Thread: Idntifying good workout

How about improvement?

Whether that means lifting more weight, doing more reps, using a shorter rest interval, doing the workout in less time, feeling less tired than last time showing your conditioning has improved, whether an individual exercise is easier than before, perhaps an improvement in your execution of a movement showing your form has improved...

But besides all these things, getting through a workout without having any problems like missed reps, rest pauses, having to skip sets/exercises, having to reduce the weight, being too exhausted to finish etc shows a good workout.

Its a large mish-mash of things, not just one thing that indicates a good workout. Basically it all just comes down to whether a session "felt right" to me, whether i got "into it" or not, if i could complete the whole session, and finally if i've made an improvement in something.

*Shrugs* A workout is just a small part in a program, and the duration of a program will tell you if you're really improving or not.

Hell, ill make it easier:

A good workout is an enjoyable workout.

Okay. So constant progress over a period of time will tell if my program is good.

But what about some immediate effects? Say if I had a chest workout yesterday does soreness or pump(?) etc indicate that I have successfully stimulated my pecs?

Originally Posted by r00kie

Okay. So constant progress over a period of time will tell if my program is good.

But what about some immediate effects? Say if I had a chest workout yesterday does soreness or pump(?) etc indicate that I have successfully stimulated my pecs?

Pump is just blood going to your muscles. I could get an amazing pump from doing short RIs and sets of 100 reps of curls, but obviously thats a crap idea and isnt going to benefit me in the slightest.

On the flip side, i have done strength-based programs where ive gotten no pump whatsoever, but have worked towards multiple PRs.

As for the soreness, if its during the workout its the "burn" that so many people talk about, and means about as much (or as little...) as pump does. I only have any sort of a burn doing high reps anyway, but that doesnt mean lower rep workouts arent beneficial.

Soreness after a workout, or in the days following is DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) and is just damaged muscle fibers that can be caused by a number of things, usually by doing some exercise that youve never done before. A lot of people see it as re-assuring, me included, but it doesnt mean its been a good workout at all really.

I enjoy the feeling of DOMS more than the thought of it relating to a good workout, lol.

Also, welcome to IM

[QUOTE=Gazhole;1636243]
I enjoy the feeling of DOMS more than the thought of it relating to a good workout, lol.

QUOTE]

A-men brother

[QUOTE=Samo;1636319][QUOTE=Gazhole;1636243]
I enjoy the feeling of DOMS more than the thought of it relating to a good workout, lol.

A-men brother

For me a good workout has always been one where I know I've "pushed myself to the fucking limt" (as chickentuna would say)

A great workout is when I'm able to add an extra rep or go up in weight the following week. This doesn't happen everytime, so I'm perfectly comfortable with "good" workouts which I rate utilizing a combination of things (i.e. sweat, soreness, etc.).

a good workout is when you truly gave it your everything intesity wise.

I feel really good before/during/after workout. So I must be working out hard!

Thanks for the reply guys, I would like to change my username in a couple of months

Originally Posted by r00kie

I feel really good before/during/after workout. So I must be working out hard!

Thanks for the reply guys, I would like to change my username in a couple of months

Keep learning, and you'll outgrow "rookie" in no time

Yeah man, sure! I am a little worried because I am making strength gains but not mass gains

Originally Posted by r00kie

Yeah man, sure! I am a little worried because I am making strength gains but not mass gains

What rep range are you using?

The only gains i make are fat gains.

Originally Posted by r00kie

Yeah man, sure! I am a little worried because I am making strength gains but not mass gains

What does your program look like? Have you read the sticky topics in this forum? While you're at it, you might wanna take a lot at the nutrition forum aswell. More often than not, the reason people dont put on any muscle is because of their diet.

Yes you guys are right. My diet is a little bit screwed, I'll pay attention to it from now. I've gone through all the stickies and found then very useful.

Currently my workout looks like this-
A: Back and Chest
B: Legs and Shoulders/Delts

Week 1: A-rest-B-rest-A-rest-rest
Week 2: B-rest-A-rest-B-rest-rest

And I have one more question- during my back workout, my bisceps fail first. Is there any isolation exercise for back(like flys for chest)?

A good routine to me is simply a well balanced one. Not to many pressing movements compared to pulling movements. Not to mention it must have core work (far to many workouts have no core work). Stretching should be incorporated. Its really simple actually.