Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by Xalvin

Anyone here plays Dissidia through Ad-hoc Party?

Xalvin — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 17:26:20 +0800

I'd like to know how good/bad the connection is for online play.

Smith Machine vs Free Weights.

Xalvin — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 20:35:51 +0800

From Stronglifts 5x5:

QUOTE

Why You Should Avoid The Smith Machine. The Smith Machine looks the same as if you would do free weight Squats, but safer. It’s, however, different. Here are 3 reasons you should avoid Smith Machines:

Less Safe. Force your body into fixed movements patterns. This can cause knee/back injuries. And the fixed bar doesn’t prevent accidents.
Less Efficient. Build less strength & muscle since the Smith balances the weight. Expect Squatting less when switching to free weights .
Little Carry-over. Technique is different using free weights since you have to balance the weight yourself. You’ll have to relearn technique.

What are your opinions? I've been doing Free Weights, but recently I've switched gyms, and there is no more Power Rack and I don't have a spotter anymore. Will doing Smith Machines seriously affect my training routine or strength gains? Stronglifts always try to discourage using Smith Machines and now I'm worried.

Going for NS at age 21. (Deferred)

Xalvin — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:11:15 +0800

I've just completed my last Degree paper, and I've finally graduated.

Now, looks like deferment is coming to an end. Just wondering, should I go for interviews now, or wait until my NS is completed? I don't want to work halfway and suddenly have to go for NS. What if my boss sacks me due to this?

Also, should I go to NS office now, and request them to put me in First Batch? Do you think they would allow such things?

And how is life at NS for 20-21 year olds? Do you feel odd and out of place? XD

Caught a knee injury a few months back

Xalvin — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 20:11:56 +0800

Hey guys I've been bodybuilding for about 1 year now during my free time (in University). So my best record was 75 kg at 176 cm height, and I was sticking to Stronglifts 5x5 method with the Barbell. Been gaining great muscle mass from 60kgs back when I started. Shapes are all good, low bodyfat %.

But during the start of 2010, I've been going for a lot of outdoor activites like hiking, rock climbing, and badminton. From that, I've caught a knee injury that just won't seem to go away. I dare not jump high and land hard anymore, let alone do Squats.

This has really affected my bodybuilding routine, I've only stuck to upper body training, as I dare not do Squats or any other leg exercises for that matter. Even jogging sometimes hurts my knee. My weight started to drop, and 6 months later, my weight has dropped to 70kg. I really want to push back my weight up.

Should I just take a break out of heavy exercises and just do upper body exercise until my knee recovers? Or is there a substitute for squats that doesn't strain my knee?

Contact lense question. (Axis?)

Xalvin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:04:08 +0800

So, I've just bought my first pair of contact lenses. Johnson and Johnson's Acuvue Oasys.
It says here
D -8.50
CYL/AXIS -1.25 70

And another box has

D - 8.50
CYL/AXIS -1.25 100

The thing is, I went to do a prescription, and was told that my left eye needs 8.00 power and 75 Astig, while right eye is 8.50 power and 125 Astig. When I collected them, she showed me which box was Left Eye and which box was Right Eye. I didn't realise the above values until I came home. The Power and Astig is the same in both boxes, except the Axis part. I'm curious what is that.

Now I can't contact the optician, and I'd really like to wear it tomorrow, but I'm just afraid that the lense is wrongly prescribed. Any eye expert here can tell me?

Recommend me a good set of Speakers

Xalvin — Wed, 19 May 2010 16:37:58 +0800

I've borrowed my friends Sonic Gear, EVO 8, for my PS3. Pretty impressive. Would like a slight upgrade from this EVO 8 if possible. Can anyone recommend?

Unwashed Clothes full of tears and holes.

Xalvin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:42:03 +0800

I forgot to wash a bag of dirty clothes before my holidays. Went back to hometown and this plastic bag of clothes were left unwashed. When I got back a month later, I sent it to the Dobi but I didn't check the condition of the clothes before sending. When I got it back, I was surprised to find half of my clothes stained yellow and with tears and holes all over.

Oh and the plastic bag contained t-shirts drenched in sweat after sports. My mom suspects it could have been attracting insects which causes the bites. Do you guys have any idea? I'm just afraid its some corrosive bacteria, that I should throw away all the clothes even those unaffected.

A group of newbies came in the gym today...

Xalvin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:21:18 +0800

So, three guys came in the gym today. Two of them look so skinny, the other one guy slightly on the plump side.
The two of them sounded like their first time on the gym, while the plump guy sounded like he knew about workouts all out.

