Out of Gym training with the Buddha

[buddhabuilder]

With the recent spike in Covid cases being reported I am already hearing about gyms, which had recently reopened, closing again for an indefinite period of time. So I'm starting this thread so we can encourage each other to find ways to challenge ourselves physically and develop our physiques regardless.

I'll keep the whole philosophical stuff to a minimum here (not completely absent, so don't call me out for the occasional reference to mindfulness) so that everyone can feel comfortable posting their training ideas or asking questions about how to hit particular body parts. (You can hop over to my Buddha in the Mix thread for unique insights and encouragement if that is something else your interested in. I try to keep it interesting.)

So here we go. Share your favorite body weight, resistance band, whatever exercises and let's support each other through the struggles.

We are on this journey, and posting on this thread, together...

 

[Topps_Baseball88]

You know I've been hearing rumors of places possibly shutting down again but nothing in the news or announced just rumors, I really hope they dont , I've been working so hard to get back into shape on my cut and I still have a good 2 months of my sarms cycle left, I'd hate to have to stop it short. Weird times we are living in

 

[GHgut4life]

I'm doing a lot of training at home. I'm doing a lot of volume like 200 push up at a run followed by 200 and squads and lunges.

 

[SteveSmi]

I absolutely love monkey bar training and pullups. great way to build up the arms and back

 

[Mobster]

It's not an issue for me. Once the neck injury is better I'll be back in my home gym.

 

[Masonic Bodybuilder]

I am lucky enough to have a home gym but I think pull ups would be my favourite body weight exercise. Now is a great time to focus on diet and getting in more cardio. I think the current situation is ideal for getting lean and putting your body in a position where it is ready to grow when all this ends.

 

[dylangemelli]

i just opened my new gym June 1st as well so there better not be any more things closing whatsoever!

 

[cbbram]

I think the current situation is ideal for getting lean and putting your body in a position where it is ready to grow when all this ends.

that's what I'm working on

 

[buddhabuilder]

Awesome to see everybody dropping in.

Yea, it sucks to think things are going in reverse, but we can support each other and stay encouraged regardless.

So a thing I realized while training with resistance bands, it's easy to do a drop set. All you have to do...I'll use one arms rows as an example;

Step away from the point resistance with arm extended like you would a straight set then move one step further away, which increases the resistance and go to failure then step in and do a set to failure. You can actually do this as a triple drop set just by moving further away and moving back slowly. I have done something similar with every body part but legs and it was great.

Check it out and let me know what you think...

I'm doing a lot of training at home. I'm doing a lot of volume like 200 push up at a run followed by 200 and squads and lunges.

I used a similar thing with legs too and was surprised by the soreness the next day...

 

[RickRock]

I have a great home setup so my workouts wont change really if the gyms close again. I just wont be able to use machines.

 

[buddhabuilder]

I remember how cold it was outside that first morning I went out and started doing push ups on the frozen ground. Now, as I check in with my physique these few months later, it's all a golden memory. A reminder of what is possible when you refuse to give up.

Feel free to post up your favorite body weight exercises to encourage the other Bros here.

 

[buddhabuilder]

Here is a more detailed approach to the drop set I mentioned earlier...

Mechanical Drop Sets using resistance bands.

Sounds complicated, right? I'll walk through doing this for Triceps (which I did this morning), but with a little imagination you can use a similar approach for every body part.

The upper arm will be next to and parallel to the torso throughout, not letting the elbow move forward, backward, or out.

Facing away from the source of the resistance, with the bands just tight, do 15 reps. Here the highest point of resistance is the bottom of the motion, where the band and the forearm are at a 90 degree angle. Then step away and turn towards the source of resistance and do 15. Here the point of maximum resistance is when your arm is fully extended, when the forearm makes a 90 degree angle with the band. And finally, take a step in - this reduces the tension of the band (decreasing the resistance) and do 15. In this last motion the point of maximum resistance is somewhere in the middle.

This exercise is awesome on cables for everything upper body, but I just attuned to it this morning with the bands and wanted to share the joy.

I'm just getting started...

 

[buddhabuilder]

I saw a post earlier asking about training ideas when gyms are closed and I referred the Bro to this thread, so I figured I'd write something to make it easier to find.

