<p>Namaste just make sure that you don't hit the weights more than 5 days a week. Overtraining is a pretty common beginner mistake that would cause you to plateau after your newbie gains taper off.</p>
<p>Russell7,</p>
<p>Thanks, I did not know that.</p>
<p>So it seems to be a consensus that a balance between lifting weights and body training is most prudent.
As for when and stuff, like when do you think would be best to workout? Morning before classes, evening after doing your work, etc.? Also, people say it's easier with other people but what if you can't find someone to workout with? How would you recommend to keep going?</p>
<p>It doesn't really matter when you go. And I'd advise to start going without a workout partner. If you need a workout partner to motivate yourself, what will happen when they're sick or if they stop all together? Working out is, for the most part, an individual thing and you need to learn self motivation if you're going to be successful.</p>
<p>The mirror is a pretty good way to motivate yourself. At least it works for me.</p>
<p>I disagree. Always try to go with a partner. If you can't find one, get to know the people in the gym already and work out with them. People are naturally competitive and lifting with someone in a similar athletic level as you will help both of you improve the fastest. Plus, you're going to need someone to spot you anyways.</p>
<p>Doesn't matter how self-motivated you are. You perform your best when (1) you are pushing yourself and (2) someone else is pushing you and cheering you on as well.</p>
<p>It's nice just having a spotter so you can lift more than you normally would.</p>
<p>A workout partner never did anything for me except distract me - interrupt my rest times between sets and whatnot. Performing your best with a workout partner? Sorry, but I don't buy it. Your performance basically boils down to nutrition and rest. Unless some of you guys get an adrenaline rush having a partner and somehow lifting more weight...</p>
<p>I've NEVER been denied a spot by anyone in the gym and I've never denied anyone a spot either. And I'm talking about total strangers. I'm not a bit advocate of going to failure anyway... it accumulates CNS fatigue too quickly. Although some people are just plain uncomfortable lifting without a spot, period. I know my body well enough not to need one.</p>
<p>Russell, its nice to have someone to lift with you so you can push yourself a bit more and lift more than you normally would if you lift alone. Its nice being able to put the extra 10 pounds on or have help with a couple extra reps. Over a period of time that helps.</p>
<p>Well actually I just said that I don't like going to failure. Failure is when you cannot do another rep. Post-failure is when you need assistance doing reps. It's been proven in studies that training 1-2 reps shy of failure generates roughly the same amount of microtrauma to muscle fibres to induce hypergrophy (which is my goal) as going to failure does. The only difference is that going to failure will tax your CNS and really mess up your progress.</p>
<p>That said I do actually go to failure on some sets as it usually can't be avoided if you want to keep progressively overloading. But assisted reps? No thanks. That's some crap out of a Mentzer HIT book or something (who was a crazy meth addict). I think that DOGGCRAPP utilizes assisted reps also, but that's designed for juicers.</p>
<p>
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People are naturally competitive and lifting with someone in a similar athletic level as you will help both of you improve the fastest.
