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Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: Never1AShow on April 23, 2015, 08:15:56 PM

Title: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Never1AShow on April 23, 2015, 08:15:56 PM
Shouldn't this be the goal?  Maintain or build or whatever it is you want to do as quickly and efficiently as possible?  If you are happy with your physique and could maintain it working out only two days a week would you?
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: calfzilla on April 23, 2015, 08:17:37 PM
I guess it depends how much you enjoy working out.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Rambone on April 23, 2015, 08:22:17 PM
I have a massive erection
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Brixtonbulldog on April 23, 2015, 08:43:10 PM
I have a massive erection

it's the pleats. 

it's actually an optical illusion.

don't act like you're not impressed.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Never1AShow on April 23, 2015, 09:08:42 PM
I guess it depends how much you enjoy working out.

If I had all the time in the world and no responsibilities or commitments like many years ago I would work out pretty much every day. 
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Julio Ceasar on April 24, 2015, 01:48:45 AM
I guess it depends how much you enjoy working out.

Guess it depends on how much you enjoy your time outside the gym and your own thoughts!

The gym is the only place where I feel ok in life...
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: dyslexic on April 24, 2015, 02:48:47 AM
Yes, who wants to spend their whole damn day every day in the gym?


Oh wait, this is a bodybuilding forum....


When you have appreciable muscle mass and you've been working out your whole life, and you have single- digit bodyfat.. what's the point?


Work out as little as possible: Maintain.


No selfies... like everyone else is doing every damn minute for IG and FB.... as if...
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Bosch on April 24, 2015, 03:03:04 AM
Shouldn't this be the goal?  Maintain or build or whatever it is you want to do as quickly and efficiently as possible?  If you are happy with your physique and could maintain it working out only two days a week would you?

Humans have limited amount of energy for a day and should choose carefully how to spend it.
Throwing it all in moving weights is one of the stupidest things an individual could do.
If you have chosen a life of cattle produced for slaughter at least don't call it living the dream.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Bosch on April 24, 2015, 03:13:43 AM
The gym is the only place where I feel ok in life...

Sounds like escapism or addiction to specific metabolites, a mental illness you have to overcome.
Your gains are temporary, but you'll be dumb for life. :D
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: The Italian Lifter on April 24, 2015, 03:20:34 AM
Since I always loved to train I don't see anything bad in it or feel like escaping from something.
Also being a natty you just love to train since the real results are so few
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Powerlift66 on April 24, 2015, 04:23:22 AM
Since I always loved to train I don't see anything bad in it or feel like escaping from something.
Also being a natty you just love to train since the real results are so few

Same here, look FWD to it all day long when I'm at work... Highlight of my day...
If I worked a physical labor job, I maybe would think differently...
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Julio Ceasar on April 24, 2015, 10:04:05 AM
Sounds like escapism or addiction to specific metabolites, a mental illness you have to overcome.
Your gains are temporary, but you'll be dumb for life. :D

Yes, isn't that whats life is all about? We all do things to escape! Some meet friends, some work, some train, some get children, some fuck girls ...we need to do something in order to not get stuck in the couch doing nothing, drinking beer watch braindead series and sport.

I think training is a great choice, keep fit, looking great, meet new people etc etc...that's not a bad life!
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: El Diablo Blanco on April 24, 2015, 10:05:34 AM
I have a massive erection

Too bad you don't live nearby
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Rambone on April 24, 2015, 12:36:35 PM
Too bad you don't live nearby

Coffee sometime?
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: The Grim Lifter on April 24, 2015, 03:46:12 PM
I only train twice a week in the gym now (do twice a week in another hard sport) and i also only do one set to failure on minimal sets. I do about 17 sets a week. My muscle hasn't dropped i actually look better with less stress on the body overall so i'm holding less fluid retention.

I think once you have trained long enough you know how to train and work the muscle, i've been training almost 20 years. I know what i can do from a few sets to failure. I could probably do more but a few years ago i burnt out and needed a few weeks off and thought fuck it i'll try doing as little as possible and see what happens and it has worked great. Originally i was doing a few less sets and added some in i needed.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: oldtimer1 on April 24, 2015, 04:20:51 PM
If one set to failure was only 90% good as 5 sets an exercise why would you spend all that time in the gym? Many HIT gurus will say one set to failure is the most effective way you can train but I'm not debating that here. I change the way I work out constantly but this is my current chest workout.  No warm ups listed and many exercises I don't do any because the previous exercise was enough warm up.