I saw someone mention body weight stuff for back so I'll post some stuff about chest, or to be more accurate - push movements.

It's easy to target different angles for chest by raising your feet up and being mindful to keep your forearms in line with the motion your pressing. So there is flat bench, decline bench, even more decline bench, and if your in the mood you can get a similar motion in for front/center deltoids (whether standing and bending far enough at the waist or with your knees up on a chair). a Push up type motion with your elbows next to the body and hands directly below the shoulders is a great Triceps motion and you can change up the angles on this too to make it interesting.

Polish it off with some good old fashioned ab crunches and there you have it.

This actually takes less energy than making excuses why you can't train and is way more fun.

Try it and tell me what you think...

 

[buddhabuilder]

Necessity being the source of invention, during the time the gyms were closed near me I discovered ways a simple extension ladder stands in for a host of back machines.

I was lucky enough to have a wooden fence near by that was about 4 feet high. I set the ladder across the corner of the fence and the fun began. By changing the angle of my body; heels on the ground or raised up on assorted objects while keeping my body straight from ankles to shoulders, I varied the width of my hands from a row, hands on same wrung, to about as far apart as I could reach. All I had to do was find something to hang from for chins and I was in for a good 16-20 sets.

I ended this by putting bricks in a bucket for a variety of curls and there you had it.

I knew I was getting back and bis and keeping the intensity up I took my cut to a whole new level.

Never give up...

 

[buddhabuilder]

Thank You Dylan. I so enjoy being part of the community and reaching out to support others has the natural effect of raising my own life condition.

The kick off for this thread was concern that gyms could be closing again and I just got word that the ones in my area will close tomorrow after only being open for a couple weeks.

Please feel free to post anything here that may help you or others keep their hopes up. Training ideas, Covid diet alternatives, meditation tips (I told you that might come up, but I'll keep it to a minimum), anything.

Reach out and be part of the positive energy.

That is what it is all about..........

 

[buddhabuilder]

I see Bros have been checking out this thread. I appreciate you taking the time out of your day and I hope these posts help you stay focused and hopeful.

Connecting with like minded individuals, here the commonality is physique development and all things physically challenging, helps support an optimistic outlook. It's like a natural anti depressant/antianxiety supplement. There is research to prove this covered in Joann Hari's book "Lost Connections", but you can just believe the Buddha or reflect on your own experiences being part of this community.

Legs have presented as a challenge for me when training outside the gym. I don't have proper workout equipment for use outside the gym, and although this has presented as an opportunity to find new ways to challenge myself, it's been even harder with legs.

But never one to give up, I found high rep walking lunges, goblet style squats holding anything I could find laying around, and calve work effective. I tried front squats holding an 8 foot length of tree in front of me...let's just say I didn't do that one again. And of course, really long hikes while maintaining a brisk pace helped keep me tight and became the foundation for the best definition I have ever had.

Don't hesitate...

 

[buddhabuilder]

You may be considering calling "bullshit" on the old saying - Some people see the door closed, while others see it as waiting to be open - when your gym is locked down. I mean, what's the option? Breaking in?...I'm not encouraging that, but it did come to mind a couple times.

Way back in March I purchased a set of resistance bands off Amazon and they have gone to good use. Topping out at 150lbs meant a lot of one arm motions, flys in particular, but I definitely got into a groove and I have no doubt I can train regardless of how the pandemic develops.

Don't wait to be given permission to train. Drop back on this thread for ideas of how you can train today and consider bands or whatever else you can get your hands on to challenge yourself.

Feel free to post up your own approaches or questions as well.

Never give up...

 

[buddhabuilder]

I just saw a post on a different site going on about, "not another thread about exercises you can do when the gyms are closed".

Perhaps they would prefer a thread complaining about how they can't train(I think I have actually seen more of those).

Sure, it is challenging, but most worthwhile things are. If anybody followed my sarms.forsale thread back towards the beginning of the pandemic (I logged their S23 which was amazing) you know I refused to give up and ended up with amazing results.

This is your chance...

 

[Mobster]

I had some new plates finally arrive yesterday.