just wanted to thank everyone that offered advice on my weightlifting/shoulder problem.

i started doing shoulder shrugs with a barbell @ 205-225 pounds, military press which i find to be pretty hard to get used to so ive only been doing @ 115 pounds, for 4 sets of 6-8, and doing that excersize where you put one knee on a flat bench, supporting yourself with your hand on the bench and with the other arm lifting a dumbbell up towards your chest.

my certain pain is gone from my shoulder now, but from doing all these new excersizes my shoulders sure are sore!!!

 

Would you happen to know a good exercise to makes your legs stronger. It seems that if I get down to work on something on the floor, my legs don't like getting me back up again. It is like they are too stiff.

 

Be careful with those weights. I over did it and am now facing surgery for an inquinal hernia. Tried to do too much too fast. Thought it wouldn't happen to me.

 

wish i could answer your question really well, but my legs excersize consists only of- calf extensions- when you are holding dumbells or or have a machine resting weight on your shoulders, you just lift up with your toes basically. also i do some running/jogging on a treadmill, and they get a workout when im working, dragging brush out of peoples yards or pushing a wheelbarrow with wood in it.

i too have that hesitation though if im down for a long time, like changing a tire or something.

 

Hi guys, I was wondering how much you all can bench press. Personally, I can bench 360 pounds. I hope to get to 400 some day!!!!

 

If I can lift a 4 speed toploader, I figure I am doing good.

 

the best leg exersize there is is squats, and lunges are good for the hamstrings.

 

Bronco351- ive been lifting for almost a year off and on, im 21, 6'1" 185 pounds or so, and can bench 250. im hoping to be @ 300 -350 within the next year.

 

What is that, a washing machine?

 

That would be a 3 speed toploader. I thought that squats are bad for your knees? And what the heck is a lunge? Sounds like a bayonet exercise to me.

 

Actually, les extensions put more stress on your knees than squats, I have some magazine articles around here somewhere that resershed the whole thing. To do a lunge you hold a dumbell in each hand or a barbell on your back as if to do a squat. You step forward with with one foot leaving your other foot in place. Slowly bend your knee on forward leg untill your thigh is parallel to the floor not bending your knee past 90 degrees then push back up to a standing position.

 

Be careful with those lunges. You'll feel like you can do a bunch of them, but the next day you'll be so sore you won't be able to walk normally. Squats are only dangerous if you let your thighs get below parallel to the deck. You can also hurt your back very easily if your form isn't just right. You'll almost definitely get some bruises around your shoulders from the bar- even if you use a pad. You should bever do squats without a lifting partner for two reasons: 1) they can ensure you use good form, and 2) they can help you up if you can't get that last rep.

I'm 38 years old and the most I've ever benched was 255- two reps. I am still hoping to get three hundred, and my ultimate goal is to do it the day I retire from the military- I'll be 43.

STU

 

Just throwing my 2 cents in here....
I am now 41 years old. I am now - I believe - paying the price for going overboard when I was younger.
Back about 18-19 years ago, I buddied up with a guy at the gym. We both enjoyed doing squats and started working heavier and heavier.
I topped out at best of 455lbs (full squat). I weighed about 185-190 at the time. We used knee wraps for the heavy stuff.
I now suffer from both knees having the protective layer on the back of the patella worn away. Pretty much bone-on-bone now. Also, some degree of miniscual tears in both knees.
I regret doing what I did.
I'm sure there are guys who can do squats for years and never have problems. I wasn't one of them. I do not know of a way to tell ahead of time if you are or aren't. My suggestion: keep squats on the light side and do not go past parallel (I'd suggest 1/2 or 3/4 squats)
Leg extensions are good if you don't lower past about 1/2 wat down.
I had a Doc explain it to me, and it makes sense.
Stand straight up and note the position of your Patella (knee cap). See how it can float over the front portion of your knee? That's what it was designed to do. Now, squat deeply. See wherethe Patella goes? It gets put in a position of experiencing very high compressive and abrasive forces as it is pulled "against" the knee as you stand. It's hard to explain, but maybe you can try it and see what I'm trying to explain.
Bottom line, for me, lighter sqauts and leg extensions, neither done past 1/2-3/4 ramge on movement are all I would do.
But...that's just me. And I'm 41 now instead of 21.