ExRx.net

Appreciate any comments on my training log:

http://www.exrx.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6708

I am into free speech and internet chitchat, so anything goes.

What does mean?

NS means "new start", when I started counting "weeks". Note, this is not the beginning of my training regimen (June) nor the beginning of my logging stuff online (OCT).

11 means 11th week.

A is arms (upper body)

L is legs (lower body)

The number after is the workout within the week. A normal week would be: A1, L1, A2, L2, A3, L3, (rest).

How long does your workout take?

Someone asked that today at NS and my response:



I admit it is not very time efficient. Possibly not a good fit for someone with a lot of family and/or job time demands.

I had a big consulting job a few months ago and in that case, changed the workout to only do the lifts, no cardio, no transport (hotel gym). Packing in a little more cardio and fancier weights on the weekend.

You could probably get 80% of the benefits in 50% the time, also. When I was losing weight, of course the activity level (which was actually even more intense and and longer) was directly related to faster loss rate. More time on the bike led to more weight loss (with constant diet). Of course, that is not an issue any more and if I were to lessen time spent on exercise, I could just lower calories. I'm still well higher than what I reduced at...and I've learned so many tricks for bulking my food.

Actually the "new start" was after my consulting gig. That kinda threw a minor kink into things for a month or so. And was almost like a deload. Not as many workouts going on. Not raising the weights, etc. And I went back a bit on the swims (entire month of missing swims...I tend to be very cautious on the swims because of my arm). So really New Start is from when I ended that gig.

Do you all think I do too much? Or not enough?

Feel like I still get decent gains, no plateaus yet, but am concerned about injuries. Time efficiency could become an issue if I get more of a social or professional life, but for now, I have the time.

How much work you do in your workout depends on your goals. 2x10 will maintain strength and provide conditioning but not a lot of strength or hypertrophy devlopment. You're not doing high CNS involvement exercises so they're probably easy enough to recover from. Your low rest periods probably stimulate your heart rate providing cardio and fat loss benefits but you might still benefit from 3 or 4 sets of the big exercises. If strength development is a goal, you need to go heavier and incorporate squats and deadlifts into your program. There are no basic compound exercises in this list.

Thanks, sounds like my program is not excessive, you would add more. I agree that I'm much less wiped on legs days than arms.

Get some compound movements in your lower body program.

I tried squatting and deadlifting, but could not tolerate them on my knee.

I think I remember that now. Did you try step ups or lunges?

I remember talking to a fellow in my gym that was doing a variety of hip exercises with a cable machine. I asked him about it as it seemed complex and inefficient. He explained it was how he could work around and injury. To me simple but effective is always preferable to complex and inefficient but you have to do what you have to do.

Stepups and lunges are worse, because of the single leg isolation (hits bad spot in left patella more).

Smith squats straight ahead, and leg press seemed to be better, but am worried would end up the same on the knee. I guess that would be the place to explore if I decide to.

I can tolerate leg extensions, if I emphasize the finish (straight leg, patella not involved) and move fast through the bent leg part. And go up slow on the weights. Bent over glute isolation causes me no knee issues (if anything back and hamsgring are synergists, but not quads).

Back when I did leg presses, they seemed like a decent exercise. If you put your feet near the top of the thing you push on, it emphasizes glutes and seems easy on the knees.

Do you think stiff leg/romanian deadlifts would be okay for your knees? They take them out of it for the most part.

I think those are both good ideas.Definitely need more burn on legs days. Pathetic how much I'm not tired when doing legs.

Had a big knee flareup with powerlifting squats and deads. Got scared/bummed when I couldn't bike. that's a cardio capability I need to maintain.

but those two listed might be OK. Just gotta think about when/ther I try that again.