Lift Weights?

[deapee]

Just curious if anyone else is into bodybuilding and/or lifting weights in general. I was into it for a while but took a few months off due to a severe lack of motivation. Anyway, I'm back into it, just went to the gym today for my first time in a while.

I have to shoot in a defensive pistol league tonight and all my muscles are tense and shaking...I don't think I'm going to do very well.

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Anyway, if you're into it, let's hear what you're into. Do you do bodyweight exercises or all out 5-day training splits or what.

I'm planning on just doing 3 days a week, full-body workouts. I found a nice training program that basically splits everything up for you into compound exercises and isolation exercises.

Each day you go, you choose 3 or 4 of the compound movements (variations of the bench press, pull-ups, rows, squats, shoulder presses, etc) and 2 isolation movements (calf-raises, curls, tricep extensions, etc) and do that for your workout. Then the next time you just have to choose 3 or 4 other variations, and 2 different isolation movements.

Anyway, if you're into lifting, speak up. I'm always game for some nice sights with good articles.

[kayakfisher]

I did a pretty heavy upper body workout on a Friday and went pistol shooting at the range the next morning and did surprisingly well. I thought I would have trouble holding the gun steady but it was fine. I was shooting groups from several magazines out of a 4" XD 45ACP into 5" targets from 15 to 25 yards with great results (no pictures).

BTW, I split my workouts; Upper body, Lower Body, Cardio, repeat.. this allows for good healing between workout days, pyramid type sets to the limit...

[wolfsburg_de]

I use my wife's 5 lb dumbell weights to get my arms used to holding a pistol horizontally for extended periods. Doing 50 reps then holding the weights for a minute in each arm seems to result in less fatigue when I go to the range.

[Broadside]

I used to lift quite a bit while I was an LEO and in the Army. I need to get back in shape. The wife and I are going to get a home gym with the tax return. I work out of the house so a home gym would be great.

[aftershock]

This is how my workout is:
mon-chest
tues-back
weds-off/run
thurs-arms
fri-shoulders abs
sat-legs/run
sun-off

[deltafred]

i work out twice a day. once for PT (i am in the Army) in the mornings and then i hit the weights after work 4 times a week. sometimes i go overboard on the weights and wind up being really tired the next day for PT, but hey, its a living. i am 35 by the way and still going strong.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by deapee

I have to shoot in a defensive pistol league tonight and all my muscles are tense and shaking...I don't think I'm going to do very well.

Drink lots of Gatorade. Stretch. Eat something right after your workout. Something good for you but easily digested.

Rest is just as important as your workout.

[nickb]

...which is about 2-3 times a week. Just enough so I can pick up my DRZ when I drop it in the desert.

My theory is that the weights are perfectly happy sitting in the racks. I'll bet they would stay put forever if people would just let them be.

[RANDY S]

Been driving the iron for years, had rotator cuff fixed, knees worn out with 500lb squats and 1,000lb. leg presses. But at 48 still love it, the hardest part I tell people is the dicipline. I only do 2 body parts per workout at full capacity to 10 reps, and 16 sets per body part with 30-40 seconds of rest between sets and try to train 5 days in a week. Have just started with a supplement called indothil, have you heard of it?.

[jdavionic]

I lift weights and have been for a long, long time. I work out 5 days a week. I lift 3 days per week, whole body. And the other 2 days I do some type of aerobic exercising...usually I play basketball since I hate just running or elliptical trainer.

With respect to the weight lifting, I do a mix of techniques. I'll do one technique for a couple of weeks (e.g., 6-8 reps dumbbell curls), then switch to another (e.g., cable curls). Basically I try to keep it mixed up to keep from getting bored and I find that the muscles get a better work out when I mix it up. With respect to the techniques themselves, I use a wide variety. It seems there's more opinions of the "best" way to work X muscle than there are ...well, you know.

As a result, I'm in my mid 40s. I'm stronger than I've ever been in my life and I used to kickbox in my younger years (although I know that I've lost speed with respect to the latter). When I play basketball, I don't tire at all - although I truly suck at the sport. I recently played 6 straight games of some very competitive racquetball with a younger buddy of mine that competes (and does well) in triathlons and, while I didn't win them all, we were both at the same level even at the last game.

Not boasting or bragging. My point is that I strongly encourage you & others to stay in shape. I can't tell you how many guys that are my age that have big guts, can't run to save their arse, and are horribly out of shape with respect to strength and endurance. Many of them make an effort to get back in shape and they just don't stick with it. Don't let that happen to you.

If I can answer any questions you might have on workouts, let me know. I am, by now means, a fitness expert. But I'll try to help if I can.