When in the greater majority of public gyms we are responsible to control our personal habits that might distress our neighbors. No one wants his or her space invaded by undo sounds, nearness, gestures or odors in mutual work areas. We must be respectful of those around us.

That said, one’s behavior is determined by commonsense and unspoken mutual agreement with one’s co-inhabitants. Vocal response to heavy exertion while lifting is sometimes helpful and unavoidable and generally acceptable on selected occasion. Excessive and frequent noise-making is disturbing, annoying and irritating. It is also unnecessary, careless, often selfish and just plain dumb.

Dig in and enjoy yourself; keep the noise to a minimum so those nearby can do the same. They’ll love ya for it.

Godspeed… Dave

Sure. Especially when you’re aware of the engagement of the various muscles:

• Grip, bis and forearm when pulling during weighted rows or cables;
• Rear deltoids amid all the action;
• Minor pec involvement in widegrip pulldowns;
• Midsection-core work in seated lat rows;
• Heavier bar and dumbbell rows borders on systemic;
• Deadlifts are systemic and;
• Legs play a big role in barbell rows and deads.

If you position your body advantageously and focus appropriately, dips engage hefty portions of the back, thus we find triceps enter the workout.

Back’s a big area. Lots of heavy breathing when heavy at work.

Go… dd

Sounds like you answered your question in your question. You applied both methodologies and realized progress in both.

Why not find a blend of both systems according to your experiences and daring and inventiveness? I don’t have the answer… maybe there isn’t a single simple answer.

I can only tell you that I would no more follow Mike and his low-set, puke-intensity routine performed infrequently than I would dig a hole though the center of the earth to get to the other side. Don’t make no sense to me, man.

What the muscle mags offer these days is a mystery to me also. The current crop of exhibiting champions and models are on juices from other planets and train according to appropriately celestial practices. The miracle powders and pills and hype is staggering and mostly annoying and disappointing.

Yeah, I sound like a cynic. We’ve all managed to muddy a once clean and clear and vigorous river… that’s life.

Stick to the basics, trust yourself, get out of the mags and excess web research, get your head and heart into your workout and beware of the short cuts and secrets and miracles and magic. Dig your workouts. Prayer works best, but that’s another story.

Train hard, eat right, be strong… Dave

UGH and Ouch!!

Once I got over the initial misery and could think straight, I’d consider Bomber Blend shakes, tuna straight or mixed with mayo, swished around the mouth and washed down with water of milk.

Same can be done with eggs, raw or in a mushy salad form. Don’t chew, wash down. Minced chicken or beef fixed into an edible dish that won’t require chewing, only the vigorous action of the tongue, which I expect one would adapt and develop. Ve haf vays to do zese sings.

As awful as it sounds, people really have made tolerable tuna shakes. Here’s a page full of tuna shake recipes; mixing tuna with some form of V-8, olive oil and lemon juice will make a healthy and honestly tasty seafood meal.

Mix the protein powder with juice, water, low-fat milk — add fruit, raw eggs (get organic fed and cage-free, roaming chic eggs), granola and such as you please.

If Odwala Juice is in your market, check out their carrot juice and greens drinks.

Added supplemental enzymes are a good idea as less chewing (enzyme action) is practiced.

You might add Anabol Natural Amino Acids and Super Spectrim to your diet… the best and helps us live. The enzymes and vitamins can be crushed and mixed into liquids, and the amino acid capsules opened to empty the powder into drinks. They probably won’t mix well and won’t taste good, but the value will be worth the effort.

Train hard and always… God’s Might… Dave

Use dumbbells instead and save the shoulders. Dumbbells are great muscle mass and might builders.

Use various degrees of incline. Safer, smarter, better.

Try a two- or three-inch thick bar for bench pressing — it changes groove (very cool), whil it limits the weight you can use.

Don’t go heavy on the bench anymore or pay the big price — shoulder suicide.

Train smart, eat right, smile and live long… Godspeed… Dave