Has my personal trainer gone nuts?

AJinBirmingham
AJinBirmingham Posts: 497
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm trying to get bigger and he has me doing 3 sets of 12, 15 and 18 on almost everything. That seems like a lot if I'm going for size.

(I'm giving him the benefit of doubt, since he's trying to help me build strength/endurance to compensate for some puny tendons that were troubling me when I was going heavy enough to fail at most things with 6-12 reps on the 2nd set of 2.)

Replies

  • h9dlb
    h9dlb Posts: 243 Member
    He's right if you say you want endurance - 12+ reps for endurance, 6-12 reps for size, up to 6 reps for strength.

    Maybe you have some mis-communication going on as you seem to suggest you want size, then go onto say you want endurance for puny tendons.
  • Jersey_Devil
    Jersey_Devil Posts: 4,142 Member
    the 3 sets of 12 is definitely correct.
    additional reps, yes for endurance.
    if you are going for strengeth and not hypotrophy or endurance, than higher weight lower reps.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,043 Member
    If you're going for size, then reps of 8-12 and say 5 sets minimum for each exercise. Volume counts when going for hypertrophy.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
    This may be due to the tendon issues. Since he is actually in the field with you, I would probably lean to what he was saying; Endurance and "toning" (definition) is repetitions of 12. Size is a function of heavy weight.. but of course, not to the risk of injury. It may be that he is trying to strengthen you so you can go heavy, safely.
  • phjorg1
    phjorg1 Posts: 642 Member
    if you're only doing those rep ranges then it's a poo program. any template needs strength rep ranges.
  • danimalkeys
    danimalkeys Posts: 982 Member
    If you have tendon issues from going too heavy before you were ready for it, then he's got you doing the right thing. It takes tendons and ligaments longer to adapt to lifting heavy than it does your muscles. Take your time and let your tendons work up to being able to handle heavier weight. It might take 6-12 months doing this, but it's better to be injury free.
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    If you have tendon issues from going too heavy before you were ready for it, then he's got you doing the right thing. It takes tendons and ligaments longer to adapt to lifting heavy than it does your muscles. Take your time and let your tendons work up to being able to handle heavier weight. It might take 6-12 months doing this, but it's better to be injury free.

    Definitely agree.

    One of the reasons I choose to do All Pro's routine when I came back to lifting was that I had several tears in my shoulder and tendon damage due to repeated violations(!). The higher (8-12) rep range has allowed me to get the important stuff stronger again at the right pace without forcing me out of the game for another 6-12 months.

    Sounds like your trainer is smart. If you have a specific issue, cookie-cutter stuff that's spouted as dogma on these boards will probably end up with you twanging something. This way, your tendons will be more than equal to the task when your trainer eventually changes things up.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Agree with everyone else. The main thing is not getting hurt. Then getting form. Then getting strong
  • tazzy2805
    tazzy2805 Posts: 25
    my trainer has me doin 3x 10/12/15/18 on weights so prob not crazy lol obv building up when one to easy;)
  • AJinBirmingham
    AJinBirmingham Posts: 497
    Thanks guys. I'll keep listening to him, since he's experienced, trained, certified and a practicing professional built like a brick wall . . . and I'm not.

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