxFan1]

What are your workout goals?

Don't really have any at the moment. It's been more of a lifestyle change for me. I have more of a goal look/feel than a goal weight. But eventually I'll want to bulk up.

[iamshack]

Don't really have any at the moment. It's been more of a lifestyle change for me. I have more of a goal look/feel than a goal weight. But eventually I'll want to bulk up.

I just don't see the value in those products. You said this was a lifestyle change...so are you willing to buy these products for the rest of your life, too? I just really hesitate to use something that will boost my ability to workout more if I take it than when I don't, because then what happens when I don't? Will I feel as though my workouts are subpar?

 

I'll go about as far as protein shakes, because I do believe they are a convenient way to help repair damaged muscles as a result of frequent exercise. Other than that, I just try to keep everything as maintainable and natural as I can (diet, routine, etc.). That way, I have the best chance of continuing these habits as time goes on.

[Balta1701]

I just don't see the value in those products. You said this was a lifestyle change...so are you willing to buy these products for the rest of your life, too? I just really hesitate to use something that will boost my ability to workout more if I take it than when I don't, because then what happens when I don't? Will I feel as though my workouts are subpar?

 

I'll go about as far as protein shakes, because I do believe they are a convenient way to help repair damaged muscles as a result of frequent exercise. Other than that, I just try to keep everything as maintainable and natural as I can (diet, routine, etc.). That way, I have the best chance of continuing these habits as time goes on.

Having more muscle on your frame does enable you to burn more calories in a normal day...so if some product were to enable you to either build that muscle or to recover more rapidly from your early workouts after starting a new routine, it could make the shift in long-term behavior easier.

 

That's all very vague obviously though. One thing you could do is buy them for the rest of your life as you noted and just have that be part of the lifestyle change.

[iamshack]

Having more muscle on your frame does enable you to burn more calories in a normal day...so if some product were to enable you to either build that muscle or to recover more rapidly from your early workouts after starting a new routine, it could make the shift in long-term behavior easier.

 

That's all very vague obviously though. One thing you could do is buy them for the rest of your life as you noted and just have that be part of the lifestyle change.

The particular product he's talking about are products designed to enhance your workout by messing with important functions though, like heart rate/blood flow...that sort of thing does not seem like a good long-term lifestyle adjustment.

[Y2HH]

The particular product he's talking about are products designed to enhance your workout by messing with important functions though, like heart rate/blood flow...that sort of thing does not seem like a good long-term lifestyle adjustment.

 

Yea, these particular products seem like they'd be dangerous long term. I'd avoid any such things...these aren't lifestyle changes so much as, IMO, they're outright cheating. May as well just take Steroids and HGH, as at least you KNOW what that stuff is/does. These pseudo science/pseudo steroidal products are just dangerous...and they're probably getting around the legality of them by using odd herbs or chemicals that haven't yet been reviewed.

[Reddy]

I just don't see the value in those products. You said this was a lifestyle change...so are you willing to buy these products for the rest of your life, too? I just really hesitate to use something that will boost my ability to workout more if I take it than when I don't, because then what happens when I don't? Will I feel as though my workouts are subpar?

 

I'll go about as far as protein shakes, because I do believe they are a convenient way to help repair damaged muscles as a result of frequent exercise. Other than that, I just try to keep everything as maintainable and natural as I can (diet, routine, etc.). That way, I have the best chance of continuing these habits as time goes on.

 

 

i think Balta's got a point - that if you can use them to get your mass to where you want it to be - then you don't necessarily need to KEEP taking them just to maintain.

 

also - protein shakes only work so well at repairing muscle. after a workout you really do need to take in some sort of fast-burning 4:1 carb to protein drink/bar/etc. if you don't, your results won't be as good. gotta have those fast burning carbs post-workout.

[iamshack]

i think Balta's got a point - that if you can use them to get your mass to where you want it to be - then you don't necessarily need to KEEP taking them just to maintain.

 

also - protein shakes only work so well at repairing muscle. after a workout you really do need to take in some sort of fast-burning 4:1 carb to protein drink/bar/etc. if you don't, your results won't be as good. gotta have those fast burning carbs post-workout.

