Thread 76457952

I'm a man in my late 30s. Having previously worked exclusively at office jobs, now as a tradesman, my body is constantly sore. It's more intense than any workout I've ever done. I take the whole weekend to recover from the muscle soreness alone, what to say of the small bruises and cuts that add up? Will it be always like this or will my body eventually get used to it? Seeing as rest is an important part of the workout, should I quit the gym and use the weekends exclusively for rest? What are your experiences?

>>76457952 (OP)
I've been in labor for the last 10+ years of my life. Be safe at work, drink water, eat, take your breaks. Your body will get used to it, but don't expect a consistent gym schedule anymore. Some days I'm fucking beat and simply can't make it to the gym and rest instead. It is what it is.

>>76457952 (OP)
What trade? I couldnt lift when working 70 hour weeks conxrete and lanscaping for companies who thought they were the army. Been doing less intense general labor but i usually lift before work. I plan on becoming an electrician soon which has the lightest toolkit.

Thanks for the insights, bros.
>>76458019
Construction, because it required no previous experience, but I'm also thinking of doing the same.

>>76457952 (OP)
nice gpt lil nigga

>>76458161
Being a general laborer will get you shredded if you do it long enough at a decent intensity. But it cant help you get a big chest. Probably why my chest is weakest part of my body proportionally. Cept legs lel.
Kinda like the other anon said, make sure you're safe above all else. It's hot where i live. Get a lot of electrolyetes especially salt. Keeps meal or protein bars in your pockets. Unless you are some kind of carnivore purest in which case i recomend stuffing steaks into your pockets.

>>76457952 (OP)
This is exactly the thread I was hoping for. You may have seen my posts bitching about my insufferable old guy coworker in my merchandiser job, I’m at my breaking point. Trades is what I want, I see it as a route to be able to build for a future. Meets my criteria (active job, learn a real skill, challenging can constantly improve, tons of room for growth, opportunity to possibly start a business, can earn a wage that for me is comfortable in an appropriate timeframe, etc).
I wanted to do electric because it seemed like less to learn, but potentially have an in at an HVAC company that will actually hire no experience. What can you guys tell me about HVAC vs electric. Working conditions, hours, overtime, coworkers.
>shitty old guy coworker
Issue isn’t being talked to like shit, that’s fine so long as it’s mostly constructive based and the job actually has a future for me / earns me enough to have comfort. Current job I only get to advance if someone retires in 10 years, maybe. I do 80% of the work and this old guy just bitches and is mean for no reason literally taunts me about screwing me over. I’ve heard trades attracts fuck ups and junkies who are insufferable but I can’t see them being able to drag feet and make me pick up the slack in the same way. Maybe I’m wrong though. Be brutally honest, either way I’m gonna try for this. I need out.

>>76458260
HVAC is a jack of all trades master of none situation. You'll deal with plumbing, electrical, gas, hell even minor carpentry sometimes. The overtime is insane during busy seasons, and if you live somewhere with a mild winter or summer, you'll want to save your money for the slow seasons. Its seriously a great trade to get into because of all the shit from other trades you pick up. Most electricians don't know shit about low voltage, and that's most of our job while also dealing with 120 to 480. You learn basic plumbing with boilers. I got taught how to patch up holes and shit in drywall.

All that being said, if you live in a pro union state try getting in. I made the jump and the amount of doors it opens in the HVAC field is crazy. Not to mention the pay and benefits.

