[quote]Modi wrote:
Nutrition. Make sure you are getting enough good calories to grow. If you aren’t growing, your numbers aren’t going to go up.
Consistency. The biggest mistake people make is starting and stopping their programs. It sounds like you have this covered, but nothing beats getting in there day in and day out for years (not months) and always trying to improve over time. Maintenance is easy. Shit, 80% of the people who belong to a gym don’t even go. And at least half (probably 75%) of those who do go just half ass it and don’t make progress.
Variety. Back to the maintenance concept. WAY too many people stick with the exact same exercises, in the same order for the same number of sets, the same number of reps at the same weight. I doubt that you are doing all of this, but if any of it is true, then it is something to think about.
Workout Log. Many people don’t keep a workout log, hell, most people don’t even know what they are going to do once they get to the gym (other than doing exactly what they did last time). Keeping a journal never hurt anyone, and would probably benefit most. If you are keeping one, you are one step ahead of the game. Now just try to increase load/volume/intensity over time.
Aside from always trying to make progress in those specific lifts, you should be working on accessory lifts. Deadlifts - deadlifts from a deficit, snatch grip deadlifts, rack pulls (supramaximal). Squats - box squats, front squats, overhead squats. Bench press - incline/decline press, dumbell press, rack lockouts (supramaximal).
Hopefully you are in it for the long haul and you can continually make progress. Nothing good ever comes easy. I don’t think you are in it for the easy way out, just don’t be frustrated if it takes a while to get your lifts to a point where you are happy. Trust me, the point of happiness with your maximums will always seem just out of your reach. This is a good thing. It will drive you to make progress. There are a ton of good article here. Do a search for the specifics you want to improve on.
No one has the perfect routine for you, it will be a matter of trial and error. But you will find a lot of good starting points here, and with time you can manipulate the programs to accomplish your goals.
Good luck.[/quote]
Thanks for the feedback Modi.
I actually keep an extremely detailed workout log on a massive spreadsheet where I calculate my volume and then project my numbers for the following week.
I’ve definitely found a wealth of information of this site and having read a lot of Waterbury, Poliquin & Shugart’s stuff I feel I have a pretty decent handle as far as varying the type of lifts I’m doing.
My diet most definitely needs work though. For a few months I can stay extremely strict but for a month at a time I’ll fall off the wagon and eat all sorts of shit. I was doing great up until christmas actually and just started getting my diet back on track this monday.
Either way, I plan on being in the iron game for the rest of my life and I completely understand that being in it for the long haul…is really the ONLY way.