The Official Gym & Fitness Thread

Had 3 days off from the gym. My brachioradialius on both my arms has been locking up uncontrollably... Such a bitch. Not sure if you guys have ever experienced this, but it generally occrs after a heavy back day for me, but on the minor. Well after a few heavy back days (2x a week) it caught up to me and they finally got so pissed off it was time to take a break.

Had deep tissue massage with my regular lady and she beat the piss out of them. They feel insanely better today, so I guess we will see how the workout goes today. My guess from a buddy of mine who's a PT said it could be due to my low sodium intake and with high amounts of water I flushed out any electrolytes and fell into low sodium ranges called hyponatremia. I dunno. Been salt loading now, so guess we gonna find out soon.

 

I used to workout with an ortho surgeon before I moved. He was a competitive body builder and he helped me on leg days after I hurt my hip and quit squats and deads.

I started getting muscles ceasing up on me and it was crazy because I didn’t feel it until I tried to use the muscle or if I touched that body part to something. Usually it was in my legs and calves. If I rested my leg against something OMG it hurt.

He told me he was concerned about a sodium and potassium defieciency since I eat virtually no processed foods and drink over a gallon of water per day.

I have started putting more salt in my seasonings on things I cook and salt my food more. Its really helped. I also try to get more potatoes (potassium).

I know you eat a pretty solid whole foods diet so a sodium issue is believable.
I hope its something easy like that.

 

Thanks for sharing your story. I am happy (but not happy lol) that someone can relate. That ceasing sensation is horrible. Like I said I get baby ones here and there. but at 11:30pm dead asleep that last one hit me HARD. Feeling good today, and seasoned my food this week way harder. reduced a bit of water this weekend too and kept sodium higher to recomp. I agree in hopes that is just sodium. Back to normal regimen of water, but extra salts on the foods.

 

If you drink something while lifting add salt to it.
Orange juice or the orange Emergen-C tastes good with some salt. Thats a way to add a bit extra into your diet.

If it doesn’t give you relief in a week or so you may also try potassium and magnesium suppliments.

It took me about a week or two for it to go away.

You aren’t an artificial sweetener consumer are you?

 

Mainly the only artificial sweeteners I consume are in most likely my pre workout and protein. I do drink the mio flavor sweeteners few times a week. I wouldn't say I am over consuming these though.

 

I like using stevia as a sweetener for my oatmeal. Also since I’m from Maryland, old bay is king and I use that shit almost daily, so that helps with the sodium

 

My Dad gets severe muscle cramping and has to take Na, K, and Mg supplements for that. Everything he drinks is artificially sweetened. They chelate Ca, K, and Mg from the body.
I figured you werent a heavy consumer.

 

Honey is my all around sweetener

 

Sure thats not @Newlife ?

 

On a scale of 1 to 10, how sore are you guys after leg day?

Lately I can’t walk right for two days lol

 

Depends. If I do a new excersize... it’s literal hell.

If I do the same ole routine, not that bad.

 

This cracked me up.

 

Back day it’s slowly becoming one of my favorites as my back gets wider and makes my waist look slim.

Thinking pull downs, bent over rows, a little dumbbell action, and a straight arm cable. Tricep action in between em as super sets. Pull up/close arm push ups as a finisher.

 

I’ve been doing a lot of full ROM exercises. I think its the lunges that are really getting me. Hams and glutes are killin me.
I probably need to hot tub tonight.

 

So...arm day?

 

Not if you focus and isolate your muscles

 

In what way are you isolating any part of your back with “dumbbell action,” “tricep action,” and “close arm push ups.”

You did like 2 back movements in your workout

 

Lat pulls downs, straight arm pull downs, rows, and pull ups are pretty solid back exercises.

I’m not a fan of isolation exercises as... thats not how your body works in everday life. Plus isolation exercises are less effecient for strength gains and calorie burn.

Chest, back, shoulders, and legs shouldn’t be worked in ways that don’t require core or arm strength.
Like Wendler always says if you are doing 40lb bicep curls on back day... you put a shitty effort in your back day.

What would your idea of an ideal back day?

Rows and pull ups are my favs.

 

If I do lunges, I am always sore for the next couple days. Most exercises don't get me, but them lunges... they suck! But, that's why I do them at least 2x a month. Heavy wide stance squats get me pretty sore too.