How to deal with impatience?
mutantspicy
Posts: 624 Member
Not sure if I'm looking for advice, if you have some please lay it on me. Just want to discuss, my biggest problem in the weight room. When I was young I was football player, and it was no big deal to spend a ton of time in weight room lifting with my team mates, it was competitive and fun.
Over the past few years, I got more into over all total fitness. Was doing circuit training, body weight training, mobility training, plyo, yoga, type stuff. So most of time my workouts were 30 to 40mins, but very little standing around. About 3 months ago, I started getting back into strength training and body building. I love the sense of accomplishment from going up. I love the adrenalin rush, I love whats going on in my mirror. I absolutely hate, I mean cannot stand it at all, just standing around waiting between sets. I hate that my workouts take over an hour, and most of it me standing around waiting for my next lift. I find myself looking at my timer, waiting for that 90sec rest to go by. I don't think there's anything to do about it, because I making some of most significant body changes I've made in years. But damn, I feel like waste so much time.
Over the past few years, I got more into over all total fitness. Was doing circuit training, body weight training, mobility training, plyo, yoga, type stuff. So most of time my workouts were 30 to 40mins, but very little standing around. About 3 months ago, I started getting back into strength training and body building. I love the sense of accomplishment from going up. I love the adrenalin rush, I love whats going on in my mirror. I absolutely hate, I mean cannot stand it at all, just standing around waiting between sets. I hate that my workouts take over an hour, and most of it me standing around waiting for my next lift. I find myself looking at my timer, waiting for that 90sec rest to go by. I don't think there's anything to do about it, because I making some of most significant body changes I've made in years. But damn, I feel like waste so much time.
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Replies
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I play Candy Crush between sets. :laugh:7
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LOL!1
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stretch between?
yoga/piyo w/e0 -
My program has some supersets written in... otherwise if I am bored I start to lose focus. But yea if you are making progress.. just distract yourself. Take some selfies or something haha.2
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I just people watch which. As my weights have gone up on stronglifts, so has my rest periods between sets and thus so has my people watching.1
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....yeah, I just sit there staring at my feet.
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mutantspicy wrote: »...I absolutely hate, I mean cannot stand it at all, just standing around waiting between sets. I hate that my workouts take over an hour, and most of it me standing around waiting for my next lift. I find myself looking at my timer, waiting for that 90sec rest to go by. I don't think there's anything to do about it, because I making some of most significant body changes I've made in years. But damn, I feel like waste so much time.
ditto. superset in stuff that uses different muscles.0 -
..although that might require switching some stuff to dumbbells instead of barbell depending on equipment availability.0
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I superset quite a bit..but when I do compound lifts or isolation on the cable machines..I will switch between some plyo, scanning for the next song to listen to, watch people, or think about what I am eating when I leave.
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OP I feel the same way. I don't set a timer I just go when I feel like going again.1
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I had squats this morning. Five sets of seven at 6 RPE, then four sets of one at 8.5 RPE. It took me almost an hour and a half. I have to go back this afternoon for bench, deads, pull-ups and rows. That's just the powerlifting life.0
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I jog in place between sets sometimes. I see other people walking laps around the gym between sets.0
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I do some supersets on my accessory lifts when it makes sense. But yeah overall its just something I have to get used to. I'm focusing more on strength gains right now, so I definitely don't want to be expending too much energy between sets especially on the main lifts. When I'm doing more body building and dumbell type stuff, I tend to do shorter rests and more supersets. But I probably won't get around to that until winter time.0
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Try Brian Alsruhe - giant sets. Basically in between sets he trains the antagonist body part
Bench - to Row
Dips - Pull up
That way you get more volume in and do more than just standing around... equally it doesn't harm your recovery time as it not the part you are training if that makes sense.
The guys channel is a gold mine of strength and conditioning stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcr-JtlmtVc 1 -
A giant set isn't a superset but a group of exercises that train one muscle group at a time with 3 or more exercises. Bench to row and dips to pull-ups would be a typical superset.
