My mistake with "Heavy Lifting"...

bumblebums

Let me hazard a few guesses as to other mistakes you have made.

1. "DOMS is a sign of progress." -- it is not. More likely, it is a sign that you are using your muscles eccentrically rather than concentrically, which might have some interesting consequences (bodybuilders believe that this contributes to muscle growth, but I cannot find any links other than broscience classics to substantiate that).

2. "I can attain my desired physique by doing the right exercises." Your physique potential is determined by your genes, your body fat level by how much you eat (and how much muscle mass you have), and the body fat distribution by--again--genetics.

There are plenty of beautiful, attractively built and muscular women who couldn't squat their body weight. There are also some who are not considered conventionally attractive who lift at the Olympic level. See what I am saying?

jonnythan

I'm glad you found something you like, but the sign of progress is the weight on the bar.

DOMS is not a sign of progress.

deksgrl

1. "DOMS is a sign of progress." -- it is not. More likely, it is a sign that you are using your muscles eccentrically rather than concentrically, which might have some interesting consequences (bodybuilders believe that this contributes to muscle growth, but I cannot find any links other than broscience classics to substantiate that).

I rarely get DOMS, so interested in any other comments on this.

crandos

Maybe you should of changed your routine if you didnt i always change it up now and then if i ve hit a 'plateau'.

mustgetmuscles1

I sort of understand what people mean when they talk about mind/muscle connection. In a lot of the compound movements it is easy for certain muscles to become dominant. When a lift is performed properly this should be minimized but slowly over time and as we increase weight this creeps back in even for advanced lifters. I think it still comes down to form and proper lifting but making sure the correct muscles are being activated is important.

http://youtu.be/5ULh_J5JI0w

iarelarry

Contractions, baby.... contractions!!

bumblebums

1. "DOMS is a sign of progress." -- it is not. More likely, it is a sign that you are using your muscles eccentrically rather than concentrically, which might have some interesting consequences (bodybuilders believe that this contributes to muscle growth, but I cannot find any links other than broscience classics to substantiate that).

I rarely get DOMS, so interested in any other comments on this.

I would just say, consider yourself lucky!

There are individual differences in how much one experiences DOMS. Women's sensitivity to pain also changes throughout their menstrual cycle, so you might feel different amounts of soreness week by week. There are lots of studies on DOMS (mostly in sports medicine, looking for ways of treating or preventing it) but little in the way of consensus or an understanding of exactly what causes it.

twistygirl

Thank-you, now I know what the heck I'm doing wrong. Like yourself I been lifting heavy but not paying attention to my muscles. Thank-you.:huh: :sick: :embarassed: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

MercenaryNoetic26

I like my doms. I catch your drift OP

ETA: my doms aren't crippling. I definitely feel the worked muscles, though. Felt the need to add that.

tigersword

Just a little FYI: being sore or not being sore is NOT a good indicator of intensity or progress.

This. DOMS means absolutely nothing. In fact, a properly trained athlete will rarely have DOMS.

Yanicka1

Interesting discussion.

I guess it is like doing squats *kitten* to the grass while keeping your core engaged vs 1/4 squats with a butt load weight

contingencyplan

1. "DOMS is a sign of progress." -- it is not. More likely, it is a sign that you are using your muscles eccentrically rather than concentrically, which might have some interesting consequences (bodybuilders believe that this contributes to muscle growth, but I cannot find any links other than broscience classics to substantiate that).

I rarely get DOMS, so interested in any other comments on this.

I would just say, consider yourself lucky!

There are individual differences in how much one experiences DOMS. Women's sensitivity to pain also changes throughout their menstrual cycle, so you might feel different amounts of soreness week by week. There are lots of studies on DOMS (mostly in sports medicine, looking for ways of treating or preventing it) but little in the way of consensus or an understanding of exactly what causes it.

In my experience, DOMS only occurs when I'm doing exercises that involve moving in ways my body is not used to while supporting a load. Once my body has gotten used to the movement itself, no amount of intensity or load increase will lead to DOMS ever again. The only thing that will is introducing new movements into the routine.

redwngs13

Thanks for posting. It's good to be reminded of all the aspects of lifting.

I second this. I've now come to realize that maybe I need to take a step back and not try to just lift as heavy as possible, but rather focus on what's actually going to make the changes to my body that I'll be proud to show off. I've just been going through the motions!

AprilRenewed

Thanks for posting this! You are so right. I try to remember to focus on the muscle groups I'm using. It's not always easy. But there IS a HUGE difference when I do. I can always use the reminder. Thank you!

RECowgill

For those of you confused or not getting it, read my post a page ago. This is not a mystery, it isn't zen. It's advanced lifting.