I'm not a labourer but I do work a pretty physical job in a warehouse pushing, pulling and lifting heavy shit around, not only would going to the gym on top of what I do be retarded but doing this full time would be turbo retarded looking at some of the older guys who have worked here in the past.
All the guys that do it full time are constantly in some sort of pain with their legs and backs, the ones in their 40s/50s who work here or have recently left are hobbling about stiff as hell like they're 80 years old.
The younger guys can obviously handle it but I can see their bodies aging in real time, things that should heal fast just linger, the ones who go to the gym are the worst performers physically on the job.
I halved my hours after just 2 months from 40+ down to about 20, its not worth it for all the time and care you have to spend recovering, managing my off time around recovery took over my life during that first spell and its no way to live.
Doing it for half the time on the other hand has flipped everything 180, my endurance, strength, body comp etc are all at lifetime peaks, I'm 34. I still have to set aside some time to recover after a big shift but it doesnt take over your life the way the full time grind does, a few stretches on the yoga mat and a nap after work and I'm good to go.

>>76458285
I’m in Florida so it’s probably the best route from a financial perspective. My full job criteria is
>pays enough
At minimum can be comfortable as a single man not paycheck to paycheck can save money, or if I meet a woman and have kids can bust ass with OT and move up to support a family.
>active
Brain not built for office work no good too well. Hands on shit I thrive with. I just have to get enough opportunities to do the work and I can learn it. May make some mistakes at first but it’s what I do best with. No same office every day sitting in one place nonstop, I just can’t do it. I can’t even play a video game past a few hours before I need to get up and move around and do something else for a while.
>challenging room for growth etc
>aint gonna kill me
Heard bad shit about welding.
>reasonable commute
I heard where I am with electric if you want consistent work you have to travel pretty far some of the year. HVAC that shouldn’t be a problem.
>fair hours and work life balance
Heard it depends on company. Some offer all the OT you could want but don’t look poorly upon you if you don’t take it, others have this pseudo mandatory OT where if you’re not working 80 hours a week you’ll be the first to get cut. I like the option of being able to take a couple extra shifts when I want or need to but not having to go past 40-50 to look good.


It seems like it ticks all that. I’m clueless still though, BUT I figure worst case scenario getting into that company is a step forward. Gives experience to get into other trades. That’s the root of all my recent stress and anxiety, I feel trapped with no future in current job. Hell, even a helper position would pay more than I make right now.
>low voltage
I didn’t want electrician because I liked electricity it just seemed simpler to just have to learn one thing but fuck that I need the challenge. Is it safer than the stuff electricians do? Again, clueless non tradie that’s probably a dumb question

>>76457952 (OP)
You'll get used to it, just try to avoid doing things the hard way all the time. Always demand the right tools for what you're doing, don't move heavy shit without equipment, if you get minor joint or tendon injuries report it and get light duty until they heal.

>>76458421
I have little experience with Florida's HVAC situation but I assume it's a lot of heat pumps in resi and commercial down there since it doesn't get too cold. Commercial will always keep you busy. I would highly suggest doing commercial. Working in people's shit ass attic or house in general is awful but it will teach ya a lot still.

Low voltage is all communication wiring. 24 volts is just a tickle but it gets a lot more complicated that you're standard 120/240 set up. HVAC is a terrible, but great career. I hate it and love it at the same time just because it is cool to learn and know, but it's also insanely frustrating at times

>>76457952 (OP)
I'm 36 years old and a gardener. I also train four to five days out of the week. Been working physically demanding jobs all my working life.
You do get used to it and you can train effectively too. But I would say train light on your work days for now. To allow your body to fully recover from the stress of the job. Once you don't feel completely destroyed anymore train a bit harder.
Personally I enjoy training hard on days that have been more physically demanding on the job. Maybe deluding myself but feels like I'm gaining extra strength. Due to having to push that little bit extra.
It also helps that I generally love training and look forward to it after a hard day's graft.

>tfw ride my bicycle 10 miles to my ditch digging job 6 days a week working 12s
>go hiking and shit on my off day

I even drink beer

>>76458521
I lived like this for a bit then went camping in the mountains for two months hiking and chopping wood and reading. First time time i ever saw my abs.

