I understand the logic Packard, mental is much of the game indeed. I have often loaded a bar wrong and lifted and only after realized I loaded more than usual. Sometimes I do the increase as if its the same I meant to put on, other times not even close, lol. Mental helps greatly, visualization and yes, definately rest. Rest between sets, rest between workouts and rest between programs all are important.
I think the most important aspect to take away from this is that rest is vital to muscular and strength growth. Everyone is different so the amount of rest will vary, but should not be overlooked.
I like your pyramid also, it is similar to riptoe's programs in which you start low and each week add 5 lbs until you no longer can and then you deload and start the progression over again, usually gaining more each time around.
One must remember that weight lifting is not just strength training but also body shaping. Different sets/reps alter what you will gain from the exercises. High reps with only 2-3 sets is endurance/shaping type training, medium reps/sets is size/strength training and low reps/high sets is strength training. Alternating through these from week to week allow the body to adapt, grow and change continously.
Thank-you packard for sharing your experiences and insites, I enjoy hearing your point of view on things as they make me think and adapt own thoughts on training.
Swanso your training methods and own are similar in thought and style with our own differences and thoughts of course. Having both yours and packards thoughts on issues definately offers one a mental aspect to our sport and shows us that there are differing thoughts on it, that it is not an exact science and in the end it becomes personal preference and experience which leads us as much as the information we gain from these forums.
cheers all!
Strengthen Fore-arms
Moderators: Boss Man, cassiegose
I won't argue with that.swanso5 wrote:best way to mentally prepare for lifting heavier wts???
lift them...using partials, lockouts, isometrics etc
I'd add that the worst way to prepare for heavy lifts is to do "forced reps" where someone else helps with the actual lift. This is often done with bench presses where the spotter will -load the lift so that the lift can be completed.
This creates a mental position that you don't have to complete your own lifts; a quitting mentality. Whereas if you say to your spotter, "If I say 'take it', just haul if up because I will have nothing left in me to give. I don't force reps." then your mentality will be to complete your lifts.
Forced reps are good for body building; bad for strength training (in opinion).