Journey, Not A Destination

I believe it contains starch carbs... here is a description of a product on bodybuilding.com


"Carb Slam features a long-chain, complex, super-high molecular weight, sugar-free carbohydrate from Waxy Maize Starch. Carb Slam passes through the stomach much faster than any other carbohydrate source and in the process, delivers nutrients and protein to your muscles at lightning-fast speed! In fact, Carb Slam has a molecular weight greater than maltodextrin and dextrose thus has the ability to move through the stomach faster than dextrose or maltodextrin!"

I'm sure anyone could go without it, and just eat simple carbs right after workout
 
I was just wondering about it...others say its perfect for them to get all their required carbs in pre and post workout. I'm not planning on getting it, just wondering if you knew what it was.
 
Frankly, pre-workout nutrition is just as, if not more important than post-workout. Yet, most solely focus on the post.

That said, I prefer to get my pre-workout nutrition from whole foods 60-90 minutes before my workouts.

I then take a during/post workout shake that contains whey, maltodextrin, and dextrose.....

Malto and dextrose are fast-acting and economical..... buy it from protein factory in 5-10 lb bags and it lasts me a long while.

And in truth.... you can do just the same with some whey and gatorade powder.

Hell, in truth, you don't really *need* a shake at all.... it's probably splitting hairs at best..... but I opt for it personally.
 
Well I have a very predictable answer to what's better than a stiff drink but ... let's jsut say it involves other stiffness of the good sort :) for me anyhow :D

ok taking mind out of the gutter :)
 
OOOH I actually do have a question for you - a really stupid question I'm sure but ...

On a weight bench.. what should the appropriate height of the bar be.. Is there a suggested number of inches from the body or the seat...

When I have the bench lying flat -I had the bar at one height - I'm not sure how many inches but I didn't have to bend my elbows too much to reach the bar -and I could bench press a pathetic 55lbs... (when the bench is at an incline I can barely budge the 55lbs which tells me it's different muscles being worked but that's another question)(

Anyhow - something in my head said lower the bar a little - so I lowered the bar by two rungs or so so now my elbows are more bent when I grab the bar and all of a sudden those 55lbs felt like 100lbs... it made it a lot harder and 4 reps were quite the challenge... (Ginger kitty is a bad spotter)

So I think i get that the lower the bar the more you hve to work - but what is the appropriate height of the bar?

or doesn't it matter because it's me after all and anything is better than nothing :D
 
maleficent said:
OOOH I actually do have a question for you - a really stupid question I'm sure but ...

On a weight bench.. what should the appropriate height of the bar be.. Is there a suggested number of inches from the body or the seat...

When I have the bench lying flat -I had the bar at one height - I'm not sure how many inches but I didn't have to bend my elbows too much to reach the bar -and I could bench press a pathetic 55lbs... (when the bench is at an incline I can barely budge the 55lbs which tells me it's different muscles being worked but that's another question)(

Anyhow - something in my head said lower the bar a little - so I lowered the bar by two rungs or so so now my elbows are more bent when I grab the bar and all of a sudden those 55lbs felt like 100lbs... it made it a lot harder and 4 reps were quite the challenge... (Ginger kitty is a bad spotter)

So I think i get that the lower the bar the more you hve to work - but what is the appropriate height of the bar?

or doesn't it matter because it's me after all and anything is better than nothing :D
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Ideally, the bar is as high as possible, but not so high that you have to overly extend yourself to re-rack the weight. So when you're laying back staring up at the bar, your arms should be almost straight, with a little bit of flexion (couple of inches at most). This way, when you go to re-rack the weight, you know it's in a reasonable height that you can do it safely.

Does that make sense?

Starting with the bar really low isn't good for a couple of reasons. 1) I could see it putting your shoulders in a dangerous spot. 2) More commonly, the rep starts with the arms extended (in the up position). If you start with the bar racked really low, that basically means you have to do half of a rep just to get the bar in the right starting position, which will 'wind' you.

Plus, people get a rhythm going in the bench. Start up, lower the bar, back up, lower, up, lower, up.

To reverse that order, for most, would do screwy things in terms of that rhythm.

And the second question, yes, you should be able to do more weight in flat bench press opposed to incline due to the 'recruitment patterns' of muscles used. For example, the incline brings a lot more shoulder into the mix. The shoulders are smaller than the chest muscles, thus not as capable in producing force.
 
maleficent said:
When I have the bench lying flat -I had the bar at one height - I'm not sure how many inches but I didn't have to bend my elbows too much to reach the bar -and I could bench press a pathetic 55lbs... (when the bench is at an incline I can barely budge the 55lbs which tells me it's different muscles being worked but that's another question)(
Click to expand...


Sorry to butt into your convo here, but well, my hubby and I have been doing flat bench press, incline press and decline press. I'm not sure exactly all the terminology, but with me, and I had only ever done flat bench press before back in the day, but the level for me is as follows:

Hardest to Easiest
Incline Press
Bench Press
Decline Press

Because it is working different parts of your pec muscles.

I guess I'd like to know more too.

ok
butting out now.
 
maleficent said:
does and means I can add more weight then and not feel so quite lame...

excellent and thank you
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Good.

Just don't put too much on.... I'm sure you know but very subtle progression in weight lifted is the way to go.

Especially when you don't have a spotter for an exercise that creates an atmosphere where you can get stuck under the bar.

I've been there.

Not fun.
 
Just don't put too much on.... I'm sure you know but very subtle progression in weight lifted is the way to go.
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5lbs on each side is where i'd go -

then move upwards... (I'll get to 25lbs on each side - eventually... )
one of the guys i worked with already told me not to use the clips for the weights so that If I do get stuck -I can tilt out of it... and just annoy my downstairs neighbors :D
 
maleficent said:
5lbs on each side is where i'd go -
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I even make slower progression than that with some of my clients. 10lbs total jumps are too much for many people.

2.5 lbs plates are pretty common.

I have platemates which allow for what is called 'micro-loading.'

then move upwards... (I'll get to 25lbs on each side - eventually... )
one of the guys i worked with already told me not to use the clips for the weights so that If I do get stuck -I can tilt out of it... and just annoy my downstairs neighbors :D
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There's a double edge sword to that.

While some people bench, especially as fatigue sets in, they may raise the bar up unevenly. Generally their non-dominant arm will fatigue quicker than the other. Without clips, the plates can start sliding around on you, and I've seen it happen where the plates actually slide all the way off one side and all of a sudden, shit is out of control and it's very easy to get injured.

That said, without clips, it's pretty easy to dump the load if needed, but again, especially when weight starts getting up there relative to your strength levels, it's not a maneuver that involves a lot of control, hence the high probability of injury. In this case, it's a question of what's better. Hurting a part of your body from uncontrolled, jerky unloading or getting trapped under the bar.

The thing with the bench press is, where the bar lands on you if you become trapped can cause a real problem, obviously.... neck/throat and head/face. I've gotten trapped under a bar that landed on my chest and I simply rolled it down my body until I could sit up and move the weight. Sure it wasn't comfortable, but wasn't bad.

Also, different bars and plates do different things. Some bars and plates "hold on to" the weights really well, so much so that clips aren't generally needed. Others though, like those at my primary gym right now, are slippery as all hell. I don't even warm up without using clips b/c the plates slide all over the place.

So.... I didn't give you an answer.

It depends.
 
I would say my momma didn't raise no fool - but eh - I was pretty much self raising and I am a fool on any given day.. but - sarcasm aside - I wouldnt attempt to do a weight i didn't think I was ready for... and at some point -I might actually wander past the dumbbells I already use and use the big boy - I mean girl - weights...
 
I've gotten trapped under a bar that landed on my chest and I simply rolled it down my body until I could sit up and move the weight. Sure it wasn't comfortable, but wasn't bad.
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it's just bounce off my boobs :)

Besides -there's no freakin' way I would ever attempt the weights you bench... at least not yet anyhow - though there is a very competitive side of me :D
 
maleficent said:
I would say my momma didn't raise no fool - but eh - I was pretty much self raising and I am a fool on any given day.. but - sarcasm aside - I wouldnt attempt to do a weight i didn't think I was ready for...
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Yea, I thought the same. In general I'm pretty 'street smart.'

But I still got stuck.

Fatigue can catch up quick on ya some days.
 
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