So I've been doing bodyweight exercises semi-frequently for the past few months, and while I definitely feel stronger and can do way more reps of push-ups, pull-ups, squats, and lunges than before, I feel like I look no different and I've only gained one pound. I want to have less scrawny looking arms and shoulders, and for my butt to not be a pancake for once in my life. Not sure if this is shallow, but it would help a lot with motivation if doing this shit that my body really doesn't enjoy doing actually left some visible impact.
I know these things take time, but I'm wondering if my approach is wrong. What's usually the best way to actually build visible muscle? Is it about how much weight you lift or what? I feel frustrated. Hope this doesn't count as doomposting, just saw that's against the rules, I'm just looking for tips and venting at the same time.
I've been doing bodyweight exercises for about 2 months now and I've put 5kg of solid muscle on. I don't track my diet, I know that some days I undereat massively. Follow the recommended routine on the bodyweightfitness subreddit. Do it 3 times per week.
The general rule is that once you can comfortably do 8 reps of an exercise, you need to make the exercise harder. In bodyweightfitness this either means changing the exercise or adding weights to yourself with a belt or whatever. Being able to do lots and lots of reps won't give you size. It'll just make your muscles more endurable. Doing low reps high intensity is where size is at.
Okay this is solid advice I like this.
"Recommended routine" seems to mention a lot of equipment like rings and dip bars? Idk if I'm reading the right thing, but what would you recommend I use if I don't have rings or a sturdy table? I could probably figure something out, I've got some rope and a pull up bar, but if you have a recommendation I'd like to hear it before accidentally breaking something or ruining the exercise.
You can snag a walker with no wheels from thrift stores or Amazon, if you're solidly under it's max weight capacity. It's perfect for dips
Holy shit you're a genius
commenting to remember this lol
The RR can seem to be full of jargon to a newcomer by the way, so if you need any help figuring stuff out just ask. I still haven't quite figured out how to structure the ab triplet part of the workout.
It's all somewhat doable without all the equipment but they won't be nearly as good as the real thing. Look up bedsheet/door incline rows - they're fucking tough on the grip strength but they're as close as you'll get to rows. Dips you can do off a chair, but honestly that version never felt like they were doing much for me. This could be different for you - I was already quite sporty before I started so I've progressed through the progressions quite quickly I think.
I ended up finding my local outdoor gym area and doing the full workout with proper dips and rows and it was a hell of a lot better. Did it rain or shine, and after about a month I decided that I was motivated enough to start buying some equipment.
Bought a pair of rings for £20, and it was a bloody good purchase. Means I can do rows, dips, special pushup variations, different ab moves, all from the comfort of my doorframe pull-up bar.
Take the plunge, maybe spending 20 quid will give you the impetus to keep going, for the sunken cost fallacy.
If you set up what you think your ideal recommended routine would be, I can help you find alternative exercises until you buy a set of rings. Obvs I can help set one up for you if the RR looks like jargon.
Oh wow thank you so much 🤩
Wait there's a children's playground right near my apartment and it's super well lit and near a bunch of houses, so maybe I can go there after work to use their monkey bars and stuff lol.
Might take your advice on the rings purchase, I definitely am that kind of person.
just want to say- I've done this routine both in an outdoor jungle gym and at home w/ some rings and a pull up bar. if you can swing the $$ on the rings and pull up bar, they're not too expensive and can save some time, but doing it outdoors is huge. I also overtrained my pushing muscles, got injured, and I'm now training my back heavily to make up for it. make sure you're doing a lot of back work, pushups accentuate a lot of the problems posture-wise that come from the desk.
Ya definitely do that if you can. When lockdown first started the outdoor gym area got barricaded off, but the kids play area didn't. Saw all the local meatheads making good use of the monkey bars and whatnot.
Just a caution with the big lift stuff: Once you build bulky muscle you must keep lifting to maintain it. If you don't those muscles will quickly balloon into fat and you'll look like every gym teacher who can't hold a phone to their ear.
Lift to get yoked, keep lifting or you'll get thiccc.
If you've got 30 bucks, rings to hang from your pullup bar are a great investment.
Look in actual street fighting the fash terms being able to run and having endurance is going to count for as much or more than being super fucking swole. You don't need to be able to bench 300 lbs to knock some chud out, you need to be able to land a solid punch in the jaw, and then dance out of the way of any counter attack. You need to be able to run from the police. Being bulk is cool and all but for fighting you want cardio and endurance as much as muscle.
rtfq
she didn't ask what's the best routine for smashing fash heads in with lead pipes and then leading a guerilla warfare campaign in the mountains
she asked how she can get some visible gains
Personally, I will shoot myself in the face before I ever start doing lots of cardio. Fuck cardio.
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