So, they came in the gym, making so much noise and laughing their butts off.
They started working out immediately with push-ups, sit-ups, calf raises all with their own bodyweight, while the plump guy screaming "Do 4x15 for every workout you do!". I think there were about 6 different "warm-up workouts".
I assumed this is some military style warm-up training.

They then headed to the machines, and then took turns without rests at all, to do every machine there. The plump guy again screaming "This is the only way to build muscles! You must do all these without stopping!". He was basically acting like the personal trainer, more like a cheerleader to me. To my pity, the skinny guys were already damn beat out and complaining about being tired. The plump guy kept pushing them to do non-stop amount of sets for every machine, screaming "4x15!". Not only that, the plump guy decided the weights for his poor friends himself.

What do you guys think? I'm not a pro myself, but being a skinny person I was last time, I've only stuck myself to 3x10 or 4x10 with proper amount of rest between sets, and have gotten great gains out of it. Them doing it without stopping and then dying before finishing their second set, sounds like an overpush.

If you were there, would you go to them, and advice them against the plump guy's methods? Feels to me that his methods are more to cutting fat judging by his body size. Him teaching his new skinny friends that same way, won't it be anti-productive for them?

Am I bulking myself correctly?

Xalvin — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:04:37 +0800

Hey there, my friendly LYN Bodybuilders.
Been around this forum for some time but rarely post.
So, I was just hoping I could be given some short advice regarding my training and diet.

Age : 19
Weight Before 7 weeks : 63 kg
Weight Now : 70 kg

Goal : To bulk up as much as possible.

I've been following the stickies, but I had to make some big amendments due to lack of equipments at my gym, and also lack of cash to purchase protein supplements. [/B]

Training : Different from Rippetoe's but follows the timeline.
Monday Workout A
Wednesday Workout B
Friday Workout A
Monday Workout B
and so on...

My gym has very limited equipments (condo gym). The heaviest dumbells are one 10kg and one 9kg. Weight not adjustable.
Machines only have : Chest Fly, Chin-up, Leg Extension

Workout A :
Chest Machine Fly or Dumbell Fly 4x10
Deadlifts 3x10
Shoulder Press 3x10

Workout B:
Chin up Machine 4x10
Triceps Overhead Press 4x10
Leg Extension Machine 3x10

Sets vary, I mostly go to failure.

Basically I just try to vary my workout A completely from workout B to give enough rest.
Heres the thing, maximum weights of dumbbells are 10kg and 9kg. I basically am doing 3x10 at that level already for most of the Dumbbell sets. I can't increase my weights anymore. So, is it ok if I increase my volume?

Diet : Very cheap materials, heh I'm a student.

Morning 8am : 7 Egg Whites + 2 Omega-3 Yolks + 2 Slices of Bread with Tuna + Coffee
Snack 11am : 4 Slices of Bread with Tuna.
Lunch 1pm : Economy Rice or Chicken Rice (add alot of meat and rice)
Pre-workout 3pm : Milk 500ml + Instant Oats
Post workout 5pm : Milk 500ml
Dinner 8pm : Any meal here, tries to add extra meat.
Late-night 11pm : Milk 500ml + 7 Egg Whites + 1 Omega-3 Yolk

Will this diet kill me? Its basically consuming hell alot of Eggs, Milk and Tuna. Feels dangerous.
In the past 7 weeks I definitely feel a great raise in my bulk. Friends noticed significant increase in my size.
But I've also met with some side effects : My poop/crap is amazingly smelly. Housemates complain when I crap they can smell it even when their doors are closed. Also, I've been farting a lot too. Is this normal due to the Milk?

Planning to get ON 100% Whey.

Xalvin — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:35:12 +0800

In 2 weeks time I'll be shifting out cause of studies to a Condo that actually has a Gym. Yay for me because my previous problem was that there was no gym available for me. Ok, so the working out part not much problem, main problem is my nutrition versus money.

First of all, I don't know whether I'm lactose intolerant or not. I googled it and they say that if take too much milk will feel bloated. Yes I do feel bloated, but there is no discomfort or pain or farting. Will ON 100% work for me? I don't want to buy it for RM190 (this is really big amount for me) and then end up puking every time I drink.

Secondly, since I'm shifting out and staying away from my parents, food is another issue. I have to get all the food I need by myself. Currently, all I do is just chunk in all the meat my Mom cooks. But living outside, I might not be able to eat at regular times. Heck maybe I might be skipping breakfast or having late dinners depending on how busy my studies are. Would buying whey solve this problem? If I just drink this pre-workout and post-workout, would it be enough to gain weight?

