Thread: primary goals poll

how bout all three?

Originally posted by Yanick
how bout all three?

i knew someone would ask that. thats why i said PRIMARY you can't possibly train for all 3 with maximum efficency.

for example, you can a routine for optimal results in strenght, sure you would get bigger, but it wouldn't be the most efficent way to do it. and vice versa.

everybody leans towards something.

STRENGTH!!!!!

and if those lagging parts get improvment with it then I wont complain!

Vanity

I train so that I get bigger and stronger. I care more about strength, but I kind of train equally for both.

Just curious but why do you care more about strength?

strength/ sports related improvements

ever heard of periodization?

Yanick: ever heard of periodization?

...

Of course.

Originally posted by derekisdman
Just curious but why do you care more about strength?

to kickass and move heavy stuff.....

I voted body/comp changes, but strength runs a close second. When I first started training several years ago, my primary objective was pure strength. As I've gained strength, my focus has shifted to more body composition.

To those who ask, why strength. When I first started, I could barely bench 115 and felt like a big pansy. So I focused more on strength. It's a real feeling of accomplishment to bench over 300 now, although in the grand scheme of things its not really that important.

Originally posted by Arthur2004
to kickass and move heavy stuff.....

If you wanna kickass you should be taking some fighting classes

I could care less about strength.

I'd rather look like Ronnie Coleman and have Gary Coleman's strength than look like Gary Coleman and be as strong as Ronnie.

Therefore, gimme size and muscle
you guys can keep your strength

when already had this exact same thing...

I voted for body
b/c right now im not happy about my body at all really

but i love strength

Originally posted by Flex
I could care less about strength.

I'd rather look like Ronnie Coleman and have Gary Coleman's strength than look like Gary Coleman and be as strong as Ronnie.

Therefore, gimme size and muscle
you guys can keep your strength

Ah, but to look like Ronnie, you have to lift incredibly heavy weight. Like 200 lb dumbells for 12 reps, 800 lb deadlift for 2 reps, etc. You don't get that big by lifting pink dumbells.

Big Ron ...

body comp changes #1

sports performance #2

strength #2A

I enjoy doing triathlons, and it gives me a fitness goal

Its all about the looks for me although increasing strength motivates me.

Ive found im strong enough to do most things if not all thing i want to do (with the exception for a couple sexual positions)

why do you need to be stronger than you are now?

The day I look exactly how I want to, I move straight to body maintenance

Originally posted by Yanick
i knew someone would ask that. thats why i said PRIMARY you can't possibly train for all 3 with maximum efficency.

for example, you can a routine for optimal results in strenght, sure you would get bigger, but it wouldn't be the most efficent way to do it. and vice versa.

everybody leans towards something.

I'm a little bit confused... what would be the best way to train for size?? I mean I do sets between 5-8 reps each. I thought this was good for size and strength?? Which would I be leaning towards?

Originally posted by JerseyDevil
Ah, but to look like Ronnie, you have to lift incredibly heavy weight. Like 200 lb dumbells for 12 reps, 800 lb deadlift for 2 reps, etc. You don't get that big by lifting pink dumbells.

Big Ron ...

ya, but my point was, if i had to choose either one of the two, i could care less about strength. gimme the SIZE

How about for therapy/emotional reasons. My training sessions are a great way to reduce stress and vent frustrations.

Originally posted by Spitfire
why do you need to be stronger than you are now?

If you ask that question expecting some enlightened answer, i fear you may never recieve and the same can be said if i were to ask you, why do you want to get bigger than you are now?

Its all opinions guys, in the end do whatever you want to do and don't talk shit bout the other guys.

here is a a cool article on strength:

Why?
By Jim Wendler
For EliteFTS.com

We’ve all been there. Whether it be in front of our families, while lying in bed with a significant other or while sipping on a few cold drafts with a new acquaintance at a bar, we’ve all encountered the question; “Why do you powerlift?” Dave Tate addressed this very question in his article “Could this be it?” But after attending a seminar in Nazareth, Pennsylvania I think I finally found my reason why.

During the seminar, Bob Youngs asked John Bott, Mike Miller, Bill Crawford and I all to come up with reasons of why we lift weights and do what we do. I have to admit that I was a bit caught off guard. This is rare and I was able to put together a fairly reasonable answer. But after that weekend which was full of numerous PR’s, tremendous camaraderie, great stories, excessive food intake and a few beers I know why.

The funny thing is that you know why, too.

I don’t have to sit here at my computer giving you reasons for the hours of time I’ve spent on the phone with customers talking about such things as why I like 4 board presses better than rack lockouts.

Or why Dave and I sit around and pass ideas around for hours; most of which end up being absolute trash.

Or why Bob Youngs calls every single day and we talk about everything and anything.

Or why I’ve got a can of super adhesive glue made for white water rafting sitting in my kitchen in an attempt to alter my squat suit.

Or why the bench shirt has given me (and everyone else) more stress than a rogue collection agency.

Or why I spend thousands of dollars every year in an attempt to total “X” amount of weight with no plans on making the money back.

No one ever asks a collegiate, professional or an Olympic athlete this question. It is assumed that either money, fame, “love of the game”, or pride in one’s country all play a role in these athletes’ motivation. This is assumed and it is accepted.

There is a growing trend in powerlifting to unify all organizations with an attempt to mainstream the sport. There is talk of putting powerlifting in the Olympics. I’ve even heard of rumors of getting rid of the powerlifting equipment because “normal” people don’t understand why some can’t get 600lbs of bar weight to their chest when bench pressing.

I don’t understand.

I’m not in this sport to make money. I’m not in the weight room in the early morning so that normal people will accept me. I’m not concerned with those that say a bench shirt is cheating. I don’t care where you lift or what your rules say. I don’t care if you don’t like the IPA and the supposedly bad judging. I certainly don’t care who squatted what weight in what gear and in what federation.

I care about strength.

It’s that simple and for some, it’s too confusing.

They want me to visit the online forums and rant and rage because someone says that Westside is all about gimmicks and drugs. They want to trap me into an argument about some random training philosophy that may or may not contradict Louie Simmons’ latest article. They want me to make an effort so that the “Average Joe” will be able to understand my drive and my dedication.

Nothing frustrates them more than silence and success.

During the Nazareth seminar, I had the opportunity to meet Mike Miller and help spot him during a 1000lbs. box squat. There wasn’t a single person in that room that needed to ask Mike Miller “why would you want to do that?” Everyone in that weight room new why. So when Bob Youngs asked me that question, I think that my answer didn’t really matter. Everyone knew.

So the next time someone asks you that tired, boring question, respond with the one word, “Strength”. If they don’t understand, don’t waste your breath.

Right on brother^^^

Henry Rollins on The Iron - Through the years, I have combined meditation, action, and the Iron into
a single strength. I believe that when the body is strong, the mind
thinks strong thoughts. Time spent away from the Iron makes my mind degenerate. I wallow in a thick depression. My body shuts down my mind. The Iron is the best antidepressant I have ever found. There is no better way to fight weakness than with strength. Once the mind and body have been awakened to their true potential, it's impossible to turn back.

Full Article

football first, look good second.

Very good article but I still have the question 'why would you want to be able to squat 1000 lbs' how does that help you?, I still just want to look good, and be healthy

Originally posted by Spitfire
Very good article but I still have the question 'why would you want to be able to squat 1000 lbs' how does that help you?, I still just want to look good, and be healthy

I am not even going to waste my breath