Barbell bench 1 set to failure
Incline bench 1 set to failure
flat flies         1 set to failure
Push ups       1 set to failure
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Army of One on April 24, 2015, 04:41:53 PM
I think just once a week would maintain most folks who have maxed out NATURALLY

3x squat
3x deadlift
3x bench
3x row
1x lateral raise
1x curl
1x tricep pushdown

Last set of each done to failure
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Bosch on April 24, 2015, 04:58:15 PM
Yes, isn't that whats life is all about? We all do things to escape! Some meet friends, some work, some train, some get children, some fuck girls ...we need to do something in order to not get stuck in the couch doing nothing, drinking beer watch braindead series and sport.

I was talking about moderate approach to training and routing your energy into something more intellectual. Physical activity does stimulate only a part of the brain responsible for controlling your body. A human brain neurons are dying while we age, but if training takes a big part of your life and energy, then less used parts of the brain will atrophy at faster rate. Basically, at average, if you dedicate your life to moving weights (or any physical training), you'll be qualifed braindead much sooner than your friend who likes to read. There are a lot of living examples in professional sport, just listen how many of them struggle to connect words in an interview and what exactly they are speaking. : )

I think training is a great choice, keep fit, looking great, meet new people etc etc...that's not a bad life!

Maybe it's not a bad life, but it depends on how to look at it. Maybe it's lifetime achievement for someone when BayBGM looks upon him as a new sexual toy to play with.
My point is that looking great and fit doesn't require heavy lifting or many hours in the gym, all you need is to maintain healthy diet and regularity in training.

I only train twice a week in the gym now (do twice a week in another hard sport) and i also only do one set to failure on minimal sets. I do about 17 sets a week. My muscle hasn't dropped i actually look better with less stress on the body overall so i'm holding less fluid retention.

The same goes for me, three 1-hour trainings a week, no heavy weights anymore. Feel myself better than ever and look the same as when I was working out my ass off.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: f450 on April 24, 2015, 06:25:39 PM
I think just once a week would maintain most folks who have maxed out NATURALLY

3x squat
3x deadlift
3x bench
3x row
1x lateral raise
1x curl
1x tricep pushdown

Last set of each done to failure

I would not advise anyone to squat to failure. That is a terrible idea.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Army of One on April 24, 2015, 06:27:07 PM
I would not advise anyone to squat to failure. That is a terrible idea.

I'm not talking squatting to failure with 2-3 reps, obviously higher rep range.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Mr Anabolic on April 24, 2015, 06:31:31 PM
I think just once a week would maintain most folks who have maxed out NATURALLY

3x squat
3x deadlift
3x bench
3x row
1x lateral raise
1x curl
1x tricep pushdown

Last set of each done to failure

Did a very similar workout for about 6 months while an injury was healing.  Works very well for maintenance.  
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Never1AShow on April 24, 2015, 07:23:31 PM
There is an efficiency aspect here also.  I don't believe in doing more than is necessary for no reason.  This is part of why I hate Cross Fit.  A whole lot of frenetic activity not concentrated toward and particular goal.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: flinstones1 on April 24, 2015, 08:52:04 PM
I have recently cut my workouts back to 30-45 minutes and have noticed an increase in strength. Problem is you dont really feel good working out until an hour in haha, the first thirty minutes are always the shittiest
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: ritch on April 24, 2015, 09:12:52 PM
I'm more for 40ish min trainings now but more often. The metabolic effect is way better. On 2 trainings a week, you will soften up a lot on the same diet.

Can still keep strength on 2 a week, maintain, but not for too long.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: SF1900 on April 24, 2015, 09:24:40 PM
Too bad you don't live nearby

x2
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: SF1900 on April 24, 2015, 09:33:38 PM
Personally, I think I could maintain my physique working out 2 days a week, but why would I? I really enjoy going to the gym. Its fun. I am nowhere near a big guy, but sometimes Ill train for weeks straight with no rest days. My workouts usually last from 45-90 minutes. I mean, what else would I be doing in the mean time? Probably nothing too exciting. Most of us just go to work or school, go home, either spend time with the children or wife, or if you're single, maybe go on a date or whatever. Anyway, I figure there are a lot worst ways to spend your time.

