You have been a member here a lot longer than I have. There are other forums I am a part of that have nothing to do with weight loss or fitness where if you voice a different opinion than that of a "veteran" member, you get stereotyped as a trouble maker and shunned by the majority of members. That is why I don't want anyone to have the impression that I am getting into an "I am right, you are wrong" type of debate. Therefore, I don't want to step on your toes.
Yup, as Ed brought up in his last post... that's not how this forum operates at all. I post on a lot of forums and I know what you're talking about. But we're all about sound information and applicable advice here.
I've got one of the highest post counts here and you damn well better believe that if I say something stupid, I expect to be called on it.
Not that post count has shit all to do with intelligence, which is easily proved on pretty much any forum you chat on.
This isn't the first time I have attempted to lose weight. About 7 or 8 years ago, I went from 370 down to 225 lbs in a little less than 1 year. That was before I injured my back. The owner of the gym I went to was a former competitive bodybuilder. He also had degrees in nutrition and athletic training. I followed the same routine from the beginning and it worked just as well at 370 as it was at 225. The only reason I stopped losing weight and soon started the slow decent back into obesity is I thought that a change in lifestyle wouldn't affect me (I thought when it came to the weight I had lost, I was bullet proof). I have no doubt that had I actually continued going to the gym and following the changes in diet that I had made, I would have reached my target weight.
Yup you would have.
Unfortunately the 'trap' you got caught in is all too common. Diets, in general, don't fail. People fail the diet.
Diet being a weight loss strategy including proper nutrition and exercise in this case.
So, what I am applying worked on a 370 lb man as well as it did a 225 lb man who didn't have a bad back. It worked for me then, it is beginning to work for me again, and I have seen other people that the gym owner had on the same training and diet that I was on who were having success. They were men and women between I would say 25-45 years of age and all different sizes. No, it didn't work for everyone. That is why I did say that results may vary.
I'm sorry.
I'm dense today.
Tell me exactly what is different between what you're suggesting and what's already been discussed.
From what I could tell you are using machines now in hopes of progressing to free weights as your body allows. You're working in the 12 rep range which has already been mentioned.
I'm just not seeing a difference in what's been suggested above. Although I'm tired and stressed so I'm sure I missed something!
If you could point me to it, it would be appreciated.
Usually if there's a difference it stands out to me. If there doesn't seem to be from my perspective, then it usually turns out to be hair-splitting which in the real world, isn't going to make a lick of difference in terms of results.
And as a 371 lb person, sure, there are people here who won't really care what I have to say. I am 100% OK with that.
Fuck that.
I don't think anyone will write you off around here simply b/c the scale reads a certain number. Information comes from the brain and I'm WELL aware of the fact that just b/c someone has great knowledge in a particular subject, that does not mean he chooses to or knows how to apply it to himself in a meaningful or consistent way.
I've seen your photo album. Would I try something different in my routine that you suggest? In a heartbeat. I am happy with my routine, but if you, or anyone else on this forum, had success doing something a little different than me, I would at least give it a shot.
The thing is The Routine Mentality straight up sucks. Sure, a plan is required for success. A routine though, lacks flexibility and freedom. It's too rigid. And when people get stuck thinking This is the way you should workout, things get ugly.
I haven't followed a routine since I was in highschool.
I make sure I understand the basic, foundational concepts of the human body and how it responds to stress and rest and I mold a lax idea of how I'm going to get from point A to point B.
And how I originally think this will happen usually isn't how I end up doing it when it comes time to apply the idea.
To boot, I've trained a lot of people. And when you apply The Routine idea over a large population of people, the entire concept becomes even more silly.
I've seen bodybuilders (and they are usually the most retarded, not in all cases, but in most I've seen) fight over the stupidest, silliest, tiniest components of a workout. Like, you have to use DBs instead of a BB. Or you have to hit this angle if you want full development. Or you need to use this rep range if you want X.
All those sorts of statements can be translated in my eyes as "I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about. I worship brotology."
I'm not knocking you at all. I'm not suggesting you're of this 'camp.' Shit, I'm not even sure how what you were suggesting differs from what has already been suggested previously. I'm just 'ranting' a bit with regards to the hair-splitting mentality so often seen in these types of circumstances where people yap about the small things while totally missing the big picture.
Welcome aboard Rocky.
