Gym talk

briskjackal5 said:How many weighted squats have you actually crushed?

- Stipe -

Probably way more than you ever could, unfortunately.

So tell me, how many times have you hiked up Mount Rainier?

Or maybe how many times have you ground your gears up a steep hill on a high-gear bike ride?

copperpuma96 said:Look, I’m not saying it’s literally body fat, but once you stop training, that mass loses its tone. It looks saggy and soft. It's not just fat.

You're wrong again. "Hanging muscles"? "Saggy muscles"? What are you even talking about? Get this through your head: if you don't maintain your physique, your muscles atrophy. That's it. Period. Try sitting on the couch for a year and tell me if your quads shrank or if they're actually hanging down past your knees.

George Bailey2 said:Man, you're wrong again. What do you mean "sagging muscles" or whatever? Get this through your head: if you stop training, your muscles just shrink, period. That's it! Try sitting on your ass for a year and then come back and tell me if your quads actually shrunk or if they're somehow hanging down past your knees!!!

Muscles shrinking? :LOL:

They just shrink, or atrophy. Seriously, copperpuma96, haven't you heard of it? I’ve got pretty defined calves and quads myself—strictly from running and hiking, by the way—but once I tore my leg and had to sit out all activity for about three months, the muscle mass in my leg visibly decreased. It took some real work getting back into training just to get everything back to where it used to be. Don't get ahead of yourself too fast.

Why on earth are you rambling about running 800m to build muscle?
Why are you claiming that hiking up Mount Rainier is some kind of way to "get ripped"?
And why are you saying there's "no point" in all that muscle mass you get from lifting weights?
Why do you insist that muscles just turn into fat?
Then, like, two posts later, you're like, "hmm actually they don't turn into fat, they just get bulky"?
So what exactly do they turn into then? If it isn't fat and it isn't muscle, what is it?

Why are you giving this guy such bad advice?

- briskjackal5 -

Majakovski, my bad for giving you such trash advice earlier—honestly, just ignore every single one of my posts on this topic because they were absolute nonsense.

And hey, sorry to anyone else who was stressed out by my total bullshit.

Perspective is everything—what looks half-full to one person might look half-empty to someone else.
Now, regarding the whole debate on whether running actually builds muscle: sure, you're technically inducing muscle growth, but the real question is whether any serious bodybuilder would ever be satisfied with those marginal gains.
Let’s be honest, they wouldn't be happy with it for a second.
Why do I suspect—and mind you, I’m not claiming to be a scientist here—that running triggers muscle growth? It’s simple: whether I’ve just finished a brutal sprint session or a heavy lifting set at Gold's Gym, I end up with that same intense soreness. What am I feeling? Muscle inflammation.
I think copperpuma96 didn't pull out every weapon in his arsenal during the discussion; he could have easily brought up 100-meter sprints as an example. I remember times when I pushed myself through such violent sprints that my abs were screaming, and my arms, shoulders, and chest felt absolutely shredded. But let’s get real—when my goal is strictly hypertrophy, I’m hitting the push-ups, pull-ups, and core work, not going out for a jog.
copperpuma96 was being a bit provocative with his take, and honestly, you guys jumped him way too quickly...

George Bailey2 said:Look, get this straight: if you stop maintaining your physical condition, your muscles atrophy, and that’s the end of the story!

But what does "atrophy" actually mean in practice here? Are we talking about the muscle mass dropping, and consequently the total body weight dropping by that exact same amount?
Or is it a case where the muscle mass shrinks, but because the person doesn't adjust their caloric intake, they just end up gaining an equal amount of fat instead?
Or is it something else entirely?
Why is everyone so obsessed with picking on Shevchenko, while absolutely nobody is stepping up to answer this specific question?👎 😕
I'm not taking sides here, for heaven's sake. I just want to find out the actual truth.

Speaking from my own little slice of experience... I’ve cycled through both the gym grind and long-distance running—and honestly, running is in a league of its own. It’s just more rewarding, more functional, and frankly, I feel much better afterward...
But hey, to each their own. If you love the iron, go for it.

So, this first guy was asking about gym memberships and pricing, and then copperpuma96 tells him to just forget the gym and go out for a run instead.
Personally? I’d much rather hit the weights. For me, the results actually show up quickly—and before you ask, no, I’m not trying to become some massive bodybuilder or a 220-pound tank. I just want to get some muscle definition, plain and simple. As for running? Absolutely not. I spent ten years training in Taekwondo, so believe me when I say I've put in enough miles on the pavement to last a lifetime, and let me tell you, it did absolutely nothing for my muscle mass.

Sarah Morales7 said:Speaking from my own experience... I've tried both hitting the gym and going for runs, and running is incomparably better and more beneficial. Plus, I just feel better overall..
Well, to each their own, I suppose.

