Hard Gainer Tips

Thursday, February 15, 2007

What if you can't make it to the gym?

I'm starting to realize more and more that with my current schedule I just don't have much time to really go to the gym. At least not as much as I'd like to. And with some upcoming situations, I may have even less time. So, I need to find some other things I can do at home rather than going to the gym. Here are few ideas that I've come up with but if anyone reads this and has some more ideas I'd appreciate them:

Varied Position Pushups
Pullups (probably on the park equipment near my apartment)
Get a set of around 30lb dumbbells, that would allow for a decent workout for arms and shoulders.
Chair Dips
Lunges
Calves on the stairs.

That's all that I can think of right now. I'm just hoping that I can gain the muscle I'm after by doing more of these kinds of workouts, but I'll still need to find a way to work in some good bench work and squats.

Labels: , ,

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

I Think I Really Like Dead Lifts!

I have to admit something. I've read a lot of articles that claim that dead lifts are one of the main lifts that you have to be doing to help pack on muscle. But the only type of dead lift I've done until today are straight-leg dead lifts. So today I decided to do the real ones and I can see why they would be important! Talk about an exercise that works out your whole body!

For those of you who don't know what a regular dead lift is, basically you place a barbell on the floor in front of you with the right poundage. Then, you bend down and grasp the bar with one hand in an overhand grip and the other in an underhand grip. This was something that I wasn't aware of until I looked into it in Schwarzenegger's book The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding : The Bible of Bodybuilding. Next you stand up with the bar! So, as you stand up you have to use your back to straighten out and your legs to lift. Holding the bar takes arm muscles as well. Now, this isn't a very good description I know, but after doing just 2 sets I was breathing pretty good. I'm now a believer that dead lifts are important. Check them out and work them in to your routine as well!

Labels: , ,

Monday, February 5, 2007

Self Education = Protection

I read a very interesting post on another blog today that I think I should comment on a bit. Here's a link to it.

Basically, this post went off on how you have to be aware of certain things when you're going to walk into a GNC. Thinks like how their sales associates know nothing, they're going to push their own brand, and they're overpriced when compared to online prices and other stores. I don't mean to sound rude, but when I read this I basically said "well, duh!"

Here's something I've learned: before making just about any purchase you have to be educated yourself on the product our you're going to get either ripped-off or given incorrect information. In my mind its sad that people will take time to get a CarFax report, check out consumer reports and other things for big purchases like cars, houses, furniture, etc. But when it comes to their own health and well-being they'll just talk to the local store clerk who really does know nothing. Go out, spend some time, and educate yourself.

Along those same lines, make sure you look at more than one website when looking online for information as well. Actually do some research. Then, when you go to the store you're not looking for advice from the clerk, you're just asking them "where is such-and-such". That's what they're really there for.

Here's a funny example of this. I had been doing some research on ZMA, and thought it was worth trying. So I went into GNC, looked around and couldn't find it, then the sales guy came up and asked me what I was looking for. I told him, and he didn't even know what I was talking about. Luckily, I found it right then and he was nice enough to ask me what it was for. So instead of being a jerk and saying "he works here, he should know this" I took a few minutes and told him all about it. Was that so hard? No! I found what I needed because I had been researching it, and maybe helped someone else out in the process.

Labels: