What are /r/strength_training's favorite Products & Services?

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• Eat a lot (but avoid sugar, shit's bad for you)
• Lift a lot (heavier weights * fewer reps = bigger gainz)
• Lift often (make a routine, write it down, and stick to it. FitNotes is my crutch here)
• Take a lot of breaks - don't overtrain. If you feel like you're getting weaker you're overtraining. Revise your plan to incorporate more breaks.
• Have fun. If you dislike an exercise, replace it with one you enjoy. ^^^^Fuck ^^^^crunches/curl ^^^^ups.
• Set SMART goals: Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely. Make sure you detail how and when you will achieve this. E.g. lose 25 lbs by summer by maintaining a daily 500 calorie deficit. You'll notice that at the time of writing this comment, there are 30 weeks until summer. Allow room for error.
• Almost anything that motivates you is good. Does your gym have oversized 10lb weights? Use them, they make you look stronger. Like seeing your self in the mirror? Flex while you're at it. Don't train to failure; always try to stop before the rep that would be a fail (this gets easier the more you do it). Even if you don't feel it, failure is demotivating.
• Make habits. Go at the same time (or after the same event) every training day.
• Maximize time. Supersets are great if your routine allows for them. Fit something in that period between sets.

I like these because I press so explosively that the bar flies upwards out of my hands 😎. Hook hurts my thumbs too but these work great.

Definitely narrow your grip to either against your shins, or just outside your shins. From this angle, it looks like you're basically doing a stiff leg deadlift, so you could bring your hips lower so you can activate your quads more for the liftoff and reduce the strain on your lower back. As for the concern over mixed grip, it's rare to tear your bicep with proper form, but if you're still worried, you can look into hook grip, or just use straps for heavy lifts.

And for deadlifts, you should look into either: 1. Ditching the shoes and going barefoot, or 2. Getting something REALLY flat and thin with as little padding as possible like water shoes (example: https://www.amazon.com/VIFUUR-Water-Sports-Unisex-Shoes/dp/B07499GRR7/ref=sr\_1\_5?dchild=1&keywords=water+shoes&qid=1630458722&sr=8-5).

I've used the Personal Trainin Coach app for a while and I really liked it. A lot of popular programs are already installed and I found it very easy to use!

I'd say widen your stance and narrow your grip a little. Belts are good and tennis shoes are bad. If you look carefully at the front of your knees and the soles of your shoes during this video you'll see them wobbling around quite a bit. I see that all the time with people squatting in soft sole shoes, the sole squishes around under your foot while you lift. Get some cheap lifting shoes. I've been able to pick up a pair like that for like $40 before.

A good wrestling shoe, I prefer barefoot.

For strength training (especially if you tune you're program) I find the Progression App (Android only right now) does everything I want.

[edit: play store link]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=workout.progression.lite

Definitely agree on sand and rice. Sand is a nightmare to work with indoors. Rice.....idk who came up with that genius idea. lol.

Personally, I made my first sandbag by using a military duffel bag from Amazon: 36x13x13 with 5 bags of rubber mulch from home Depot. Came to a total of 115lbs. for around $45 bucks.

The second one is 40 x 15 x 15 roughly. And it's at 150lbs. This one was around $60 bucks.

You should consider trying out a Manta Ray. You could benefit if the weight starts to feel uncomfortable. You also use a high bar position and the Manta is geared towards that position. I used to use one until I got a Transformer bar.

I got this one, but the strap holders are a bit annoying and oversized. It worked very well overall, though. You don't need the ones that cover your entire knee usually, the simple strap like the one I got will likely work fine. If I was to get another one, I'd go with something like this so it doesn't shift around as much. Remember you don't need it to be tight, just mild pressure does wonders.

I got this belt 4.5 years ago and it's still going strong. Never needed to get another one and I use it 3x a weak at least. Only thing I would change is the number of holes. Having two prongs can be a bit annoying, but it doesn't bother me much.

I got mine off Amazon. amazon.com/gp/product/B08TC1VQBQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Got the shoes off of Amazon a couple years ago. They’ve done a good job for me.

https://www.amazon.com/Convict-Conditioning-Weakness-Survival-Strength/dp/1942812159/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2BA6J8Q1MLAMR&keywords=convict+conditioning&qid=1663473159&sprefix=convict+conditioning%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-1

This one? Looks like theres a second book too. You know if that ones any good?

