Originally Posted by lewdog (Post 10528295)

You are lifting weights to get stronger, right?

How does mixing up exercises keep muscle memory to a minimum? This is the biggest lifting myth out there and simply means nothing. Just because you mix up the lifts and get sore doesn't mean you've done yourself any benefit. It how many shitty personal trainers keep clients coming back for more. Mix shit up so much that every workout you are sore as shit the day after. This doesn't mean you are doing anything to help yourself get stronger though which is what lifting should be about, even on a small scale. In lifting you WANT muscle memory for the main lifts. And yes, everyone should have main lifts in their workout. The accessory work you fill in after the main lifts is up to your preference, however.

You are there to get stronger, which in turn gives your more muscle mass. It's how training naturally works. FACT: You have to get stronger to keep progressing your muscle mass. To get stronger at a lift, you have to get better at that lift. To get better at that lift you have to continually do this lift. It's like someone trying to work on getting better at three pointers in basketball but only practices shots from the free throw line. It simply doesn't translate. I've you've got workout ADD, you'll plateau very quickly with the weight work you do.

Originally Posted by Saccopoo (Post 10528361)

But as you pointed out, the constant levels of lactic acid retention brought about by varying the exercises that the muscles see does provide, perhaps, a psychological benefit to my regime that gives me a sense of satisfaction which leads to greater future exertion in my workouts.

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 10528409)

Perceived exertion is not a valid way to measure progress and it never has been. Some days, I feel like I'm having a shit workout and I end up setting a PR. Some days, I feel great, but never reach my prescribed lifts. There is no way I would know I was progressing if I weren't keeping track.



What does that even mean? Yes, if you continue to do a lift and keep progressing, you will, at some point, plateau. And that's okay. You can't keep going up and up forever. But it isn't the repetition that is causing a plateau. Improper training methods cause plateaus, as well as natural physical limitations.

Originally Posted by Simply Red (Post 10528415)

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 10528430)

Watched basketball, drank beer and ate cupcakes. It was great.

Originally Posted by Saccopoo (Post 10528361)

No, not really.

In fact, now that I think about it, I've never lifted "to get stronger." It's more of a methodology to better aesthetics. (My little brother took the opposite and power lifted and competed in that aspect of lifting for a while, so I understand where the need for continual focus in a specific lift comes in at a functionary level, the need for meticulous cataloging of gains, etc.)



Perhaps.

But as you pointed out, the constant levels of lactic acid retention brought about by varying the exercises that the muscles see does provide, perhaps, a psychological benefit to my regime that gives me a sense of satisfaction which leads to greater future exertion in my workouts.



That is a side benefit, but not the main goal.



And this is where you and I differ. I don't need nor want to necessarily get stronger in a lift. And I do try to maintain "better" in all my lifts, i.e., strict form and movement, trying to isolate specific muscle groups within the primary muscle area.



Actually, I think it's the constant repetition in a specific exercise that leads to plateauing, at least in my case. I believe that a perpetual change is necessary to maintain focus on the workout in general versus a specific exercise.

Originally Posted by lewdog (Post 10528434)

I'm just trying to help but I don't really agree with any of this. I have no problem if you like circuits and the perceived exertion you get from doing them. Hell, after benching today, the rest of my workout was 2-3 exercises done in circuit fashion for a huge pump. A serious bodybuilder type day, lol.

Personally if I was you, I'd pick a main lift like squats,bench,deads and MPs to start a day and focus on keeping track of adding weight or reps across sets. If you can continually progress these lifts for long stretches, you've strengthened your whole body. Once your main work on those is completed, do what you've been doing now for the rest of the workout. It would be the best of both worlds for what seems like you like doing and for what you should be doing.

Originally Posted by Simply Red (Post 10528447)

Originally Posted by Silock (Post 10528409)

Perceived exertion is not a valid way to measure progress and it never has been. Some days, I feel like I'm having a shit workout and I end up setting a PR. Some days, I feel great, but never reach my prescribed lifts. There is no way I would know I was progressing if I weren't keeping track.

Originally Posted by lewdog (Post 10528434)

I'm just trying to help but I don't really agree with any of this. I have no problem if you like circuits and the perceived exertion you get from doing them. Hell, after benching today, the rest of my workout was 2-3 exercises done in circuit fashion for a huge pump. A serious bodybuilder type day, lol.

Personally if I was you, I'd pick a main lift like squats,bench,deads and MPs to start a day and focus on keeping track of adding weight or reps across sets. If you can continually progress these lifts for long stretches, you've strengthened your whole body. Once your main work on those is completed, do what you've been doing now for the rest of the workout. It would be the best of both worlds for what seems like you like doing and for what you should be doing.

Originally Posted by lewdog (Post 10528451)

While that discussion might have been insightful, I don't think it was stated as a must have. You can stick with getting better at flat bench and you aren't really missing much.

Originally Posted by Saccopoo (Post 10528455)

I don't look at progress in the gym in terms of daily minutia. It's more of a harmonious total body result that is the sum of short and long term aesthetics versus the need for immediate satisfaction brought about by incremental gains in strength.

Originally Posted by -King- (Post 10528511)

What do you guys think of pre-exhausting?

Someone told me the reason I'm not making as much gains as I could on incline is cause I do chest press beforehand. But I've also heard people saying pre exhausting your muscles helps gains.

What's your takes on it?
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