I figure any time you're investing time in yourself, its a good thing. I am still a social person and have friends and family, etc. I guess its all about how you balance your time.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Radical Plato on April 24, 2015, 09:42:28 PM
I don't understand wanting to work out less.  Anyone who is thinking like this should consider taking up something else maybe.  I love training, I cycle, hike, lift weights, calisthenics, walk, run, swim and I constantly improve in some aspect, either my physique or my performance. I work out most days and take time off as needed or alter intensity as required. If you eat good wholesome foods all the time you should be able to handle training at least 5 days a week, as long as you aren't following some steroid head's workout routine.

Now, if you under train or over train or train in a way that doesn't suit your personality then you may dislike training, this isn't a sign you should train less, but tweak the way you work out to suit you.  Your body and mind should be thanking you for working out, not wanting you to train less.  If you are thinking like this you are doing something wrong.  Working out should enhance your life, not detract from it.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Army of One on April 24, 2015, 09:50:49 PM
I don't understand wanting to work out less.  Anyone who is thinking like this should consider taking up something else maybe.  I love training, I cycle, hike, lift weights, calisthenics, walk, run, swim and I constantly improve in some aspect, either my physique or my performance. I work out most days and take time off as needed or alter intensity as required. If you eat good wholesome foods all the time you should be able to handle training at least 5 days a week, as long as you aren't following some steroid head's workout routine.

Now, if you under train or over train or train in a way that doesn't suit your personality then you may dislike training, this isn't a sign you should train less, but tweak the way you work out to suit you.  Your body and mind should be thanking you for working out, not wanting you to train less.  If you are thinking like this you are doing something wrong.  Working out should enhance your life, not detract from it.

Life is all about doing everything in the optimum amount of time, I don't see the point in training 5-6 days a week when I wont see any difference from 3.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: SF1900 on April 24, 2015, 09:51:48 PM
Life is all about doing everything in the optimum amount of time, I don't see the point in training 5-6 days a week when I wont see any difference from 3.

you don't enjoy training enough to do it more, even if the results will be minimal?
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Army of One on April 24, 2015, 09:56:53 PM
you don't enjoy training enough to do it more, even if the results will be minimal?

Nope, I enjoy it, but more than 3 days a week isn't enjoyable for me, nor do I see better results.Something like boxing I do enjoy as much as I can do it though.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: SF1900 on April 24, 2015, 09:58:45 PM
Nope, I enjoy it, but more than 3 days a week isn't enjoyable for me, nor do I see better results.Something like boxing I do enjoy as much as I can do it though.

Then I guess its all about finding out what you REALLY enjoy and prefer to do more days than not.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: ritch on April 24, 2015, 10:14:29 PM
Nope, I enjoy it, but more than 3 days a week isn't enjoyable for me, nor do I see better results.Something like boxing I do enjoy as much as I can do it though.

do you shadow box between sets?
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Army of One on April 24, 2015, 10:16:00 PM
do you shadow box between sets?

Yes, I find the other gym goers are very impressed by it.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: ritch on April 24, 2015, 10:24:31 PM
Yes, I find the other gym goers are very impressed by it.

yes, I am one of them as well.
A few boxers skip rope at my gym and it's impressive. The guy goes on for like 20 min of crazy ass skipping.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Never1AShow on April 24, 2015, 10:59:19 PM
Nope, I enjoy it, but more than 3 days a week isn't enjoyable for me, nor do I see better results.Something like boxing I do enjoy as much as I can do it though.

If I had about 3 more hours every day I would agree with you and be in the gym more because I do enjoy it and frankly probably feel better doing it even if there isnt much of a big benefit cosmetically or strength wise.  Right now with various time commitments the gym is a much lower priority than it used to be.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Radical Plato on April 24, 2015, 11:03:54 PM
Life is all about doing everything in the optimum amount of time, I don't see the point in training 5-6 days a week when I wont see any difference from 3.
Life has nothing to do with doing things in the optimum amount of time, that's what a machine's purpose is.  Life is about making sure you use your time doing the things you want to do.  If you don't receive more benefit from training 5-6 days a week as opposed to 3 days a week, you are doing something wrong.  Training should make everything else you do outside of the gym easier.

