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One Eyed King
Nos Nothi
13
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Posted - 2015.12.14 00:23:00 -
[1] - Quote
When I first started at 15, lifting for football, I was about 120 pounds or so. I was able to put on about 20 to 30 lbs by my junior and senior year, but even then, it was a lot of work, as I don't naturally gain muscle.
Just when I started grad school in 2006, I was 135 again, with about 6% body fat (had to be tested prior to membership at the gym). When I graduated a couple years later I got back up to 150.
Since then, while I am now older and have a slower metabolism, I am at about 170, but not nearly as low a BMI. Still plenty of muscle though, as I still work out 3 or 4 days a week.
The trick to gaining muscle mass is to increase your weight, and lower your repetitions per set. Also, if you have a hard time gaining muscle, try and lay off as much cardio as possible. With a high metabolism like that, much of your calorie intake is burnt up. You need to use the protein you are consuming (which should be about a gram/gram and a half per pound of the weight you are trying to achieve) in building muscle, and if you are burning too many calories and having to use that protein for fuel, you won't gain weight.
I highly recommend Arnold Schwarzenegger's Body Building Encyclopedia. It is a very good resource for all kinds of fitness goals, not just muscle gain. It will give you the knowledge you need to tailor a program towards your goals.
Former CEO of the Land of the BIind.
Any double entendre is unintended I assure you.
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One Eyed King
Nos Nothi
13
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Posted - 2015.12.14 01:35:00 -
[2] - Quote
You should do more compound movements like pull ups/chin ups. Avoid swinging your legs. Even if you can only do one or two. Just keep going until you increase your reps to around 10 to 14. That may take awhile, but it will engage more muscles than just your biceps, which at this stage is important. Plus, you generally want to work opposing muscle groups, so if you work chest with your push ups, you want to work back muscles with pull ups/chin ups.
Former CEO of the Land of the BIind.
Any double entendre is unintended I assure you.
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One Eyed King
Nos Nothi
13
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Posted - 2015.12.14 02:00:00 -
[3] - Quote
No playgrounds in your area?
Former CEO of the Land of the BIind.
Any double entendre is unintended I assure you.
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One Eyed King
Nos Nothi
13
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Posted - 2015.12.23 22:23:00 -
[4] - Quote
Dreis ShadowWeaver wrote:Dreis ShadowWeaver wrote:I've been feeling pain in my left lower back after doing push-ups. Today I took a mirror and placed it in front of me so I could watch my form as I did them. It looks like I'm going lower on my left side than my right. I'll have to try to fix that, and also to try to keep taut as I lower myself down. I no longer get pain in my back whilst doing push ups. 
Pain can be any number of things, including poor form. Be careful with the mirror as looking up like that too much can cause neck strain.
You should focus on form, and if you can't keep form while continuing, you should stop at that point.
One of the perks of push ups is that it works your core as well, and it is very important you keep your hips up and your back straight. Allowing your torso to sag puts you out of alignment and puts pressure on your spine. You can slip discs this way. Its like holding wet soap in your hands and pressing harder on one side than the other.
Former CEO of the Land of the BIind.
Any double entendre is unintended I assure you.
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One Eyed King
Nos Nothi
13
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Posted - 2015.12.23 22:41:00 -
[5] - Quote
Dreis ShadowWeaver wrote:One Eyed King wrote:Dreis ShadowWeaver wrote:Dreis ShadowWeaver wrote:I've been feeling pain in my left lower back after doing push-ups. Today I took a mirror and placed it in front of me so I could watch my form as I did them. It looks like I'm going lower on my left side than my right. I'll have to try to fix that, and also to try to keep taut as I lower myself down. I no longer get pain in my back whilst doing push ups. Pain can be any number of things, including poor form. Be careful with the mirror as looking up like that too much can cause neck strain. I think next time I'll position my laptop in such a way that I can record myself with the built-in camera.
As long as you aren't doing it every rep of a massive set like 40 to 200, you should be fine. Also, doing it from the side helps too, as turning your head to the side is much easier on your neck than lifting up your head.
Maybe taking a few practice reps and checking out your form would help. You get that immediate feedback and can make corrections before going on to your actual set.
Former CEO of the Land of the BIind.
Any double entendre is unintended I assure you.
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