Weight Training Blog

I read this article on the Trying Fitness Blog and found myself browsing through Craigslist to see what good deals were around in my area. As you would expect, I found some pretty good deals on fitness equipment in my area. Most of the items listed for sale were machines that were pin-loaded. Not really my cup of tea, but for the average Joe they would do just fine. Now that I think about it, Ebay might be a good place to look for used gym equipment as well.

Just which option is better? Is working out at home better or is it better to have a membership at a local fitness center?

To truthfully answer this, it depends on the type of person you are.

Think of it like taking an online course through a college. Sure, the course counts the same towards your degree, but the difference is there is no one there pushing you or lecturing you on what the important topics are in the chapter. If you don’t make time in your schedule while at home for the online course work, then there’s no way it’s going to get done. Discipline is the name of the game when it comes to lifting and actually making progress towards your goal whether it be weight loss, strength gains, or muscle tone.

The same thing applies to having your own gym equipment in your house. If you have the discipline to use it on a regular basis then great. It’ll save you money in the long run. If on the other hand you might need a swift kick in the ass by someone at the gym asking you “What the hell are you doing?” when you perform a lift incorrectly, then having a membership at a local gym is probably best.

I must warn you that if you’re serious about lifting and really want to make significant strength increases, then home gym equipment will only get you so far before you find yourself spending thousands of dollars to keep up with your demands. Keep in mind that weights are generally a dollar per pound. You might be able to find weight sets on Craigslist for a lot less, but act fast because they tend to go quick.

Someone sent me a question asking me what type of protein powder I recommend because the powder they use tastes bad and always clumps up on them.

Personally, I recommend Optimum Nutrition’s protein products. The number one advantage to using their products is cost. It’s not one of those insanely expensive blends that will break the bank. Secondly, ON’s products have the nutrients you need. Third, their products don’t taste that bad. If you’re looking for something that tastes almost like candy, I recommend going for a Cytosport Muscle Milk product as I believe they have some of the best tasting protein powders available. The only down side is cost, and fat content. Generally speaking, Muscle Milk does tend to contain higher amounts of fat than other blends. But they have since come out with a “light” Muscle Milk product, I believe.

As for the issue with clumping… Well, the truth is I have never really had an issue with any blend clumping more so than any other brand. If you’re using a shaker cup to mix your shake in, then I recommend adding liquid first, then the powder. Don’t forget to leave about an inch to and inch and a half of room between the top of the powder just added and the top of the cup portion of the shaker bottle (The part that holds the liquid, excluding the top). This will give you room to mix it well.

2011 is nearly a month old, so it’s time to ask yourself how you’re progressing towards your fitness goals (If you set any for yourself, that is.)

CNN.com has a good article investigating why so many people fail to follow through with their New Year’s resolutions only a few weeks into the year. Actually, the author of the article seems to think that just only three weeks into the new year many people have given up or lost track of their goals.

I especially like the fourth reason that they give: Your goal is unrealistic.

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard people say that they “just want to lose weight” or “increase their bench press”. Neither goal is good because there is no way to define your progress. Sure, if you lose one pound you have made your goal. Sure, if your bench press increases by 10 pounds you’ve made progress.

But where do you stop? How do you know how much further you have to go? Once you figure out what is a reasonable end point, then you can map out a plan on how you will get to the end. But until then, you will be lost and not know how to keep yourself focused and motivated as the year goes on.