Training philosiphies

[PeterDolan]

I would like to know, what philosiphies do you guys have when you approach your training? This could vary from the minute details of rest/reps to the bigger picture how everything ties in perfectly to achieve YOUR goal. Please keep this civil, this is an exercise in educating each other on a) why we train the way we do b) getting us to think about why we train the way we do

Note: This is logged under bodybuilding training but I welcome the PLers to weigh in as I believe both disciplines can borrow and learn a lot from each other

[Android]

ok me first.

- Always set goals, and the reset them once you achieve

- Always try to learn more from others (includes learning what NOT to do btw)

- Try different things

- Enjoy yourself (but it's not a social event)

- Train with different people from time to time

- Strive to train smarter

No mention of rep ranges here sorry, depends what you're training for and how your body responds and what you've done in the past, and yada yada yada

[HarryB]

Me personally I pretty much just go by how I feel, from day to day and workout to workout. I very rarely approach any particular workout with a set plan. I have a very flexible training plan as far as which bodyparts I train on any given day and how I train them.

I might stick a specific movement for a little while if I am trying to increase my strength in that area but mostly I just try and work whichever muscles I am trying to work in a way that I enjoy on that day. I won't do an exercise I don't FEEL like doing just because I am supposed to do it, not an excuse to bludge I just feel that if you aren't enjoying your training you won't go 100% with it. So better to be 100% and having fun with training than hating every second and not giving all your effort because of it. Guys who have trained with me will attest to the fact that I don't display a lot of effort... lol but I always enjoy what I am doing.

My general format though is to work up to a heaviest set for whichever rep range I choose then either do a drop set or do another lighter high rep set then move on to the next exercise.. I generally only apply this to compounds, with isolation exercises I will generally do multiple sets with the same weight and just work to failure.

[hhhh1]

OVERALL

reasons to train/goals:

-get stronger

-look good

-enjoyment

strong but fat=not mirin

aesthetic but weak=not mirin

i dont care about size really unless it leads to getting stronger. if i put on 5kg of muscle and my strength stayed the same i would be fucked off and would rather not have the extra muscle. likewise i dont want to get stronger if it means getting unaesthetic for any more than a short time. also i would rather train more often even if it is not ideal in terms of strength/muscle gain because i enjoy it.

TRAINING:

lifting heavy/trying to improve strength excercises i don't mind taking rests (within reason) so that i get best number reps i can. try and get same/more reps with certain weights every time i go gym.

dont count spotted reps and avoid them. only get spotted for last rep if i fail on it. ie for barbell presses where i need the bar lifted off me. try minimise this though-can usually tell when im not going to get the next rep.

[two_phat]

My philosiphies revolve round keeping it simple. Not over thinking things - i.e. if you wanna be you gotta eat, rest and train big. Simple as that.

I try to focus on increasing the weight in heavy compound lifts. I know what I hit last week, and I know what I'm aiming for this week. The rep tranges begin at 3 - 6 and slowly increase to around 10 towards the end of my workout when I begin to fatigue. My rest periods are dependent on the exercise and how heavy it is - I rarely exceed 2 minutes though.

I'm concious of what I put in my body, not just for the aesthetic reasons of gaining/losing weight, but the fact that I am fully aware that when I don't eat well beforehand, I don't train as well.

I don't train with anybody as I want to be completely focused, especially when trying to lift as heavy as I can. To help with this focus, I have a routine that I follow every time I roll up to the gym. Caffeine on the way, change, take a dump, play al pachino's speech from any given sunday, take a decent swig of water and hit it. If I don't follow this routine, I find that I'm distracted and mentally not in the game.

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

i like to keep my training philosophy plain & simple.

- if you don't look like ronnie coleman yet, keep training harder and smarter

that's all.

[Dinahlady]

- Try at least one new thing every workout.

- think about how your body is going to adapt (change itself) from the training you are doing, are these the changes you want to see.

- If your training is 100% but you're nutrition is 80% you will not be getting all of the benefits/adaptations from your epic training.

- Similarly, If you don't give yourself adequate rest you will not be getting all the benefits/adaptations from your epic training and nutrition

- The exercises or bodyparts you don't like to do are probably the ones you need to work on/get help with/research form/try out in different ways.

- Change your reps/rest and general way of training regularly, move through strength and volume in various ways (either within a week, within a workout or through longer time periods in your training)

- Don't do an exercise unless there is a specific purpose for doing it/choosing it.

- More gear, more drugs. (nt srs)

[Gym rat]

Mine are

1 change program every four weeks

2 When my joints are getting sore change to high rep training

3 Learn diffrent training methods from the pro's in Flex mag

4 When I step into the gym I think time smack them heavy ass weights baby :twisted:

5 Have fun while training

6 Have Ipod fully charged before going to the gym

7 Train hard

[red machine]

more PL based for me -

*train to compete + some ie all squats well below comp depth, extra long paused bench etc etc

*attack and smash every rep from warm to to max fast and explosive as poss

*never miss a programmed train

*set up a plan and fellow it thought to the end, norm try have at least 8-12 weeks plan ahead

these are what i base my training around, still got a long way to go before ill be happy with lifts but getting better!!

[BarBrother]

more PL based for me -

*train to compete + some ie all squats well below comp depth, extra long paused bench etc etc

*attack and smash every rep from warm to to max fast and explosive as poss

*never miss a programmed train

*set up a plan and fellow it thought to the end, norm try have at least 8-12 weeks plan ahead

these are what i base my training around, still got a long way to go before ill be happy with lifts but getting better!!

'

+1

Not only do i agree with you on this but you have pretty much outlined the definign factors in PL. Its amazing the peopel that go through the motions and turn up at a comp with no progress and wonder why. Just because you are not doing a 1RM at trainign everyday doesnt mean the intensity drops. Move everythign like its a 300kg squat