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2003/05/20, 05:30 PM
I WAS GOING TO POST THIS IN THE POWERLIFTING FORUM BUT THOUGHT MORE WOULD READ IT HERE
I hope more than those powerlifting read this as I think a lot can benefit from it. Heavy lifting, what does that really mean? Is it people like Rev8ball who are stronger than an ox? or is it people like you and me that for each lift, move as much as we can. From benching 90lbs to those that bench 400lbs what is heavy lifting? I think it is both. Here is why, for those that lift 90lbs and it is the absoulte heaviest they can, they are then powerlifting, in their own right. On the other hand those lifting 400lbs and that is the absoulte max they can do are powerlifting. I think most think that to lift heavy you need a lot of weight, I say it is all realtive to your strength. That said I have heard, many people talking about how they will never lift that heavy, or that they never seem to gain in weight used. I also have looked at what they do in terms of routine. All, and I include my self in this, use mostly the same weights each time they go. I have seen people benching, with the same 3 sets of weights for a year or more. I know this cause i did it. I would go and do the standard 3 sets of 10 reps, i would never move the weight till I got the 3 sets of 10 reps, then move up but only by 5-10lbs and go on and on and on. Is there anything wrong with that? No not at first i saw some progress, but nothing like I do now. I made a goal of increasing my bench (among others but it is a good example), by 50 lbs. I did so on march 26th of this year I hit 250 for 6 reps. My best to that date was 200 for 10 reps. I realized as i was working to this goal that I was afraid. Afraid of what you ask? Well for one the obvious of the weight. I work out with out a spotter and thought I was being safe, which I was. But, i asked for a spotter and made my goal. I also broke the "3 sets of 10 reps" chain. I now work under if I do not make the desired rep range I lower the weight and pump out as many as I can. I mean I took this philosophy to every exercise i do. I went from 240 as my best deadlift to 315, i went from 275 for barbell shrugs to 445. In just four months! Now I also used great form when i could and never realy used bad form. I also warmed up a lot and was very carefull. Will this work for all, no. However, if you are one of those like I was that really wanted to lift like the big guy I am (still have a lot of lifting to go), then give it a try. Do not be afraid to lift a weight where you might fail, instead of going to the 10 reps, add the weight on till you can just get 6, then next week get 8 etc. You will add mass and weight to you workouts, and may even surprise yourself as to what you can do.
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deadlifts rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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2003/05/20, 06:08 PM
That is what "cheating" is all about! Sometimes, in order to break a plateau or even a mental block, "cheating" of some sort is in order. Your muscles have to "feel" that heavier weight so they can adapt to it. The body does this very good, and you can shock it sometimes very easily till it realizes what you are doing. This is by "cheating", in other words throwing form out the window in favor of not so good form but moving the weight any way you can. When you drop back down to your normal weight, voila', it is all of a sudden easier. Your body has taken the cue and adapted to the bigger loads. There are many ways this is acoomplished. Beginners, do not ever throw out form though!! This is a method for advanced trainers. I made a post a while back on great shock methods, will try to find it and repost it. Great job by the way MUTT!
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As far as genetics go, the skies the limit. You are limited only by your mental perception of it.
Ron
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2003/05/20, 06:30 PM
You are absolutely right, Mutt! That was one of the reasons I got into Powerlifting to begin with.
My brother was an NPC bodybuilder in the early 80s, and I used to love going to the comps, and even watching him train. I realized then my love for the iron game. However, it soon became apparent to me that body building was too subjective, and all I ever heard were guys comparing themselves to each other - not that that is a bad thing, just not for me. So, I found powerlifting. What I love the most about it is that it is more objective: basically, you either move the weight or you don't. And, I also found that guys tend to really stick to their weight class when it comes to comparisons. For example, I found in body building 180 pound guys trying to compare themselves with a 300 pound monster, and in return, that monster degrading the smaller guy. However, strength athletes can have good discussions with each other about their lifts, no matter what the weight class - I can have a legitimate conversation with Anthony Clark regarding bench technique, without ever feeling inadequate. The fact that he benched almost 100 pounds more than I ever squatted doesn't intimidate me for the fact that, when he did it, he weighed 125 pounds more than me!
