jginsane29
beastin on twerps
I started using this warm up stratagy and added at least 10 pounds to each of my lifts.
First the wrong way to warm up
Let's use the Bench Press as an example here. For sake of description we'll say that 275 is the maximum for 3 reps. Here is how most people do a bench workout.
They load the bar with 135 pounds and do about 10 or 15 reps. They'll rest a few minutes and then go to 185 pounds. Here they do another 10 reps. Then they go to 205 pounds and do about 10 reps. After a little rest, they go to 225 pounds and do 7 or 8 reps depending on how good they feel.
So far that is 4 sets. Now throw on 20 pounds to 245 and do about 7 reps. That's set number 6 and they haven't even started to build muscle yet. From here they take the 10's off and put on some 25's. At 275 pounds the barely knock out 3 reps.
They warmed up. No question about that, but they did so at the expense of strength and overload. In other words, their technique for warming up resulted in poor or inadequate muscle fiber stimulation and overload due to premature muscle fatigue.
Now the right way
Here we are going to take the Bench Press and show you a proper warm-up technique that will allow you to lift more weight on your heavy sets. More weight - more overload - more muscle.
Again well use 275 as your heavy weight. If you typically warm-up and train like I pointed out earlier the 275 will feel a lot lighter this time.
-First Set:
135 x 12 reps (warm-up)
These should be good smooth reps. Not too slow and not to fast. Your main goal is to increase blood flow and get the feel of the movement and the weight. After this first set you should rest about 2 minutes.
-Second Set:
135 x 10 reps (warm-up)
Same weight as before. Rhythm should be a little faster this time. Not much faster. Rest about 2 minutes.
-Third Set:
185 x 6 reps (warm-up)
This should be a deliberate set done at a moderate pace. This is the next step in weight acclimation. It should feel light and 4 reps should be very easy. Rest about 2 to 3 minutes before the next set.
-Fourth Set:
225 x 3 reps (weight acclimation)
You should follow the same rhythm as in the last set. 3 strong reps. Rest 2 minutes before next set.
-Fifth Set:
255 x 1 rep (weight acclimation)
That's right, just 1 rep. The purpose here is weight acclimation. This should be a strong, powerful and deliberate rep.
-Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Sets:
285 x 4 to 6 reps (muscle-building)
These are the muscle building sets. Very important. These are the only sets that produce muscle growth. All the sets leading up to these heavy sets are merely warm-up sets and are treated as just that and nothing more.
Notice we went to 285 instead of 275. Warming up this way allows you to use heavier weight during the most important muscle building sets
First the wrong way to warm up
Let's use the Bench Press as an example here. For sake of description we'll say that 275 is the maximum for 3 reps. Here is how most people do a bench workout.
They load the bar with 135 pounds and do about 10 or 15 reps. They'll rest a few minutes and then go to 185 pounds. Here they do another 10 reps. Then they go to 205 pounds and do about 10 reps. After a little rest, they go to 225 pounds and do 7 or 8 reps depending on how good they feel.
So far that is 4 sets. Now throw on 20 pounds to 245 and do about 7 reps. That's set number 6 and they haven't even started to build muscle yet. From here they take the 10's off and put on some 25's. At 275 pounds the barely knock out 3 reps.
They warmed up. No question about that, but they did so at the expense of strength and overload. In other words, their technique for warming up resulted in poor or inadequate muscle fiber stimulation and overload due to premature muscle fatigue.
Now the right way
Here we are going to take the Bench Press and show you a proper warm-up technique that will allow you to lift more weight on your heavy sets. More weight - more overload - more muscle.
Again well use 275 as your heavy weight. If you typically warm-up and train like I pointed out earlier the 275 will feel a lot lighter this time.
-First Set:
135 x 12 reps (warm-up)
These should be good smooth reps. Not too slow and not to fast. Your main goal is to increase blood flow and get the feel of the movement and the weight. After this first set you should rest about 2 minutes.
-Second Set:
135 x 10 reps (warm-up)
Same weight as before. Rhythm should be a little faster this time. Not much faster. Rest about 2 minutes.
-Third Set:
185 x 6 reps (warm-up)
This should be a deliberate set done at a moderate pace. This is the next step in weight acclimation. It should feel light and 4 reps should be very easy. Rest about 2 to 3 minutes before the next set.
-Fourth Set:
225 x 3 reps (weight acclimation)
You should follow the same rhythm as in the last set. 3 strong reps. Rest 2 minutes before next set.
-Fifth Set:
255 x 1 rep (weight acclimation)
That's right, just 1 rep. The purpose here is weight acclimation. This should be a strong, powerful and deliberate rep.
-Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Sets:
285 x 4 to 6 reps (muscle-building)
These are the muscle building sets. Very important. These are the only sets that produce muscle growth. All the sets leading up to these heavy sets are merely warm-up sets and are treated as just that and nothing more.
Notice we went to 285 instead of 275. Warming up this way allows you to use heavier weight during the most important muscle building sets
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