ElementalVirago's GR8 HT-8 Log

[ElementalVirago]

Thanks, SO. That's what I thought on both accounts.

[BendtheBar]

I would keep using assistance and building your strength. SO had a really good suggestion about the kipping pullups. For dips, I might playing around with half dips to see if they help at all.

[ElementalVirago]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

I would keep using assistance and building your strength. SO had a really good suggestion about the kipping pullups. For dips, I might playing around with half dips to see if they help at all.

You mean do half-dips unassisted?

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by ElementalVirago

You mean do half-dips unassisted?

If possible. Or even quarter dips. Just strengthening your body by holding itself in that position might help in the long run.

Have you ever tried bench dips?

[ElementalVirago]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

If possible. Or even quarter dips. Just strengthening your body by holding itself in that position might help in the long run.

Have you ever tried bench dips?

Ok just wanted to be sure I was understanding you correctly. I've seen guys do the partial dips, always thought of that as cheating. Like when you don't do a pushup all the way down to the floor.

I do bench dips all the time, actually. Do you think those are better than using the assist machine? I feel like it's a different angle when you do bench dips as opposed to the dip machine.

[BendtheBar]

I actually am not a big fan of deep dips, especially for older folks - not that you're old or anything (ducks). I like to protect the shoulders.

[strkout35]

Originally Posted by ElementalVirago

Do you think those are better than using the assist machine? I feel like it's a different angle when you do bench dips as opposed to the dip machine.

they'll work different muscles. bench dips hit the triceps very hard and the shoulders a tiny bit but not really. if you do your dips on the parallel bars leaning forward a bit you can hit chest tris and front delts hard and thats how i like doing them. but if your goal is to isolate the tris then bench dips all the way

[ElementalVirago]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

I actually am not a big fan of deep dips, especially for older folks.

What the...? Don't make me hit you with my walker, sonny!

[ElementalVirago]

Originally Posted by strkout35

they'll work different muscles. bench dips hit the triceps very hard and the shoulders a tiny bit but not really. if you do your dips on the parallel bars leaning forward a bit you can hit chest tris and front delts hard and thats how i like doing them. but if your goal is to isolate the tris then bench dips all the way

Ok that's kinda what I thought. When I do bench dips I def. feel it more in my tris, whereas with the assist dip machine I get more shoulder/chest pressure.

[ElementalVirago]

So...had a conversation with the bf about deadlifts last night. He insists they are horrible for your back. This stemmed from a newsclip on TV last night of a local teen who powerlifts...she was doing a clean & jerk and he goes, "oh man, those are almost the worst thing you can do to your body, deadlifts being THE worst". That's when we went to blows. Ok, we never argue or fight, but we do have some pretty lively discussions. This was one of them. And you gotta understand, this is coming from a guy who used to have quads so big that he almost had to have his pants custom-made, so he's no stranger to the gym. He was this big time football player back in the day and his coach and every other athlete that he came into contact with drilled into him the evils of deadlifts. Can I really marry a man who hates Earth, Wind and Fire AND talks sh*t about the almighty deadlift???

*sigh*

Speaking of DL's, here was Friday's workout:

Lower Body

Deadlifts: 120x8 120x8 120x6
Leg Press: 130x8 130x8 130x8
Dumbbell Lunges (total weight shown): 40x8 40x8 40x8
Seated Calf Raises: 155x8 155x8 155x8
Dumbbell Shrugs (total weight shown): 100x8 100x8 100x8
(yes I know these aren't lower body but they're on the regimen for today)
Crunches: 3 sets of 15 reps each
Hyperextensions: held a 35-lb. dumbbell for 3 sets of 15 reps each

Result: Sure, my ass hurts and my lower back feels like it was run through a taffy puller. But one of these days when his back goes out (and it does quite often) and I'm able to help him up off the floor, maybe he won't think deadlifts are stupid after all.