For those of you who are in to body building, please don't take this as an insult; I don't mean it as one. I just found personally that I enjoyed the competition between me all by myself and gravity much more satisfying. Just lift the weight that is a challenge for you, and keep challenging yourself. Don't worry about anyone else...
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Michael
"Trample the weak; hurdle the dead!"
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2003/05/20, 07:20 PM
I love this post. :) Why? Because I always feel like a weakling compared to others in the gym. But to me, I AM powerlifting! :p Great post.
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~Jennifer
http://www.gwindalyn.com
If you dont stand for something, you will fall for anything.
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2003/05/20, 09:20 PM
All Hail Powerlifting (woooooo hooooooo). Nothing feels better.
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2003/05/20, 09:37 PM
AMEN!!! Think about the first thing a lot of people ask about bodybuilders: "I wonder how much they can lift/bench/etc....." Sure, they can bench/squat/deadlift more than I can, but put those guys in the World's Strongest Man comp and see how they do. Power training is the ONLY way to get really strong. Mass workouts usually will not increase your bench by 70lbs in just a few months. I love feeling the bar loaded down with weight resting on my shoulders before I do heavy squats. I HAVE to push that weight up out of fear of being crushed. The fear of failure never crosses my mind. Failure is the name of the game for mass training (working 'til failure, complete muscle failure, etc). In power training, failure is NOT an option.
I am already addicted to powerlifting and I can't wait until next week when I start training super-heavy again (this mass training thing is boring me).
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--JBennett
"I've up-ed my intensity.... now up yours!"
"Pain is only weakness leaving the body."
"Never think of how weak you are; think of how strong you're going to be."
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2003/05/21, 12:54 PM
This is such a great post, and timely too. I spent the last 2 years doing the same thing. Insisting that I had to get 3 sets of 15 reps of a certain weight before moving up, and then moving only 5-10 pounds. Recently I started working out with my husband and the first time he added 50 lbs to my leg press instead of my usual 10 I didn't think I would be able to do it. Well I did it and have continued to move up all of my weights progressively heavier and heavier for the last month and I am so excited now. Even if I can only do 5 or 6 reps with help on the last one (which I never counted as I thought it was cheating) I now know that this is still progress. Yesterday, I almost caught up with him on those overhead extensions for triceps, and we were the same on kickbacks! Yippee!
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2003/05/22, 05:29 PM
Here is something else that ties in to this to I think. I see a lot of posts on this site and others that I go to where a lot of debate and talk center around "how much you lift on this " etc. Why? What good does it serve? I mean if you truly want to know what others lift that is fine, but a lot are posting this to well "brag". Now true delight when you reach a goal (as i did I will brag about it ) is different. But this thumping of the chest just to make you feel better is wrong. Another post that I see is "why did you start BB?" THe top 3 answers are always, 1 get women. 2 fight better, 3 look good. While these reasons in them selves are not bad if that is the onyl reason then you are so missing the point. This sport is not about impressing others. It is not about, who can lift the most, cause frankly that sayibng "their is always someone bigger and stronger" is true. No it is not even about getting healthy that is a added feature. This goes deep into our racial memories as humans, where and when we had to be strong and fast in order to survive. This goes back to our warrior days. We are fighters, warriors of the iron game, I have read that term somewhere and took it cause I liked it. I do this to beat the weight. Getting stronger and fit and maybe more appealing to someone elses eyes are all great, but I want to lift that weight. That is my only reason for going to the gym....those obsessed with the "6-pac" look, the gotta have the right clothes etc, well good for you, but you will not find me in there sweating so average joe on the street that can hardly push his lawnmower can be happy to see me. I hope this made some sense! Lift hard and forever!
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deadlifts rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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