R.ticle One
10-29-2008, 03:12 PM
Hey everyone,
Not too long ago, I found this forum while reading about isometric training. My condensed history is as follows:
I'm a twenty six year old male, about 5 feet, 9 and a half inches tall, with a fast metabolism. I always had trouble gaining weight, until, earlier this year, I made a conscious effort to really eat more food - the right food - to build myself up well from the working out which I started to do.
Result thus far: I went from around 133 or 135 pounds to 148 pounds, and I'm certainly stronger, more muscular, and healthier looking, with little to no extra fat gained.
My "training" has been sporadic, though, and at times, haphazard. I began with freeweights, which were either too light or too heavy, and lifted excessive reps of any standard exercises I could think of, which basically consisted of, umm...bicep curls. Eventually a few other movements came into play.
I started to do pushups, but either had poor form, or weak tendons, but I ignored the pain and still have some tendonitis issues around my elbows or triceps, though they're certainly improving.
This summer, I worked on an organic farm, good "honest" labor, a lot of manure shoveling, hand-milking a cow twice a day, swinging a scythe, carrying around heavy loads, you know...I also incorporated some bodyweight stuff: modified pushups, pullups and chinups, bench dips, v-ups, crunches, supermans and static planks, all mixed with sporadic dumbbell/any heavy object I could find lifting.
I attribute the farm work plus the exercise with adequate food intake to the gains I made, but unfortunately I have had a bad habit of pushing myself too much, you know, really getting into something physical and ignoring pain, which always gets payed for later.
I also have a damaged meniscus from years ago on the inner left knee, and my right kneecap hurts sometimes. My shoulders have always been "double jointed" (I can pop them from their sockets at will), and it seems that I've always had some issues with the strength of my joints and/or tendons.
Now, I know that there are exercises which can benefit the problems I've mentioned, and if anyone has suggestions as to what they are, I'd love to hear them.
---------------------------------------
However, I'm also seeking a good isometric routine. I would prefer one that, at this time, doesn't focus on push/push/chin - ups, because they gave me some trouble and at this time, still do.
I've just dabbled in different contraction exercises and some "pushing against immovable objects" stuff, and I'm pretty impressed. Isometrics appeals to me because it seems the most joint/tendon friendly, which is what I need at this point. I don't want to have to stop working out entirely while I heal, and if it were possible, I'd like to make isometrics my mainstay method.
As far as what I'd like to achieve through exercise, I'd say...
-Increased strength
-Better defined, larger muscles
-Increased mass, but lean, not fat!
-Healthy connective tissues and joints
-Speed and flexibility would be nice, too
(I'd like the above attributes to apply to the whole body, as I'm tired of only focusing on this part or that part). Oh, and I should mention that I'm currently unable to do squats because of my knees. D'oh!
I'm aware that some people poo-poo isometrics to the point of calling them worthless. I beg to differ. I have also read that they shouldn't be considered as a means to build muscle. I believe this is a misconception, but I would like some clarification on this matter, in formulating a suitable routine for me.
To get to the point already, what are some isometric exercises you'd suggest, and at what levels of resistance, and frequency (reps/sets), that would help me achieve my goals?
----------------------------
My apologies for the lengthly first post. I look forward to any responses.
Thanks!
R.
Not too long ago, I found this forum while reading about isometric training. My condensed history is as follows:
I'm a twenty six year old male, about 5 feet, 9 and a half inches tall, with a fast metabolism. I always had trouble gaining weight, until, earlier this year, I made a conscious effort to really eat more food - the right food - to build myself up well from the working out which I started to do.
Result thus far: I went from around 133 or 135 pounds to 148 pounds, and I'm certainly stronger, more muscular, and healthier looking, with little to no extra fat gained.
My "training" has been sporadic, though, and at times, haphazard. I began with freeweights, which were either too light or too heavy, and lifted excessive reps of any standard exercises I could think of, which basically consisted of, umm...bicep curls. Eventually a few other movements came into play.
I started to do pushups, but either had poor form, or weak tendons, but I ignored the pain and still have some tendonitis issues around my elbows or triceps, though they're certainly improving.
This summer, I worked on an organic farm, good "honest" labor, a lot of manure shoveling, hand-milking a cow twice a day, swinging a scythe, carrying around heavy loads, you know...I also incorporated some bodyweight stuff: modified pushups, pullups and chinups, bench dips, v-ups, crunches, supermans and static planks, all mixed with sporadic dumbbell/any heavy object I could find lifting.
I attribute the farm work plus the exercise with adequate food intake to the gains I made, but unfortunately I have had a bad habit of pushing myself too much, you know, really getting into something physical and ignoring pain, which always gets payed for later.
I also have a damaged meniscus from years ago on the inner left knee, and my right kneecap hurts sometimes. My shoulders have always been "double jointed" (I can pop them from their sockets at will), and it seems that I've always had some issues with the strength of my joints and/or tendons.
Now, I know that there are exercises which can benefit the problems I've mentioned, and if anyone has suggestions as to what they are, I'd love to hear them.
---------------------------------------
However, I'm also seeking a good isometric routine. I would prefer one that, at this time, doesn't focus on push/push/chin - ups, because they gave me some trouble and at this time, still do.
I've just dabbled in different contraction exercises and some "pushing against immovable objects" stuff, and I'm pretty impressed. Isometrics appeals to me because it seems the most joint/tendon friendly, which is what I need at this point. I don't want to have to stop working out entirely while I heal, and if it were possible, I'd like to make isometrics my mainstay method.
As far as what I'd like to achieve through exercise, I'd say...
-Increased strength
-Better defined, larger muscles
-Increased mass, but lean, not fat!
-Healthy connective tissues and joints
-Speed and flexibility would be nice, too
(I'd like the above attributes to apply to the whole body, as I'm tired of only focusing on this part or that part). Oh, and I should mention that I'm currently unable to do squats because of my knees. D'oh!
I'm aware that some people poo-poo isometrics to the point of calling them worthless. I beg to differ. I have also read that they shouldn't be considered as a means to build muscle. I believe this is a misconception, but I would like some clarification on this matter, in formulating a suitable routine for me.
To get to the point already, what are some isometric exercises you'd suggest, and at what levels of resistance, and frequency (reps/sets), that would help me achieve my goals?
----------------------------
My apologies for the lengthly first post. I look forward to any responses.
Thanks!
R.