Stupid Questions Thread

All training and programming related queries and banter here

Moderators: mgil, chromoly, Manveer

Post Reply
User avatar
SnakePlissken
Registered User
Posts: 876
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:22 am
Age: 29

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2941

Post by SnakePlissken » Wed Nov 16, 2022 9:42 am

lheugh wrote: Wed Nov 16, 2022 9:21 am There is evidence that foot position can influence calf muscle activation: turning the feet inward targets the lateral head of the gastrocnemius, whereas turning the feet outward targets the medial head, but this is a relatively modest phenomenon and of questionable practical meaningfulness from a hypertrophy perspective. Standing calf raise places the gastrocnemius under maximal stretch and maximises force output. Seated render the muscle actively insufficient and forces the soleus to take the brunt of the work.
Do you mean that seated calf raises aren't as good in general as standing or that you really need to do seated calf raises if you want to get a bigger soleus?

User avatar
lheugh
Registered User
Posts: 296
Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2018 8:40 am
Location: Surrey, UK
Age: 32

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2942

Post by lheugh » Wed Nov 16, 2022 9:52 am

SnakePlissken wrote: Wed Nov 16, 2022 9:42 am
lheugh wrote: Wed Nov 16, 2022 9:21 am There is evidence that foot position can influence calf muscle activation: turning the feet inward targets the lateral head of the gastrocnemius, whereas turning the feet outward targets the medial head, but this is a relatively modest phenomenon and of questionable practical meaningfulness from a hypertrophy perspective. Standing calf raise places the gastrocnemius under maximal stretch and maximises force output. Seated render the muscle actively insufficient and forces the soleus to take the brunt of the work.
Do you mean that seated calf raises aren't as good in general as standing or that you really need to do seated calf raises if you want to get a bigger soleus?
Primarily the latter. While standing does a better job of targeting the gastrocnemius than the seated variety it is still a perfectly viable option, albeit more ideal for the uniarticular soleus.

User avatar
quikky
Registered User
Posts: 1424
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2018 7:42 am

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2943

Post by quikky » Thu Nov 17, 2022 8:02 pm

ChasingCurls69 wrote: Tue Nov 15, 2022 9:59 pm@quikky do you have a reference video for these? I'm having trouble picturing it.
Well, look at the coincidence on this, Andy Baker just posted a video of himself doing them exactly like this:

Travis
Registered User
Posts: 382
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 7:41 pm
Location: Florida
Age: 49

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2944

Post by Travis » Sat Nov 26, 2022 10:00 am

Anybody else have arm/hand nerve pain/tingles from the SSB?

I have a history of nerve issues with my hands, but recently I’ve got some tingling running down the inside of my arms after SSB squats.

janoycresva
Registered User
Posts: 151
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2021 1:14 am

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2945

Post by janoycresva » Sat Nov 26, 2022 3:45 pm

Travis wrote: Sat Nov 26, 2022 10:00 am Anybody else have arm/hand nerve pain/tingles from the SSB?

I have a history of nerve issues with my hands, but recently I’ve got some tingling running down the inside of my arms after SSB squats.
Do you feel any of this above the elbow, or is it all strictly below the elbow? Is it on the pinky side of your hand?

I have something similar due to ulnar nerve compression if I hold my elbows at an acute angle for too long, maybe the way you’re holding the handles is creating a similar effect.

Travis
Registered User
Posts: 382
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2018 7:41 pm
Location: Florida
Age: 49

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2946

Post by Travis » Sat Nov 26, 2022 6:25 pm

janoycresva wrote: Sat Nov 26, 2022 3:45 pm
Travis wrote: Sat Nov 26, 2022 10:00 am Anybody else have arm/hand nerve pain/tingles from the SSB?

I have a history of nerve issues with my hands, but recently I’ve got some tingling running down the inside of my arms after SSB squats.
Do you feel any of this above the elbow, or is it all strictly below the elbow? Is it on the pinky side of your hand?

I have something similar due to ulnar nerve compression if I hold my elbows at an acute angle for too long, maybe the way you’re holding the handles is creating a similar effect.
Above the elbow some, but it does run down to my pinkies. I’ll try holding out by the plates next time I squat & see if that helps. It probably will since it was too simple for me to think of myself.

Thanks for helping me look for horses instead of zebras

ChasingCurls69
Registered User
Posts: 1511
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2017 1:43 am

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2947

Post by ChasingCurls69 » Sat Nov 26, 2022 7:36 pm

Travis wrote: Sat Nov 26, 2022 10:00 am Anybody else have arm/hand nerve pain/tingles from the SSB?

I have a history of nerve issues with my hands, but recently I’ve got some tingling running down the inside of my arms after SSB squats.
Yeah, I get that from pushing on the handles too hard with a really closed elbow. It can happen to me on normie squats too.

