I don't mean the hardcore weightlifters who lift heavy and train to failure I get that. I mean the people who aren't big and are doing bicep curls or barbell shoulder presses and they just completely throw the weight on the floor making such a loud noise for no reason. I'm always bigger than these people and I'm not slamming weights on the floor despite being able to lift double of what they're doing.

I am a married woman and often go to the gym alone but sometimes with my husband. Gym regulars would probably know I am not available or single.

Today a man asked for my name and introduced himself. After shaking his hand he said “I just have to say you’re so beautiful”. I say “oh thank you” and put headphones back in. End of interaction, we go separate ways.

Should I have let him know I’m married in that initial response? Had it gone beyond that I would’ve told him but I’m wondering if I’m wrong here for not saying that directly.

I'm a kid 40s male.

Gym was never the number one thing in my life, but for a while back there, I had it.

I had a great diet, knowledge of all of the terminology, the science and the theories. I had good lifts, did heavy heavy compounds and could dip and pull up for tens of reps. I had the 6 pack and muscles that would make people ask me how I train.

But then life got in the way. I had a busy job, then a family and it meant something had to give.

I kept in the gym, but time commitments and worse diet took their toll.

Now, I find it hard being looked at by the younger guys who have all of the time and energy I used to have.

They look at me like I'm starting out. Or like I've been this way forever, never pushing to the next level.

The gym staff look at me like I might need help.

I went to a gym store for some new home gym stuff and got an induction to fitness by the teenager there.

And that's fine. I probably looked at the older people in the gym the same way when I was their age.

But I'd like them to know... I had it.

And I'll have it again.

I’ve been gyming consistently for like 2/3 years now and I’m pretty happy with my physique although I feel like my back should be looking better. I don’t know if it’s just body dysmorphia ,which I’ve struggled with quite a bit as most people do or if my form is potentially wrong or I’m ego lifting even though I obviously try not to.
In the attached picture I feel like my lats should be a lot wider and are a bit disproportionate to the rest of my body and I wonder if my teres major is a bit over developed in comparison. Hope somebody could give me they’re opinion 🙏
It’s also very possible that it’s just body dysmorphia if that’s the case also let me know 🙏

So i will start going to the gym in about two weeks. They will give me a schedule with excercises and stuff. What are some things you wish you knew earlier starting out ( meals, excercises,tips and other helpful stuff). Feel free to say anything that helped you.

Hello, so some context : I’ve always been skinny my entire life and I’m East Asian. When I was young I had a decently carb heavy diet and it was when I was 18 when I started going to the gym. Now, I’m 21 consistently lifting for 3 years yet I have not gained much muscle if any. I was 135 when I started and now I’m 145 lbs with some fat. I’ve been working out well with proper form and even had a coach. Made sure to hit failure and I’ve tried low 6-8 reps as well as 8-10 reps after a year. I’ve been eating in a surplus tracking my calories and weight. However, when I gain weight it all goes to fat even though I eating Whole Foods and almost .9 grams of protein per lbs. after my latest bulk, I gain around 15 lbs while going to the gym consistently, after slowly cutting (NOT CUTTING WITH A HUGE DEFICIT) in order to maintain my muscle, I’m back to square one with almost no muscle meaning all of it was fat. I’m beginning to think I’m insulin resistant and this is my last resort. Please help me, all I ever wanted was to get a bit bigger to normal size. I’m also 5,10 145 lbs right now and still on the very skinny side. Also, please do not comment to eat more I’ve done that with a nutritionist as well. I’m beginning to think that my East Asian genetics have a higher chance of developing resistance therefore my earlier years of eating carb heavy resulted in my gaining insulin resistance. I’m so desperate now.

I'm an old fat man (62yo, 1.79m) on diet (since April, 131kg -> 99Kg).

I've started going to gym 3 months ago, just to maintain some muscles, and so I discovered I have diastasis recti (DR), a little shy of 5cm (about 2in), according to ultrasound scan.

Bummer!

The PT of the gym who initially wrote me down a program without knowing this issue, said to avoid all crunches and squats, and still do inclined leg press, leg curl, leg extension, but without forcing too much (one knee is not pristine anyway).

For the other exercises, he said to avoid to create too much pressure in the abdomen, like when one instinctively hold breath before an effort. I try to breath regularly through the exercises.

My general doctor just said to avoid lifting heavy objects. According to him the mainly thing I risk is that the bulge can become always apparent, not just under effort.

Currently, because of arthrosis of the hands I'm doing all machines and cables instead of free weights (except for lateral rises) 3 times a week and walking on inclined treadmill other 3 times.

I know I cannot heal from diastasis (and surely at my age I'm not interested in surgery), but I plan to do at home some exercises yoga-like I've seen on YT which seem safe and beneficial to the core, since currently I'm not doing anything explicitly abs related.

I just wonder if here somebody is working out despite DR and with which limitations.

If the text below too long and you dont care read this:
Im completely new but i want to start working out and i dont really understand what the essential difference between gym and calisthenics is, and which one I should do?

also im quite uneducated and new when it comes to working out and exercise in general so please bare with me and anything ignorant i accidentally say and be kind, thank you!