A friend told me that whey is much cheaper than if I were to spend on the same amount of protein gained from cooked food. True?

On my resting days, should I still drink whey? Or save money by just drinking normal milk powder with oats?

One more thing, is there a cheaper whey that is effective as well? RM190 is kinda off my budget. I was expecting like RM100 or so. Do those protein drinks from pharmacies work? I remember seeing them like RM70 or so. Not sure they're for gaining weight or what, but there's a bodybuilder picture there.

Sorry if this looks like a bombardment of questions. I never thought of buying whey until now. I usually resort to my simple Fernleaf Milk Powder + Quaker Instant Oats for both pre-workout and post-workout, and I eat like a dog on every meal. Yet my weight is still stuck at 65 kgs.

Planning to buy ON 100%. Need advice on nutrition

Xalvin — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:17:57 +0800

In 2 weeks time I'll be shifting out cause of studies to a Condo that actually has a Gym. Yay for me because my previous problem was that there was no gym available for me. Ok, so the working out part not much problem, main problem is my nutrition versus money.

First of all, I don't know whether I'm lactose intolerant or not. I googled it and they say that if take too much milk will feel bloated. Yes I do feel bloated, but there is no discomfort or pain or farting. Will ON 100% work for me? I don't want to buy it for RM190 (this is really big amount for me) and then end up puking every time I drink.

Secondly, since I'm shifting out and staying away from my parents, food is another issue. I have to get all the food I need by myself. Currently, all I do is just chunk in all the meat my Mom cooks. But living outside, I might not be able to eat at regular times. Heck maybe I might be skipping breakfast or having late dinners depending on how busy my studies are. Would buying whey solve this problem? If I just drink this pre-workout and post-workout, would it be enough to gain weight?

A friend told me that whey is much cheaper than if I were to spend on the same amount of protein gained from cooked food. True?

On my resting days, should I still drink whey? Or save money by just drinking normal milk powder with oats?

One more thing, is there a cheaper whey that is effective as well? RM190 is kinda off my budget. I was expecting like RM100 or so. Do those protein drinks from pharmacies work? I remember seeing them like RM70 or so. Not sure they're for gaining weight or what, but there's a bodybuilder picture there.

Sorry if this looks like a bombardment of questions. I never thought of buying whey until now. I usually resort to my simple Fernleaf Milk Power + Quaker Instant Oats for both pre-workout and post-workout.

My Notebook Temperature. Need help! Inspiron 1420.

Xalvin — Fri, 08 May 2009 09:47:57 +0800

I'm quite shocked to see my computer's actual temperature.
Is this considered normal?

Here's my specs
Dell Inspiron 1420.
NVDIA Geforce 8400M GS
Intel C2D 1.66GHz
120 GB HDD

[attachmentid=951309]

Currently my fan isn't even on full blast. I can't feel any strong wind from my fan.
Is my fan actually working properly? Or is it because its just idle?

Also, I just updated my graphics driver given by Dell's own drivers. Its version 175.97 NVIDIA.
The laptop is not very hot when I touch compared to when I'm gaming.
But, man, 80 Degrees is not very safe isn't it?
I even have a cooler that I've been using for a year and still functioning well. (but its those Chapalang RM20 coolers)

EDIT : I've just checked again and my Temperatures actually went up by 3 Degrees from the picture posted.

Is it true Sony is banning Malaysia?

Xalvin — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:15:55 +0800

Heard from a friend who owns a Games stall, that Sony is banning Malaysia next year.
Seems because Malaysia has too much piracy
He raised his PSP Slim 2000 to RM1200

Is this rumour true?
It sucks for those who actually buy original.

Interested in Getting DS. Got few questions.

Xalvin — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 18:21:01 +0800

First of all, how much is the price of DS in Malaysia. I dunno how many types of DS we got.
Then, how much is the average price of games.
Is DS popular in Malaysia? How much games is worth playing in DS?
I only plan to play the FF4 DS version, looks ownage.

How to disable Special Voice Effects after record?

Xalvin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:36:11 +0800

This is terrible, I wanted to record my friends presentation which is an hour long. Then I noticed the voice was Deep Voiced.
And it really was, as I checked my Dell Webcam Manager, having seen the Deep Voice Effect ticked.

Is there anyway for me to normalize the voices again? Its definitely hearable, but everyone who spoke has deep voice and its annoying. Maybe some simple software could revert the voices back to their original as easy as Dell's software made it deep voiced?

Poor Night-Vision a.k.a. Rabun Malam?

