What do you have to have...

[cantgetenough]

... to get a good pump on at the gym?

What I mean is, do you have to be in some sort of mood? Full or empty stomach? What apparatus do you need?

I find that personally, I prefer to train on close to an empty stomach. I hate the feeling of being full, especially on ad routines. I also find myself needing certain items in order to train - I hate training without a water bottle (did it the other day and realised just how vital it was), need an mp3 player to drown out the bad gym music and help me focus, and gym gloves - cos I like to keep my hands soft haha.

Whenever I work legs i always have a knee brace due to having a bad knee - haven't had problems in ages but pays to be safe, and sometimes a wrist strap cos one of my wrists plays up while doing bicep exercises, namely barbell curls, even with an ezy bar.

How bout you?

[Android]

You need carbs

[cantgetenough]

I'm fat enough as it is! Lately I hit the gym after breakfast/before morning tea (between 7 amd 10am) and breakfast is 5 eggs and two pieces of dry toast.

[auck_builder]

get used to training on a semi full stomach because u shouldnt be getting to the stage before you get into the gym that u r starving.., unless its AM cardio

as above - you need carbs for energy, the more energy the more intensity you can train at, the better pump you will get

[1day]

i tend to chow down on can of chopchop or tuna in a wrap about 30-40mins b4 workout so i got bita carbs and some re workout protien in me :shifty:

[Android]

I'm fat enough as it is! Lately I hit the gym after breakfast/before morning tea (between 7 amd 10am) and breakfast is 5 eggs and two pieces of dry toast.

Someone low on carbs can't get a good pump mate. I guess you're not competing but it's all I have to explain this: low on carbs equals flat, you can try and pump up back stage all you like and swallow NO pills but you won't get a full pump without carbs.

So it's from this that I deduce you need carbs or energy in the muscle to get the pump going.

Not to be confused with over-eating :-)

Is a pump necessary for building muscle? It helps blood flow etc but long before NO drinks were around people were building awesome bodies.

Although...apparently an empty stomach during training elevates levels of Growth Hormone.

Different foods pre-workout and post workout raise and lower different hormones ... read a book called "Natural Hormonal Enhancement" by Rob Faigin and decide for yourself :-)

http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Hormonal-Enhancement-Rob-Faigin/dp/0967560500

[Varven]

Glycogen increases water retention.

Carbs provide Glycogen - so your muscles will feel fuller.

I think that is the rationale.

[soundsgood]

Kind of a ritual now but I cant workout without going :toilet: first :shifty:

Nitric Oxide goes straight through me :pfft:

But agree with everyone else, a good carb meal about an hour before my workout gets the pump flowing

Oh and when Im attempting a 1RM it always helps if I crank up 'Smack my bitch up" on the ipod \:D/

[Kevy_boi]

if i train in the morning a bowl of "just right" then 30 mins lata pop a couple of pills n creatine then 30 after that start the work out if at night time just somthing small mayb a bread roll with tuna or other meat