... and I don't know about you but immediately after a set of pull-ups I'm pretty winded. Jumping immediately to bench press would compromise my intensity. I'll superset some of my accessories, like curls and triceps pulldowns but personally, I'd never superset any of my main compounds unless I was doing very light volume work.3 -
Supersets and/or myo-reps. Read Børge Fagerli's article about myo-reps here: http://borgefagerli.com/myo-reps-in-english/3
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Stretch between sets. If you feel up for it, super set. When I'm benching, I usually do shoulder burn outs (t-lift, hammer front lift and "superman lift") between sets. Helps me stay focused and motivated.0
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Strategically work in super sets...if doing squats, do something not too taxing (ex) seated calf raise); if doing bench press, do an antagonistic muscle (ex) lat pulldown, etc.).
Personally, I do not even want to look at a cellphone/ipad/etc. while lifting; they steal focus & I have noticed remind myself of all the stresses of work, errands, etc. Maybe bring a notepad/small notebook to record # sets/reps/etc. if you are into that & need something to kill time resting between sets. I personally do not enjoy lifting when I have a cellphone with me (distractions, lack of interacting with others, stress)0 -
Am I the only one who thinks it’s weird that he’s complaining about 90 second rest times? Wait till you’re lifting heavy and resting 5+ minutes...5
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mutantspicy wrote: »I find myself looking at my timer, waiting for that 90sec rest to go by. I don't think there's anything to do about it, because I making some of most significant body changes I've made in years. But damn, I feel like waste so much time.
If 90 secs feels like too long, then I'd have to question if you are training hard enough, especially on the compound movements.
Buy hey, if you're making gains, then it's obviously working.
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ijsantos2005 wrote: »Am I the only one who thinks it’s weird that he’s complaining about 90 second rest times? Wait till you’re lifting heavy and resting 5+ minutes...
Well I admittingly just started with barbell lifting again like 6 weeks ago. So I'm not lifting huge weight yet, trying to be careful But now I have my sea legs under me, I'm ramping up fast and expect to be squatting 3 plates within the next 6 to 8 weeks. I do rest like 2 mins on my squats and dead lifts. For the past year prior I was doing high volume body building stuff with dumbells mostly. There was a lot of pyramids, super sets, giant sets, etc. So I'm used to short rest periods, I recover pretty quick and have quite a bit of endurance. Now I want to build strength. Its just really time consuming. And to your point, my impatience has caused me to fail at a couple sets I shouldn't have. Its whole different mentality than what I'm used to.2 -
mutantspicy wrote: »I find myself looking at my timer, waiting for that 90sec rest to go by. I don't think there's anything to do about it, because I making some of most significant body changes I've made in years. But damn, I feel like waste so much time.
If 90 secs feels like too long, then I'd have to question if you are training hard enough, especially on the compound movements.
Buy hey, if you're making gains, then it's obviously working.
Yeah thats why I made the post. As I continue to climb in weights that 90secs is going to climb as well. And I'm all ready getting stir crazy. I just need to change my mindset for this.0 -
I’m a beginner to strength training and definitely have struggled with impatience. I usually use my rests to log my set and maybe dance around a bit to keep warm (I work out in my basement). When I’m doing something that calls for a longer rest I usually plan on having some laundry to fold, although I’m finding this works better in the winter than the summer because of sweat.
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MegaMooseEsq wrote: »I’m a beginner to strength training and definitely have struggled with impatience. I usually use my rests to log my set and maybe dance around a bit to keep warm (I work out in my basement). When I’m doing something that calls for a longer rest I usually plan on having some laundry to fold, although I’m finding this works better in the winter than the summer because of sweat.
Yeah I mean I have a one track mind.. Lol. If I'm in work out mode, I don't want any other distractions. Lately, I've been flexing the muscle group I'm working on or playing air guitar or walking around in circles. Today I went up on my dumb bell presses from 80's to 95's and I needed the 90 secs to 2 mins between my sets. Time just seems to creep when I'm waiting, but I was able to stay pumped up. Having Motorhead play in the back ground seems to help.0 -
jdscrubs32 wrote: »I just people watch which. As my weights have gone up on stronglifts, so has my rest periods between sets and thus so has my people watching.
