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Just started

A few years back I got into a little recreational power lifting. I wanted to bench press 300lbs. It took me about a year to get there once I found the program that worked for me (After 2 years of winging it). I used the DUP method and once a guy at the gym explained it to me. I would max, then every week the program would tell me what % of the max weight I would be lifting that week. I did upper body Mon & Thurs, lower body Tues and Fri. Off days Wed, Sat & Sun. I'd do that 8 weeks, take a week off, max out, rinse and repeat. The most weight I ever did was 347lbs on the bench press, deadlifted 410lbs, squatted 375lbs. Here is a picture of when my 1st son was born, and I was at my absolute strongest.



One of my favorite pictures. A very proud moment (1st time dad), and I was lean and mean, big arms, big chest, broad shoulders, small waist! Took a long time to gain it, not so long to lose most of it lol still workout 2-4 times a week, still pretty strong, but I cant touch the numbers I posted above lol Lot harder to find the time to lift and the ability to eat as healthy with 2 sons now. Plus I just seem to be tired all the time lol

As far as overall health, I would say I feel better now, I was lifting some pretty heavy weights regularly and my joints were killing me and I was constantly knocking my hips out of alignment, I was going to the chiro once a month. Now I just do pretty basic strength trainng and I feel a lot better. Motivation was as simple as wanting to bench press 300lbs and deadlift 400lbs. Once I hit 300 I shot for 350, but couldnt quite hit that before we started having kids. Was proud of my accomplishments. Any kind of working out is a lot of hard work and dedication. That's my story

Congrats Bowhunter on reaching your accomplishment.

Ron starting sucks but stick with it as the rewards are there in the end. Once you get over the hurdle and get your body acclimated to working out you will look forward to your next workout.

I have been into fitness off and on my whole life but got serious in my early 40s.

I started eating right, dropped soda, and hit the gym. Over trained for years to today's standards but I don't pay much mind to today's new methods. I listen to my body.

I consider myself more of a power lifter than a bodybuilder. My body don't react well to a low body fat. So I keep myself in the low double digits around 10 to 15.

Any leaner I dehydrate fast and get light headed from low sugar in my blood.

My personal best on the flat bench is 425 pounds repped 5 times without assistance. Could of done more that day but that set took a toll. Lol

I narrow grip bench 335 pounds. I have strong triceps.

Not bad for a 54 year old weighing just over 200. I am a short guy though.

Age is catching me and my body don't recover as fast as when I was young. So now I work out with 315 pounds on bench as the heavier weights was taking a toll on tendons and nervous system.

I lift heavy twice a week and light twice a week.

My motivation is health and staying off medication.

If I'm running, something is chasing me. lol So, I walk.

I don't want bulk so I'm high rep low weight. Squats and push ups are the bulk of my work out.

I don't have fancy equipment so I use the steps in the house. I start at the forth step with push ups, which at that level are more like curls, 100 reps. Then move to the step at my chest, another 100. Then above my head, another 100. Then work my way back down. Every other day.

The off days I do squats and balance, no weight.

Dropped 20 lbs. and maintaining.

since February, I'm down 25 pounds.
still have 50 to go to get where I want to be.

I don't run, if you see me running try to keep up, something bad is happening back there.

diet and exercise. I've removed all processed food (other than an occassional beverage), and am sticking to mostly lean meats and fresh veggies.
exercise is a warm up walk, then bowflex every other day, followed by a cool down walk...and I try to get 10,000 steps in every day.

on the bowflex i do a program of leg curls, leg extension, bicep curls, bench press, shoulder press, pull down, and resistance crunches. I adjust the resistance so that I'm able to do between 8 and 12 reps. once I"m able to do 12, I bump the resistance up. I mix in some other exercises when the urge hits

i track my food, water, and exercise using myfitness app. this really helps me be accountable to myself.

my motivation - i want to put my boots on and still be able to breathe at the same time.
closing in on 40, I also know that its only going to get harder as I get older.

my only measurements are the scale and the waistline.
i guess i track the resistance on the bowflex too, but I don't think it translates to real pounds

Yup I do use your same motivation. I will most likely never return to the power lifting, right now I just want to keep an above average strength and be able to play with my kids without geting winded and/or hurting myself lol

Want to live long? Take more naps! Chill out and don't fret over small stuff. The heart is only good for so many beats. How many marathon runners have lived to 100 ? With that said it's also about what you put past the teeth and how much you put past the teeth !

