lifting weights

Since we're on a forum I'll add to this that if you're lifting more than once a week you're wasting your time. And if you're doing more than one set you're not working to true failure. High Intensity Training works and I think everyone should put their lifting routines away for two weeks, read the book by Dr. Ellington Darden called "The New High Intensity Training" and experience your true genetic potential in less time. Doubt this? Ever see a lion doing push-ups? A cheeta jogging? A gorilla doing pull-ups? Fact is most lifting is over done and sleep is lacking. Enjoy the read...otherwise, enjoy your time in the gym.

No, but I've never seen them sit at a desk punching at keys on a keyboard all day either. If I were still a wild thing in my natural habitat I wouldn't have to exercise because my lifestyle would show on my body, but as it stands I have to earn money which means sitting on my *kitten* all day, so I have 1 hour per day to get in what my ancestors would do to survive. The arguement goes both ways and I don't think it holds much water.

Our body only builds slightly more muscle than it thinks we need for the next of life's challenges. But it can't fully recouperate if you're unwilling/unable to give it the week off it needs for a full recovery. Much of what our ancestors did in a day required little exertion...tending to children, livestock/farming (fast forward a few thousand years), walking, stalking the next kill, etc. Relying upon calorie dense foods from a kill (mammoth, buffalo, etc.), meant hunts didn't happen every day, and not every hunt was successful. Which is why our bodies got so damn good at storing food on our bodies...when we had extras it KEPT it. Which is why we need MFP to eat ONLY what we truly need in order to get back to a healthy weight.

Like I suggested: read the book and give it a try. Works for me and ANYONE else I've ever talked to who has tried it. It worked for Duke, the Army, the many who've trained under this regimen including Casey Vitore...I'm busy. I'm adding reps and/or weight to every exercise, every week based on the notion we're not giving muscles adequate time to recouperate. Nature hedges her bets...if you break your body down with failure sets your body builds back because it FAILED...not because it got close. Once you fail there's no point in returning to that exercise...move on to the next muscle group. Then LEAVE the gym and go about your life. There's no reason to spend countless hours in a gym unless you just want to take in the sights/smells and strut your stuff.

Trust me when I say I've researched this (along with other like Dogg Crap training) before you were 5 years old. Even guys like Dorian Yates who believe in high intensity exercise do more than one set.

http://www.trulyhuge.com/dorian_yates_workout.html


A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
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Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Our body only builds slightly more muscle than it thinks we need for the next of life's challenges. But it can't fully recouperate if you're unwilling/unable to give it the week off it needs for a full recovery. Much of what our ancestors did in a day required little exertion...tending to children, livestock/farming (fast forward a few thousand years), walking, stalking the next kill, etc. Relying upon calorie dense foods from a kill (mammoth, buffalo, etc.), meant hunts didn't happen every day, and not every hunt was successful. Which is why our bodies got so damn good at storing food on our bodies...when we had extras it KEPT it. Which is why we need MFP to eat ONLY what we truly need in order to get back to a healthy weight.

Hmmm...I think we need a body comparison here boys....Let's see all those muscles and judge who's doing it *right*...;P

So champion body builders and powerlifters are doing it wrong then?

HIT practioners would make this assertion...but then again the body chemistry of "champion" lifters and athlets are often chemically modified. It's an efficient, common-sense alternative...that's all I'm saying. In a world of gimicks for sale, this one is free, saves time and works for the people that are willing to give it a try. I haven't met a person for whom it has failed. I get cardio and strength in one quick workout, I'm making faster progress than ever, and my bulging lumbar disc (from my desk job!) and rotator cuff problems (from waterskiing and headfirst slide impacts in baseball) have NEVER been less apparent. I'm not also suggesting that this is how a champion bodybuilder should do it...they aren't on this list for the most part...this list if FILLED with people, like me, busy, tired, over-worked, out of money, but sick and tired of being overweight. MFP is free. HIT is free. The correlation is there so I thought some here might find the connection and give it a try...the book's been around. If you're willing to try a free app, I would hope you'd have a mind open enough to try something else your peers have found to work.

I would take a look at it some time. But I have no reason to change what I'm doing. My goals may be different from yours. I am after building as much strength as possible and building a certain physique.

Your approach may be working for your goals, and that is fantastic. But I think this claim you made is just outright false:
"Since we're on a forum I'll add to this that if you're lifting more than once a week you're wasting your time."

I would not be progressing at the rate that I am, lifting once per week. If I felt that any aspect of what I do in regarding my health and fitness was a waste of time, I would change it immediately.

And I don't have to send anyone a check for this either.

Study after study show that challenging muscle with overload will yield better results compared to using lighter loads with higher repetitions.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition