When is Too Much Too Much?

Recently, I just started utilizing a new workout plan. After you have been training for a few years you run out of new ideas and must look elsewhere for tips. Do not feel like you are cheating or weaker in anyway because you need assistance from someone else. I guarantee that people who research consistently enjoy better results than those that don’t research. This specific plan I’m starting is almost completely unlike any plan I’ve used in the past. It is actually quite unique to any plan my friends or myself have ever seen. My friends have actually criticized the plan many times since I started it and if it weren’t for the credibility of the creator I would feel the same way.

During 3 weeks of the 6 week program, I will be targeting a certain muscle group 3 times a week. For the past 3 years, I have only worked out each muscle group once a week. However, the more experience and knowledge you gain, the more you realize how little you actually know about weight training (or anything in life for that matter) so I was willing to give it a shot.

The workout plan which I found on bodybuilding.com was developed by Jim Stoppani. Stoppani holds a doctorate in exercise physiology and is senior science editor for many top physical fitness magazines and companies. He has been the personal consultant to many physically fit celebrities such as LL Cool J, The Rock, and Dr. Dre. Stoppani explains the uniqueness of the plan:

If you think that sounds like overtraining, you're precisely right. But overtraining does not happen immediately. It takes several weeks to actually become overtrained. The technical term for training that can lead to overtraining is called overreaching. Several studies from the university of Connecticut have shown that when subjects overreach for several weeks, during the two weeks following, they grow significantly bigger and stronger while taking it easy. The key is to stop the overreaching just before it turns into overtraining.

Stoppani explains how there is a difference between over-training and over-reaching, over-reaching being the positive effect of the two. He presents a point that is unknown to many people, which used to include myself. I think it will be interesting to see the results, whether positive or negative, after the 6 week program to find first hand if over-reaching can be positive.

Great Way to Start Out, Check it out

I just read an article on Medicinenet.com. It can be quite enlightening to any newcomers to weight training. Although it does not go into extreme detail about weight lifting it does give some great tips on where to start. Trying to figure out where to start is, in my opinion the hardest part of training. For someone who has no knowledge on anything weight training related it can be almost impossible. In the article by Richard Weil, he describes everything from how many sets/reps to do, what exercises, how to focus on strength or toning, and almost everything else a beginner needs. I even learned a few things from the article and I’ve been lifting for years. However, this is an article by a doctor who researched weight training and does not specialize in it. Also, the website is a health website not a site devoted for physical fitness so the reader should know that this is not the only source to refer to. However, in my opinion this is a great way to start off and get the blood flowing.

http://www.medicinenet.com/weight_lifting/article.htm

Wrong

I do not surround myself with weight lifters. I do not feel the need to hang out with people who share the same passion for the gym that I have. Therefore I do have many friends who have never stepped foot inside of a gym and many of them are not afraid to present negativuty towards those who do.

I don’t know if this happens because they are jealous because they see other people in better shape/bigger/stronger. I don’t mean this in an egotistical or self-centered manner but in my experience when people lack something they find desirable they cover it up by hating on it. Just my experience though. Whatever the reason may be, people come up with many misconceptions about the gym.

Everyone in the gym is a musclehead. If you have seen the planet fitness commercials in which my blog title is referring to you will have seen the stereotypical weightlifter.

This could not be further from the truth. Sure, there are roided up juice heads dumber than a bucket of shrimp but to have that opinion for everyone who enjoys staying in shape is nothing other than ignorant. The Marines in my unit are some of the most intelligent individuals I’ve ever met, not only academically but also with real world experience where being an idiot gets you killed. Every single one of them has an affinity for physical fitness, many preferring weight training as well.

I have met many, many people in the gym, male and female, and there is not direct relation between the gym and a lack of brains. In fact, I’ve met more “less than gifted” people, relatively, that have never entered a gym before than people who frequent a gym. Now I do not want you to think that I am doing the very thing I am arguing against. Obviously if you do not weight train I do not assume you automatically have these negative opinions. However, I do find it extremely unfair to criticize and generalize in these ways as many people do.

What do you think?

Whats Goin on

Hello everybody. My name is Kyle and I LOVE going to the gym. I am by no means the biggest or strongest guy you will see, in fact I’m probably someone you consider average but that doesn’t matter to me. I know that no body is perfect and if you think you are this isn’t the place for you.

I use weight training not because I feel like I need to for any other reason other than I enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong, I love getting bigger and stronger but if there weren’t any physical benefits from weight training I would still go every day.

I created this blog to help others who share the same passion for the gym as I do or that are new to weight training and are seeking advice and tips. I am no professional body builder but I do have lots of first hand experience and experience gained from others that have helped me.

I will discuss different techniques and strategies on how to approach weight lifting that will maximize results and minimize injury. Also, I recognize the fact that there is no single magical method to weight training that works for everybody so that is why I welcome others to comment on this blog to help others as well as myself.

I hope that this blog helps you as well as helps me. Thanks for looking and feel free to comment freely.