Xalvin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:08:32 +0800

Right, I'm extremely short sighted. Its in my family run genes that all my cousins have short sightness. My cousin and I also have lazy-eye where one of our eye's muscle is rather loose. Now, I've discovered that my night-vision is poor! Every time I drive at night, there are some small objects I can't see or rather have to concentrate to look.

Does anyone have equal problem?
I know the treatment to it is Vitamin A, but is that really enough? I've been drinking alot of Carrot Juice.

Theres a Yellow Line defect on my LCD!

Xalvin — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:27:10 +0800

I'm not sure how to describe it. On the first day its just bright rainbow colour for a few minutes, then turn back to normal.
Today it became like this

[attachmentid=488514] [attachmentid=488516] [attachmentid=488517]

Is this a normal software problem? Or should I call Dell to replace my monitor?
If I ask for replacement for monitor, will my hard disk files be gone?

Anyone here workout at home?

Xalvin — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:48:18 +0800

Right, so I'm only 18 years old, and am a student.
I can't afford a RM100+/month for gym, and I don't think I will if I'm not having a part time job.

So, I've been checking out bodybuilding websites, and have been working out at home since I was 14.
Yeap, 4 years of working out at home, I feel like I've reached the limit where my muscle growth is stuck. Everytime I workout and it sores, it just feels harder, not bigger. My goal here is to gain weight. I have the 'thin' gene and I eat alot. But still I'm only 60kgs at 178cm. Bodyfat at 12% according to http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/

First, let me clarify that I only have a set of Dumbells (3kg). I have very irregular workout times, sometimes three times a week, sometimes 2 weeks once. Honestly, I never bothered about following strict workout plans, I just workout whatever part I want. My chest and abs are quite satisfying to me. Six packs here! But one thing for sure, I still look thin, and thats not what I want.

This are the workouts I do at home :
Chest+Triceps #1 : Push-Ups with Legs on my bed and Hands on the floor.
Chest+Triceps #2 : Push-Ups with Legs on bed and hands on two stools respectively.
*I wear my schoolbag and put my two dumbells there, and do my push-ups. Acts like a 6kg weight-plate*

Abs : Crunches, Leg Lifts.

Back : I do pull-ups at my staircase. Yeah very weird, but somehow I can stand at the stairs, and hold the second floor and pull up. Hurts my fingers though, since I'm holding a floorpiece, but I'm used to it. Just imagine someone hanging off the cliff, and pulling himself up.

Hands : Well, with dumbells I can do alot, from Biceps to Back to Chest etc.

Legs: I depend on my badminton and jogging for this.

All this while I just stretch that particular muscle I'm about to workout for 10 seconds (yeah like how they teach in Pendidikan Jasmani). Then, I workout that muscle for 4 sets, each set goes all the way till failure.
Am I doing this wrong?

My diet varies alot. I've always been eating alot, ordering large sets of meals and having extra bowls of rice for dinner.
Then, when I saw darklight's diet plan, my jaw dropped. I never thought that one could eat 4 capsules of fish oil, and 4 tablets of vitamins in a day. Always thought that more than 1 tablet a day is overdose.
I do not have money to buy "whey" or "POV" or whatever I saw in his diet, I only depend on normal food for my protein. I always drink about 400ml of milk after working out.

So, I hope thats detailed enough about my workout. Experts, please shoot me at any corner you see wrong.
Don't recommend me to signup for a gym. I really think I don't have the money. I used to go to a RM5/entry gym near my college, but due to ugly timetables, I can never squeeze time to workout after classes.

Whoever who does workout at home, please share some advice here too.

What is the cheapest hardware that detects writing

Xalvin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:28:33 +0800

Well I was thinking about it, I can't use my laptop's touchpad + pen to write down notes into my computer.
I might need this feature in my 2nd or 3rd year in Degree since writing mathematics equations may be less a hassle.
I just found out about this when my friend tried to draw a whole solution for a whole question with the mouse.
It took so long and was terrible to read.

So, whats the cheapest method?
And brand too.

Heat from laptop palm-rest affecting my palms.

Xalvin — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:48:31 +0800

Hi, after 2 weeks of using Dell Inspiron 1420. I seriously starting to feel that my left palm being affected.
After probably an hour of gaming, my laptop reaches 50-65 Celcius even with the cooler on.
And those who do not have Inspiron 1420, the heat on the left area from the touchpad is very warm compared to the right side.

Any solutions to this? I don't want my hand to get mutated due to excess heat or something.
I seriously starting to feel that my palm has just got burned under the sun after using this laptop for a few hours.

I tried using a stack of notepad papers and sandwich it between my palm and the warm area. But this is really annoying as sometimes it'll press my keypad unnecessarily.