>>76458536
based

>>76458260
Gonna tell you right now, bud: that old fucker? Imagine 3-100 of them on any given jobsite and the ones that are """training""" you. Most trade cucks will show you the basics of what you need to do and any other questions you have you're better off looking up the solution yourself. These fuckers don't even invest in their kids let alone their apprentices. If the money is enough for you then it'll buy you time but eventually you'll want to get out unless you develop a substance abuse problem like every other blue collar retard.
>inb4 you post 5 essays like the whiny, bitch-made, autistic mush mouth, DYEL faggot you are about how AN OLD FUCKING MAN is slow, doesn't do his fair share, and is a POS.
You think he's bad? Wait until your foreman is a raging alcoholic who screams like a drill sergeant. You won't last more than a year.

>>76458382
I can kinda relate but I do stock in a supermarket. Im doing okay moneywise so I only work two days a week and lift 3 days. perfect amount of rest.

>>76458599
>outworked by alcoholic

sad

>>76458609
>implying I wasn't the best alcoholic tradie on site
You drink Busch like the retarded redneck you are
I snorted Adderall and drank vodka.
We are not the same.

>>76458599
All the foreman and journeyman Ive worked with have been chill as hell and answer any retarded questions I ask. Maybe you're the cunt

>>76458624
natty daddys and keystone actually

>>76458634
>lebaitfishy.jpg

>>76458382
>34
>warehouse job
>"bro this is all the exercise I need"
I know you look like shit and you're retarded. Shut up, peasant.

Worked in a warehouse packing heavy shit onto trucks for 3 years, you won't gain muscle doing it, it's just not heavy enough and you don't hit hypertrophy (obviously) I didn't even lose much weight either because my diet was absolutely dogshit (diet being 90% of lifting and cutting really is true) But yeah I suggest stretching before you sleep and when you wake up unless you want to feel stiff like a mofo all day.

>>76458599
>look it up yourself
Past basics I may actually prefer that. But again, the basis of my stress is that I’m dealing with that nonsense for min wage and no growth or promotions who isn’t even being constructive. I was clear about that. Idgaf if someone’s calling me a retarded faggot dickcheese mcdoogleson so long as they’re being constructive or letting me know I’m fucking up shit I don’t even mind if I get called a moron right when I start my shift from time to time so long as I’m not being taken advantage of for shits and giggles. They’re two vastly situations what you and I described and I understand you think it’s not, perhaps I didn’t do justice explaining it. What I’m dealing with is do 80% of the work, also play CNA for this senile faggot, also do all the work of our lead because there isn’t one but get the lowest pay, have this lunatic berate me, have him ensure I work UNPAID every shift by leaving too late, then have him claim I’m a lazy junkie to corporate (don’t do drugs and definitely far from lazy) and then taunt me about it. He’s legit just there to have something to do with his final years and had decided he’s gonna make everyone else’s time as insufferable as his left.
>inb4 you reply bitching and crying that this was too long for you to read
Lol okay

>>76458677
>What I’m dealing with is do 80% of the work, also play CNA for this senile faggot, also do all the work of our lead because there isn’t one but get the lowest pay, have this lunatic berate me, have him ensure I work UNPAID every shift by leaving too late, then have him claim I’m a lazy junkie to corporate (don’t do drugs and definitely far from lazy) and then taunt me about it. He’s legit just there to have something to do with his final years and had decided he’s gonna make everyone else’s time as insufferable as his left.
And I'll tell you again: you can expect to do the exact same shit. You like fixing other people's fuck ups? Plenty of that in the trades. You mad when the majority of the crew stands and blabs all day? That too. You hate gossip and backstabbing :O ? Tradesmen gossip worse than high school girls.

But go ahead and tell me I'm wrong.

>>76458260
If you can document that you are doing all the work while he is abusive, take it further up the chain. If he is the boss/owner or no such opportunity exists, brick absolutely everything you can on the way out.

>>76458668
Warehouse work us much less laborious than stuff like trench digging

>>76458701
LOLOLOL We've told this autist to this MULTIPLE times and he never did. He's a special kind of sperg.