I mean, look, it really just depends on what your specific goals are. If you want cardiovascular endurance? Running wins hands down. It's incomparably superior because let's be honest—pumping iron at the local Gold's Gym isn't going to do a single thing for your actual stamina.

Jeremy White69 said:A glass can be half full or half empty depending on how you look at it.
I mean, running definitely builds muscle, right? It’s just a matter of whether it builds enough to satisfy those hardcore bodybuilders out there.
And honestly? They probably won't be happy with the results.
Why do I think—and I’m just guessing here, don't quote me—that running builds muscle? Well, because after a heavy run or a massive lifting session, I always end up feeling super sore. And what's sore? My muscles.

But if you ask me, that muscle soreness isn't actually a sign or a predictor that hypertrophy is happening.

- briskjackal5 -

Jeremy White69 said:Wait, what does "losing muscle" actually mean here? Like, is the actual muscle mass dropping by that exact amount?
Or is it just that the muscle is shrinking, but since they aren't eating any less, they're basically just gaining fat instead?
Or maybe it's something else entirely?

Well, I guess "muscle loss" is actually pretty straightforward... if you aren't using those muscles, they just atrophy, and that’s really all there is to it. I think.

- briskjackal5 -

briskjackal5 said:Look, "muscle wasting" is actually a pretty straightforward concept—if you don't use a muscle, it atrophies, and that’s basically the end of the story.

- briskjackal5 -

😁 You didn't actually answer the question.
You completely bypassed what happens to the actual MASS.
When we talk about atrophy versus hypertrophy, we're talking about shrinking and growing. But what specifically are we measuring here? Are we talking about volume, or are we talking about total mass?

Jeremy White69 said:😁 I don't think you really answered the question.
You didn't actually say what happens to the MUSCLE MASS.
I mean, atrophy and hypertrophy both deal with shrinking and growing, right? But what exactly? Are we talking about volume or actual mass?

I mean, you wouldn't want to increase muscle volume while losing mass, or vice versa, right? >)

Both.

- briskjackal5 -

🆙
What else can I even say when, after pouring my heart out through twenty lines of text, some kind of digital sorcery kicks in and everything just vanishes? (Maybe it’s because briskjackal5 is so incredibly stingy with his replies—I honestly can't tell if he’s just completely failing to grasp my questions or if he's simply too terrified to admit he hasn't a clue what he's talking about).
To make a long story short: I had two doctors tell me that the muscle you build through exercise eventually disappears—meaning your muscle mass shrinks—and since your total body weight stays the same, they basically implied you'll just end up gaining ten pounds of fat in its place. (I can only assume they were joking, though honestly, who knows with these people).
Anyway, that's my update for now.🙂

some random guy said::2up:
What else am I even supposed to say when, after typing out twenty whole lines of text, some freak magic happens and everything just vanishes? (Maybe it's because Steve is such a man of few words—maybe he doesn't get what I'm asking, or maybe he's just too chicken to admit he has no clue).
Anyway, long story short. Two doctors told me that muscle built from working out just disappears, meaning you lose mass, and since your total body weight stays the same, it follows that you just magically gain 10 pounds of fat (I guess they think they're being funny—whatever, doesn't matter).
That's all I got.🙂

🙏

the_user_ said::2up:
I mean, what else can I even say when—by some strange sort of digital sorcery—my entire post vanishes right after twenty lines of typing? (Perhaps it’s because Steve is being particularly brief, or maybe I just assumed he didn't grasp my question... or perhaps he's just afraid to admit he doesn't know).
To cut to the chase: two doctors actually suggested that muscle gained through exercise eventually disappears—meaning mass decreases—and since total body weight stays the same, one would logically end up gaining ten pounds of fat. (Though, I suspect they were joking—not that it matters much).
That's all for now.🙂

It's true—you really should have seen the state of me after I went back to hitting the gym almost every single day for over a year, following a three-month hiatus... it was a disaster.

And what did I tell you all 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

The idea that you'll lose all your gains after just a few months away from the gym might be more myth than reality. It really comes down to how you built your foundation and your individual genetics. I lifted for a few years before heading off to serve in the military; even after six months without hitting the weights, I didn't just lose everything overnight.
I’m convinced that if you build your physique naturally, you can pack on enough high-quality muscle mass to prevent a rapid decline when you take a break.
If you put in the work with quality training, you're going to see quality results.
Besides, there's no point in bickering. The guy was just looking for some advice, and after reading all this negativity, he's probably feeling totally discouraged. He's likely thinking, "If everyone in the fitness community fights this much, I might as well just stay home with the TV, some chips, and a beer."