James
Registered User
Posts: 1275
Joined: Wed Jun 05, 2019 5:26 am

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2948

Post by James » Tue Nov 29, 2022 8:19 am

Think you could substitute a mouth guard with a mouthful of haribo gummies?

Edit: New product idea. Edible mouth guards for strongman.

GeoffBUK
Registered User
Posts: 74
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2021 8:07 am
Location: Darlington UK
Age: 46

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2949

Post by GeoffBUK » Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:45 pm

The training camp Hardgainer/HIT that I followed years ago always pushed the idea that training when sick lowers immunity and makes minor illness worse, some sources now seem to hold a different opinion so.... Snots/aching/cold etc a reason not to train? My gut feeling is it'll 'knock the shit' out of me and I should rest, but cleverer men than me say different so, I dunno...

OverheadDeadlifts
Registered User
Posts: 201
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2018 12:13 pm

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2950

Post by OverheadDeadlifts » Tue Nov 29, 2022 11:12 pm

GeoffBUK wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:45 pm The training camp Hardgainer/HIT that I followed years ago always pushed the idea that training when sick lowers immunity and makes minor illness worse, some sources now seem to hold a different opinion so.... Snots/aching/cold etc a reason not to train? My gut feeling is it'll 'knock the shit' out of me and I should rest, but cleverer men than me say different so, I dunno...
I came down with a cold yesterday. I think if you really want to train, a cold shouldn’t stop you. Even the flu is doable but definitely not fun.

I’ve actually had some fantastic training sessions with a cold. You end up resting more, sleeping more, sometimes eating more calories and taking painkillers. All of that combined can lead to very good performance in the gym despite the cold symptoms.

User avatar
broseph
High Fiber
Posts: 4897
Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2017 6:11 am
Location: West Michigan
Age: 41

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2951

Post by broseph » Wed Nov 30, 2022 4:24 am

OverheadDeadlifts wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 11:12 pm
GeoffBUK wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:45 pm The training camp Hardgainer/HIT that I followed years ago always pushed the idea that training when sick lowers immunity and makes minor illness worse, some sources now seem to hold a different opinion so.... Snots/aching/cold etc a reason not to train? My gut feeling is it'll 'knock the shit' out of me and I should rest, but cleverer men than me say different so, I dunno...
I came down with a cold yesterday. I think if you really want to train, a cold shouldn’t stop you. Even the flu is doable but definitely not fun.

I’ve actually had some fantastic training sessions with a cold. You end up resting more, sleeping more, sometimes eating more calories and taking painkillers. All of that combined can lead to very good performance in the gym despite the cold symptoms.
Pretty sure pseudoephedrine is a banned substance in competition, so you can pretend you’re on a super special stimulant too.

User avatar
CheekiBreekiFitness
Registered User
Posts: 684
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2022 3:46 am

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2952

Post by CheekiBreekiFitness » Wed Nov 30, 2022 4:33 am

GeoffBUK wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:45 pm The training camp Hardgainer/HIT that I followed years ago always pushed the idea that training when sick lowers immunity and makes minor illness worse, some sources now seem to hold a different opinion so.... Snots/aching/cold etc a reason not to train? My gut feeling is it'll 'knock the shit' out of me and I should rest, but cleverer men than me say different so, I dunno...
Honestly I love Hardgainer/HIT/Heavy Duty/Abbreviated training/Mentzer inspired gurus because they're like a compass pointing south: always take their advice and do the exact opposite. Works all the time.

All jokes aside why not train when you're sick ? Assuming that you're not terribly sick and that you want to train, my broscientific approach is that I'll just get my ass to the gym and then warm up. And almost every single I'll feel fine and would be able to train. Maybe I'd do less sets and a bit less weight but I'm still training.

Now to be fair I think I'm addicted to lifting weights so it depends. I think it's not a big deal either way.

User avatar
SnakePlissken
Registered User
Posts: 876
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:22 am
Age: 29

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2953

Post by SnakePlissken » Wed Nov 30, 2022 5:02 am

GeoffBUK wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:45 pm The training camp Hardgainer/HIT that I followed years ago always pushed the idea that training when sick lowers immunity and makes minor illness worse, some sources now seem to hold a different opinion so.... Snots/aching/cold etc a reason not to train? My gut feeling is it'll 'knock the shit' out of me and I should rest, but cleverer men than me say different so, I dunno...
Agreed with everyone else about minor illness like a cold, but if you have anything harder coming up I'd recommend just taking a few rest days. I got a nasty sinus infection earlier this year and on the day I was starting to feel better I lifted pretty heavy and that night and the following day it came back with a vengeance and I remember just trying to chew food shot sharp pain up the side of my head. Antibiotics knocked it out, but I think if I had just taken a few days off I probably was over the hill enough that my body would've fought it off alone.

dw
Registered User
Posts: 1500
Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2020 1:35 pm

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2954

Post by dw » Wed Nov 30, 2022 5:52 am

I've always worked out with my colds and never regretted it. Not sure about the flu.

