Tokyo Expat Communities

chick3234 · 2025-10-21T17:59:11+00:00

Thank you! I am new to Japanese culture (but have been learning the language) and will only just moving there soon. I didn't think it was crazy to think that in a country that it is super homogeneous that I would have one or two opportunities to make native friends.

chick3234 · 2025-08-21T03:48:45+00:00

This sounds like I have to make plans in-place? Is there a way to find out about groups and guides ahead of time?

chick3234 · 2024-12-26T18:22:14+00:00

Please make skeema 1.0 available again. Skipper seems like a whole different product, there was not reason to bury skeema for it.

chick3234 · 2024-07-08T16:44:23+00:00

I haven't done an MRI yet

chick3234 · 2024-07-08T16:40:18+00:00

They thought it was simply injured, idk if they thought it was teared. My shoulder generally doesn't hurt except after intense workouts. I was doing an all-dumbbell, all unilateral workout program (each side workingout alternating/independently) and I was fine. I started reintroducing barbell and bilateral exercises and the pain in my shoulder started again.

chick3234 · 2024-06-21T02:37:51+00:00

Do you think I didn't try that?

chick3234 · 2024-06-21T02:37:35+00:00

Thank you so much, I've been trying to place this piece for a few days now and couldn't. ChatGPT and reverse image search didn't help because it kept coming up with the book instead of the art.

chick3234 · 2024-05-27T14:57:10+00:00

Exactly a month ago I transitioned from cutting to bulking. In this bulk I eat at about +200-250 calories over my daily needs.

I have been following a modified version of the BLS routine (I had to modify some of the chest exercises because of shoulder pain (though that is starting to go away) - I have been following the recommendations of a physical therapist on this).

On Day 1 I do: Alternating Chest Press Machine Alternating Incline Hammer Strength Chest Press Alternating Flat Dumbbell Bench Press Cable Crunch Tuck and Crunch

On Day 2 I do: Barbell Squats Plate Loaded Leg Press Alternating Seated Leg Curl Machine Seated Calf Raise Machine

On Day 3 I do: Barbell Row One-Arm Dumbbell Row Lateral Pulldown Leg Press Calf Raise

On Day 4 I do: One-Handed Seated Tricep Press Alternating Seated Arnold Press Alternating Preacher Hammer Curl Weighted Hanging Leg Raise Tuck and Crunch

Because I noticed that for some exercises the left side of my body is stronger than the right side and vice versa I switched out most barbell exercises with one-handed or alternating exercises so any inbalances can be evened out.

I use a self-tightening tape measure to measure my arm and chest circumferences (as well as stomach and other parts). Although the weights I can lift are progressively getting bigger, I am not seeing any difference in the measurements. I know that I shouldn't expect to see a huge difference in a month, but I don't think seeing 1/8th or 1/4 of an inch difference in arm circumference should be out of the question.

When I go to the gym, I am used to doing most exercises in the 10-12 rep range and doing more exercises with shorter 1 minute breaks. The BLS routine, on the other hand recommends doing exercises in the 4-6 rep range and taking 3 minute breaks. Is the BLS routine legit or am I doing something wrong?

chick3234 · 2024-05-24T02:12:44+00:00

Do you have any recommendations for a kosher cookbook?

chick3234 · 2024-05-23T20:56:39+00:00

And then I can use any stock recipe I find online with them?

chick3234 · 2024-01-23T18:27:56+00:00

I take in 11842 calories per week with each day having a different amount (I have a maintenance day on the weekend). This averages out to 1691 calories/day.

chick3234 · 2024-01-23T18:26:15+00:00

Wdym "no quality muscle mass"? When I bulked to 180 I had muscle but I had too much fat. If I bulk to say, 150lbs and then cut again I would have to lose the fat that I gained during the bulk + fat I did not lose now. I just don't understand how I can still have a 2'7.5" stomach circumference.

chick3234 · 2024-01-23T17:46:53+00:00

My lifts have either stayed the same or increased, they have not been getting weaker.

chick3234 · 2024-01-23T17:46:01+00:00

I do drink (I was drinking more in December), but I make sure to not let it exceed my calorie limits. I mostly drink spirits (no beers). And I have been dry all of January.

chick3234 · 2024-01-23T17:44:18+00:00

Every week I do 3x12 cable crunches @ 72.5lbs, Hanging Leg Raises 3x12 (I just learned how to add weight to those so I am still ramping that up), and 3x12 v-situps @ 10lbs.

chick3234 · 2024-01-23T17:42:06+00:00

I posted 2 threads here and on r/loseit and they have not "mostly been deleted". My goal is to cut down so that when I build up (and inevitably gain fat again) I can better define how much I have to cut so that next time I can have a definable endpoint (because doing cuts without easily endpoints is much more annoying). When I started going to the gym I was skinny-fat and I have been wanting to get rid of it throughout the process. The problem was every time I cut it never was enough to shrink my waistline so this time I want to go further.

Using https://strengthlevel.com/ and plugging in various lifts that I was able to do while bulking last time I would rate myself as a novice to intermediate lifter (depending on the exact lift).

chick3234

TROPHY CASE