Yup. I end up watching other people at the gym. There's a badass little chick and I love when she's deadlifting next to me.2 -
mutantspicy wrote: »I find myself looking at my timer, waiting for that 90sec rest to go by. I don't think there's anything to do about it, because I making some of most significant body changes I've made in years. But damn, I feel like waste so much time.
If 90 secs feels like too long, then I'd have to question if you are training hard enough, especially on the compound movements.
Buy hey, if you're making gains, then it's obviously working.
I'm with @mutantspicy . When I'm lifting heavy, if I DON'T rest long enough, I'm going to miss the next lift. Might want to take a look at that.1 -
Jaiho_Lancs wrote: »Try Brian Alsruhe - giant sets. Basically in between sets he trains the antagonist body part
Bench - to Row
Dips - Pull up
That way you get more volume in and do more than just standing around... equally it doesn't harm your recovery time as it not the part you are training if that makes sense.
The guys channel is a gold mine of strength and conditioning stuff.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcr-JtlmtVc
+1 on that (Brian Alsruhe). I have been preaching him for some time. I learned a ton from his "How to:" Series (a three-part series on Bench, on Squat, on Deadlifts).
Golden stuff there.....plus, amazing human being. All around good dude! With a strong gym and a great following.0 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »I had squats this morning. Five sets of seven at 6 RPE, then four sets of one at 8.5 RPE. It took me almost an hour and a half. I have to go back this afternoon for bench, deads, pull-ups and rows. That's just the powerlifting life.
Yes, ma'am! That is how it was for me, too! When I was doing it. Going to take a year off of Squats and Deadlifts (and was so close to three plates on the squat and four plates on deads) to let my "sensitive" lower back heal. Anyway......you gotta let the body recover from that one set to kill the next one, too!0 -
When I was doing the power lifting thing and getting up there in the weights (for me....not really all that impressive numbers, but a lot for me) I was super focused and would concentrate on proper breathing between sets. I would also visualize all of the queues for the next set of whatever....
I played sports in high school and college and was (and still am) very much into visualization. I mean, how in the hell does someone hit a 96mph fastball or an 84mph curveball, right? The brain....see the ball, hit the ball, trust your hands. That comes with a lot of visualization. At least, for me.
It worked well for me with lifting. The first time I pulled with three plates, I remember it well. I had two plates on each side and the 35lbs (so, 295lbs). I had - at that point - never done 300lbs (or higher). So, for the next two minutes and 30 seconds I sat where I always sat, focused on getting my breathing correct and just visualized three plates on each side and me pulling that *kitten* off the floor with perfect form and technique. I l killed two birds with one stone...…+300lbs and three plates.
That 90 seconds - 180 seconds in between sets can really put you in a great place, mentally. If the mind thinks it can do something...….3 -
LiftHeavyThings27105 wrote: »When I was doing the power lifting thing and getting up there in the weights (for me....not really all that impressive numbers, but a lot for me) I was super focused and would concentrate on proper breathing between sets. I would also visualize all of the queues for the next set of whatever....
I played sports in high school and college and was (and still am) very much into visualization. I mean, how in the hell does someone hit a 96mph fastball or an 84mph curveball, right? The brain....see the ball, hit the ball, trust your hands. That comes with a lot of visualization. At least, for me.
It worked well for me with lifting. The first time I pulled with three plates, I remember it well. I had two plates on each side and the 35lbs (so, 295lbs). I had - at that point - never done 300lbs (or higher). So, for the next two minutes and 30 seconds I sat where I always sat, focused on getting my breathing correct and just visualized three plates on each side and me pulling that *kitten* off the floor with perfect form and technique. I l killed two birds with one stone...…+300lbs and three plates.
That 90 seconds - 180 seconds in between sets can really put you in a great place, mentally. If the mind thinks it can do something...….
Thanks for that! When I played football, I used to visualize my 3 step power move all the time. Power of the mind is something that's for sure, and I suspect as I creep toward the 300 mark its going to become more necessary to keep my head in the game.0
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