kinkoshinkai’s BodyBlog

Sometimes I find that I want to do TOO much.  I mean, for instance - today I did back.  (Well, a little delt thrown in, but primarily back)  Now, generally speaking, there are 4 main areas to work on: Upper and lower, outer and inner.  So, after warming up, 4 different exercises should suffice, and then maybe a "finishing" move.  But after doing lat pulls on the hammer machine, I still want to do cable lats.  Or after barbell rows, I still want to do dumb bell rows.  I’m tempted, in other words, to always do every conceivable exercise, rather than picking and sticking with one per angle/aspect. 

Does anyone else face this?  Do you overtrain and go for it?  Or does self-control and discipline kick in and you do your 4-6 sets from each angle and call it good, then hit a different exercise next week instead of being redundant? 

I’m really trying to grow, but I don’t want to over-train or kill myself and be counter-productive in the process.

I used to really hate leg day.  Not so much now.  Yesterday I hit 5 sets on Leg Press pretty heavy.  Then front squats on the Smith for 4, then supersetted laying Hammy Curls with Leg Extensions.  (The machines are side be side so keeping the intensity is easy)  Calves I did 4 sets on the Leg Press, followed by 30 bodyweight calf raises on a bar and 30 more from the floor, then the same thing on the seated calf press machine, with 30 and 30 again.  My calves were BURNING!!!

I’ve been on a tight schedule at the gym recently, but find that it helps me stay intense because I can’t just lolligag around.  I have time restraints and if I’m going to get done, I’ve got to stay at it.   Of course, today, they hurt, and tomorrow will be a bit more sore still, but I’m finally seeing growth and not completely dreading the day, so the pain is worth it.  Pain is just weakness leaving the body!