TMB Weightlifting Thread: Learn to Swim

Weird question incoming. My dad is disabled (spina bifida), so he has braces on his legs and has walked with crutches his entire life. He obviously can't do cardio or lower body exercises, but he wants to start working out as he can feel himself getting weaker in his old age. He needs to lose some weight but I don't want him doing too much. Suggestions?

 

I would consult with a doctor and/or physical therapist. The range of disability with spina bifida varies in the people I have known with it.

 

Yeah that's the plan. He has no use of his legs without braces, but waist up is totally fine. Strong as an ox from his years using crutches.

 

I'd echo asking a PT for a list of exercises. I'd assume do some pushups, pull ups if possible, etc. Slowly work up to weights. Good on him for not just decaying away in his old age.

 

Seems like he could bench, press, curl,skullcrushers, aka Bro workout.

 

What about something like this for cardio? I've never done it but I'd imagine it would get the heart rate up

 

We've thought about that bike type thing. That would be ideal for him but haven't found one around town just yet. He has a workout room at his apartment complex, but I'm sure it's just dumbbells and maybe a lat pull down type machine. He could lift weights without any problem but he needs something to get his heart rate up some. Push-ups would probably be out because I'm not sure he can get off the floor if he ever gets down there.

 

Can he swim?

 

I don't know that he's ever tried. With his braces, he would have to take them off and figure out a way to get to and in the pool. And if he did get in, he would just be 100% upper body; if something went wrong he wouldn't be able to stand up to get himself out of danger. One of those lifts for paralyzed people would help I'm sure.

 

With some kind of flotation device he could get some cardio in a shallow pool. He'd burn extra calories just sitting in a pool from trying to maintain body temp too. Pools at YMCAs have lifeguards and the ones i have sen do have the lift thingy.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

Damn, without use of your legs you have full permission for every day to be bro lifts. JUST FUCKING HAMMER CURLS AND EZ CURLS AND PREACHER CURLS.

 

Haha he's built like an upside down triangle as it is. Biceps and shoulders are big from the constant crutch use. He's probably stronger than I am as it is.

 

gonna mix this up with some motherfucking tricep pulldowns

oh what a surprise, it's time to superset in some curls

 

Well we all hope he gets hooked on lifting and does senior USAPL bench only competitions.

 

That kid's name?

Albert Einstein

 

I'll let him know the sky is the limit for him and if he just runs fast enough, those braces will fly right off and he will be as good as new.

 

Got me fuckin' good.

 

Just don't let him fall for that AIDS ridden whore Jenny.

 

My best friend from back home just text me asking how he should get into lifting. He followed it up with "I don't want to do any bodybuilding type stuff. I want to be strong" Fired me the fuck up.

 

Did front squats this morning 275 for 3x5. Almost puked during last set.

 

Weigh-ins in 16 hours. Go time 42 hours.

 

Fuck front squats.

 

Are you dehydrating

 

Nah I'm currently 4 lbs under. Gonna eat a salad tonight/go easy on water and save breakfast for after weigh ins.

 

I am a PT and have some experience in this type of thing. Does he have a caregiver than can assist him getting to a local fitness facility? Can he self-transfer to wherever he needs to go? Honestly, I have had the most luck with YMCA's. There should be 8-12 UE machines that he could just pick a weight at and do a few sets of each. Other than the pool or an ergometer (UE Bike as posted above) there isn't a ton off hand without knowing him personally that I can think of for cardio.

 

The bike thing would be great for what you need.

 

Good luck tomorrow, Capstone 88. Make us proud.

 

Thanks, man. Got weighed in and made weight fine. Eating essentially everything in sight that I know won't fuck up my stomach.

TIL men and women weigh in front of each other and there are a lot of nice female bodies running around in the little crossfit type booty shorts and bras. Got super awkward being weighed in with an erection.

 

Thanks. He drives and everything (handbrakes) and gets around just fine. He's just starting to feel his age. I'm going to talk to him about a pool.

Thanks again everyone.

 

cripwalked back to Gold's this week since my buddies left 24hr and joined there. location by their house is real nice and spacious and has a LOT of latina talent.

talked 2 of them into starting up the GZCL Rippler with me next Monday. 2RM went up on bench (15lbs), squat (10lbs), OHP (5lbs), and DL (10lbs) last time through which was ~9 weeks. Bench I started low because of recovering from shoulder impingement this summer. Felt good getting it 295x2 yesterday pain free.

3rd guy gave the "nah I just kinda like coming in here and doing just random stuff." saw us getting our 2RM numbers and added "yea i don't like doing that typical meathead workout no offense" none taken but if you're gonna workout like a bitch and never go heavy on compound lifts then stop fucking asking how to get bigger chest/back/legs. He proceeded to put on 155 bench and do 2 sets of 12 and then worked out arms for 45 minutes

 

Ended the day 8/9 and had a god damn blast. I can't recommend doing a meet enough. We had 700lb squatters and 60 year old men.

Squat - 462
Bench - 253 missed 264 which was very frustrating. 253 flew up.
Deadlift - 501 goddamn pounds.
1216 total.

 

Congrats man! Did the old guy squat in polyester coaching shorts and a polo shirt like my guy last weekend who broke records and hearts?

 

Haha no but I hate I missed that. He had the crowd hyped for his 3rd deadlift

 

Nice. What weight class?

 

Lifting is so much more fun in my own space. When I was at the gym for an hour, I'd be ready to get out of there. Now I spend ~2 hours a day picking up heavy shit in my garage and have a blast doing it. Also, my penis has doubled in girth since I stopped attending a commercial gym.

 

Competed at 230 which put me in the 242 weight class

 

This applies to so many things.

 

Any of you guys that cut a good bit of water to compete. Does it weaken you a lot? Only experience with this is wrestling and it seemed like it screwed with my cardio more than strength

Dude at the gym told me I'm not that far from the bench record at 170lbs? I'm about 185 when I'm lean

 

I've never done it but depends on whether you have a 24 hour weigh in or a 2 hour one. You can cut that much and perform fairly well. I'd compete first at your walking around weight just to get the hang of the meet then go for it.

 

He said it was a little over 400 but google says it's 430.

 

That's awesome, dude! Great job. I'm going to do a comp this year as well. 8/9 has to feel good! Congrats.

 

Hells yeah.

What weight class are you in?

 

Weighed in at 230 which put me in the 242 class

 

Hell yes. Going USAPL?

 

Yeah that's the plan.

Did you interact a lot with the other lifters? What was the experience like?