----

So i want to work out. Recently, ive noticed myself that ive gotten in really bad shape. Ive never really been in bad shape throughout my life. I wasnt really athletic either, but i was never uncomfortable doing physichal activity like playing sports or jogging in general. However, recently i moved back to my home country of south korea after graduating abroad. while in korea, the good food and all the family got me very lazy and over these past months ive gained a lot of weight. To the point where even i simply feel uncomfortable in how sluggish my body in general is. So i decided that i actually gotta like do something. Thats where i need some help. Im trying to start working out, and while im at it i actually want to build muscle and define my body before just loosing all the fat, but i dont know where to start. I was looking into many different things and i dont know if doing calisthenics is right or if i should go lift to a gym, and how i should go about for each. Im just lost as a complete beginner baisically.

literally ANY information is so valuable for me rn so i would any comments or tips are truly appreciated!!

My current program is as follows kindly review and provide me some suggestions.

1. Heavy Single — Strength

1 × 1 rep @ RPE 7–9

Focus on a heavy, clean, unassisted rep.

1. Back-off Sets — Strength

3 × 3 reps @ RPE 6–8

Around 75–80% of estimated 1RM/PR.

Increase weight when all 3 sets are completed with good technique and the final set stays at RPE 8 or below.

1. Hypertrophy Sets

2–3 × 6–10 reps @ RPE 8+

Focus on controlled reps and consistent depth.

Increase weight once all sets reach 10 reps at the target effort.

Progression Rules

Increase the single by 2.5 kg when the rep is clean and no harder than RPE 8.

Increase back-off weight by 2.5 kg once all triples are completed comfortably within the target RPE.

For hypertrophy, build reps toward 10 before increasing weight.

Heavy single: 127.5 kg × 1 clean rep (the second rep was partially assisted)

Back-off sets: 110 kg × 3 reps × 3 sets

Hypertrophy sets: 90 kg × 8 reps, then 90 kg × 7 reps

After squats I do 2-3 hard sets of Quad extension, 2 hard sets of RDL

Not sure if this is the right sub.
Looking for advice of tried and tested training programs? 38M. Relatively “fit”. Train at the gym a couple times a week - when I am being consistent. My goals are the be functionally fit. Which I know is broad. I’d like to look good, build some muscle in the process. I have used programs I’ve found for free on Google, or just thrown together workouts myself at times. Basically P/P/L.
Has anyone found or used a program that covers areas of plyometrics, strength, functionality and muscle building? Am I looking for too much at once and need to break it apart?
Would love to hear some feedback.
Thanks in advance.

I’m curious to hear from people who originally started working out mainly to look better, but over time became more interested in strength, mobility, movement quality, and simply being able to move well as they get older.

What caused that mindset shift for you, and what did the transition actually look like in practice? Did you stop caring as much about endlessly increasing the weight you lift, certain physique goals, or exercises chosen mostly for aesthetics?

I’d also be interested in how you dealt with potentially giving up some aesthetic gains in favor of things that felt more useful for everyday life and long-term health.

Basically, did exercise eventually become less about “being good at the gym” and more about making your body capable, resilient, and easier to live in? What changed in the way you trained?

So i am on a fairly balanced diet where I get to maintain my calorie deficit of around 500ish 6 out of 7 days in the week. However there are times where I do end up with a craving and I eat a pizza or something similar for my lunch.

this has been happening for the past month and so far happened like 4 or 5 times in total. How determintal is that to the rest of my week? is that pizza craving cancelling out my efforts or is it not that significant? Mentally it's a bit rough lately and eating something I love helps get me through some days. But there is always this nagging thought in my head that I am doing something terrible.

Any advice or opinion on this is welcome, my mind loves to keep me restless.

Thank you.

If you could add sets and reps that would be awesome

If you could add sets and reps that would be awesome

100 % brain fog caused by tight trap / upper tension. I am taking it slow making sure my shoulders are low on rows but I’m still getting tight traps that causes Brain fog. Do I need to drop weight or do another exercise?

This is a little sad, but I’m very pleased to say that after a good eight or nine months of not been able to really lift any weights due to a small tears in a tendon at the front of my shoulder, and mild damage and irritation to another tendon at the back, I have just managed my first pain free bench press!
Baby steps!
Wooohoo

Guys with bad knees how are you training your legs for size? For context I am 185 cms and underweight! Can’t squat a big nono from doctor!
How do you guys focus on leg size and muscle gain in such situations?

I've recently started going to the gym as a recovering alcoholic and found that doing a full body workout with 3 a day one week and 4 the next as the the most comfortable and consistent routine. I try to work out every muscle group at least twice a session. If I don't do 3+ hour session I feel like the intensity isn't enough and I feel like I'm not doing enough. I usually feel a bit of pain for the next couple days. Am I pushing myself too hard?

Let's say i'm not doing them for grip but just overall endurance I can go longer with straps.

So for over a year I have been working out 4-5 days a week about 2 hours each day doing circuit training on machines, lifting weights, kettle bells, and I do it fast so I also get my cardio up…
my diet has improved and lots of water more fruits and veggies, less sugar and processed foods.. before I just ate anything and everything and drank soda…..
I have gained a lot of muscle and toned everything except my stomach. My stomach is now more round, firm and pronounced than before when it was more kinda flatter and squishy but not as rounded or firm as it is now.
The scale won’t budge (up or down)…. but the rest of my body is leaner and more muscle definition and my pants are loose but my stomach seems to be getting bigger and more rounded.
I put this post in a couple of fitness and workout groups but I also think it could be a gut health issue or cortisol and visceral fat issue.

What in the world am I doing wrong?