User avatar
Hanley
Strength Nerd
Posts: 8747
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 6:35 pm
Age: 46

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2955

Post by Hanley » Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:08 am

GeoffBUK wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:45 pm My gut feeling is it'll 'knock the shit' out of me and I should rest, but cleverer men than me say different so, I dunno...
I swear that I've experienced some of my highest rates of strength gain in the rebound to health after flu if I've slogged through training sessions while sick* (super, super light hypertrophy to high fatigue).

Pretty sure it's all mental and total bullshit, but the delusion helps me reframe illness as opportunity and produces placebo-gains, so I'll take it and will continue to train while ill.

* not during the one or two days of acute awfulness (the intense aches, chills, etc).

User avatar
Hardartery
Registered User
Posts: 3107
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2020 6:28 pm
Location: Fat City

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2956

Post by Hardartery » Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:35 am

GeoffBUK wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:45 pm The training camp Hardgainer/HIT that I followed years ago always pushed the idea that training when sick lowers immunity and makes minor illness worse, some sources now seem to hold a different opinion so.... Snots/aching/cold etc a reason not to train? My gut feeling is it'll 'knock the shit' out of me and I should rest, but cleverer men than me say different so, I dunno...
I never had any issue training through low level stuff. If I was really sick no, but that usually had more to do with my balance being messed up or something. If I could walk around but was sniffly or something no problem. I never got the boost that @Hanley mentions, but I would do it purely on principal based on @CheekiBreekiFitness comment. If that group are anti something, I am 100% in favour.

User avatar
Allentown
Likes Beer
Posts: 9981
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 8:41 am
Location: Grindville, West MI. Pop: 2 Gainzgoblins
Age: 40

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2957

Post by Allentown » Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:40 am

GeoffBUK wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:45 pm The training camp Hardgainer/HIT that I followed years ago always pushed the idea that training when sick lowers immunity and makes minor illness worse, some sources now seem to hold a different opinion so.... Snots/aching/cold etc a reason not to train? My gut feeling is it'll 'knock the shit' out of me and I should rest, but cleverer men than me say different so, I dunno...
Pretty sure exercise triggers a slight boost to immune response as well.
Depends on the contact with the public, but train if you can, do what you can when you train.

User avatar
DCR
Registered User
Posts: 3410
Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2019 11:06 am
Location: Louisiana / New York
Age: 45

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2958

Post by DCR » Wed Nov 30, 2022 7:35 am

This was sure timely.

Fine, I’ll train today. Maybe.

Cough.

GeoffBUK
Registered User
Posts: 74
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2021 8:07 am
Location: Darlington UK
Age: 46

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2959

Post by GeoffBUK » Wed Nov 30, 2022 10:08 am

Thanks for all the feedback! Appreciate it, so , I did a session in my garage, first day of feeling shity today woke up wheezy and snotty, didn't do lots, but got what I wanted done, hopefully a hot soak and early night and I'll be right,

@CheekiBreekiFitness , @Hardartery , I swear I used to get sick a lot more often training to failure (or as close as I could tolerate on leg work) , but since I've been doing lower fatigue with more volume I'm pretty rarely sick, maybe 15 months since my last cold, maybe that's why those guys don't recommend training when sick, either way the gains on Hardgainer/ obsessed with recovery/overtraining type routines were next to zero!

FredM
Registered User
Posts: 728
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2018 9:17 am
Age: 36

Re: Stupid Questions Thread

#2960

Post by FredM » Wed Nov 30, 2022 12:04 pm

Allentown wrote: Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:40 am
GeoffBUK wrote: Tue Nov 29, 2022 9:45 pm The training camp Hardgainer/HIT that I followed years ago always pushed the idea that training when sick lowers immunity and makes minor illness worse, some sources now seem to hold a different opinion so.... Snots/aching/cold etc a reason not to train? My gut feeling is it'll 'knock the shit' out of me and I should rest, but cleverer men than me say different so, I dunno...
Pretty sure exercise triggers a slight boost to immune response as well.
Depends on the contact with the public, but train if you can, do what you can when you train.
It's kinda like cutting hard. You want to lower the intensity and volume but it's good for you.

I had the worst case of RSV in my life (way worse than COVID -- was sick for 10 days) and training was one of the few ways I could get myself to cough up the flem from my lungs (which is essential to recovery).

It also makes you more tired, and the more sleep the better when sick.

Definitely wouldn't give up exercise when sick. Just take it easier.

Post Reply