Well that's hard to do since 531 isn't a program, it's a book of about 50 different programs. Depends which one you want to do based off of your goals.

https://www.amazon.com/FOREVER-SIMPLE-EFFECTIVE-PROG-Jim-Wendler/dp/0692858237

For example, 531 BBB is 3 heavy sets followed by a 5x10 of lighter sets. But not all of his templates are free like this one.

https://www.jimwendler.com/blogs/jimwendler-com/101077382-boring-but-big

If you want to reduce the juries, get this book. It’s called, Rebuilding Milo. Dr Aaron Horschig. Or follow him on; Instagram; squat_university.

https://www.amazon.com/Rebuilding-Milo-Foundation-Enhancing-Performance/dp/1628604220/ref=nodl_?dplnkId=a48af5f4-b264-4804-8d21-9e628c8e4582

Best of luck.

I’ve seen people recommend the Strong Curves book. Can’t give you first hand feedback, but it has good reviews on Amazon.

Buy some Heavy Grips. No need to buy the 100 but maybe get 150 through 250 to start. You’ll be accidentally crushing peoples hands while giving a handshake in no time.

https://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Grips-Resistance-Strengthener-Professionals/dp/B0031TW6MW/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=3PKOHOG2PS8P2&keywords=heavy+grips+hand+grippers&qid=1645028040&sprefix=heavy+grips%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&a...

I've never done that so I'm just spitballing here, but I'd probably try some heavy duty needles and extra strong thread.

I'm trying to eat a lot.

This morning I had 4 eggs, a cup of greek yogurt, some toast and a glass of milk.

Typically I get up in the morning around 5am and go to the gym. I'll walk a mile around the indoor track and do the recumbent bike for 13-15 miles. After that, I'll eat a banana and have a premier protein shake. It's premade, 30g, 1g sugar.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U45YT0I/ref=twister_B0922PGF3S

Then I'll come home and after about an hour, I'll try and have something 'real'. Often a thick pb&J sandwich and a hardboiled egg. Then I'll usually hold off until after I go back to the gym to do strength training around noon. After that, I have another one of those premier protein shakes and maybe another banana. I like the shakes because they're easy, but I'm not opposed to finding something I have to mix up.

Around 3pm, I'll have either another shake, or a random snack, preferably yogurt and a granola bar. For dinner it varies, but it's usually a standard dinner. Last night was pot roast.

I'm in the middle of a bad divorce, so I've definitely changed up my diet a bit. Much more protein, a lot more time at the gym, much more food in general. I've been trying to avoid fast food altogether.

I'm actually already seeing fantastic results after 3 months of the above mentioned routine, which is why I'm not inclined to change things up too dramatically. And I guess I'm ok with the protein shakes being somewhat wasteful as even if I eat a lot, by my standards, I still barely hit my caloric goal for the day. So I assume the whey protein converting to calories isn't horrible?

I do like the convenience of shakes though. So I'm wondering if I just need to add a probiotic supplement like a gummy or more Kiefer and just add some variety to the type of protein shake I'm consuming.

I understand, that makes more sense now.

If you're serious about making strength gains, I'd highly recommend you read Starting Strength, which is a great primer on the basics of strength training.

Or, as an alternative to that, Stronglifts 5x5 is probably the single most simple, easy to manage program out there. Rather than digging through Medhi's informercial ass website, somebody on this message board summed it up pretty well.

Edit: I forgot to mention that there is also a Stronglifts 5x5 app available for both Android and iOS. That should be all you need, really.

Hope this helps. Cheers

I use this android app and find it very good.

There's a selection of built in routines varying by number of workout days/ experience level etc. It also offer the chance to create your own workouts or customize the existing ones, tracks your increments based on different methods and allows you to export the workouts routines which you could then share with friends.

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with this app or it's developers in any way, I just found it on the play store a couple of years ago and have found it really handy.

Check out "Personal Training Coach" https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.maxworkoutcoach.workouttrainer.workouttrainer

Consider getting deadlift socks, special slippers with flat, no slip outsoles. Or deadlift shoes, or maybe grippy socks. The Chucks are creating a spongy, unstable platform contributing to your knees buckling inward at the start of the lift.

As others have suggested, bring your chin lower, such that your neck and your spine are inline with each other at the start of the lift, giving you a neutral spine.

Next, I think your form is good, at least from the angle you showed, so I can't say anything about your setup or foot placement with relation to the bar, but I would maybe try pointing the big toes a little more inward. This way they're just slightly perpendicular to the position of the bar, otherwise if you're comfortable, keep your stance for the time being.

As for the actual plateau itself, I like fractional weight plates, for working on/through plateaus.

Logest Fractional Olympic Plates Pair of - 0.25 LB - 0.50 LB - 0.75 LB - 1 LB Fractional Weight Plates Designed for Olympic Barbells for Strength Training and Micro Plates Weight Plates 4 Sets

Alternatively, try Romanian Deadlifts (RDLs). The benefit being, you start at the top, and perform controlled negatives, practicing/working your way to doing the lift as a traditional deadlift.

