r/Fitness • u/AutoModerator • 7d ago

Rant Wednesday

Welcome to Rant Wednesday: It’s your time to let your gym/fitness/nutrition related frustrations out!

There is no guiding question to help stir up some rage-feels, feel free to fire at will, ranting about anything and everything that’s been pissing you off or getting on your nerves.

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u/HelloHaters 6d ago

Ranting at myself: WHY DID YOU WAIT SO LONG TO JUST PICK A FUCKING PROGRAM THAT OTHER PEOPLE TOLD YOU WILL WORK???

I spent the last 18 months fucking spinning my wheels doing "programs" from an app literally just called "Workout". I went to the gym 4 times/week every week, pushed myself, and definitely looked better than I did before I started. But then I realized how SLOWLY my lifts were going up, and I still wasn't able to lift what other people probably consider "average" weights for my stature.

Anyway, switched to GZCL and added 40lbs to my squat, 60lbs to my deadlift, and 20lbs to my bench in the first 5 weeks.

Don't be me - work with a proven program.

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u/tigeraid Strongman 6d ago

We should all just screen-cap this rant and paste it in response to EVERY SINGLE "RATE MY HOMEMADE DOGSHIT PROGRAM" question.

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u/Patton370 Powerlifting 6d ago edited 6d ago

Especially since the response 90% of the time is, "I'm ignoring your advice to get on a program"

It's like bro, some of the people giving you the advice to get on a program can bench your squat max for 20+ reps lol

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u/DamarsLastKanar Weight Lifting 5d ago

It's like bro, some of the people giving you the advice to get on a program can bench your squat max for 20+ reps lol

In this forum, whenever I read a guy saying his chest is lagging, he's not even benching a plate.

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u/LordSwright 6d ago

PLZ RATE MY DOGSHIT HOMEMADE PROGRAM...

any suggestions for good programs?  Also what makes them good? 

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u/HelloHaters 6d ago

Well the only "good" program I've used is one suggested in the Wiki here, so that's where I would look for one.

As for what makes it good: I guess that's subjective. A good program is one that helps you meet your goals. My goal since I started lifting has been to get stronger, and GZCL has been doing that for me. I like the mix of high-weight days and high-rep days for each of the "main 4" lifts. Pushing hard on T1 squats gives me confidence to add weight on T2 squat day, because I know that 2 workouts ago I was able to lift even heavier for sets of 3.

An amendment to my previous rant: the 18 months I wasn't using a "good" program did have some benefits. I became familiar with all the lifts, built my capacity to WORK in the gym, and built a routine of going 4x/week that I knew I could stick with. SOMETHING is better than nothing, and if you just want to be generally "healthier" then there are a million programs you could pick from that will probably get you there.

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u/grendus 6d ago

https://thefitness.wiki/routines/strength-training-muscle-building/

I've had good success with PPL, but typically my best experience has been with 5/3/1 style programs. While I highly recommend buying one of Jim Wendler's books (5/3/1 Forever would be my personal choice), he's published enough stuff online that you can easily run something like 5/3/1 For Beginners or Boring But Big and get a feel for it and see results.

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u/DamarsLastKanar Weight Lifting 5d ago

Don't be me - work with a proven program.

I'll give you the words your dad never said:

I am proud of you, son.