Thread: I want to train without gain!

I got so huge I had to stop lifting for 15 years.

Size is all diet, you can do whatever you want with your training. Reps don't dictate size, calories do.

lol, Foreman. Lemme guess, you were so big you had to stop training because there was no boxing class that could hold you? And after fighting polar bears and gorilla's for a while, you had found that those weren't nearly challenging enough?

fufu, you're right I suppose. I had thought of it but I had somehow dismissed the idea.

Anyway, now that I think about it, I probably won't find it very enjoyable to train for long if I have no goals and nothing to improve. That would exclude all but the strength training, which I like best anyway.

Are there generally more injuries when powerlifting than when bodybuilding? Are there things I should avoid or things I should attend to?

*editing the original post*

Oh and thanks for the quick replies.

to do Olympic Weightlifting. We have numerous women from prep school cheerleaders to Women's Masters lifters who are lean, fit, powerful, and strong. You may experience a small gain in muscle size but it's not likely. As previously mentioned, muscle hypertrophy is a function of caloric and protein intake and hypertrophy training, (bodybuilding).
Weightlifting is technique intensive and has far greater variblity in program design than body building, so it is endlessly challenging. Weightlifting is also one of the safest sports. We have very few injuries. Sore and stiff muscles, yes, but few injuries. Weightlifting is also the core training methodology for most serious post prep school sports training programs.
I have never introduced an athlete to Weightlifting that didn't love it and doesn't continue to do it. Some of my athletes have been Weightlifting over 25 yrs. Try it, you'll like it.

A good coach is critical. Here's a link to the USA Weightlifting site so you can find the best coaching in your area:

http://www.msbn.tv/usavision/

If I may be of further assitance, please PM,
Ubercoach

Sounds great, ubercoach. I don't live in the USA though, I'm dutch and I probably can't afford a coach. I train in a very friendly gym with spotters and helpful trainers so it's a trade off.

Could you elaborate more on the issue of the actual training program? Is it similar to standard strength training (which is similar to bodybuilding with lower reps)?

You have a PM, but I'd like to discuss the matter here if you don't mind. That way everyone can benefit from and comment on the information.

Thanks for your assistance!

I would startd doing explosive training, but you need someone to teach you the movements, and eat maintenece, or eat over maintenence and do alot of cardio.

Explosive training:
http://orgs.jmu.edu/strength/JMU_Sum...ning_Intro.htm

That looks awesome too. But you're right about a trainer, those exercises look pretty tough. Even with the right description one could easily do the exercises wrong.

I really can't afford a trainer though, not even sure there's a possibility I could get one around here. I live in a pretty small city.

Olympic Weightlifting:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/schultz26.htm

Aw man, you really need a coach for this too. I'd love to do either of those.


Edit: how unadvisable would it be to do this kind of training without a trainer, provided that I educate myself very thoroughly and start easy?

Originally Posted by Witchblade

Edit: how unadvisable would it be to do this kind of training without a trainer, provided that I educate myself very thoroughly and start easy?

Very

Just don't increase your caloric intake and you won't grow anymore. You can always work on relative strength and power so that you have some goals to work toward to keep motivation high.

Originally Posted by Witchblade

Edit: how unadvisable would it be to do this kind of training without a trainer, provided that I educate myself very thoroughly and start easy?

That's how I did it. And I took it extremely slowly. Basically, I started by watching videos of each lift over and over and over and asking any questions I had. First I learned the front squat in rack position. Once I was comfortable with that for a decent amount of weight (225 or so), I began cleans. Once I was comfortable with that for a decent amount of weight (185 or so), I began jerks. The whole time I refused to move up in weight unless I knew my form was dead on (and after all the studying I did, I could pretty much tell). I always had a different style from what I saw in videos, but it was nothing unsafe (For example, I later did power snatches, which can be hard to find online, but they're not any more unsafe than deep snatches as far as I know - I just preferred to do them.) So, if you're very, very comfortable with teaching yourself and you know yourself well enough to evaluate your own form and not cut any corners, you should be okay as long as you play it smart and don't move up in weight quickly. (In fact, it should feel like you're moving up quite slowly at times, or at least more so than usual.) I'm not saying this is as safe as having someone watch your form in addition to your own feedback - in fact, you definitely should have someone watch your form if at all possible - but if you are determined to do it either way, I'd say it's reasonably safe for the level-headed individual.

Weightlifters do not use mirrors, ever. We have coaches. At the USA Weightlifting Regional Training Center, there are several certified and experienced coaches, in addition to a number of experienced lifters, several of whom are Jr. National Champions. So our lifters get plenty of feedback from several prospectives. Weightlifting is a kinesthetic experience requireing total understanding of where one's body is in space. This is developed through experience and learning to understand feedback from various proprioceptors. Primary are your eyes, which through practice remain posted on a point in the horizon, so your brain knows where the horizon is while you execute the lift. I recommend you do further research on Weightlifting to be sure you're interested. It sounds like the hardest part for you will be to find proper instruction.

http://www.chidlovski.net/liftup/a_d...asp?lift=dimas

This link will show you what you can do with dedication and proper training in 10 or 15 years. Don't let that discourage you. With a decent foundation the learning curve can be fairly steep, you can make pretty good progress. Let me know what you think and if you'd like to try this type of training.

Ubercoach

An interview with my mentor, USAW Senior International Weightlifting Coach Mike Burgener:

http://www.weightliftingexchange.com/we466.html

Enjoy,
Ubermensch

August 13 2006 casey burgener snatches 173 and cln and jerks 210 for the Gold at the National Championships in Shreveport. He did 165, 173, 180 just barely a miss. 200, 210 then passed on his 3rd.
That's a 380.6 lbs. snatch, 462 lbs. lbs. clean & jerk.

I've asked around a bit and there's no way I'm getting a coach. After reading your information, ubercoach, I'm still very interested. In fact, I'm even more interested. I think I'll do something like squaggle, start really low and properly educate myself.

First I'll complete my bodybuilding period, then move on to powerlifting for some more strength and more experience in the low rep ranges. Afterwards I'll slowly start incorporating Olympic Weightlifting into the program. I'll avoid the classic Snatch and the Clean & Jerk, but instead I'll do the 4 auxiliary lifts: Snatch High Pull, Push Press, Jerk and the Clean High Pull. I think those are mangable without a coach, they're basically classic bodybuilding exercises mixed together with very low reps, mostly singles. It would probably be like january already before I'll start the 4 auxiliary olympic lifts, giving me plenty of time to study and practice.

Would that work?

Thanks for all the help so far!