>>76457952 (OP)
ai generated goyslop

I worked in a shop that was like a mini market for mostly women stuff but just general shit like deodorant etc, it was 4 months of pure hell on my lower back, the work itself wasn't too physically demanding, I lift heavier stuff at the gym but it was only me and 2 other dudes taking care of the whole thing, I had to wake up at 6am to gym and worked from 10 to 6.

The most challenging aspect of it for me was reaching the lower parts of the shelves to organize items, doing that everyday for hours felt like my lower back was pretty close to snap city, my wrists also got fucked from all the repetitive shit, having to go up concrete stairs while holding 60kg+ worth of products also didn't help, I started using a working belt to make it better but after 4 months I just quit, extremely slave work that will fuck up ur body overtime all of that while having a bitch manager on ur ears saying you're too slow, it was also affecting my performance at gym as I was slowly losing weight.

>>76458696
That’s not at all what you originally described and this is the first I’ve heard this. If true then yeah that blows but at the end of the day all of that is bearable if I’m paid enough and can actually have the opportunity (by way of experience) to monkey branch companies until I find one with very little of that. That’s the difference and once again the core of what I’ve been bitching about. I’m doing the work of 4 people for min wage. My job, this old fucks job, the lead, and a CNA. My entire point is I am trapped in a min wage job with no growth or any higher opportunities unless I want to remain min wage for the next decade for a MAYBE to get promoted if someone retires. I get in as a helper if probably start at $18-$20, get to apprentice and within like 5 years make $25-$30 in my area which is enough to build savings and be comfortable for me. All the BS you and I described is easily ignored FOR ME if my criteria is mostly met and again, at my current job it is not. There also wouldn’t be WORKING UNPAID which whether you think I’m wrong about everything else or not you know damn well is fucking lunacy
>just go to school and -
No
>get this office / WFH / any sit down behind a screen / desk with people all day job
No

>>76457952 (OP)
you did it backwards bro wtf you doing, you're supposed to do the backcrunching labor in your teens and 20s

>>76458701
I can sorta document it but it’s no real proof. Just a physical paper where I can check off what I’ve done and show them it’s consistently 80% of the work. He’s not an owner or boss. He literally admits he’s just there to have something to do. He gets 100% disability from the VA ($3k; and no he didn’t see combat or even work he was an MP who somehow got sent for free college while in during Vietnam and got sent abroad for his MP training then after his MP training was discharged because his contract ended). He has at least one rich step son and another who is well off who have offered to retire him and he refuses. He’d rather take out all his anger over his shit life on everyone around him and get paid to do it. This fag is paid to do shit, more than me, and I’m the one doing it all.
>>76458711
Dude I’m afraid to do it idk what the outcome is. I’m literally worried it will result in me getting fired somehow. The most realistic case scenario
>complain to boss
>he gets slap on wrist, pulls his “I’m just a sweet old man” shtick, now they all think I’m some kind of asshole
>he gets 100x worse
>I start doing shit my way, match his pace and at leave time if the work is undone just go home and let him stay if he wants
>regional manager gets involved and starts bitching at me for leaving
>tell him they have to pay me to work later than that time
>get fired for it but they use old guys word of mouth BS as excuse because has convinced them I’m the one being mean to him
>can’t pay bills

>>76458711
You know what tomorrow I’m just going to bait him. When he tries to complain about Hispanics/blacks I’m gonna lie and say my [family member is race] and insinuate he’s being an asshole, let him start going apeshit, leave call boss and say he’s being racist and then also mention all the other shit. Idgaf if they do fire him and I find a job a week later this is retarded

>>76457952 (OP)
If you are really feeling the physicallity of the job, it's probably just the combination of inexperience of just how physically some tasks need to be completed combined with some basic muscle growth wich should ease up in a month or two.
Generally you really shouldn't be using strength too much while working since when the time comes that something needs to be done asap with only muscle and a fear of death you need to be able to bring your top performance.
At least in my country the non assisted carrying limit for a person (by work safety standards) is around 20kg that you get used to carrying after a while, so after the initial shock work days are more just a long cardio session after which I can easily go workout.
But yeah get familiar with the osha standards in your country and especially the physical labor parts so you have a clear idea of just how much physical force you are actually required to use.

