Thread: hey guys

CLIFF NOTES:
1) HI!
2) but my question now, is more of an opinion.
is training via programs, such as p/rr/s, max ot, etc etc, do yall belove that it actually is superior in gains to just "winging it"


well, first off i want to say hi to everyone.
i've been lurking around for a couple of months and learned an incredible amount. just about anything i had a question on especially concerning supplements, i found. so in that regard thanks!

but my question now, is more of an opinion.
is training via programs, such as p/rr/s, max ot, etc etc, do yall belive that it actually is superior in gains.

ive been working out on and off sicne 6th grade im a freshman in college now.
but since january i got pretty serious about it went from a 225 max bench to a 315. although, latley my gains have started to level off and its getting harder to go to the next step.
during working out i've been souly just going by the seat of my pants and figuring out what exercises and how my many reps while im actually doing it.
so far worked great, but is a program needed for a more advanced lifter?

Pick a program (any program) and measure your results at each WO. Over time you will see a increase or decrease in your level (wts lifted or muscle). If you are not seeing the increases in strength or muscle, then you know what does not seem to work for you. Change it up a little. The key is that if you are not consitant (just winging it) you cannot measure your progress. And if you do not measure your progress, how do you know for certain if the program is working for you or not?

For the first 9 months or so, I lifted the same basic routine with a 3 day split. With no rest days. So I was exercising the same body parts the same way with the same wt every 4th day. I gained for a while (newbie) then I slowed down and finally just stagnated. I was logging all the info down and could see, my program was not working for me. It was a similar workout I did in High School and I was happy with it back then (30 years ago). However, I did not seem to gain consistantly back then either and I was not consistant in my exercises either.

Like P-funk said, keep something simple in terms of a log to measure your progress. After a few months, review your progress and adjust those areas not progressing the way you want them to. And remember, it is a slow process for most of us - this is something I have to remind myself every few weeks as I seem to make small increases in lifts.