[quote]BrickHead wrote:
[quote]The Myth wrote:
See, that’s exactly what I meant, the technique aspect. I believe one of the biggest obstacles to success is missing gym time, and, to that end, because of my age, I am extremely averse to injury - it’s the one thing that can keep me out of the gym. Because of that, I tend to hold back a bit, to not push it as much as I could in the interest of staying healthy. I know this slows my gains, but I have learned to avoid doing anything full speed or to the max.
Appreciate the discussion![/quote]
Actually this approach can PROLONG gains, rather than the constant balls-to-the-wall approach that many had success with, but wound up being semi-cripples in the long run. Look at Phil Heath and Jay Cutler and the way they train as opposed to Ronnie Coleman and Dorian Yates.
Jay is walking around looking great and symmetrical without torn muscles and frayed tendons and joints while Coleman and Yates have serious problems. If I recall correctly, Dorian can’t fully lock out one of his arms and one of his biceps is wrecked. [/quote]
Excellent point from a member who actually walks the talk.
Coleman is a wreck now. Back when it was all about Coleman vs Jay, I read an interview with Chris Cormier in which he offered the hypothesis that all the heavy lifting was taking a visible toll on Coleman’s physique and that he will not win number 9. And this turned out to be quite prophetic.
Yates was all about the HIT. I recall in an interview that he tore his bicep this way and the doc who worked on him wasn’t exactly on the ball. So when he re-attached the bicep, he lost full mobility. One can debate if this cost him from reaching the magic eight Sandow club. It very well could have. The point is, he never should have placed himself in this position had he known to strategically cycle in non-HIT type workouts.
Lee Haney, the only other eight-time winner, knew when to go heavy and when to go moderate to light. As far as I know, I don’t think he ever suffered a major injury.
I have nothing against lifting heavy - relative to one’s current strength level. I know utilizing the stretch reflex has it’s place or strategic body english also have their place. My training program is 60/40 strength/muscularity and aesthetics. But that’s my particular goals and my training reflects that.
The OP should be much more focused on the muscularity and aesthetics portion (the strength gains will be there, although admittedly not as dramatic). Based on what the OP brings to the table and his respective goals, I recommend hedging one’s bets every chance possible. So he does NOT have to lift heavy and be a numbers whore when there are proven techniques such as pre-exhaust and slowing the eccentric. I also strongly recommend walking away each session with something left in the tank - you should feel like you have another good set or two when heading for the door.
The Coach I worked with from 2013 to 2014 (we now meet just once a month to bounce ideas off one another) knows more about injury-prevention than anyone I’ve met or read to this very day. And he drilled into me the importance of staying healthy.
So these lifters I see who are chasing numbers and turning a blind eye to things like corrective exercises, pre-hab, deload, etc. just may find themselves one day in a world of pain and realize that someone played a sick cruel joke on them.
This would be bad enough at 22 or 32. At 52 - it can be catastrophic.
