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2003/02/07, 05:57 PM
I want to talk about how and why we lift. This is something that I think a lot of the newer members should know. I am not talking about the motivation of workingout, nor am I talking about the actual lift itself. I am talking about why we do a set at a predetermined weight. For instance, you are doing chest, you know on that day outside of a warmup set or 2 you will complete 3-4 sets of bench pressing(bb or db). You also know when you go in what weight you will do. Why, did you pick that weight and that number of sets? The answer is that, most were told either by a trainer, friend, website, book, what-have-you. But, Most if not all of us miss the best source of information of all........our bodies. Yep that is right, you will not only make better gains, and faster at that if you listen to what your body tells you. Now I am not saying to not follow some type of direction, it is needed. But what use is that direction if you just spin you wheels? I have been there as have most of us at some point. You know what I mean you read some routine or see some one that looks like you want to. So you follow what they do to the letter. Of course sometimes it works, but most of us never see the results. Because that routine works for them. It is thru trial and error that we find those exercises and weight levels that work. I know that sense I have been listen ing to my body, I have made huge gains. I know that even though I am to lift for chest and for so many reps at this weight, I will be ok if I do not get that each time. This needs some clairifaction: I am not saying that you should not care to make progress on the reps and weights. What I am saying that if you have down to lift 225 10 times and only get 205 8 but you gave it your best that it is ok. Always strive to reach that goal. But do not be afraid to use less weight or increase the reps or add another set at the spur of the moment if that is what it takes to REALLY TRULY work that muscle. I think that most get caught up in reaching that magic rep number and forget that sometimes the body needs different levels of intensity to get it right. That in the end is what makes the difference. I know this is hard to understand, for me it took many years. But really think about it your best workouts and you will realize that most if not all were when you really tested either you strength or endurance, and not when you hit 3 sets of 10 for bp, then got 3 sets of 10 incline etc. I hope this made some lights go off and that I actually made sense! Have a great weekend!
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IF YOU CAN STILL ITCH YOUR NOSE AFTER ARM DAY, GO DO ANOTHER SET!!!
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2003/02/07, 06:01 PM
Some great points mutt. Good job, and keep it up.
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Michael
"Trample the weak; hurdle the dead!"
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2003/02/13, 04:03 AM
some good points there mutt....its interesting to know that the body doesnt know if you are lifting 150lbs or 250lbs so there are ways to manipulate your workout in order to trick the muscles. This in mind - i would never reccomend working with numbers in your workout - i see people in the gym every day just going through the motions obsessed by completing x amount of sets or reps.
I think its fair to say it takes time before you can listen to what your body is saying - when you have this skill you will see the best gains and best progress.
Theres not a better feeling in the world than when you have just hit a body part hard in the gym - its pumped - its fatigued and as walk out the gym you KNOW its gonna grow.
keep it fun and stay focused - good luck!!
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2003/02/13, 11:04 AM
How true.
My major training breakthrough came when one day I just thought "F*** it, I'm going to see how heavy I can lift". Previously I thought I had been lifting about as heavy as I could, but obviously not because I virtually doubled the weights I was using for most exercises (at the time just upper body dumbell freeweights, mainly). I was doing shoulder presses thinking "hang on- 2 days ago I was thinking I was failing at 10 reps of 6kg, now I'm lifting 9kg for just as many reps". I am reassessing my personal understanding of the word "failure" on an almost daily basis at the moment.
I think particularly women are unwlling to push the envelope a bit further. When I see the pink dumbell brigade at work in the gym I just want to yank them out of their hands and give 'em some proper iron!
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2003/02/13, 12:09 PM
I am glad to have read this post and responses. It really got me to thinking about my workout, too.
Hey GymKitten....I have turquoise dumbells, but getting ready to buy just regular "iron"... :-)
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Life is short....pray hard!
Pamela
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2003/02/13, 12:49 PM
You go, girlfriend!!
Just don't be frightened to lift what you're capable of (with good form!!!!!)- and don't let any misguided gym dorks tell you otherwise. It drives me mad in the gym when I see girls doing pec flyes and dumbell curls with 1 kilo (2lb) in each hand. Hmm, funnily enough they're the girls with the perfect makeup and the skinny but flabby arms...
Atthe moment I am enjoying conducting various gym experiments with my body. Some work, some don't ut at least I know how far I can go. Don't be afraid just to try something once- even if it means not doing an exercise set in your "routine".
Best of luck
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2003/02/13, 03:11 PM
long ago, and I repeat long ago, i was one of those girls. When I joined the gym I was petrified to go into the actual free weight room! All i saw in there were these huge muscle men and some extremely cut women who looked like they were on steroids. after 5 months of machine exercising and using the pretty colored free weight (LOL), i joined a kickboxing class and my instructor, thank god for him saw me at the sissy weights and said, "Hey Bettia, i've seen you kick the crap out of some of these guys in the class, don't you think its about time you did it with real weights!" He took me right in, got me started on the irons and actual barbell exercises, which i had never done before and before you know it, i was hooked! I am so glad someone to the time to help me out and let me know that i could do more than I actually thought i could.
doesn't it feel so awesome to push yourself and succeed in doing what you never thought you could?
I love it!
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Bettia.... When you feel like giving up, take it to the limit one more time!! You will SUCEED :-)
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2003/02/14, 01:06 PM
Well said mutt.
A lot of more progressively thinking trainers prefer perceived exertion to other loading methods. Even the most well designed routine can tell you to lift 80% of your 1RM for 5 reps, but the formula doesn't apply to everyone. Everyone's bodies are different and ultimately it comes back to all sorts of factors (neural training level, metabolic training level, muscle fiber breakdown, etc.) to determine whether 80% of your 1RM is optimal for those 5 reps. The absolute best way to find out what loading scheme is optimal in any workout is simply to try it and see.
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"Don't follow leaders and watch your parking meters!"
-- Bob Dylan
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