feeling the burn ore with lighter weights

[GymAddict]

Hey guys

Up until now with weight training ive been trying to go as heavy as possible and sacrificing a little bit of technique to go that bit heavier. The other day i was doing lat pulldowns and realised i couldnt relly feel the burn in my back and more in my arms so dropped the weight and slowed it down and could feel it alot more. today i trained shoulders and was shoulder pressing 20kg nd then 14kg DB's as a drop set but also couldnt really feel the burn fromt eh 20kgs even tho i went to almost faliure witht then before dropping to the 14kgs. Im just abit confused on what im gonna get the most from, i try and push the wieght heavier but dont feel the burn so am i supposed to keep at a lighter weight where i can or could it just mean my technique isnt right and thats why i cant feel the burn as much. I know it seems like abit of i dumb question but i wanna be making sure i get the most out of each workout as pos. Cheers

[Yeah-Buddy]

The heaviest weight possible with good technique, certain exercises you can cheat up an extra couple reps towards the end of the set e.g. bb curls but you shouldnt start the set off like that.

[HarryB]

Heavy is very relative... I would say always use as much control as you possibly can and use a weight that allows you to retain that control for the rep range you are trying to hit.

[Darwinstef]

It's tricky this one....as an example for a seated row. I will start light and work my way up. When it's lighter it's easier to concentrate on squeezing the back and i use less arms. When i get to max weight it tends to feel the arms are taking over. A happy medium may be the answer, getting the whole muscle mind connection helps.

[Android]

It's tricky this one....as an example for a seated row. I will start light and work my way up. When it's lighter it's easier to concentrate on squeezing the back and i use less arms. When i get to max weight it tends to feel the arms are taking over. A happy medium may be the answer, getting the whole muscle mind connection helps.

Agree.

Heavy enough WITH that mind muscle connection.

For biceps that's as easy as pie since the movement is obvious and isolated, but with parts of the Back it can be more complex and difficult.

I always think heavy training gives fuller looking muscles, the stress tends to create a greater curve in the belly IMO... but its a trade off against isolating and just lifting heavy

[GymAddict]

sweet thanks everyone i think ill keep compound exercises heavy and isolated ones at a weight i can keep form in during the whole rep range. That way i can get the best of both worlds.

[nemesis]

Aint that the oppersite of what you should be doing based on the info above? I dont know? Anyway, my 2cents is just to state again the importance of the muscle and mind connection! Really, thats huge in my opinion! Takes some people a while who aint as anatomicaly aware as others, but makes huge difference for my money.

Enjoy reaching your goals.

[HarryB]

Aint that the oppersite of what you should be doing based on the info above? I dont know? Anyway, my 2cents is just to state again the importance of the muscle and mind connection! Really, thats huge in my opinion! Takes some people a while who aint as anatomicaly aware as others, but makes huge difference for my money.

Enjoy reaching your goals.

Agreed Nemesis, learn to feel your exercises first then start applying power and make the muscles shift the weight, not momentum or leverage. There is a place for applying power, but that is once you learn how to apply it and still positively affect the muscle you are attempting to work.

Like android said it's about finding the balance!

[GymAddict]

Aint that the oppersite of what you should be doing based on the info above? I dont know? Anyway, my 2cents is just to state again the importance of the muscle and mind connection! Really, thats huge in my opinion! Takes some people a while who aint as anatomicaly aware as others, but makes huge difference for my money.

Enjoy reaching your goals.

Agreed Nemesis, learn to feel your exercises first then start applying power and make the muscles shift the weight, not momentum or leverage. There is a place for applying power, but that is once you learn how to apply it and still positively affect the muscle you are attempting to work.

Like android said it's about finding the balance!

Thanks HarryB and everyone else thats put it in terms i understand. If ive already developed a bad technique with certain exercises is it hard for that muscle memory be forgotten and correct technique to be re learnt?

[nemesis]

Big compounds done badly for years upon years could be a little hard, just because you may be weak in some of the muscles required to lift "properly". But other than that no, again that is where the muscle mind connection comes in. Along with the big shiny mirrors hahaha. If you have to slow right down, lower the weight and really think about each part of the lift.....then you're likley not only doing it right, but you're also lifting the way you should lift forever! As you become more anatomicaly aware of yourself you will need to think a little less and lift a little faster, but as soon as your not thinking at all, forget muscle memory, you'll have bad form again as soon as you BEGIN to get fatigued.

Well thats my opinion anyway!

[Riccardo]

I think feeling the burn is more important for isolating exercises where only a small number of muscles/groups is used for the lift. I think mind muscle connection is important for these lifts.

Having said that I also believe that mind muscle connection on larger compound lifts is important for beginners to learn proper form and technique and what muscles they should be using to properly execute the lift. However when the lifter becomes more advanced and the appropriate neural pathways and firing patterns have been established then it is okay to focus less on mind muscle connection and more on lifting the damn weight.

Your muscle doesn't grow while it's contracting, it grows outside of the gym. This is why nutrition is so important (just as important) as the type of training you do. All you are doing when you are in the gym is creating a stimulus to signal the muscle to grow. Essentially you are trying to create an environment within your body that is conducive to growth. For the most part, programming is all pretty similar between lifters, so long as you are doing your heavy compounds and your form is good, time under tension is the important factor here, then you will be creating enough stimulus to signal growth.

Hope this makes sense.