Untamed Strength's video on a 5 Step Deadlift has been a godsend for me, and performing the movement consistently, and proficiently. I would recommend giving it a watch.

Untamed Strength - 5 Step Deadlift

Good luck, hope you break through the plateau!

Definitely read wendler's 5-3-1 for football book. He lays out a full year program and he definitely knows his stuff.

You can buy it on his website or here

There's already a lot of good advice in this thread, so just to add my $0.02:

• Make sure you're getting the right amount of fiber and not over/under doing it. The Mayo Clinic recommends 38 grams of fiber/day for men under 50. Also make sure you're getting a mix of soluble and insoluble fiber.
• Spread your meals throughout the day. If you eat a ton at one time, there's not much you can do to avoid feeling bloated, at least not until your body adjusts.
• Like others mentioned, you can try substituting in some liquid calories. I'll sometimes make a protein shake using oat/whole/2% milk, peanut butter, frozen fruit, and some other high calorie items.
• Sometimes a sense of bloating is the result of spasming in the intestines. A doctor recommended these to me years ago, and they have helped quite a bit. Most often I start to feel relief with 15-30 minutes.

This book has a lot of body-weight and alternative equipment suggestions for home workouts. It's not free, but it might save you more than it costs if you avoid buying any one piece of gear as a result of their suggestions.

I bought a copy recently for my kid (not over 40, but thought the simple equipment requirements might appeal to them) and liked it enough that I immediately bought another copy to give to a co-worker who's trying to exercise at home.

https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Training-Over-40-Program/dp/1646116127/

I use these ones https://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-Weight-Lifting-Wraps-Lifter/dp/B00BJ8VHFE/ref=asc_df_B00BJ8VHFE/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=222165639010&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12352061279273789388&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&a...

Hi, friend! The training that has actually yielded real results for me is heavy weight lifting. A few good books to explore on this subject are Thinner Leaner Stronger by Mike Matthews https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0098PYV7Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_9PC1KZBXR748B3JK1HKF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 And Roar by Stacy Sims https://www.amazon.com/dp/1623366860/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_Z8A454BS3HSDD5Q2KCW5

If you will dedicate yourself to getting stronger and fueling your body with good food, you will get the body you want. Both of these books will provide science-based instruction so you can actually get started.

So I’m not sure if you are familiar with the weider machine, if your not here it is: https://www.amazon.com/Weider-WEBE15911-Ultimate-Body-Works/dp/B00B48ISLU

So I normally start by doing 10-20 curls on the cables of it, followed by 30 or so pull-ups on it. I then do some exercises with the cables that are focused on my chest. I finish on the machine by doing reverse facing curls.

I then move on a to huge stacks of 50 lb livestock feed. I will pick one up, raise it above my head, and set it back down. I repeat this a few times.

I then lock the barnhouse up, and go home.

When I get home, I have a small protein shake and some peanuts, then do a couple sets of 10 chin-ups on a bar I have. I wrap everything up with 15 standard pushups, 5 Chinese push ups, 20 decline pushups and 100 reps with resistance bands (idk how strong). I drink a glass of milk, shower, and go to bed. I do this same think every night except Friday and Sunday nights. I have been doing this current routine since October

https://www.amazon.com/Compression-Weightlifting-Powerlifting-CrossFit-Training/dp/B072KHRWKB/ref=sr_1_12?dchild=1&keywords=Knee+Braces+powerlifting&qid=1608351919&s=hpc&sr=1-12

When they wont let me barefoot

Do you have tight ankles? Wide in your squat? Looks like it's just the shoes screwing with your ankle flexion... Your shins are certainly meeting the bar, but could you get a little further without your high heels... I'm leaning to yes. Good lift brotha! Didnt look rpe 8 too me!

It sounds like you prioritize compounds like the squat, bench and deadlift so a decent belt will make a noticeable difference. The belt you chose is okay and surely won’t cause any harm, but there are better ones out there for that price.

Lever:

https://www.amazon.com/Hawk-Sports-Genuine-Powerlifting-Weightlifting/dp/B07B1LYPN3/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=10mm+belt&qid=1603497833&sr=8-3

Prong:

https://www.amazon.com/Stoic-Powerlifting-Belt-Weightlifting-Protection/dp/B01MTSVRL6/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=10mm+belt&qid=1603497833&sr=8-11

Deadlifts would help build overall strength and make it easier to drag a supine person to safety. Also in the field you will have adrenaline to help you out and make it less painful

You could also buy grip strengtheners off amazon. Just use them in your free time while sitting around watching tv or whatever

Hand Grip Strengthener Workout (4 Pack) - Adjustable Resistance Hand Strengthener, Finger Exerciser, Finger Stretcher, Grip Ring + Carrying Bag + eBook + 3 Years Warranty By Mandrill https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075THJC4C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_kLoCCbRNV78K9

You could use resistance bands. Just loop the band over the bar and put a foot in the end of the loop to subtract weight from your pull-ups.

edit: I believe these are the ones I used.

play link for android could be used. I use it for fast training execution. App not increase weight or calculate waights but I provide source code so user who need this could implement it as option.

