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The exercise, weightlifting and fitness thread vers. HMPH GRR AGHHH!!

The grip aspect of weightlifting is fairly simple, even for a dunce like me to understand. the harder you can grasp a weight, the more control you have over it. More control simply means an easier time moving the weight. It might sound unintiuitive for pushing exercises to benefit from using a tight grip, but i promise it applies to everything. If skeptical, try this: max out on bench press merely holding the bar, not squeezing it. Wait a few mins and then try the same thing, this time squeezing as hard as you can. You can use the same weight for both attempts and just note the difference in perceived exertion. Remember to use a spotter, we are on an HR forum after all.

This subject matter is better experienced than discussed, so dont just take my word for it, go try it.
 
Squatted 2 days ago, only 135 but on untrained legs it wore me down.

My adductors, hams and quads are still really sore when I use them. Its the best kind of pain i know.

My hip joints are feeling it from backpacking for a week and squatting, but they will recover quickly if I lay off for a bit, and most importantly my knee is close to 100%. I feel like im nearly ready to get back into the routine. Gonna make big gains this summer.
 
my last post in this thread may have had me coming across as a condescending ass, i apologize if taken that way. i have troubles with communication.

good on ya for the squats mr. care, what gains are you looking to make? size, strength, a goal bodyfat %? backpacking is extreme fun but doesn't lead to gains other than calves =D
 
backpacking is great for losing bodyfat

as for my other activities im aiming to become as athletic as possible, no real concrete goals in mind
 
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i like that way of thinking, it's more fun to do multiple activities and explore more than one aspect of physicality. i have a rack and bench in my house but more often than not i wind up biking, hiking, running and swimming instead, at least during the warmer months.
 
If grip is making a difference its purely psychosomatic and individual.

Personally I could go at it with a suicide grip or a normal grip and experience the same results.

I'm not knocking anybody though - whatever works for you works for you.
 
having a good grip matters to me, but that doesn't mean using great force. :\
 
aanallein said:
If grip is making a difference its purely psychosomatic and individual.

Personally I could go at it with a suicide grip or a normal grip and experience the same results.

I'm not knocking anybody though - whatever works for you works for you.
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aanallein, I know that you are very educated and experienced in the weight-room. I value your opinion a lot.

You've never tried lifting a near-maximal amount with a weak grip (any exercise)? When the weight is not great it's not noticeable, but I've definitely experienced a difference when lifting larger loads. The difference being that better/stronger grip = easier time moving the weight.

I'd love for you to get back to me on this, and maybe expound on your view a little more. I've always been taught that grip matters, and it made sense to me empirically. So now I'm a little confused.
 
Thanks man I appreciate that. :)

Hmm.. well the example given was a push exercise - specifically bench. But really this goes for any of my push exercises.. far more important to me than the way I'm gripping the weight is going to be how my body is aligned with the weight. Specifically the set of my shoulders, how my back is resting against the seat or bench, etc.

Specific to bench, I first set my feet, then make sure my hips are place properly and my core is tight, then I pull my shoulder blades together, start breathing deeply but very slowly, make sure my elbows are tucked, hold the bar lightly with my thumbs and setup my hand position. At that point I am ready to bench. I could suicide it or grip it - it matters not. The other things were all the critical components. The bar simply moves up and down at this point until the muscles reach fatigue and there's a slight break in form. Then the set is over. Lately I actually prefer suicide as I feel the weight is resting more vertically over my elbow.. just feels more right.

Pulling is completely different. Grip is pretty critical on a pull exercise which is why I don't use straps or gloves. Also, I take care to alternate my grip techniques on pulling - sometimes involving the thumb and sometimes not. But again - the most critical element is still form and breath.
 
Ok, i'm with you 100%. I'll try to be a little more clear since i agree that grip isnt a big priority in defining a well-performed exercise. As you outlined, form and breath are key.

What i was getting after was :

if we assume form to be otherwise identical in the comparison of two maximal attempts, one being done with a loose grip and one tight, the tight grip imparts more control over the weight, resulting in a lower RPE.

Its like doing pullups on a thick bar. Much harder because your arms arent able to hold as much of the tension, due to lessened grip. Your back receives what stress your forearms normally bear and the exercise gets harder due to the lack of control.

I dont think there is a superior grip ... i just think that better grip = better control = easier to lift. I wish i had some science to mull this over with, but for now i dont. If i find anything relevant ill post it.
 
I didn't know the grip thing would be such a hotly debated subject. Honestly, I think it has more to do with me being on adderall occasionally when I work out rather than the grip, although I do still like to grip the fuck out of the bar / weight solely because why not?

I would highly doubt I'd ever resort to using that white powdery stuff to improve it though (shit gets everywhere too, used to work out at this gym with a guy who used it and everyone called him Powdered Donuts)
 
Unless you go to a super hardcore gym where everyone is is lifting super heavy and using chalk, i think you'd look like an idiot doing it.
 
Ive been going to the gym everyday for about 3 weeks straight now, im killin it like never before, feels so good to be injury free!

Also, ADRENOLYN, best pre workout on the market.
 
So what's the scoop (no pun intended) on all this pre-workout supplement jazz? There's all kinds of different formulas all with weird names (JACK3D?) and I see guys in the gym taking this stuff and the creatine and they bulk up nicely but their muscles wind up looking so fake and fatty.
 
Creatine increases the amount of water in your muscles so it makes you look more bulky than you would otherwise. Its great for building muscle during a bulking phase, and helps you recover faster from intense workouts.

Do yourself a favor and get adrenolyn preworkout, ive tried many of the top brands and nothing else comes close. It is a stimulant that gives you insane energy and you feel like youre on cloud 9 after the workout.

Right now the suppliments im on are

whey protein
creatine
glutamine
glucosamine/chrondroitin
adrenolyn preworkout
 
How much money is too much for Olympic weights? I'm thinking about buying some, but don't want to get ripped off. I don't have a specific setup I've found yet.
 
Olympic Weights? You mean a barbell?

IDK, just buy a gym membership.
 
Tude said:
How much money is too much for Olympic weights? I'm thinking about buying some, but don't want to get ripped off. I don't have a specific setup I've found yet.
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Unless you are in the mood to drop $350-$600 for a full set of plates and a 45lb bar I would hit up the gym.
 
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