Thread: My "workout"
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Old 09-12-2008, 12:24 PM
Andrew.cook Andrew.cook is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Lancaster, Ohio
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A few things that I have noted over the years about what "works" and what doesn't...

1. Programs you enjoy stand a 200% (arbitrary number, but you get the picture) better chance of being successful. If you don't like what you do, you don't put put all your effort into it. No matter what you might tell yourself, it just doesn't happen.

2. Because of rule one, people will be successful on whatever rep range/progression/workout plan they enjoy... within some reason. Obviously nobody makes great headway being overtrained or undertrained. But there is no reason a good trainer can't plot out a strategy using any old set/rep range out there. The numbers are somewhat secondary to the intensity/energy put into the work.

3. Because we don't all enjoy the same thing, a well thought out plan may fail... simply because the trainee's attitude isn't aligned with the trainer's (something I sometimes fail to remember when I train people).

4. All training falls victim to the law of diminishing returns. The longer you do it, the less interesting it gets and the less effective it will be. Plus there is only so much adaptation that most people can milk out of a program at any one time. The program doesn't suck when it starts to taper, our bodies are doing what they are designed to do... adapt.

5. Anything too extreme will likely give you extremely bad results. Better to stick to the middle of the road. If you want volume, perhaps 5x10 would make more sense than 10x10 (over the long haul, though I like the idea of trying something truly insane now and again). Nothing but singles might not be as worth while as reps of 3-5, even if you are looking to boost your 1RM.

There are others, but I think that is a good start for now.
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