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getting stronger

MLSTAMOUR Posts: 12 Joined: 2003/03/03	2003/08/20, 03:01 AM Hi all....I've been weight training for about 6 months now and don't feel like i'm getting stronger, especially in the shoulders. I lift the same amount of weight and if i go up 10 lbs it feels too heavy. Any ideas on how to get stronger?? thanks!
kirby00 Posts: 238 Joined: 2002/11/05	2003/08/20, 12:31 PM What kind of shoulder stuff have you been doing? Kirby
rev8ball Posts: 3,081 Joined: 2001/12/27	2003/08/20, 12:45 PM Here are a few things to look at: 1. Your routine. How long have you been doing the same one? The body adapts quickly to stress, so maybe you're stuck in "a rut." 2. Diet. Are you eating enough? When training for strength, sufficient Kcals are VERY important, especially carbs. 3. Rest. Are you getting enough? Muscles can only grow (size and strength) when you get rest. No matter how hard you lift, if you're not resting enough, your muscles can't repair themselves. Hope this helps....... -------------- Michael Trample the weak; hurdle the dead! Chaos, Panic, Disorder.... Yes, my work here is done!
MLSTAMOUR Posts: 12 Joined: 2003/03/03	2003/08/21, 05:17 AM For my shoulders i do shoulder press, lateral raises (machine) and front raises.
MLSTAMOUR Posts: 12 Joined: 2003/03/03	2003/08/21, 05:20 AM thanks for the input michael. I need to change my routine a bit. I feel that i'm eating and sleeping enough (that has never been a problem!)
Philia2 Posts: 4,078 Joined: 2001/10/19	2003/08/21, 06:15 AM I just worked my shoulders last night.... I'm just like you; I want a lot more strength. What I do is "funny" things like stand up push ups (legs in the air) and lots of power lifting moves like clean and press. I'm slowly getting stronger (and yesterday I did 3 sets of 10 DB presses with 26.5lbs (12kg) in each hand....) Just be careful of getting the needed recovery in between each work out and of course, warm up very well your shoulders before any serious lifting. -------------- - Nina :o) Les Victoires éternelles sont celles du coeur.
Deby Posts: 333 Joined: 2002/08/05	2003/08/21, 10:14 AM Nina, can you explain the Stand Up Push Up a little better. I am just starting to do push ups and was thinking this might be a good one to try. BOY 26.5 lbs, I can do 3 sets of 10 using 10 lbs and that is a stretch!!! That is awesome!!! -------------- Gramma
MLSTAMOUR Posts: 12 Joined: 2003/03/03	2003/08/22, 02:50 AM Nina, What are db presses??? Also, what ways do you recommend to warm up the shoulder area. I do arm circles usually.
Philia2 Posts: 4,078 Joined: 2001/10/19	2003/08/22, 04:08 AM 1)The stand up push ups is with your feet up in the air and the head down...... Your shoulders carry your entire body weight (it's a killer and even today I can only do half ones!!!) 2)Dumbbell presses; take a look under the exercise description and you'll find it. What I do for warm up? Lots of arm circles, shoulder raising and reps with very low weight. -------------- - Nina :o) Les Victoires éternelles sont celles du coeur.
skinnyrobin Posts: 224 Joined: 2002/05/10	2003/08/22, 04:39 AM stand up push ups??? wow! i nearly thought u were kidding. u must be really fit! u also need great balance to be able to do that right?
Deby Posts: 333 Joined: 2002/08/05	2003/08/22, 10:43 AM I have a very difficult time with push ups in general but WOW!!! I have been trying to do the push ups using the exercise ball and can't do those YET!! I may be way to old for stand up ones. -------------- Gramma
azredhead57 Posts: 1,651 Joined: 2003/04/11	2003/08/22, 06:19 PM db presses are dumbbell presses, usually straight up in the air from your shoulders. These can be done with the smith-machine instead of db's. I warm up my shoulders by doing a stretching exercise with an exercise band tied to a pole or handle. I want to ask you why are you trying to go up 10# at a time? Can't you go up 2.5# or 5# at a time. I do this especially if 10# is just too heavy. That way you work up to it and don't feel so defeated right off the bat. -------------- ~Victoria~ ...There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.--Beverly Sills
MLSTAMOUR Posts: 12 Joined: 2003/03/03	2003/08/25, 03:11 AM hi victoria, I have been using the shoulder press machine and the plates go up in 10 lb increments. I should try the free weights and increase gradually....! Michelle
azredhead57 Posts: 1,651 Joined: 2003/04/11	2003/08/25, 04:17 PM Definitely go with the free weights! I could never get past 40# on the shoulder press or chest press machines, so I quit them and never looked back. Now I am up to the 30# db's for shoulder press, or 95# on the smith machine. And I'm up to the 40# db's for flat bench db press for chest, which is 2x the weight I was stuck on with the machine press. Good luck. Another thought, at our gym even though the machines go up in mostly 10# inrements, they have 2 little black 2.5# weights that can be added to the stack. I utilize these a lot when I get stuck. Especially on individual arm exercises as 10# is almost always more than I can handle. -------------- ~Victoria~ ...There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.--Beverly Sills