Why do people workout and not make any gains?
I. ll tell you why. Most people go into the gym to move weights and not workout with them. They think that just because they can move the weight, they are using the proper weight.
Good gains will only be made by using the proper amount of weight. The muscle cannot tell if you are using 50 pounds or 30 pounds, if you use momentum to move the weight. I use heavy weight because my body has adjusted to such poundages. I do not expect anyone to use the same weight I am using, when they have 14" arms. All I can recommend is that everyone should leave their ego at home and go to the gym, to workout and not cheat their gains. You will get better gains, if you use a weight that you can move under full control.
I see too many people who bounce the weight off their chests, arch their back, and swing the weight up. These techniques do not work. The purpose of going into a gym is to stimulate muscle growth, and not to show off what you can do.
You've got to tell yourself the truth about your capabilities. I run into this problem almost every bench day. I want to add huge amounts of weight and perform terrible form , but I know that if I do that, I won. t see any gains the next week. I see some people over estimate their strength. They start off with 135 on the bench, then they go straight to 225 (the strongman weight) and then try to force out 4 reps, when they should have been lifting 155 or 165.
Strength will come with time. You've got to have a plan. A simple plan is this:
Make a simple (honest) pyramid of what you can really do with good form. Then week after week add 2 ½ to 5 pounds to the bar, on the set. Then you will slowly see results. Take your time with it and it will work. Don. t expect to come into the gym and lift 50 pounds more than the last time. A 2 pound gain is great!
You've got to be a intelligent lifter and not give into your ego. If I pick up a weight and it feels too heavy, I put it down and find a better feeling weight. I have hurt my back in the past performing cheat curls. Cheat curls do not work! They never did work, and they will never work. The only thing they do, is build up your ego and not your muscles.
Lesson learned: A lighter weight under full control will be more beneficial than a heavy weight under no control.
