Go By Feel, Not Lbs.
Recently, I have felt like I have stalled out on my leg workouts. I had been adding weight and griding out sets, but not feeling like I was getting anywhere. I decided I needed to change things up a bit. On my first set of each exercise today, I dropped a fair amount of weight and focused on how the area I was tagerting felt throughout the entire movement, which was made much easier by the fact that I wasn’t putting quite so much effort into just moving and controlling the weight (for example with squats). I gradually ramped up the weight on each subsequent set, but made sure I was engaging each group in a way that felt right . . . full, deep squats; leg presses that started really low and compact; lunges that kept the tension in my glutes and hamstrings rather than up my my knees, etc. Overall, I had less weight loaded up on my various sets than I have in a while, but I felt (and am still feeling) everything so much more. I’ve hobbling around since I got out of the gym, and it feels great. So, everyone once in a while, don’t worry so much about how much weight you’re loading up for each exercise and go light enough so that you can really focus on how you are moving the weight that’s there. If I’m this drained, something must have gone right!!
January 13, 2008 at 8:47 am
Something tells me you are gonna be in for some major DOMS! Great job.
By the way I bought some BCAA powder by ON. Disgusting stuff but I am sure it works and that’s all that matters. Thanks for the advice.
Have a great day!