My diet was very simple, I stayed under 20 grams of sugar per day and under 40g of saturated fats. Only supplement that I took was protein. I tried to take 1 gram of protein for every pound I weighed, I was 220lbs, so 220g of protein per day. Seen where some guys take 2 grams for every pound, I don't think my body would of allowed that lol someone said above "Listen to your body". Wise words and great advice.

Trapping and weight lifting are surprisingly similar, there is no magic concoction (Even though everyone is looking for one). The only secret to being successful at either is hard work and dedication. It' really is that simple.

I guess you could say steroids are the magic concocion lol but don't do steroids, drugs are bad mmkay

Bowhunter I think you have a good handle on what your doing. Keep it up as it's a lifestyle not a diet.

Naps are good but the heart needs working as well as you stated.

I don't get caught up into the supplement gimmicks so I stay away from them. I am all natural and I believe in eating my meals and not drinking my meals.

Everyone's body reacts a little different and adjustments are needed to get same results.

I agree. I tried tons of stuff, all it ever did was make me have expensive pee. I struggled to take in the amount of protein I needed, so I did supplement that.

Racer, what are your thoughts on protein? How much do you intake? Eat it all or supplement some?

Michael that's always a good question.

I gave up protein drinks long time ago. I use to have a protein smoothie after workout but don't do any protein powder now.

I like egg whites for protein after my workout.

I boil them and eat 5 to 6 eggs with only one yoke. I throw the jokes out to keep calories down but eat one yoke for the fat as we need fat in our diet. I also eat yogurt after my workout.

The rest of my protein comes from my meals as I am a meat and potato type of guy. It varies from red meat, chicken and fish.

I will check back with you guys later as I have to step out for a bit.

A lot to learn but once you feel the results it's all worth it

Good info racer, and thanks for sharing.

When I 1st started I really tried to eat my protein, but it made me nauseus. I ate so much canned tuna that I can't even touch the stuff now. I switched to the optimum brand Gold standard extreme chocolate milk powder. I would take 2 scoops mixed with 2-3 cups of milk and that would put me at about 70g of protein iirc. I'd take one for breakfast, and one after my workouts. I tried alot of the stuff you mentioned hunter, and I felt it just did not work for me. Like trappin, there is no right or wrong way, you just have to find the system that works for you, but when I see or read about someone who is picking up 400lbs I wanna hear there system, never know what you may add to your arsenal

I do not care what my weight is as long as I can bench press it. Right now I am safe lol

sawing flagstone in the summer on a table saw,on a long day i will go through roughly 30,000 pounds of stone 60-100 pounds at a time.great workout.

You're leaving out other muscle groups pcers! Throw in some burpess in between cuts just to be safe!

Way to go Darien. Very cool.

I have been working on leaning down. You know me and what I look like.

I've been doing body weight squats every other day, and pushups every day. Sounds silly, but weather permitting, I skateboard on lunch break. Not cruising around, but doing tricks.

In addition, drinking lots of water, black coffee, or black tea (no calories). Watching the portion control at supper time, and a cup of green tea before I bed down for the night.

Went down a hole on my belt, and about 14 lbs.

exercise almost daily....although I just took off 20 days from everything except a 1/2 hr cardio session for 12 of those days.

Today will be 15 sets for back here shortly and 4 mile ruck hike on the road just after dark this evening. Work in between that.

I accidentally did a abdominal crunch getting up from my easy chair yesterday, does that count?