Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 383, Messages: 54581

Various general exercise related discussions. Find out what it takes to reach your fitness goals through daily effective exercise. With so many options we try to find out what works best.

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Gaining muscle program 8-week Diary

mjroche21
mjroche21
Posts: 58
Joined: 2003/08/27
United Kingdom
2005/01/24, 06:51 AM
Just started the 8-week program of gaining muscle mass. Thought I’d keep a diary of events to keep me motivated. Just posting this to see if other people can relate to my experiences.

Day one – Monday 24th January 2005

I did 5 minutes on the rowing machine just to warm up, and then I started weight training

The first exercise was wide grip machine pull downs. Stupidly I started on a high weight and by the end of the 1st set (20 reps) my arms were killing. Anyway I lowered the weight and managed to do sets of 15, 12 and then decided to go higher for the last 10. This exercise was ok but by the end my arms hadn’t known what hit them, I felt so weak, but good in a way because I know my arms were responding to the weights.

The second exercise was supposed to be the one-arm cable rows but I couldn’t find them so I skipped them, lol – Any suggestions for other exercises that thicken outer lats/middle back or that have similar effects the one arm cable rows?

Next was the machine incline press. I managed to complete the first set of 20, but could only manage 12 of the next. I had to stop, my arms felt so drained of any strength. I did want to continue but I decided it was time to move on.

Seated machine flyes was next. Looking at the machine I thought my arms will not be able to complete this, but surprisingly I managed to complete all the sets, 2/3 on a relatively low weight, but never-the-less I was pleased

The final exercise was calf raises. I thought this was easy, and the 1st set was, but after the last set my calves were feeling it.

Overall a good first day of my 8-week program, I did feel better afterwards, just hope I can keep it up.

I do have a question if anyone has read this far, does anyone work really hard in the first few excericses and then not have enough strength to complete the last few?
7707mutt
7707mutt
Posts: 7,686
Joined: 2002/06/18
United States
2005/01/24, 07:38 AM
When you first start out yes you will feel weak happens to me each time after a good lay off. On the first exercise, you shold lower the weight this exercise is meant for the lats and upper back so you should focus on pulling with those muscle groups and try to leave the arms outta it, hard I know. For the second I hate one arm cable rows, you can do a number of different exercises one is one arm dumbell rows, my favorite is bent over barbel rows. As for the machine incline press just lower the weight for the first week or two...

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If you can itch your nose after arm day...do another set!

7707mutt@freetrainers.com
asimmer
asimmer
Posts: 8,201
Joined: 2003/01/07
United States
2005/01/24, 08:13 AM
Also - make sure you have eaten enough and are adequately hydrated.
Rest between sets, usually about a minute is enough for the muscles to recover enough for the next set.

Sounds like you are working hard! Keep it up!

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Get er done