I can't speak for anyone else...all I know is what my body does...if I workout 2-3 times a week, I tend to stay at a consistent size/weight/cardio condition....when I take time off, such as several weeks or a few months, I start to lose muscle mass.

 

So what I shoot for is what I can maintain with a reasonable workout schedule and diet. Anything else I deem not maintainable and therefore not worth wasting my time or effort. My exception would be if you had a particular event or reason for getting into crazy good shape, like your wedding, or some two-week vacation to some exotic location with your single buddies or something.

 

I know you are an actor, so you may have career-oriented reasons, and I can respect that.

[Reddy]

I can't speak for anyone else...all I know is what my body does...if I workout 2-3 times a week, I tend to stay at a consistent size/weight/cardio condition....when I take time off, such as several weeks or a few months, I start to lose muscle mass.

 

So what I shoot for is what I can maintain with a reasonable workout schedule and diet. Anything else I deem not maintainable and therefore not worth wasting my time or effort. My exception would be if you had a particular event or reason for getting into crazy good shape, like your wedding, or some two-week vacation to some exotic location with your single buddies or something.

 

I know you are an actor, so you may have career-oriented reasons, and I can respect that.

that makes sense.

[SoxFan1]

Yeah, like I said, I thought about taking them when I starting working out to get back in shape, but as mentioned, if it's a long-term lifestyle change, taking Jack3d or NOxplode isn't sustainable, or smart. I drink protein shakes regularly, but that's it. And I find that sustainable.

[Jake]

If anyone has questions about dietary supplements, nutrition, etc. I'd be happy to answer them (PM works best but I'll make a habit of checking here). I've been working in the industry for quite a while now and I have a ton of overly-specialized knowledge that I'd be happy to share.

[SoxFan1]

So I've been having a lot of trouble building up my shoulder muscles like I want to. It's my main problem area. I'm not sure if it's technique or what, but anyone got any tips of a good routine to really hit the shoulders?

[kjshoe04]

I saw 195 on the scale for the first time in 20 months. Needless to say, I've been hitting the gym hard lately.

[Jake]

So I've been having a lot of trouble building up my shoulder muscles like I want to. It's my main problem area. I'm not sure if it's technique or what, but anyone got any tips of a good routine to really hit the shoulders?

 

What's your routine look like? Overhead pressing can do the trick, but doing it wrong might make your shoulders esplode

[kjshoe04]

So I've been having a lot of trouble building up my shoulder muscles like I want to. It's my main problem area. I'm not sure if it's technique or what, but anyone got any tips of a good routine to really hit the shoulders?

I hate people that worry about specific muscles not being exactly right. I can barely stay at a healthy weight. f*** You

[SoxFan1]

What's your routine look like? Overhead pressing can do the trick, but doing it wrong might make your shoulders esplode

All with dumbells: lateral raises, front raises, overhead press.

 

I hate people that worry about specific muscles not being exactly right. I can barely stay at a healthy weight. f*** You

I know you're just kidding, but I've had to work my ass off just to get where I am now. Lost 25 pounds since I started in January, now working on building the muscles.

[kjshoe04]

All with dumbells: lateral raises, front raises, overhead press.

 

 

I know you're just kidding, but I've had to work my ass off just to get where I am now. Lost 25 pounds since I started in January, now working on building the muscles.

I hear ya. I lost 35 pounds about 20 months ago but have gained 10 of them back and am looking to lose them again and hopefully put some muscle on after that.

[Reddy]

All with dumbells: lateral raises, front raises, overhead press.

 

 

I know you're just kidding, but I've had to work my ass off just to get where I am now. Lost 25 pounds since I started in January, now working on building the muscles.

try throwing in seated bent over shoulder flies. or a combination of sitting straight up for one rep, then lean forward and do a 2nd rep.

[RockRaines]

So I've been having a lot of trouble building up my shoulder muscles like I want to. It's my main problem area. I'm not sure if it's technique or what, but anyone got any tips of a good routine to really hit the shoulders?

Yes, very easily.

 

I do a variation of this:

 

 

I do that at the end of my upper body workouts, especially after I should the S&A P90 routine at the gym. If you can do that routine then this shoulder shredder you will see some good results in the form of the muscle.