>>76457952 (OP)
i threatened to quit my job because i never had the energy for the gym
they reduced my hours to 3 days a week
less pay, but im getting my health back, which is something money can't buy

>>76459003
bro i got an apple watch and realized it had a voice recorder app
i started baiting my coworkers and supervisors into conversations that would cause them to snitch on themselves

i got so many recordings stacked up i have a literal red button i can press to bring the whole company down and sue the fuck outta them if i want to

>>76459201
this sounds made up. you would be at 1 day or ''we'll call ya'' by now.

Love tradies simple as, officecels on sucicide watch getting longhoused by HR

>>76459003
>STILL won't document like he has been told a million times
>"bro i'm going to lie and try and cause unnecessary drama"
I hope he immediately knows what you're doing and clowns your ass. Watching your saga, I'd say you're not as hard working as you say you are. From now on your nickname in threads I see you in will be Bitch-Boi

>>76457952 (OP)
I only lift during weekends. As you age you need to get a foreman job or you will rekt yourself over time.

>>76458710
Very true and you do not have to work in the sun

>>76459247
I'm a wedding filmaker and you are kinda right but i can't stop lifting. I only film during the weekends but it's 14h+ days where i carry shit around and never sit down. It's brutal at the body, foremans only work 3h a day

>>76458599
Did a tradie fuck ur wife or something bro?

>>76457952 (OP)
You should quit your job and focus on the gym instead. Oh wait you want to upgrade your ford ranger and write it off as a tax expense, good goy.

>>76459234
>>STILL won't document like he has been told a million times
Where did anyone say this? I’ve always been outspoken about the year long log of incidents dated and timestamped. Are you just saying random bullshit because you have old faggot fetish?
>"bro i'm going to lie and try and cause unnecessary drama
In other words “wah wahhh wahhhhh” lol. Realistically he’s gonna die in horrible emotional pain alone and conscious to it while it’s happening.
>Report him already
>wow you’re getting ready to actually do it I hope it doesn’t work
you are a woman / brown. It makes no difference if I tell him I have a non white family member vs if I wait the inevitable week for him to just start screaming nigger again. One I can ensure comes faster both serve as a reason to contact the boss. You clearly haven’t worked many jobs and your emotional state at my situation is bizzare

>>76457952 (OP)
Your body will adjust once you’ve put in a few months. Just make sure when you are picking shit up to not be afraid of asking for help. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen retards want to show how big their dick is by lifting heavy shit to show how strong they are only to be out the next week because their back or shoulder got fucked. Asking favors is a good way to build relationships with dudes you don’t work with much on a job site just make sure it doesn’t look like you’re trying to get out of doing work.

>>76458609
>doing work
sadder

>>76459276
>just be a NEET goy stay home and suck money just like a nigger
You’ll grow up some day lil bro

>>76458599
>You think he's bad? Wait until your foreman is a raging alcoholic who screams like a drill sergeant. You won't last more than a year.
Someone got bullied off the job site KEK

>>76457952 (OP)
Tradeywagey here. You must hydrate, strength training, adequately eat and rest accordingly. Adjustments will be made and deloads need to be factored in. I work outside in the southern heat all week and train 3-4x a week sometimes even after doing hour long attic crawls lol shit sucks but its part of being a man.