Hey everyone, I'm the developer of the FitJo app and I've got some updates from this week: - Added muscle visualization avatar - Added exercise instruction links/button - Added exercise/muscle breakdowns on workouts - Updated loading UI Would love any feedback! Thanks!

Maybe something like this

PlateMate Microload Pair 2 1/2 lb. Magnetic Donut Weights https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W00KY4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WkGkFbMV77MX8

Also, you can just strap a 2.5lb oly plate to the powerblock.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AQF-Lifting-Training-Support-Workout/dp/B00PKK0AB4/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1PE0SMA4CE3SN&dchild=1&keywords=figure+of+8+straps&qid=1596039557&sprefix=figure+of+8+%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-4 bargain tbh

Iron Ape - comes in 2-4 sizes, see size chart for right one. Mine came in a double pack with figure 8s and Normal straps, but I can’t find that link. Search iron ape on amazon.

IRON APE Figure 8 Straps, for Deadlift, Weight Lifting, Shrugs, and Weightlifting. Suitable for Men and Women, Entry Level, 2 Sizes. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07XXHHXWY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wvohFbQQRFN46

The closest I could get (pre-Covid) was 1.25 lb standard plates. I acquired 3 sets (of 4 plates) of those, one set from Goodwill, one set from a place called Play It Again Sports, and the other from Amazon. The closest I see on Amazon today is this set from seller Weightlifter's Warehouse 1.25 lb standard plates

I think those terms are used interchangeably depending on who you ask and the audience.

If carrying your baby more easily is something you’re interested in, I think what could be more beneficial is stronger shoulders. I have a toddler son now, and can relate to what you mean. 😊

IMO, one of the best investments in stronger shoulders are resistance band workouts you can do at home. You can buy a set from Amazon for cheap. They fit into door frames, so you can do them at home.

Black Mountain Products Resistance Band Set with Door Anchor, Ankle Strap, Exercise Chart, and Carrying Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/7245456313

In terms of routine/programs, here’s a good one you can do. 5-10 minutes.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5CyuYxktp2g

Medium Weight Lifting Belt Powerlifting Belt with Lifting Equipment Weightlifting Belt Body Building Lifting Belt Power Weight Lifting Belt Squat Belt Leather Weightlifting Belt https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016RAMIW4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FJm-DbC5TCAQS

Thank you sir, keep up the good work as well.

The Dead Wedge - Deadlift Jack Alternative for Your Gym Bag - Raises loaded barbell & plates for effortless Loading/Unloading. Perfect for Powerlifting, Weightlifting, Crossfit, Home Gym & Deadlifts. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TVVBD6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DBHVBbM6MXPFP

Regardless of goals, and based on your comment below about being a fast reader, track down a copy of Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength (link below). Sure if you dont want to spend the cash you can find a pdf somewhere, but you can get a kindle version for $10 and its valuable.

It will help you work out some basics and understanding of weigh training. As a beginner I wouldn't recommend anything like 5/3/1, there isnt enough progression. You need a program with workout to workout or week to week linear progression. Your adaptation cycle will still be so short, so make the most of your time in the gym.

https://www.amazon.com/Starting-Strength-Basic-Barbell-Training/dp/0982522738

Starting Strength 3x5 workout, or StrongLifts 5x5 will be a great starting place. The routines look boring / few exercises, but trust them. They are all you need at the moment. You will get stronger and bigger, but as a beginner you need to build up a good foundation.

Supplements arent as critical as a good diet. They "Supplement it" (funny that eh?). You need to be eating a solid calorific excess, but dont go to town. Get an app like "My fitness Pal" and enter your body weight, target body weight, and it will help you to calculate your required calorific intake.

Supplements: Protein powder. 1.7-2g pf protein / kg of body weight daily. always. Creatine 5g / day every day. one of the best backed supplements. Pre-workout - only if you need it. Something with stims is helpful if you work out in the morning or feel lethargic, but the benefit is marginal, mostly psychological.

Be careful on your assumptions on Roids. I know some guys on riods, and some natty guys are just as big. Genetics play a big part in it. Dont sweat it. If you go into the area, no one will look down on you. They werent born big. They started at some stage too. They know it, and to be honest, they will be more impressed by you going into the free weights and lifting, more than if you kept to the machines.