It sounds like you don't like working out, you see it is an inconvenient intrusion on your time.  Maybe you aren't suited to such an endeavor and should find an alternative pastime, maybe try and figure out how you can manage time rather than time managing you.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Army of One on April 24, 2015, 11:07:39 PM
Life has nothing to do with doing things in the optimum amount of time, that's what a machine's purpose is.  Life is about making sure you use your time doing the things you want to do.  If you don't receive more benefit from training 5-6 days a week as opposed to 3 days a week, you are doing something wrong.  Training should make everything else you do outside of the gym easier.

It sounds like you don't like working out, you see it is an inconvenient intrusion on your time.  Maybe you aren't suited to such an endeavor and should find an alternative pastime, maybe try and figure out how you can manage time rather than time managing you.

I agree in an ideal world life is about using time to do things we want to do, but for the majority of people they spend time doing things they don't want to do, because they have to or feel they have to.In the real world my statement applies.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Radical Plato on April 24, 2015, 11:21:18 PM
I agree in an ideal world life is about using time to do things we want to do, but for the majority of people they spend time doing things they don't want to do, because they have to or feel they have to.In the real world my statement applies.
Well then such people are doomed to live miserable lives, such people need to find away out of that cycle of feeling they are out of control of their own life.  Training should be a staple that helps you to take control of your life.  If you train in a way that suits you everything should improve.  You should look better, feel better, sleep better, perform better etc, if these things aren't happening you need to take stock and make some small changes in the direction of where you want to be.  A big part of it is mental, how we perceive things, better to try and put life in perspective and focus on the more positive aspects of your life.  It is about PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION.

Sounds like you are in a rut, maybe try some achievable goals and slowly work towards them.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Primemuscle on April 24, 2015, 11:22:55 PM
I limit my workouts to 45 minutes. How many days a week I train depends on which routine I'm doing and what else is going on in my life.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Army of One on April 24, 2015, 11:45:27 PM
Well then such people are doomed to live miserable lives, such people need to find away out of that cycle of feeling they are out of control of their own life.  Training should be a staple that helps you to take control of your life.  If you train in a way that suits you everything should improve.  You should look better, feel better, sleep better, perform better etc, if these things aren't happening you need to take stock and make some small changes in the direction of where you want to be.  A big part of it is mental, how we perceive things, better to try and put life in perspective and focus on the more positive aspects of your life.  It is about PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION.

Sounds like you are in a rut, maybe try some achievable goals and slowly work towards them.

I like to be muscular, but realised I don't need to do much to be that way so I spend my time on things I enjoy more, of which there are many leisure activities I prefer to do.Lifting for a lean muscular body makes up a very small part of my life.I worked out all my goals years ago, that's why I am where I am now.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: Radical Plato on April 24, 2015, 11:58:21 PM
I like to be muscular, but realised I don't need to do much to be that way so I spend my time on things I enjoy more, of which there are many leisure activities I prefer to do.Lifting for a lean muscular body makes up a very small part of my life.I worked out all my goals years ago, that's why I am where I am now.
Fair enough.  I like training and can always come up with new goals whenever I achieve one. And because I like to work out. one of my goals is to be able to work out as much as I can comfortably handle, it ties in with my goal of wanting to be as fit and healthy as possible.  I see being able to work out regularly a sign of success, as the day will come when working out frequently becomes more challenging if not impossible.  I like to enjoy my bodies abilities while I can, just being able to work out fills me with appreciation.
Title: Re: Working out as little as possible
Post by: hench on April 25, 2015, 05:46:11 AM
Yea I've got my workouts down to around 15 mins max 4-5 times a week. It doesn't seem alot is needed to maintain as long as my workouts are intense with minimal rest.
I was spending an hour-2 hours 5 days a week on workouts not seeing gains. Now I'm happy to maintain with minimal time spent.
I'm never going to be slipping into a glitzy thong and pulling it up my crack to show striations so im much happier now I have found peace not trying to get bigger and bigger.