Sean Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 I'm getting really burnt, not making the gains I was, and it's so frustrating. I have changed my lifting program at the advice of many, and my gains have slowed down and pretty much halted. But I honestly don't know if it's because I changed my workout or because I kind of hit a plateau. I tend to get stuck around this strength point, I did years ago as well. I'm open to recommendations. Here's my workout:3 sets of each exercise, 10 reps each, every other day workout. Day 1squatsleg curlsback pull downsrowsbarbell curls Day 2benchincline flyshoulder pressdb french pressside raises Thoughts, tips, any ideas on how to really build up a bit more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 What weights are you using? Might also be worth thinking about periodisation rather than just sticking to 3x10. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willpeavy Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 If I were you I would try experimenting with different things. For example, you could try doing one set of 15 reps for each exercise, with 2 days on 1 day off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rrettyu Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 I think the periodization idea is a great idea. Either you should drop down and work back up (a la Pavel), or you could try doing something like 3x3 at 80%+ max for a while, to give yourself time to recover a bit. It seems like your reps are kind of high? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted May 27, 2006 Author Share Posted May 27, 2006 I'm not following the periodization. How does that work? What I've been doing is throwing in a different exercise here and there, that seems to be working a bit better, and gets me out of the rut. Like today I did incline bench, then flat bench narrow grip, then regular flys. I was at vitamin world today and started looking at some things, does anyone use any products prior to working out? I used creatine years ago and I think that it did help me out but I seemed to lose it after the cycle. Anyone use anything else, there's a ton out there. In the last few weeks I had a cup of caffinated green tea before the gym(liftng, not before cardio) and it gave me a little boost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 Periodization means starting with a lighter weight for more reps and building up, over a period, to a higher weight for fewer reps. It gives the body a new stimulus, teaches it to lift heavier, and adds muscle mass. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted May 27, 2006 Author Share Posted May 27, 2006 Periodization means starting with a lighter weight for more reps and building up, over a period, to a higher weight for fewer reps. It gives the body a new stimulus, teaches it to lift heavier, and adds muscle mass. JonathanSo for example, do 3 sets, one set of 20 reps to failure, then more weight 12 reps to failure, then more weight, 5 reps to failure? Or is it over a several workout span? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan Posted May 29, 2006 Share Posted May 29, 2006 Don't go to failure. It's usually pretty for consistant progression, and will fry your CNS (central nervous system). So I use bench as an example. Say your 1rm is 100kg. Week one:3x8x70kg Week two:3x6x75kg Week three:3x5x80kg Week four:3x4x85kg Week five:3x3x90kg Week six:2x2x95kg Week seven:Max out and get 105kg Even if you are not training for strength, it's important to do strength cycles in order to give you the strength to increase mass. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odidnetne Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 You're probably right, it probably isn't your lifting change that did it (you have quite a detailed view on your workouts too). I'd suggest doing what I just did, and starting a food/nutritional log in the Online Journal's section. Maybe if this continues, you might see that you're starting to lack somewhere in carbs/proteins/calories/etc, and might be able to credit it to something outside of exercise/fitness, like more hours at work. Then again, Jonathan's idea is a pretty good one too though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted May 30, 2006 Author Share Posted May 30, 2006 hmm, interesing, I'll give it a shot. Do you get typicall good results? guess that I'm not realy in a total slump, I mean I'm making smalle gains, like an extra rep here and there until I go up in weights, I'm just not adding an extra 5lbs per exercise per workout like I was before. So I guess I just hit a slow spot, inevitable, or else I'd be frickin huge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 You aren't going to be able to make newbie gains forever unfortunately. I mean I have been gaining consistently with only a few plateaus but I am lucky to add 10lbs to a lift over a 6week routine, and this is just normal. As regards the effectiveness of periodisation, it is good. Especially as you haven't done it before, you should see really good results. It will increase your strength and muscle mass. Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarz Posted May 30, 2006 Share Posted May 30, 2006 Vary your exercises. Try something different for your muscle groups. Do the same old workout all the time and your body will adapt to that....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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