adding poundage

[frankm007]

how long does it take you guys to add poundage (2.5, 5, 10, anything) to your lifts? It seems to take me a pretty long time... sometimes my weight poundage goes down a bit...then boosts right back up...why this odd fluctuation of weight and why does it take me so long to add weight... thanx

 

[mac sloan]

Fluctuations could be due to many variables.
Stress from family,work,not recovered enough,not enough food,not enough sleep etc....you get the idea.

I usally go up in increments of 2.5 pounds.If I'm feeling good then I try for 5 pounds.


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train smart not hard

 

[Arnold]

Do you try to go heavier every work-out?

Personally, I don't really care how much weight I can lift, as I am interested in bodybuilding, not powerlifting.

You may want to alternate your work-outs, heavy days/light days.

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train hard!

 

[frankm007]

i go heavy in all my workouts, but when it comes to adding poundage, it takes me a few weeks to go up... then sometimes i need to drop that weight and go back to what i did before i added to finish a set...

the most recent addition was with dips.. i went from 70lb db, to a 75lb db wrapped around my waist. i know im progressing, i keep records of the weight used, but its farely slow...

 

[Arnold]

Originally posted by Hulk:
I'll disagree with ya here

Who doesn't want to be the strong guy in the gym everyone stares at ?

However I just find strength is an excellent way to measure progression. It is hard to see physical changes in yourself over short periods of times and it can be demoralising loking in the mirror constantly looking for changes that might be there but you just canlt really notice them yourself.. However if I know I am getting stronger and I am eating right then I am cool..

Also I find Heavy and Light days a waste of time... light days just interfere with days that could be spent resting and thus growing..

I didn't say that I don't care about strength, I just said it really does not matter to me how weight I can press. What matters is how big my chest, arms and shoulders are.

If people are going to look at me, it will be when I get off the bench, and they will be looking at my muscles, not the amount of weight I just lifted!

If you consistently lift heavy, this can cause stagnation. Remember your muscles try to adapt to what you're doing. So, by alternating, whether it be heavy/light or any other type of variation, you will keep the muscles off balance.

Most importantly, Hulk, strength does not equal size! Powerlifters do not look anything like bodybuilders, and vice versa.

So, if your goals are bodybuilding, strength is not really the best way to measure your progress. If you have trouble using the mirror, you can ask a friend or gym buddy, or you could use a measuring tape once a month.



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train hard!

 

[seyone]

Originally posted by Prince:

Most importantly, Hulk, strength does not equal size! Powerlifters do not look anything like bodybuilders, and vice versa.

this is true and not so true, if you look at some of the biggest bodybuilders in the game you will find they have powerlifting backgrounds

 

[Arnold]

Originally posted by seyone:

this is true and not so true, if you look at some of the biggest bodybuilders in the game you will find they have powerlifting backgrounds

Can you list some of them?

Either way, my point was that a powerlifter does not look like a bodybuilder. You're just stating that they may have a background in powerlifting...so what?

Powerlifting and bodybuilding are completely different. Bodybuilders and powerlifters train differently, and have different goals. And "most" of the time, look completely different...there are exceptions.

And I repeat, "strength does not equal size"! Just because you getting stronger, or your lifts are getting heavier, does not necessitate that you're growing! You're making progress, but it does not your muscles are growing bigger.

Hulk, how old are you and how long have you been training? My guess is, you're pretty young...?



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train hard!

 

[seyone]

Originally posted by Prince:
Can you list some of them?

maybe i shouldn't have said bodybuilders(plural)because i can only name one that i am sure of, but it is a name i am sure you know. ronnie coleman

 

[crowman]

TWO OF THE BIGGEST LIES IN THE GYM

1. I don't care how big I am.

2. I don't care how strong I am.

(followed closely by "I'll do abs tommorrow.")

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-Crowman
MASS ABOVE ALL

 

[Arnold]

Hulk, you call that a powerlifting routine?

I don't know of any powerlifter that would perform a leg curl, lateral raise, oh extension, chins, calf raises, etc...
And I never knew any powerlifters that were concerned about their diets.

You're just saying that it helps your bodybuilding to incorporate some power movements....maybe....but I would use them sparingly. A true powerlifter's concern is 1RM lifts in 3 movements: squat, deadlift and bench press.

The reason I ask your age is because when your young you tend to feel "invincible", and generally will have a different attitude in the gym. As you get older (30's +) and have sustained a few injuries from heavy lifting, you will train and think a bit differently!

I think Franco Columbo was definitley an exception! A genetic freak that would probably have had that physique no matter how he trained. Believe me, I have known a couple of people like that in my time...they piss me me off!!!

Strength does not equal size, and size does not equal strength. It's a myth!

Hulk,
I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one! Make sure you e-mail me when you get into your 30's, I want to see if your thinking has changed by then!



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train hard!

 

[Arnold]

Originally posted by crowman:
TWO OF THE BIGGEST LIES IN THE GYM

1. I don't care how big I am.

2. I don't care how strong I am.

(followed closely by "I'll do abs tommorrow.")

Very funny! I honestly don't care how strong I am...I did when I was younger, but now my focus and concern is appearance.

Like I said, they look at ME when I get off the bench, not the amount of weight I just lifted!!!

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train hard!

 

[Oldman]

Size matters, ask any woman....

The easiest way to ensure progress is to focus on tiny goals.

Pick any exercise, then pick the weight you currently lift routinely, then decide on a range of reps, then decide on which rep number you'll start with.

Example: Bicep Concentration Curl. A 45-pound dumbell. I almost always use a range of reps of 6 to 10. Let's say I'm currently comfortable with 8 reps. So I do however many sets of 8 reps each. My entire mind is focused on only 3 things: Form, that ninth rep., and form.

Eventually I'll get that ninth rep.

Eventually I'll get that ninth rep. every time. Now my focus is ONLY on that 10th rep.

Eventually I'll get that tenth rep.

Eventually I'll get that tenth rep. every time. Since the high end of my rep range was 10 now I know its time to move up.

I also know that I'm not gonna be able to move from 45 pounds to 50 pounds and stay at 10 reps. No problem. I'll drop back to somewhere in my range, maybe even 6 or 7 reps. Still no problems.

That's how you climb the ladder. Constant focus, one rep at a time.

 

[Arnold]

topic re-opened by popular demand!!!

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train hard!

 

[mac sloan]

If you are eating right and getting stronger yes you'll get bigger... Train with the same reps and make little strenght progress you will imo not grow much.. Strength is a great way to meausre progression imo.... Why would you not want to become stronger. ? The more weight you lift the more your muscles will grow surely ?

Mac,
This is true but if you look at what is reffered to as short trem hypertrophy you will see this as a example that strenght is not always proportional to muscle size.
As you lift you will get stronger and your muscles will grow,BUT it is not always proportional.

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train smart not hard

 

[bharminder]

is deadlift just basically a squat but instead of the behind ur neck its near the wasit..or however low ur arms go???

 

[bharminder]

what is the diffeence between powerlifting and bodybuilding?

 

[Arnold]

Powerlifting is a sport that's ultimate goal is strength. There are threee major lifts: bench press, squat and deadlift. Appearance really makes no difference!

Bodybuilding is a sport that's ultimate goal is appearance. Muscle size, shape, symmetry, proportion, definition. Strength really makes no difference!

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train hard!

 

[Arnold]

Originally posted by bharminder:
is deadlift just basically a squat but instead of the behind ur neck its near the wasit..or however low ur arms go???

A deadlift is where you lift a barbell from the ground until your standing upright holding the weight.



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train hard!