>>76459633
>You clearly haven’t worked many jobs and your emotional state at my situation is bizzare
Projection or bait. See you this week in the Monday thread for your inevitable essay long bitchfest, Bitch-Boi

>>76457952 (OP)
44 electrician for 20 years, been in construction since I was 17 (not a drop out just graduated early but not good enough grades to get into decent colleges).
As you age you need to take it a little slower, I was always physically active, usually biking, but around my early 30's I started lifting too. Then I a little after 40 I tore my shoulder and that slowed me down, and then again on the other shoulder a few years later. I still lift a little but its not 6 days a week its like 2-3, and some biking on the weekends.
Really what you need to do is stop lifting as heavy and work on all the balancing muscles to even everything out and stay healthy. Stretching even more than normal is a good thing to add. You aren't going to keep up with people in their 20's anymore, so don't try and instead let them do the work while you direct more. Another hard part is not eating like shit all the time, lots of dudes start eating from gas stations too much.

>>76458019
lol at the lightest tool kit thing... dude you are misguided as fuck on this one.

>>76460586
No he's not. The only non electrician trade I can think of with lighter shit is insulators, but their job is horrible

>>76460692
My bags weigh 20lbs and I have a 300lb gang box and usually have a rolling cart to keep the rest of the tools I can't carry and parts with me.. most of the other trades don't even where bags.

>>76459876
>i-im not upset over someone else’s situation y-you’re projecting
lol, lmao

>>76457952 (OP)
I'm an ex yard worker aka yardie and I was required to work with trades people with a computing/IT office.

I'm late 30's and had to start really slow on free mid light pulley weights, if you are remotely built at all they will use you(clean under this heavy box or lift the whole server rack clean under it, dismantle it clean all the other servers and com boxes)...

>>76460721
You don't count shit on wheels brother. The other trades don't wear bags cause our shit is too heavy for one. That's why we get carts.

>>76460721
>my bag weighs 20 lbs
When i did concrete i had a 15 lb mini skedge in my tool belt when forming, which was the easy part.

>>76457952 (OP)
I'd try to optimize my recovery if I were you. Drink lots of clean (filtered) water, maybe start taking a green powder supervitamin brand. Take black or red maca. Maybe do some stuff to clean your colon out. Eating is one thing but how you process stress and foodstuffs is another entirely, part of the recovering process.

>>76457952 (OP)
I've been a toiler my whole working life for the most part, 34 now. Strangely enough, I've hit numerous PRs after fairly strenuous days of work. My theory is that all the non maximal physical stuff at do at work primes my cns and makes sure my muscles are full and warmed up. I cant think of another explanation. On the other side of it, on my days off, I have to wait for at least 3-4 hours after I wake/eat/caffeine/shower before I'm able to be my very best in the gym. For a while I tried to wake up and lift before work, but always felt weak and flat regardless of having pre workout and some carbs before.
Even if you feel fried from work, hit the gym anyway, you might surprise yourself.

Most important thing perhaps is make sure you aren't over stressing your back, any time you need to reach for something here's the best way

>>76457952 (OP)
I've worked in an outdoor lumberyard for 5 years, at first I was able to lift heavy shit all day at work and still powerlift 3x a week but one or the other had to change after a year. Eventually I kept fucking up my shoulders and elbows too. I ended up just excepting that I can only workout twice a week and I mainly hit exercises that either work on chest or help my shoulders for work. I'm unable to gain weight at all unless I eat about 3200 calories a day. Only good thing about my job is the pay relative to how cheap rent is where I live and the fact that it gets extremely cold in winter meaning for about 4-5 months a year I'm just shoveling snow and trying to stay warm. However the cold magnifies joint pain in winter meaning I'm popping ibuprofen kinda often.

>>76462302
Well I guess if you were smarter you wouldn't have to work so hard. But hey you sure are big and tough.

>>76462845
Im becoming an electrician. Cant wait. Im around them a lot and their job is super easy.

>>76462534
Gigachink

>>76463217
I hope you get stuck pulling copper 500's tray cable for 6 months

>>76463848
I hope you never find out what real labor is like because it would break you

>>76463869
Your right I only know what skilled labor is. But soon you will see for a moment what it's like and probably be fired soon after.