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</p>
<p>Weight lifting should not be a competition with another person. That's dangerous. It is stupid to try "beating" someone when it comes to weights. You should instead focus on beating yourself. If I do 135 on bench for a set of 5 today, then next week when I come back to bench I want to do 140 for 5 or 135 for at least 6. I don't care what my buddy did.</p>
<p>Back on topic: OP, the most important thing is to DO SOMETHING. Like I stated before, it doesn't have to be "weight lifting" or running on a treadmill, etc. You can help yourself stay healthy by just being physically active.</p>
<p>When it comes to spotting.. I very seldom do weight that requires a spotter now. I took about 4 months off and struggled coming back. I'll never get the weight I got in high school. Now I'm just happy if I get in the weight room and work out.</p>
<p>hops that's a very good point. I keep a journal of every set that I do. I review my journal before every workout and note what weight I have to use and how many reps I am aiming for. This is pretty standard practice if you want to make consistent gains. It has nothing to do with anyone else.</p>
<p>hops, it took me about 4 months to get back what I did in high school after a very unhealthy lifestyle for 2 years ( i lost 30 pounds, yes i looked like a computer geek) but you'd be surprised how quickly it comes back</p>
<p>burgler, I went in the opposite direction and gained 15 ;) that freshmen 15 *or was it 25?? ;) *</p>
<p>My biggest problem is I don't work out consistently enough. In high school, I was in great shape because I worked out 4-5 hours a day between weights class and my sport. Over the summer, I'd have days where I'd work out 8-9 hours because I'd lift and do all three sports in one day. I wish I worked out even 5-6 hours a WEEK now.</p>
<p>
[quote]
A workout partner never did anything for me except distract me - interrupt my rest times between sets and whatnot. Performing your best with a workout partner? Sorry, but I don't buy it. Your performance basically boils down to nutrition and rest. Unless some of you guys get an adrenaline rush having a partner and somehow lifting more weight...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Workout partners usually help moderate my rest between sets because it really doesn't take that long to do 6-8 reps if you're lifting the same amount of weight (or close enough so it's a matter of sliding on and off one or two). </p>
<p>It's also easier to push for more reps without having to stop and take off weights if you have a partner that can give you a little assistance when you would have otherwised burned out and "failed" as you put it. </p>
<p>
[quote]
hops that's a very good point. I keep a journal of every set that I do. I review my journal before every workout and note what weight I have to use and how many reps I am aiming for. This is pretty standard practice if you want to make consistent gains. It has nothing to do with anyone else.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>IMO the KISS method works best here (keep it simple, stupid). I don't see a reason to need to change the amount of reps every work out. I just keep the same routine, but with more weight every week. Usually workout day 1 of the week is the hardest, then the next one is a bit easier (getting used to the new weight), then after the third workout day I generally feel ready to put on more weight.</p>
<p>
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I don't see a reason to need to change the amount of reps every work out. I just keep the same routine, but with more weight every week
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<p>You get stale that way. Also, you want variety in your workout so that you get more benefits. The more reps, the more endurance whereas the fewer reps the more muscle strength you'll build. You want some of both.</p>
<p>Also, mix it up because otherwise it will get boring.</p>
<p>IMO the KISS method works best here (keep it simple, stupid). I don't see a reason to need to change the amount of reps every work out. I just keep the same routine, but with more weight every week. Usually workout day 1 of the week is the hardest, then the next one is a bit easier (getting used to the new weight), then after the third workout day I generally feel ready to put on more weight.</p>
<p>I can't increase weight every week. Unless you a complete beginner, you'll find that if you increase weight every week your set will be outside of your desired rep range. For instance, say that I do 120 for 6 reps on a lift one week. The next week I'm not going to move it up to 125, because the chances of be getting 6 reps is small (say my desired rep range is 6-8). therefore I'll go for 7 or 8 reps. If I hit 8 reps, the next week I'll increase it to 125 and try to hit 6, or whatever.</p>
<p>And periodizing rep ranges is actually a pretty big deal once you get advanced, but that isn't what I was talking about anyway.</p>
<p>Of course and even 5 days a week for weight training is too much. most recommend 3x, 4 max. as for working out with a partner, not for me - i got my own schedule and my own business</p>
<p>Well here's my regiment. Wake up, drink 15 raw eggs along with cornflakes sprinkled with 3 cups of creatine. Go to class, come home, spend 8 hours in the gym, and devour a 32 oz steak, then go to bed. </p>
<p>That's it. That's all you need to do to stay ripped.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Well here's my regiment. Wake up, drink 15 raw eggs along with cornflakes sprinkled with 3 cups of creatine. Go to class, come home, spend 8 hours in the gym, and devour a 32 oz steak, then go to bed.</p>
<p>That's it. That's all you need to do to stay ripped.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You forgot to list in your regiment the "awesome sauce" that you drink from your boyfriend. To each his own, I guess.</p>
<p>^ haha..</p>
<p>I've been hitting gyms for the last 2-3 months. I now do it 4-5 days a week. I haven't lost that much weight, but I feel more comfortable with my body and I feel good. </p>
<p>Which is better : complete body workout or focussing on a major part each workout?</p>