HeikkiLaukkanen

Okay so we're talking about trying to "isolate" muscles; that's what I'm getting from this. That is well and good if you're going to be like Kai Green and compete for Mr. Olympia or just go all out for the optimum physique.

But I want my lifts to work many body parts. I lift heavy compound lifts, or do things like pullups or other body weight exercises. I do these so that everything does get worked and I don't have to spend hours in the gym doing each body part independently. I have two careers, 3 kids, a wife, and I like to sleep sometimes. I don't have time to do a specific lift for each body part and I'd guess that I get a majority of the benefit of lifting with a small fraction of the time.

LiftAllThePizzas

It sounds an awful lot like simply lifting your 10RM instead of your 5RM, for example. Like, if you use your 10RM and do it slowly enough that you can only get 5 reps out. Seems like it should have approximately the same result either way... same amount of tension, time under tension, volume, etc either way.

IOW you started increasing hypertrophy by moving from the strength rep range to the hypertrophy rep range.

ndj1979

in...for more understanding on telepathic lifting....:)

LJCannon

bump

dashforcover

Thanks for clarifying the muscle-mind connection. I just started an exercise program and because I'm older and have some health issues, I decided to hire a trainer straight off. But this aspect never occurred to me. Right now, I'm just concentrating on remembering how many reps I have done. As the counting gets more routine, I'll work on this aspect, too.

crandos

wait now if i have doms im doing it wrong?

DopeItUp

So basically, you were lifting like a powerlifter versus lifting like a bodybuilder. That's all you had to say.

One focuses primarily on moving as much weight as possible and one focuses on aesthetics. Similar but different. All depends on your goals.

NinerUp

This is true. Its all about connecting your mind with the muscle you want to work. Check out the guys in prison. They removed all the weightlifting equipment but they are still yoked!

MsEndomorph

Can't say I thought I knew it all, but I did think I could learn what I didn't know through an app or YouTube or a fit was magazine.

I got some great workout ideas and learned all about form, but you're right - for is about more than just the overall motion. It's about which muscles you're activating and I was ALL over the map.

I know I wouldn't be anywhere near where I am today without my trainer. Just the little things that make all te difference have made her totally invaluable to me. Today was chest day and she mentioned that I might want to tuck my chin while doing a particular exercise because it's really easy to start doing weird things with your neck and end up with a strain and no results where we want them.

Guess who had a sore neck last week when I was on my own? Guess who was planking without even bothering to activate her abs?? This girl!

Anyway, glad you're getting the results you were looking for. A little guidance can go a long way :-)

katy_trail

This is my favorite part of lifting

operation_cute

Maybe this is why! I don't feel sore at all the next day, despite feeling so exausted during and directly after the workout! I feel like I push myself so hard, I practice good form, and thought I was doing everything right... but things like the squats I don't even feel my legs burn even a little I'm going to focus on each muscle group now and see if it makes a difference I'm so glad I read this before I spent more time lifting... I've only been doing it a few weeks now so this might help a lot

operation_cute

So basically, you were lifting like a powerlifter versus lifting like a bodybuilder. That's all you had to say.

One focuses primarily on moving as much weight as possible and one focuses on aesthetics. Similar but different. All depends on your goals.

Thats not all she had to say This thread wasn't for people who know everything about lifting, and that includes knowing the difference between powerlifting, and bodybuilding. I for example got a lot from the thread and wouldn't have if she had said just what you just did. So thanks to the OP for not assuming we already know everything

3foldchord

So by that logic, couldn't you just concentrate on your muscles and get them to grow?

apparently they have done research proving that you CAN become better at something (playing an instrument or sport) by just THINKING, but it only works for the first couple weeks.
(according to my internet-research-addict-teenager son)

808haoleboy

I've been lifting for years and know exactly what you're talking about. I actually don't tend to get sore anymore, but I am also pretty damn happy with my body changes and gains. I seem to hit new PRs about every two weeks having moved back noobie gains. Oh...if noobie gains lasted forever...

Anyways, yup. The mind is a big part of the focus of lifting. That is why I actually really enjoy lifting. When you're truly IN THE MOMENT, you can't be anywhere else. Yoga bores me. Lifting excites me. Go figure ya?

ncmedic201

So basically, you were lifting like a powerlifter versus lifting like a bodybuilder. That's all you had to say.

One focuses primarily on moving as much weight as possible and one focuses on aesthetics. Similar but different. All depends on your goals.

I think it's more about which muscle you want to be used dominantly in the exercise. Ex. If you're quad dominant but doing an exercise that is working the glutes and quads, concentrating on using the glutes more instead of the quads primarily. Those of us that are new to exercise have to think about using specific muscles.